Cecilia's Mate Read online

  “Sounds like we have a full morning ahead of us. We should get our butts on the move, then, shouldn’t we?” She linked her arm with his.

  “Yes, ma’am, we should.” He led her out of their rooms, through the ship, and down into the very bowels of the beast. Inside what she guessed was engineering it was quite noisy. Draven pulled a chair out from a desk and indicated she should sit. “Stay right here. I won’t be too long but it’s too dangerous down here for the untrained to be roaming around. I’d be very unhappy if you were hurt, little one.”

  Cecilia sat and crossed her legs, careful all the while of how she was dressed because of just how little the stupid dress covered. Draven’s gaze moved over her legs. Shaking his head, suddenly he blinked. “Work, I have work,” he muttered. Leaning in, he kissed her lightly, then disappeared down one of the rows. Draven was gone for a time before he came wandering back toward her with another man at his side. They were talking, and Draven appeared to making notes. When the other man caught sight of her he shot her a smile but quickly lost it and went a bit pale when Draven said something to him. Then the man scurried off out of sight as Draven walked her direction. “Ready to go?”

  “I’m as ready as I’m going to get.” She reached out and put her hand into his and hugged him when he pulled her close. “What did you say to that poor man that had him looking like he was ready to pee himself?”

  “Told him to quit ogling my woman, who also happens to be the colonel’s sister.” When she stared at him he shrugged. “What? It’s the truth,” he said with a smile.

  That had her grinning and she nodded. “This is true. I do happen to be the colonel’s baby sister but more importantly I’m your woman. Besides, it’s the way that these clothes are made. You know that as well as I do. We need to have a fashion revolution for the women’s clothing.”

  Stepping back a little, he looked her up and down. “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he teased. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her in against his side while getting her moving. “Bracken is bringing you up a bunch of items. Well, Sadie is. She went to her dressmaker and had the woman put everything else aside until you had a wardrobe that befitted who you are as an individual. The majority of the pieces will be ready before we depart, with a few others ready for when we return to add to the collection.”

  “Really? That’s so sweet of her.” So many times Cece had tried to get Sadie alone so that she could tell her to go after Bracken. So many times she’d tried to intercede when her family tossed themselves in the way of the love that the woman had for her brother.

  “She’s happy to do it from the sounds of things. Your brother reported that she was having a great time seeing to it all. He’s a little terrified to see the bill, once he pries it out of her hands of course, but he’s going with whatever his wife says. She really does have him wrapped around her finger.”

  “She loves him just as much. I think that’s fabulous. I’m happy they are finally together. Now then, where do we go next?” She was grinning, unable to help herself. She was well aware of where they needed to go next, but she simply loved hearing his voice.

  “Shipment coming in,” he said. He led her into a lift and got them moving. Then he backed her into a corner, his arms sliding around her while he lowered his head. “You have this look on your face, Cecilia. And it makes me wonder just what you might be up to. Are you up to something, little one?”

  “I love hearing you talk. I would do anything just to hear you talking to me. I knew what we had to do, but I wanted to hear you say it.” She licked her lips. “Will you kiss me again, please?”

  Softly he brushed his lips to hers before taking her mouth in a full kiss. His free hand cupped her ass, pulling her closer and lifting her up to her toes.

  She threw herself fully into the kiss. She was pushing so close to him that she could feel the breath he drew in and released. Cece shuddered. She licked her lips. “I love your kisses so much.”

  “Good, because there will be many more where those came from,” he said in a rough tone that had her shivering. “Along with other things, too.” He gave her another slow kiss, ending by lightly biting and tugging on her lower lip before lifting his head.

  It wasn’t until the doors slid open on the lift that Draven pulled back from her. Smiling at her, he took her hand to tug her along the corridors. Finally they reached one of the docking bays, where he checked the screens. “Ship’s still coming in, so we have a few minutes.” The sound of boots coming up the corridor announced a number of crew members before they rounded a corner.

  Cece watched the men as they milled around, the women as well. She liked that about her people. The women could serve in their military, unlike the Imarian society if she recalled correctly. The women in the service of their people, however, were covered from neck to toe in clothing. “So what do you think Bracken and Sadie are up to today?” Question out of nowhere, she knew.

  “Sadie dragged him off shopping. She needed his opinion, or so he claims. Personally I think she wanted him there to lug all she bought for you around.” A buzzer sounded, followed by a hiss of air. “They were planning to have dinner in at the house, but if the general’s destroyer came in on schedule they were going to meet up with him and his wife instead.”

  “Sounds like they’re going to be very busy. And the general and his wife, they are doing okay?” She hadn’t met them yet. But she looked forward to meeting the Imarian woman that had taken the heart of one of their fiercest generals.

  “They’re doing well,” he told her. “You’ll get to meet them soon. We usually cross paths with them a few dozen times while out on patrol.” Another beep sounded, and Draven told her to stay put out in the corridor before disappearing into the landing bay. She knew what Draven was doing by the set of his jaw. He was making sure there was no one on the tramp that would cause her distress. He was protecting her even now.

  Cece was amazed by the ship. She’d never been on one before so to see it in person was amazing. She looked from the men to the walls that should look sterile, though were anything but. They held a warmth to them, and it almost seemed as if the walls pulsed with life. Yet another thing on this incredible journey that was honestly far different from what she had expected.

  Chapter Six

  Draven was watching her pace. Cecilia could feel his gaze on her as she moved around their quarters. “You’re going to exhaust yourself if you keep this pace up. You do realize that, right? Besides, they are on final approach and will be here soon. I’m not sure why you’re all worked up now that he’s about to be on board. Personally you should have been worrying about it when I was worrying about it two days ago. Now it’s too late. He’s already been logged into the destroyer’s system and knows you’re keyed in for access to my quarters and no others.”

  “This is true.” Cece moved to where he was sitting and settled into his lap. “I just need him to understand how much you mean to me. I need him to know that even though we have our contract we haven’t done anything together. As much as I have wanted to,” she grumbled. “When do you think we’ll be able to do that? Make love together?”

  “Once we clear the air with your brother. Not that we’ll tell him that part, but it feels wrong going forward while keeping it secret from him. When we clear it all up with him, let him know we’re bond mates and that we’re planning a life together, then we can get on with that life. Does that make sense, little one?”

  “Yes, that does. I appreciate you loving me enough to know that my brother’s acceptance of our relationship means a great deal to me. But sleeping next to you naked has been driving me to distraction.” He had on loose pants but she was naked and needy.

  Draven let out a groan and wrapped an arm around her, pulling her in tight to his body. “Believe me, I fully understand your position there. It’s been incredibly difficult to sleep with you for the last couple of nights and not do more than sleep. But I consider your brother to be a friend.”


  “You won’t let him take us apart, right?” She asked a question she already knew the answer to. “And soon you’ll ask me to marry you?” In her mind they were already because they had signed their contract and were bond mates. They were meant to be. Period. They would be and she knew it.

  “Like he could keep us apart,” he said, adding on a snort. “I will ask you to marry me when the time is right. But we are bond mates, and we have our contract so under our laws we are married. I do have the distinct impression that you’d like to do the whole affair up properly. Am I correct in my guess on that?”

  “Only with you and my brother and new sister-in-law. I don’t want a big affair. You know me, Draven. I hate being the center of attention. I just want to be married to you.”

  “We may need to ask the general to do the services since I think your brother may want to walk you down the aisle. So we’ll have to include his wife as well, if that’s all right by you, of course. But no others if you don’t want them there.”

  “Of course that’s all right with me. That’s actually far more than I could have ever dreamed of.” She was the lowest daughter of her family and therefore she was the one that mattered least, at least in her mother and father’s eyes. “Do you think you can get that all ready for us? The wedding, and all of that?”

  “We’ll put the notion in Sadie’s head, and she’ll see that she gets it done. It’s amazing what that woman can talk your brother into.” He chuckled, then suddenly groaned when he was advised via his ear piece that her brother was now on board the vessel. “Speaking of your brother. They’ve made it on board and we’ve been summoned to his office.”

  “Oh boy.” She took a deep breath and nodded before rising to her feet. “I’m as ready as I’m going to get.” Another deep breath and she smiled. “Let’s go.” Cupping her face, he leaned in so his forehead rested to hers. “Take a deep breath, Cecilia. Let it out nice and slow. There’s no reason to be so nervous. This is your brother, who loves and adores you.” He pressed a light kiss to her lips, then pulled back and slipped his arm around her. Then they were heading up to the command level and Bracken’s office.

  Cecilia trusted Draven. If he said it was going to be all right, then she knew it would be. Taking a deep breath, she walked into her brother’s offices at the side of the man that she loved. “Bracken, Sadie,” she said in greeting. “It’s so lovely to see you both again.”

  Bracken didn’t move from where he was seated behind his desk. He was drumming his fingers on the desktop while Sadie came forward to greet her. “Sadie, would you mind giving us a few minutes alone?” he asked his wife.

  Sadie’s look said so much more than what she spoke aloud. Leaning down, she kissed Bracken’s cheek, then whispered in his ear words that Cecilia didn’t quite catch. A little louder, she asked, “Do I need to take Cecilia with me or is she good?”

  “Take her with you for a moment. I’ll need her back in here soon enough, but this first part needs to be only myself and Draven.” Pushing to his feet, he brushed his fingers lovingly to her cheek.

  “Of course.” She leaned in and kissed his cheek once again. Sadie then walked away from him to stand at Cece’s side. “Come on, Cece, let’s go and have a walk around this deck and then we will come back and pry them apart because they’ll likely be having words.” She shrugged. “It’s good, though, because it reminds them how much they need us. Come on, I have secrets to share, baby sister.” Cece watched Sadie grinning and she just shook her head and looked to Draven as if saying, help!

  He gave her a one-shoulder shrug and sighed. Given the look on her brother’s face, though, Cece was pretty sure she’d actually be getting the better end of the deal.

  * * * *

  Once the women were gone Draven warily turned to look at Bracken. He kept his mouth shut and his eyes on him as the man lazily walked around his office. This could go very bad, or it could be fine. He unfortunately had no idea which way it was leaning.

  “How long?”

  Blinking at Bracken’s words, Draven could have played dumb but he knew better. “I’ve known since she was nine. The day I hauled her out of the mud puddle. I kept my distance until she came of age, but by that point it wasn’t exactly easy to gain access to your parents’ home. Especially since you seemed determined to never go there, and I didn’t feel right telling your mother we were bond mates given her reaction to you and Sadie.”

  Bracken nodded slowly, his steps measured as he continued to move. “Likely wise, considering what we uncovered while planetside.”

  Most men would have relaxed at those words. Draven knew they were only the beginning of what was coming and didn’t let his guard down. Draven knew what was happening as he had been there at his friend’s side through much of it and had gathered much of the information for Bracken.

  Lucky for him, since Bracken was nearly nose-to-nose with him a moment later. “You hurt her in any way, you make her cry, you make her regret this bonding and I will make sure you suffer. She seems to believe I don’t actually have any use for her, but she truly doesn’t understand how sick Mother is if she believes that. I kept my distance and kept up appearances to keep her safe. I hope to make her understand that one day, but that’s on me. What is on you is to keep her happy, keep her safe, and to never, ever hurt her.”

  “She’s my bond mate, Bracken. I would rather do myself harm than hurt her, as you are the same with Sadie. She is everything to me,” Draven said softly.

  He got a grunt for his words. “Keep it that way. Now, when are you two getting married?”

  Rolling his eyes when Bracken turned away to go back to his chair, Draven scratched at his jaw. “She wants to keep it small and intimate. I suggested maybe asking the general if he’d do the honors so that you could walk her down the aisle and, if you are willing, also stand at my side for the ceremony.”

  “Cecilia has always hated being the center of attention. She used to have dozens of diversionary tactics to get Mother’s attentions on one of the other sisters any time she came under her direct attention. I’ll talk to Fintan before we leave port, see where our first rendezvous might be, and that will give us the time frame we have to work in to get this arranged.”

  “She’ll appreciate that, sir.”

  Bracken shot him a look that was hard to read. “Catch me up on everything I need to know prior to our departure tomorrow.”

  “Right.” He nodded. Letting out the breath he’d been holding, Draven passed over the data pad he had in hand and began his report.

  * * * *

  Sadie looked to Cecilia and smiled. “For so long they hid you from me. Now I understand why. You were never like them. They were so good at showing me just the parts of themselves that they wanted me to see. They did it to Adira too. They are good. Very good.”

  Cece nodded and sighed. “They are. It wasn’t just the two of you. It was everyone in their sphere of influence. Everyone that they wanted and needed to do as they wanted them to. They are master manipulators.” She smiled and looked toward the door. “It’s over, though. I’m not under their thumb any longer. Now I’m able to be with the man that I’ve loved for far too long. I’m able to be me.”

  “I’m glad you were able to get away from your mother and sisters. Those women were toxic. I just hate that I didn’t see it. That I allowed myself to be blinded for so long to what they were.”

  Instead of saying anything, Cece rose and walked to her new sister-in-law and hugged her. When she pulled back she nodded. “Now then. Enough sadness. You have the man you love in your life and I have the one that I love. I think this is cause for celebration. Soon we’ll be out in space, where my family will never be able to reach us. We have Bracken and Draven and an entire ship of men and women that will stand between us and them if we need it. Right?”

  “Of course,” Sadie replied, then grinned when she turned. “Looks like our other halves are finished with their chat.”

  Cece turned to see Draven
approaching and had to keep herself from moving toward him. She wanted to. She wanted to run to him but waited instead.

  He came straight to her, scooping her up in his arms to press a kiss to her lips. “I survived,” he whispered not very quietly. Smiling at her, he kissed her again before letting her slide down his body. Pressing another kiss to her lips, he brushed his thumbs lightly to her skin. “We have a couple of hours before we need to be at the evening meal. What do you say we go see what all Sadie bought for you?”

  “That sounds wonderful. Hopefully there will be clothing that actually fits and covers me.” She knew that wasn’t exactly the Craegin female way, but she hated showing all of her body to the world.

  “Then we should return to our room,” he said. “Bracken had one of the security officers drop everything off. Should be all sitting waiting for us. Let’s go collect it, and you can dig through it all while we have the time.”

  “Fabulous,” she told him with a nod, then looked to where Bracken was carrying Sadie away. She laughed. “Looks like he couldn’t wait to get her back to their quarters.” She looked up at Draven with nothing but happiness in her heart. “And what did my big brother have to say to you?”

  “Mainly keep you very happy or I’ll be extremely unhappy with what he does to me.” Shrugging, he bent to hook an arm under her knees and lifted her. “Which I fully expected. He’s very protective of you. He’s upset with all you’ve been put through in your life already and wants me to make sure you know nothing but happiness, freedom, and pleasure for the rest of your days. Although I seriously doubt he meant pleasure the same way my mind chose to hear it.”

  * * * *

  She reached out and grabbed a couple more bags, shaking her head. “Good Lord, I can’t believe just how many bags are here.” She saw the parcels that were clearly from an art store and could have jumped in joy. “Art supplies. How did they know?”