by Kayla Stonor
Ahnna’s jaw tightened.
“I feel the same way,” Tierc began, but her fierce glare turned his intended words of support to dust. He directed his reply to the drone. “Haven’t we discussed this before? I was there to—”
“You told us why you were in Ahnna’s room, but not why you were in Vegas. You told us you were based in Washington U.R.”
“That’s right. I was in New Vegas overseeing security for a conference—”
“I’d say standing in for the keynote speaker is more than oversight,” Crandal pointed out.
Ahnna’s heart audibly skipped a beat and Tierc studied her frozen expression, a sinking feeling in his stomach. He’d wondered when Octiron would force this confrontation.
“Yes. I was the keynote speaker at the UR conference.” Tierc caught the briefest moment when Ahnna paled.
“Ahnna?” Crandal said. “Who was your target?”
Her teeth ground together and Tierc knew she’d caught onto Crandal’s little game.
Tierc watched the pantomime. Crandal knew the answer and Ahnna refusing to cooperate wouldn’t stop the truth coming out. Tierc stood and moved away, forcing Zeke to launch the drone into the air in order to catch both their reactions. Damned if he’d make this easy for them.
“My mission was to… neutralize the… keynote speaker,” Ahnna’s hands parted, her brow knotted, “but not you,” she said, looking at Tierc, “another Qui-human, Fitor Saracen.”
“Neutralize?” Tierc couldn’t let that go. “You mean kill. Assassinate.”
She pulled her arms in, her body closing against his attack. “We’ve been through this. I was fighting for humanity. Fitor Saracen was promoting the benefits of humans breeding with Qui, a seditious attempt to normalize human genocide!”
Finely worded—Ahnna always drew on HD-X rhetoric under pressure, except her usual conviction sounded strained, and she looked torn, riddled with confusion and guilt. Her eyes flicked around the room, looking for answers that weren’t there.
She faced Tierc again. “When did you replace Saracen? Nothing was announced.”
“We were tipped off that HD-X was targeting Saracen at the conference. The Qui Ambassador to Earth refused to let him attend. I was already in New Vegas to handle security and, as a noble Qui, I agreed to speak in Saracen’s place. We decided to keep the roster change quiet until we flushed out the assassin, which apparently we did.”
She swallowed. Her heart raced louder than usual. For once her training couldn’t hide her shock. “You’ve known this all this time?”
“That you’d have attempted to take me out at some point? I assumed that was your purpose in New Vegas, yes.”
Tears shone in her eyes and Ahnna swiped them away with her sleeve. “I wouldn’t have killed you. You’re not Saracen. I knew what he looked like.”
“You don’t know what your orders would have been.” Tierc sensed her confusion, recognized her rising horror as she projected HD-X’s likely response. Hope stirred inside him. “Ahnna, tell me truthfully. If HD-X had ordered you to proceed with your mission, would you have obeyed? Knowing your target wasn’t Saracen?”
Pain crossed her expression. “I don’t know.” She met his eyes. “I didn’t know you then.”
“What about now? What if they ordered you to kill me now? Here?”
Her skin drained of color. “I couldn’t kill you. I swear. Oh God! What if you hadn’t found me? What if we were still on Earth? Fuck. I feel sick. What’s going on?”
“What’s going on is now you know me. You know Qui aren’t the monsters you’ve been led to believe. You’re doubting everything HD-X told you. You’re no longer sure that humanity is at stake, and your target is standing in front of you when he should be dead, brains exploded on a New Vegas stage for the all the world to see!”
Ahnna clapped a hand to her mouth, launched up, and rushed out the room.
“Perfect,” Crandal whispered.
* * *
In the bathroom, Ahnna cleaned up her mess as best she could. The taste of undigested snake meat coated her throat. She’d love to blame the food but another alien reptile was responsible for the churning emotions sweeping through her.
Questions? Doubts? Her whole life skidded under her feet.
She couldn’t slow her heart beat. She felt cold to her bones. She folded over her knees and buried her fists into her eyes to stem scalding tears.
HD-X would have told her to take the shot. No way they’d allow any keynote speaker at that conference to walk away, taking down a noble Qui a major consolation prize for missing out on Fitor Saracen. And she’d have done it, too. How could she not? Her mission had purpose, just cause. Fitor Saracen was publicly courting a human. Killing Saracen would have prevented more human-Qui and saved a young woman from becoming a Qui pawn in humanity’s destruction. Killing Tierc Marcel would have accomplished the same objectives. Yes, she’d have taken the shot.
Killed him.
The knowledge curdled her insides, hit like a physical pain, an unbearable, stabbing pain.
“Ahnna, are you okay?”
She started at Tierc’s voice, scrabbled to her feet and turned the faucet in a futile pretense because of course no water emerged, the plumbing in this abandoned facility bone dry.
“Ahnna?”
“I’m fine.”
Why did he care if she was fine or not? Why did he keep saving her life, again and again?
More tears filled her eyes.
Tierc, this so-called monster, was a nobler creature than she, and maybe HD-X were wrong about the Qui. How could she feel this way if Tierc were a monster? She understood the physical attraction, his pheromones were powerful weapons, and she’d been trained to resist, had nanos to help combat Tierc’s effect, but no pheromones could make her care this way.
She worried about Tierc’s future in this universe.
Glimpses of pain in his eyes no longer reassured but left her tense and anxious.
Guilt ate at her for enjoying his company too much.
Damn it, she felt so safe in his presence. He was supposed to be her enemy!
Suppose HD-X was wrong?
Humans in Paragon bred with other humanoid species. Humans still thrived. She didn’t know the truth anymore.
A knock made her straighten. She opened the door and faced the man causing havoc in her heart. The drone shot into view and whatever words she’d been about to say dried in her throat. God, why did he have to be so incredibly sexy and hot? He didn’t need fucking pheromones.
She pushed past him. “I need water.”
Pity they hadn’t found something stronger to drown out this existential crisis frying her brains out. A tequila would taste good.
She sank down in her chair at the table and refilled her mug with boiled water, sipped it. Tierc took the chair opposite a few seconds later. Concern filled his eyes and a strange feeling overcame her, something akin to appreciation.
“I would have killed you, back then.”
A shadow crossed his face. He nodded.
Ahnna forged on. “But not now. I couldn’t kill you now. HD-X could order me to kill you and I would refuse.”
“What would be their reaction?”
“Rehabilitation.”
“Brainwashing.”
Those treacherous tears kept coming. “Is that what they’re doing to my son?”
His hand shot out across the table and gripped her forearm, just above the wrist. “Ahnna, Fitor Saracen’s keynote speech was to propose a new approach to HD-X, a chance to end the violence. Too many humans sympathize with your cause and evidence shows our zero-tolerance approach is chasing people towards HD-X, not away. Saracen proposed that we focus on deprogramming HD-X operatives… an intervention.”
“Deprogram? Brainwashing by another name.”
Tierc looked despondent. His mouth formed a grimace. “We’re stuck here, you and I, we can’t ever go back, and yet I care so deeply about the future for human and Qui. My mother was full hum
an, Ahnna. She loved Earth, raised me to feel as loyal to humanity as I do to Qui. I’ve no conflict about who I am. There’s no conspiracy to commit human genocide. I resent the accusation. Humanity saved the Qui. Three hundred years ago, low birthrates threatened Qui with extinction. Now there’s hope. The Qui Empire is stronger with the United Regions. History proves the undeniable benefits of Qui and humans in alliance—for both species.”
“Do you want me as your mate?” The question blurted out from nowhere, shocked her as much as it did him. His fingers still gripped her arm. His pheromones bled through her clothing and warmed her skin. He slid his hand down to take her fingers, his eyes holding hers, watching for her reaction. She only had to move and she trusted he would withdraw his touch immediately and so she stayed very still.
“My Qui has never reacted to a woman this way. It’s difficult to explain the intense focus of Qui sensations in your presence. I would kill to protect you, Ahnna, and it kills me to incite your hatred. Still, I know without a shadow of doubt my Qui has found his mate.”
Ahnna’s breath caught in her throat. Goosebumps chased up her skin. She’d been fighting his pheromones long enough to know he roused a reaction less to do with body chemistry and more to do with her heart and emotions. Those sexy eyes devoured her, his attention unwavering, and she craved a kiss from those beautiful lips. Her fingers tightened around his, an involuntary reaction and she swallowed, frightened she gave out signals inviting him close, and yet equally desperate for his response.
A deep crease divided his brow. “Ahnna, if you are testing me–”
“I’m not testing you.”
Light blazed in his eyes followed by a flash of pain. She glanced at his cuffs.
“I’m fine.” The words floated on his breath. Tierc stood up, dominating the room. His eyes had darkened to black, an effect she’d noticed when Tierc fought his Qui. “I’m taking us to a bedroom. Is that okay?”
She nodded, heart thumping so hard her chest hurt.
He moved fast, swept her into his arms. She squealed in surprise, panicked, and then they were in the room she had occupied earlier and Tierc was slamming the door shut on the drone. It thudded into the door. “Fuck if I’m letting Octiron watch this.” He tapped his comms-link off and then Ahnna’s comm just as Zeke began a furious protest.
Tierc set Ahnna on her feet and backed away, hands raised. “You still okay?”
She laughed. Maybe it was the thought of Zeke and Crandal freaking out, or the drone’s surprise, as if the flying robot had developed its own personality. More likely it was hysteria. She was about to commit a mortal sin, a heinous crime, with a monster, whose inviting lips curved into a shy smile and suddenly her giggles dried up.
“You are completely safe,” he reassured.
“I can’t get pregnant.” Once more the words burst out, her emotions so off kilter. “I mean, I can, obviously, but not with a Qui.”
“What are you hoping for, Ahnna?”
“I want to explore this, what I’m feeling. I’m not making a commitment. I’m not saying this is right.”
“Okay. At least you’re honest. Qui have to choose to procreate, it is too dangerous to reproduce with the wrong person, but I have needs that require satisfaction.” He raised his wrists. “Right now, I couldn’t impregnate you even if I wanted to.”
His hand cupped the back of her neck and he stepped closer, the combination making her lightheaded. She rose on tiptoe to meet his kiss. His head dipped and a strong arm wrapped around her waist. She expected to panic—he was a Qui—but she welcomed his heat as he pulled her close. His hard erection pressed against her belly and warmth flooded her. Nerves fired a bolt of pleasure to her core as his lips touched hers. His tongue swept her teeth, and a sharp ozone taste cleansed her palate and then his mouth coaxed her open. He explored her thoroughly unleashing sexual mayhem in her core.
Ahnna rubbed against him, giving way to her body’s demand for more.
She banished her doubts.
HD-X wasn’t here. They were two creatures alone in an alien universe. They had a shared history and experiences. Their bodies met as if they belonged together. Tierc wasn’t a monster. He was kind, forgiving, and gentle. His Qui was locked up safe, couldn’t harm her.
Her hands wound around his neck. She clung to him, drawing Tierc closer. He thrust his fingers into her hair, supported her head even as he walked her back towards the bed. Ahnna uttered a quiet protest, and he stopped instantly, his lips kissing a path to her ear.
“What is it?” he whispered.
She pulled his shirt from his pants, wanting to feel the weight of his balls in her palms again, to explore that stiff hard shaft desperate for escape. He helped her shed his clothing, toeing off his boots as he pushed her jacket off her shoulders. He stripped her slowly and she let him, for the sensation of his fingers brushing her skin lit fire trails all over her body.
Tierc’s hands faltered the instant she curved her fingers around his hot blood-engorged cock. He hissed, buried his head against her neck.
“Don’t stop,” he gasped out when she rolled a thumb over his glans, his reaction so completely human, a man enslaved to the pleasures of the flesh.
He recovered enough to push her pants down to her knees and then he was forcing her to the bed. She fell back, hit a soft landing, as Tierc tugged off her boots and then slid her pants over her feet. He straightened, paused, gazing at her naked body.
“You’re so beautiful, so perfect.”
She grinned because his eyes devoured her and then her throat closed with emotion at the astonished delight in his eyes. Ahnna knew she was an attractive woman, but Tierc’s reaction imbued her with newfound confidence, a joy in her own body. He coveted every inch of her, from her toes to her ear lobe.
Fear had been replaced by pure anticipation.
When he knelt before her, she rose up onto her elbows. He placed his fingers against the insides of her knees and nudged them apart. Kissing her inside thigh he nibbled his way towards her center, teasing her inner petals aside.
She collapsed onto the bed, arching her back as his tongue lashed an uncontrollable storm of pleasure to new heights. She cried out, taken aback by the sweet stabbing ache. She gripped the coverlet, twisting her hips away from his tongue when the sensations overpowered her. Tierc gripped her hips, renewed his attack with vigor, and suddenly she was pressing into the throbbing pulse of sensation, her climax building, sweeping through her and she moaned.
Tierc rose above her, positioned his cock against her and thrust in hard.
Ahnna tensed as his cock rubbed her to the crest of an orgasm. He filled her so perfectly, she wanted more, but she dared not move in case she burst and she wanted to savor this rolling undulating pleasure.
He stilled and she opened her eyes.
Tierc was watching her, his eyes aglow and a sensual grin on his face that thrilled her.
“Stay just like that,” she smiled, arching her back.
Somehow his lower half did stay perfectly still, even as his head dipped towards her. She realized his intention when his teeth trapped a nipple and his tongue lashed the top of the nub. He thrust in at the same time and her orgasm exploded, everywhere, a paroxysm of delight that thudded through her in waves, radiating from her core. Every muscle tensed, she held perfectly still prolonging the sensation and then Tierc was pummeling her hard, setting off new sensations, drawing out the sublime experience as his fingers began to rub her clit. A sharper throb burst out of nowhere and it was so satisfying, incredible, nothing like the routine orgasms she had experienced in training for her cover.
Ahnna pulled him down atop her and reveled in the kisses he showered over her face, neck, and breasts. “Oh my god,” she breathed. “That was incredible, like you knew everything I was feeling.”
“I did. We came close to culmination.”
She’d heard Qui used telepathy to conquer their victims.
Victims? The concept clashed with her exper
ience of just a moment ago. No way was she a victim, but shit, telepathy and sex together?
“Culmination’s really a thing?”
“Culmination is very much a thing, but rare—takes a special connection. I could sense your pleasure, but your mind is not ready to open. That’s okay. It takes time to build trust, accept the depth of your feelings. I haven’t experienced culmination, you would be my first, which is only right.”
* * *
Tierc contained an animal urge to ravage her. A raging lust fired his blood. His primed cock twitched and ached for release. He couldn’t hold off much longer, he had dreamt of this moment, but nurturing Ahnna’s trust, supplanting a lifetime of HD-X rhetoric, demanded infinite patience.
She rose up against him, crushing his cock between them. “What about you?”
Tierc couldn’t speak, caught in a spiral of escalating pleasure. Ahnna traced his face with her fingers, her eyes softer than he had ever seen them. In return, Tierc sketched intricate patterns on her skin, his fingers exuding a pheromone to reawaken Ahnna’s passion.
The mind-numbing sensation plateaued. “There’s plenty of time. I want you to be ready.” He pressed against her, gasped, frowned at the rock hard pressure building below. He wanted to give her more time. Ahnna abandoned her exploration of his mouth. Her feather-light touch skimmed his shoulders and ran down his biceps, dropping to his waist and then one hand cupped his hot swollen balls and the other grasped the base of his shaft. She guided him to her entrance, arching against him. He slipped easily inside her well-oiled channel. Ahnna held him off for one moment, adjusting to his girth, and then she opened wider for him and he slid in. Instinct took over. Tierc rammed in hard.
She protested and he backed off, but then nails dug into his buttocks and Ahnna forced him in. This time she met his assault, and Tierc gritted his teeth, holding back an impending release.
He drowned in her delicious scent.
A light perspiration coated her skin as their joining grew increasingly frenzied. She arched underneath him, drawing his attention to her delicate breasts, so firm and pert. He nipped the nearest nipple and nearly came at her responding moan. His tongue lavished the rosy bud as he pummeled her body. Her hips rose against him, his climax gathered, unstoppable, as she suddenly gripped his upper arms, one hand moving into his hair. She gripped the hair roots, pressed his head down, encouraging him to suckle her nipple. He obliged, shifted his weight onto one arm allowing him to pinch her other breast with his free hand.