Tangled Shadows Read online

  Her attention focused on the other man. Nikolai walked back to their table, grinning like a lunatic. He kissed Galen smack on the lips and flopped down in the chair. “I love playing matchmaker.”

  Galen smiled and his partner’s love ran through Nikolai like sunshine. “She’s stopped looking.”

  Nikolai followed Galen’s nudge and studied their prey just as she raised her head again. He captured her purple-blue gaze in his and unlocked his aura, sending sexual power straight at her.

  She stiffened and her nipples tightened further. He bet her pussy creamed right now, but the sparkle that had lit up her eyes when they stepped inside the bar had disappeared.

  He relaxed his control some more. Her head dropped back, but her eyes remained untouched. He frowned. It was as if her shield guarded her from the full impact of his sexual aura. And he couldn’t even determine why he cared.

  But he did.

  She appeared distracted.

  “What happened?”

  “I’m not sure,” Galen said. “She’d been on the com. Bad news, maybe.” Nikolai grabbed his glass. “Let’s meet her.” Without waiting for Galen he marched over to the gorgeous brunette, who’d dropped her gaze away from them. “May we join you?”

  Her head shot up and he captured her eyes with his. “Well, hello,” she muttered.

  Nikolai’s lips twitched.

  “Not sure I’d want to sit with you,” she said, her voice taking on a layer of huskiness that rasped across Nikolai’s body like a lick.

  He tilted his head.

  She propped her elbows on the table. “Thing is, I’m not a big fan of look-don’t-touch.”

  11

  Galen put his arm around his shoulders. “Who said you couldn’t touch?” She reacted as if they’d hit her with lightning, only this time her eyes mirrored the heat.

  Nikolai leaned closer.

  Goose bumps covered Brooke’s arms below the short sleeves.

  “Maybe we’re looking for company,” Nikolai said.

  Brooke burnt from the inside. It was as if solar flares flashed through her, racing from one end of her body to the other. And he only looked at her.

  She studied the male gods in front of her. “Company?” For a second she imagined what it would feel like to actually be touched by Nikolai and Galen. They would help her forget her worries for a few hours. Guaranteed.

  Shame they didn’t play for the right team.

  Nikolai’s grin turned wicked. “What do you think, Galen, have we hit on something here?”

  Galen studied Brooke. “You may be right, Nikolai.” Nikolai didn’t wait for her response, and dropped into the chair on her right.

  Unlike the Vampires from the old Earth stories, he wasn’t undead but a different species, so his heat covered her side like a caress. “I’m Nikolai and he’s Galen. What’s your name, gorgeous?”

  Brooke came back to reality with a resounding thunk. There were few things she disliked more than empty platitudes. “I’m not gorgeous, and you’re a Vampire. The two of you are also gay, so stop the games and tell me what the Jade you’re doing at my table.”

  Nikolai’s brows shot up and he leaned a little away from her. Before he could speak Galen gently settled into the chair on her left. Brooke felt their sexuality like a touch.

  Her nipples grew harder and her clit throbbed. Her mood deteriorated further. She pressed her palms flat on the cool metal of the table in an attempt to redirect her focus.

  “We are indeed lovers, but that doesn’t mean we don’t appreciate women and their powerful beauty.” Galen smiled. She worked at keeping her legs pressed together. “As soon as we entered the bar, your energy hit both of us with the power of a supernova and we couldn’t resist.”

  Brooke felt as if she were drowning in his blue eyes, which conveyed his sincerity.

  Her hormones jumped up and down, telling her to make the most of this opportunity.

  Chances like this didn’t come along twice.

  Only one problem—part of her brain, the sane and cynical part, didn’t quite believe them. It warned her there was more to this than met the eye.

  “My energy?” she asked.

  12

  Galen’s smile grew, his blue eyes gaining a wicked sparkle. It was as if he knew the two of them drove her crazy.

  Brooke felt a tingle at the back of her neck. She could’ve sworn some sort of energy passed between the two men. Breathing became difficult. Her heart pounded and her juices spilled from her pussy, making her panties feel decidedly uncomfortable.

  Heat ran through her body, pooling in her most sensitive places, making the touch of her clothes near unbearable. That, and her need for these two men.

  Nikolai leaned close and placed a gentle kiss on her cheek. “We’d be so good.

  There’s nothing more arousing than pleasing a strong woman,” he whispered in her ear before he nibbled on her lobe.

  Brooke tried to catch her breath, but before she could say anything, Galen kissed the sensitive spot between her neck and her shoulder.

  “Will you give us the honor of your name and the opportunity to pleasure you?” He put his hand on her knee and gently stroked upward.

  She fought a losing battle. “Brooke,” escaped her lips before she could stop herself.

  In a desperate attempt to gain some sort of control, she blindly moved her hands around until she hit pay dirt and grabbed both men’s cocks.

  Nikolai froze for a second, then nipped her ear sharply. “Two can play this game.” His hand found its way between her legs. He massaged her clit through the thin layer of her trousers.

  She couldn’t stop herself and tightened her grip on their members.

  “We’re yours all night, but maybe we should move this to a more appropriate location.” Galen’s voice had lost its calm, and his fingers joined his lover’s between her legs.

  Brooke had never been so turned on in her life, but Galen’s words brought a sliver of reality to this situation. She relaxed her hands, but couldn’t resist stroking them a couple of times before releasing them.

  The men did not follow her example.

  Instead of letting go, they moved closer. Galen gently turned her head toward him and kissed her. Up until now, he had seemed less aggressive, the gentler half of the duo, but his kiss turned her impression right on its head. There was no tentativeness, no hesitation. His tongue stormed her mouth as if it were an enemy ship that needed to be overrun.

  Brooke cupped his face. She undid the leather thong and slid her hands through his hair. It felt as soft as it looked. Imagining it caressing her skin drove her higher.

  And he tasted like ambrosia, dark and rich. His scent of forest and sunshine surrounded her. Their tongues dueled and played, neither of them taking control.

  Brooke couldn’t remember ever being so involved in a kiss, so taken over. And still, she never forgot Nikolai, whose hand continued to caress her clit as if no clothes covered it.

  13

  The two of them combined drove her beyond the point of no return. Brooke stopped thinking about her surroundings. She disregarded her rule about one-night stands being a no-no. She didn’t know either of the men who drove her toward climax.

  Instead she exploded, exploded in a way unlike any other climax she’d had. Tingles shot through her whole body and every nerve ending she had stood at attention. She was soaking wet. If Galen’s mouth hadn’t been glued to hers, her scream would have left no doubt what they had been doing.

  Thank Jade for bad lighting.

  Nikolai’s strokes gentled, extending her mind-blowing orgasm until he cuddled her and no longer drove her crazy.

  Galen’s kiss did the same. Where previously it pushed her toward the abyss, it now gave her opportunity to feel. He showered her bruised lips with gentle bites. If he hadn’t put his arm around Brooke’s shoulders, she would have slid off the chair as a puddle of goo.

  “Jade,
you two should come with a warning,” she whispered.

  Nikolai laughed and nipped her neck. “As should you, milaya, as should you.” Brooke finally regained enough consciousness to realize both men were as tense as iridium. “Looks like I’ve been the only one having fun.” Galen shook his head. “Not at all.”

  Nikolai snorted. “I’d say this is definitely one of my more memorable bar visits.” He put his hand on her cheek. “My turn.”

  He kissed her.

  Brooke hadn’t thought her hormones could be raised for another week.

  She was wrong.

  As soon as Nikolai’s lips touched hers, all her muscles, which had languished in total relaxation, came to attention. Where Galen tasted sublime and rich like smooth chocolate, Nikolai had a bite to him, an edge of darkness she’d not encountered before.

  It had her pussy gushing. His scent was darker, more earthy, making her think of sensual nights under the moonlit sky.

  Kissing him also drove home that he was a Vampire, when she accidentally nicked her tongue on one of his fangs and bled.

  Nikolai sucked on her tongue and groaned. “Careful, milaya, those are sharp.” Brooke leaned back. How the Jade had she forgotten he was a Vampire?

  “Don’t panic.” Galen leaned against her side, chin on her shoulder, chest to her back. “He won’t turn Feral through one drop of your blood. He has too much control.” About three hundred years ago, it had become obvious Vampires weren’t just fictional characters, but a different species altogether, which had existed alongside humankind for centuries. Laws were written to make certain humans didn’t become food supply for the physically superior Paranormals.

  14

  The majority of Vampires accepted the new rules, but a number thought of humans as cattle. Their refusal resulted in an all-out war between humans and Vampires.

  Humans didn’t distinguish between those who followed the laws and the ones who rejected them, recognizable by their blood-red eyes caused by feeding on the adrenaline-laced blood of their victims.

  Brooke relaxed into Galen’s embrace. Nikolai didn’t look as if her blood had driven him over the edge.

  In the end, the never-ending bloodshed drove the leaders to find a compromise.

  The Coalition and the Vampire Council signed an agreement. As long as Vampires followed the laws they had permission to live wherever they wanted.

  “Hey, you okay?” Nikolai asked. “Am I your first vamp?”

  “No, but the first I’ve exchanged spit with.”

  The ones who still wouldn’t follow were called Ferals and had a kill-on-sight order.

  The Coalition had designated planets that had non-existent or limited human populations as “un-populable” and turned them over to the Vampires when they signed the peace treaty. Except for the Ferals, most had gotten used to the new regime and either lived apart from humans in their own communes or had integrated into human societies.

  He waggled his brows. “Care to exchange more bodily fluids?” Brooke straightened, her thoughts tumbling in her head like an old satellite dropping out of orbit. I don’t pick up men in a bar for sex, I just don’t. The temporary release wasn’t enough to cover the loneliness after the hormones faded. But these two made her want to break her rule.

  She exhaled. “Why not? Not every day I get such an offer. It’s a fantasy come to life.”

  “We’re very good at fulfilling those,” Nikolai whispered, his breath caressing her ear.

  Galen moved closer. “Care to share more of your fantasy with us?” he asked before he leaned past her and kissed Nikolai.

  Brooke’s breath froze. Having them kiss, right in front of her, was highly erotic.

  She’d expected aggression and fight for dominance, but the kiss was gentle and deep.

  For a second, the familiarity and obvious connection between the men made Brooke feel excluded.

  Pull yourself together. This is a one-night kick and not forever.

  Despite the pep talk and the arousal, a sharp pain stabbed Brooke in the region of her heart.

  Galen felt her stiffen and ended the kiss to look at her. Her pupils were dilated and he smelled her musk. The kiss had turned her on, but the warmth had left her eyes.

  They hurt her.

  15

  Hang on, he said to Nikolai. Our kiss may have aroused her body, but I sense pain. Let’s keep our focus on her.

  From the research they’d done on Brooke, up until the unexplained loss of her crew and cargo, she’d been a respected pilot and mercenary.

  Neither of them believed the amnesia story. They’d planned to read her mind, but her shield made that impossible. Galen needed to know what had happened and the extent of Brooke’s involvement, but he also wanted to fuck her senseless.

  Their whole exchange had only taken a few moments, but Brooke frowned at them.

  “If you’ve changed your mind, tell me. I need no pity fuck.” Nikolai snorted. He took her hand and put it on his hard cock. “Believe me, there will be no pity involved when we fuck.”

  “Your lover just kissed you, doesn’t mean your dick is hard for me.” Nikolai’s brows rose and he grinned at Galen. “Did you hear a challenge?” Galen rolled his eyes, but fell in. “I believe I did. What is your response?” Nikolai pretended to contemplate for a moment. “How about we take her back to the Mercy, tie her to the bed, and torture her with pleasure until she falls unconscious?” Galen laughed and nuzzled Brooke’s neck. “Fabulous plan. What do you think?” Brooke swallowed. Her scent grew more fragrant. “You two have overblown egos.

  There’s no way in hell you could make me lose consciousness.” Nikolai jumped to his feet, grabbed her hand, and pulled her close. He proceeded to kiss her until only his arm around her waist supported her weak knees. “I can never resist a challenge.”

  Galen stepped up and leaned against Brooke’s back. His erection pressed against her ass as he sandwiched her between them. His hand found the sensitive crease between hip and thigh and caressed her.

  He nipped her earlobe with sharp teeth. “Now you’ve done it. He won’t rest until you pass out from pleasure.”

  Brooke leaned into him, rubbing against his cock. “Bring it on, boys.” Galen suppressed a sigh. Nikolai had locked into the challenge. There would be no turning back now, especially if Brooke continued to perfume her surroundings with her musky smell.

  They depended on her memories. Without the knowledge, lives all across the galaxy were in danger.

  16

  Chapter Two

  Brooke felt as if she drowned in her arousal. The world took on an unreal quality.

  Nikolai and Galen surrounded her with their heat, their scent, their sexuality. Every breath she inhaled sharpened her responses. Her nipples were hard and her clit throbbed with every step. Her wet panties chafed against the sensitive button as she walked out of the bar.

  She had no idea how long it took them to reach their ship or where on the station it had docked. The men stopped her constantly and pulled her close for another mind-bending kiss. She had a vague memory of a boxy Delta-Design covered in Tachyon cannons, but their scent and taste filled her mind, the memory of the feel of their cocks under her hands.

  It should bother her that she was about to fuck a Vampire, but her explosive orgasm had beaten her thinking-self into submission. She wanted more and she would take more.

  For once, she would throw caution to the wind.

  Galen opened the hatch and the ramp lowered with a hiss. Nikolai stood behind her, his heavy arousal a firebrand at her back. “Have you ever had it up the ass?” he asked, his arm around her waist, his hand wandering from her stomach to her breasts.

  He teased her nipples with touches so light she thought she’d imagined them.

  She froze at the thought of having his massive cock squeezing into her. His breath caressed her neck.

  Sweat trickled down her back. “That’s off the menu.” She swal
lowed and hoped he would let the subject go. Her hang-ups were none of his business.

  Nikolai shrugged and increased the pressure on her nipples, as if to ease the tension invading her body. “There’s plenty left to feed on.” He played with the hard tips of her breasts and looked at Galen, who’d turned back to them. “She ordered me around. I think she needs to be punished.”

  Galen smiled. “I knew you’d find a reason.”

  Brooke pushed a little away from Nikolai and looked between them. “Punish me?

  That wasn’t in the cards.” Her voice was nearly drowned out when the engine of a neighboring ship roared to life.

  Nikolai swung her into his arms, strode up the ramp and entered the ship.

  Galen chuckled as he followed, his footsteps echoed in the hallway. A hallway wide enough Nikolai carried her without difficulties or having to adjust his pace. “Not much you can do about it now.”

  17

  Brooke turned her head and frowned. “You will not hit me.” She struggled to get out of Nikolai’s arms, but the Vampire only tightened them.

  She couldn’t move.

  Brooke felt a spark of fear in the pit of her belly. She was combat-trained, had cyborg-enhanced strength and speed and had experienced enough battle to feel she could look after herself. It had never occurred to her she could be in physical danger.

  Galen’s face softened. “We’re not going to hurt you, Brooke, I promise.” She believed him. His expressive eyes instilled a sense of peace in her.

  “But we may spank you,” Nikolai interrupted. “And you’ll love it.” Brooke struggled some more, her hand pressing into the gap in his shirt. “I am not a child to be spanked.”

  “No,” agreed Nikolai, “you’re a full-blooded woman in need of some punishment.

  Trust me, anything we dish out will only heighten your pleasure.” When he kissed her, Brooke forgot her name. She had no idea how he managed to carry her to the sleeping chamber without knocking something over or bumping into walls. He held her captive through his kiss the entire way.