Tamara's Future Read online

  What now? Gage had been right. The worms had taught her of the pleasures that

  her body could produce. Even the thought of them was enough to send the blood

  rushing back to her nipples and pelvis. But that didn’t mean it would be the same with a man. She looked down at her nipples. Were they larger than before or was that her imagination? They weren’t painful but they ached for a touch. She briefly debated experimenting. The chain was long enough. Instead she just groaned with need. Even

  thinking about the worms made her vagina clench.

  In desperation, she reached up and found the lock pick stashed in her hair. It was

  the work of a few moments to gain her freedom.

  “You should not be free,” a voice came from the doorway.

  “Fakzi, I just want to take a shower.”

  Fakzi cocked her head. “That is not all you want to do.”

  “You won’t stop me because my intentions are pure.”

  “You are learning. You are right. Take your shower. I will not stop you.”

  The decadent ship had real water showers. She turned it on and stepped inside. The

  hot water sluiced down her breasts. Tamara hissed and nearly fell to her knees when the water hit her nipples and created a tingling need. She ignored the sensation and finished her shower.

  Tamara toweled dry and then walked back into the bedroom. Under a corner of the

  bed she spotted her go-bag. Serendipity. Gage knew she always kept it under the bed.

  How generous of him to put it where she could find it. She smiled. She pulled it out and found a couple of items. With a devilish grin she walked to the prison room. It was a matter of seconds to lift a couple of copies of Gage’s hand print. Within two minutes she was in the room. She shuddered. She hoped Gage would never lock her up again but if

  he did, he’d be the one who would be surprised. The micro-thin, black laminate film was invisible on the bottom of the cage. She hid another copy near the door and a lock pick near the chains. She wouldn’t stay in this room again.

  She turned to walk out of the room. Fakzi stood blocking her way. She’d been right, Fakzi could stand on two legs but she’d been wrong about his height. He stood a foot taller than Tamara. Tamara cocked her head and stared up into Fakzi’s cat-slit eyes while she stood motionless. She hadn’t quite realized that Fakzi could be so scary. Fakzi bared his teeth as if grinning then did a back flip and let Tamara leave the prison room.

  Tamara just stared for a moment. Fakzi’s fur had led her to underestimate the

  creature. A back-flip was such a human boy-type of thing to do. Coming from the liock, the motion was jarring. What else could Fakzi do? Tamara shook her head and went back to the bedroom.

  Tamara climbed back into the bed. With a grimace, she refastened the chains. It

  wouldn’t do for Gage to find her free. Tamara looked at Fakzi. “I am back where Gage left me.”

  “Yes but I should tell Gage what you have done.”

  Tamara stared at Fakzi.

  “But I will not tell unless he asks me a direct question. I am interested to see how you two resolve your conflicts.”

  *

  Gage paused outside the door to his cabin. Two days gone. He had five more days

  to convince Tamara she wanted to have sex with him. He smiled, confident that he’d

  win. He’d left Tamara boneless with exhaustion. She should be recovered by now so he could continue his campaign.

  Then doubt crept into his mind. Was he doing the right thing? He leaned his head

  against the door. He hadn’t told her that if she hadn’t run, she would have been swept up with the rest of the criminals. He had lured her into his clutches for the sole purpose

  of using her to capture a band of criminals. He would have arrested her. In many ways, he was glad she’d escaped the first time. This time she wouldn’t find it so easy to leave.

  He hadn’t told her that he’d validated part of her story. He hadn’t told her his new plan. Should he? So many men had lied to her. He didn’t want to be another one. He wanted to tell her the truth but she didn’t trust him yet. He’d given her pleasure. She hadn’t faked her response to him. She was gradually coming around. If he leveled with her now, it might destroy everything he was trying to build. He could keep it secret just a little longer. He had to lie to her. He wouldn't tell her he was a cop. Not yet. Though the lying made him uncomfortable he didn’t see a way around it.

  Truth is powerful.

  Yes, Fakzi, I know, but if I tell her now, I’ll lose her. I can’t take that chance.

  Your decision, Gage. I will back your play unless she asks me a direct question.

  Thank you, Fakzi.

  Not many people knew just how powerful liocks were and he’d promised to protect

  Fakzi’s secret. Time to continue with Tamara. Gage smiled and palmed the door open.

  Gage walked in and sat down on the edge of the bed. Tamara looked so delicious.

  She smelled different. How had she gotten clean?

  She took a shower.

  Obviously. How did she get out of the chains?

  Fakzi stared and remained silent.

  She’s dangerous, Fakzi. Don’t unlock her again.

  Humans like being clean.

  Placing a hand on Tamara’s shoulder, he woke her and said, “I see you had a brief

  taste of freedom. Do you feel better now?”

  “Do you really need to keep me chained up? We’re in space,” she said nodding

  toward the viewport. “Where would I go?”

  “I tied you up because I think you’ll run the first chance you get and we’re not done yet. This way, I always know where you are.” He smiled and placed a hand on her breast.

  Tamara gasped. His simple touch brought back the feeling of the worms in full

  force.

  His grin widened. “It’s not well known but the effect can last for a couple of days and this proves my point about recreating the sensations.” He bent his head to a nipple and gently licked it before sucking it into his mouth.

  Tamara hissed with pent-up need. Despite all the orgasms she’d had, Gage’s actions

  instantly brought back her desire. Before she could reach for him, he stood and moved to the foot of the bed.

  Gage threaded his powerful arms under her legs and pulled her down. That’s why

  the restraints that bound her wrists were so long, she realized. They weren’t so she’d have some freedom of movement. They were designed so she could be stretched, her arms high over her head. Her butt rested on the edge of the bed and Gage stood

  between her legs. She felt his cock through his pants as it touched her cunt. With a twinge of disappointment she realized he could now fuck her, just like every other man she’d ever known.

  He surprised her when he went to his knees. He trailed soft kisses down one leg

  before moving her foot and fastening something soft around her ankle. He did the same to the other leg. She flexed her muscles but she couldn’t move.

  The stroke of his finger on her clitoris was so soft it felt like a gentle wind.

  “Gage…”

  “Relax, darling. I’m not going to hurt you.”

  “That’s more frightening than rape.”

  “Why, because you might like it? You’ve discovered the wonders of orgasms. Don’t

  you want more?”

  Gage bent his head and licked her clitoris. Tamara bit back a moan. One lick and

  her clitoris ached for another touch. She didn’t want to believe him. If she let him pierce her numbness, would she become dependent on him? She fought to hold on to that thought as Gage gently inserted a finger into her vagina at the same time he sucked her clitoris into his mouth.

  She couldn’t stop her muscles from clenching on his finger. Heaviness built in her

  pelvis. She tried to squirm and he placed his other hand on her belly, holding her still as h
e sucked on her clit. His assault was relentless but gentle. Tamara felt moisture gathering in her vagina as his finger slowly circled deep inside.

  The suction of his mouth soon had her moaning and she nearly screamed at him

  when he pulled back and blew on her nub.

  She raised her head a little and looked down the line of her body at Gage’s head

  buried between her legs. She was helpless but he seemed to be worshiping her

  womanhood and the sight was deeply erotic. She felt his tongue against her clit and his finger in her cunt and she felt connected to him in a way she didn’t understand.

  As if sensing her confusion, he raised his head a little. His blue eyes darkened as he inserted another finger into her vagina.

  She couldn’t hold on. The sensations were too intense. They felt good. Why fight

  them? Her head fell back. Gage’s fingers went in and out. She tightened every muscle she could as she tried to hold him deep inside. His hard, warm fingers seemed to touch an emptiness she’d never needed filled before.

  He continued his relentless assault. Licking and sucking at the same time his fingers moved in and out. Tamara lost herself in the pleasure building in her pelvis. His touch was so different than the touch of the other men. Gentle but firm, not painful. Erotic and intoxicating. She rode the rush higher and higher until she thought she’d reached escape velocity. Her buttocks clenched as the tension continued rising. Her breath came in short pants until finally every muscle in her body tightened before exploding in a

  rush. The orgasm was violent but pleasurable. The release of the tension he’d wound tight left her gasping.

  Gage crawled up her body as she lay boneless and breathless from her release. She

  felt his rigid cock. The touch woke every nerve ending. She held her breath, waiting for the pain to come. Instead Gage lightly kissed both nipples and rolled to the side. He snaked his arms around her and pulled her close, dropping a light kiss on her forehead.

  His gentle actions nearly undid her.

  “Only pleasure darling. No pain. Only pleasure. You will surrender to me.”

  Tamara eyed the large bulge in Gage’s pants.

  He noticed her gaze and said, “Yes I want you. That doesn’t mean I’ll take you

  before you are ready.”

  “Why should I believe you?”

  “Have I hurt you?”

  “The corset bruised my ribs.”

  Gage laughed. “But it heightened your pleasure at the same time, didn’t it? Bruised ribs can’t begin to compare to the pleasure I’ve given you. Pleasure you hadn’t expected and had never experienced before.”

  “Yes,” she sighed.

  “Then trust me when I say I won’t take you before you’re ready.”

  “And if I’m never ready? You promised you’d let me go.”

  Gage’s smile widened. “You’ll be ready before the week is out. I guarantee that.”

  Faced with Gage’s confidence, Tamara almost crumbled. He was so cocky, so sure

  of himself. How could anyone be convinced that they’d always win? Hadn’t he ever

  lost?

  Tamara took a deep breath. It felt like the world had disappeared and only the two

  of them were left. Only this moment was important. Could she continue to deny them

  the pleasure he promised? Just as she was about to ask that question, the ship’s alarm went off.

  “Fakzi, protect Tamara!” Gage yelled as he raced out of the room.

  “Fakzi, I need to be free. I don’t want to be trapped if we’re in danger.”

  “I will protect you. If need arises I will free you, or you may free yourself, but there is no need just yet,” Fakzi replied as he crawled into bed next to Tamara. “I will keep you safe.”

  She felt Fakzi’s soft fur and warmth.

  Tamara wanted to scream but the target of her anger was gone and she wouldn’t

  take her frustration out on Fakzi. She decided to stay in bed and think of a way out of this mess.

  *

  Gage exploded on to the command deck. Red-alert lights flashed in the dimmed

  command center. Three crewmen manned the scanners. One at communications, one at

  weapons, and one at the helm. David stood in the center. The area was one of contained tension. “Report!” Gage shouted.

  “There are three needle-class ships trying to box us in,” David said.

  “Where did they come from and how did they find us?”

  “No idea. They’ve launched missiles.”

  “Evasive action.”

  A jarring thump rattled the ship, followed quickly by another one.

  “Two glancing hits,” reported the crewman at the communications station.

  “Any communication from them?”

  “Nothing. I tried hailing but got no response.”

  “Captain, our shields are down five percent from the glancing blows. Whatever

  weapons they’re using will break through after a few more hits.”

  “This is a Mercury . Even against three, we outclass them. Power up our

  missiles.”

  “Already done, Captain.”

  “Fire at will.”

  The first shot missed.

  “Damn they’re fast, Captain. Those aren’t standard engines for that class ship.”

  “We’ve got the best technology in the galaxy. Think faster.”

  “Aye-aye, Sir.”

  Another glancing blow caught their shields, followed quickly by a second hit. The

  second hit was direct. The lights flickered and the ship shook. A third hit caused sparks to fly.

  “Shields are down fifty percent, Captain.” The weapons master’s voice cracked as

  he tried to shout above the noise caused by various electrical devices discharging and the alarms that had started ringing. The sparks had triggered a few small fires and the smoke alarms contributed to the general mayhem.

  The weapons master remained focused. While his first missile had missed, the

  second caught an enemy ship broadside. Fire rippled through the inside of the ship

  before the vacuum of space extinguished it. In deadly silence the ship slowly floated apart in thousands of pieces.

  The second ship fired another missile. It was a direct hit but the Mercury’s shields held. Before the ship could fire again, Gage’s weapons officer fired and the second ship blew apart. The third ship turned and fled. He was out of range before the weapons master could fire another shot.

  “Communication from the escaping ship, Sir,” the communications officer said.

  “Hold for a moment. Scan for more ships.”

  “Nothing, Sir. We’re clear.”

  “What’s the damage?”

  “Our shields have taken some heavy hits. They’ll take at least four hours to repair.

  No hull breaches though. Lots of little electrical fires and repair work.”

  “Can we fly?”

  “Captain,” David said, “we don’t know if the hyperdrive can handle the damage.”

  Chapter Eight

  “That’s not what I asked. Can we fly?”

  “Yes, Sir. Not at full power but we can fly.”

  Gage walked over to the pilot’s station. “Move.” The pilot jumped out of his chair.

  Gage sat down and started pressing buttons. He spent five minutes working the

  calculations before he nodded and stood.

  He motioned to the pilot. “The course is laid in. Take us to hyperdrive and let the autopilot control the ship.”

  “Captain, we don’t know if it is safe.”

  “Well it’s certainly not safe here. Do it.”

  “Yes, Sir. Engaging—”

  Gage didn’t wait for the pilot to finish.

  “David you know what I want. Comm, send that message to the briefing room,”

  Gage said before he left the command deck.

  Gage entered the b
riefing room and slammed the lights off. They didn’t need any

  more of an energy drain. He flicked on the comm viewer and accessed the message

  from the enemy ship. He paled. What did it mean?

  Gage stood and stared out the briefing room viewport. He frowned. Three ships

  clearly outclassed by his. Why would they attack? What had they hoped to gain? Who

  knew their flight path? They’d taken his ship by surprise. They could have destroyed it before he even knew they were there. But they hadn’t. They’d tried to box him in and failed. The message was an explanation of sorts but what did it mean?

  How had they been found? It could only be a leak from his ship or from command.

  Neither possibility was thrilling. It meant someone was working against him. He had

  been betrayed. Gage paced for a few moments then he stopped. He threw his head back as if sniffing something rotten. “How did they know where we were? Only space command knew our route. Who told? How did they find us?” He said, grilling David

  when he entered the room.

  “Gage—”

  “No. You know we hid our route well. There was no ion trail. There was no hint.

  There was no way we could have been followed.” Gage’s voice was tight with anger.

  He ran his hand through his hair and paced back and forth. “Who betrayed us David?”

  “I checked the comms. The leak didn’t come from us.”

  “Are you positive? Can you say with one-hundred-percent certainty that Tamara

  didn’t send the message?” Gage demanded.

  “No message was sent from this ship. Gage you’re not thinking clearly. You’ve kept

  her captive. How could she send a message?”

  “She was free for a brief period. And why did one of the ships send that message to us?” Gage asked as he pointed to the comm.

  David viewed the message. “What the—”

  “Who knows where we are? Who has access to those ships? They’re the needle

  ships that were confiscated from Captain James three months ago. Who knows we have