“If you want to damage something, try the purple aliens outside. Any time now would be good.”
The urgency in Luke’s voice made her head jerk around. Three Torgon assassins stood in the middle of the road, their weapons extended in front of them. Janaya opened the door.
“Seat belt,” Hinekiri said.
A metallic clang indicated she’d released the harness while she issued the reminder.
Janaya heard her aunt lean forward to peer between the front seats. “Do you have your weapon?”
“I don’t think she needs a weapon,” Luke countered in a dry voice. “Just do that weird eye thing again and they’ll run for the hills.”
“I’m not sure I can.” Janaya didn’t take her gaze off the Torgon. She slid from the Land Cruiser. “There’s someone coming.”
“Hell.” Luke gunned the engine. “Do something. Quick.”
Luke’s panic beat at her mind, distracting her for an instant. One of the Torgon fired. The shot singed the top of her head.
Janaya yelped. She heard the hoarse, grating laughter of the Torgon and the rapid clicks as they communicated their glee and their plan of attack. By the sword, what was she going to do? She had no weapon. Another bodyguard rule she’d broken. But she’d been so rattled by what had happened last night with Luke she’d forgotten to pick up her weapon. Unfortunately, her mistake would get an innocent Earthman killed. And who knew what they’d do to Hinekiri to force her to give them her precious exploration charts.
The rattle of the approaching vehicle sounded louder now. As was the voice of the man who muttered under his breath. “It’s your father,” she said in horror.
“Bloody hell.” Luke pulled a gun from his glove box. He released his seat belt. “I’m not sitting here waiting for you to do something.”
Fury ignited inside Janaya and she directed it at the impossible Earthman who was forever trying to order her about. His pretty face and his sexual prowess didn’t mean he could walk all over her. She was a bodyguard in the Imperial force.
Her aunt gasped. “Don’t look at Luke!” she shrieked. “Aim at the Torgon.”
Even as her aunt gave the warning, Janaya felt intense heat building up behind her eyes.
Luke fired his gun.
Purple light filled her eyes, making everything shine with a lavender haze. Panic struck. She was still looking at Luke. Concentrate. Dammit, she was going to kill him if she wasn’t careful. And hellfire, she wasn’t done with appeasing her appetite!
Hinekiri pointed. “Janaya. Over there.”
Everything moved in slow motion—the approaching vehicle, Luke shooting at the Torgon, her aunt’s frenzied hand movements. Then Hinekiri slapped her hard on the side of her face. Her head jerked toward the group of Torgon. Fury galloped through her mind, pressure built and suddenly purple light shot from her eyes in a concentrated beam.
“It’s a strike,” Hinekiri roared behind her as one Torgon burned down to a pile of ash.
Beside her, Luke fired again. The projectile from his weapon caught a Torgon right between the eyes. He exploded like a hot ball fish, spraying purple gunk the distance of two bodies lined end to end.
“Yes!” Hinekiri crowed, punching her fist in the air. “Get the last one, Janaya.”
Janaya concentrated, channeling her anger at the attack. When the heat developed behind her eyes and the purple light returned she knew she’d managed it by herself without Hinekiri or Luke. She focused her eyes, shot. And missed.
“Where’d he go?” Luke demanded.
“Into hypermode back to wherever they left their ship. They never hunt alone, always in packs,” Janaya said in disgust. Ready to attack another day.
“Great.” We’re going to have purple aliens popping out of the woodwork.
“Not if I have anything to do with it,” Janaya said.
“What?”
Janaya froze. He hadn’t said that aloud. “Aunt?” Clear panic sizzled through her voice and she didn’t mind admitting to the emotion. How was it possible she could read his mind?
“The two of you mated last night?” Hinekiri made it a question.
Luke stared at her in silent accusation. “If you mean had sex, then yes, we did. What else aren’t you telling me? I’d rather know it all up front so I can protect the people of Sloan. I don’t want any more nasty surprises today. Two are enough.”
Hinekiri’s teasing grin smoothed out to concern on seeing Luke’s apprehension. Janaya didn’t blame him for his snappy questions. Quite frankly, she wanted to get her aunt alone. She’d commit the physical damage she constantly threatened. And then she’d turn her over to the Torgon. Hinekiri had never mentioned a word of any of the possible symptoms when she’d discovered her presence on board ship.
“I’ve never heard of a Dalconian imprinting on an Earthman before,” Hinekiri said. “I can give you a broad idea of what to expect, but then again, I might be wrong.”
“What’s the worst that can happen?” Luke demanded.
Janaya lifted her head to stare in the direction they’d come from. “Your father will arrive in a few minutes.”
“Quick. Before Dad arrives.”
“The bond will become stronger each time you join. Dalconians mate for life,” Hinekiri murmured.
“Okay.” Luke closed his eyes, an almost pained look skipping across his face. “We won’t have sex again. We’ll keep away from each other.”
Janaya thought of how beautiful the sex had been the previous night. How connected she’d felt to Luke. It had been nothing like servicing Santana. The thought of never feeling the slide of Luke’s mouth against her naked skin again made her want to cry.
Chapter Five
Luke’s father braked and pulled along beside them. “Is there a problem?”
“No problem,” Luke said. But although his voice remained even and controlled, Janaya read myriad emotions on his face. Irritation. Distrust. Regret.
It was the regret that stirred her answering response.
Killer jumped from the passenger seat onto Luke’s father’s lap and stuck her head out the driver’s window. “Did ya bring any food?”
“I hope you don’t mind me taking out your dog. She jumped in while I wasn’t looking and I didn’t have the heart to leave her at home.”
Janaya leaned closer to Killer and scratched her behind the ears. With a soft growl, she told Killer to protect Luke’s father.
“Woof!” Killer swiped a pink tongue across Janaya’s face. “Will ya give me food?”
She laughed. “It’s a deal.”
Luke’s father shook his head. “I don’t know why you’re talking to Killer as though she can understand. Well, if you’re sure that you’re fine, then I’m off to the wheat fields.”
He drove off, leaving an uneasy silence behind.
“How come I can understand the dog and Dad can’t? The sex thing?”
Janaya glanced at Hinekiri and then back at Luke. “It’s because I imprinted on you when I saw you. Somehow you’ve acquired some of my powers.”
“But not all of them.”
“No.”
“Great.” Luke jerked his head at the dead Torgon ashes. “At least Dad didn’t notice the debris. Get in. Tony, my second-in-command, will be tearing his hair out by now if he’s dealing with Mrs. Bates.”
She nodded and climbed back into the vehicle. They drove along in silence, Janaya staring straight ahead. Part of her longed for the old days when the worst she needed to cope with was kicking bad guys in the butt. This situation with Luke was messy because they’d talked. They’d had fun together. Emotions had raised their ugly antennas. A frown puckered her brow. She couldn’t remember anything like this happening before, especially not with Santana. They didn’t see each other much and that seemed to work best.
“Hinekiri and I will find alternative accommodations,” Janaya said. “We can return to the ship.”
“No!” Hinekiri screeched from the rear.
“Ov
er my dead body,” Luke snarled. “I’m keeping you in my sight so no one gets hurt.”
Janaya sucked in a calming breath and forced away the sudden vision of her being in his sight. The idea of being crushed in his embrace… And this licking business he’d introduced her to—she craved more. Her body heated and she found herself fidgeting and squirming on the leather seat. Janaya glanced at him. The solid, clenched jaw jerked her back to reality. She’d stayed in his vicinity last night and now look at the mess.
“But we can get the ship mended and leave quickly if you’d let us,” she argued.
“I’m not going to squabble about it. I’ll lock you up if necessary.”
“Sounds kinky. Do you think your father has handcuffs?” Hinekiri asked.
“No!” Janaya said, jerking around to glare at her aunt in the backseat. “You stay away from Luke’s father. Luke has enough problems as it is.” Janaya cursed under her breath. Her instincts had been right. Hinekiri was interested in Luke’s father. No telling how stubborn she’d be about leaving. She was still muttering about seeing the phrullin wildebeest creatures in some place called Africa. Why she’d want to see a weird gnu run from point A to point B, Janaya had no idea.
“We’re here,” Luke said with clear relief in his husky voice. He turned the vehicle right into a wide street flanked by shady trees and colorful gardens. He waved at the drivers of each car they passed before turning left into a narrow road and coasting to a stop in a graveled parking area outside a brick building.
“Stay with me and don’t talk to anyone.” Without another word, he climbed out of the vehicle and waited impatiently for them to follow.
Luke strode up the steps in front of the square building. A lopsided sign fronted the façade. The faded words proclaimed the building a police station. Two men and a woman stood on the footpath outside the hardware store next door. Spirited chat complete with hand gestures ensued. When they spotted Luke, they fell silent.
“Fascinating, isn’t it?” Hinekiri whispered in her ear, immediately making Janaya frown. She hoped her aunt didn’t do anything stupid and attract attention.
“Are you coming inside?” Luke demanded, holding the door open for them.
Janaya decided to pick her fights. She’d go along with the grumpy, arrogant male for now. “Hurry,” she said, grabbing hold of Hinekiri’s forearm and dragging her through the open door. At the last moment, she remembered to temper her strength but Hinekiri still winced. “Sorry,” Janaya whispered. “I keep forgetting.”
Janaya and Hinekiri trailed Luke through the crowded room.
A tall, slim woman with long blonde hair and glasses pushed in front of Janaya. “Luke, about time. I want your comments for the paper.”
“Slept in, no doubt,” a large woman in an ugly orange floral dress said. “I told you there were aliens but you refused to listen.”
“There are no aliens,” Luke snapped.
“Oh, dear,” Hinekiri whispered. “What are we going to do? We have to help Luke. That large woman looks meaner than a Torgon.”
“I think Luke would prefer us to stay out of the way,” Janaya countered.
Several men and women leapt up off wooden benches and converged on Luke. Janaya heard aliens mentioned several times. A frown creased Luke’s face, tugging at her inner guilt. She should have listened to her gut and kept away from Luke and his father.
Luke seemed to sense her gaze and glanced across the crowded room, his gaze zeroing in on her. Instantly, a dizzying current raced through her followed by an intense longing to service him despite the crowd. A shiver of awareness shot to her pleasure points as she imagined them naked. Alone. Janaya sighed, quashing the inclination. They couldn’t join again. The consequences were too dire—for both of them.
“Constable, do you know the location of the spaceship?” a thin, bald man demanded.
Luke brushed past the determined throng, tight-lipped with tense shoulders. “I’ll talk to you soon and answer any questions you have.”
“What’s wrong with now?” Marcie Montgomery said with an arch grin.
The reporter, Janaya thought. Irritation kicked her in the gut when she noticed the drift of the blonde woman’s eyes to Luke’s masculine attributes. Had the woman no shame? She felt the subtle build of heat behind her eyes. Holy St. Francis! She couldn’t put holes in any of these people. What should she do? Panic made the heat intensify. A faint tinge of purple blurred her eyesight.
“What’s wrong?” Hinekiri whispered.
“I think— Holes.”
“Don’t you dare,” Hinekiri snapped, taking in the threat of danger in one swift glance. She grasped Janaya’s forearm and dug in her fingernails until they bit into her flesh. A dire warning. “If you get us in trouble, I will take you to the nearest cliff and toss you off. Don’t think I won’t. You might be my favorite niece but that won’t stop me.”
The anger bled from Janaya as soon as she visualized the scene her aunt described. “I’m your only niece.”
She slumped against the painted wall, breathing deep and slow. Gradually the purple tinge in her eyes receded. The fight for control had zapped her energy, and she hoped like hell a Torgon didn’t make an appearance. Even though she felt as weak as a newborn, Janaya tried to focus on their surroundings, unwilling to commit another bodyguard sin—that of being taken unawares.
“Thank God you’re here!” The young man behind the desk looked as if he wanted to hug Luke. His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down. “Can you help Mrs. Bates? Please.”
Janaya propelled her aunt past the crowd of people and pushed her after Luke, following the path he’d cleared. She kept a close eye on her aunt. It would be just like Hinekiri to wander off the minute she found an opportunity. Mingling with the natives was her special thing. But somehow, Janaya didn’t think the Earth natives were ready for her aunt.
“Do you want me to process these two?” Tony asked. “I’ll do it while you deal with Mrs. Bates.”
“They’re not under arrest,” Luke said tersely.
Although Janaya couldn’t read his thoughts this time, his body language told the story. He didn’t want them here. The minute they were alone she’d insist he let them go to source parts. They were both highly qualified and able to take care of themselves. Once they’d repaired the ship, they could move on and leave this planet. Then maybe Luke would find the peace he desired.
“I insist you talk to me now,” Mrs. Bates said, her chins wobbling in emphasis. “Or else I’ll ring the Holmes television show. They’ll talk to me.”
“Wait in the interview office,” Luke said, struggling for patience. No mistaking the threat from Mrs. Bates. Her face glowed with righteous indignation as she marched past him into the small interview room. She’d relish the spotlight if Mr. Holmes came to interview her for the Holmes Show. God, what a mess. The last thing he wanted was the television media ferreting around in Sloan. “Mrs. Bates, please take a seat. I won’t be long.”
A roar of protest filled the room. The crowd surged forward, waving fists and shouting over the top of each other. Despite the vehement objections, Luke herded Hinekiri and Janaya past the reception desk into his office. He shut the door and leaned against it as if to keep the protesters at bay.
“What parts do you need? Have you got a list?” Luke avoided looking at Janaya but temptation clawed at him anyway. A deep breath didn’t ease the ache in his balls. Hell. He had to get a grip. This whole situation would escalate way out of control if he wasn’t careful. Luke pushed away the Technicolor scenes of Janaya that played through his head, replacing them with the worst passion-killer he could think of—Mrs. Bates and Marcie Montgomery with him in a threesome. His gut bucked in horror as invisible cold fingers had his cock in full retreat.
“Luke? What’s wrong?” Janaya tugged on his shirtsleeve. “You’ve gone quite green.”
“A threesome with Mrs. Bates and Marcie Montgomery will do that to a man,” he said.
“Huh?”
In the interest of self-preservation, Luke edged away. He tried. He really tried but his gaze became entangled with Janaya’s breasts. He knew her skin was silky soft and her coral nipples tasted of exotic spices. “Breasts,” he said, his eyes lingering on her cleavage. “We were talking about bre—” Luke’s face heated while a distinct pain seared through his chest. Brain. Kick-start. “Ah…parts for your ship.”
Hinekiri’s brows arched and her lips twitched. “I can give you a verbal list. Now let me see.” A grin quivered across her lips. “We need a breastplate,” she chirped.
Janaya scowled at her aunt. “He means parts for the ship.”
“Did you?” Hinekiri asked. “I could have sworn—”
“Just give me a list of parts.” Luke glared at Hinekiri too. He liked a sense of humor as much as the next guy but not at his expense. And not when he needed to deal with the press. “I don’t have time for this.”
He stomped over to his desk and yanked open the top right drawer. Damn, his head throbbed. His whole body ached, come to that. Felt like he’d fallen down a mountain backward. Feeling the weight of a stare, he looked up from his search for a painkiller. Janaya gave him a tentative smile and the ache changed. It dived south, straight to his dick.
The door burst open. Luke’s father strode into the office. The roar of the crowd in the outer office followed and only receded when he slammed the door.
“Bad out there,” his father said, shaking his grizzled head. “There were so many people out at the crop circles that the Sloan Woman’s Division has set up a cake stall. And Ted Morrison is selling entrance tickets at his gate.”
“That’s the least of our problems.” Luke rummaged for the painkillers again. When he found a sheet of tabs, he popped two and swallowed them down dry. “Okay. Dad, can you take Janaya and Hinekiri to Robbie’s car parts? I have to see Mrs. Bates.”
“Janaya will stay with you,” Hinekiri said in a firm tone. She grasped his father’s arm and looked up at him through a flutter of eyelashes. “Richard and I can handle the shopping.”
Luke groaned inwardly. He didn’t even have to think about this to know it was a bad idea to let Hinekiri go off with his father. He opened his mouth to protest but Janaya beat him to a protest.
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