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through the open terrace. 
Danika had no memory of anything she had experienced before Captain Tyber
released her from the capsule.  So, when she was drawn to the open doors and
looked out into what from her research was a clear blue ocean, she was
mesmerized.  This was not anything like what she had become used to in space. 
She caught her breath at the beauty spread out as far as she could see.  The
beaches of white sand looked like powder and the two suns in the distance
reflected off azure waves that crashed and flowed. 
    She was so lost in the
beauty before her that she forgot about Lucan and the danger she was in.  She
was not aware she was crying until he stepped up before her and caught a tear
on his gloved finger.  She looked up at him then, her eyes overflowing.
    “It is the sea?”
    “Yes.”
    “I learned about it,” she
said, her eyes drawn back to the pounding surf, “but it is not the same.”
    “No, it’s not the same,”
he said, his voice having lost some of its hard edge.  She breathed it in, her
eyes closing briefly to enjoy the scents bombarding her. 
    “You can go out there,”
he said and her eyes snapped open in wonder.
    “Truly?” she asked hope
clear on her face.  “What of your test?”
    “It can wait.”
    She smiled, white teeth
flashing behind rose red lips.  The moss green of her eyes shone behind thick
lashes, sooty from tears.  Then she was moving, her feet taking her out to the
sand and sun, crashing waves, and the sound of birds.
    Luc stood frozen.  That
smile had sucked all the air out of his chest and she was out the doors and
gone before he could get it back.
    Lucan Warrung was a
pirate, a mercenary, and a self-centered bastard.  He had been forged in the fires
of his family’s hate.  He had fought his way free of his bloodthirsty relatives
to make a place for himself and he held onto what was his with an iron hand. 
He had taken a pirate’s stronghold on this ocean moon and made it his, and kept
it against all comers.  Everything within his sight belonged to him, every
person, every rock.  No one came to this place without an invitation from him
and if they did, they died.  No second chances, no trial.  He had killed
without remorse and made a name for himself as a ruthless businessman. 
    No one got past his
defenses.  Not his employees or his infrequent but interchangeable lovers.  He
protected his people and their families because they were loyal to him, not for
any true affection.  No one got past his defenses. 
    No one.  Until now.

CHAPTER FIVE
    Lucan stepped out onto
the deck, his eyes finding her sitting on the sand and pulling off her boots;
she pulled off her socks next and rolled up her pants until he could see her
curvy little ankles and calves.  She squished her toes in the powdery sand and
her laugh carried on the breeze back to him.  His cock had been standing at
attention since they hit the bedroom, but that laugh, as free and innocent as
it sounded, wrapped around his dick like a noose.  He wanted nothing more than
to strip off both their clothes and take her in the warm sand. 
    She got up and danced
across the beach, the sun bright in her hair.  She pressed a delicate toe into
the water and laughed again.  It was warm so she walked into the water up to
her ankles and ran back as the waves came up to her calves.  She laughed again
and Lucan turned and left because if he had watched her one more minute, he
would have joined her for an entirely different kind of frolic on the beach. 
He hit the icom.
    “Sir?”
    “Send Kira to the beach
for the girl, have her shown to the blue room, and get her whatever she needs.”
    “The blue room, sir?”
    “Problem?”  His voice saying
very clearly there better not be .
    “No, sir, not a
problem.”  He cleared his throat.  “And Briar?”
    “Is out.  Make it
happen.”
    “Yes, sir.”  This time
there was no mistaking the edge of glee in the answer, but Luc had already
moved