Prime Target

Prime Target Plot Summary

Introduction

# Bonds Beyond Stars: A Cosmic Journey of Love and Destiny The slave ship's hull groaned under laser fire as Damon Martin carved his way through Dornian flesh, his battle-blade painting the corridors crimson. In the bowels of the vessel, Susa Anghard sat caged like an animal, her golden eyes blazing with defiance despite the shackles. The former Prime sex surrogate had fled one form of bondage only to fall into something far worse—the galactic slave trade that fed on desperation and broken dreams. When their eyes met through the smoke and chaos, something shifted in the fabric of space itself. This wasn't just another rescue mission for the hardened station owner, nor was it mere salvation for the woman who had never known true freedom. The electric current that passed between them carried the weight of destiny, a cosmic recognition that would reshape both their lives. As Damon's ship hurtled through hyperspace toward his remote jump station, neither could ignore the pull growing stronger with each passing moment—a bond that seemed written in the very stars themselves, promising either salvation or destruction for two souls who had learned to survive alone.

Chapter 1: Rescue Among the Stars: An Unexpected Connection

The Dornian ship shuddered as Damon's assault team breached the airlock. Smoke filled the narrow corridors while he moved like death incarnate, his battle-blade cutting down anyone who stood between him and his objective. The slavers had made a fatal mistake—they'd captured Borac Anghard's cousin, and Borac was more than just a business partner. In the holding cells, he found her. Susa sat in the corner of a cramped cage, dark hair matted with dried blood but her spine straight as a sword. She was smaller than he'd expected, more delicate, yet something in those golden eyes spoke of steel forged in fire. When he cut through the electronic lock, their fingers brushed as she accepted his help. The touch sent shockwaves through both of them. Damon had rescued dozens of people over the years, but none had affected him like this. Every breath she took registered with startling clarity, every slight tremor in her voice as she thanked him. The woman who had served as property for fifteen years studied his weathered features with an intensity that made his pulse quicken. During the journey to his jump station, they sat in the ship's common area sharing meals and conversation. Susa spoke matter-of-factly about her life as a sex surrogate on Cejuru Prime, her voice steady despite experiences that made Damon's jaw clench with suppressed rage. She had chosen servitude over the alternative—the homes for unmarked Prime women where hope went to die. "You deserved better," he said, his blue eyes intense in the artificial light. "You deserve better." Something in his voice made her look up, and again that spark passed between them. Neither understood it, but both felt the pull growing stronger with each passing hour. The electric current that had started with a simple touch was becoming something far more dangerous—and infinitely more precious.

Chapter 2: Navigating Desire: A Week of Growing Intimacy

The luxury cruise ship Dreamcaster became their floating sanctuary, a place where Susa could taste freedom for the first time in her adult life. Damon had booked passage to his jump station, but what should have been simple transport transformed into something far more complex. They shared a suite but maintained boundaries, his gesture of restraint moving her deeply—this man treating her as more than just a body to be used. Their days filled with cooking classes where Damon's large hands guided hers as they prepared aphrodisiac-laden dishes. The ship's adult entertainment made Susa blush while Damon's eyes darkened with want, yet each night they shared a bed without crossing the line he'd drawn. The connection between them grew stronger daily—she could sense his emotions, feel his heartbeat matching hers. When aggressive suitors approached in the casino, she watched Damon transform from protector to predator, his civilized veneer cracking to reveal the dangerous man beneath. The other passengers began giving them wider berth, instinctively recognizing the energy that surrounded the couple. Even hardened pleasure-seekers stepped back when faced with his possessive fury. Their restraint became sweet torture as the days passed. Every touch, every kiss, every heated glance built tension until the air itself seemed to crackle with their need. Susa found herself migrating across their shared bed each night, her body seeking his warmth while he held her close, his arousal a constant ache. "This isn't normal," she confided one evening as they stood on the observation deck, stars wheeling past the viewport. "What I feel for you—it's like you've become part of me." Damon pulled her closer, his arm possessive around her waist. "I know. I feel it too, Angel." The endearment made her heart flutter. She'd never been anyone's anything before, not really. The countdown to surrender had begun, each day bringing them closer to the inevitable claiming that would change everything.

Chapter 3: Threats in Paradise: Facing Dangers Together

Their paradise shattered when three strangers began stalking them through the ship's corridors. Roc, Tor, and Celeste—pirates in the employ of Nagli Goldai, the self-proclaimed ruler who had developed an obsession with owning Susa. They were professional, dangerous, and patient, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. The first attempt came on the resort planet of Laguna Orgais. As Susa browsed in a jewelry shop, a man grabbed her arm and demanded she come with him. Her self-defense training served her well—she drove her palm into his nose, kneed him in the groin, and screamed for help. Damon appeared within seconds, his face a mask of cold fury that made even station security step back. Back on the ship, the three pirates made their presence known, following them to the casino, restaurants, and entertainment venues. They were shadows with teeth, a constant reminder that Goldai wouldn't give up easily. The net was tightening around them, but their bond grew stronger in the face of danger. Geep, the small Ragbag creature who had become Susa's unlikely companion, proved more dangerous than his fuzzy appearance suggested. When one stalker got too close in the casino, the little alien's bite sent the man writhing on the floor, poisoned but not fatally. The message spread quickly through the ship's social network—this woman was claimed, protected, and lethal to approach. "They're waiting for the right moment," Damon told Susa as they lay in bed, her head on his chest. His hand stroked her hair with infinite gentleness, but she could feel the coiled tension in his body. "I won't let them take you." "I know," she whispered against his skin. "I trust you completely." That trust would be tested soon enough, but for now they had each other, their connection deepening with every shared breath. They were no longer just two people attracted to each other—they were becoming something more, something that transcended normal human understanding.

Chapter 4: The Prime Bond: A Revelation of Cosmic Union

On their final night aboard the cruise ship, Damon finally claimed Susa as his own. What began as tender lovemaking transformed into something cosmic, otherworldly. As their bodies joined, their souls seemed to leave the physical plane entirely, dancing together in a realm of pure light and sensation that defied description. When they returned to awareness, both bore identical marks—intricate patterns that had appeared over Damon's heart and Susa's lower abdomen. The marks pulsed with warmth and responded to each other's touch with cascades of pleasure that left them gasping. "We're mated," Susa explained, her voice filled with wonder as she traced the mark on his chest. "In the Prime way. You're my gemat—my soul mate." Damon marveled at how the pattern seemed to move under his skin, alive with alien energy. "But I'm not Prime. How is this possible?" "I don't know," she admitted, her golden eyes bright with tears of joy. "But I felt it from the moment we met. This connection, this pull—it's the mating bond forming. We're meant to be together, Damon. The universe itself has chosen us for each other." Their telepathic abilities emerged gradually. First came the perfect clarity of shared emotions, then the ability to communicate mind to mind across distances. They were becoming battle-mates, a legendary pairing among the Prime that granted enhanced abilities and an unbreakable connection. The physical changes were equally profound. They needed each other constantly now, their bodies craving union with an intensity that bordered on desperation. Yet it wasn't mere lust—it was a cosmic imperative, the universe demanding they complete what had been started in starlight and sealed in flesh. "I love you," Damon whispered against her lips as they made love for the third time that night. "I didn't know I could feel this much, need someone this completely."

Chapter 5: Battle for Protection: Confronting the Enemy

Their arrival at Jump Station Charybdis should have been a celebration, but danger followed them even there. Goldai and his pirates had infiltrated the station through corruption and credits, striking when Damon was away conducting inventory. The trap closed around Susa in the casino, where she was watching little Zoey, Borac's daughter. Goldai's eyes gleamed with possessive hunger as he looked at her, while Roc and Celeste flanked him with weapons drawn. "I always get what I want," he declared, his voice oily with satisfaction. "You've caused me considerable trouble, but that will make breaking you all the sweeter." Susa's mind reached out to Damon through their bond, their connection allowing instant communication across the station. His fury blazed through their link, but beneath it was iron control and deadly purpose. She led them away from Zoey, sacrificing herself to protect the child while Geep and his pack of Ragbags shadowed them through the ventilation systems. The confrontation came on the freight dock, where Goldai's ship waited. But Damon had turned it into a killing ground. Geep's people struck first, their poisonous bites dropping Goldai and two companions in writhing agony. Only Roc remained, holding a knife to Susa's throat as Damon emerged from the shadows like an avenging angel. "Let her go," Damon commanded, his voice carrying the authority of a man who had carved his place in the galaxy through strength and will. "You might live to see prison." But Roc was beyond reason, fear making him desperate. He pressed the blade closer, drawing blood, and sealed his fate. Damon's battle-blade found his heart moments later, ending the threat in a spray of crimson that painted the deck plates. As Susa collapsed into her mate's arms, she felt their bond pulse with shared relief and triumph. They had faced their first real test together and emerged victorious, their connection stronger than ever.

Chapter 6: A Home Among the Stars: Building a Shared Future

Jump Station Charybdis became their kingdom, a place where Susa could finally build the life she'd always dreamed of. No longer property to be traded or used, she was Damon's equal partner in every sense that mattered. She threw herself into learning the station's operations, her natural gift with numbers making her invaluable in managing the casino and other ventures. The former sex surrogate became a shrewd businesswoman, respected by the diverse population of traders, travelers, and workers who called the station home. Borac accepted their union with grudging approval, especially after seeing how Damon's love had transformed his cousin. She bloomed under his care, confidence growing as she embraced her new role. They divided their time between the station and Susa's home on Cejuru Prime, creating a life that spanned star systems. On the Prime homeworld, she could reconnect with her heritage and the friends she'd left behind. On the station, she could be part of building something new and vital in the cold depths of space. Their bond continued to evolve, the telepathic connection deepening until they could share not just thoughts but actual strength and healing. When one was hurt, the other could ease the pain. When danger threatened, they became a unified fighting force greater than the sum of its parts. The station's population quickly learned to respect the quiet woman who had tamed their dangerous leader. Susa's compassion balanced Damon's harder edges, while his strength gave her the security she needed to flourish. Together, they created a sanctuary where love could grow and thrive against all odds, proof that even in the galaxy's darkest corners, hope could take root and bloom.

Chapter 7: Twin Blessings: The Fruition of Celestial Love

The ultimate proof of their cosmic connection came in the form of twins—Piers and Moira, children who carried both human and Prime genetics in perfect harmony. Their birth represented more than just new life; it was hope for the future of both species, living proof that love could transcend the boundaries of biology and prejudice. Damon proved to be a devoted father, his protective instincts extending to encompass his growing family. He would pace the nursery at night, soothing crying babies while Susa recovered from feeding them. His large, battle-scarred hands were infinitely gentle as he changed diapers and sang lullabies in his deep voice, the same hands that had dealt death now nurturing new life. Susa marveled at the transformation in herself as well. The woman who had once been property now commanded respect throughout the galaxy. Scientists sought her out to study the unprecedented Prime-human bonding. Politicians courted her favor. Yet none of it mattered as much as the simple joy of watching Damon play with their children in the gardens of their Cejuru Prime home. Their friends gathered around them—other bonded couples who had found love against the odds. The warriors and their mates who were rebuilding Prime society from the ashes of the old ways, creating something better from the ruins of tradition and prejudice. As Susa sat in the afternoon sun, nursing Moira while Damon held a sleeping Piers, she reflected on the journey that had brought them here. From a cage on a slaver ship to this moment of perfect contentment—it seemed impossible, yet here they were, living proof that miracles could happen among the stars. "Have I told you today how beautiful you are?" Damon asked, his voice soft with wonder even after all this time. "Yes, but I love hearing it," she replied, leaning into his warmth. Their bond pulsed between them, stronger than ever, a golden thread that connected their souls across time and space.

Summary

The love story of Susa Anghard and Damon Martin transcends the boundaries of species and circumstance, proving that true connection recognizes no limits imposed by biology or society. From the moment of her rescue to the birth of their children, their journey illustrates the transformative power of love that is both chosen and destined. Susa's evolution from property to partner, from survivor to leader, mirrors the broader changes sweeping through a galaxy learning to embrace diversity rather than fear it. Their bond represents more than personal happiness—it embodies hope for a future where love conquers prejudice, where strength and compassion unite to create something greater than either could achieve alone. In the cold vastness of space, where danger lurks in every shadow and trust is a luxury few can afford, they carved out a sanctuary built on mutual respect, passionate devotion, and unshakeable faith in each other. Their story reminds us that the most profound connections are written in starlight itself, waiting for the right moment to ignite and illuminate the darkness with their celestial fire, proving that love truly knows no boundaries among the infinite stars.

About Author

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Marquita Valentine

Valentine crafts vibrant narratives centered around the interplay between sexy heroes and sassy heroines, a hallmark of her contemporary romance novels. Her writing resonates with readers who enjoy stories that balance humor and swoon-worthy moments, providing a blend of emotion and entertainment. By focusing on dynamic female characters and charismatic male protagonists, she captivates a wide audience, drawing them into richly developed worlds.\n\nIn addition to her engaging literary style, Valentine’s publishing journey offers insights into the evolving landscape of contemporary romance fiction. She initially gained traction through self-publishing, an avenue that propelled her to New York Times and USA Today bestseller status. This approach allowed her to build a substantial readership, with significant contributions from her popular series such as the Holland Springs series and the Boys of the South series. Her standalone novel, "Love So Hot," also showcases her ability to create compelling romantic narratives. \n\nReaders benefit from Valentine's works as they explore themes of love and relationships set against the backdrop of relatable, everyday scenarios. Her books, whether part of a series or standalone, serve as both an escape and a reflection on the intricacies of modern romance. Valentine's success in both traditional and self-publishing platforms underlines her adaptability and the universal appeal of her storytelling, making her a significant figure in contemporary romance.

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