by Dena Christy
“Well it is a pleasure to see you again,” he said as a look of satisfaction crossed his face. She was correct her assessment that his arrogance was such that he wouldn't question her being here. “Would you like to come upstairs so we can talk?”
There was no way she was going to his apartment, but he couldn't know that. Thinking quickly, she reached out and put a hand on his arm, hoping her touch would temporarily distract him.
“You know I would love to, but I have a prior engagement that I can’t get out of,” she said, and a look of annoyance came over his face.
“Then what can I do for you,” he said and there was a definite note of impatience in his voice.
She didn’t know how much longer she could stall him, but until she got the message from Ryce saying he was out of the apartment, there was little she could do but stand here and bide her time. A thought came to her, one that she couldn’t believe she was going to act on.
“I’m not sure if you’ve heard, but things between Reggie and I have fallen apart,” she said, and knew that he would see the truth of that in her eyes before she coyly glanced away.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” he said, and he didn’t sound particularly sorry at all. “Forgive me for asking, but what does that have to do with me?”
“Well I’m sure you can appreciate what that does for a woman in my profession. I’m not used to being alone,” she said and did her best to keep from rolling her eyes at her wheedling tone. She hoped he was smart enough to infer what she wanted, without making her come out and say it.
“A woman like you shouldn't be alone. It’s too bad you are engaged elsewhere this evening, we could have discussed how to remedy that situation. I am free tomorrow evening if you would like to discuss the matter then,” he said, and the oiliness of his tone flowed over her, and she curled her toes inside her shoes to keep how repugnant she found him from showing.
Her table beeped in her purse, and relief poured through her. Ryce was out of the apartment, and it was safe for her to leave.
“I think I would like that,” she said and removed her hand from his arm and prepared to leave. He caught hold of her arm, and his grip was a little too tight for her liking.
“We haven’t arranged a time. Why don’t you come back here tomorrow night at eight,” he said.
She eased her arm out of his grip and nodded. “I’ll see you tomorrow at eight,” she said as she took a step back.
“Until then,” he said. “Would you like me to escort you to your car?”
Hell no!
“I can get there on my own, but thank you. I’ll see you tomorrow night,” she said, and she turned on her heel.
She was conscious of the steady clicking of her heels on the floor as she walked at a moderate pace out the door. The urge to run was so strong but she knew she had to keep her composure in place until she was out of his sight. She looked straight ahead as she walked out of the building, and around the corner. Her shoulders sagged with relief when she saw Ryce sitting in the front seat of the car, waiting for her. She picked up her pace and got into the car.
“Let’s get the hell out of here,” she said, and she was relieved that Ryce didn’t hesitate. The car’s engine sprang to life, and he instructed it to go to Evie’s. Another plan was forming in her head, but she would wait until they were with the other before she revealed what it was. She knew without a doubt that Ryce wouldn’t like it, but if things went the way she wanted, Ryce and Synn would rescue Cynric tomorrow night.
Chapter Thirteen
Ryce clutched the uniform in his hand as he and Collette walked back into Evie’s building. He was relieved that he and Collette had made it away from Dawson’s without incident. They were now one step closer to rescuing Cynric, and after that hopefully they would find a way off the planet. Ryce looked over at Collette walking beside him and found leaving the planet didn’t feel as urgent or appealing as it did before he met her. He was still a stranger here, still hunted, but he found he wasn’t ready to let her go.
His growing attachment to her worried him. He couldn’t offer her anything. If they were on his planet, he would be in a better position, but as it was, he was stranded here. He couldn’t even the guarantee that they could build a life together on his own planet. Hell, they hadn’t even discussed the possibility. Although they’d shared a bed, they had never discussed what would happen past their nights together. And so far the mark hadn’t shown up to force the issue.
He shook his thoughts away as they walked into Evie’s building. He needed to focus on what was happening now. The first step toward moving on from this planet hinged on successfully rescuing Cynric. Once that happened, they would be in a better position to leave, and that would leave him with more options regarding Collette.
Everyone was gathered in the conference room when they returned, and Ryce carefully laid the uniform over one chair. That uniform was the key to Cynric’s freedom and was more precious than anything Ryce had ever handled in his life.
“You got it,” Synn said and Ryce could see the relief on his face. “And without incident I assume?”
“Well not completely,” Ryce said as he drew Collette over to a set of chairs and sat down with her. “I ran into Dawson’s cleaning lady, and Collette met with him in the lobby. But it turned out fine, and I’m glad that Collette went with me to act as lookout. I couldn’t have done it without her.”
Ryce looked over at her, and she smiled at him. Now that they were back here, and she was safe, he could admit that her plan was a good one. He would have been caught if she hadn’t been in the lobby to distract Dawson. And she’d escaped Dawson without incident, and there was no reason for her to be exposed to him again.
“That’s great,” Miranda said as she put her arms around Synn and gave him a hug in celebration. “So all we need to do now is plan Cynric’s rescue.”
“Synn and Ryce will go to the military compound tomorrow night. I know for a fact that Dawson has an engagement at eight o’clock,” Collette said. She pressed her lips together and knitted her hands together in her lap. Ryce looked over at her, wondering why she hadn’t mentioned Dawson’s engagement while they were in the car. She and Dawson must have had quite a chat if he’d spilled his schedule to her.
“How do you know? Will he be busy long enough for Ryce and I to get Cynric out,” Synn said, and Ryce wondered about that too. A nagging suspicion ate at him when Collette took a deep breath beside him. There was something going on that she seemed reluctant to say, and he went still beside her when she glanced apprehensively beside him.
“I will go to his apartment for dinner tomorrow night. I’m to meet him there at eight,” Collette said her words coming out in a rush, almost as if she wouldn't get them said unless she blurted them out..
Ryce didn’t know what to say for a moment. Meeting with Dawson in the lobby was one thing, but going to his apartment, where she could be alone and vulnerable with his enemy was something else entirely. He glanced over at Synn, and could see the same reservations on his face. Good his apprehension wasn’t any lingering jealousy if Synn was on his side.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea? I know we need to rescue Cynric quickly now that Ryce can disguise himself as Dawson, but not if it means that you will be in harms way. What if Dawson wants more than dinner?” Synn said as he looked seriously at Collette.
That was exactly what Ryce was thinking, and he was glad that Synn had given voice to his reservations. He didn’t want Collette to think that his concerns for her safety were because of jealousy and at least coming from Synn it wouldn’t look like that. Of all the people in the room, he knew exactly what Dawson was capable of, and there was no way he wanted Collette in a situation where she was alone with him.
“She could pull it off if she drugs him,” Evie said. “I can give her a powerful sedative to put in his drink. It will completely incapacitate him, and she can leave as soon as he is out. It will leave him knocked out for hours, which would give bo
th of you time to get your friend away.”
It seemed very neat and reasonable, but Ryce still harbored a few doubts. None of the others had seen the ugly direction the man’s thoughts had gone when he’d looked at Collette, but Ryce had. He wouldn't like to be thwarted, and would force himself on Collette if it came to that. He had to be sure, that the sedative that Evie was going to provide Collette with would work quickly, and leave out any possibility that Dawson would hurt Collette.
“How long does it take for this sedative to work?” Ryce asked. It would do no good to drug Dawson if it took a while for him to go down. He could do a lot of damage to Collette in the interim.
“It takes a few minutes, but if Collette slips it to him very soon after she gets there, then Dawson should be out before the notion of anything other than dinner will occur to him,” Evie said.
Ryce didn’t want to tell her that the notion of more than dinner had most likely already occurred to Dawson. He’d seen how he looked at Collette at the ball, like a predator who’d seen delectable prey that he wanted to devour. There was a darkness in Dawson’s thoughts toward her, almost as if he would enjoy it more if she resisted.
“I don’t think Dawson will want to scare me away right off the bat by attacking him as soon as I walk in the door. He will want to present a civilized veneer. I’ll make sure we have drinks right away, and will slip the sedative to him. It should be easy, since I’ll tell him that I liked to make drinks for Reggie,” Colette said and she turned to Ryce and grasped his hand. “I know it’s a risk, but you have to admit it would assure you and Synn that at least there won’t be two Dawson’s showing up at the compound. I can do this, and I promise that if I get a bad vibe from the whole thing, then I’ll leave.”
He still had his reservations, but there appeared to be little arguments he could make. Even Synn now appeared to be on board.
“Ok,” he said with a resigned sigh. Now that they had Dawson taken care of they needed to coordinate his and Synn’s part of the rescue. “I know what cell Cynric is being held in. It is guarded by a sentry at all times, so he will have to be taken care of.”
“The shift changes at 8:30,” Miranda said. “If you get there at eight, Synn can incapacitate one of them men coming in. That way he won’t look out of place there, especially if he is wearing a uniform of a soldier that works there. Ryce as Dawson can then tell him that Synn is to relieve the sentry.”
“We must figure out how to get Cynric out without raising suspicion,” Synn said and there was silence as they considered how to do that.
“Dawson is the commander, and the soldiers won’t question him,” Miranda said. “As long as Ryce is with you, all he needs to say if anyone asks, is that Cynric is being moved to a different facility.”
The plan to rescue Cynric was solidifying, and for the first time since they’d found out where he was, Ryce felt excitement unfurl inside him. Finally they were doing something other than sitting around and planning. By the end of tomorrow night, Cynric would he here and he would be safe.
Collette was in her room getting ready for bed, and she wondered how she was going to sleep with the mixed feelings churning in her gut. They were very close to saving Cynric, and while she was glad about that, she was also a little sad. It meant that the time to say goodby to Ryce was getting closer, and she wasn’t ready for that yet.
She pulled back the covers on her bed when there was a knock on the door. She let go of the bedding and went to answer it. There was a small spark of hope that it was Ryce, but a brief flash of disappointment went through her when she saw Evie standing on the other side.
“I brought the sedative,” she said as she handed her a small vial. It held a clear liquid, and Collette set it aside. The vial was tiny, and the amount of liquid in it didn’t look like it would be enough to sedate a mouse, but Evie was sure it would work.
“How much should I put in his drink?” Collette said as she looked at the small amount of drug that she was holding.
She was having doubts now that she was committed, but was reluctant to voice them. When Synn had first suggested that it wouldn’t be as easy as she thought, she’d realized that she’d let her impulsivity and desire to help cloud her judgement. She hadn’t thought further ahead then arranging the meeting, and in her excitement a having the plan form completely in her head, she’d overlooked what would happen once she arrived at Dawson’s apartment. She was glad Evie had suggested the sedative because she hadn’t even considered that as a possibility.
“Put all of it in. I’ve measure out the dosage, and that will be enough to take down a man of Dawson’s size. It works better mixed with alcohol, so make sure you put in something alcoholic. It will take only minute to kick in if he drinks it all at once, so make sure he drinks all his drink.”
“And if he nurses his drink?” Collette asked.
“Then you better keep him talking until he finishes it. Half a dose will make him feel a little out of it, but it won’t knock him out.”
“I’ll make sure he finishes his drink then,” Collette said as she swallowed hard. She hoped Dawson was a drinker because the possibility that he wasn’t would make things that much harder for her. She clutched the vial and carefully tucked it in the purse she intended to take with her tomorrow night.
“Am I interrupting something,” Ryce asked from the open door. He leaned against the jam and looked between her and Evie.
“No,” Evie said as she turned away. Collette saw her give him a meaningful look, and he nodded his head. Evie walked out and Ryce stepped in, closing the door behind her.
“What was that look about?”
“Evie and I have an understanding. If I hurt you she’ll kill me,” he said as he approached her.
“Oh, I’m sorry she said that to you,” Collette said as she looked up at him. He was so close that she could smell him, and her body responded to his nearness as it seemed to be its habit of late.
“Don’t be. If I ever hurt you I’d deserve whatever she dished out,” he said as he reached up to frame her face. “Are you sure about this plan? I’ve seen what’s in his head, and I don’t want you to get hurt. It’s not too late to come up with something else.”
Not this again. She thought they’d ironed out all the details already. He didn’t look angry, but there was concern looking in the tender look he gave her and it mollified her somewhat. He was asking because he cared about her, not because he didn’t think she could handle herself.
“I’m sure about the plan,” she said as she reached up to take his hands in hers. She pressed her lips against his knuckles and he got a faint smile on his face before he pulled his hands away.
“I want you to promise me that if you get any bad vibes from him, it doesn’t matter if you’ve just walked in his door, that you’ll do whatever it takes to get yourself out. I know you think you can handle him, but he’s bad news, and I don’t want to tell you what he’s capable of. It doesn’t matter if you have to bash his skull in and run away, if he puts even one toe out of line, get the hell out of there. Cynric needs to be rescued, but not if you will be hurt. Promise me you’ll be careful and don’t underestimate what he’s capable of.”
“I promise,” she said as she looped her arms around his neck. She felt warm inside at his concern for her, and she pressed her body against his hard muscular frame. “Stay with me tonight?”
“You wouldn’t be trying to distract me would you,” he said as his arms came around her waist and pulled her to him.
“I might be,” she said as she smiled up at him. He pressed his lips against her neck, and she shivered at the delicious feeling that chased down her spine. “Is it working?”
“It might be,” he said as he pulled his head up to take her mouth with his.
She clung to him as he kissed her in the middle of her room. She didn’t think she would ever tire of being with him like this. She didn’t know how she was going to cope once he returned to his planet, and she blocked the thought f
rom her mind. She was going to enjoy every moment she had with him, and tuck the memory of what it had been like to be in love, and pull it out to savor it when she was old and gray. Their time together was almost at an end and she didn’t want to waste any more of it talking.
His lips were still on hers when he walked her back to the bed, and the mattress pushed against the back of her legs. He made no move to push her back on it, instead he pulled back from her, and looked at her. His eyes roved over her for so long that she thought maybe something was wrong. She self consciously moved her hand up to touch her hair.
“Is everything all right?” she asked, and he reached up to pull her hand away. He smoothed the hair back from her face and cradled her cheek in his palm.
“You’re beautiful,” he said. “I could look at you forever and still not see all there is to you.”
She’d heard many flattering words, enough to know that he meant that with a sincerity that touched her. She felt the same about him, but she wanted to do more than look. He seemed to get the message her eyes were sending because his flared to life as he moved his hand down over her throat to the top button of pajama top.
He peeled it off her with an agonizing slowness that left her trembling in anticipation. The cool air in the bedroom skated across her skin, causing her nipples to pucker and tighten as if begging for his mouth. He stared at her flesh, and she could see his eyes change, going from their mellow green to an almost electric blue. She’d seen them do that before and wondered about it.
“Why do your eyes do that, change from green to blue,” she asked as the caressed the sides of his face.
“It means that I want you and that I’m having difficulty holding myself in check with you,” he said as he dipped his head down to take her nipple in his mouth, and gently sucked on it. She closed her eyes and tilted her head back. His touch felt so good, and she didn’t think she’d ever get enough, but what he’d said made her curious.