“Obviously. Thanks, boss. Hey, when you get back, I’ll buy you a beer.”
“That’s real generous, considering I own the place.”
Jared chuckled and ate another handful of peanuts.
* * * *
Dani had finally gotten herself situated on the raft, her drink within reach on the deck, when she noticed Ian heading her way. A deep thrill rippled through her and she bit her lip. The pool area was empty except an old couple eating ice cream at the far end.
Ian sat next to her cup, and dangled his legs in the water. Nice, muscular legs.
“Hello again,” he said.
“Ian.” Dani nodded in greeting.
“I’m guessing you’re in a fair amount of pain right now.”
“Nothing I can’t handle.” Where was he going with this?
“If you’re interested, I’m proficient in an ancient Chinese art of pain management.”
Dani tilted her hat to get a better view. “Seriously?” She’d heard some lines in her time, but that had to be the cheesiest.
“Seriously.” He shrugged and took a sip of her drink.
Dani huffed and scowled at him. “You better not drink it all or you’ll have to get me another one.” His smoky green eyes were an intriguing contrast to his olive skin. The way he looked at her made her body tingle. “How exactly does this Chinese voodoo work?”
Ian pushed off the side and into the water with a smile on his face. “Certain places on the body can be manipulated to ease pain and do other things like lower blood pressure.” He stood next to her, causing a slight wake to bob the raft up and down.
“Hmm…I don’t know.”
“Really? Jared’s worried about you and I promised I’d help.”
Dani glanced back toward the bar. She couldn’t see Jared from here, but she knew he’d be worried. It’s what he did under all that gruffness. When she looked back, she found Ian’s gaze had shifted to somewhere south of her eyes. A flood of pleasure washed over her at the thought of his lips on her breast.
She cleared her throat.
Ian smiled at her with a crooked grin.
The thrill from earlier boiled over to something far less manageable. Wow. This is some serious attraction. “Um, precisely where and how will you be manipulating me?”
Ian laughed. “I assure you my intentions are honorable.”
Well, that was disappointing. She tilted her head. If he didn’t feel the same attraction right now, she’d eat her bikini. “Go ahead then. Let’s see what you can do.” She pulled her hat down over her face and leaned back.
The raft rocked in the water as he moved behind her. He lightly touched her injured arm sending a zap of euphoria through her. Wow.
His fingers slowly trailed up each of her arms and the tension in her core rose with it. As he reached the base of her neck, she said a little prayer he’d be open to a friends-with-benefits situation. His hands settled on her shoulder muscles and pressed harder. A bolt of pleasure shot through her. This is insane. She couldn’t slow her breathing. He was no where near her private bits, yet it was as if…
Ian ran his thumbs up the cords in her neck.
She caught her breath as the intensity increased. No way. Her body tensed as pleasure exploded, leaving her motionless as the incredible sensation rolled outward to her fingers and toes. Holy shit.
* * * *
Ian drew his fingers along the top of Dani’s shoulders, enjoying the buzz her silky smooth skin created.
Her body shivered, causing his psi to ripple through him. Interesting.
He gently probed along the muscles to find the right spot.
Dani let out a long sigh and relaxed into his hands.
He found it odd he’d have such intense chemistry with a human. He closed his eyes and reached out with his psi. Her cheek possessed only a flesh wound so he dampened the nerve endings to stop the pain. Next he moved to her wrist where he found a hairline fracture. He focused his psi and mended the bone, leaving most of the bruised tissue and muscle, but again dampened the nerve endings. A minute passed before Ian realized something was off. His psi buzzed with an energy he’d never experienced before.
Dani’s breathing quickened.
He was about to let go when a blast of psi tore into him. The sheer force was astonishing. He nearly flung her behind him, before he realized it was her.
Not possible. Humans don’t have psi. Unable to resist, he explored further. Like a Sandarian child, her psi was unrefined and clearly not under control. He should let go, but like a moth to a flame, he delved deeper. And deeper still. The magnitude floored him. She could very well be as strong as he.
This had the potential to change everything. If people on his planet found out, his family could lose all rights to this world. Rights to both the carnium and their protectorship of Earth. Humans could never defend themselves against the aliens who would come looking for an easy grab at the coveted mineral. With the unrest of the empire, it might be years before another protectorship could be effectively established and agreed upon. By then, Goddess knew, how much damage would have been done.
A human with psi. It made no sense. His family had been protecting Earth for generations. Never had a human been found with psi. He’d been with a number of women, and never had there been an inkling. He needed to discuss this with his father. He began to pull back. As though in response to his leaving, her psi pulsed and pleasure unlike anything he’d ever imagined washed though him. His body and psi buzzed with the intense energy. Stronger and stronger it grew. He drew a deep breath, riding the wave of pure ecstasy.
Almost as if—Holy Goddess. Ian slammed the connection closed and staggered back. His heart pounded in his chest. He stared at his hands as though they belonged to someone else. My psi-mate? The pleasure slowly subsided. He wanted more, needed more. Mother Goddess help me.
Chairs scrapped across the pool deck and snapped him out of his reverie. He threw a glance over his shoulder. The old couple prepared to leave. The man winked at Ian, then said something to the woman that made her laugh.
He returned his attention to Dani. She inhaled quickly as if she’d been holding her breath. He stood a moment longer, torn between staying, because he wanted to, and returning to Sandaria to talk with his father. Duty won. He whirled around, slicing through the water.
She called after him but he didn’t respond.
What did I just do?
* * * *
Dani coughed as water splashed over her face from Ian’s abrupt departure. She jerked to a sitting position. She’d been momentarily paralyzed, and it freaked her out. The movement sent pulses of pleasure rippling through her. Holy crap, that was amazing. “Hey, what was that? Ian?” She spun around to find him nearly at the steps. “Ian!”
He bolted out of the water and headed back to the bar, dripping wet.
The photographer in her couldn’t help but analyze the scene. Damn, he does wet really well. Dani wiped the water from her eyes and looked around for her hat. Crap. She reached over and plucked the soggy mess off the surface of the water. Plopping it on her head, she sighed as the waterlogged rim flopped over her face. Great. She shook the hat out a few times and stopped mid-swing.
What the… Slowly, she put the hat back on her head and held up her injured hand. She flexed her fingers and bent her wrist back and forth. The tendons were stiff and still looked like hell, but there was no pain. Swinging her legs off the lounge, she slid into the waist-deep water. Submerging her hand, she drew her palm back and forth under the surface. Still no pain. What in the world did he do?
Dani got out of the pool, gathered up her bag and drink and hurried down the path after him. She flexed her pain-free wrist the whole way.
Jared stood behind the bar, filling salt shakers.
“Where’d Ian go?”
“Said he had to run.”
“Yeah, literally. I want to talk to him about this pressure point thing
.” Dani sat across from him.
“Pressure point?”
“You know, the pain thing.”
“Oh yeah, how’d it go? Pretty cool, huh?” Jared screwed the lid on a shaker.
“I guess. I mean the results are great. Unbelievable really, but the effect—” Dani stopped herself. What was she going to do? Tell Jared she’d just had some freak pleasure event? As if. “I just can’t believe how effective this pressure point thing is.” She slid her empty cup over to Jared. “Can I have another rum and coke, please? Mr. Personality sloshed water in mine.”
Jared put down the shaker. “Sure. I take it you’re feeling better?” He rinsed out the Tervis cup and made another drink.
“I’ll say. He’s got a nice touch, I’ll give him that.” There’s an understatement. “But as soon as he finished, he bolted from the pool. Swamped me with his wake. Got my new hat wet.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, and check this out.” Dani held up her wrist and twisted it around. “What the—even the bruising is going away now, look.”
Jared leaned in for a closer inspection and frowned. His eyes moved from her wrist to her face. “Take your glasses off, Dani.”
She did as he asked.
“Oh, dear.”
“What? What’s wrong?” She reached up and probed the gash under her eye. The skin felt like a month-old scar. “Jared, what’s going on?”
* * * *
Ian walked across the expensive, plush carpet of his father’s study on Sandaria. He’d thrown on a pair of jeans and a shirt left unbuttoned, before using the portal to his home planet.
Not exactly dressed for the occasion. He couldn’t wrap his head around a human with psi, but couldn’t deny it, either. Nor the effect she’d had on him. His psi still buzzed. He ran a hand through his hair and sighed. This was as impossible as it was true.
Windows spanned the back wall, a perfect frame for the summer storm raging outside. Clouds swirled around like multi-colored paint in a mixer. They spun side by side but never blended, their chemical compositions too different to merge. Light from the tempest threw soft hues of purple and green across every surface. This time of year you could set your watch by their arrival, but in another month their chaos would hit randomly.
Ian reached out with his psi. His father wasn’t near or was blocking. He approached a large desk by the windows and activated the com with his psi. A holographic screen appeared in front of him.
“What can I help you with, your lordship?” a female computerized voice asked.
“I need to see my father.”
After a pause the voice continued, “I am unable to locate Lord Cavacent. I will connect you with the house staff.”
The screen flashed and Samuel, the head servant, appeared. The portly man stood in the kitchen, no doubt sampling the evening’s meal.
“Your lordship! What can I do for you?” He straightened his shirt, pausing when he took in Ian’s appearance.
“I need to speak to my father. Please locate him for me, Samuel. I’ll be here in his study.”
“Certainly, sir. Is everything all right, sir?”
“Everything is fine,” he lied. “Let me know if you have trouble finding him.” He disconnected before Samuel asked any more questions.
The clouds whirled in their violent dance outside. He found the storms energizing and missed them when he was on Earth. He sensed his father’s approach a moment before he entered the room.
Rucon Cavacent entered with an air of authority befitting a major lord on Sandaria. He raised a brow as he took in Ian’s attire. “What is it, son?” He walked over to the bar and poured them both an Oban. Ian had made sure to stock his father’s favorite whisky from Earth.
Rucon added ice and brought the drinks over. “Someone kick sand in your face?”
“More like psi.” Ian took the drink. His father’s psi brushed across his own.
“You’re a mess. What happened?”
“I was…exposed to very powerful and completely raw psi. No restraint whatsoever. It—”
“Raw psi?”
Ian held his father’s gaze. “From a human.”
Rucon’s glass halted halfway to his lips. An odd expression crossed his face. “That’s not possible, son.” His hand trembled when he took a drink.
Ian sensed his father’s conflicting emotions. They were far more powerful than he’d expected. “A friend of Jared’s showed up at the bar,” he continued. “She had some minor injuries, and Jared asked if I would help her with the pain.”
“Surely you didn’t?” His father’s tone said far more than his words.
Ian held his ground. “She means a great deal to him. He’s never asked for anything before. A moderate amount of healing wouldn’t hurt.”
“And just how did you explain this little hands-on event?”
“Chinese pressure points.”
Rucon made a grunting noise Ian couldn’t interpret.
“Regardless, it worked. I connected and sent a small amount of energy. I was almost done when it happened. Father, she possesses a massive psychic ability. Possibly stronger than my own.”
Rucon frowned. “I doubt that. You are the strongest in generations.”
Ian wasn’t so sure. “I’m fairly certain she’s not aware of it. It’s more of a subconscious thing. Which, come to think of it”—Ian nodded and paced by the window—“would explain a lot. That’s got to be how she wins.”
“Wins what?” Rucon asked, sounding distracted.
“Mixed fights. She wins all the time, but obviously has no training. She’s got to be using her psi.”
Rucon joined Ian at the window and watched the storm. “Nothing else happened? When you connected?” Rucon searched his son’s face.
“Nothing.” Ian didn’t know if his father bought it or not. Ultimately, it didn’t matter. Bonding with a human would be political, and ultimately, financial suicide for the Cavacent clan.
Rucon’s shoulders relaxed. “We need to step up our move to Earth. I think I’m close to getting the support of the Supreme Commander.”
This was news. “And our rights to the carnium?”
“We’re negotiating. I should be able to secure at least a percentage. When I have the go ahead, we’ll need to move quickly. Ian,”—his father looked pained—“life will be easier there. We will be further removed from politics, whatever they turn out to be.”
“I can’t imagine a worse political environment than this.”
“Agreed. In the meantime stay away from this woman. And don’t say anything. To anyone. If Councilman Prayda finds out humans have psi, he’ll have the emperor revoke our protectorship. We’ll lose everything before we break free. That cannot happen.”
Many factions within the empire wanted to get their hands on Earth’s resources, and protecting its inhabitants wouldn’t be a priority. The Cavacents’ biggest advantage was they had protected the planet for over two hundred years, and kept humans largely safe and ignorant of their mining operations. Their history on Earth gave them a reasonable claim to residency. But they couldn’t move until the emperor was taken down, or it would be seen as treason. They walked a fine line as they readied for a new order in the galaxy.
Rucon returned to business, but was still pale. “Any further activity with Torogs?”
“Not since last night.”
“Keep your eyes open. Let me know if you need more agents.”
“I will.”
“How’s the new recruit working out?”
“Surprisingly well, given her size.”
“Which is?”
“Small.”
“So is your mother and I wouldn’t mess with her. Speaking of your mother, you’d best go clean up and say hello before you return to Earth. I’ll inform her you’re here.”
Ian rubbed his neck and nodded. It had been a few weeks since he’d been back. If his mother found he’d come hom
e without seeing her, there would be hell to pay. “All right.” He turned to go, but Rucon stopped him.
“Remember, don’t mention this. Not even to her. She’s rather fond of that blue planet of yours. I don’t want to upset her.”
Chapter 3
Dani looked up at the sound of the door scraping across the sandy floor. For a split second she thought it might be Ian. She shifted her weight on the barstool and threw a quick smile at the two men who entered. The smile faded fast. They were the ugliest dudes she’d ever seen and they moved…wrong. Leather criss-crossed their torsos over pasty gray skin.
Leather? Who wears leather in the Bahamas? The hair at the back of her neck prickled, and she had an overwhelming urge to run. They stood there and stared at her. She stared back.
“Hey Jared, you’ve got customers,” she called out.
Her voice startled them. Without taking their eyes off her, weird clicks and croaks came out of their bulbous lips.
What the hell?
Jared came out of the back room clutching a tissue. He froze as the two men came around the bar into full view.
No way. The two had decidedly round torsos and were dressed identically. Under the leather straps, a matching leather skirt fell just above the knee. Or where the knee should be. Instead, they had some sort of ball joint. Reality did a strange shift to the left when she noticed that below the joint were fleshy stumps, slightly padded on the bottom. No feet. Her head spun. Handicapped? She tried to figure the odds of two people having the same mutation when Jared reached behind the bar, pulled out a sawed-off shotgun, and fired. One shot each, to the center of their chest.
“Jared!” She flew off her seat. “Oh my God, what did you do?”
“Get in the back, Dani, now. Move!” Jared shouted.
Dani bolted the short distance around the bar.
The two guys lay on the floor but weren’t dead. They oozed blue goo and stank like nothing she’d ever smelled before, a combination of skunk and sweetness. Ewww. They struggled to get up, screeching and clicking.
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