
She will protect him at all costs, even if it means her life.
Black Opals, Book 2
Undercover, deep in the heart of enemy territory, Lily Black has been charged with a mission: guard the life of Kerr Strome.
Like her warrior sisters, the Black Opals, Lily is a time traveller who shifts wherever she's needed. She'll do whatever it takes to foil an assassination attempt on Kerr by The New Order. There's only one way to fly under his radar: pose as a man.
Kerr Strome is a warrior with his back to the wall. His planet is in chaos, his life threatened at every turn. The safe evacuation of his people from their war-ravaged planet depends entirely on his team of elite soldiers---and their ability to lie low for the next few days. The holding pattern might make him crazy, except for the intriguing new team member. A small soldier with big-time fighting skills, and something extra Kerr can't quite figure out.
When Lily intercepts a New Order assassin---and a bullet meant for Kerr---her cover isn't all that's blown. Their pent-up desire reveals a bitter truth. The reason Kerr is marked for death? He is Lily's destined mate. And the only way to save his life is to give her own.
Warning: Contains one hard-bodied soldier, illicit loving, a kickass lady and a little bit of time travel.
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This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer's imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental.
Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
577 Mulberry Street, Suite 1520
Macon GA 31201
Black Destiny
Copyright © 2010 by Juliana Stone
ISBN: 978-1-60928-161-8
Edited by Lindsey Faber
Cover by Natalie Winters
All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
First Samhain Publishing, Ltd. electronic publication: August 2010
Black Destiny
To the Sirens and Scribes, may you all achieve your goals and live your dreams.
Lily Black was in deep shit.
She knew it and so did the asshole staring her down not more than ten feet away. His smile was wide, vicious, and it stretched taut across his face, emphasizing the dark eyes that were lit with an unholy light.
He grunted and nodded as if to say, you're totally screwed.
Tell me something I don't know.
Her gaze moved quickly as she tried to find an alternative that didn't involve her butt getting kicked all over the place, but as far as she could see there was no way out.
She'd become separated from the unit two hours before and now found herself trapped amongst the debris and carnage leftover from decades of war. She was totally on her own. Kerr and the rest of the men were on their way back to base. It was the way of it here on Drakkon. The land was harsh, unforgiving, and the men were pretty much the same.
Lily swore under her breath. Christ, she so didn't have time for this.
Her eyes settled on the enemy. He was of human origin, strong and menacing. She studied him closely and tried to quell the anger that hit her hard.
The clothes that he wore, the weapon at his side and the sheer arrogance that colored his features told her all she needed to know. The bastard was a member of The New Order and was from her time---two hundred years into the past.
She knew why he was here. To assassinate Kerr Strome, the man she'd been sent to protect.
Lily gripped the weapon in her hand and narrowed her eyes. She'd be damned if she'd let him complete his mission. She'd been on the planet for four and a half weeks and had managed to infiltrate Kerr's elite military unit. It hadn't been hard. War had pretty much thinned the numbers of top-notch soldiers and she'd had no trouble stepping into the dead boots of one not much older than herself.
That he'd been male hadn't been an issue. She'd tucked her long crimson hair beneath a protective skull hat, and with the dirt and grime that came with war it had been too easy to play the part of a young, albeit gifted, male warrior.
She'd fought alongside Kerr and his men and had slowly gained their respect as they'd kept the lizard-like creatures at bay while they hurried to evacuate the thousands of people still left on the planet.
The Serpentis were cold, lethal, and had a hate-on for Kerr's people that had fuelled the war for decades. Their only thought was the destruction of every single Drakkonian. Their reasons didn't matter either---if they even remembered them.
And now The New Order had arrived and jumped into the game. Lily grimaced. She'd known this would happen. It's why she'd been dispatched to Drakkon with orders to make sure Kerr made it off the planet. He'd been targeted by the bastards and though she didn't know the why of it, the reason wasn't important. She was a Black Opal, a time shifter and it was her job to make sure assholes like The New Order didn't achieve their end game.
Kerr Strome would make it off Drakkon. Or she'd die trying.
She spit into the ground and clenched her fists as the operative laughed at her.
Bring it on. The dude was big but it sure as hell didn't mean his balls were made of steel.
She smiled for the first time. Guess she was gonna find out.
"Where is the woman?" he said with a snarl. "The Opal."
Lily exhaled slowly. This was good. So far her cover was intact.
The asshole had no clue she was standing right in front of him. She felt the black opal begin to burn against her chest. Something poked at the edge of her mind and she shook her head, widened her stance.
Why was the operative looking for her? Shouldn't he be gunning for Kerr's location in order to take him out?
Something wasn't right.
"It doesn't matter. I will find her," he whispered harshly, the words falling like stones from between his lips.
She felt everything fade away. The cold, the wind, the fear. Nothing but a steely determination and a keen instinct to survive remained.
"Your leader is a fool if he thinks to evade the Serpentis forever. They will find him no matter where he runs to...what planet or galaxy." His voice was low, dangerous. "We will help them."
"Good luck with that," she said carefully, her voice low and controlled. "Dickhead."
Lily watched as his tongue darted out and swept over his lips. Beads of perspiration bubbled along his forehead and the fire that lit his eyes signaled a change that did not bode well for her.
He scented the air and shook out long, heavily muscled limbs.
"You are not Drakkonian."
"No shit," Lily whispered as she stood loosely on the balls of her feet. Silence fell between the two of them and she sensed his brain working madly behind the cold, dark eyes. She studied him closely---the arrogant tilt to his mouth, the square chin---and it was then that she noticed the small mark above his right cheek.
He wasn't just any operative. He was one of Gideon's sons. Gideon had been a boil on her family's butt for decades. He was the leader of the New Order---a cold ruthless son of a bitch with a fanatical thirst for power.
As a smile swept across her enemy's lips she swallowed thickly.
He knew.
He laughed softly and the sound skidded across her brain sending a new pack of shivers to dance across her skin.
Movement caught her peripheral vision and the fear that slid down her throat to land in her belly was cold. They were no longer alone.
Several large Serpentis appeared from the gathering dusk to form a loose circle. She was effectively surrounded and they seemed to be under the control of Gideon's spawn.
The wind whistled in her ear, kicking up dirt and refuse, to whirl in a chaotic mess. Lily exhaled slowly as she gripped her weapon tight. An image of Kerr floated in front of her eyes and a pang of something ripped through her chest. It was like a physical punch. She'd only known the man for a few weeks and yet even amongst the chaos and danger of war, she'd found her thoughts turning to Kerr more than they should have.
She exhaled loudly and cleared her mind as the Serpentis closest to her hissed and shook its massive head. She had no time for weakness.
"How amusing."
She raised her eyebrow as the bastard's laughter floated on the wind.
"The Black Opals are known throughout the seven galaxies for their beauty, and here you are looking like nothing more than a dirty little boy." His eyes narrowed and they shimmered weirdly. He licked his lips as his gaze swept over her. "We'll have to work on that."
"Excuse me?" She widened her stance and forced her tense muscles to relax.
"You will be mine, Lily Black, as is my right. And when I take you to my bed, when I plant my seed deep within your womb I'll expect the legendary beauty I've heard so much about."
What the hell was he talking about? "Fuck you," Lily said softly.
His eyes narrowed and she could see the hatred that flared behind them.
"Don't worry," he said as he took a step toward her. "I intend to...fuck you."
Lily cracked her neck and prepared to fight. Looks like her shit day had just taken a header directly into the toilet.
Kerr Strome raised his hand and signaled for an all-stop. His men froze in their tracks and the silence that drifted upon the wind was near deafening.
Something wasn't right. He could sense it. Slowly his eyes scanned the barren landscape that used to be a thriving city centre.
Overhead, a lone wingback cut through the breeze, its long body gliding easily as it circled closer to the ground. The animal was a scavenger and that told Kerr a fresh kill lay on the horizon.
He felt his gut clench and his lips thinned as he looked to Macon, his second in command. The soldier's features were grim and he knew that none of his men had any hope the small, fierce fighter known simply as Blackie was alive.
They'd been ambushed while guarding the latest convoy to leave Drakkon. Their evacuation of the planet was almost complete and most of the ships had already left for the rendezvous point. Blackie had come up missing when it was all said and done. The aged air-rider had made it out safely, but the young soldier was nowhere to be found.
Normally, they'd have moved on, headed back to base but every single one of the men in his elite unit wanted to perform a grid search of the immediate area. Kerr shook his head tiredly. The small soldier had managed to worm himself into their tight-knit unit. No easy feat considering most of his men were cold, ruthless killers. It was hard to be anything but that amongst the darkness and despair that they faced every day.
Macon nodded to the left and Kerr signaled the men to move out. Quietly they slipped over the rough hewn ground, ten men searching for one. As Kerr came up along the crumbled remains of a large stone wall he paused as a voice drifted toward him.
Macon slid alongside of him and they looked at each other. The Serpentis didn't speak. At least not in any language they could understand. The voice was too low to belong to Blackie.
Kerr nodded at Macon and the two men made their way down a narrow pathway between the rubble, and within seconds they had a view of an area that was somewhat clear of refuse.
He stared at the scene before him, teeth clenched, lips thinned. He could see a squad of Serpentis surrounding a large humanoid male, and in the center of them was Blackie.
His soldier stood with his feet wide and weapon at the ready. He was heavily outnumbered and Kerr shook his head as a sliver of pride rushed through him. Blackie might be small but he sure as hell would never surrender without a fight.
His men moved silently into position, setting up a perimeter of their own.
Kerr inched forward and strained his ears but was only able to pick up snatches of conversation.
"Fuck you." Blackie's voice was low.
The man laughed. "I intend to...fuck you."
Kerr gritted his teeth and didn't take his eyes from them. He watched Blackie spit into the ground and felt his gut tighten as the Serpentis began to move forward.
"Nice come back. Ah, you're forgetting the most basic principle of battle."
That's it, Blackie, keep them occupied. Kerr nodded to his men and they began to move forward, tightening their own leash.
"And what would that be?" the stranger growled.
"You have to catch me first, asswipe."
Blackie exploded into action and rushed forward, his arm flying high as a deadly blade flew toward the stranger.
All hell broke loose as his men jumped the barrier between them. The Serpentis turned, their weapons at the ready.
There was a moment of surreal silence and then a bloodcurdling scream rent the air as Blackie attacked. It was enough. His men opened fire and within seconds two of the Serpentis were down.
But the bastards were fast and Kerr jumped over the large pile of rubble, his eyes focused on Blackie as he ran forward. Movement to the left drew his attention briefly and Kerr sidestepped an assault as a large Serpentis flew at him. He aimed and fired, but wasn't able to avoid the swing as its long tail whipped out and knocked him on his ass.
The creature went down hard but rolled over, its weapon already drawn and yet it was too late. Kerr fired off a round that split its head in two. Green matter exploded and he was up and running without pause.
The heat of fire sliced his cheek open and he darted to the right as another shot echoed into the space where he'd just been. He dove behind the body of a downed Serpentis and rained a wall of gunfire toward the enemy.
His men were slowly gaining ground but Blackie was still pretty much surrounded. Macon slid in beside him and nodded toward the large number of Serpentis. The soldier growled, "Go---I'll cover you."
Kerr kept his head low as he ran toward Blackie and couldn't keep the grin off his face as he watched the small soldier drop-kick the much larger man. But his grin faded as the intruder struck out and sent Blackie flying.
He charged forward, ignoring the chaos, trusting Macon to watch his back.
Stars danced in front of Lily's eyes as she shook her head, ignoring the ringing that slammed between her ears. She jackknifed her body and was up in an instant.
Kerr and the men had arrived on scene and the smell of death hung heavy in the air as they attacked.
Gideon's son stared at her, hatred coloring his features until each plane of his face was nothing more than a caricature of disgust. That was good. She could use his hatred to fuel the fire. Keep him occupied. Kerr needed to escape this mess alive.
"What's the matter, asshole? Don't like the feel of an Opal kicking your New Order ass?"
All around them the battle raged and yet it was just background noise. A film of chaos blanketed everything and dulled the impact, sealing the two of them into a cocoon of their own making.
Lily pointed her weapon toward him, while she held herself loose and ready.
"You have no clue what's at play here, bitch." He nodded behind her. "Your boy there will not make it off this planet alive and you'll be coming back with me."
A sliver of cold rifled through her. It had nothing whatsoever to do with her current situation, and everything to do with the lethal black eyes that stared down at her.
"You will know my name. I am Mallick, son of Gideon, and you belong to me."
The fire that lit his face made her belly turn and Lily spat onto the ground.
"The seven suns of Turin will explode before I let you touch me." His meaning had been clear, and though it made no sense to Lily, the threat was very much real.
An explosion several feet away smashed the air around them and she fought to keep her balance.
Movement to the side caught her attention and she turned in time to see Kerr blast a Serpentis apart as he rushed toward her. Mallick snarled and raised a large weapon, his focus shifting from her to Kerr.
Time slowed down then, seconds stretching out into long moments. Lily could hear the air whistle down her lungs as she inhaled a great gulp and the sounds of battle faded away. Adrenaline pulsed aggressively inside keeping tandem with her heart as it beat against her chest.
Without thought she rushed forward and leapt into the air, firing a round toward Mallick as she did so. Her only thought was to keep Kerr safe.
As her body crashed into Kerr's, fire ripped through her shoulder and it took every scrap of strength she possessed to keep the scream inside her head.
The two of them rolled to the ground but Kerr pushed her aside as he snarled savagely and aimed his gun toward Mallick. Before he had a chance to fire he was attacked by another Serpentis, and knocked to the ground.
"No!" She screamed hoarsely fighting to stay conscious. A film of red was already slipping over her eyes and cold dread sat low in her gut. She knew what Mallick's weapon held, she could feel it---deadly poison that would kill her within twenty-four hours.
Then he was there and Mallick's face contorted into a rage that made no sense. "You dumb bitch," he snarled. "You were mine."
She felt his hand around her neck and Lily's eyes rolled back as she tried to focus on something, anything that could hold her steady.
He dug down beneath her battle gear and ripped the opal from her flesh. Mallick leaned in close, his breath a wash of heat against her clammy skin.
"You will not leave here."
And then he was gone.
"What the...?" Kerr's voice shouted from far away. She closed her eyes and tried to concentrate.
All around her, the action ceased, as if a plug had been pulled and the violence slowly seeped away. The silence that ensued was eerie.
She rolled over and opened her eyes.
"Hey." A hand hung in front of her, she gritted her teeth, ignored the pain in her shoulder, and let Kerr help her up. Several Serpentis lay dead, the carnage fueling the sharp call of a wingback as it soared overhead.
Lily's eyes scanned the area and she was thankful to see that none of the men in the unit had been killed. A few had sustained wounds, but as they gathered around she could see none of their injuries were life threatening.
"Who the fuck was that?" Kerr was pissed and she looked away.
"I don't know." The lie slipped easily from her tongue, but then she'd been living a lie since she'd arrived on planet.
"You took my bullet."
Kerr's words were clipped, gruff. She felt the touch of his hand on her shoulder and jerked back violently, hissing loudly as pain radiated out into fingers of fire. If only it were a common bullet she might have a chance, as it was she knew she didn't have much time.
"I'm fine," she whispered hoarsely. "It grazed my shoulder---that's it."
"You're not fine," he said. "Medic will check you out when we get back to base and then we need to talk."
Lily exhaled slowly.
"I don't like secrets, soldier, and I'm thinking you have more than a few you need to share."
Lily's lips tightened but she remained quiet as she stared into the empty space where Mallick had been.
Kerr Strome had no idea.
Medic wasn't happy that Lily refused her help. "I can look after myself," she insisted.
"I've never met a young man so afraid of a woman's touch." Medic's eyes narrowed, though her tone was motherly. "It's not normal."
Lily ignored the woman and grabbed the disinfectant, cloth and some meds before she stood to leave. A wave of dizziness washed over her and she paused for a second, forcing herself to stay erect. Beads of sweat erupted along her brow and her only thought was to get to her quarters and rip the skull cap that kept her hair tucked tight against her head.
She was hot, nauseous and felt like crap. She also knew there wasn't much time to combat the poison.
"Kerr won't be happy," Medic continued.
Screw Kerr. He'd ordered Medic to take care of her, told Lily to report for debrief in the morning and then had left with Macon. She knew where they were going to blow off steam.
And what they'd be doing.
She'd been invited many times. It hadn't taken Lily long to figure out Drakkonian men had voracious sexual appetites. Because of that, the only women allowed on base were non-combatants like Medic, or the ones who were there to take care of their sexual needs. There was no in-between.
Which is where Lily was stuck. And why she needed her cover to remain intact.
She bit her lip as an image of Kerr with the women crossed her mind. In an effort to fit in a few weeks back, she'd gone with the boys to "the tank", which was nothing more than an alternate word for brothel. The women were well versed in the ways of pleasure and there had been liberal giving and taking.
Kerr had left with two Drakkonian whores, had laughingly asked if she wanted to join in on the fun. One female had tried hard to get her to come along. Of course they all thought she was male.
Lily had declined, fled to her quarters and had spent the night pissed off and full of emotions that she shouldn't have been feeling. Kerr Strome had the right to do whatever the hell he wanted. She was there to protect him. Nothing more.
Lily's breaths were coming in short gulps and she grimaced as a fresh wash of pain rolled over her body. She left the infirmary and turned quickly, her head low as she concentrated on the path that led to her private quarters.
"Blackie, hey, that was some move back there." Karak, one of the men in the unit tried to stop her, but she nodded and kept going. "You're heading the wrong way. After saving Kerr's ass you should at least grab some for yourself."
Lily ignored the man, wincing as his laughter echoed against the metal walls. When she reached her door she punched in her personal ID code and slipped inside, sinking to her bed immediately as the door slid closed behind her.
Her left arm was engulfed in pain and she hissed softly as she ripped off her head gear and the skull cap along with it. Her long hair was twisted tightly around her head and she yanked on the ends, loosening it as quick as she could. The relief she felt as her hair fell in waves down her back was immense and though her shoulder was on fire with pain, she smiled and shook out the length of crimson.
The relief was short lived, however, and she gingerly unlaced her boots, slipping them off her feet and letting the rest of her combat gear follow suit. By the time she was down to her undies, sweat formed a slippery sheen over most of her body.
She paused, dragged in a shaky breath and then walked to the mirror above the small sink in the corner. Her shoulder was caked in dried blood and she cursed as the pain continued to throb, not letting up as she tried to wash the area.
It was hard. She was dizzy and as the grime came away, a knot formed in the pit of her stomach. She'd definitely taken a small missile, and by the feel of the smooth skin on the back of her shoulder, it hadn't exited.
It was still inside and that wasn't good.
She swore loudly, using every Arathian curse she'd learned on her last mission but it didn't change the fact that she needed to get the damn thing out.
Lily grabbed the alcohol and couldn't keep the scream inside as she poured it over her wound. The liquid burned like fire along her flesh and tears sprang to her eyes, but she held on. She knew if she didn't get the area clean, infection would rear its ugly head.
She nearly laughed. That was the least of her worries. If the bullet was in pieces there would be no way to stop the flow of poison. She'd be dead within twenty-four hours.
Lily glanced at her reflection and grimaced. She needed to hold on. Kerr must survive. She would get him off the planet and worry about herself later.
Failure wasn't an option.
By the time she was done her skin was slick with sweat, rivulets running across her face, down her neck to slide across her naked breasts. She stared at her reflection in the mirror, pushing away the fear as she glanced at the empty space where her opal should be. Without it, in her weakened state she'd never be able to time-shift home.
Her deep blue eyes were glassy and she knew that fever was already setting in.
"Nice work, Lily," she muttered.
She grabbed the bottle of antibiotics and popped several units into her mouth, washing them down quickly with cold water before she grabbed her knife. Carefully she wiped the entire blade with alcohol.
A wave of dizziness rolled over her and she clutched her midsection as her gut churned in reaction. The pain was becoming harder to deal with.
With her right hand she could feel the bullet and as she poked around inside the fleshy part of her shoulder, she grunted fighting the black haze that danced around the edge of her mind.
Lily began to pant and with steely determination sank the blade into the wound, wincing as the shriek that fell from her lips reverberated inside the confines of her room, to echo crazily inside her head.
Everything began to spin and as fresh blood spilled down her flesh she bit her lip and dug deeper. Frakk but it fucking hurt. A deep groan fell from her lips and she blew out a harsh breath when she finally retrieved the bullet.
Her tummy rolled over as she examined it. Lucky for her it was still in one piece, although it had deteriorated somewhat. There were cracks along the seam and the neon colored liquid that seeped from them was all the evidence she needed.
Lily knew the lethal poison was in her system. She just didn't know how much. The bullet clanged loudly as it fell into the sink and she watched it roll around until it lay at the bottom.
She retrieved her satchel from its hiding spot in the air vent above the cot, hissing at the pain that ripped across her shoulder. She sucked it up and rooted around until she found what she was looking for. Her head was light and fever continued to sweep along her flesh.
The anti-serum she'd brought from her home planet of Terre was cutting edge. She just prayed it would work on the poison Mallick used, and that it was enough.
Quickly she swallowed all of it and then grabbed the remaining alcohol. She poured the rest onto the wound and the scream that erupted from her throat couldn't be helped. It rang in her ears though it sounded fuzzy, as if coming from far away. She bent over the sink as her belly rolled and she felt her legs begin to buckle.
The world was tipping and the fire that had been in her shoulder was now cold, yet it hurt even more. A groan escaped from between tight lips and she bit down hard in an effort to hold on.
Oh god, Is this how it would end for her?
Her mind began to darken and she knew she was falling. She grimaced, preparing for more pain but strong, warm, hands broke her fall as they slid up along her ribcage. Lily's head tipped back and she fell against a broad chest.
Her eyes focused briefly and she smiled, finding it absurd to see the shock that colored Kerr's handsome face. His deep brown eyes reflected gold, making them round balls of liquid honey. Christ but he was delicious.
She opened her mouth to say something but couldn't manage to get anything out. And then everything went black.
To say that Kerr Strome was speechless would be an understatement. He stared down at the half-naked woman in his arms and shook his head dazedly.
What the hell had Blackie done to her? Who the hell was she?
He'd been on his way to talk to the soldier, not content to leave things until the morning when an unholy scream erupted from inside Blackie's quarters. His access code had overridden the soldier's personal one and he'd been able to gain entry in seconds.
The woman in his arms moaned softly and his eyes drank in features that tugged at something long buried inside of him---something soft---and in his world, not acceptable. A classic nose, high cheekbones and generous lips were all aligned perfectly. His belly tightened at the sight of her breasts, so incredibly feminine and soft. Her eyes were closed but he'd already glimpsed the deep blue color and as his gaze passed over her long, crimson hair a nagging suspicion began to build.
He gently picked her up and as another groan hitched at the back of her throat and she winced in pain, he noticed for the first time, the wound on her shoulder. It was raw, ragged and bleeding profusely.
His eyes scanned the room.
Combat boots and a uni were strewn along the floor. A bloodied knife was at his feet, antibiotics as well and in the sink the evidence of a bullet glistened against the steel.
An image of Blackie diving for him as the stranger fired flashed in his brain.
Sonofabitch!
The woman in his arms began to tremble, her teeth chattering loudly. Kerr swore and tapped his com unit.
"Tell Medic I'm on my way," he said abruptly and then turned to leave. The door slid open before him but he paused, grabbed a blanket from the bed and quickly covered her nakedness.
His eyes and hands were clinical but inside his body clenched at the sight. Even covered in the grime and sweat of war, the woman he held against his chest was the most beautiful thing he'd ever laid eyes on.
He felt something twist hard, like a fist had just closed on his heart, but he savagely shook it away.
This soldier had more secrets than he could imagine, and in his world secrets got people killed.
Kerr strode out into the common area and headed toward the medical unit. When she was well she'd have a lot to answer for. There was no reason for anyone to hide who and what they were unless their agenda was malicious. He didn't care that she was a woman; mercy was not part of his vocabulary. If she was a traitor, she wouldn't make it off his planet alive.
Two hours later found him by her bed, watching the gentle rise and fall of her chest as she slept. Medic had cleaned her up and the creamy complexion of her skin shone softly in the waning light. Not one blemish, perfectly smooth. She was fucking exquisite.
How the hell had he not known he was a she?
But you did.
The thought slipped through his mind and he grimaced, looked away and tried to still his fast beating heart. On some level he'd known the soldier was different. It wasn't just the size, it was the way she'd held her head, the tilt of her chin and the delicate lines of her features.
It was in the fierce need he'd been fighting to be around her. Something he'd come to resent and now at least he knew why. His body had known what his mind couldn't see.
"Hey, I just heard."
Kerr looked up as Macon slipped inside the room. His second in command whistled slowly and a burning anger ripped through Kerr as the soldier's eyes rolled over the form on the bed. An image of his fist connecting hard with Macon's jaw flashed through him and he had to concentrate hard to keep his emotions hidden.
"And a looker too. How the hell did she keep a secret like this from us?"
Kerr gritted his teeth and ran fingers through the dark hair at his neck. "I have no idea."
"Why would she?" Macon asked, clearly as puzzled as he.
"Obviously she's working for the Serpentis," he spit out.
Macon looked at him, surprise touching his craggy features. "Seriously?" He paused and looked back to the still form. "But why would they attack her if she was working with them?" He scratched his jaw and frowned. "Doesn't make sense."
"None of it makes sense," Kerr replied as he stood swiftly. He looked down at the pale face and felt the muscles along his neck and jaw tense as anger rushed through him.
"But you can bet your ass I'll find out." His voice lowered.
"She took a hit for you," Macon said quietly.
"Part of some grand plan I'm sure." Kerr snorted and shook his head. "You saw the stranger. Where the hell did he disappear to? They're hooked up, the two of them. They're probably paid mercenaries working for the Serpentis hierarchy. I've had a bull's-eye painted to the back of my ass for the past decade. They don't want a successful evacuation of the planet and they sure as hell don't want me alive to see this through."
Macon sighed. "Either way we're almost done here. We have one more transport due to take off tomorrow night. Your family will be aboard and then we can leave the Serpentis to rot for all I care. Thank Orion the slimy ass bastards need the Kutron in the soil to survive or you could bet they'd be following us to the ends of the known galaxies."
Kerr nodded. The very thing that was slowly killing the planet, making it uninhabitable for his people, was needed for the Serpentis to survive. It's why they'd invaded Drakkon decades earlier and started an all out war to annihilate his people. "By this time tomorrow night we'll rendezvous with the convoy."
"What about Blackie?" Macon asked.
Kerr shrugged his shoulders. "I'm on my way to search her room." He looked back to the pale form. "Depending on what I find, she's either getting a free ride off the planet---" his face darkened and he snarled, "---or she can have a front row seat when it all goes to shit."
Lily's mouth was fuzzy, dry, and it felt like her tongue was swollen to twice its size. She let her senses gather and even though everything inside of her was screaming to move and find water, she remained still.
Her thoughts were a mess as she lay there and she struggled to keep her breathing even. To not panic. To be smart.
Slowly she remembered the attack, Mallick, the poison...and Kerr.
Her heart began to pound against her chest, banging hard as adrenaline flooded her system. What the hell was she going to do now? How could she protect him if she was no longer a part of his squad?
Carefully her eyes slid open and Lily felt her heart sink even more. There was a guard on post just outside the infirmary. That pretty much said everything. She was now the enemy.
Just then Medic flew into the room, followed by a blast that shook the foundation and rattled Lily's already painful head.
Automatically she tried to get up but her hands were tied down and her shoulder erupted in pain as she jerked against her restraints.
What the hell was going on? What time was it?
Medic ran to the bed, her face full of fear and as her eyes passed over Lily they became shadowed with anger and distrust.
"Finally awake, I see," Medic muttered as she checked the instruments beside the bed and took out the lines that fed into Lily's skin.
"Water," Lily croaked, surprised at how sore and dry her throat was.
Another blast shook the building. Medic swore under her breath but grabbed a bottle from the tray and held it to Lily's mouth. Lily drank huge gulps, not stopping until she'd taken too much and began to sputter and choke.
She watched Medic warily as the woman backed away. She turned to the guard and shouted, "We're evacuating. Kerr wants everyone on board the shuttle. It's here."
The guard's eyes slid to Lily and again she was surprised at the level of hatred that darkened his face. She swallowed thickly.
"What's happening?" she asked softly, wincing as yet another blast rocketed through base.
Medic grabbed a large bag and snarled at her. "We're under attack and will be lucky to make it out alive." Her eyes filled with tears as her voice broke. "Jani is dead, there are so many dead, no thanks to you."
Lily's heart sank. Jani worked with Medic and had been so young.
She shook her head. "I'm so sorry, please you have to know---"
"Don't you dare," Medic interrupted roughly. "We all trusted you." The tears were flowing freely now and she wiped them away impatiently. "I blame myself. I trusted you even when I knew something was up." She glared at her. "We know, Lily Black. Kerr found your handheld. He worked for hours to break through the security codes and read all your notes. They detailed pretty much everything about this base and Kerr and the ruling family he belongs to."
Lily opened her mouth to protest and then snapped it shut. What was the point? They'd never believe her.
Medic stomped back to the bed her eyes heavy with betrayal and pain. Lily would have done anything to wipe it away. "No one has every penetrated this base before. They've never even come close."
The older woman glared down at her. "You led them here and for that you will pay."
"Medic, we've got minutes."
Karak shouted from the hall. Smoke was seeping into the room now, the grey clouds thick and noxious.
Medic turned to leave.
"You can't leave me here," Lily shouted as panic began to knock hard at her chest. She was having trouble breathing and the fire in her shoulder wasn't helping the situation. "Kerr wouldn't..." Her voice trailed off as Medic shook he head.
"Kerr ordered that I leave you restrained. He's no time for a prisoner and will be lucky to make it off the planet alive."
Lily sensed the woman's indecision but it fled quickly as Karak shouted into the room.
"Medic!" Karak popped his head inside and tossed an oxygen helmet to the woman. His eyes passed over Lily and they held nothing but coldness, contempt.
Her heart felt crushed but she held her chin high and refused to look away from Karak. There was no way she'd show weakness. Seconds later they both disappeared leaving her alone in the infirmary, with only billowing smoke and the heat of fire for company.
The lump in her throat was massive and as she tried to make it go away the pain she felt, the betrayal she felt, was enough to knock her down. She'd done everything in her power to make sure Kerr survived the Serpentis and he thought nothing of her. He would leave her here to die.
He thought her a betrayer, but what the hell was he supposed to think? She had lied to him.
Lily exhaled. She couldn't do this. Not now. She took a moment and composed herself. There was no way she could lose her cool, not if she wanted to live to see another day.
Not if she wanted to have a chance to prove her innocence.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Lily needed to find the cold place that existed inside of her. The one that was dark, lethal and could kill if need be. The one that would get her out of this fucking mess.
Long seconds passed and her eyes flew open as she took stock of the situation.
The fever lingered still but she could tell that the anti-serum had worked. Her body was still slick with sweat and as she ignored the pain in her shoulder and strained against her confines, she thought that just maybe she'd be able to wriggle out of them.
She concentrated on her right hand, yanked and pulled until tears of anger began to build. She could feel the rope burn as it started to move over her slippery skin, but her thumb joint and knuckles were too large.
"Fuck!" She shouted hoarsely, coughing as smoke continued to slither along the floor into the room.
She gave one final, massive heave and screamed as her hand slipped free. She ignored the pain and fresh blood that began to trickle from her wound and quickly untied her left.
As she jumped from the bed everything began to spin and she grabbed the mattress, breathing heavily until things began to settle. She had no time to wait and ran to the cabinet along the wall.
Medic's helper was about the same size as Lily and two minutes later she was dressed. Her left arm was pretty much useless but she could move her right and that would have to be good enough.
Weapons were being fired in rapid succession and she inhaled deeply, drawing as much clean air into her lungs as she could before she ran. Moments later she was swallowed whole by the charcoal colored smoke.
In the common area she tripped over a body and went flying, a screech of pain ripped from her throat as she landed on her bad shoulder. The blood had already soaked through, leaving a large dark stain. If the Serpentis didn't kill her she'd surely bleed out and die.
Lily jumped to her feet, feeling a fresh wash of anger run through her as she stared down into the lifeless eyes of Jani, Medic's helper.
She paused for a second and then grabbed the laser weapon that the young woman still clutched, and after gently tugging it from her lifeless fingers, Lily took off running.
A hiss and moan crackled through the air and she swung around, her body full of adrenaline as a large Serpentis rushed toward her. Her hips shot out and she aimed her foot at the vulnerable part of its neck, feeling a wave of satisfaction as the bastard's head snapped back and it began to fall.
She followed its body down with a barrage of fire and then leapt over the smoking remains as her legs pumped furiously.
Everything was outside. The darkness, the chaos, the battle, the shuttle...and Kerr.
She flew out into the open, weapon ready and was immediately under fire. Several Serpentis were advancing and she dove for cover as she continued to spray fire towards them.
She peeked over the smoldering hunk of metal she was behind and could see Karak and Medic rushing to the shuttle. Kerr was beyond them, already climbing aboard.
The engines were fired up and it was ready to go.
There was no time.
Lily screamed like a banshee as she flew from her hiding place. One of the enemy lay dead at her feet and she grabbed its weapon. She was high on adrenaline and the felt no pain as she hoisted the large laser gun, and cocked the other.
She opened fire, ducking rounds that flew at her as she tried to give them cover. If she could get close enough she might even be able to snag a ride. Once she talked to Kerr she'd make him understand.
She continued to hail a rain of fire over them as she slid behind a large rock a hundred yards from the shuttle. Medic and Karak were almost there when suddenly the large soldier was hit and he went down. Medic stopped and fell to the ground beside him.
Kerr was about to leap from the shuttle but had to pull back as the Serpentis continued to close in and fire.
A New Order Operative fell from shadow not more than five feet from Kerr, and Lily didn't hesitate. She jumped from behind the rock and began to fire with quick deadly precision, both weapons erupting simultaneously.
She took the operative out as her laser gun emptied its last rounds into the air.
"Run," she screamed at Medic. The massive shuttle began to lift off, hovering just above the ground. All around her the world was dark, chaotic, but inside Lily was calm.
She grabbed the older woman. Medic seemed a little shell shocked but Lily pushed her aggressively toward the shuttle. She continued to fire her weapon behind her, taking out targets as she followed Medic to the shuttle.
The sound was deafening and then Kerr was above her, his arm reaching for Medic, though his eyes were trained on hers.
The woman was crying and it took everything in her to help the woman jump towards the outstretched hands. It was hard because the shuttle was starting to take off, the massive machine's engines blowing hot as it slowly rose into the air. She heard Kerr shouting, "All stop". But it was no use and as Medic was pulled aboard, Lily fell back.
She had nothing left to give, not that there was time. She thought she heard Kerr yell above the noise and then the door slid shut as the engines fully engaged.
It was done. Kerr was safe. She'd accomplished her mission.
An overwhelming sense of sadness fell over her and she rolled onto her back, her hair snaking out into the night air as the shuttle moved overhead on it's way to a new life, a new world.
The transport passed overhead and she looked up, the glow from the engine's fire illuminating her as she caught sight of Kerr. His handsome face stood out in stark relief against the cargo bay window.
Her breath caught in the back of her throat as they connected. Really connected and the sense of loss that she felt was indescribable. He was a man she could picture a future with. And though he'd left her here, he'd had his reasons. He thought her a traitor. She'd not expect anything less from a leader.
She closed her eyes as tears sprang from the corners. In another lifetime he was the kind of man she'd have wanted to call her own. Strong. Noble. She smiled. Hot as hell.
The shuttle hovered for a few more seconds, rose quickly into the air, and then it was gone.
Silence fell over the area and for the first time Lily was aware of the cold. It was biting and would take whatever strength she had left if she didn't find shelter soon.
She needed to get back around to the other side of base. There was an underground bunker that was stocked with food, water, and weapons.
If she could make it there she might survive. If not...well, she didn't want to go there.
The silence was deafening and the darkness thick. She grabbed her weapon, listening for the odd clacking sound the Serpentis made as they communicated with each other. She could hear them in the distance.
She needed to move now. Once they realized she was still alive they'd be all over her.
Lily grabbed her weapon, ignored the ripping pain in her shoulder and slid into the dark night.
The image was one Kerr Strome didn't think he'd ever erase from his memory. Not as long as he lived.
Blackie looking up at him, so small, fierce, with a blood-soaked shirt, gun in hand and crimson hair riding the wind as a platoon of Serpentis slowly advanced toward her position.
"I'm going back," he snarled, pushing past Medic. The woman was quiet, her eyes full of tears as she stared up at him.
"You can't," Macon said calmly, though the tic that pulsed above his eye was a testament to his inner turmoil.
"I can and I will," Kerr said, his voice deadly. "I don't know what the hell her agenda is but she isn't the enemy and I won't leave her there."
Macon shook his head. "You're our leader. I will go."
"No," Kerr growled. "She's my responsibility. I'm the one who left her there. If she dies, that's on me." He grabbed four laser guns and stowed them on his person as he tapped his com unit.
"Swing back around, now. Get ready for a drop, quick and low."
"What the hell are you planning?" Macon asked roughly.
"She's smart," Kerr said softly. "She'll be on the move so it's not like we can do a grab and go. Drop me behind the ridge far enough away so those bastards don't know and I can work my way back."
"I don't like this," Macon said angrily.
Kerr smiled, his even white teeth slashing through the gloom. "You get this shuttle to the convoy and head to the rendezvous." The two men stared at each other, long and hard. "That's an order. We clear?"
Macon nodded but remained silent.
The shuttle swung round and as the door lowered Macon was at the ready, his weapon in hand and aimed to kill. The surface of Drakkon was eerily quiet with only the flames of fire that were slowly spreading across base to light the dark night.
Kerr glanced at Macon, nodded, and then hit the ground running, his focus on the distant halo of light that surrounded base. The shuttle roared into the night sky but he didn't look back. Instead his eyes moved with stealth-like precision over the dark terrain as he headed toward the underground bunker in back.
It's where he'd go and he was hoping that Blackie would do the same.
It took a good twenty minutes of hard running before he made it back to base. He'd not encountered any Serpentis and the only sound that he heard was the whistle of wind as it flew along the surface. The cold was taking root and he knew they were safe for the next twelve hours or so. The slimy bastards would retreat to their dwellings beneath the mountains and absorb as much Kutron as they could.
He did a quick recon of the area where he'd last seen Blackie. There was nothing there besides the dead and none of them were Blackie. Kerr exhaled softly and circled around back, covering the tracks that she'd left. It was obvious her injury was heavily at play. She was an amazing soldier and wouldn't be that careless.
He reached the gaping opening to the underground cave and ran forward without hesitation. His eyes quickly became accustomed to the gloom, but he knew the entire area like the back of his hand and could have found his way blindfolded.
At the far end, running water fell from several feet above him and he jumped along the side of it before slipping behind the wetness to disappear into the nearly invisible crevice that was there. Seconds later he pulled back a hidden panel and once the security codes were punched in, the entire rock face shifted and allowed him entrance.
The lights had already been activated inside and a soft glow lit the darkness that was so very thick down here. He crept forward, his eyes following the footprints. They disappeared abruptly and he halted, his body still, his senses on overdrive.
Kerr frowned and studied the floor. He heard the gentle hum of the generator and could smell the faint metallic scent of blood. He knew she was close by.
At the end of the long hall, the dark entrance to the galley beckoned and he cocked his weapon, in case she'd inadvertently let in the enemy. He moved forward, his steps quickening as the urgent need to find the woman gnawed deep at his gut.
He was almost to the galley when out of nowhere something smashed into the side of his head and he was knocked off his feet.
"What the hell?" he shouted as he went down, his gun clattering across the cold tiles.
Blackie stood above him, her long hair a tangle of waves that seemed to go on forever. Her chest heaved and his eyes moved to the rounded softness that rose and fell steadily. Her nipples were hard, puckered beneath the damp shirt.
She stared down at him and the blue depths of her eyes were stormy, the sheen of sweat on her skin glistened in the low light. In her hands was a gun but she dropped it to her side as she shook her head.
"Why are you here?" she asked hoarsely and he got the impression that she was royally pissed at him for coming back. "For Christ sakes, Kerr, you needed to be on that ship." Her words ended on a snarl. Oh yeah, she was definitely pissed.
"Well that's not exactly the welcome I expected." His tone was light but truthfully he was more than a little confused.
She moved away and he slowly got up. He was several inches taller than she was and the need to grab her small frame to his body, to hold her tight, was so overwhelming that he took a step toward her, his hands outstretched. She flinched and her reaction stopped him cold.
"You should have been on that ship," she repeated, this time her voice was more controlled.
"I couldn't leave you like that," he said simply, his voice halting, full of an emotion that was both foreign and uncomfortable.
"Really." she said. Her eyebrows arched as she studied him and she made no effort to hide the sarcasm that colored her words as she continued. "You didn't seem to have a problem with that earlier."
Kerr felt his face warm as a flush of embarrassment and anger suffused his skin.
"Look, all the evidence indicated you were working for or with the Serpentis. You weren't honest with us so what were we supposed to think? I still don't know who you are or what the hell you're doing on my planet but..." He paused. "I'm sorry."
"Well I'm not." Her voice was elevated, cranked up a notch. "Sorry, that is." Her eyes flashed with an anger he didn't understand as she continued. "If I'd known it was you slinking down this fucking tunnel I'd have done a lot more damage than knocking you on your ass."
Kerr felt the stirrings of his own anger begin to take root. The woman was certifiable. She should be on her hands and knees thanking him for his return. He shook his head as the thought ran through his mind, because the mental image it brought was anything but chaste.
Blackie, naked, on her knees, between his legs and begging for his touch.
"Why are you pissed at me?"
She sighed softly and stumbled a bit. It took everything inside of Kerr to remain still but he had a feeling that she wasn't in the mood for help from him.
"You shouldn't be here." Her voice was bitter. "None of this matters now. I've failed."
Her huge blue eyes were no longer angry, but filled with such sorrow that in that moment, Kerr would have done anything to make her pain go away.
"How did you fail?" he asked and took a step toward her. Kerr shook his head. "Everyone is off the planet. Medic made it off Drakkon and that is only because of you."
He took another step until he was close enough to catch her scent. It was subtle, wholly feminine and he couldn't believe he'd never noticed it before.
"You were the only one I was supposed to protect," she whispered softly.
"In case you hadn't noticed, I'm a big boy. I can protect myself."
"We'll die here, on this planet." She looked at him and her eyes glistened like blue diamonds. Kerr felt weak and he frowned at the thought. Nothing had ever affected him the way this woman had in the space of a few short hours. What was it about her that was so different from the other women he'd known?
Even as he asked himself that question he knew the answer. Nothing about Blackie was anything like the women he'd known. She was fierce, loyal...a kickass soldier and now, he could add sexy as all hell to the list.
"You were meant for great things. That's why I was sent here---to make sure you lived and continued your journey." She exhaled slowly and a tear slid from the corner of her eye.
Kerr couldn't help himself and his hand reached out until he caught the liquid drop on the end of his finger.
"What do you mean? Sent here?"
She inhaled a ragged breath but remained quiet. He was so close he swore he could hear her heart beat. His eyes lowered and he grimaced as the dark bloodstain on her shirt reminded him of her sacrifice.
"Who are you?" he whispered his hand now reaching forward and burying itself between the thickness of her hair and the softness of her neck. She did not resist and he pulled her toward him until the heat of his body was pressed against her form. She trembled beneath him, her head against his shoulder.
"I'm Lily," she whispered softly.
Kerr groaned as his thoughts went wild.
He was trapped in a bunker, left behind by his own choosing. Would they die down here? More than likely and yet, all he could think about was getting naked with the woman that he held.
He inhaled her scent, took it deep into his lungs and felt something strange explode deep inside of him.
"You're so warm," she said and then she tilted her head back to look up directly into his eyes. Her lips were parted. He could see the even white teeth and her tongue as it swept along her mouth.
He picked her up, held her close.
There were no words. He turned and headed toward the sleeping quarters.
The warm water hit their bodies and Kerr held Lily carefully as they stood still and let the wetness slide over their skin. It was soothing. He leaned back against the hard tiles, relishing the feel of her softness as she relaxed against him.
She'd not said one word when he'd started the water running. Or when he'd removed his boots and stripped his clothes. She'd watched in silence. Her eyes traveled the length of his body slowly, and when they'd rested on his straining cock she'd lingered before finding their way back to him.
When he helped her out of the blood-crusted shirt, he'd made sure to be careful, though the sight of the wound to her shoulder hit him hard in the gut. She had taken that for him.
When he slowly lowered her pants he'd had to look away from the tempting sight of her curls, the silken patch that hid her treasure. He was so hard already he knew it would be his undoing. He needed to go slow.
Through all of this she remained silent, though he caught the merest whisper of a groan when he'd pulled her into the steaming warmth of the shower. His hands skimmed the tops of her nipples as he pulled her close, their hard buds puckered and begging for his touch, her ass warm against his hardness.
They stayed like that for several long moments, his heart a steady beat beneath her creamy skin. When he reached for the soap and turned her around to face him she cocked her head to the side and closed her eyes.
He washed her long hair and then carefully caressed and massaged away the grime and stench of war. Her breathing quickened and he could feel her breasts fill beneath his touch as he held them and then moved on.
Once more he knelt before her, his hands working their way down her taut belly, over slim hips and thighs that were tight, trim. He turned her around and thought he couldn't harden anymore, but his cock twitched painfully as she leaned against the tile. She was bent slightly from the waist and the sight of her rounded ass was nearly too much for him.
How the hell had he ever thought she was a man?
His hands slipped over the firm cheeks and she spread her legs slightly as he worked his way down, the lather his hands created slowly sliding away as he finished.
When he stood once more, he rinsed the grime from his own body and then she turned to face him.
Her hand reached for him and when she rested her palm against his chest, he felt such a rush of want and need that he growled like an animal. She smiled slightly and looked directly up at him.
"This might be our last night...together." She paused and licked her lips, the blue of her eyes darkening as they fell to his mouth. "I think you should kiss me now."
Lily held her breath as Kerr stared down at her. She'd never lost control like this before. In fact, of the five Black sisters, Lily had always been the sane one. The one to follow the rules.
But not now. Not in this time and this place. She'd never wanted a man the way she wanted Kerr. It was raw, unbridled. She wanted to crawl inside his skin, to take his scent and essence directly into her own body. To breathe his air and feel the power of his soul.
She was wet, aching with need and her hand slid from his chest to travel down toward his wrist. Her fingers closed around his and she watched his irises darken until the golden flecks disappeared. When she rubbed his palm against the hot, damp juncture between her legs, he groaned loudly.
"You are unbelievable," he said hoarsely, his fingers sought out her clitoris, his thumb massaging the engorged nub gently and he sank two long digits deep into the slick folds of her sex.
"Oh," she whispered softly, her eyes never leaving his.
"Spread your legs wider," he ordered and she did, wincing slightly as her shoulder twitched in pain.
She could feel his fingers begin to move inside of her, their strength easily pushing against the pulse points until she began to tremble. His thumb continued its assault, spreading electric fire along her wet flesh. The intensity of his emotion was reflected in the excitement that laced his eyes, turning them into black liquid velvet.
And that only fuelled her desire to greater heights.
He lowered his head and then his warm mouth was upon her own, his tongue invading, licking at her teeth, filling her with his taste. She groaned and slid her right hand up along his shoulders. He was muscular and she could feel him straining, as if he was afraid he'd break her.
The thick hair that waved around his neck welcomed her fingers and she gripped him hard, pulling him into her as she rubbed her breasts against his chest. The friction against her sensitive nipples erupted into sharp talons of pleasure that slid across her flesh.
"You feel so amazing," he whispered into her mouth. "And you taste even better." He trailed kisses along her jaw and then sought out the crook between her ear and neck. Her skin was uber sensitive there and shivers of delight followed the spread of his tongue as he gently suckled.
When he tried to move away, she held him firm and she laughed softly as she looked at him. He grinned back at her, wickedly, and then claimed a turgid nipple, taking it deep into the hot warmth of his mouth.
Lily's head slammed against the tile at her back and she began to pant softly as he tugged and teased her flesh. Every pull from his mouth shot straight to her center and she began to grind her hips against his hand, his fingers still deep inside and working her over gently.
Much too gently. She began to moan against him as the pressure built inside for more. More of him, his touch, his scent, it was crazy. She'd never felt this out of control before. Had never been so hungry for someone's touch.
Kerr's touch.
"I want you inside of me," she managed to get out as her right hand slid down his body and closed around the straining length of his cock.
He made a strangled noise and she smiled, loving the power she wielded over the large solider. She loved the feel of him and their eyes caught and held as she began to stroke his long length, his own fingers keeping time as he continued to explore deep inside of her.
They rocked together slowly, the only sounds to be heard was the breath caught in their throats, the water falling against their skin, and the sigh of pleasure that fell from between her lips as his mouth fell once more to her breasts.
"Fuck me, but you've got to stop," he whispered hoarsely seconds later. She could feel his hardness tighten and she groaned when his fingers slipped from inside of her.
She was throbbing, aching with an urgent need to mate and when his hands fell to her ass she was ready. His hands were large and they felt rough against her skin as he gripped her. He lifted her easily and without hesitation he drove his cock deep into her body.
Lily couldn't take her eyes from his and as he continued to thrust she marveled at the feel of him, at the way he filled and stretched her until every single cell was burning with an intensity that took her breath away.
"You're so tight," he whispered, his eyes wide and heavy with desire. "Perfect, like you were made for me and no one else."
She grabbed his chin and claimed his mouth as their bodies, slick with water, desire and hunger continued to dance upon a desire that was all-consuming.
Their need was frenzied, urgent and she felt her womb constrict, the muscles tight with desire as his hard length hit every single nerve she had. She could feel her orgasm building as he continued to slide in and out of her body, the rhythm increasing until the sounds of their flesh slapping against each other rang in her ears.
Her legs tightened around his waist as her tongue continued to taste his flesh, and when the shards of desire split apart inside of her, she broke loose and screamed from the intensity of it.
Kerr held her against his body as she continued to shudder, her flesh alive with the aftershocks of the most mind-blowing orgasm she'd ever experienced. When they finally subsided and his body slipped from hers, she closed her eyes and let him take her into his arms, smiling as she snuggled against his chest.
He grabbed a towel and wrapped it around them, drying most of the water from their flesh and then they tumbled onto the closest cot. It was small but Lily didn't care.
"Are we safe...for now?" she whispered.
Kerr kissed the top of her head. "For now. The Serpentis are gone."
Lily was so very tired. Satiated, but tired. "Okay. Good," she murmured, her eyes closing as sleep tugged at the edges of her mind. It had been forever since she'd been held. Since she'd felt so incredibly safe.
And tonight it was enough to banish the darkness.
Lily awoke with a start and for a few seconds was confused as to where she was. She quickly became aware of the warmth that pressed against her body and as a familiar scent wove its way through her system she smiled softly.
Memories fell into her mind and she moved slightly, giggling as a groan sounded from behind her. Kerr! She could feel his hard body at her back and her smile widened. She wriggled suggestively against him, loving the groan that fell from his lips.
"You're fucking killing me." The words were whispered close to her ear and she shivered as his warm breath caressed the sensitive skin there.
She was wet, already aching with need and turned quickly, ignoring the pain in her shoulder. Her leg hooked him around his hip and his hands fell to her butt, pulling her up until she impaled his hard length deep inside of her.
Feverishly her hands ran along his body as they began to move together. She traced the lines of his face, her fingers slipping inside his mouth as he thrust into her.
Was it the madness of the end of the world that made this so incredibly amazing? So erotic?
There was an urgency in their lovemaking; a need to fit as much pleasure into the short time that they had left. Lily tried not to think about it as their bodies rocked together once more, but she couldn't help it. And as they came together she knew if it all ended today, she'd found something real and true.
A connection to withstand time and space.
Kerr rolled onto his back as she collapsed on top of him. It took several long moments before their breathing returned to normal and she laid her head against his heaving chest, listening in wonder to the steady beat of his strong heart.
His hand gently caressed her hair back from her face and she looked at him, smiling tremulously as she tried to ignore the sadness that sat like a stone in her chest.
"What did you mean?" he asked softly, his hands caressing her cheek, holding her face like she was the most precious thing in the world. "Last night? You said you'd been sent to protect me?"
Lily didn't hesitate. Didn't lie. There was no time for games.
"There is a group that targeted you for death. They're called The New Order and I was sent to prevent it."
He frowned and she fought the urge to touch his sensual lips.
"Never heard of them." His eyebrow arched and he was clearly perplexed. "Are they some weird faction involved with the Serpentis?"
"No, it's a lot more complicated than that. The New Order isn't from around here...this planet, this galaxy...this time."
Lily moved, shrugging the cold away that now slithered over her bare skin. They both sat up and she grabbed his large hands between her own. She could see the wariness that now circled in his eyes and knew she'd have to tread lightly. Kerr Strome had spent the last chunk of his life not trusting anyone.
"I'm not from this time. Have you heard of time shifters?" she asked carefully.
Kerr stared at her intently and nodded. "I've heard stories, fables passed down and told to amuse the children, but didn't think it was possible."
Lily swallowed and dived in. "I'm from a planet called Terre, which is not even in this quadrant or star system." She waited for him to say something but he was quiet. "I was born over two hundred years ago."
"Two hundred years ago?" he asked in disbelief.
She nodded and plunged forward. "My family has the ability to time shift and we've been fighting rogue jumpers for eons." At Kerr's look of confusion she continued. "Assholes who would change the course of time for their own ill gains."
"Like the stranger who attacked you?"
"Yeah," she said softly her hand slipping from his to lay where her opal should be.
"But you can leave then. Get away from here." He cupped her face until his lips were inches from hers.
"No," she answered and shook her head. "Mallick stole my opal and I'm too far from home to try and shift without it. I haven't been able to contact my family since I've been on planet." She shrugged and smiled tremulously. "Guess you're stuck with me."
"That's not acceptable." His voice was terse. "Can you at least try?"
"Even if I could I wouldn't, not if it meant leaving you behind."
Kerr's face darkened and he shook his head. "You barely know me, why the fuck would you stay behind?"
Lily smiled sadly. Why indeed? Could she even vocalize what she was feeling? She exhaled and looked straight into his eyes. She'd always been a no-bullshit kinda girl and now was not the time to freeze up. "I'd stay because I've never met a man like you. Ever." She leaned into him and her lips grazed his. "I've fought beside you, drank with you, watched as you guided most of your people off of this planet." A shuddering breath escaped her and she shivered. "You are strong, loyal, caring and---" her hand caressed his chest as her mouth skimmed below his ear lobe, "---last night was the best sex I've ever had." She giggled. "On any planet in any time."
He growled and pulled her up until his mouth was able to claim hers. His kiss was as fierce and untamed as he was. It was brutally honest and she was breathless when he pulled away.
"I am not a man who takes things lightly. I'm hard, unyielding but you...you could wreck me." Kerr ran his hands along her cheek and she angled her head to rest in his palm. "When I saw you laying in the dirt as the ship was pulling away I knew I'd do anything to get to you." His thumb caressed her lips. "You were the one."
"The one?" Her voice was like a whisper and she closed her eyes as he continued to caress her flesh.
"The one I wanted for myself."
A blast rocked the bunker and Kerr grabbed her close. It was time. The enemy was at hand.
They stared at each other for several long seconds and then quietly began to dress. Lily's mind wandered as she slipped into her clothes and grabbed as many weapons as she could. Images of her parents and sisters danced in front of her eyes. The sorrow she felt at the thought of never seeing them again clutched at her chest hard and she began to breathe heavily in order to deal with it.
"We got a plan?" she asked once she'd composed herself.
Kerr's body language was tense, his face dark with anger, worry and frustration.
"Kill anything that moves."
"Got it."
"Lily." His voice broke and she was at his side in an instant. "I just want you to know," he whispered. "When we get out of here there's no going back." His intense eyes captured hers and her belly rolled over as her heart began to accelerate. "I meant what I said earlier. You belong to me and I to you. If years of war have taught me anything it's to grab hold of what's good, of what you want and never let go."
She could only nod. There was nothing else to say. Several explosions echoed into the bunker in rapid succession. They grabbed their weapons and began to move forward. There was no other exit. There was no going back.
The noise was deafening. The Serpentis had definitely arrived. Lily glanced at Kerr. He looked magnificent, larger than life, and as the adrenaline pumped through her, she smiled.
The last four weeks had been some of the toughest mentally and physically and yet they'd brought her a man unlike any she'd ever met before. And she'd totally do it all again, just for the chance to be with him.
A crash reverberated not more than ten feet away and she gritted her teeth, her fingers loose on the trigger. Nervous energy mingled with fear fuelled a fire that left her senses tingling, and as something flew at them she bit her tongue and her mind went into battle mode.
"Lily!" A scream sliced through the noise.
What the...? She shot a look at Kerr and held her hand up indicating full stop.
"Lily, where the hell are you?"
Lily began to move forward, not believing her ears. It couldn't be...
And then her twin, Jaden, was there, right in front of her. The same features, long crimson hair reflecting back at her.
They ran to each other and Lily couldn't stop the tears. "How?" she asked, confused.
"Never mind. We don't have time. I'll explain everything when we get back. Take this." Jaden held Lily's opal in the air and then placed it around her neck. "Had a run in with an asshole called Mallick." She smiled though the concern in her eyes was very real. "We need to get you guys out of here right now."
"But can we?" Lily tried to clamp down the hope that was burning inside of her. "Time shift with Kerr? This far from home?" As a general rule time traveling with someone other than a gifted shifter was dangerous. There were too many variables, too many dangerous outcomes.
"Frankie did it." Jaden smiled wickedly. "You should see the tattooed dude she brought home to Dad." She snorted. "And really, how could you leave someone who looks like that behind?"
The strange cluttering of the Serpentis was growing louder. Lily grabbed Kerr who looked down at her, clearly confused but willing to try anything.
"Hold onto me." She touched his lips with her fingers. "We're going to try and get out of here." She smiled and shook her head. "There might be a chance after all."
He nodded and the fact that he was so willing to trust melted her heart even more. The sisters focused, their Opals began to burn as they started to chant, their minds, spirits transcending time and space. Mist gathered along the floor, creeping up their limbs as a wind came from nowhere to caress their bodies.
Lily had never felt so powerful. With the strength of her sister and Kerr at her side, she knew anything was possible. As the energy began to pull at them, she opened her eyes, held onto Kerr and then succumbed to the magick.
The actual state of travel was distorted. Sound came and went, darkness became light and vice versa. Time slowed down and then sped up but through it all the absolute silence was constant. It seemed to stretch into forever but in fact only lasted several seconds.
The crashing of sound into her ears was the first sign she'd been successful. And then she was crying and hugging Kerr tight to her chest as she began to laugh hysterically. It was over. They were safe.
Kerr looked stunned as they lay in the shift chamber, their bodies a tangled mess of limbs and she grabbed his chin, taking his lips in a kiss that was full of emotion.
Slowly she became aware of an audience and Lily looked up into the faces of her mother, Rachel, sisters Serena and Frankie. There was a strange man she'd never met before but she dismissed him as she broke away from Kerr and was enveloped into the warm arms of her mother.
"Oh god, Mom, I thought I'd never see you again."
Her mother stroked her head and Lily exhaled slowly as she tried to clamp down on the many emotions running through her. When she finally stepped away, she grabbed Kerr's hand and brought him forward.
It was then that a nagging coldness rifled through her.
"Where's Jaden?" she asked suddenly, her head whipping around. But the chamber was empty. She looked up at Kerr and then her eyes sought out her mother's.
"Jaden was there. She helped us shift from Drakkon! Where the hell is she?" The panic and fear she felt was overwhelming. Kerr grabbed her close as her mother flew to the virtual map that hung along the wall.
Frankie was already there and she turned to them, her face tense. "She's gone back in time, nearly four hundred years."
"Where?" Lily asked, already blaming herself. Time-shifting was always dangerous even under normal circumstance. Something must have happened while they were in the in-between realm and her sister had not made it home.
Her mother was studying the map and she whispered softly, "Sweet god of Turin." Rachel Black turned to them and though her manner was composed, her voice even, Lily knew she was worried.
"She's on the planet Nall."
Lily clutched Kerr tightly.
"What does that mean?" he asked as he pulled her into the warmth of his arms.
Nall was a dangerous planet at present, but four hundred years ago it was barbaric.
A slave planet.
"We need to go after her," she whispered.
"No." Rachel Black's voice was firm. "The greater power wants her there for a reason. Jaden is a Black Opal. A warrior. She will be fine. We need to concentrate on the task at hand."
"Which is?" Kerr asked.
"Destroying The New Order."
Lily nodded and shook out her long hair, her hand enveloped deep within Kerr's large one. "I'm up for that."
Kerr was quiet and she nudged him. "What's wrong? I know this is a lot for you to take in."
"What about my people? I can't abandon them but I will not return alone."
Lily turned in his embrace. "We will go back. That is my promise to you but first I need to fight for my family." She tossed an angry look at her sister Frankie. "The New Order must be destroyed." She paused as she eyed up the tattooed stranger and then a thought occurred that sent a chill through her.
"You all right?" Kerr must have sensed her anxiety
"Mallick said something to me. He wanted to claim me as his. He said it was his right." The darkness that fell across Frankie's face wasn't reassuring. The tattooed stranger's arms pulled her sister in close as Frankie sighed.
"They've a new plan in the works." Frankie's voice held a slight tremble. A look passed between Frankie and her mother.
"And that would be?" she asked, eyebrows raised.
Rachel Black walked toward Lily and smiled at Kerr. "You were meant for my daughter. You are her mate. The New Order has managed to find out who each of you is predestined to meet."
"But that's totally crazy," Lily blurted, the words dying on her tongue at the bleak look on Frankie's face.
Her mother nodded toward the stranger. "This is Dekkar James and he is a human from the planet Earth in the time of 2010. He was targeted for assassination because he's Frankie's mate."
Lily looked up at Kerr. "So he's my...um, he belongs to me?" Mother of god, but her tongue was all sorts of tangled. "That's why I was sent to Drakkon?"
Rachel nodded. "I didn't know it at the time. It was just another mission but in the weeks you've been gone we've learned of their plans."
"And that would be?" Lily was almost afraid to hear the answer.
"They want my girls for themselves. They want to procreate with you. Produce their own pack of time shifters so they don't have to use synthetic means to time travel." Rachel sighed. "We cannot let them achieve their goal. The results would be disastrous."
Lily turned and looked up at Kerr, her eyes earnest, full of unshed tears. "I can take you back to your people now. I don't want... You shouldn't have to get caught up in our war."
"I'm not going anywhere," Kerr dismissed her, his voice stern and looked at her mother. "You can count on my help. Whatever you need."
"Thank you," Rachel murmured, "and welcome to Terre."
Lily's family melted away and seconds later the two of them were left alone. Kerr's lips descended until only a whisper was between them. "I will return to my people when this is finished and I will take you with me." He swept his mouth across hers before he murmured, "But right now there's no place I want to be other than here with you."
Lily opened her mouth and surrendered her soul to the man who held her. When the kiss was over and when she rested her head against his strong chest and listened to the steady beat of his heart, she thought of her sister Jaden and of the coming war.
And she prayed.
Be well. Be strong.
And survive.
About the Author
Juliana Stone wears many hats. She's mom to two kids and a dog. She is wife to the dude and daughter to much-loved parents. She's an avid ball player, golfer, and well, on occasion has been known to kick 'er down and rock out with the band she fronts, Sexytime. (Yes, that is a Borat reference!)
She is now able to add published author to the list and does so with pride, awe, and an amazing sense of accomplishment. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to write for Samhain Publishing and looks forward to sharing the many stories that crowd her head every day!
To learn more about Juliana, please visit www.julianastone.com. Send an email to Juliana at Juliana@julianastone.com
Look for these titles by Juliana Stone
Now Available:
Black Opals
Black Legacy
She'll make sure he survives the night...even if it costs her heart.
Black Legacy
© 2010 Juliana Stone
Black Opals, Book 1
Frankie Black is a woman in need of a mission. For a Black Opal---a warrior woman who shifts backward or forward through time in order to, well, save the world---the last six months of downtime have left her bored. Restless. And with a feeling that something is about to hit the fan.
Finally, an assignment: save the life of Dekkar James, an infamous rock god living three hundred years in the past. Tattooed, ruggedly handsome and perfectly imperfect, one look at him and it's as if her sleeping body springs to life.
One minute Dekkar is having the most mind-blowing sex of his life. The next, goons are breaking down his door, and he's on the run with a woman who turns from lover to warrior in the blink of an eye.
Dealing with the New Order, operatives who manipulate time without regard for the consequences, is nothing new for Frankie. But this time their tactics have a more personal edge---they've found a way to seek out the Opals' predestined mates.
Unless she can save Dekkar's life, her future will be the first casualty in a battle for the fate of humankind.
Warning: Contains one hot dude with tattoos, a woman who won't take no for an answer, steamy sex, an ancient Harley and a little bit of time travel.
Enjoy the following excerpt for Black Legacy:
Frankie Black was pissed off.
She tried to control the latent aggression that nipped at her insides, but it was hard because truthfully she was a lot more then pissed off. She was tired, hungry and frustrated beyond reason. Her mind had been circling fast for days, knowing that something was coming.
In her line of business, that wasn't always a good thing.
Frankie knew that it was time to move on.
And she would. Tomorrow.
Right now she was a little busy taking care of the whole starving thing. And not for food. Nope. Her body was craving pleasures of the flesh, and she thought that at least had been covered when she'd picked up the young blond god who lay between her legs.
His long muscular limbs were draped over her lower body, his hips gyrating slowly against her knees. His mouth was otherwise engaged, his tongue feverishly working her over as he sought to please her.
She sighed softly. It just wasn't enough. She could have been staring out the window counting stars for all his tongue was accomplishing.
And that's where the frustration came in. He was one hot piece of ass, no doubt about it. Then again, every single person she'd ever met on the planet Babylon was. Less than perfect didn't cut it here. They were all blond gods and goddesses. It was a place where a girl like Frankie, with her jet black hair, pale skin and even paler eyes, stood out---she was the rarity.
Yes indeed, Babylon had been amazing for her libido because every single perfect individual lived for one thing and one thing only.
Sex.
Which for her was a bonus, because Frankie was a girl with a healthy appetite. She loved her food, she liked to play hard, and nothing pleased her more than a great session between the sheets. For someone like her, Babylon was the perfect vacation spot. After completing her last mission, sticking around had pretty much been a no brainer. She truly thought she'd died and gone to heaven.
Literally.
There had been a never ending supply of beautiful, pleasing men, and she'd had her share of amazing sex. But lately it just wasn't cutting it. She was sick and tired of perfection. Of the unwavering need to please that everyone on this bloody planet had. She needed some friction---things were way too smooth, too vanilla. She needed someone with an edge; someone dark, strong and imperfect.
Who the hell was she kidding? A fucking orgasm is what she needed.
Frankie hissed a sigh of impatience and wrapped her hands tightly around the blond's head.
"God damn it!" She groaned as she pressed his face into her, opening her legs as wide as they could go.
Her fingers dug deeply into his scalp, and she pushed him hard into the hot, heated core between her legs, whispering hoarsely. "There...oh my gods, right there."
She felt her pussy begin to cream, finally, and in an attempt to quicken things along her fingers left his head and she reached down, inserting two long digits deep inside her own wetness.
She knew the right angles and pressure points to push, and exhaled softly as the familiar pressure began to build. Her hand pumped harder and faster, as her hips began to rock and gyrate. Crisp shards of pleasure began to radiate out from deep inside her body, until they crested into sharp slivers of delight.
The male's large hands gripped her ass and the sound of sucking, licking and groaning reverberated through her hotel room.
Frankie began to pant as her body started to quiver in excitement. She glanced into the mirror beside the divan where they lay in a tangled mess, biting her lips as her fingers worked frantically. She was almost there and her body arched in anticipation. Christ, she'd never had to work so hard for an orgasm before.
She could feel it, just there, on the edge, torturing her in exquisite agony.
She ripped his head away, her voice wild. "Goddamn it!"
She pushed him back on the bed, his large dick swinging boldly in the moonlight, and she straddled him, enjoying the look of desire that raged over the perfect features.
Frankie lowered her head and grabbed his lips with her own, aggressively pushing her tongue deep inside the hot recesses of his mouth. She felt him groan into her and her teeth scraped along his cheek as she whispered hoarsely into his ear.
"I want every inch of you deep inside me."
She raised herself up, and slowly impaled herself onto his hardness, a loud groan escaping as she slid her slick cream over the shaft of his cock.
She bent forward slightly, her breasts swinging in the air, along with a delicate gold chain. The black opal it held swayed seductively against her flesh, and the stone reflected the color of ice in its midst. Her arms splayed out on either side of her partner, and she pressed forward, enjoying the pressure against her clit as she rode his cock hard.
Her elusive orgasm was pulsing deep inside and she increased her rhythm as the sensations intensified, liquefied. Her eyes flew open, the pale blue orbs almost black as they dilated fully with her pleasure. Her hair, long and inky black billowed around her shoulders and down to her waist; a silken cape to caress the milky white of her skin.
She was so fucking close to the exquisite pain of orgasm she could taste it.
So it was a big piss off of a problem when Frankie heard the slow incantation of her sisters' summoning spell. It started softly and built into a swell of voices that slithered through her mind until it was a loud call in her ear.
"You've got to be fucking kidding me." She yelled as she increased the pressure, pumping her ass in the air as hard, and as fast as she could. A breeze swept through the room, bringing with it a silver gray mist that wrapped fingers seductively around the two straining bodies. It caressed the male into slumber, before enveloping Frankie entirely.
She could feel them pulling at her, and she resisted, continuing to pump furiously. Her hands flew back to her pussy, massaging her clit as her eyes watched the blond god dissolve into mist.
She felt his hardness slide from her body, but it was enough, and she screamed victoriously as an orgasm shook her limbs. Slowly she withdrew her fingers, running the wetness from her body over her still-sensitive breasts. Her head lolled back and she gave herself up to the vortex that violently shook the room.
Then everything went black.
On the edge of freedom lies a dangerous love.
Thief
© 2010 Anitra Lynn McLeod
Nothing has ever come easy for Jace Lawless, captain of the salvage vessel Mutiny. Forced into thievery after a virus unleashed by the InnerWorld Government killed his family, only one ambition burns at the back of his mind. Kill the next IWOG officer he has at his mercy.
Bargaining over goods with a middleman isn't exactly his strong suit. But who in his right mind spends an entire salvage job's profits on a woman, even if she has a body built for sin and eyes so fathomless a man could lose himself in them? He must be getting soft.
Once Kraft realizes Jace expects only the "cook" part of their cook-whore contract, she sets out to change his antiquated ideas about women. A challenge she relishes, especially if it earns her the freedom and money to get her own ship. Her big mistake is letting down her guard.
Shameless flirting only intensifies the itch to ride Jace hard and put him away wet---several times. It's an itch it would be dangerous to scratch. Exposing her heart could reveal her secret, one that the still-grieving Jace must never know...or showing her mercy will be the last thing on his mind.
Warning: Contains a celibate ship captain who can't abide swearing, a kickass woman with a marshmallow heart, a motley crew of misfits, interstellar battles, thwarted groping, sensual seduction, and a total bastard who owns his own planet.
Enjoy the following excerpt for Thief:
"Are you decent?" Jace asked through the closed door.
"Bit of a problem." Kraft tugged at another lacy shirt that barely covered her bellybutton.
"What's that?"
"None of this fits!" Kraft discarded the shirt and realized it was the last one. "Captain Lawless?"
"Yes?"
"I'm asking an awful lot, beggars shouldn't be choosers and all, but can I have something of yours?" Besides Heller, Jace was the only person on the ship with clothing that would fit.
"So you can read it?"
In her current condition, she didn't think she could read a book, let alone anything else.
His knock against the metal door resounded in the empty storage room. "Are you going to answer me?"
"What if I could read your clothes?"
Without a word, he walked off.
Naked, Kraft waited in a room now strewn with shirts and skirts. She appreciated Payton and Charissa's offer, but most of their clothing flat-out didn't fit her foot-taller frame.
She heard Jace approach. He tapped twice with his knuckle then opened the door just enough to drop a bundle of clothes.
"Try those." He pulled the door shut.
Kraft picked up a homespun cotton shirt, thick and heavy, dyed in the spring with yarrow root. Youthful hope radiated from soft yellow contours and handcrafted wooden buttons. When she slipped the shirt on, Jace's scent surrounded her. He hadn't worn this in almost a decade. He'd kept it neatly folded in the back of his drawer, like a memory preserved.
She lifted up the brown trousers, which were just as faded and worn. She pulled on a dream turned nightmare. Visions of fields filled with rolling grain, and then a woman of home and comfort with three children at her side. Then came a burning sickness. Death. The destruction of all he loved. The resounding echo of her vision in her own heart literally floored her.
Jace must have heard the crash from the other side of the door. He tapped twice. "Kraft, you okay?"
"I'm getting there." She stumbled to her feet and buttoned up the trousers. She wondered how much of what she'd felt was real and how much had been perverted by the drugs. Everything had a surreal chemical edge. Time seemed like salt water taffy in the sun...
"Are you decent?" Jace asked through the closed door.
"Debatable, but I'm dressed."
The storage room door creaked open. Jace wore almost the exact same outfit as she did, but his shirt was battered blue and his trousers were made of denim. He looked at her for the longest time, and she almost lifted her hands to protect herself. How could that man, with his gaze alone, make her feel utterly vulnerable? She chalked the unfamiliar feeling up to the drugs she'd been injected with for the last month.
His clothes fit her well. The shirt strained a bit at her bust and the pants a bit at her hips, but they were about the same size in most places. Kraft took hard-and-fast notice of where they differed.
"I wanted to get into your pants, Captain Lawless, but this isn't quite what I had in mind."
Jace startled back a step. He seemed amazed she hadn't lost her sense of humor. He suppressed a burst of laughter by turning away and coughing hard. Having composed himself, he turned back, but kept his attention on her bare feet. "We'll have to get you some shoes."
"Tell you what, at this point in my life, I'm grateful I still have feet." Her attempt at humor compelled him to meet her gaze. She smiled, but it felt forced, and if his worried brow was any indication, he noticed.
"You're safe."
A thousand questions swirled in her mind, but in the end she shrugged and asked, "Why?"
"You can cook, right?"
Caught off-guard, she laughed. "From captain to cook? I've had quite a tumble from grace."
"But you can cook."
The look on his face brimmed with so much hope, a genuine smile lifted the edges of her lips. "That I can do."
"Then that's why." He leaned casually against the doorframe.
"You needed a cook?" She knew there was far more to his helping her than he would ever admit to.
"Yep. Good cooks are rare. Fairing's cook even more so."
Shock made her drug-ravaged nerves tingle. "Who told you that?"
"Feller by the name of Trickster. He gave me this as proof." Jace pulled a folded paper from his hip pocket.
Pleased to see a well-worn friend, she clutched the paper tightly when he placed it in her hand. "Can I keep this?"
"Then it is yours?"
Caught, she looked up into his exotic-sunset green eyes. "You are so much more than pretty." She dropped her gaze to the paper. "What do you want for it?"
"Cook for me and my crew, and it's yours."
"How long will I be beholden to you?" Despite her best efforts, her husky voice sounded suggestive.
"It's up to you." He shrugged, pulling his soft blue shirt tight across his shoulders. "Whatever you think is fair."
"What latitude." She couldn't help but feel suspicious of his generosity, but trying to read him would probably be a waste of her time at the moment.
"Honor among thieves." His slight smile made her shiver.
"You don't owe me," she defended, dropping any suggestive tone from her voice or posture.
"No, I don't, do I?" He turned and walked away.
She followed behind, mumbling, "Looks like I owe you." She tucked the paper into the pocket of her borrowed shirt.
"He gave me this too." He handed her another paper.
Kraft unfolded a report from an IWOG hospital. Her heart almost exploded. How had they gotten her in there without bells and whistles going off everywhere?
"Trickster said he got that in some kind of hush-hush deal with an IWOG doctor at a hospital in Kali."
"Oh." Kraft thought that explained why she wasn't being tortured at this very moment.
"Next stop, you can get your face cleaned up." Jace pointed to a bathroom.
"What did that weasel do to my face?" She stomped to the mirror, took one look and reeled back. "How the hell did you recognize me under all this crap? I look like a whore!" She turned on a small trickle of water and scrubbed her face clean with the bar of harsh hand soap.
"It's your eyes," he said softly. "Hard to forget."
Looking at his reflection in the mirror, she gave him a speculative once over. Captain Jace Lawless expected her to cook, but what else did he have in mind?
She's determined not to give in. He's determined to make her beg.
Point of No Return
© 2010 Mandy M. Roth
Project Exorcism, Book 3
As head of the Sargaidia guards, Nina Janelle is accustomed to getting what she wants out of her men---in battle and in bed. These days, she's in a losing battle with her panther-shifter heat cycle, each round requiring more and more men to quell her burning need. Until she meets Commission Officer Jordan Vasil. Suddenly, only one man can satisfy her---too bad the cocky pilot grates on her very last nerve.
Nina's is the only face floating in his mind when Jordan lies alone at night, suffering from unrequited lust. It seems she'd rather slit his throat than bed him---until he finds her in debilitating pain from her efforts to subdue her urges. Ignoring her attempts to push him away, he gives her what she needs. His touch. His body.
Nina's not quite ready to concede defeat, but she needs Jordan's piloting skills to find her missing brother. Alone with him in close quarters promises to be more than distracting. Losing control could cost more than her kickass reputation. It could cost their lives.
Warning: Contains a hotheaded female who doesn't like having to rely on any one let alone a man. And an equally stubborn alpha shifter male who's is more than willing to go toe to toe with her before rocking her world.
Enjoy the following excerpt for Point of No Return:
"Nina? You're zoning off on me again. Let's get you inside. Something is wrong." Jordan reached for her but Nina took a step back.
"I'm fine, Vasil. Really." She eyed the outer perimeter fencing. Even with it there, the beauty of nature still managed to prevail. She took a deep breath in, savoring the floral scents of her home planet.
He stepped closer, his body touching hers. "The Dsendiyun group do you in?"
She cringed at the thought of the alien race that seemed to make landing on her planet a monthly affair. They were a race whose female population had dwindled to nearly nonexistent. While relatively harmless, they did tend to be very grabby while planet-side. Their ships were either the worst ships ever made or they tinkered with them prior to approaching Sargaidia's atmosphere in hopes of gaining permission to dock. She suspected that was more the case. A vessel holding nearly thirty of them had required a tow less than four days prior. In those four days, Nina had responded to more complaints from the women of her village---in regards to the Dsendiyuns nasty habit of grabbing a handful of ass whenever the opportunity presented itself---than she had to any other calls.
Jordan had accompanied her on several of the calls, finding the alien race amusing until one of them put his hand on her backside. Nina was then forced to pull Jordan off the Dsendiyun and then had to spend nearly two hours calming Jordan down. She'd spotted the same alien later that night, at a tavern in the heart of the village, and she could have sworn he was more bruised and battered than he'd been when she'd left him.
She raised one eyebrow in question. "By chance did you happen to meet up again with the Dsendiyun you were so fond of?"
He blinked incredulously. "Whatever do you mean?"
"Vasil."
"Hey, can I help the guy just happened to be where I was?" he asked, faking shock.
"And he just happened to end up looking as though a pikineius beast had at him?"
"Weird, huh?" he asked, his sexy grin setting the mood.
She snickered and found herself stepping even closer to him. He shocked her by putting an arm around her. Throwing it off should have been her first thought. It wasn't. She leaned against his muscular body and looked out at the natural beauty all around her.
Jordan stiffened a second before rubbing her arm and placing his chin lightly upon her head. "Pretty out here, isn't it?"
Nina's hand went to his chest and the act surprised her. Still, she didn't pull away. "It's one of my favorite spots to come and think. I like it because no one else seems to. Makes it peaceful, quiet."
"Do you want me to go?" he asked, tensing more.
Yes.
No.
Conflicted, Nina let out a shaky breath and found herself clutching his shirt. She lifted her head, her gaze colliding with his. Awareness prickled over her body, slow at first, then with an intensity that nearly made her moan. She wanted this to be the man who stopped the powerful burning, the nearly crippling pain of her cycle, but her mouth refused to open and ask it of him. She chose instead to simply stare up into his emerald green eyes, wondering when the next smart remark would come from him or if he'd find humor in her vulnerability.
He put his hand over hers, cupping it firmly in place. "Tell me to leave, Nina."
The way he said it sounded as if he was hoping she'd send him away. That he didn't have the willpower to do so on his own. That was ridiculous. Jordan was one of the strongest men she knew, and that wasn't even counting his stubborn streak.
"Jordan?"
His breathing was quick and shallow and his eyes narrow as he continued to meet her gaze. Was he aware of her cycle? Did the shifter in him realize she was fertile and that her body craved his?
She tried to back away but the attempt was half-hearted. He held firm to her, his breathing calming slightly. He closed his eyes and the muscles in his neck worked before he looked upon her again. He released her hand but she kept it in place on his chest. "Sorry."
Taking a deep breath, she stayed near him, drawing in his scent. Musk with a hint of spice. Under it all she could smell his cats and hated admitting how wet they made her pussy. Why did it have to be Jordan? Why did it have to be the one man on the planet who didn't bend to her whim? Who stood his ground with her. It was her luck to want the man who irritated her the most. She tipped her head as a coy smile overtook her.
Jordan winked and she giggled.
Giggled, of all things.
She wasn't one of those women yet she was fawning over a man. Even with the knowledge, Nina couldn't seem to stop herself. At best, she managed to stop grinning up at him and relax. Her gaze returned to the scenery but she stayed pressed to him. She couldn't recall a time she'd sought a man's embrace for the sheer comfort it provided. "Can I tell you something and you not have a laugh?"
"Yes," he said softly. Jordan was famous for his swift wit and temper. Hearing him agree to her terms so quickly surprised her.
"I have never been off Sargaidia. I'm not sure of what to expect out there."
He was to pilot her off the planet for their retrieval mission. They were taking a shuttle from the Alpha Brig Three and from what she'd been told, Jordan was the best man for the job. With their departure set for morning, she'd find out soon enough what it was like to leave her home planet.
"I know you've traveled extensively so this has to sound foolish to you but I'm nervous about leaving and about staying. It's all so confusing."
"I'd like to lie to you and tell you how other planets in the quadrant aren't any different than here, Nina, but I won't do that." He wrapped his arms around her fully, his hands going to the small of her back. "Sargaidia's sister planet, Margaidia, is similar in the sense of its beauty, but it's covered with a good deal of large cities as well. Buildings as tall as the eye can see, people everywhere, a lot of hustle and bustle. It's a nice mix if you're into that sort of thing. I find myself preferring Sargaidia though. Other planets differ depending on which you're talking about. Some seem to be nothing but machines now. Others seem to be no more than wasteland. Some are little but water for as far as the eye can see."
Nina did her best to soak in all that he was telling her. "You've seen so much, Vasil. How is it you're content to be here? I mean, I understand why your brother is would stay but I can't imagine our planet being able to hold someone like you to it."
There, she'd said it. She'd voiced her biggest fear. She was scared Jordan would leave. He'd been on her planet for a year and a half and she didn't expect him to stay much longer. Not a man like him. One who had seen the universe and had no commitments holding him to her planet.
He skimmed his hands up her back and cupped her neck. Heat flared through her body. "I like it here, boss, and I have no plans on leaving." A wry grin spread over his handsome face. "Unless you want me to go."
"No," she said a little too fast as she clutched his arm. Her mind screamed at her hand, ordering it to release him but she could no more pry her fingers from him than she could stop the uncontrollable urges he brought about in her. Needing to save face, she stammered out a response, "Umm, I mean, Sevan would miss you. As would your nephews."
Something Nina couldn't read moved over Jordan's face. "Yeah," he said, dipping his head, his lips closing in on hers. "He probably would."
"J-Jordan?"
His lips were so close---hovering right there. "Yeah, baby?"
She didn't scold him for the demeaning pet name. Rather, she leaned up, putting her mouth closer to his. "I should yell, right?"
He laughed softly. His fingers kneaded the back of her neck. "It does seem to be what we do best."
She focused on his lips. "What's that?"
"Yell at each other," he confessed, his thumbs caressing just below her ears. His lips skimmed hers and fire shot through her entire body. She froze, knowing if she dared to move she'd ravish the man.
He used his thumbs to tug at her jawline, pulling her mouth open slightly. "I'm gonna kiss you, baby. You all right with that?"
A second before she would have responded with a yes, Nina sensed someone nearing and pulled back from his touch, putting a good foot of space between them. Jordan reached for her and she lifted her hand to him, stopping just shy of making contact.
"For now," he whispered. "This will do."
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