“I’m glad to welcome you to the Syndicate,” I began. “Some time ago, I was one of you, a member of the Association that did whatever was demanded of me for fear that my family would be hurt, tortured, or murdered in cold blood. Credare thought that he owned us and could demand whatever he wanted from us. But, not anymore,” I said, finding my strength intensifying with every word. I squeezed Bane’s hand in return, and I saw his lips tip up in a smile.
“Now, I think it’s about time to turn this ship around,” Bane commanded, and every guard rushed to obey him. Some were even grinning as they did so. Others looked relieved. Before I knew it, the ship’s engines were humming with the effort to stop the currently programmed trajectory. I felt the ship begin to slow and then it took a wide loop to return back to Dryac.
I sighed in relief.
“Good work, Cara,” Bane said as his arm snaked around my waist. He pulled me close and I let him, enjoying the feeling of his warmth at my side.
“I know. I just really wanted to make sure you kept your promise,” I teased, and he chuckled. I pressed my thighs together, still keenly aware of my nakedness beneath my skirt. His arm dropped to my hip, caressing me through the fabric of my clothes, almost like he was reminding me that he knew I was bare for him.
I still remembered that my panties were in his pocket.
I licked my lips and sighed with contentment.
“I always keep my promises, Cara. You should know that by now. Perhaps you need a stern reminder over my knee first, don’t you, little girl?” he whispered into my ear and I shuddered beside him.
“Yes, sir,” I murmured, and I knew everything was right again.
* * *
It took nearly an hourfor the ship to return to Dryac. The former Association guards doted on the two of us in the meantime, fetching us both a glass of whiskey to celebrate. I sipped mine, enjoying the burning sensation as it cascaded down my throat whereas Bane drank his in a single long draw. I chuckled and he winked at me.
“What made you think I could take on Credare all by myself?” I asked him then.
“I know you. You’re strong. Independent. Feisty and if anyone deserved killing, he did, and I thought that you had earned the right to do so. You were also the only one he was going to let close to him. Not me,” he replied with a wink.
I smiled and my heart pulsed in my chest.
“Thank you for that,” I said, taking another sip of my drink while Bane put his empty glass down onto a nearby table.
The two of us watched as the crew rushed to prepare the ship to land again. It didn’t take much longer and when we arrived, Bane led me by the hand down to the cargo bay. The door opened and the gangway slowly pressed against the dirt below.
When our feet touched the ground of Dryac once more, Bane turned around and addressed the men.
“Welcome to my home. Enjoy and stay as long as you like,” he said, and a round of excited nods voiced their approval. He took my hand again and led me to where a sky shuttle was waiting for the two of us.
“Just like old times,” I murmured as we climbed inside.
I sat down and looked out the window, watching as the shuttle climbed into the air and soared toward his home. In no time at all, we had landed in the street right in front of his house to find a fair number of Syndicate guards waiting for us. The looks on their faces ranged from concern to excitement to see him again. Once Bane climbed out of the shuttle, their expressions relaxed and they stiffened, eagerly awaiting his command.
Bane coaxed me along behind him before he addressed his men.
“See to it that the two of us aren’t disturbed for a good long while,” he demanded, and I had to hide the fact that his words had made me smile. He pulled me forward by the hand and led me into the house. The sound of the door closing behind me was deafening at the same time as it was arousing. The two of us were finally alone.
I didn’t say a word. Instead, I waited for him.
He came up behind me, reaching around my waist to unbuckle my jacket. Slowly, he pulled the fabric from my body, baring my arms in the process. His fingers only just brushed against my breasts and I sucked in a nervous breath. Next he removed my top by dragging it over top of my head and liquid heat gathered between my thighs. Then he unhooked my bra from behind and slowly slid the straps from my shoulders, baring my breasts in a single smooth motion.
I breathed in a shaky breath and closed my eyes.
He reached around my hips then, unbuckling my belt and letting it fall to the floor. Next he unbuttoned my skirt and pushed it down past my thighs, leaving me in only my boots. Walking around me, he knelt down in front of me and unlaced my boots, pulling them off and depositing them by the door.
He didn’t say a word as he undressed me, but his quiet confidence said everything. He was going to do whatever he wanted with me.
I tried to breathe as he pulled off my socks, very well aware of the fact that his head was just inches away from my naked pussy.
“I can smell you, Cara. I know your little pussy is wet for me,” he murmured, and I shivered with shame. A quiver raced down my spine and even more liquid heat gathered between my legs, making my inner thighs slick with it.
I sucked in a breath and caught my lower lip with my teeth. My body warmed with arousal and my heart began to beat faster in my chest.