Nina Croft

by Blood Hunter 03 Death Defying

  The rest of the cold, hard lump melted, then heated up to simmering point. She forced her gaze from his chest up to his face and caught a small glimpse of triumph in his purple eyes before the expression was blanked.

  “No,” she snapped.

  His eyes narrowed on her. He took another sip, and handed the flask back. Tannis drank automatically and waited as Callum stood with his head tilted to one side as he considered her. She wished she was a mind reader and could tell what he was thinking right now.

  “Look,” she said, forcing the words out of her reluctant lips.

  “There’s no amount of money you can offer me. Just go.”

  “How about I don’t offer you money?”

  “What?”

  “How about I offer you Meridian?”

  She licked her lips. His gaze followed the movement. “I don’t understand.” And she didn’t, though her mind was racing to come up with ideas.

  He strolled across the room and sank down on to the sofa, patted the seat beside him. “Come and sit down, and I’ll tell you.”

  Unable to stop herself, she sidled around and sat in the far corner, but his thigh was still only a foot from her own. She waited to feel the fear and revulsion, but when nothing happened, she sat back and tried to relax. It was important that he didn’t realize how much he unnerved her. “So tell me.”

  “Once I meet up with Venna, my scientific officer, we’ll be heading to Trakis Seven. Why don’t you come along? There’s Meridian on Trakis Seven.”

  He was the devil tempting her. He even looked like she might imagine the devil looking, with his black wings, his almost inhuman beauty. “I can wait,” she said. “I’ll soon have enough money.”

  “Hmm, maybe. But most likely not. Are you aware Meridian has become scarce in the recent years?”

  “I know the price went up. I just presumed you were getting greedy.”

  “No—it appears there’s a finite supply. Oh, I’m guessing given time, the planet would produce more, but not in your lifetime. In the first years, we found the caches easily, there were so many. But for the past fifty years, only two have been found. One has been used. The other is sold, but the buyer hasn’t yet taken possession.”

  “And it’s on Trakis Seven?”

  “The Meridian doesn’t leave Trakis Seven. The buyer goes there for the treatment—it loses its potency away from the planet, turns into so much useless crap. We tried in the early years because Trakis Seven is not a pleasant place to visit, even for us.”

  She eyed him suspiciously. “Are you telling the truth?”

  “Would I lie?”

  “Hell, yeah. You’re a politician—you probably find it easier than telling the truth.”

  A smile flickered across his face. “Maybe, but in this instance I’m not. You could always check with Skylar—she can confirm what I’ve told you—at least about the treatment. Nobody but the Council is aware that it’s running out.”

  Tannis thought for a minute. The flask was still in her hand and she reached beneath the table pulled out two glasses and emptied the last of the whiskey into them. She handed one to Callum and took a sip of her own while she thought through what he had told her. The whole Meridian treatment was shrouded in mystery, so she couldn’t know for sure whether he was telling the truth. But as he’d said, she could always check with Skylar.

  Anticipation was bubbling up inside her. She tamped it down and told herself to be cautious. But it wasn’t in her nature to be careful, maybe never had been, but she’d spent too much time around Rico for caution to hold any appeal. This was her dream, to get the Meridian treatment and live forever. Once she had that she could stick her finger up at the memory of those bastards at the research center who had taunted her with promises of an early death in the Meridian mines.

  One by one, she’d seen her friends at the research station, people she had grown up with, her sister, disappear and known they were gone forever. Until in the end, when she’d made sure she didn’t have any friends—what was the point if they’d just be taken from you?

  “Tannis?”

  “Give me a minute—I’m thinking.”

  Once she had the Meridian treatment, she could relax and think about what she wanted to do with the rest of forever. Go after the people who had run that center. Maybe she would get over it; finally put the past behind her once she had found and punished those responsible.

  But she also knew that was only part of the reason why her blood was thumping in her veins. If she said yes, then Callum would stay. Just a little while longer. She sipped her drink and studied him, trying to work out what drew her to him. He was utterly gorgeous, all high cheekbones, arched brows, a full sensual lower lip, those mesmerizing eyes. What was he really doing on her ship?

  “I don’t understand why,” she said. “Why are you here? Why don’t you just get your own people to pick you up and take you to Trakis Seven?”

  “I don’t trust them. They want to shut all the research down and pretend this isn’t happening. And they’re scared, and scared people make rash, stupid decisions.”

  “What about this Venna? This scientific officer you’re meeting up with—do you trust her?”

  “She’s been researching what we are since we started to suspect that Meridian wasn’t what we thought. She wants to know the truth as much as I do.”

  “Hmm. There has to be more.”

  He shrugged and studied her speculatively for a minute, head cocked on one side as though he didn’t know what to make of her.

  “What?” Her tone was belligerent.

  “You’re right, that’s not everything.” He smiled and his teeth were very white and even. “I want to explore this thing between us.”

  “There’s a ‘thing’ between us?”

  He nodded.

  Holy freaking moly. There was a thing between them.

  “Do you know how long it is since I’ve been with a woman?”

  he asked.

  “Yeah, of course I do. How the fuck would I know that?” But she was interested, and she had no clue where he was going with this. Well, actually, she did have a clue, but it seemed pretty damn unbelievable.

  “Well, it’s been a long, long time.”

  And why did that comment make a little glow start low down in her belly, where she’d never had a little glow before. She shifted in her seat.

  “And I’m betting it’s been a long time for you as well.”

  Yeah, that was right.

  A frown formed on his face when she didn’t answer. “You’re not a virgin are you?”

  “No,” she scoffed. It was a lie but none of his goddamn business.

  “Good.”

  Good? Did that mean he was looking for an experienced lover? Well, no one under that description in here.

  “You know I noticed you that first meeting?”

  She stared at him in disbelief. “No, I didn’t know you noticed me then—was this before or after you tried to kill us all.”

  “That was politics.”

  “Well, that makes me feel a whole load better.”

  Annoyance flashed in his eyes at her sarcasm, but was quickly gone. “I did notice you, and that was something that I wasn’t expecting. I haven’t wanted a woman in years. I thought it was the Meridian, just another side effect, then I saw you and—”

  “—and it was love at first sight. Aw, that’s so sweet, and a total load of bullshit.” She couldn’t believe he was trying to get around her like this. Talk about low. Her hand went to the laser pistol at her waist; she fingered the trigger and wondered whether she should shoot him.

  “Not love at first sight, no. I’m not even sure I believe in love.

  Maybe once, I did, but not anymore—occupational hazard of living a long time, I guess. No, it was more in the way of lust at first sight, but that was good enough for me.” He grinned and for the first time he looked wholly human. “You’re the reason I picked this ship. I believed I was no longer a man—you ma
de me think otherwise.”

  The slimy bastard might not have done it in a while, but he hadn’t lost the ability to flirt. Even acknowledging that, and the fact that she knew he was trying to manipulate her; she still felt her heart beat flutter in her chest. To her complete and utter amazement, she was softening toward him. The sensation was so new that when he reached out and took her hand, tugging it away from where it still rested on the butt of her pistol, she didn’t attempt to pull away. He held it lightly, turned it palm up and stroked it with the pad of her thumb. A tingle ran from her hand, up her arm, then down through her body, to settle in the hollow place where her stomach used to be. He lifted the hand to his mouth and placed a soft kiss in the center of her palm. The tip of his tongue touched her skin, moist and incredibly hot, and flames burned along her nerve endings.

  Tannis locked her muscles rigid to stop herself squirming, but her whole body trembled. And not with fear. Part of her told herself to get up, show him the door, keep this on a strict business footing. The rest of her… Well she didn’t understand what the rest of her wanted, but whatever it was, she was sure she’d never wanted it before.

  “I know you feel the same,” he murmured.

  “I do?”

  Is this how he felt? All hot and heavy. She’d never understood the desires that seemed to drive other people, never known why they went such lengths for something as messy and unpleasant as sex. Now, for the first time she had an inkling.

  “I saw the way you looked at me that day.”

  “You did?”

  Jesus, she must sound like a complete moron, but her brain was refusing to cooperate—in fact, the traitorous organ had turned to mush.

  “Yes, it made me hot and hard.” He laughed softly. “And you’re doing it again right now.”

  “I am.” Her voice came out as a squeak. She cleared her throat and tried again. “I am.”

  “Oh yes. Come here.” He tugged on her hand, and she almost fell toward him. Her other hand shot out to balance her and landed on his chest. She could feel the hard muscle beneath her, the heat of his skin radiating out through the soft material. He tugged a little harder and she found herself pressed up against him. She waited for the sense of revulsion to overwhelm her, to give her the strength to back off. But nothing even remotely like revulsion came along to help her.

  Breathing in deeply, she caught the scent of warm male, musky and strange to her, and she realized that she hadn’t been this close to a man since Rico had carried her on board El Cazador all those years ago. The thought pulled her up short, but then Callum’s hand slipped under her chin and lifted her face. For a moment she gazed into his eyes, they’d darkened to deep vibrant purple, and she lost herself in their depths, hardly even noticed his mouth lowering to hers.

  His lips were incredibly soft and insistent.

  For someone who claimed he hadn’t done it in a long time he was certainly a good kisser. Not that she had much to compare it to—nothing really. Then she forgot about everything, as he parted her lips and his tongue pushed inside.

  She stiffened, but then relaxed against him with a tiny sigh. Maybe he sensed her incipient fear, because he kept his movements slow, almost languid as he filled her mouth with the hot, wet thrust of his tongue, and her body melted against him, her insides turning molten.

  He shifted her, so her back was against the cushions, and his body pressed into her, one of his legs sliding between hers, all without breaking the kiss. Her hands had come up to clasp his shoulders and now she slid them around his neck and into the silky softness of his hair to hold him tight against her.

  The kiss was more insistent now and his body was hard, his hip thrusting against her, so she could feel the length of his erection pressing against her hip. Now was the moment she should start to panic, but it never came, and a sense of wonder filled her.

  Tentatively, she stroked her own tongue against the velvet of his and he went still, a groan rising up in his throat.

  “Hey fly-boy, I told you to apologize. I didn’t tell you to stick your tongue down her throat.”

  Tannis nearly jumped out of her skin at Rico’s drawled words.

  She drew back from Callum, turned quickly and found Rico leaning against the open door an amused expression on his face.

  His words slowly penetrated her brain.

  “Shit. You told him to apologize. I can’t believe this.” She ran a hand through her hair. Callum still held her, but loosely, and she pulled away. For a second, his fingers tightened on her arms, but then he let her go.

  Her brain was slowly starting to function, but it wasn’t making much sense. Rico had told him to apologize? Why the hell would he do that when he’d been so vocal about wanting Callum off the ship? Why would he help him to stay? And what else had he told him? That she wanted the Meridian treatment, no doubt. The one thing she wanted more than anything else.

  That was why Callum had known to make the offer.

  But what about the other stuff—the wanting her? She needed time to think this through.

  In the meantime, if Rico had told him all that what was he doing here now? “So why are you here?”

  He shrugged. “I thought I’d better check up on you.”

  “Why the hell would you need to check up on me? I can look after myself.”

  Rico actually looked a little discomforted. “Well, fly-boy has already tried his luck once, and it occurred to me that he might try again. And you did say you were scared of sex.”

  Tannis glanced at Callum, who was standing one shoulder leaning against the wall, an expression of avid curiosity on his face. He raised an eyebrow when he caught her gaze, but she turned back to Rico.

  “Geez, thanks, Rico,” she muttered. “I really wanted to share that bit of information!”

  “Mind you—you didn’t look scared. I was going to tip-toe away, but I thought I’d better be sure. Hard to tell with those wings in the way.”

  He crossed the room and picked up his flask from the table, shook it and pursed his lips when he realized it was empty.

  “So I take it the job is back on?” he asked as he shoved it in his pocket.

  “Yeah, I guess so.” She nodded toward Callum. “Your new best friend over there just made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.”

  Rico grinned. “I thought he might. How much did it take?”

  “Not money.”

  “No?” A frown flickered across his face. “Hey, he’s not paying you in kind is he?”

  Tannis ignored the comment. “He’s paying me in Meridian.”

  Shock flashed across Rico’s face. He glanced between the two of them. “And you said yes?”

  “I hadn’t yet. I was just getting round to it.”

  “Well, I think—”

  “If you tell me one more time that I’m making a huge mistake, I swear, I will shoot you.”

  “I was going to say. I think Daisy is readying for take-off. So I suppose I’d better go and let her know there’s a change of plans, though it might be an idea to get off this planet anyway. Arrange a new rendezvous.”

  “Oh.” Suddenly, she didn’t want to be left alone with Callum.

  “Maybe I’ll go tell Daisy myself.” She needed time to decide whether she wanted to take this thing with Callum any further.

  She’d told him she didn’t mix business with pleasure, well the truth was, she’d never been even the tiniest bit tempted to. She cast Callum a quick sideways glance and found his gaze fixed on her. A slow, knowing smile curled his lips, and a wave of heat washed over her. Her breasts ached, her nipples tightened. He could do that with just a look?

  Beside her, Rico coughed, and she swung around to face him.

  “You sure you don’t want to stay?” he asked.

  “Yeah, I’m sure. But we need a meeting, say in half an hour to decide how we’re going to do this. ” She strode across the room, but paused in the doorway to look back at Callum. “See yourself out.”

  Chapter 7

&n
bsp; Tannis knew he was behind her, but she didn’t turn, just stayed where she was, gazing at the blank screen.

  Everyone else was sleeping, or at least she’d presumed they were. She’d tried to, but sleep had eluded her, and in the end she’d given up and come up to the bridge. It was Daisy’s turn on watch, but Tannis had offered to take over and she’d gone thankfully to bed.

  How had Callum known she would be here? Or maybe he’d been expecting Daisy. But she didn’t believe that. She’d avoided him since their kiss. She was aware he’d been trying to get her alone, and he’d even come to her room last night, but she’d ignored the buzzer, and eventually he’d gone away. Afterward though, she couldn’t get the memory of his kiss from her mind. Or the rest of her body. She’d never felt this way before. Not even close. And she’d done something she’d never expected to do and touched herself.

  Closing her eyes, she’d pictured Callum as he’d looked just before he kissed her, his eyes dark with desire. She’d run her hands over the swell of her small breasts. Touched the nipples lightly with her fingertips. It hadn’t been enough, and she’d slid her hand down over her belly and between her thighs and found herself wet with desire. And he wasn’t even there. She’d got up, showered, and come up here, but she felt edgy and restless.

  The problem was, she still didn’t know if she wanted to take this thing between them further. She wished she could get to the bottom of why he was the one man who seemed to affect her like this. Maybe she was attracted to the power. He was so different.

  People usually came on board El Cazador because they were hiding, or in trouble. And she’d end up feeling responsible for them.

  But despite finding himself on the wrong end of Rico’s and her fists, she was quite aware that Callum could look after himself.

  There was a reason he’d risen to be leader of the Universe, and it wasn’t only the Meridian.

  Maybe something inside her liked the idea of someone else taking control, perhaps even looking after her for a change.

  After she’d escaped the research center, she’d sworn she would never put herself in anyone’s power again. So maybe she should wait until she’d had the Meridian treatment and they could meet on a more even footing. But then he would be leaving, going back to his real life ruling the world. And what would she do? She’d never really thought past getting the treatment. What would it be like having other people inside her head, reading her mind? She had problems enough controlling what she said, never mind what she thought. They’d just have to accept her as she was.