Tyr watched as his blood was inserted into the veins of his son and looked at the physician. 'Will he live?'
'He's a strong child even with the disadvantage of human DNA. He will survive.'
The Nietszchean leader nodded and walked out of the room. He had a dozen sons but all of them he'd known since their birth. This one he'd known about for a week. He was very, very angry. He walked to the quarters set-aside for Leon's mother and walked in without knocking.
Captain Valentine looked up anxiously. 'Is he responding?'
'Yes.' He glowered at her.
'Thankyou.' She was grateful and didn't care whether he was angry with her or not. The danger to her son was over and that was such a relief.
'For giving blood to my own son. Don't thank me Beka. Perhaps I should thankyou for allowing it. After all he could have lived and died without my knowledge.'
She glanced at him assessingly. 'I er…thought it better…easier…for everyone.'
'For Leon?' He asked her questioningly. 'I think he would have been better off with my guidance and care? Does he know what it means to be Nietszchean?
'Half Nietszchean.' She reminded him. 'Tyr it was a goodbye exchange of body fluids, which we'd avoided for years. You were off to found your pride and the Commonwealth became a safer place to live in. End of story. I was on contraception I didn't expect…
Tyr glared at her. 'As I remember you stole out while I was sleeping and left without saying goodbye.'
'Does it matter?' She ran her hands through her hair. 'He's my son I love him and he knows that. I told him who you were on his fifth birthday. He was very proud.' She bit her lip. 'What are you going to do?'
'Acknowledge him.' He walked over to her and lifted her chin. 'And you.'
'You're joking. Tyr, you can't and I don't want you to.' She grabbed his arms. 'It could ruin you.'
'It won't.' He responded coolly. His gaze moved to her mouth. 'I have never forgotten the pleasure you gave me that night.' His arms pulled her into his body and he took no notice of the way she struggled. 'My son will stay here and if you ever want to see him again you'll stop struggling and improve my temper.'
'You bastard.' She said furiously. 'Tyr you can't do this.'
'Yes I can.' He indicated the bed. 'Shall we?'
---
Beka lay on her side facing the wall and watched the light playing on it. Well she knew what it was like to be well and truly fucked. Tyr could be an utter bastard when he lost his temper and she'd obviously made him very angry.
'We were good friends.' He said quietly. 'You made the isolation easier for me. I cannot believe that you didn't tell me. Do the others know?'
'Dylan doesn't. He would have told you.' She turned to look at him. 'Do you feel better for treating me like a whore Tyr?'
'Yes.' He ran his hand over her breast. 'I've always wanted you Beka and your behaviour takes away the need for the mating dance. I now have something you want which is access to your son. I get you.'
'I don't want to stay.' Valentine said icily.
'No, but you will. Being a Nietszchean I only care that I get the result I want. If I was President Hunt I would want you to love me, but I'm not and I just want to fuck you.'
'And my friendship?' She eyed him combatively.
'What sort of friend would steal five years of my son's life?' Tyr pulled her underneath his body. 'Perhaps if you have another child I might feel compensated.'
'Tyr I'm bruised and sore don't.' Her steady gaze didn't falter but she could see that her words might have remained unspoken. He wanted her it was in his gaze and he was angry and that was all that mattered to him.
'If it hurts.' Anasazi forced his leg between hers. 'It will be a bonus you bitch!' His mouth ground down on hers and she arched defensively against the physical onslaught. She had tears rolling down her face when he slumped on top of her his passion spent.
Panting with the exertion Tyr looked down at her. 'I've saved your life many times Beka but today I have come very near to killing you. He grabbed her jaw. 'Welcome the pain. Be glad I fucked you instead!' He got up pulled on his clothes and left her.
---
The news of Leon's existence kept Tyr in the council chambers for long hours. His dominance of the Nietszchean prides was such that he could have had six human mates and they wouldn't challenge him. His people had become less rather than more and he had given them back some dignity.
Beka would officially perform the ceremony with him later that day. She was now as coldly furious with him as he was with her. If it weren't for Leon she'd probably have taken a blaster and shot him by now. His son however adored him and that mattered to her. Having Captain Valentine reluctant in his bed did not worry him. She fired his senses more than any other female. Owning her was a lot easier than trying to convince her to stay. He looked up as Freya came into the room. 'What is it?'
'Your wives are feeling neglected Tyr. Your fascination for Captain Valentine is causing jealousy.'
He nodded and stretched. 'I'll see to it.' He got up and pulled her to him. 'Are you jealous?'
She smiled. 'Of course.' Her arms went round his neck and she shivered as he kissed her. It was a pity he had so many females but usually he was vigorous enough to make up the difference. She had seen the way he looked at the Captain and acknowledged that there was a devil driving him that didn't seem to be easily satiated.
---
Beka snapped the bracelet around Tyr's arm and then received a hug from her son who was delighted.
So she was now official. Got a high credit account too. Terrific! On the down side one of her best friends hated her and expressed it every time he touched her. She'd always had a high regard for Tyr, which was why she'd had the child. However, his current behaviour was making her want to beat him senseless. Beka eyed him warily as he took her and Leon through to the feast his mood didn't seem to have improved much.
The meal was a state event and it took forever. Beka was glad to escape and put Leon to bed. She went back to her room bathed and then brushed her hair and stared into the mirror. She wasn't surprised when Tyr walked in and stood behind her.
'I've cancelled the honeymoon.' Valentine said icily. 'I hope you're not too disappointed.'
'Good.' He responded humorlessly. 'It seems a waste of time and energy travelling somewhere just to fuck you when I can do it here.'
'Can we stop this and behave like civilized beings Tyr? You can't enjoy raping me.'
'You're wrong.' He ran his hands over her shoulders. 'I do enjoy it. It was always a battle of wills Beka. I constantly fought with the desire to just throw you down and leave civilization behind. I believe in instinctual drives and that one is strong.'
'You prefer it to the night we shared six years ago?' Beka's eyes searched his.
'I prefer it that you're here in the morning.' Tyr remarked pulling her to her feet. 'You ran out on me Beka because you were scared and you denied me my son for the same reason.' He gazed into her stormy blue eyes. 'I will decline the option to chase you round the galaxy. This is easier.' His mouth came down on hers warm and persuasive this time.
Beka stayed rigid denying him a response that she could so easily have given and tensed as his fingers slid under the strap of her nightgown. He tore it from bodice to hem and then pushed it off her shoulders so that she was naked in front of him. 'However.' Tyr ran his fingers down her throat, 'Although I would not want to deprive my son of his mother. He will endure the separation if you do not give me your warm and enthusiastic physical response.'
Beka was so furious at the trap she had fallen into that she slapped his face.
Tyr slapped her straight back.
That shocked her and she searched his eyes, the anger was still present and Beka began to realise that she was a long way from making any peace with her former friend.
'Kiss me.' He demanded softly. 'Or take the first transport out of here.'
Fury boiled through her but she ran her arms around his neck and kissed him sensuously.
'That's better.' Tyr whispered against her ear. 'Now you're going to be the best whore I've ever had. I want to be seduced Beka.'
'You're being very unpleasant even cruel.' Beka realised that she'd always been one of the people he'd been nice to. When he was like this she could see the mercenary assassin she'd first met.
'It would pay you to remember that. Do a good job Beka and I might start being nicer.'
The female captain reached up and kissed him again and stopped fighting the attraction her mouth and touch worshipped his body and she reveled in his passionate response. They had always been hot for each other. His mouth on her body was gentler than of late but more passionate. Beka cried out with pleasure over and over again. When he was being a lover, rather than a male taking her, he was difficult to resist.
Tyr was trembling in her arms after he came and his mouth was warm as he kissed her throat. 'I would never have let you go Beka.' He raised himself up on his arms. 'Have you slept with other males since that night?'
'No.' Valentine swallowed with difficulty. 'I knew you would kill me or them if I did.'
'So you knew what it meant to me. You weren't in any ignorance of how I viewed our mating?' Tyr's dark eyes searched hers.
'No.' Beka stubbornly held his gaze and saw the pain there.
'Yet you denied me. Why?' He searched her eyes for the truth.
'I felt you needed this.' She lifted her hand to indicate the palace. 'And the commonwealth needed you to do this Tyr.'
'I have been so lonely without you.' The dark male whispered his voice aching with the agony of it. 'You will pay me back for this Beka do you understand.'
Beka shivered and watched his mouth come down. He was aggressive again. 'Please don't! She said her voice emotional as he raised his head.
'I want you to feel my pain.' Tyr said clearly. How dare you decide for me about my life.' He shook her. 'You killed part of me when you left Beka. I have hungered for you every second we have been apart.'
'Oh so the tens of wives didn't help you out.' Valentine snapped icily. 'I don't think you were that hungry Anasazi. At least I didn't fuck anyone else.'
'Shut up!' He shouted at her and his mouth came down on hers to punish her.
---
Two years later she had two more children to the Nietszchean and had got used to the fact that he was crazy about her. She never really had to let go of her feelings it was enough to let him do all the wanting.
In some ways Beka enjoyed the fact that all the Nietszchean females were panting for Tyr. This was mainly because Anasazi could be a bigger bastard than the other males of his species. She on the other hand didn't have to show the slightest interest to have him break down her door.
The down side was that it made her a target for anyone that wanted to challenge him and that made Tyr very careful of her security which meant she was grounded. Beka hated this and had decided to go for a trip in the Maru.
It all went horribly wrong and she was kidnapped by a bunch of nightsiders and Tyr had to pay a lot of credit to get her back. The fact that he got the credit back and killed the lot of them didn't get her any plus points.
Captain Valentine uncharacteristically panicked when she saw his statement and ran for it through the palace. It was a mistake and he caught her after the first corridor.
'Beka!' Tyr grabbed her and threw her over his shoulder and strode back to his bedroom. 'You are lucky to be alive!' He threw her down onto the bed.
'I know it was stupid.' She looked up at him. 'Angry huh?'
'Very.' Tyr said tightly. 'I want your word Beka that you will never do this again. I promise you that if you ever do this again then I will beat you do you understand.'
Beka nodded and then shrugged. 'Tyr I needed a break from all of this stuff. I mean Nietszchean's are so Nietszchean! I'm human I just want to be ordinary sometimes.'
'Well you're not!' He yelled at her. 'You're my mate which means you're a target for anyone who wants to make a quick profit.'
'They're all dead.' Beka pointed out.
Tyr glared at her and she got the impression she wasn't improving her score any.
She moved over to him and kissed him sensuously a number of times before he relented and pulled her close. Sex was always a good way to appease Tyr and she was shameless in her exploitation of his weakness.
'You can drive me to distraction and then calm me with your briefest caress.' Tyr whispered as she lay in his arms. 'I adore you.'
'I know.' Beka murmured smiling softly.
'Yes, and you shamelessly use it to get yourself out of trouble.' He observed dryly.
'Sensibly not shamelessly.' The blonde female kissed his chest. 'I like seducing you.'
'Taming me.' Tyr murmured in a satiated tone. 'I was terrified of losing you.'
'I know and I'm sorry.' Beka kissed him again.
---
Six months later Captain Valentine went for another trip and this time she didn't come back for a year. She'd lost her memory in a nanobot attack and eventually tied up with Harper again.
Harper alerted Tyr and she was collected this time without knowing whom she was being sent to.
'I am one of how many wives?' Beka looked at the Nietszchean male as if her were nuts for suggesting it.
'Twenty.' He responded coolly.
'I'm surprised you noticed I was missing. What happened did my day of the month come up and you said where's wife number… What number am I bye the way? Oh you probably remember me as the human one.'
'Beka your own willful behaviour got you into this mess.' The Nietszchean Alpha glowered at her. 'Try not to irritate me I'm trying to be patient.'
'I can't remember you.' Beka said pointedly. 'You'll have to make do with the other nineteen.'
'I'll remind you.' Tyr responded in the same even tone. 'You'll like it.'
'I don't actually like Nietszchean's.' Valentine glared at him.
'I'll change your mind.' He murmured as he leant down and kissed her warmly his mouth persuasive.
She struggled and he laughed. 'Beka I will give you a week to get used to me.' Tyr let her go and walked out.
She stared at the door he'd walked through. The guy was as sexy as all hell. And they'd only just met.
---
'The kids are cute.' Valentine said to Harper. 'Can't believe they're mine with those bone spurs.
'Yes well you kinda get those when you do it with a Nietszchean.' He grinned at her.
'He's something else!' Beka said in a gossiping tone. 'All that rippling muscle. Not my normal type though.'
'Beka about that. You didn't do it with anyone else?'
'No.' She waved her hand. 'Well nearly, but something held me back.'
'Premonition of death probably.' Harper said dryly. 'The big guy wouldn't like it.'
'He's got another nineteen wives.' She said confidentially. 'Can you imagine that?'
'I do frequently. They're all babes. He's nuts about you though. And I mean nuts.'
'Is he?' Beka smiled with pleasure. 'How about me? Why did I leave him?'
'Probably stir crazy.' Harper looked around the palace. 'This is the heart of the Nietszchean empire you used to get sick of it.'
'Do I love him?' She asked curiously.
'Excellent question.' Tyr came in and his gaze searched hers. 'One day you might tell me the answer.'
---
'So I've left you three times?' Valentine eyed him curiously. 'What's the matter do we argue a lot?'
'Yes.' He admitted. 'But the first time you left it was apparently for my own good so that I could fulfil my destiny. I didn't get you back for five years. Then you decided to go for a trip and were kidnapped. After that you decided to try again and disappeared for a year.'
'Perhaps you should consider taking me on holiday.' Beka smiled at him.
'You're probably right.' Tyr gave her a searching look. 'I have a lot of anger because of your absence. It seems wrong to vent it on you.'
'You mean rather than the other me.' She shrugged. 'You don't know if I loved you?'
He looked away. 'I always seem to be the one needing you Beka. You always seem to keep a certain distance from me. You've never told me you love me.'
'And do you love me?' Valentine gazed at him her eyes warm.
'Oh yes.' Tyr smiled at her and coloured slightly.
---
Beka put on the lace nightgown and smoothed it over her slim hips. She had decided to go to him. Then she frowned what if he was with one of the others? That would be awkward. She'd have to wait until he came to her. 'That's probably one of the things I didn't like.'
'What is?' Tyr turned her round to face him. His gaze swept over her. 'You're beautiful.'
'Your harem.' Beka answered the question. 'I wanted to come to you and I couldn't.'
Anasazi smiled. 'Well I came to you. I don't think you have ever suffered from a lack of attention.'
'Do the others?' She asked curiously.
'Sex is for procreation with Nietszchean females. Once they are pregnant they are happy enough.'
'I want you.' Beka ran her arms around his neck and watched with fascination as his mouth came down to hers. She nearly jumped at the passionate reaction. It scorched her veins. No wonder she hadn't wanted anyone else.'
'That's incredible.' She whispered as he raised his head.
'I need you.' The Nietszchean murmured his mouth burning her throat.
'You can have me.' Beka smiled at him and wrapped her arms around his neck as he lifted her up. 'She must have loved you.'
'Why?' He laughed warmly.
'The first time she left must have been really hard.'
---
Beka woke up and stretched like a satisfied kitten and turned into the Nietszchean's embrace. 'You're amazing.' She kissed him.
Tyr looked disturbed. 'You're so uninhibited.' He frowned. 'My Beka always …well she wouldn't…she was more reserved.'
She looked at him. 'Was I? I mean there aren't two of us.' Beka could feel herself falling in love with Tyr and she didn't much like being in competition with herself.
Tyr stroked her hair. 'If I analyse it she…you… made sure that I was the one who adored.' He paused. 'Well that's the way it seemed to me.'
'With nineteen wives I'm not surprised.' Beka rested on his chest. 'You'd have to have some way of getting an edge.'
The Nietszchean looked dumbfounded by that one. 'You mean you did it on purpose.'
'No idea but I can see I might.' Valentine stroked his skin. 'I don't suppose I enjoyed your institutionalized infidelity. 'I mean you're very possessive. You should be able to understand that.'
Tyr was surprised. Beka had left him so that he could establish a pride and the empire that had helped Dylan make a more just world. That she might resent it had never occurred to him.
---
A series of headaches ensued over the next few days and Beka started to remember stuff. Some things were good to remember and some things weren't.
Tyr held her as she cried and felt helpless. At times she seemed scared. He wanted to know what made her feel this way but she wouldn't tell him but just curled into him for comfort.
A week later she had almost complete recall. The confiding Beka left and the streetwise hardheaded babe was back.
Tyr came into her room and gave her an assessing look. 'Certain things about the amnesiac you were refreshing.'
'I'll bet.' She paced around the room. 'We have history Tyr, you were nice to her.'
He smiled self deprecatingly, 'I suppose I haven't always been nice to you. Beka tell me one thing. How hard was it to leave me after our first night together.'
Her blue eyes met his and she wrapped her arms around her body. 'It was difficult. I kissed you and you said my name in your sleep.' Valentine looked at him her eyes honest. 'You would never have done any of this Tyr. You were in love with me and I could tell that.' She walked over to him and ran her arms around his neck. 'If you had just wanted me I would have stayed.'
'I'd come to respect and care for you over the years on the Andromeda. You became my family. The pride never made up for the loss of your presence.'
'I know that now.' Beka sighed. 'I couldn't know that then Tyr.'
'You said you loved me.' Tyr kissed her softly. 'Do you?'
She gave him a mocking look. 'What do you think?'
'Are you jealous of my other wives?'
'You said just to answer one question Tyr. I did that.'
'Beka we have three children and we have been friends and lovers for over ten years. I think you should be able to open up to me.'
She shook her head. 'No I don't think so Tyr you're Nietszchean. You would take everything it's in your nature.'
He looked down into her eyes and smiled secretively. 'You don't trust me do you?'
'I trust you to be you.' Beka kissed him seductively.
'There's a little matter of breaking your word to me.' Anasazi murmured softly. 'I told you I would beat you didn't I?'
Beka looked up at him swiftly. 'Tyr I've just got my memory back.' She protested warily.
The Nietszchean let her go of her and took off his leather belt.
'You're joking.' She backed away from him. 'That idiot me didn't know you at all did she? All she got was the charm to get her into your bed.'
'She was better than you actually more giving.' Tyr caught her arm and hauled her to him. 'Now we are going to have a little lesson about keeping to the rules Beka. And this time you are not evading it by seducing me.'
---
Beka lay in bed shivering. Her eyes were swollen from crying and the pain was intense. Tyr wouldn't give her anything to relieve it and seemed to be going with the cruel to be kind principle. She heard him come back in and swallowed a sob. Bastard she wouldn't give him the satisfaction.
'The doctor will see you tomorrow.' Tyr sat down beside her. 'Now tell me what you've learnt or I'll cancel the appointment.'
'You're a cruel sadistic bastard.' Valentine offered icily.
The Nietszchean leant down close to her face. 'That's right. I think you should know that by now Beka and if you don't give me the answer I want I will hurt you again.'
Beka shivered and he grabbed her arm and twisted it behind her back. Refusing to cry out she bit her lip. 'I won't leave you again.' She said shakily.
'Better.' The Nietszchean let her arm go and then kissed her coaxingly.
Beka couldn't believe it. He was going to screw her? She was in agony. 'No!' She moaned, 'Tyr don't!'
He looked at her and smiled. 'Well you usually try and head off my anger with sex. I want to show you that in future that won't be a comfortable option.' He put a hand to the side of her face and kissed her mouth with growing need.
'If you do this to me Tyr I'll hate you.' She grabbed his braids. 'Ple-ase don't.' Beka began to sob and he stroked her hair.
In Tyr's view he'd been too soft with her before it had cost them a year and she was lucky to be alive. He undressed and got in beside her. The physician would heal the abrasions tomorrow and she'd be back to normal except for the memory. He hoped it was burnt into her skull because she gave him more trouble than the other nineteen wives put together. But then she gave him more pleasure. He moved her onto her back and she glared at him.
'Try not to cry.' Tyr kissed her softly almost tauntingly. 'It disturbs me.'
'I can't believe you're going to do this to me.' Beka whispered. 'I thought you loved me.'
'I do.' Anasazi kissed her breast. 'That's exactly why I'm doing it. You're reckless to the point of stupidity. You won't be again.' He moved over her and took her in seconds and she couldn't believe it when she came so passionately she felt like she was going to faint.
---
A day later all the abrasions were healed but she resented Anasazi with white cold anger. She couldn't believe the betrayal of her own body and that had her in a rage too. One thing she didn't consider though was flying out of there so presumably he'd achieved his objective.
Tyr left her to her resentment for about a week before he came to see her. He'd been surprised when she'd had such a passionate reaction the last time they'd made love. He'd expected her to endure it not enjoy it. Maybe she liked being dominated. He smiled at that and knew how much she must have hated her own body at that moment. 'Beka.' He acknowledged her. His gaze swept over her 'I like the gown.'
'Do you?' Beka gave him a cool glance.
Tyr walked over to her and tipped up her chin. 'Very resentful.' He murmured softly as his nostrils flared. 'But aroused nevertheless.'
'Of course who wouldn't be?' Valentine moved away from him. He was right. She could feel her body's tension normally he would not have left her for this long. They'd always had a very physical relationship.
Tyr sat down in one of the leather chairs and watched her for a few minutes. 'Come here.' The order was given softly but there was no doubt it was an order.
Beka ignored him and went and curled up on the bed resting against the pillows. Her gaze met his and she saw the determination on his face and decided that she didn't want another lesson like the last one. She got back up and went over to him and was pulled onto his knee.
'For one moment I thought your amnesia had returned.' Tyr taunted her softly.
'No I remember you hitting me with your belt very clearly.' Beka looked into his eyes her own cold.
'Good. I hope I only need to do that once.' The Nietszchean ran his hand over her breast and felt the nipple through the silk. 'You're reaction afterwards has been puzzling me.' He ran his hand over her flat stomach and down between her thighs and cupped her there rubbing the silk against her in a gentle stimulation.
Beka didn't comment she wasn't willing to talk about that. Her skin coloured painfully.
'You must have been in pain.' Tyr whispered in her ear. 'And yet I can't ever remember…
'Shut up!' Beka snapped goaded beyond endurance.
'Adoration may not be your thing.' He kissed her jaw. 'Maybe I should beat you more often.'
'Is this another lesson in humiliation?' Beka asked bitterly.
'You are showing signs of intense stimulation.' Tyr ran his hand under her gown and his fingers tested her. 'Kiss me.' He murmured.
Valentine hated what he was doing to her but she complied and gave a moan of protest as he occupied her mouth his tongue aggressively dominating the soft recesses. Her body however arched against him and couldn't have been a more willing slave.
Raising his head he gave her a look of utter male satisfaction. 'This is like having the amnesiac back but with my Beka resenting it. Fascinating.' He traced her mouth with his fingertip.
'What is it exactly that you want?' She asked in a subdued tone.
'An answer to my questions.' Tyr murmured softly a small smile playing around his mouth.
'I see.' Beka did see. Tyr wanted everything she'd held back before and somehow the stupid her had given him the confidence to push her.
'What were they?' Valentine was deliberately refusing to remember.
'Are you jealous of my other wives?' Tyr responded his gaze curious on her face.
'I'd give you away to any one of them with a prize tonight.' Beka answered dryly.
He laughed and ran his hand through her hair. 'Tell me.'
'I'd rather we were both monogamous.' She responded carefully.
'So the answer is yes.' Tyr murmured and his mouth kissed her jaw and his hand returned to her breast.
'Do you love me?' He bit her earlobe gently.
'Not at the moment.' Beka answered closing her eyes as he whispered in her ear. His suggestions turned her on and she pressed his hand against her breast. 'Generally though yes.'
'Say it!' Tyr pulled back.
Captain Valentine took a deep breath and put her arm around his neck and gazed deep into his eyes. 'I love you and I always have.'
'Thankyou.' The Nietszchean said softly.
'Now.' He murmured cradling her against his chest. 'Do not run out on me because you feel exposed. Your reticence has not been the factor that kept me interested.'
'Uhuh. And what would that be?'
'I'm not going to tell you.' Tyr gave a wide smile of enjoyment at her consternation.
Beka glared at him and then she smiled and gave an exasperated laugh. 'Tyr have I ever told you what a bastard you are?'
'Frequently.' He responded getting up and walking to the bed with her. He dropped her on it from chest height. 'And you are absolutely right.'
---