Tamara's Future Read online

  Gage Lightgo is a space pirate. He’s been searching for Tamara for three years, ever since she ran off with the score from their last job. No woman arouses him more but he missed his chance to bed her back then. That error will be corrected soon. And she really could use lessons in honesty and trust.

  Gage kidnaps and imprisons Tamara—but she still won’t have sex with him. She

  wants him, no doubt there. He just has to break down her resistance. He’ll discover all her secrets, open her up, and make her so hot she’ll never turn him away again.

  Ellora’s Cave Publishing

  www.ellorascave.com

  ISBN

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  Copyright ©

  Edited by Pamela Campbell

  Cover art by Syneca

  Electronic book publication June

  The terms Romantica® and Quickies® are registered trademarks of Ellora’s Cave Publishing.

  With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.® Home Avenue, Akron OH -.

  Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the publisher’s permission. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to years in federal prison and a fine of $,. (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/). Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted material. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.

  TAMARA’S FUTURE

  Chapter One

  The shrieking alarm sent Tamara tumbling to the floor. Flashing red lights kept

  time with noise and it took her a moment to realize something was seriously wrong.

  Nothing ever set off the warning beacons on a luxury cruise, especially not in the

  middle of the night. The wealthy passengers on the Luxor Astra wouldn’t tolerate such a disturbance. Most of the crew had probably practiced drills but not with paying customers onboard.

  Tamara knew how to respond to the warnings. She had heard too many alarms and

  most of them had been real. She could pull on a spacesuit in a vacuum before passing out. The first thing she did on any new ship was locate every emergency pod. She knew the ship layout and she knew this ship should not be in any danger that would warrant an alarm. The rich didn’t like being disturbed.

  It didn’t matter that she didn’t know why the alarm sounded. She picked herself up

  off the floor and pulled on her bra and panties. Simple black pants with lots of pockets, a black stretch shirt and space boots completed her outfit. She grabbed her go-bag that was always ready. Then she hesitated. She didn’t have a space suit in her cabin.

  Passengers never had them. Other than that critical lack, she was prepared. Prepared for what though?

  No announcement signaled the type of danger they faced. Had they taken damage?

  Was the hull breached? Did she need the suit she didn’t have? If there was a hole in the hull, stepping outside her cabin would be lethal. She’d never make it to the storage room in time. Still pondering what to do next, the warning suddenly shut off. Tamara’s ears rang in the unexpected silence. Had the alarm been a mistake?

  As her hearing stabilized, she heard doors crashing open outside her cabin and

  loud, demanding voices. She hesitated. She wasn’t going to stick her head out there

  even though the sounds indicated the ship still had an atmosphere. She eyed the air vent, but before she could make a move toward it, her cabin door exploded inward. A large man with a gun stood in the doorway. His quick eyes took in her room. He smiled and motioned her out into the hallway.

  Space pirates! She’d heard they’d started attacking luxury liners but she’d thought they’d been contained. Apparently her information was wrong. She dropped her bag and nudged it under the bed before she joined the throng of passengers in the hallway.

  Within moments, the cabins had been cleared and the passengers herded to the dining hall, the only area on the ship large enough to hold them all.

  Tamara stumbled as she entered the dining hall. The pirate pointing a gun at her

  barely raised her blood pressure but the sight of the pirate captain nearly sent her to her knees. She recognized him.

  She had never expected to see Gage again. She’d reluctantly left him on a desolate

  patch of space dust. She’d abandoned him without warning. Clearly he’d escaped the

  space cop who had terrified her but she was sure Gage wouldn’t be happy with her.

  Just how much had he changed in the last three years? Why was he openly robbing

  a luxury cruiser? Where was the deft, subtle man she’d known? Robbing the Luxor

  Astra was a blatant display of criminality that didn’t fit the style she’d seen. When Tamara had been part of his crew, subtlety had been Gage’s trademark. Openly robbing the ship left him exposed. Somewhere on board a camera had caught an image of his face.

  He didn’t plan on destroying the ship, did he? Despite the fact that he had a temper that could flare into violence in a heartbeat with an edge that could cut glass, he’d never used violence if there was a way to avoid it. Some people called him a psychopath.

  Other people called him a sociopath. Tamara didn’t know if either diagnosis was correct but she knew that he could be a frightening man. While he didn’t like violence, he’d use it without hesitation if he thought it warranted. She’d once watched him smile—all

  grins and well met good fellows—just before he’d aimed a laser pistol and beamed the lethal ray directly into a man’s heart.

  Tamara wasn’t afraid of him but caution was warranted even as his presence

  excited her. Tamara kept her head bent and tried to huddle behind the other

  passengers. She focused on her breathing and told herself he wouldn’t recognize her.

  When they’d been together, she’d had long black hair and used dark brown eye tints.

  She’d had a different name and a different clothes style.

  Today she was all natural. Her short, blonde hair was nearly white and combined

  with her all-natural vivid green eyes her face looked very different than it had when they’d last been together. He wouldn’t recognize her. She just had to maintain her cool and not do anything stupid.

  But she couldn’t stop herself. From beneath lowered lashes, Tamara watched Gage.

  His brown jumpsuit should have looked drab but he filled it out in all the right places.

  He looked even more muscular than he had the last time she’d seen him. Not one hint of flab. He looked hard. He looked good as he dealt with the ship’s captain and some of the wealthier passengers. She shook her head as she watched them argue. That was a foolish thing to do. Gage had no tolerance for anyone who questioned his authority.

  While she watched, Gage pulled a laser gun out of his thigh holster and held it to

  the head of a passenger. His other hand held a data port tablet. He motioned and the passenger reluctantly took the pad. Gage waited. Tamara could see the man swallow hard and key in some data. Gage smiled and Tamara’s heart stumbled.

  In the three years they’d been apart, she’d managed to bury the memory of how

  devastat
ing his smile could be. It was a cold smile that reflected his intelligence and ruthlessness. His day-old beard, ice-blue eyes and blond hair, so dark it was almost brown, added to his aura of danger. Gage motioned to the next passenger. She had the horrible realization that he was going through passengers one by one, cleaning out their bank accounts. But she didn’t have any bank accounts. She had nothing to give him and

  that fact would draw his attention. Everyone had bank accounts, especially passengers on this cruise. She was doomed if she didn’t get out of here.

  She eyed the doorway. Three pirates stood guard. There was no escape in that

  direction. She looked back toward the galley area. It was dark and empty. None of the pirates were back there. If she could make it into the room, she was small enough that she might be able to hide in a cabinet. She slowly edged to the back of the mass of passengers. She almost made it. Then the mark she had been working spotted her.

  “Tara, what are we going to do?”

  Tamara cringed. The fool had shouted out the question using the name she’d given

  him as he pushed his way toward her. Just last night, she’d finally reeled John in. She remembered the scene on the observation deck.

  “Tara, this is for you,” John had said. He had held out a credit chip. “Your work is so important. I just want to be a part of it.”

  Tamara had swallowed her conscience and smiled. “Oh John you don’t have to do

  this.”

  “I know, but I want to. Take it,” he’d said as he grabbed her hand and placed the

  chip in it. He had closed her fingers around it. “I know you’ll use it wisely. The children need help and I’m glad you’re looking out for them.”

  She had fought conflicting urges. She’d wanted to run to the nearest credit machine to see how much she’d scammed from him. She had wanted to give the credit chip back to him. Her charity was a work of fiction and she felt guilty. But not that guilty.

  As were most of her marks, John was gullible. He could afford however much he’d

  given. So she had bitten back her feelings and continued smiling. John was a very rich trust fund baby. He’d never had to work. He’d never starved. He’d never really lived either and it was that deficiency that Tamara played.

  Tamara had never wanted to con people out of money but she was good at it. It was

  a living even if it might not be her preferred career choice.

  She’d been supporting herself for twelve years. She didn’t think she’d ever go

  straight and she doubted that she’d ever rely on anyone else to support her. She didn’t trust anyone that much. She’d come close with Gage but circumstances had forced her to abandon the one person she’d ever considered taking on as a partner.

  Alone was better. No one else to blame, no one else to consider. She could do

  whatever she wanted whenever she wanted and however she wanted. Besides, she only

  took from people who could afford the loss. She never scammed average people. They

  worked too hard. It was the rich who could afford her games.

  The rich who thought nothing of spending a year’s salary on wine or delicacies. The rich who thought they deserved their money when in reality most of them inherited what they had. Society had closed ranks and it was nearly impossible for the average person to advance. Even if by some small chance they made money, the system would make sure they paid in taxes or fees. Nothing came cheaply in Tamara’s world. It was a constant struggle. She’d done well over the years because she’d learned how to skim from the system.

  Scam the rich who would be too embarrassed to go to the police. She always

  selected marks like John. Basically nice guys who were too naive to check her out or become vicious. She never touched anyone who might be vindictive. That would be too dangerous. Some of the rich would think nothing of sending assassins after her. They didn’t care about the money. But they wouldn’t let anyone put one over on them.

  She’d made a fortune in the last few years. She’d seriously considered retiring but then this opportunity had dropped on her. She’d made the mistake of being overconfident and now she was trapped.

  She looked up to meet Gage’s intent stare. She quickly looked down. Maybe he

  hadn’t recognized her.

  Her hope was shattered when Gage stuck his laser pistol in his thigh holster and

  started walking toward her.

  “Tara,” John said, obviously getting agitated, “what do we do?”

  “John, go stand over there.” She jerked her head, indicating that he should move

  away, behind where she now stood. “I’ll protect you. It’s me he wants.”

  “But I can’t just abandon you.”

  Tamara threw him a quick glance. She hadn’t expected him to protect her and the

  sight of him trying to be brave touched her. She placed a hand on his arm and in a low, tight voice said, “I know this man. It would be better if you didn’t make it so obvious we know each other.”

  John gulped and moved away from her.

  Tamara turned back to Gage. He’d nearly made his way through the crowd. Only a

  few people stood between them. Tamara briefly considered fleeing but she knew she

  was doomed. She straightened her back and held herself stiff. Gage stopped just a

  breath away.

  “Suzette, Mary, Elizabeth, Jane and now Tara. You’re a woman of many names. It’s

  taken me a long time to track you down. You shouldn’t have used your real last name darling. That was a mistake that will cost you.” He grinned the teenage-boy smirk he used when he knew he’d won.

  Tamara’s eyes widened as Gage rattled off the list of aliases she’d used over the

  years. She hadn’t wanted to use her real name on this cruise but she hadn’t had time to get documentation that would hold up to the vetting process. The opportunities offered by the trip had been too good to pass up. She’d been greedy and now that greed would come home to haunt her. Gage not only knew who she was, it sounded as if he’d come here specifically looking for her.

  No point in trying to scam him. She sighed and tilted her chin, “Hello, Gage.”

  She wanted to cringe as he moved behind her but she wouldn’t give in to her fear.

  She stayed rigid as he circled an arm around her waist and pulled her back against his chest. She’d forgotten just how large and hard he was. How could she have forgotten?

  He was a head taller and he easily dwarfed her. His musky scent enveloped her,

  triggering a tightness in her chest.

  He hadn’t softened in the years they’d been apart. He was stronger now. The arm

  around her waist felt like steel. She could feel his cock pressing against her back. In the past, she’d managed to hold him off. They’d never had sex. She didn’t think that was likely this time.

  He bent his head and his deep, raspy voice whispered in her ear, “Did you really

  think I wouldn’t recognize you? I’ve been tracking you for three years. You’re mine now and you’ll pay for what you did to me.”

  Tamara frowned. What was he talking about? But before she could question him, he

  continued.

  “Did you really think you could escape me forever?” He flexed his arm,

  emphasizing her vulnerability.

  Tamara’s heart thumped. She’d seen this side of Gage before but never aimed at

  her. He was angry with her. What was his problem? He shouldn’t be this angry.

  She’d left him but she’d left the score behind too. A few million should have bought off his anger at her leaving. They’d never promised to stay together. She’d never given in to his seductions. His ego wasn’t that fragile. Sure he’d wanted her but simple wanting didn’t account for the rage she felt emanating off him.

  He bent his head and nuzzled her hair while he whispered, “Say something

  darling.”
r />   His arm around her waist tightened until she found it hard to take a breath. What

  should she say? She knew that one wrong word would trigger him. Then his rage

  would explode in a blazingly fast physical action. An action that was often devastating to the target of his anger. She had to stay calm. She had to reason with him.

  “Why are you so angry with me Gage?”

  His arm tightened more and Tamara’s ribs felt like they’d crack soon.

  “You know why. No one steals from me. I know you’re a liar. I know you’re a con

  artist. Yet I still trusted you. How stupid was I? Did you laugh at me like you do at that

  mark over there?” He kissed the side of her neck. “Did you really think I’d let you get away with stealing our score.”

  Shock kept Tamara motionless. She’d left with her clothes and nothing else. Stealing the score? Is that what he thought she’d done? No wonder he was so angry. She hadn’t touched it. She’d left it sitting for him. But if he didn’t have it, who did? She had a sinking feeling she knew what had happened but Gage would never believe her.

  Gage circled a hand around her throat. He didn’t tighten it but Tamara’s gut

  clenched. She couldn’t fight him so she did the only thing possible. She leaned her head back against his chest, exposing her neck even more. For a moment, she felt protected by his hard body until she yanked herself back to the present. “You don’t want to hear what I have to say. You know I’m not strong enough to fight you. You’re in command Gage. Do what you will.”

  She felt Gage’s muscles tighten and thought she was doomed. But then he relaxed.

  “You’ll not escape that easily.”

  Gage motioned to one of the other pirates. “Finish up here. I’ll meet you back

  onboard. Make it quick.”

  The man nodded.

  “Where’s your stash? Show it to me,” Gage said.

  “It’s too soon. I don’t have anything.”