by S. E. Smith
Jason’s head turned and his pain-filled eyes blinked several times as he tried to focus on Destin’s face. He winced when he licked his cut lip. It took him several tries before he could finally push past the bruising to his throat.
“He… he took… her,” Jason whispered, closing his eyes briefly against the pain. “I… tried to… hold him… told Kali… to… run. I heard…” His voice died as he swallowed painfully.
“What did you hear? Damn it, Jason. What did you hear?” Destin asked hoarsely.
Jason’s dazed eyes opened again. It was obvious whatever pain medication Doc had given him was kicking in full force. His eyes started to drift down again, but he forced them open when he heard Destin curse again.
“Scream… I heard her… scream before… before she called my name. Then… then… nothing,” he whispered before his head fell to the side as he lost consciousness.
“Damn him all to hell!” Destin roared out in pain and fury. He leaned forward, gripping the side of the bed as a wave of hopelessness washed over him. He rocked back and forth before shrugging off Doc’s sympathetic hand and turning to glare at Tim with ice-cold eyes. “As soon as the weather clears, I want a meeting with that alien bastard. If he thinks he is going to use my sister like his blue friend wanted to, then he is about to realize he isn’t the only cold-hearted bastard in the galaxy.”
“What do you plan to do?” Tim asked as Destin stepped away from the bed and turned back toward the door.
Destin glanced at his friend with steely eyes. “I plan to kill him,” he replied. “I want to know where his base is, what type of security he has and where he might be holding Kali. Pull the team together, this takes top priority. If that bastard wants a fight, he is about to get one.”
*.*.*
Kali smiled at Chelsea as she shared another amusing tale in her life with Thomas. She nodded as she looked around, paying attention to the conversation just enough to know when an answer was required of her. They had finished a wonderful dinner of steak, potatoes and fresh vegetables almost an hour before. Now, they were sipping an after-dinner hot coffee.
Kali murmured a reply as she turned to look at the new person that entered the mess hall. She stiffened when she recognized the strange blue tint to the male’s skin. Her fingers curved around the handle of the spoon she had used to stir the milk in her cup. A part of her wished she had kept the steak knife from her dinner. She would have if Chelsea hadn’t grabbed everything and disposed of it before she had a chance.
Icy blue eyes locked with hers. A look of unsuppressed lust flared in them before he remembered to conceal it. It didn’t matter. Kali already knew what the male wanted from her. He had made the mistake of expressing his desire to her brother.
She slowly rose from her chair as he approached the table. A muttered curse touched her ears as Chelsea rose from her seat as well. It was obvious that she had no respect for the blue alien either.
“Isn’t it a shame that they forgot to take all the trash out, Kali?” Chelsea asked sarcastically. “I bet if they hauled his ass outside no one would even know that his pickle blue ass was getting frostbit.”
“You are dismissed, female,” Badrick said with a disdainful glance.
“I’m afraid I can’t do that, sir,” Chelsea snipped with barely controlled civility. “My orders from Doc Patch are to stay close to Kali.”
Badrick looked Chelsea’s rounded figure up and down. His eyes lingered for several seconds on the satin mocha coloring of her face before traveling down to her ample breasts straining against the blue scrub top she was wearing. A nasty smile played around his mouth for a moment before he returned his eyes to her face.
“You are very unusual,” he remarked casually. “A little old, but your exotic coloring and ample figure would be interesting to sample.”
Chelsea’s normally cheerful expression changed to one of fury. She folded her arms over her chest and tossed her head. Kali had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing as her new friend slowly looked alien up and down, pausing on his crotch before she raised an eyebrow and returned her gaze to his face.
“Honey, I’ve seen bigger worms in my Granny’s garden,” she replied dryly. “Now, unless you want to see what this exotic, old, colorful bitch can do when she kicks your ass I suggest you step away.”
Badrick’s face turned a darker blue at the slightly veiled insult to his manhood. His mouth tightened and he took a threatening step closer to Chelsea. Kali realized that her friend had just made a powerful enemy.
“Chelsea, I’d like to stretch my legs for a little bit,” she said. “Perhaps you can show me around.”
“Sure, darling,” Chelsea replied, glaring back at Badrick before she dropped her arms. She turned so she could pick up their empty coffee cups. “We’ll start with where your Amate’s office is. I’m sure he’ll be happy to see you up and about.”
“Sounds great,” Kali replied never breaking contact with Badrick’s cold gaze. “I’d love to take a cup of coffee with me if you don’t mind.”
Chelsea glanced suspiciously back and forth between Kali and Badrick before she released a muttered reply. Kali waited until her friend had stepped over to the small bar set up with carafes of fresh brewed coffee. Once she was sure Chelsea was far enough away to not hear what she had to say she stepped closer to Badrick.
“You are a dead man,” she hissed under her breath not bothering to hide the loathing in them. “I know what you are.”
Badrick’s eyes narrowed. “I offered Parks a good sum for you. He should have taken it,” he replied in a cold voice. “Though now it won’t matter. I have you and have gotten rid of Parks without having to spend a single credit.”
Kali refused to show her fear. “What do you mean, you’ve gotten rid of Parks?” She asked coldly.
Badrick’s thin lips curled into a nasty smile. “Now that you are out of the way, Razor has ordered the city to be destroyed. As soon as the weather clears, there will be no more Chicago.”
Kali’s fist tightened around the curve of the spoon. She had turned it so the handle was sticking out. It would work just as well as any knife if thrust hard enough through vital, undefended tissue such as an eye or throat.
“Kali. Kali, are you ready?”
It took a moment for Kali to realize that Chelsea was talking to her. She nodded her head and took a step back, never taking her eyes off the gloating ones staring back at her with malignant pleasure. She finally broke contact when Chelsea held out her cup of coffee.
“Are you okay, sugar?” Chelsea asked in concern, glancing back at Badrick who continued to stare at them. “That alien is one scary dude. My Thomas said Colonel Baker isn’t happy that he is here. None of the head guys like him. Take my advice, Kali, don’t go anywhere alone. You keep that Trivator with you. No one will mess with him, including that guy.”
Kali gave Chelsea a small smile. “I don’t think any of them are safe to be around. I’d like to return to my room, if you don’t mind,” she added quietly, dropping her full cup of coffee into the trash as they walked down the corridor. “I’m more tired than I thought.”
“That’s a good idea, sugar,” Chelsea replied with concern. “Just make sure you lock the door behind you.”
“I will. Thank you, Chelsea. For everything,” Kali whispered, hugging the older woman for several long seconds. “You be safe yourself. He isn’t a good person to make angry at you.”
Chelsea’s soft chuckle echoed in her ear. “I wasn’t always a nurse, Kali. I was one of Washington, D. C.’s finest. I know how to kick a little ass when it needs to be kicked.”
Kali pulled back and smiled. “I just bet you can,” she said before her smile faded. “Just be careful. Good night, Chelsea.”
“Goodnight, sugar,” Chelsea murmured, waiting until the door closed firmly and she heard the lock click. “I hope that alien knows what he’s gotten himself into. That little girl is going to keep him on his toes.”
Chelsea turned and began humming under her breath as she walked back down the corridor. She wasn’t lying when she said she had been one of Washington’s finest. She had spent over twenty years with the FBI before getting her nursing degree. She hadn’t missed the way Kali was grilling her for information or the way she was memorizing the layout of the armory. That girl was planning to escape the first chance she got. She couldn’t wait to share everything with Thomas later tonight. He was going to love it.
Chapter 17
Razor paused outside of the door to his quarters. It was almost two in the morning before he was able to quit for the night. Several minor issues had come up, primarily due to the weather. He had also spent a great deal of time researching the fight rings and Spaceports in the Tressalon galaxy.
He inserted his card into the locking device and waited for the light to turn green. Once it had, he quietly pushed open the door. A soft light from the bathroom cast a glow into the room illuminating the bed.
He silently breathed a word of thanks to the Gods when he saw Kali’s relaxed face. A touch of guilt flashed through him as he studied her before he quickly pushed it away. Closing the door, he engaged the lock before walking over to the bathroom.
Ten minutes later, he once again pulled the covers to his bed aside. He slid down between the sheets and turned to pull Kali into his arms. A slight smile curved his lips when he realized she came to him with barely a touch. Her sweet scent mixed with the scent of his shampoo and soap flowed his senses. He gently rubbed his mouth against her hair as she snuggled closer to his warmth.
His arms tightened around her as she burrowed closer. He wanted her. This was beyond the normal need for relief. He… needed her. That was something he had never felt toward another female, even with Rainiera. They had both come together simply for relief. Neither one sought the company of the other afterwards. In fact, they had never slept together much less simply held each other for the enjoyment of the act of being close. No, this was something much different, much… stronger.
“Jason,” Kali murmured, restlessly moving in her sleep. “Jason, help me.”
Pain exploded through Razor at her softly muttered words. This pain was different from any he had felt before. It came from inside him radiating from his chest. He lay stiffly as Kali continued to move restlessly against him. She didn’t call for the other male again, but her soft whimpers cut through him with a precision any assassin would be proud of.
After several minutes she finally relaxed, settling into a deeper, calmer sleep. A sense of despair struck him hard, pulling a soft moan from him. Instinctively, his arms tightened around her. He had never been prone to thoughts of doubt or despair before, or even fear. He wasn’t sure how to handle them. Drawing in a deep breath, he wondered if he should have talked to Jesse as well. Another moan escaped him as Kali rolled further onto her side. Her left leg pushed between his and her arm wrapped around his waist, laying on his hip. They fit together as if made for one another.
“I will not let you go, Kali,” he murmured, staring up at the ceiling. “I can’t.”
*.*.*
Kali woke slowly. She knew it was still early. She had always been an early bird. It used to drive Destin insane as he was a night owl. There was no talking to her brother before ten in the morning if you wanted either a coherent conversation or to keep your head attached to the rest of your body. Personally, Kali loved the early morning before the sun came up when everything seemed new, reborn and peaceful.
She lay perfectly still. She knew the moment she woke that she wasn’t alone. Her gaze ran over the male sleeping peacefully beside her. They were both lying on their sides facing each other so it was easy for her to see him. Asleep, he seemed softer, less threatening. She carefully studied his features, taking her time to really look at him. He wasn’t handsome in a classical way, but in a darker, more serious and dangerous way.
With his high cheekbones and olive complexion, he could almost have been a mix of Native American and European descent. He wore his hair cut short instead of longer like most of the Trivator warriors she had seen from a distance. His nose was broader with small ridges along it. He had sharp teeth instead of smooth ones like a human. She thought that would have been a turn off, but it wasn’t. He had a strong jaw line that was covered in a five o’clock shadow of whiskers. Overall, he had a surprisingly large number of human characteristics in his features. She knew there were more subtle differences though. He was taller than the average human male, broader, more muscular, and definitely faster. She had seen a few of Trivator warriors in action over the past six years and had a healthy respect for their fighting abilities.
The biggest thing that confused her was her reaction to him. She wanted him physically. The ache inside her grew as did the need to touch and taste him again. She wasn’t ignorant of what was happening. It was impossible to live in close proximities like she did and not know about the physical needs between a man and a woman. Hell, as Destin’s personal guard, she knew more about her brother’s love life than any sister should know. While the desire to explore and enjoy a physical relationship was new to her, she also knew it was because she hadn’t found a guy who made her as curious as this male did.
Unable to resist, she reached out to touch his hair. A small smile curved her lips when she found it was just as soft as the first time she had touched it. Threading her fingers through it, she watched as his eyes slowly opened.
“I never got a chance to see if it was a soft as I thought it was,” she murmured quietly.
“And what are your findings?” He asked in a husky voice, his eyes darkening with desire as she continued to run her fingers along his scalp. “Is it?”
Kali rose up on one elbow so that she was above him. The move forced him to roll onto his back. She moved with him, curling her fingers in his short hair. She found herself lying partially over him. Her own eyes darkened with desire at his swift intake of breath.
Moving slowly, she slid her leg over his and shifted until she was straddling him. The thin shirt she had found in one of drawers rose up around her thighs. She wasn’t wearing her panties as she had washed them out and left them to dry in the bathroom.
“Kali,” his thick voice held a thread of warning as she settle down over him, trapping his throbbing cock along her heated flesh. “You are playing with fire. I am not like your human males. I will take you.”
Leaning forward, Kali threaded the fingers of her other hand through his hair trapping his face between them. She glanced down at his lips before looking him in the eye again. Hot moisture pooled between her legs, making her want to rub it along the thick shaft pulsing against her.
“I want you,” she whispered before pressing her lips to his.
It was as if a switch, one that had been dormant or forgotten for the past six years, had been turned on inside her the moment she met Razor. She had done a little bit of experimenting when she was in high school, but those feelings were nothing compared to what she felt now. After her mom was killed and the alien warships appeared, she had lost all interest in exploring her own sexuality. It was as if her body had been placed in a deep freeze.
She didn’t know if her physical attraction to Razor was normal or not. All she knew was she wanted him… badly. For once, she was going to be greedy and take what she wanted, even if it was just for a short time.
*.*.*
Fire exploded like a raging inferno inside him at her whispered words. When he felt her tentative touch it had taken every ounce of discipline in him to remain still. The feel of her fingers scraping along his scalp had finally been too much for him and he knew he had to see her reaction to him being awake. The look of hunger in her eyes took his breath away.
He ran his hands up her bare thighs to her waist. His first thought was to roll over, but some instinct told him to let her take the lead – for now. One thing he realized as he opened to her, he liked the way humans kissed. His hips pressed upwards as he pulled her down against him. He f
elt as if all the blood in his body was pooling around his cock.
“Kali,” he moaned when she pressed tiny kisses to the corner of his mouth and along his jaw. “Fi’ta, I will not last long if you continue this.”
She pulled back, running her hands along his face down to his chest. This position had her sitting on him. Sweat beaded on his brow as her eyes drooped with desire and she rocked her hips against him.
“What does ‘fi’ta’ mean?” She asked in a husky voice.
“It means… fighter. You are my little fighter. The way you defended yourself against the men who opened fire on you… You are my fighter,” he groaned shifting his hands to lift her slightly up.
“Razor.”
The sound of his name on her lips washed away the doubt he had experienced earlier. It was his name on her lips now. Her eyes connected with his as she lay with him. It was him that she said she wanted.
He lifted her just enough to release his cock. Her eyes widened as he shifted enough to align his hard shaft with her slick entrance. His mouth tightened as he carefully lowered her over it. He didn’t want to hurt her. He suspected that Trivator males were larger than human males. There were so many questions he should have asked Hunter!
Razor locked his hands around her waist to keep them from trembling as he slowly impaled her. He had never taken a female this way and wasn’t sure how it would work. Everything about this experience was making him feel like a young warrior experiencing his first lover.
He paused when she whimpered. Her eyes darkened with uncertainty and pain. He began drawing in deep breaths through his nose as he fought for control. Everything inside him wanted to thrust upward in triumph at his claim
“Razor, I… you are…” He watched as she drew in a deep, shaky breath. “You’re kind of bigger than I thought. I’ve never done this before. At least, I never got this far before,” she admitted.
“I do not want to hurt you,” he ground out in a voice filled with frustration and need.