She wanted to pull away, wanted to flee back to the safety of the Hawk’s Flight where her position of captain wrapped her in a cocoon of safety, away from the attentions of this brash male. It always started with this wild desire but it always ended the same—badly.
She drew in a shaky breath. She was going to tell him to slow down just as one of his hands slid up her side and cupped the fullness of one breast.
They stood frozen in a tableau. His hand settled on her breast as if taking possession.
* * *
Breathing hard, Blane kissed Ange’s lush red mouth and trailed a line of kisses down her neck. She had a long, slender neck, a neck that invited leisurely exploration. He heard her take a sharp breath. A smile touched his mouth as he slowly tightened the fingers that cupped the proud mound of her breast. Her inhale turned into a hiccup of surprise. She gasped with pleasure as he squeezed the soft flesh through her thick jacket.
Dammit, the woman had on too many clothes. He burned to feel her under the palms of his hands, to caress her satiny skin, to explore the hidden secrets of her body. He’d kiss his way down her neck to those lush breasts while his hand ventured lower to explore her stomach and slide over her silken thighs. His imagination caught fire at the thought of her opening her legs to him, exposing her moist and ready womanhood. He hardened in anticipation.
Not so fast! a part of his brain yelled. You don’t dare tell this woman the truth about Kyffin, and besides that, Ryol’s the one who’s paying her.
He tried to control himself, to stop raining kisses on her neck and lips, but the smell and the taste of her drove him wild. She smelled like the spring rain, like a breeze blowing across a crystal clear pool. He wanted to take her up into the mountains, to the secret places that only he knew. He’d missed the wild and rugged beauty of Kyffin, and longed to return to his old haunts. He would show her his hidden valley with its magnificent waterfall and lay her down on the wet rocks below the rushing water. The sparkling spray could drench both their naked bodies. He would possess her there with the water roaring around them and his blood roaring in his ears.
She groaned as he squeezed her breast again. The soft, vulnerable sounds she made shot through him, arousing lusts long dormant. He shook with the desire to see her naked and spread open before him. Gripping her buttocks with both hands, he lifted her up. She was as light as the air in his arms. He swung her around and set her on the desktop. Her face blazed with an answering passion that fed the growing fires within.
He pushed between her legs, bending over her. His hands tangled in her hair and her arms looped around his neck as they pressed closer. Even through her jacket, her body heat reached out to him like a warm, inviting furnace. Passion pounded through his veins as he kissed her. Their tongues tangled together, stroking in an ancient rhythm, while his hands groped to tear open the sealed seam of her jacket. The urge to push her down and rip off her clothes mounted. This must be how women felt when he—
The thought sent him staggering backward, staring at her in amazement. The intense passion she aroused in him—it was almost as magical, as inexplicable as the effect he had on women. Was it possible? Were they two of a kind? But how could it be? She’d never landed on Kyffin before, and certainly had never been to the meadow.
He took another step back, putting distance between them, getting away from her heat and her honeyed aroma. He’d spent the voyage lusting after her; sure she’d doused herself with Ryol’s Scent of Magic. But she’d denied it. Convincingly. Besides, he knew his brother. Ryol was too damned cheap to give away even a single drop of Scent of Magic.
He’d wanted to think her scent came from the perfume. But if it didn’t, then how could he explain her smell—the delicious smell? There had to be some connection, although he couldn’t imagine what at the moment.
Her enticing fragrance faded as he backed away. At the same time, the disturbing questions crowding his mind dampened his lust. His pounding heart began to slow. He took several deep breaths, giving the fire within a chance to die to a slow smolder.
Ange sat on the desk, watching him with a dazed expression. Her mouth looked swollen from the passionate kisses he’d pressed on her lush lips. Her half-closed eyes and ruffled curls gave her a sultry look. Yet as he watched he saw alertness return to her expression. Her eyes widened as she stared at him.
She straightened her clothes and shivered all over as if shaking off a dream. Her tawny curls bounced around her elfin face as she shook her head in disgust. She looked pale in the slanting sunlight through the window.
“What just happened?” she demanded. “Why did we come at each other like two lusting animals?”
He wiped his mouth with his hand, nauseated by his behavior. Now he understood the hatred in women’s eyes, afterwards. Thank the gods, he’d retreated to his studio and his art years ago.
She lifted her chin, regarding him with defiance. He drew in a sharp breath at her proud beauty. His hands itched to sculpt her curves into stone so all the worlds could marvel at such perfect form.
“It was your scent. The Scent of Magic.” He heard doubt in his voice. His ability to attract was a gift from the meadow. He knew that. But where was hers from? He rubbed his aching temples, puzzled.
“I told you I don’t wear that damned perfume.” She rose to her feet and glared at him. “You’re the one who has access to it. And I don’t like being seduced by an aphrodisiac.”
Blane scowled. She thought he was using Scent of Magic on her. As if he needed a perfume to enhance the effect he already had on women. He laughed without humor and slanted a sideways look at her. “I’m not sure the two of us need an aphrodisiac when we’re together.”
Her eyes widened at that. Color mounted in her cheeks. He wanted to reach out, cup her delicate chin with his hands, protect her, but from what? From him?
“I don’t normally behave in this way.” Eyes full of suspicion stared at him. “Do you?”
“Never before.” It was the simple truth. Women had thrown themselves at his feet after the meadow, but he’d never experienced a similar attraction for someone else.
He folded his arms across his chest and pondered her. She was an anomaly. She ought not to be. She’d never been to the meadow. How could she have this effect on him?
Maybe there were other meadows on other worlds. Maybe she’d stumbled on one. If so, their attraction wasn’t real. It was all based on the scent…the scent of magic indeed.
His heart filled with an unexpected sorrow. He’d started to think the emotions that churned through him whenever he got close to her were something real. He’d given up all hope of feeling real love long ago. “I’m sorry,” he mumbled, spreading his hands in apology.
“I am, too.” She ran a nervous hand through her thick curls. Her eyelashes fluttered down, hiding her gaze. His heart melted to see her so vulnerable. “It’s been a while, you know. I have to keep a distance from most men.” She rubbed her hands against her thighs and glanced around with an embarrassed grin. “I’ll admit I get a bit horny from time to time, but I’ve never exploded with desire before.”
He had to smile at that. “What about Ryol?”
She laughed with pure amazement. “Ryol! He’s the last man in the universe I’d be attracted to. What about you? No other women back in the Federation?”
“None like you,” he said, to his surprise.
She gave him a skeptical look. “There must be someone.”
His eyes darkened. “I told you—there’s no one. What women feel for me—it’s not love. I know that. And I’m not willing to settle for second-best in my life.”
Ange shuddered and looked away. They shared the same bizarre problem. She toyed with the idea of telling him so, but she didn’t want to feel linked to Blane, not right now. “There must be someone,” she insisted. “Marirose seemed glad to see you.”
He shrugged. “She’s a friend from years ago, nothing more. She hugged me because she’s overjoyed at the prospect of a
decent meal finally.”
“Oh.” Ange looked down at the floor. “Life here must be miserable. Have the colonists ever considered leaving this planet?”
His face turned cold again. “How? I just told you the Hawk is the first ship to land since Ryol and I left.”
Ange realized her blunder. She certainly didn’t want to evacuate the colonists. That would cause too many problems. Ignoring his question, she turned the conversation to Ryol. “How did your brother get you two on the merchant ship?”
Blane frowned at the memory. “It was a trading ship. Not that they expected to find anything worth trading for on Kyffin. They’d taken some damage in a fight with pirates and had to run for their lives. They were far off course when they landed here, as you can imagine. They wanted some place where they could lay low while repairs were made. They’d lost a few of the crew, too. Enough to make it worthwhile to take us on and train us as space hands.”
“Why you and Ryol?”
“We both had some mechanical skills. Ryol made the deal with them to indenture us in return for a trip back to the Federation when our time was up. Then he tricked me onto the ship on the pretense that we’d been hired to do one small repair. The next thing I knew we were taking off.”
“Your brother’s done well since.”
Blane snorted. “That’s because of the meadow.”
The meadow again.
Blane regarded her with a steely expression. “My brother is not welcome on Kyffin. He couldn’t care less about the colonists. He’s come back for something else.”
“Care to tell me what?”
“Why should I?”
“Because I don’t involve Hawk’s Flight in anything illegal.” Ange tilted her chin in the direction of her ship.
“Admirable sentiments, captain. You’d better not help my brother, then.”
“I have a duty to watch out for my passengers. Were you serious about trying to stop him if he goes to the meadow?”
Blane ran his fingers through his hair with an exasperated look. “I’m always serious. This is between my brother and me. And there’s no danger—except to his purse. He needs me near that meadow tomorrow night. And I won’t hurt him; just throw a wrench into his plans.”
Ange fought for patience. “Why?” Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the door they’d come through opening. A boy with a tousled blond head stared at her with two huge blue eyes.
Blane’s answer claimed her attention. “What he found in the meadow should not be for sale. It will cost him his soul one day.”
Ange raised an unbelieving eyebrow. Blane was giving her the runaround. Behind him, the small boy stepped away from the door and eyed her, his thumb planted in his mouth.
Against her will, she found herself smiling at the boy. She seldom saw children in space and they always charmed her. She pushed the momentary distraction from her mind and forced anger back into her voice. “Your refusal to tell me what’s happening is not helping—”
Her tirade was interrupted by a tug on her pants leg. She looked down to see the boy at her side. He wore patched pants and his dirty feet were bare. He lifted his small chin to look up at her, a ball in his hand. “Are you a starship captain?” he asked.
She dropped down on her haunches to meet his gaze. “Yes, I am. Who are you?”
Innocent blue eyes stared at her. “I’m Michel. I sneaked out when Mum wasn’t looking. I saw you come this way. I want to go and see the starship.”
“We’ll be here for a few days, Michel,” she said gently.
His wide-eyed stare was filled with wonder. “My Mum said starships never stop on Kyffin anymore, but you did. Can I get a ride on your starship?”
Blane bent over the boy. “Michel! Are you Sharlene’s son?’
“Yes.” He smiled up at the tall man. “Mum says you’re my uncle.”
Blane laughed in delight. Reaching down, he scooped the boy off his feet and swung him up on his wide shoulders. “You can ride on my back, Michel, while I take you back to your mother.” He threw a challenging look at Ange. “I doubt a busy starship captain has time to cater to a child’s dream.”
Ange’s cheeks burned at the scorn in his voice. Who did this man think he was to criticize his brother and expect favors from her? She straightened up and pulled a piece of candy from her pocket for the boy. “Sorry, I’d love to take you if I could, Michel. But flying a starship is expensive.”
Blane sneered at her, his face showing anger again. “What’s the matter? No time for an interstellar nursery? No, I guess not. You’ll be too busy helping my brother. The two of you deserve each other.”
Chapter Six
Blane watched the anger mount on Ange’s face. She barely came to his shoulder, but she had a commanding presence. He liked feisty women. If only he’d been shanghaied onto her ship.
The thought kindled his lust again. He pressed his lips together in a tight line, fighting to hang on to his anger. Best to ignore the way his heartbeat quickened whenever he caught a whiff of her alluring feminine scent.
“Insult me if you want,” she snapped. “I wouldn’t find myself in this situation if it weren’t for you.”
He lifted an eyebrow, realizing the truth of her remark. It was unfair to blame her for any of this. His tense muscles relaxed, his body warmed again by the powerful nudge of attraction. Maybe she was a potential ally in his battle with Ryol.
Well, it never hurt to charm a woman. He flashed his smile, aware of its magnetic power, and was gratified to see a faint trace of red appear on her high cheekbones. His arousal pressed against his pants as he remembered the silky feel of her lush lips. A hot-blooded female was concealed underneath those baggy pants, tunic and jacket. His exploring hands had found gentle curves and soft flesh.
His eyes narrowed as he noted her right hand patting her jacket. Her gun hand was far too twitchy for his taste. Maybe he should have ignored those luscious breasts and explored a bit further down her body instead.
“It should be obvious by now that Ryol hasn’t returned out of love for his family,” he said and smiled at her with offended innocence.
Ange stared at him. Her breasts rose and fell with her breathing. “The Hawk’s Flight is my ship and I take pride that she’s an honest one. I’ve never aided anyone engaged in any illegal activity. Are you claiming he came back to do something wrong?”
Close up, her eyes were the brilliant green of a forest leaf when the sun shone through it, and her tawny blonde hair seemed woven of the gold radiance that graced the evening sky. With an effort, he tore his gaze away from the fragile beauty of her face and glanced out the warehouse window. He could see the landing pad where her starship gleamed against a dark backdrop of trees. “Yes, my brother has a secret reason for his return. One I don’t like.”
“Yipee! There’s the starship!” a small voice yelled. Michel had settled in to his perch on Blane’s shoulders and gotten a glimpse out the window. He gripped Blane’s neck with his thighs and swung his bare heels against the wall of his chest. “Get going! Take me there!”
Blane winced more with annoyance than pain as the boy’s feet drummed against his body. “Calm down, Michel.”
Ange grinned at the boy with genuine friendliness. Blane’s heart melted dangerously at the sweetness in her smile. She tucked a stray lock of pale gold hair behind one ear. “The Hawk’s Flight is not ready to go back into space yet, Michel. There’s a long checklist to go through first.”
“That’s okay. We can pretend.”
“Yikes!” Blane shouted as Michel pulled on his ears with his small hands. “Stop that.”
“I want to ride on the starship,” Michel chanted. “Take me there, Uncle Blane.” His hand struck Blane on the shoulder, urging him to get moving.
Amusement sparkled in Ange’s eyes. “The boy thinks you should give him a ride. He must have mistaken you for a horse.”
He laughed, matching her smile with his own. “I’ve been called worse, captain.”
“Ange.” Her voice softened with seductive undertones as she repeated her name. He wondered if she realized that longing shone in her eyes. “Call me Ange.”
“Let’s go,” Michel repeated, drumming his heels in a quick rhythm.
Blane wanted to move closer, to examine that look in her eyes, to taste her lips again. But Michel could not be ignored. He shot her a pleading look. “Can we at least visit the ship, Ange?”
As he spoke, the boy grabbed two handfuls of his hair.
Ange’s smile faded as she imagined a ship full of small children running around, demanding to be amused. “I would rather the ship remain off limits,” she said, her voice cold once more. “It’s no place for children to play.”
“I see.” The warmth in his eyes died.
Feeling disappointed, Ange swallowed hard. Blane’s male scent drew her with almost painful force, but he was a man and men were trouble. “I need to get Jake started unloading the cargo. With luck, we can have it off Hawk in a few hours.”
“I’m sure you are a model of efficiency.” Blane’s lips twisted in disgust. He reached up and untangled Michel’s hands from his hair, then gently lifted the boy off his shoulders and placed him on his feet again. “Run along. There’ll be no visiting the starship.”
Casting an unhappy look at Ange, the boy ran off. Ange found herself drowning in Blane’s deep violet stare. “He seems like a great boy.”
“A great boy with no future.”
Ange bit her lip as she stared at the empty warehouse with its message of scarcity. This was Michel’s future. Blane had a point.
His demanding gaze probed hers. “If you really want to help the colonists, Captain Bennett, I’ll tell you what you can do. Take Michel and the other children off this world. This is the first starship to stop here in ten years and it may be the last for another ten. These children deserve a life—a real life—somewhere where there is still hope.”
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