Shamara

by Catherine Spangler

  He sank into the vibrachair and pulled off his boots. Muscles rippled beneath his flightsuit, indicating that he kept himself in prime physical condition. He straightened and leaned back, his unnerving stare fixing on her.

  "I guess we'd better get to it," he said, his voice low and rough. He reached for the seam of his flightsuit, began opening it. "Why don't you undress for me?"

  Her mouth went even drier and it felt like her heart had leaped into her throat. She'd planned on a quick, lust-driven rutting beneath the covers, hopefully without the man realizing she was a virgin. She had not considered a leisurely disrobing with the lights on. Her natural modesty came to the fore, protesting such a vulnerable act. It couldn't be any more invasive than the actual act of mating, she tried to convince herself.

  Resolute, she started to open her robe. Jarek tossed his shirt to the floor, his full attention on her. She froze. "Go on," he urged.

  Her fingers shook so badly, she wasn't sure she could continue. She wanted to command the lights off, but Lani had told her the client chose the lighting. She would have to disrobe in the light, but she had an idea. She reached up and pulled the clips from her hair. It fell in heavy coils around her shoulders and she shook it out, spreading it over her chest and down to her hips.

  A small grin tugged his mouth. "You little tease. You're going to make me wait to see you, aren't you?"

  His obvious amusement did little to ease the tension in her chest. She nodded and finished opening the robe. It fell into a pool around her ankles, and she stepped out of it, carefully smoothing her hair down the front. It barely covered the juncture of her legs.

  Jarek's heated gaze followed the movement of her hands. His chest heaving, he stared at the very area she sought to shield from his view, and then lurched forward, standing and stripping off his pants and tossing them to join his shirt. Surprisingly, she found herself thinking he was even more magnificent nude, his body lean, but solid and well honed. And he was highly aroused. She might be sexually innocent, but she was a healer, well aware of how male bodies functioned.

  He strode to her, masterful purpose replacing the uncertainty of a few moments before. She tensed as he reached for her, but he didn't seem to notice. With unexpected gentleness, he slid his hand beneath her hair, brushing it over her shoulder, exposing one breast.

  "Spirit, but you're beautiful," he murmured. He skimmed his hand lightly up her abdomen and along her rib cage, cupping her breast.

  Her legs went weak at the warmth of his hand, the unexpected rush of pleasure as his thumb rubbed over her nipple. She stumbled forward against the hot, shocking length of his body.

  "Easy now." His voice was huskier, edged with tension, or was that lust?

  His other arm slid around her waist, lending her support. He continued caressing her breast, and heated sensation seemed to shoot from his fingers through her body. She realized she was grasping his upper arms, but didn't dare let go. She clenched her eyes shut, trying to reclaim her equilibrium.

  "Look at me, little one."

  Even his voice had an odd effect on her, sending molten warmth through her veins. Slowly, reluctantly, she raised her gaze to the heated depths of his dark eyes.

  He slid his hand from her breast, up along her neck and the side of her face. Despite the roughness of his skin, his touch was gentle. "Spirit, but your mouth is enticing." His thumb feathered over her trembling lips. "Do you mind if I kiss you?"

  Would it speed things up? she wondered wildly. Nothing had gone right, and she had no control over this man. For some inexplicable reason, he appeared unaffected by her powers. All she could do was allow the mating to occur without enhancement. "I—I'm here for your pleasure," she managed to say. "You don't need permission to kiss me."

  "I figured I should ask. I don't know the correct protocol. You see, I've never done this before."

  "You've never done…this?"

  He grinned with utter confidence, displaying white, even teeth. She felt the force of that smile right down to her bare toes. "I've never been to a Pleasure Dome before tonight," he amended. "Although, if I'd known you were here, I would have visited a lot sooner.

  "But as for this," he leaned down, his lips grazing hers. "I've definitely done this before." His mouth took possession of hers with an assured determination that clearly showed he was in charge.

  Eirene knew men and women used their tongues in kissing, so she wasn't surprised when he slipped his tongue into her mouth. She also knew how men and women mated, that Jarek would join his lower body with hers, much the same way his tongue was invading her mouth right now. Rayna had explained all that to her, preparing her for the possibility that one of the males on Travan might decide to mate with her. But Rayna had never talked about pleasure.

  And it was pleasurable when he took possession of Eirene’s lips and slid his tongue between them to stroke the inside of her mouth. He was slow and thorough at first, then more demanding, as his breathing grew harsher. He broke off suddenly, holding her face tightly, forcing her to look at him.

  "Make me forget, little Eirene," he muttered hoarsely. "Give me a glimpse of Haven, if only for a little while."

  He moved her to the bed, pressing her down. The cool silk beneath her was a startling contrast to the searing heat of his body following hers. Allowing no further modesty, he determinedly swept her hair aside and looked her over to his satisfaction. Embarrassment sent a heated flush over her skin, but she forced herself to lie still for his perusal.

  He lowered his head, and his mouth traced a path from her neck to her breast, while his hands were everywhere on her, touching, stroking, insistent. The shock of his touch, the feel of his fingers stroking across her skin, scattered any thoughts of modesty. Yet, despite the haze of unfamiliar sensations, she sensed a desperation in his caresses, as if he were trying to lose himself in the mating.

  His hands slid over her breasts, her abdomen, her legs, then between her thighs, delving into her most sensitive flesh. When he first touched her so intimately, she cried out, trying to bolt upright, but his leg across her body prevented flight. Then she no longer wanted to flee, stunned by the incredible pleasure that lured her to open her thighs wider to accommodate his hand.

  Then his touch was gone, and he slid over her body. His hands cradled her face, and she read the intent in his smoldering eyes, instinctively knew he was through with preliminaries. He lowered his head, taking possession of her mouth, thrusting his tongue inside. Just as he thrust below, surging inside her in a fiery blaze.

  Agony burned through her like a laser. She arched upward, her scream captured by his mouth. Shock pounded every nerve ending as she tried desperately to assimilate, and deal with, the pain. Rayna had told her a woman's first time with a man was painful, but nothing could have prepared her for this.

  Jarek jerked back, reciprocal shock reflected on his face. "Blazing hells!"

  Even through the pain and trauma, she felt his attempt to withdraw. Frantically, she tightened her inner muscles, grabbing his firm buttocks to keep him anchored inside her. It hurt like Hades, but there must be no doubt about her losing her virginity.

  "Son of an Antek," he swore. He pried her hands away and withdrew. "What in Spirit's name is going on?"

  "Mating," she gasped, trying to rein in her racing senses and clear her mind. At least the terrible burning had receded with his withdrawal, leaving only a throbbing ache. She managed to sit up. "That was the transaction."

  He smoothed his fingers over her cheeks, wiping away the dampness there. "I hurt you."

  She hadn't even noticed the tears tracking down her face. "Just a little," she lied.

  He levered himself to the edge of the bed and ran his fingers through his thick, unruly hair. Cool air wafted over Eirene's bare skin. She reached for the cover. The movement caught his eye and he whirled, his strong fingers wrapping around her wrist.

  His attention moved to her thighs. Feeling exposed, embarrassed, she tried to close them. His other hand
blocked her, as he stared at the blood on the cover beneath her. His face sharpened into harsh lines. "I want to know what's going on here."

  She didn't need her powers to sense his anger. "Why are you upset? You came here to mate with me. That's what we did."

  "You were a virgin."

  "What does that have to do with anything?"

  "Just what kind of game are you playing?" He rose and stalked to the display panel, totally unconcerned with his nakedness. She took advantage of the opportunity to slide off the bed and grab her robe.

  He punched the display, bringing up a listing of services. "Here," he said, jabbing angrily. "Virgins are a special commodity, available only for a very high price. The cost begins at two thousand miterons and goes up from there."

  He whirled back toward her. "So, what kind of scam are you running? Hoping to trap me into paying two thousand miterons? I don't have that kind of money, lady, and I don't like being played for a fool."

  Slipping on her robe, Eirene stared at him, stunned. They actually sold virginity at Pleasure Domes? Inanely, she wondered if the Leors knew about that. She had the irrational urge to laugh at the irony, but Jarek stalked toward her, his fury still evident.

  "You won't be expected to pay any more than the original amount agreed upon," she said quickly.

  "Damn right, I won’t. But I still want an explanation."

  What could she tell him? Eirene cast about frantically for an answer. She was about to offer something to appease him, when he whirled toward the panel as it slid open. A black-clad, masked figure stepped inside and raised a weapon toward Jarek.

  "Get down!" he yelled. He dived to the floor, rolling toward the vibrachair. He grabbed his belt off the console. The figure discharged its weapon.

  She screamed as Jarek jerked from the impact. Red stained his abdomen. He managed to get his own weapon free, and shot the intruder in the chest. The figure stumbled and collapsed just inside the entryway.

  "Jarek!" Eirene ran to him. He was curled in a fetal position, his face twisted in agony. "Let me see," she cried, prying his hands away from his abdomen. "Oh, Spirit—"

  "I heard weapon-fire. What's going on in here?" Lani rushed through her panel, dressed in a blue silk robe trimmed with feathers. She stopped dead in her tracks, staring at Jarek and then the intruder. "Oh, my! I'll get security."

  "No!" Jarek gasped, trying to roll up. "Don't call the authorities. Contact Captain Cameron. She's at…docking bay fourteen, pad number…thirty-eight."

  "Lie down," Eirene insisted, pushing him back. He was losing way too much blood.

  Lani trotted to his other side. "Captain Cameron? Celie Cameron?"

  Jarek nodded, his body jerking as he struggled to speak. "Yes…Celie…"

  Lani's hand went to her mouth and she considered a moment. "We'll do as he says," she told Eirene. "Don't sound the alarm, or the guards will come."

  Eirene wondered how Jarek was connected to the woman on whose ship she had stowed away, as well as why Lani was capitulating to his demands. "We must call the guards," she insisted. "We have to do something. He'll die if he doesn't get medical attention fast."

  Lani shook her head decisively. "I know what I'm doing. Your client will be in greater danger if we call security. Stay here with him. I'm going to contact his friend." She hopped over the intruder's body to close the entry panel and hurried back to her chamber, moving with amazing speed, considering her high heels.

  Eirene couldn't believe they weren't calling for immediate medical assistance. Yet, at this point, any help might be too late. Jarek had collapsed onto the carpet, no longer convulsing from the pain. His skin was ashen, his breathing shallow. Blood still seeped from the wound in his abdomen, pooling beneath him. Injuries like his were almost always fatal, and he'd already lost so much blood.

  Too late. Almost too late, unless…She froze, knowing what she should do. But she couldn't—she just couldn't. Dark memories crowded into her mind, as painful as a physical blow. Rayna lying on her thin pallet, the life flowing from her…

  Eirene forced her attention back to Jarek. He would certainly die if she didn't try to help him. She was a healer—not fully competent yet, but a healer, nevertheless. She was dedicated to nurturing life. And she was an Enhancer, even if her past attempts to use her powers had been disastrous.

  She stared at the man who had taken her virginity. His dark eyes were glazed; his clean features slack as death's grip closed about him. Even in the throes of his passion, he had been gentle with her. She couldn't let him die. She had to attempt to save him. Surely she couldn't hurt him any worse than he already was.

  Resigned, she leaned over him, placing her hands directly over the wound. She hadn't been able to link with him earlier, and now she feared she wouldn't be able to tap into his energy. But in his weakened state, the mental barrier was down, and she slipped readily into his life force.

  Please Spirit, she prayed, don't let me kill him. Her hands shook uncontrollably. Not like Rayna, please not like Rayna. But she had to try, she told herself. She was his only chance. Closing her eyes, she added her own energy to his, directing it through his body systems, down to the cellular level.

  She accelerated the natural healing process to many times its normal rate. She enhanced each cell's ability, stimulated Jarek’s body to rapidly produce more blood. The energy from her hands over the wound speeded the clotting process there and formed scar tissue at an incredible rate.

  She was so intent on directing the energies, she didn't hear the panel open. "What the hell are you doing to him?" roared a male voice. She jolted back from her patient, momentarily disoriented. She stared at the blond man towering over her, belatedly realizing he had a weapon aimed at her.

  "Eirene is not the one who shot him. She's just trying to help," Lani cried, punching the man's arm. "Back off, you big oaf!"

  The man lowered his weapon, although his eyes remained narrowed with suspicion. Others crowded around behind him. Eirene recognized Celie Cameron, and her female first officer. There was another man, also blond, but short and youthful, with freckles on his round face.

  Captain Cameron dropped onto her knees on the other side of Jarek. "Spirit, look at all the blood. This is bad. Blake, we've got to get him to my ship. Chase is on the way."

  The first male, apparently Blake, shoved Eirene to the side. "Move, lady. Let me get to him."

  She scrambled away without resentment; she heard the concern in Blake's voice and knew he was upset. "Who is Chase?" she asked.

  "A physician—one of the best," the shorter man answered, squatting beside Celie.

  "Why don't you take him to the healer on Saron?" Lani asked. "He needs help fast."

  "Because the healer is a known agent," Blake said. "Chase is Jarek's only chance."

  What did that mean? Eirene looked at Jarek. He was unconscious, but his color was already better, and the bleeding had stopped. Relieved, she felt certain he was stabilized and would survive, especially if he received competent medical care quickly. Thank Spirit she'd managed to channel the energy without mishap.

  The group organized quickly and efficiently, rolling Jarek onto the silk cover from the bed, so it would be easier and less jarring to transport him. Celie and Blake took him to Celie's ship, while her first officer, Lionia, and the other man—Radd, she heard him called—bundled up the body of the dead intruder and sneaked it from the Dome.

  Jarek's associates had decided it would be best if the authorities knew nothing of the incident. Eirene picked up emotional currents from the group, mainly true affection and concern for Jarek, and the need for secrecy. The only conclusion she could draw was that Jarek was involved in something illegal.

  She didn’t need to worry about that, for she'd never see him again after tonight. She felt a stirring of regret. She’d experienced an inexplicable bond with him, perhaps because of the intimacy they'd shared. She had always assumed mating was just an act, especially after witnessing how the males on Travan only c
ame to the women's tents when they wanted a release, then walked away, hitching up their pants as if nothing had happened. They certainly never took very long.

  But Jarek had lingered with her. He'd acted like he really found her beautiful; like he enjoyed looking at her and touching her. He'd appeared concerned about hurting her, although his anger over her deception had been greater. Most importantly, he'd done what she needed him to do—relieved her of the burden of her virginity. She could head for Elysia now, get on with her life without the fear of being sold for her innocence.

  She quickly changed from her bloodied robe back to her old, ragged one, and packed up her meager belongings. She decided against telling Lani good-bye. She didn't want anyone to know she was leaving Saron, and besides, Lani might be with a client. Eirene shuddered, grateful she didn't have to make her living as a courtesan. She left the Dome, slipping out the discreet side entry used by the clients, and headed for the transport station.

  Next came freedom and a new life.

  Chapter Three

  The voices woke Jarek. A female voice, obviously upset, seeped into his consciousness, and he opened his eyes with a start. Where was he?

  "This can't be possible," the female said. "Do the test again." That husky voice, very familiar somehow, came from the other side of a pale green screen standing to his right.

  "I already ran it twice," came a deep masculine voice, also familiar. "The test is highly accurate. And the results are positive."

  "I am not pregnant!"

  "The medical scanner readings agree with the test. You are pregnant, Moriah."

  Where was he? Jarek looked around the cubicle, noting an array of monitors and equipment on the wall to his left. Low beeps and hums emitted from them. Although he was groggy, he realized he was on some sort of bed, with an IV strip on his arm and silver disks attached to his bare chest. He twisted to look down at the tile floor. The motion sent a spear of pain through his abdomen, and he sank back. He felt his body then, really felt it, the weakness and the soreness. What the—