Page 93 of Tempting Jupiter
“Your pack—”
“Would never stand in the way of mates.” The source of that voice stood nearby. Mercury, their leader had tucked an arm around Samantha. Lo stood on the other side of her. Midnight black hair in a silken curtain brushed their shoulders. Alert ears flicked as she took them in. Lo was all dark brooding good looks with reddish black eyes. Mercury was almost as big as Jupiter, but not as beautiful as Seneca. He released Samantha and stepped forward with a smile. “We haven’t been properly introduced. I am Mercury. Welcome to our pack.”
“Thanks, but—”
Mercury laughed, a sexy rumble that rolled through the room. “Stubborn.” He lifted his gaze to Jupiter. “You are blessed my brothers. A stubborn mate can bring great joy to your life.”
“We are well aware,” agreed Jupiter.
Mercury nodded then returned his attention to Feeona. “Jupiter and Seneca have told me about your world. Cruelty, it seems, is not limited to Roma.”
She’d seen far too much cruelty in every corner of the sector. “No. It isn’t, but there is also kindness everywhere.”
Over her shoulder, Jupiter muttered. “Optimist.”
“Thank you for that reminder, my sister.” Mercury leaned back and rubbed at his neck. “Nevertheless, it seems we have much work ahead of us. Both our people need us.”
“No matter what I do,” she said. “It never feels like enough.”
“I understand the weight of your burden. This I know,” Mercury met her gaze directly. “Together we are stronger. Together we will do more than we could do apart. Together we will find a way to free them all.”
They each understood the burden and they each needed to do more. It was a solid foundation for an alliance.
They all closed in around her. That’s when she realized Creek and Knock were missing, but she supposed someone had to be minding the ship.
Mercury barked loud and strong. “Together we will free your people and mine. We will do what it takes or die. As Arena Dogs.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
TheHawley
EarthAllianceBetaSector
2210.193
They’d all been working non-stop for several days. Feeona liked them all. It felt good to be part of a team and she hadn’t seen any sign of mistrust from any of them. It surprised her and made her want to be worthy of that trust.
They’d put her in charge of handling the auction guests they’d captured on that first day on theAbundance. The fact that they’d all been there to buy slaves won them no friends among the Dogs. She’d released them all… after extorting as much treasure as she could from each of them. If they were going to war on two fronts, they would need all the funds they could get. The Dogs saw the logic of that.
Samantha, with the help of the human pilots that had been traveling with her, had taken charge of theAbundanceand its crew. In addition to being a pilot herself, Samantha seemed to understand how a big ship ran. Which staff was essential and which were not. The Dogs had helped her screen the crew and decide who could be trusted. The rest were being put off at the closest port they could reach.
Tonight, though, she and Seneca and Jupiter were back on the Hawley. Home. And heading back to the Agrove Colony. They were visiting or picking up Toby—his choice—before they rendezvoused with the others at the resistance base. They were safely in skipspace and would be for another thirty-six hours.
Feeona wrapped her arms around Jupiter’s neck as he carried her up the stairs to her room… their room. She liked the sound of that. Unlike weeks ago when they first met, this time Seneca led the way. He had the door open and a shower already running when Jupiter set her on her feet. She reached out and pressed her hand over his heart. His heartbeat was strong and steady. Hers was weak with want. She wanted them both every moment. “Can you have truly forgiven me?”
“There was nothing to forgive.” He lifted her tunic and pulled it up over her head and off.
“Fucking would be a good way to move past it,” Seneca volunteered with a snicker.
She mock-scowled at him over her shoulder. “You just want sex.”
His slender white eyebrows lifted. “Doesn’t everyone?” He chuckled and they all joined in.
But she couldn’t let it go. When their laughter quieted and the steam from the shower warmed the room, leaving a fine layer of moisture on her skin, she framed Jupiter’s face with her hands. “You can’t mean that. It can’t be that easy to forget what I did.”
Jupiter wrapped his big palms around her ribs, just below her breasts. “I respect your need to keep your obligations to the children. And through it all, you did the best you could to keep us safe.”
Seneca came up behind her and slipped his arms around her. His hands moved to the fastening of her pants. “But you’re our mate now.” He nipped her ear before pulling her pants and briefs down her legs. His hands caressed her thighs as he straightened and pressed his naked skin against hers. “From now on, no secrets. We work as a team.”
