Page 31 of Through Uncharted Space

This time it was Dare who tensed. He knew Vero well enough to understand the tone. “I’m listening.”

“I want to see what your new female can do. And since you won’t share her, I want to see you make her come.”

“She is…in training.”

“She is not broken in?” Vero shook his head. “I cannot understand why outsiders let their women run wild.”

Dare saw the dark beauty at Vero’s feet move minutely, before settling again. He knew that for women here, submission was a fact of life, but how many of them strained against the restrictions? He looked down at Dakota, a woman who’d started life with nothing. A woman with a fierce pride and a need to run her own life.

“Fine,” Vero said. “If that is not suitable for you, I can make another offer. I still want to see a woman come. Either you make her come or you make one of my girls come.”

Dakota hissed out a breath. She leaned in closer, her voice quiet. “Touch one of them and I’ll gut you.”

When she pushed to her feet, every muscle in Dare’s body tensed. One wrong move from her, and she’d blow this. If she gave Vero a real piece of her mind, he could kick them off the planet.

Instead, she slid onto Dare’s lap.

Damn, she fit there perfectly. She moved until she was comfortable, her legs draped over to the side.

“Touch me,” she whispered.

He searched her face. He knew she wanted the treasure and was willing to do what she had to do to find it, but a part of him balked. He wanted her to want his touch, not to allow it simply for the damn treasure.

“Dakota—”

She pressed her finger to his lips. “Touch me. I want you to.” His gaze locked with hers, and he saw desire burning in her eyes. He sucked in a breath.

He started by stroking her arm with the backs of his fingertips. Her skin was so smooth. He moved down over her bare belly, and the toned muscles that he found there. Next, he stroked her thighs through the silky fabric. When he touched a small knife sheath strapped to her thigh, he hid his smile. Trust Dakota to hide a weapon in this barely-there outfit. Her breath hitched, and she shifted against him. He knew she must feel his hard cock pressing against her.

He kept his touches small, but her shivers grew. He saw something dawning in her eyes. Had Dakota never allowed herself to be petted or stroked?

She started trembling, her breathing even faster. Carefully, he slid his hand up her thigh and under the fabric. Her skin was soft, but the strength he felt beneath it was something he found irresistible.

He reached the shiny silk of her panties and teased the edge.

“Dare.” A soft murmur. She leaned her head back against his shoulder, her gaze locked on his face.

He studied every inch of her features—the curve of her sexy lips, the stubborn jut of her jaw, those sharp cheekbones. All of her tempted him, but he couldn’t afford to lose control.

He slid his fingers just an inch under her panties. His cock hardened like steel and throbbed. When had such an innocent thing brought him to the edge like this?

“Do it,” she hissed.

“I’m in control here.” He slid a finger under the silk. He touched her warm folds, stroking. She gasped, her hips lifting. He moved his finger up until he found the tiny little bundle of nerves. She jerked, and with his other hand he grabbed her thigh and held her down.

“I can’t wait for her to come. Look at that face.”

Vero’s voice snapped Dare out of the sensual haze. He stopped his hand. Dakota’s release, all those emotions, were for his eyes only.

His host laughed. “I really do think her release will be a sight to behold. Remember, no payment, no library.”

“Dare.”

Her urgent voice brought his gaze back to her.

She licked her lips. “Please.”

He saw the want, the need. He turned, blocking Vero’s view and focused on Dakota. On the confused desire in her eyes. His fingers moved, gripping that tiny nub and rolling it under his touch.