by Petra Landon
He stopped abruptly to rear up. Sila opened passion-stoked eyes to study the glittering gold irises with the dilated pupils. His emotions enveloped her through their connected sixth sense, his desire mingled with possessiveness and tempered by cajolery. This time, she knew what her warrior wanted from her. And as before, Sila gave him her consent though she knew not whether she said it explicitly or communicated it through the other connection that bound them. All she heard was the pleased growl as he kissed his way to his goal, his hair swishing down her body in a gentle caress. Sila closed her eyes as she felt him kneel between her splayed thighs. His big palms cupped her buttocks to gently position her before him in anticipation. Placing her parted legs over his shoulders, he placed his hot mouth intimately on her.
The last time, she had been overwhelmed by the intimacy. But the time getting to know each other had borne fruit. The fire in her burned as brightly as the need in him. She grasped the silky coverlet under her as she felt him at the core of her femininity. The ridged tongue surged in to explore and taste her essence. Sila almost arched off the bed with a whimper as she felt him deep in her.
Sseela?
He paused his endeavor to check on her. A shuddering Sila sent out a silent call — all she felt capable of in the moment.
O Goddess!
The tongue resumed its exploration of her, presumably satisfied by her response. Sila panted softly as he clasped her thighs to resume his intimate ministrations. She could feel every lick and swipe of the long tongue inside her. Shuddering and gasping, she quivered with mindless pleasure under the tender assault, as her body searched for a peak just a little beyond its reach. Suddenly, she felt a zenith of almost unbearable sensations. Sila cried out as her body released its essence. And his tongue gentled on her to lap at what he had coaxed from her. Spent, Sila slumped back on the bed, her mind and body numb from the pleasure he had given her.
He joined her to gather her up in his arms. Sila turned to him, letting him hold her close. Under her, she could feel his heart gallop as his heated skin, slick with sweat, rubbed against her. She placed her lips over his heart in a delicate kiss and it was his turn to shudder. In a pleasure-filled haze, Sila said nothing as he turned her over on her stomach. Sated, she merely splayed her hands on either side. He moved onto his knees and she felt a soft kiss on her shoulders. There was a rustle of clothing before his body enveloped her with his forearms braced against the bed. She closed her eyes as he buried his face in her hair before moving the heavy tangle of curls to one side to bare her nape to him. Moving down her back, he kissed and explored the little dips and curves of her lush body with his mouth and fingers. Sila relaxed, his soothing caresses welcome after the onslaught of sensations before. As she lay spent on the bed, she felt cushions being tucked under her to raise her. This time, when the Star Captain surged over her back to cage her in, she could feel his muscled and hard body over her all the way to her hips.
“Let me love you, baithoni” he asked gutturally, his voice hoarse with need.
“Hmm” Sila murmured softly, loving the feel of his heated skin as it rubbed against her.
As his mouth moved to suckle at her nape, she felt the presence of something hot, hard and big lie cradled at the juncture of her thighs. His hands reached for hers to clasp them tightly over her palms as he pressed soft kisses on her back, trying to distract her from the weight of the part nestled snugly against her.
Trust me, Sseela.
Sila subsided, allowing herself to revel in the feel of his hard body and warm mouth as she lay cocooned by him. Something nicked at her neck before his tongue soothed the pain away. Sila cried out sharply, more out of surprise and shock than any pain. In response, Zh’hir’s emotions washed over her again to envelope her anew with love, comfort, need and regret. Sila tried to reassure him.
I’m fine. You merely caught me by surprise, Star Captain.
The momentary sting subsided as if it had never been and a dull lethargy seemed to spread through her. He tightened his clasp of her palms, his thumbs caressing the fine skin on the back of her hands, as his thighs nudged her legs apart. The hard, male part of him poised itself at the entrance to her femininity. Through the fog pervading her, she felt him begin to push into her. The smooth tautness of his belly rubbed against her back while the powerful thighs gripped her hips and his lips caressed her shoulder. The heat radiating from the muscled body over her made Sila feel pleasantly warm. As she felt the blunt male organ fill her slowly with gentle nudges of his hips, Sila felt as if she were floating unencumbered in space, encompassed by Zh’hir’s warmth and protection. There was no pain, just the sense of an intimate connection with him. Shouldn’t there be some discomfort, she wondered languidly. He slid in with a final nudge and Sila gasped at the sensation of fullness inside her.
Baithoni?
Hmm.
Are you fine? Do you feel any pain?
No pain.
Sila wiggled her hips, impatient at his attempts to communicate. In response, he growled from deep in his chest, to move slowly in her. His lips skimmed her back and Sila hummed, at the pleasurable sensations in her and the vibrations of his soft purrs against her back. Gradually, Zh’hir increased the tempo of his thrusts. Soothed by the strange lethargy that made everything feel like a dream and stimulated by the sensations of him in her, Sila felt herself reach for a crest again. He slowed down his thrusts to move deeper with each one. She cried out as her body reached the pinnacle.
Zh’hir growled as he felt her tightening around him. Holding her close, he slowed down before beginning to stroke in her again, this time with more urgency than before. His low purrs intensified until he bellowed loudly to slump over her. Moments later, Sila felt her herself turned over to be held tightly in his arms as he sealed her lips with a gentle kiss.
“Sseela?” he asked, breathing heavily.
“Hmm” she murmured, to fall into satiated slumber in his arms.
When Sila awakened, the chamber was dark and she was alone in the large bed. A blanket had been draped carefully over her. Sila stretched languidly as the memories from before swam through her mind. Dilated gold eyes stark with hunger staring down at her, a blunt finger caressing down her body, the powerful shoulders flexing under her hands, his hot mouth trailing kisses on her skin, the ridged tongue on her and in her. His need and desire washing over her through their other connection. And finally, the hard, muscled weight of him against her back as he pushed into her with infinite care. Sila sat up with a frown — the last bit was a blur. Why was that hazy when everything that led up to it was so vivid?
Puzzled, Sila made for the bathing enclosure to take a quick shower and freshen up. The Star Captain, she guessed, was dealing with the business of the Budheya mind-readers. While a part of Sila was glad to know that she was not alone with her ability, her anxiety over other telepaths endangering her secret and affecting the war for control of Sector Araloka trumped it.
The Star Captain was waiting for her when she emerged from the bathing enclosure.
“Sseela” he greeted her, the gold eyes opaque. Dressed in the black Hadari’Kor uniform, he looked worlds away from the male who only a few hours ago had loved her with such wild abandon.
“Star Captain” she murmured, wild color surging up her pale skin to make the freckles stand out starkly.
At this obvious sign of her embarrassment, the Star Captain strolled towards her.
“Are you alright?” he asked.
Sila nodded mutely, her eyes not meeting his gaze.
“Disappointed, baithoni?” he asked softly.
“No” she protested vehemently, her eyes snapping up to tangle with his. “No … not at all.”
The exotic eyes pinned her. “Then, what is it?”
“I can’t seem to remember much … towards the end” she confessed haltingly.
His hand came up to caress her face, the thumb stroking delicately over her freckles.
“That was by design” he admitt
ed, the intent gold eyes holding her. “My fangs can produce a numbing agent which I used on you last night.”
“It is done on my world for the first mating to ensure a baithoni feels no pain. Dr. Uissh confirmed for me that the numbing agent would not be harmful to your physiology.”
He hesitated as if debating whether to say more, before he fell silent.
Sila stared at him in astonishment as his words washed over her.
“First mating?” she repeated in bewilderment.
“It was your first time, Sseela. And mine too” he added gently.
Sila’s eyes widened with shock.
“Your first time?” she exclaimed as memories of the expert way he had pleasured her jostled for space in her mind.
“With a non-Ur’quay female” he explained, cocking his head in the familiar way as if attempting to decipher something.
“I’m happy I was able to satisfy you so thoroughly, little Terran” he remarked blandly with a wicked glint in the gold eyes.
It took Sila a few seconds to realize that he’d read her thoughts.
“Zh’hir” she protested, blushing furiously under his amused and teasing gaze.
He took a stride forward to clasp her by the waist. The action brought her flush against him. Bending slightly, he brought his mouth to her ear.
“One thing I promise you — you will remember every detail the next time we are together” he whispered.
Sila buried her face in his chest. His hands came around her to give her a surprisingly tight hug that she returned with alacrity.
“I wish I had more time with you” he sighed. “I want to love you again — to see the expression in your eyes as you scream out my name.”
“Would my baithoni be amenable?” he asked caressingly.
“Yes” she mumbled with her burning face pressed against him.
He chuckled softly. “That is good to know. It will encourage me to hurry back if I know that you’re waiting for me.”
Sila raised a concerned face to meet his eyes, embarrassment subsiding abruptly at his words.
“Where are you going?” she inquired in alarm.
“Zoran and I are taking the Henia to Budheyasta to talk to the rebels. We know who they are, Sseela. Dr. Uissh found a match on the Budheya’s genetic code with records from multiple member worlds.”
Multiple worlds!
Sila straightened. “Who are they?” she asked curiously.
“They are descended from a prominent Budheya family very active in their diplomatic service before the Ketaari occupation. We will request the rebels to dig into how they ended up on a Ketaari battleship and whether there have been any rumors of their abilities on Budheyasta. Now that we know where to look, the rebels should be able to dig up this information for us.”
He paused briefly.
“Dr. Uissh’s team has also been able to break down the chemical components of the drugs in their systems. They have been heavily sedated, their physical bodies inert while certain of their brain’s functions are kept constantly stimulated. Though it is like nothing he has ever seen, the doctor believes that our hypothesis about them is correct. They are drugged and hooked up to the machines to help stimulate and combine their individual abilities to make the effect stronger.”
“They’re not collaborators” Sila muttered, not sure how to feel about the conclusion.
“No, they are being exploited by the Ketaari under duress” he confirmed quietly. “But whatever the Ketaari have done to them is not working, Sseela. Dr. Uissh says that the cocktail in them is too strong and makes their minds hyperactive. You and I know how important it is to be able to focus when it comes to our mental skills.”
Sila looked into his eyes. “Perhaps, this is why they were able to reach me across such a vast distance and yet unskilled at reading my mind.”
“Yes. I don’t believe the mind-readers are capable of giving the Ketaari what they desire. Yet, we must find out about these Budheya as quickly as we can.”
Sila understood. Aside from the Alliance’s impatience to get to the bottom of it, the Ur’quay were getting restive and wanted answers to the mystery of the mind-readers.
“Please be careful, Star Captain” she implored him.
“There is not much danger, Sseela” he assured her. “Zoran and I have done four runs to Budheyasta and the crew knows what to watch for.”
“I know” she acknowledged softly. “I worry because you will be behind enemy lines.”
For a moment, they stared at each other, reluctant to part.
“Will I stay on the Juntafeyore?” she asked.
“Both Saakshi of Budheyasta and you will stay here until we’re back. Commander Jolar is in command of the Juntafeyore while Zoran is gone. I trust him to look out for you. If you feel uneasy about something or have any concerns, go to him, Sseela.”
Zh’hir felt a tad uneasy at leaving Sila on her own right now. But the mission to Budheyasta was important. He wanted answers too. Just because the Ketaari had failed with one set of mind-readers didn’t mean that they wouldn’t learn from it. Like his warriors, he wanted to unravel this puzzle quickly.
It had been decided that the Juntafeyore and the Ishtralaya would stay in neutral space while the Henia made its run to Budheyasta to gather intelligence. The few days might give Dr. Uish more hints from the data the Ur’quay had gathered on the mind-readers. That, along with any information the Henia was able to bring back would hopefully unravel the mystery and allow the Alliance Commander to tackle this new threat.
“I promise” Sila assured him.
THIRTEEN
“We’ll keep digging, Zoran. I hope to have more for you when you return in a few weeks” Tilabok’s voice came through clearly on the Ur’quay communicator device.
“Thank you, Tilabok” Zoran acknowledged the rebel leader gratefully. “What your people have dug up has been very helpful.”
Tilabok had proved resourceful. The rebels restricted their communication systems to an individual resistance cell, thus protecting their antiquated equipment from being hacked by the Ketaari. Over the years as the resistance had grown, they had developed a rustic but efficient system for sharing information and coordinating attacks between various cells. This consisted of a mechanism of local couriers and pre-arranged signals from safe houses. At Zoran’s request, Tilabok had exploited this old-fashioned communication mechanism to reach out to the local resistance cell. Within the span of two standard days, the cell had come through with information on the three cousins.
Dr. Uish had identified the Budheya as members of a family that had produced many diplomats on their world. Genetic data from a popular and well-respected diplomatic ancestor active in political circles before the Ketaari takeover of Budheyasta had been recovered from member worlds responding to the Alliance Commander’s request for information. They had caught a lucky break — the cousins were not only descendants of diplomats but the family had not lost its prominence in the last century. Thus, the rebels had been able to dig up a fair bit in a short time. The local resistance cell had relayed to Tilabok the widespread rumors about the family.
As Zoran signed off, the Star Captain gave the order to head back into neutral space. It would be a few hours before they could risk updating Commander Kerovac. A live channel while flying through Empire space was a risky proposition.
“What do you make of it, Zh’hir?” the Hadari’Kor Captain inquired of his friend as the Henia’s First Commander efficiently flew them out of Ketaari territory.
The Star Captain’s eyes met Zoran with a troubled look. “Sounds like the ability has been passed down for generations in the family.”
“Perhaps, the explanation is simpler than we think, Zh’hir” the mercenary suggested hopefully. “Maybe the locals have it right that a strain of madness runs in the family. And the Imperial Forces merely used the whispers to exploit the cousins, somewhat ineffectually.”
“Perhaps” the Star Captain acquiesced though
tfully. He would feel a lot less troubled if the rumors could be explained away by a strain of inherited madness. “I find it too much of a coincidence that all three surviving members of one family end up with this unique ability while no one else on their world shows any symptoms.”
Zoran played devil’s advocate. “Are we even sure that all three Budheya actually do possess the ability?”
“It’s a reasonable assumption based on Dr. Uissh’s analysis of the gathered data” Zh’hir said slowly. “I don’t see how else an individual without complete control over his mind could traverse that kind of distance to touch Sseela. She might not have the control of an Ur’quay, but Sseela is much improved from ten months ago. That he was able to breach her mind tells me that he or they are not without teeth, Zoran.”
“Hmm” the Hadari’Kor male murmured. “That marker in their genetic code Dr. Uish cannot identify …” he trailed off.
“It could have a direct correlation to their mind-reading abilities” the Star Captain remarked.
“It is not a coincidence that there are so many whispers about this family, Zoran. And very specific ones at that. To me, this pattern of erratic behavior for the past few generations suggests that perhaps all the descendants possessed the ability. Rumors of hearing voices in the head, a phobia of strangers and crowds, anxiety attacks and mental illness is consistent with those born with the faculty and unable to control it. If Sseela had not learnt to protect herself from the voices around her, it would have been her fate too” he said soberly.
Zoran’s dark eyes met the somber gold ones.
“They’ve been trying to hide it from their neighbors” he murmured.
Zh’hir’s expression hardened. “Considering what happened to Sseela when she revealed her secret to the Terrans, I’d say it was a good decision, Zoran”
The Ur’quay male paused and his friend contemplated him. “What?” Zoran asked.