by Liza Probz
"Why did you leave?" He brushed his fingers by her face and pulled her flush against him.
Sylvie's eyes searched his before glancing away. "I'd fulfilled my end of the bargain. It was time for me to go home."
"So last night meant nothing to you?" He needed it to mean something. It meant too much to him. One night of passion that would cost him his life, and she treated it as if it were nothing more than an appointment on her calendar.
"Like you said," she mumbled, "we both were curious and this was one way to find out what it would be like to sleep with an alien. When it was over, I figured it was time for me to go. I didn’t want to change my mind, X. I didn't know you'd... that this would... you know."
Her voice petered out and she stood there, staring down at the floor, looking so damn innocent.
His heart felt like it was being ravaged by gnarsharks. "I might have said that before, but after what happened between us, how special it was... how could you just walk away from that? It meant nothing to you."
It wasn’t a question, but a statement of fact where he was concerned.
She looked up at him, her eyes blurry with unshed tears. "Your people will never accept me. The longer I stay here, the more you earn their scorn. Now I've destroyed you, just by giving in to my desires. No wonder your people want my blood. I can't say I blame them."
His thumb stroked over her cheek, catching a teardrop as it fell. The softness in her lit a hope inside of him.
"No, baby," he crooned, pulling her into the circle of his arms and stroking her soft hair. "There is no blame to be given. We share in this equally and yet neither of us could have known that this would happen."
"How can I help you?" she whispered. "What can we do to reverse this frenzy? Your people must have some kind of cure?"
Xivthar shook his head. "We haven't really looked for one. This is how our gene pool stays strong. Since our population is severely limited, it's important that we continue such customs. For a male to die during the mating frenzy is rare simply because most are accepted by their chosen mates. The few that aren't usually had mental health issues to begin with."
She let out a bitter laugh as a tear dripped onto her cheek. "Great, but ‘my mate has a screw loose’ isn’t going to work for us."
He knew that she was being uncomplimentary, but hearing the phrase "my mate" on her lips caused his cock to instantly harden under his sarong. Growling, he pulled her in tighter and ran his hands down her back.
Her eyes widened. "I thought you couldn't..."
"That doesn't mean that I don't desire you. That I don’t think you’re the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen, Sylvie." He leaned in, holding her face in his hands to steady her. He brushed his lips across hers, deepening the kiss as she pressed into it. The emotions inciting riots inside him narrowed until only lust was left.
"I need you," he whispered, and moved to suck on her earlobe while brushing the back of his fingers over her bare stomach. She trembled in his arms, but didn’t pull away.
“Take me then,” she mumbled before pressing her lips to his dark chest and licking softly.
He picked her up into his arms as relief flooded him. If he weren’t capable of release, they would know soon. Either way, she would be beside him when he passed. A chime sounded at the door behind him and he let out a long groan.
Putting her down, he covered himself with the cloak and walked to the door, not quite yet willing to release the membrane. "Who's there?"
"It's Major Kremkrall. There's been a disturbance at the Ministry of Science. Reports say that the Hareema have tried to destroy the Earthling's ship."
Xivthar turned to the female. She stared back at him with eyes wide.
He'd feared allowing her to see her ship, in part because he knew she would want to leave if she could get it activated, but also because he knew she would present a tempting target to the enemy. It looked like they wouldn't be able to avoid investigating the ship now.
As much as he didn't want to put her in danger, he was sure she would insist, which she did, immediately.
"We've got to get to my ship. There could be a clue as to who's behind all of this, X."
Xivthar nodded. She was right. Despite his desire to lock her up for her own safety, he could not physically bear being parted from her.
I'll keep her safe, he told himself. Even if it costs my life. Besides, without her, I haven't got much of a life left.
Chapter 30
Sylvie had pointed out again how much his people would protest her presence during any investigation, so they'd worked out a plan. He would keep her bound while walking through the halls or in the presence of other Zantharians. It would put forth the appearance that she was a prisoner, and therefore, no longer a threat.
Sylvie hadn't loved the suggestion at first, so they'd toyed with the idea of putting her under a cloak like his. Unfortunately, she was so much smaller than the other aliens that the cloak would be worthless in hiding her appearance.
"Just because I'm not seven foot tall and slender as a reed," she muttered as he pulled her arms behind her back and attached the bindings, then slid the collar around her neck.
"Be glad I'm even agreeing to allow you on your ship," he replied, his voice like steel.
Anger again, she thought. No wonder their skin color doesn't shift during the mating frenzy. Otherwise Zantharian males would be walking kaleidoscopes. They'd make everyone else sick with their constant color changes.
Sylvie was silent as the cloaked regent led her back to the Ministry of Science. She ignored the mob and its calls for her death and dismemberment. She fought the feeling of her gorge rising as they once again returned to the place where she'd nearly been eviscerated. She steeled herself against the reception she knew she was in for.
She focused on the hope of getting Magnis back online and being able to fly herself out of the situation, but she knew that wouldn’t happen. Not if it meant leaving X to his death.
The mating frenzy was something totally unexpected. Interspecies mating on Earth was complex and rare. She'd never considered the possibility of offspring from copulation with the Zantharian.
Copulation? She laughed at herself. You weren't able to use such a big vocabulary during the act itself. I don't know if you could have formed any coherent words at the time.
Her blood ran hot at the remembrance of their sex again, the strong pull of his hands and expert touch of his tongue. A groan escaped her and he glanced around, his glare a warning to keep it down. The strange ache between her thighs left her wanting more of him, his size and texture something she would never be able to mimic on Earth. The jolts of electricity had been something to fear at first and covet once they were possibly forever lost.
The ache between her thighs wasn’t the one catching her attention and rearranging her life. The one deep inside of her chest was doing that.
They made their way through the corridors in the Ministry of Science, which were blessedly silent except for the occasional whispers of those working there to one another as they passed.
"You know," she said, attempting to act nonchalant since he'd been so jumpy and she didn't want to upset him, "since we're here, maybe we should consider doing a little research on your condition."
His mouth opened in a half snarl, but he snapped it shut, presumably before bitching her out in front of the entire ministry. His moods were incredibly sensitive. She’d have to be a little more careful with her choice of words.
"Hear me out," she said, her voice low enough that she hoped it didn't carry. "I'm a trained astrobiologist. With a little bit of time, and with these fine facilities, we might be able to find a cure before you--"
"Enough," he growled, all but pushing her through the large door in front of them. "Drop it. We have more important things to worry about."
"But if you aren't here to help your people, who else--"
"I said, that’s enough. I’ll figure this shit out on my own when time allows me to. I
f it doesn’t… I wasn’t meant to rule any longer."
His shout froze the workers who were outside the ship and sent a jolt of sadness through Sylvie.
"Report," he said, his voice a whip-crack in the echoing chamber. "What happened in the attack against the ship?"
Sylvie's breath caught as she took in her little spaceship. It had a few dings and tons of scratches, but it didn't look as if the hull was ripped open. It can be fixed.
A maroon scientist scurried forward. Even if he wasn't sure who was underneath the cloak, he knew it had to be someone with enough clout to be dragging the Earthling around like a dog on a leash.
"Someone attempted to set off a frag-bomb next to the ship. Our sensors discovered it before it could go off. It was a rather sloppy attempt at destroying the ship, really."
X's brow furrowed. Sylvie wondered what he was thinking.
He didn't share his thoughts, however, but continued asking questions. "What have you discovered about the Earthling's ship and the malfunction in our defense shield?"
The scientist nodded nervously. "We have determined that there is nothing in the ship's workings that could have disabled the shield. However, we still can't get the computer to cooperate, so we could be missing something."
"Let me take a crack at it," Sylvie said quietly, looking up at the hooded figure and hoping her voice didn't carry to those working on the ship. She didn't like being unable to see his expression.
"I’ll perform my own inspection. Keep back. All of you." He ducked through the ship's hatch and pulled her with him, his tugging a little harder than was necessary.
Sylvie had to repress her excitement at seeing the insides of her ship again. The little blinking green light display that represented Magnis's main console had power from what she could tell.
X ordered the scientists working inside the little ship out. After they’d gone, he undid the restraints at Sylvie's back.
"Magnis," she said, approaching the console before X could start to interfere. "It's me, Dr. Cohen. Begin activation sequence."
There was an unpleasant buzzing sound. "Human voiceprint recognized, but no access code received." It was Magnis, his voice as toneless and flat as ever.
"Stupid NASA. They built in a bunch of extra security protocols because they were worried about the ship falling into the wrong hands. Although I don't know why, since we weren't even sure advanced life existed in the universe."
"Input the access code."
"I will," she barked at X. "As soon as I can remember it."
"You forgot the access code?" His voice was a heavy growl.
"I didn't forget," she shot back. "I have to remember the appropriate code for the situation. If I toss out the wrong one, it will make things worse."
"Well, what kind of situation is this?" His breathing rate was increasing, his body rigid.
God, this mating frenzy thing is sure making him tense. If only I could think of a way to relax him so he could think straight.
The image of dropping to her knees and giving him something to moan and groan about almost buckled her. Maybe he wasn’t the only one going into a mating frenzy. She swallowed hard and tried to concentrate.
"Let's see... I would think Magnis would consider this just a standard entry. I'll give him the code I would give after returning from a scouting mission."
Sylvie leaned over the console. "Honey, I'm home."
The green lights blinked red, and an alarm began sounding. "Incorrect access code. The ship has started auto-destruct sequencing.”
"Goddamn NASA, why do they have to be so overdramatic?" Sylvie bit her lip.
"Self-destruct in T-minus ten minutes."
"Thanks for the update.” Sylvie rolled her eyes and let out a shaky breath. Having X stare over her shoulder didn’t help much. The heat rolling off of him was almost palpable.
He grabbed the back of her arms, pressing himself to her back. His desire to mate was evident by the thick press of his erection against the middle of her back. How the hell did he fit that thing inside of me?
He leaned over and brushed his lips over her shoulder. "Wrong situation. Try again, doctor."
"Okay, don't worry." She pushed at his head, needing a little bit of breathing room. "After I realized NASA wanted me to memorize thirty or so of these situations and then rely on a computer to share my assessment of what constituted each one, I insisted that they input an overall all-clear code that would call off any self-destruct sequence."
"Why didn't you try that one first?"
Sylvie frowned. "Because it's a last resort. Once I use it, the self-destruct can't ever be re-enabled."
X's hands covered his ears through the cloak as the destruction radar began to wail louder and louder. He moved and stuck his head out of the hatch of the craft. "Get everyone out of here. Initiate blast shield protocol."
Sylvie watched as the scientists scurried out, then saw an opaque membrane similar to Zantharian doors appear and engulf the walls of the large chamber.
The regent pulled his head back in and pushed back his hood, his dark face scowling at her. "Re-enabling doesn't matter now. Call off the self-destruct."
"Okay," she said, licking her lips. The self-destruct was the one weapon her vessel had. Literally. It wasn't equipped with any long-range weapons, nor anything hand-held. Even the utensils were dull.
Make a choice. You either trust him to keep you safe, or you blow up your only ride home.
"Magnis," she said, turning back to the console, "don't you think you're overreacting a little?"
The alarm kept buzzing. The lights continued flashing. Sylvie's knees buckled and X reached for her.
"What is it?" X asked. “Give the computer the damn code, Sylvie.”
"I just did. ‘Don't you think you're overreacting a little,’ is the code. It didn't work!"
"You've tested it before launch?" he asked.
"Of course. I had to make sure my override was functional." But it wasn't working now. "Maybe the computer was damaged in the crash."
"Or maybe it was sabotaged by the enemy." X's mouth was a flat line, his eyes cold.
"Self-destruct in five minutes," Magnis informed them.
"God, I hate when you start counting down!" Sylvie shouted at the computer, remembering his emotionless countdown to her crash landing.
"Try another access code," X said, grabbing her hand to recall her attention.
"If I screw up again, it will speed up the self-destruct sequence to one minute. We've got to get out of here. My ship is lost, but I don't want to go down with it."
"We can't leave," X said. "The room is sealed. Protocol dictates that the seal cannot be opened until the self-destruct sequence is ended, or the ship is destroyed."
"You shut us in here?"
"You said you knew the code!"
She lowered her head, defeated. They'd both screwed up.
X put a finger under her chin and lifted her gaze to his own. "I'm sorry. Come here and let me hold you one more time."
She gave him a sad smile and moved into his strong arms. "My fault. You warned me about coming here. You were right. It was dangerous."
As if to accentuate her point, Magnis said, "Self-destruct in three minutes."
"I can't believe I actually missed this stupid computer," she grumbled.
"Look on the bright side," he said, the glow in his eyes swallowing his pupils. "I get to spend the last few minutes of my life with the most beautiful woman on the planet. I know it’s ridiculous, but I’ve begun to fall in love with you."
She searched his face, realizing that it had become serene. He was beautiful and she had to quickly admit to herself that it wasn’t lust, but love she was falling into as well. "There's no one else on the planet I'd rather be with right now."
He laughed. It was a pleasant sound. "No one else on the planet likes you, woman."
She stuck out her tongue at him as fire ignited in his eyes. “I wish I could have you, one more time.”
"Self-destruct in two minutes."
She snuggled against him as her heart began to race. To act calm and collected about dying on the outside was one thing, but to be unraveling on the inside was another. “Nothing we can do to survive this?”
“No, baby. I’m sorry.” He kissed her softly before she pulled back.
"Goodbye, cruel world," she grumbled and lifted to her toes, pressing her lips tightly to his as he lifted her into the air. The soft brush of his tongue was all she needed to open up to him and forget everything. If death was imminent, she wanted pleasure to be her last memory.
X jerked back. "What the hell happened?"
"Happened?" She opened her eyes, realizing they were still standing there together.
"To the self-destruct sequence?"
At that moment Magnis piped up. "Self-destruct sequence has been deactivated. Correct access code received."
Sylvie let out a shaky laugh as tears rolled onto her cheeks. “Goodbye, cruel world."
"What?"
"That's the code for a biological threat. If, on my way back to Earth, one of my samples decides to try to eat me, or I discover something will cause a plague or outbreak, it would be considered a 'Goodbye, cruel world' situation."
“That’s ignorant.”
"I agree, but I don’t make the rules.” She made her way toward the console. “I don't understand, though. Why would Magnis consider an example of that scenario? What a strange malfunction."
"It could be enemy sabotage." X's voice was like gravel.
Sylvie straightened, hands on her hips. "Or it could be a malfunction from the landing, or from your people poking around in here."
"How can you be sure it won't happen again?" he asked.
She turned back to the computer. "Magnis," she said, "no more self-destruct nonsense, correct?" She felt as if she were lecturing a child.
"The override has disabled the self-destruct mechanism permanently," he replied.
Sylvie was surprised. "But you didn't recognize my 'overreacting' code."