Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fourteen

Catalina

As the sun faded and the little moon rose—everyone was in place. The street looked empty. There were only a few dim lights on in the house. Catalina knew it was empty. The three women were far away. Deep in space and headed for Megoth on the DoMicile, with a crew made up of eight of BaOBy's brothers. The men volunteered. Most of them had been involved in getting the women out of the house across the street and putting them in the cryo pods. BaOBy said they felt protective, responsible.

She figured that was a good thing.

Jay didn't go with them, preferring to lend his illusion abilities to the Viant Revolution… as he referred to their staged rebellion. They all hoped that once Jacanas died, the conflict would end.

Cat knew that BinjaOB was on the street somewhere. His body camouflaged. Ready to bring justice to the Andaran if he showed up tonight. She had to deal with the fact that it wouldn't be her taking Jacanas' life. But she needed to see his reaction when he got to the house for their date… only to discover it was empty. She needed him to realize she had escaped his plans for her.

The brothers kept watch over the house. They reported that all the Andaran's guards fled as soon as they woke yesterday and realized Cat and the other three women had disappeared. They had no defense other than that they were asleep. And that wouldn't keep them alive. The guards hadn't seen anything and didn't know when or how the women escaped. Or who helped them? The Andaran wouldn't like those answers. It was a killing offense, and the men knew it, so they left before they had to face him.

Now the house was filled with cameras for their viewing pleasure. Lan set up monitors so they could all watch the Andaran's reactions when he entered the house and found them all gone.

An elbow nudged her side, and she was handed a bowl. Casey served an alien version of popcorn while they watched the screen, showing several street views. From their vantage point on top of the building where Cat met Baby, Jay's illusions hid them all.

No one spoke. The three couples and several additional brothers waited silently for Jacanas to arrive. There were other brothers on the street. Some using their own camouflage, like Binja. Jay's illusions hid others. Further out, they simply crouched in alleyways or on rooftops.

Bard signaled, and they all froze, facing the screens. The cherry-red Master of Sound's hearing was far superior to anyone else's. He'd heard something. He motioned to the screen focused on the far street corner—where the Andaran strode, flanked by two of his special service guards. Now even Cat could hear the marching precision of his guards.

She shuddered. And her heartbeat surged in terror. Baby reached over and took her hand. Squeezing to remind her she wasn't alone. Casey and Cameron each placed a hand on her shoulder to remind her of the same thing.

Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, Catalina reminded herself that not only was she surrounded by her new family, but that everyone—including her—was armed. She was no longer alone. No longer a victim.

Baby tightened his grip on her hand, and Cat opened her eyes.

The Andaran was on the front porch, waiting for one of his guards to unlock the front door. Pushing the hood off his cone-shaped head, Jacanas paused just over the threshold. The cameras were placed so they could see every expression flickering across the Andaran's ebony flesh. His creepy gray eyes narrowed, and he tilted his enormous head to one side. Listening.

Cat wasn't sure if he was listening to the voices in his head, or for actual sounds in the house. Either way, he wasn't happy with the silence.

Dark brown, bushy eyebrows pulled together before he stomped down the hall. Followed by his guards, he stopped in front of what had been her bedroom door. One guard moved past Jacanas and into the room. He came out shaking his head.

Jacanas spun around and dashed down the hall, headed for the room where the three women were kept. This time, he didn't wait for a guard. He slammed through the door… into the empty room.

Cat could see the disbelief on his face morph into absolute fury within seconds. The Andaran was livid. He screeched at one guard and pointed toward the back of the house. Waiting for the man to return, Jacanas paced. Erupting when the guard stood in front of him and shook his head. Jacanas was furious, finally realizing there was no one left in the house.

BaOBy

Watching the Andaran lose his mind—made Bao feel good. The man stormed out of the house and into the street. Screaming instructions to the guards, demanding they bring in every one of his special forces and search all the buildings on the street.

The brothers had parked a six-man hover on the roof. It was cloaked, and able to transport all of them from the roof to the flower forest without detection. But they all waited for Binja to make his move.

A laser blast lit up the night. Hitting the Andaran in the arm, spinning him around. He crumpled to the ground—his shrill shriek abruptly silenced. The guards didn't hesitate, pulling Jacanas off the street and racing away from the danger to their boss.

Bao watched a slight figure run out of the building next door and follow. He glimpsed BinjaOB briefly. Until his brother's camouflage covered his movement.

Cat gasped. "Is Jacanas dead? That wasn't Binja who shot him, was it?"

Shaking his head, Bao sighed. "I don't think he's dead. His guards didn't check if he was alive, they just took him away from the danger. No, that wasn't Binja. He wouldn't have missed. The shot would have hit him dead center. I saw either a young man or a woman run after the guards. Probably someone else who wants Jacanas killed. We can't be the only ones to seek vengeance. Binja followed Jacanas and will finish the job. He'll make sure the shooter doesn't get caught."

"That's good." Cat sighed. "I'm just sorry it didn't end tonight."

Bao reached out and pulled her into his arms. "It will happen. Everyone is getting into the hover to return to the ship. Do you want to go?"

Catalina

Trailing her fingers over his flesh, Cat considered his question. It always surprised her how warm he was... and that his emerald-green flesh was so very soft. She followed the curve of his muscles—mesmerized by his strength. His scent thrilled her. Breathing deep, she held the spicy scent in her lungs. Cat wanted to surround herself with everything about him. She wanted time alone with her man out under the stars.

Leaning in, she stuck her tongue out to taste his flesh. And felt his body twitch. His deep groan made her grin. He curled his much taller body around her. Putting a finger under her chin, he tilted her head back and leaned down to capture her lips.

Every time Baby kissed her, Cat lost all sense of time and her surroundings. The kiss went on for long moments until he pulled back. Just far enough so he could slide his hands down her shoulders until he held both her hands. "Go or stay?" he whispered against her ear.

"Stay," she moaned.

Baby pulled back, and she heard the hover leave. Shuddering, she opened her eyes and met his gaze. "Is Jay's illusion still in place? Are we invisible to anyone on the street?"

He nodded, and she took her hand out of his, quickly pulling her dress off over her head. "Love me where we first met," she demanded. Standing naked in the moonlight. None of the undergarments fit her, so she'd been naked under the dress.

His eyes gleamed when he realized she'd been that way all night. Within moments, he, too, stripped off his clothes and stood naked before her.

Cat smiled at him. "I feel like this is where my life started. Where happiness became a possibility."

He nodded. "It makes sense. I feel as if my life started—that true happiness filled me—when we met."

She didn't get time to study him. Cat's body tensed when his hand came up and cupped her breast. She pressed into him. Desperate for more. She ached for this touch. Moaned and shifted, pressing her breast into his palm. Her eyes fluttered, looking down to where his vibrant green skin met her flesh. Catalina rasped out, "Please, touch me." she begged.

His feathering a thumb over her nipple wasn't enough. Tilting her head back, putting one hand in his hair, she tugged him toward her. Catalina's eyelashes dropped, and she sighed with delight when he shifted to the side, bent his head down, and laved her breast.

Cat's gaze trailed over his face, down his chest, to his stomach. She realized she could see his thick cock dancing—as if seeking her touch. The shaft jutted fiercely from the coarse, dark hair and his heavy ballsac hung just below. His cock bounced and expanded even more while she watched.

A dark blue vein pulsed along his length, tempting her. She licked her lips in anticipation. The knobbed head glistened with a drop of clear fluid. Slowly, she moved away from his seeking mouth and dropped to her knees in front of him.

Baby's hand skimmed over her head, his fingers lightly sifting through her hair.

Catalina trailed her hand down the center of his chest, slowly gliding down until she could surround his cock and cup the heavy weight of his balls.

BaOBy

He sighed, and his head fell back until stars filled his vision. The sensations overwhelmed Bao. Lifting his hips in supplication. Catalina's warm hands glided over his shaft and balls—his cock swelled in response.

She stroked, and he couldn't help but groan in ecstasy. Spreading his legs apart, he gave her unrestricted access to his body and hissed when her hair brushed along his flesh as she scooted between them. She looked upward, a wicked smile on her pretty pink lips. Bao wanted to remember that smile forever. He swore there was more than laughter in those sparkling green eyes. He also saw love.

His entire body shook with excitement when Catalina slipped her lips over the head of his cock. She teased the slit and circled the tip with her tongue before swallowing several inches of his shaft. Grasping the base, she ran her hand up and met her mouth as it moved down. Bringing her lips and fist together in the middle. The sensations and slow pumping rhythm overwhelmed him.

When he looked down, the sight of Catalina's blonde head bobbing over his manhood was almost more than he could bear. He watched her pink and glistening lips slide up and down his straining flesh. Her small tongue darted out to tease the tiny slit in his blood-engorged crown, making him grit his teeth.

"Catalina!" The single word burst from his soul. He couldn't take it anymore. "Enough," he growled. Reaching down, he eased her away from his flesh, then put his hands under her arms and brought her face up to his. He turned, laying her across the blanket they'd sat on earlier. He slid over her. Bao kissed her hungrily. He inserted his hand between their bodies to palm her breast, pinching her nipple between his thumb and finger.

Moaning, she shifted against him. He reached down and stroked between her legs, spreading the silky moisture over her labia to coat her clit. Tormenting the little nub with his fingers, Bao teased, making Catalina buck and thrash beneath him. Her keening cries and gasped demands spurred him to slide down and kneel between her legs, to gently spread her plump outer lips and expose her glossy, pink heat.

He hadn't tasted her yet.

Sticking out his tongue, he licked. Her sweet, honeyed essence shot through his system. Sprawling on his stomach, he put his hands on her hips and held her in place. Brought her sex to his mouth so he could feast.

Catalina convulsed wildly when he pinched her clit with his lips. Plunging his tongue deep, he laved her, flicking rapidly. Concentrating the movements of his tongue on her swollen nub, he inserted his middle finger into her core and stroked, adding a second finger when she begged for more.

He'd forgotten that he controlled the mating bands in her body. Now was the perfect time to use them.

Catalina

She was completely overwhelmed as Baby stroked, caressed, and licked her body. Catalina was immersed in a blaze of sensation. What he didn't tease, the bands that now had a permanent home within… did.

Hovering on a threshold that had her body shaking. With one more swipe of his tongue, she exploded in release.

He didn't let her rest for long. Baby climbed up beside her. When he reached out to touch her, she bent into his hand and held her breath. It wasn't just the sensual feel of his fingers trailing over her flesh, but the sight of his green hand moving along her body—tracing her much paler flesh. And when he touched her, the bands inside vibrated.

Running her hands up his powerful forearms, she marveled at the taut muscles gleaming with sweat. He bent over her sprawled body, bracing his arms on either side of her head, strength rippling in well-developed biceps. Her heart pounded in anticipation of more pleasure.

Kissing her, he thrust his tongue into her mouth. She moaned in delight when his broad chest brushed her nipples, triggering increased desire.

He settled his body between her thighs. Her sex clenched in anticipation of his first thrust.

"I love you, Cat," he murmured against her lips. "I love everything about you." He stopped. "You know that, right? Not just because my mating bands claimed you. But because I can't imagine living without you."

He continued to kiss her slowly, thoroughly. He braced his body on one elbow and reached between her thighs with his free hand. Long fingers stroked her outer lips, finding the creamy seam. Her hips rolled upward, seeking that soft touch. The mating bands stroked her from the inside out, driving her insane. He made a low, exultant sound and slid one finger deep. Then Bao leaned down and whispered in her ear, "Do you love me, Cat?" He flicked her flesh faster, and the bands vibrated harder.

She gasped and dug her feet into the roof, pushing upward. When she didn't answer him, he stilled and asked a different question. "Are you ready to spend the rest of your life with me, Catalina?"

"Yes! Oh, God yes! Part of me believes I'm going to wake up and you won't be real. This will all be a dream and I'll be alone and afraid, without you," her voice was barely above a whisper. Emotion made it difficult for her to speak.

Baby wrapped her in his arms. Hugged her tight. I'm not a dream—you will never be alone. And Catalina—I'm so in love with you."

She smiled at him. Believing this time. "I am so in love with you, too."

The smile lit up his face. "Good." He angled his hips so she could feel the hot tip of his cock rub through her folds. "Because I definitely need you. Not just for now, but forever."

Catalina was sure he meant it. But she didn't have time to comment. He fit his body to hers. Pushing his thick shaft in, deep. Groaning, she wrapped her legs around his waist and dug her heels into his muscular backside. "I love you. I love us." She gasped when the bands stimulated her in all the places she craved. "And I really love your mating bands!"

His laughter rocked her body even more. She was so glad that what they had wasn't temporary. She'd never take BaOBy and his mating bands for granted. Catalina reveled in the hard slap of their bodies, in the slam of his groin against her mound, and in his almost violent possession of her.

Feeling her inner muscles clench and strain to accommodate the invading force, she arched against him. She found her voice and demanded, "More! Oh. God. Baby. Pleaseoh, pleaseoh, please!"

Deep, driving thrusts kept her poised on the edge of madness for several heartbeats, and then Catalina's entire body convulsed. She howled long and hard when she came. She felt him open his mind to share the explosive pleasure with her. Catalina's body came again with the added sensations. Writhing in ecstasy, she clamped her arms and legs around his body to keep him in place for a little while longer.

They lay together. Waiting for their heartbeats to settle until they could speak without gasping for breath.

"Binja will not allow the Andaran to live." Baby's voice was steady. Reassuring. "That particular brother has a one-track mind when he has a target."

Catalina snorted. "I know. I'm really not worried about that. I just hope he didn't kill whoever shot Jacanas tonight. He doesn't seem like someone who'd enjoy missing a target."

Bao laughed. "No. No, he doesn't. I guarantee BinjaOB is furious."

She grinned. Happy to let the need for revenge go. Binja would handle it. She'd help if she needed to. But after tonight, she was more concerned about the future. About making a home. Solidifying friendships. And just spending all her time loving Baby.