Carnevale and Subterfuge by Selena Illyria

cherished, and waited on hand and foot. He had enough money to buy an island on one of those luxury planets out near the rim of the universe, close to the suns of Pollex and the moons of Hecate. She would love it.
    “I do love my job,” Anarrae said.
    “You said people don’t see you.” Diego loathed that. He hated that she went unnoticed. To him she was the rarest gem, the most beautiful. His time with her, though it was not long, showed him a sweet, lonely woman who was pure in her intentions but had wicked desires that lit him from the inside out until he wanted to take her regardless of where they were. No one had ever made him feel like that. His throbbing cock, pressed against the fly of his pants, was proof of her effect on him.
    “Yeah, but they’re so busy. There’s always activity on the ship, even in the dead of night.” Her tone was not neutral, her body tense. He knew she was lying. She was making excuses for their lack of consideration.
    Instead of pressing the point, he let that pass, only to find himself asking the one question he didn’t want to know the answer to. “Is there someone on the ship you fancy?”
    He was on pins and needle waiting for her to answer.
    “No, no one. I did once, but he left. Changed ships.” There was pain in her voice.
    “I’m sorry,” he said. Silently he rejoiced, yet was angered by the pain this nameless person caused.
    “Why are you apologizing? It’s not your fault. He never knew. Besides there are rules in place. Crew can’t fraternize.”
    “Rules were meant to be broken.”
    “Spoken like a con artist.” She was smiling now. He could hear the smile in her voice.
    Diego laughed. “Well, first you bend them, then you break them. I am what I am. Can’t help that.”
    “Did you always want to be a con artist?”
    He tensed. It was only fair. He was poking and prodding, asking things he shouldn’t.
    “No,” he said. “I wanted to be strong. That’s it. It didn’t matter if I was an officer in the Universal military or a copper or whatever… I just wanted to be strong.”
    Memories spilled around the edges of his mind and he tried to push them back. He refused to think of his past—not with her here. It was as if thinking about his father would taint things, and he didn’t want that. Thankfully she didn’t push.
    “What do you do when you’re not conning?” Ana asked.
    “I read, sleep, catch up on universe news. Boring really.”
    “Do you have siblings? Or is that too personal?”
    Here was another bittersweet subject. “A brother. He and I don’t really get along. We do and yet we don’t. We have very different views on the world.”
    Diego could just see his brother scowling and he shook his head. His hands moved down to cup the cheeks of her ass, giving them a good squeeze. Her groan was his reward. He gave her a good slap on one mound and she squirmed.
    “You like being spanked. Mmm, I think you’ve been a very naughty girl. Perhaps I’ll have to punish you later.” He leaned down and placed a soft kiss on the nape of her neck before nipping the skin.
    Ana didn’t deny it. She just let out a groan.
    “What other secrets does the beautiful Anarrae have, hmm? Will you tell me?”
    “My secrets are my own, con artist.” Her voice was husky.
    “Just remember I still have to tie you down. Perhaps interrogate you too? I want to know your hidden gems, love. I want to know what makes you laugh, cry, moan, and scream.” Diego meant every word but he didn’t add that he wanted to know what she was afraid of and what made her feel safe—admitting that would push things too far for him. He would feel the need to protect her. Instead of asking, he moved his hands on her. His thumbs slipped between her thighs to rest on either side of her entrance. A glance down showed him she was wet.
    “I’m not going to tell you that.” She squirmed slightly.
    “I think your body betrays you, love. You’re wet for me. Goddess, I love that