Grabbed by Vicious (9 page)

the trade of food stuffs and other goods and, of course,

women.

“Will you be away all day?”

He stroked her back. “Yes. If I can steal away for lunch,

I will, but it’s likely you’ll have to eat that meal alone. For

that, I apologize.”

“It’s all right. I understand.”

He believed she truly did and thanked his lucky stars

he’d chosen such an independent and considerate woman.

“What am I supposed to do all day?” She glanced

around his spacious quarters. “It won’t take me long to

clean.”

He frowned. “You will not clean my quarters.”

She looked surprised. “But I’m your bride.”

“I have a cleaning service.”

“Cancel it.”

“What?” He didn’t understand her desire to clean their

shared space. “It’s no problem, Hallie, and costs nothing.”

“But this is my home now. I should keep it tidy for us.”

He started to argue with her but wondered if he hadn’t

wounded her pride in some way. Women from her planet

were raised extremely traditionally. The home was their

domain. Memories of his mother resurfaced. Though she’d

been a pureblooded Harcos woman, she’d taken so much

pride in creating a beautiful, welcoming home for her

family. “All right. I’ll cancel the service, if that will make

you happy.” He caressed her cheek. “But if you decide

you’d like to turn over the housekeeping to someone else,

you need only ask. The cleaning crews do a very good

job.”

She glanced around the room with a critical eye. “If you

say so…”

He smiled at her little dig. His gaze dropped to his

watch. “I have to go soon. Let me give you the quick tour

and explain the control consoles.”

She followed him around his quarters and paid close

attention when he pointed out the various control pads

around the apartment. They were all touchscreen and

voice-activation capable. When he started to walk her

through the entertainment screens, she rolled her eyes and

stopped him. “Just because I’m ignorant of technology

doesn’t mean I don’t know how to read, Vicious. I’m not

illiterate.”

Abashed, he hastily apologized. “I’m sorry, Hallie. I

didn’t mean to offend you.”

She crossed her arms. “I can do math too, you know.”

He smiled now. “Yes, I’m sure you can.”

She narrowed her eyes. “I may not have had the same

access to schools that you did but I found a way to learn

the things I was denied. I’m not stupid.”

His smile disappeared. He reached for her and dragged

her into his arms. He kissed the top of her head and rubbed

her arm. “I never said you were. I’m sorry if I made you

feel belittled.”

“I won’t embarrass you,” she promised, her voice

muffled by his chest.

“Hallie,” he whispered, his heart aching for her. When

he’d shown her his office just a few moments ago, he’d

noticed her gaze lingering on his wall of commendations

and diplomas and degrees. He’d been lucky enough to earn

a coveted spot in the military university and had studied

hard. He knew firsthand that his educational background

had opened up doors for him that even his talents as a

battle commander never would have.

Was she afraid that he would think less of her for her

lack of a formal education? Or was it even deeper than

that? Was it a fear of embarrassing him in front of his

superiors by making some misstep? He knew there were

some who would criticize him for taking a so-called

backwater bride instead of going through one of the

Harcos matchmaking services, but he’d always known he

wanted a bride of new blood. He had every confidence in

Hallie.

“I like you just the way you are, Kitten. You don’t need

a degree to earn my respect. It’s already yours.”

She wrapped her arms around his waist and embraced

him tightly. “You’re really good at saying the right thing.”

He snorted in amusement and combed his fingers

through her hair. “We’ll see if you think that in a week.”

She laughed. “I’d say the odds aren’t in your favor.”

“Not at all,” he agreed with a smile. Though he hated to

go, he knew it was time. “I have to report to the bridge,

Hallie. Use the communication console to contact me if

there’s any kind of problem. Report any emergencies the

same way.” He touched her collar. “You aren’t allowed

free rein on the ship for some time yet. You are to stay

inside our quarters unless I’m escorting you. Is that

understood?”

She nodded dutifully. “Yes.”

“There are men on this ship who are desperate for

wives, Hallie. Please understand that I’m not trying to

keep you sequestered for no good reason. Also, it’s

tradition for a bride to remain unseen for the first month.

We wouldn’t want bad luck, would we?”

She smiled at his teasing question. “No, definitely not.”

“If there’s an emergency of some kind, the doors will

open automatically.” He took her hand and led her to the

entranceway of their apartment. He touched the screen

there and brought up the emergency exit plans. He opened

a small cubbyhole hidden behind an emergency placard

and showed her a flat metallic card. “This is an emergency

override key. It will open any door on this ship.” He

tapped the screen and brought up a map. “Follow the red

lights to this rendezvous site. If I’m not able to reach you,

one of my men will see to your safety. They’ll protect you

and keep you safe for me.”

She gripped his hand. “Is that likely? I mean, does that

happen often?”

He shook his head and cupped her face. “No, Kitten, but

I want you prepared just in case. We’re in a war. There

are no guarantees.”

“I understand.” She studied the emergency plans, no

doubt committing them to memory as easily as she had the

Grab maps. “What about you? How will you get off the

ship if we take fire?”

“There are escape pods available in the upper decks for

the officers. You needn’t worry about me.” But it touched

him that she did.

Her fingernails bit into his skin. “You’re not one of

those go-down-with-the-ship types, right?”

“No.” He could see the fear in her eyes. Her silent plea

reached him loud and clear.
Please don’t leave me
. “I’m a

colonel, not an admiral. This ship is under the command of

the sky fleet. I’m a land corps man.”

Her brow furrowed in confusion. “Is there a book I can

read or something? A manual, maybe?”

“There is, actually. You can access it on one of the

devices in the living area.” He glanced at his watch and

grimaced. “All right. I have to go. I’ll have lunch dropped

at the door.” He tipped her chin and forced her gaze to

meet his. “You will eat everything on that tray.”

“What if I don’t like it?”

He considered her query. “All right. You may choose to

not eat one item.”

She didn’t look happy about the stipulation but didn’t

fight him. “All right.”

“Good.” His gaze moved over her. “Now take off the

shirt.”

“What?” She touched her chest. “But then I’ll be

naked.”

“That’s the point.”

“But it’s daylight.”

“And?”

“And I can’t go running around your home naked all

day!”

“You can and you will.”

“Vicious…”

“Hallie.” He spoke her name firmly, his tone brooking

no refusal. She glared at him but peeled out of the shirt and

handed it over. His appreciative gaze traveled her curves.

“Beautiful.”

“I feel ridiculous.”

“You should feel sexy.” His hand snuck out and dragged

her tight to his chest. “You
are
sexy.” His hand drifted to

her tight little ass. He gave it a playful swat and she

yelped. He soothed the red spot with his palm and kissed

her lovingly. “I want you to get comfortable with your

body, Hallie.”

“By walking around naked all day?” She glanced at the

door. “What if someone comes by? And what about

lunch?”

He handed her the shirt. “You may put on the shirt to

answer the door for your food delivery. No one else will

come by my quarters so you don’t need to worry.”

“Just this shirt?” She gazed at the too-large item of

clothing. “Can’t I have some shorts?”

“That depends on what you’re willing to do for them,”

he countered. He wondered how far she was willing to

take their negotiations.

She chewed her lower lip and shook her head. “Never

mind.”

He laughed at her response. What in the world had she

conjured in that mind of hers? Probably something much

worse than he’d intended. “Come here and give me a

kiss.”

She rose on tiptoes and pressed her lips to his. He

deepened the kiss and suddenly wished he could say the

hell with duty and carry her back to his bed. Growling, he

pulled away from her mouth and touched his burning lips

to her forehead. “I’ll see you this evening.”

Certain he wouldn’t be able to walk away if he lingered

even a moment longer, he patted her bare bottom and

quickly left his quarters. He waited to hear the three beeps

signaling the lock had engaged behind him. It wasn’t that

he didn’t trust Hallie. She was a smart young woman who

wouldn’t knowingly put herself in danger. No, he just

didn’t trust all the other swinging dicks on this ship.

As he stepped into the elevator at the end of the

hallway, he silently willed the hours of the workday to go

faster. He wanted Hallie—and he wanted her now.

Chapter Five

Hallie stared at the bed and let those amazing memories

of her first night with Vicious invade her mind. Of all the

things she’d been expecting, the passionate awakening of

her sexuality hadn’t been one of them. Under his masterful

hands, she’d come to realize the depths of sensuality. That

man, that big, scary stranger, had worked her body with

such skill. Even now, it made her breathless just to

remember his touch.

She eyed the chain mount that he’d partially destroyed

last night. This morning, he’d picked up the chain and

taken it into the room where he’d kept her restrained. She

didn’t ask why he’d changed his mind about her wearing it

and he hadn’t volunteered his reason. Something had

happened between them in that moment last night.

Even though it had killed her to hook that chain to her

collar, to submit to his whims and to basically make

herself his pet, she’d done it. He’d shown her such

patience and tenderness. She’d been dreading the moment

he would take her and make her his wife in full but he’d

made the experience so beautiful and satisfying. After

what he’d given her, she thought it only right to give him

something in return.

When he’d jerked the chain free, she’d been stunned.

His sweet kisses and gentle caresses when he’d joined her

in bed drove away any worries she’d had about upsetting

him. Maybe he didn’t need that kind of total submission

after all.

Her gaze drifted back to the bed. When she’d asked

about the laundry after their morning shower, Vicious had

mentioned that most of his things were bagged and taken to

the laundry by the cleaning crew. She pulled back the

cover on the hastily made bed and saw the rumpled and

stained sheets. Heat flooded her cheeks at the sight of

pale-pink streaks. The evidence of their coupling stared

her in the face. She quickly jerked the sheets from the bed

and bundled them up in her arms. It was a strange thing to

feel so embarrassed by but she couldn’t help it. Some

things were private and this was one of them. She really

didn’t want strangers in a central laundry facility gawking

at the sheets upon which they’d consummated their bond.

Hallie made her way to the small room off the kitchen

where Vicious had briefly pointed out the laundry

facilities for their private use. She studied the strange

contraptions. He hadn’t explained how they worked. She

figured he’d probably never used them. They sure didn’t

look as if they’d ever been in use.

She tapped the touchscreen pad mounted on the wall

next to the two box-like devices. A variety of options

popped up, all of them confusing. She suddenly yearned