The Commander's Slave by K. S. Augustin Read Free Book Online Page A

clothes ( where did he get them
from? she wondered) and she
obligingly changed into another pair of trousers and a more modest
long-sleeved shift that reached her thighs. Her feet, however,
remained bare, but Asha said nothing, not wanting to give him the
slightest excuse to retract his surprising offer.
    He seemed to have reached some stage
of equilibrium, dispelling the demon that had repeatedly driven him
inside her in frantic sexual need. Need, she was shamed to admit,
she fully shared.
    Now, the giant warrior paused for a
moment by the door and looked embarrassed.
    “ Outside, call me Tangus,”
he said without looking at her, then pressed his thumb against a
hidden panel. The door hissed open.
    Asha hid her smile and followed him,
looking around her as she walked. Occasionally, a soldier walked
past her, his eyes rigidly ahead, as if evincing even a trace of
curiosity was more than his life was worth.
    “ It’s a….” How did you
compliment a space-going vessel? “…nice ship,” she finally ventured
after they had toured the engine-room and he gave her an overview
of the propulsion systems.
    “ That’s why I stole it,”
Tangus admitted with a feral grin.
    “ Stole?”
    He shrugged and led her out of the
section. “My flagship was badly damaged during the Lasc Prein’s
offensive. We kept it patched and limping for another three years,
but I couldn’t avoid the inevitable.”
    That started her thinking. “So the
chamber ....”
    “ Came with the craft,” he admitted, his terse tone
indicating that further discussion on that subject was
closed.
    They climbed three levels, moving
forward, until they reached a door at the end of a dead-end. Tangus
tapped a code into the keypad, and they entered.
    The bridge.
    The ship’s past owner believed in
function as well as pleasure, Asha thought. She recognized the
young officer Tangus called Daurent, now rising from the command
chair--for a start, he was the only one brave enough to grin at
her, and she found herself returning the greeting. Around him,
cramped banks of winking lights were manned by three
others.
    “ The Strike’s previous owner loved technology,”
Tangus commented as he watched her eyes scan the crowded
consoles.
    “ The Strike’s previous owner also had the largest
ego this side of the Straw-Hair Nebula,” Daurent retorted,
approaching them and smoothly taking Asha’s right hand in his. He
turned it over and planted a feather light kiss on her
wrist.
    “ Sub-commander Daurent
Fens, at your service.”
    “ Oh,” was all Asha could
say.
    “ I thought you were working
on the new propulsion optimizers,” Tangus cut in
harshly.
    “ Tested and
working.”
    “ Long-range
sensors?”
    “ Clear.” Asha tried to
withdraw her hand, but Daurent kept hold of it for a few seconds
longer than necessary before relinquishing it with a
flourish.
    “ Agri-hormones?” Did Asha
hear a hint of desperation in Tangus’ voice?
    “ We’ve tested it on a
sample. Awaiting results.”
    Daurent kept his eyes on Asha’s,
giving her a quick wink before finally looking at his
superior.
    “ Everything’s clear,
commander. We’re coasting at sub-light five five. Only four more
jumps and we’re home.”
    But Daurent’s assurances didn’t dampen
Tangus’ irritation. In fact, they seemed to increase it. “What
about the duty rosters?”
    “ Slen and I did them this
morning.”
    Tangus clenched his jaw. Anything that
he wanted to say would make him look churlish. Worse still was the
realization that he only wanted to say churlish things to Daurent.
But his first priority was to defuse the situation before he sat
down and contemplated matters.
    “ Madam,” he said, turning
to her, “is there any more of the ship you wish to see?”
    Asha looked quickly from one man to
the other. “Nooo.”
    “ Then I’ll escort you back
to your quarters.”
    And he did precisely that, leading her
into her chamber in silence, ushering her in, and closing the