Love's Beguiling Healer

by Angela Verdenius

  "As long as you're not badly hurt,” Denyon said with relief. “Here, let me see—"

  Illam hissed and stepped forward. “If anyone is going to check, it'll be me."

  "I don't think so.” Wylin moved in front of Tera. “I'm her bodyguard, and it's my duty to check her injuries."

  Oh, suns! Tera rolled here eyes and stepped around Wylin. The men were facing each other, Illam bristling and snarling, Denyon watching him warily, and Wylin ready to defend her at the slightest move.

  "I've news for you all,” she snapped. “It's my arse, my injury, and my responsibility. Now if you all want to fight about who isn't going to check me, you can go outside this cabin and do it. You'll all lose anyway. No one is seeing it but me!"

  That whole sentence didn't really make sense, but it obviously made enough to cause the men to back off from each other.

  "My apologies. We were concerned for your welfare.” Denyon inclined his head. “We'll leave you to it, Tera."

  Illam didn't look like he wanted to leave. Legs braced apart, balanced on the balls of his feet, he was still eyeing Wylin, who was totally unimpressed.

  "Illam!” Denyon said sharply. There was a bite to his tone that wasn't normally present, and it made Tera look at him in surprise.

  Illam gave Tera one long, hot look, then he spun lithely on his heel and stalked out of the cabin. She could swear she saw his bum muscle twitch beneath his tight pants, but that just had to be her imagination. Right? Right.

  The door shut behind them, only quieter this time. Wylin waited in silence as Tera slowly put the equipment away.

  Finally he said, “Lift your skirt and let me see—"

  "Bugger off."

  "Tera, how bad is it? You can't see it, you don't know."

  "Wylin, a needle in there isn't dangerous, and I'll have hardly bled at all, or at least only a little bit. But I'll have a vicious bruise soon, and sitting down is going to be a bit of a problem. So don't stress me anymore, all right?"

  "All right.” He remained silent for a few more seconds, then he broke it, his voice condemning. “Tera, you know better than anyone that leaving an uncapped needle anywhere is dangerous. You were lucky that needle was clean. If it had been used, with unknown DNA and anything else these Felys might have in them that's alien to us, who knows what could happen?"

  "I could grow a tail and whiskers?"

  "That is not funny!"

  "Sorry."

  "Their race has runts. What if it's a virus or something? You could have picked it up!"

  "Well, it was an unused syringe and needle, so..."

  "You must promise me you'll be more careful."

  "I'm a healer, aren't I? This is the first mistake I've made. Don't rub it in."

  "A healer who should know better."

  "It's going to be a long lecture, isn't it?"

  "Don't be such a smart mouth."

  "Oooohh, resorting to name calling. Let me get a mug of hot una and get comfortable first."

  "Tera, you're in my care—"

  "Fine, but I'm also responsible for my own actions and mistakes. Kiile and Father placed me in your care, but they know there's only so much you can make me do.” Crossing the cabin to stand close to him, she placed her hand on his chest and smiled winsomely up at him. “They would never hold you responsible for anything stupid I did under my own steam."

  "I would."

  "Don't be silly.” She patted his cheek fondly. “You've always tried to watch out for me and Hanna when we were kids all growing up together, and it never worked then. Guard me well when we're in trouble, but never think you have full control over my actions.” She started to laugh. “Do you really think Kiile and Father expect you to have full control?"

  "I guess that's why they put a whole scout ship full of Felys on your case as well.” Wylin sighed. “And yet, I have a sense of foreboding..."

  Catching the teasing glint in his eyes, Tera laughed, gave him one final pat on the cheek, and headed for the bathroom. “I'm going to have a shower and relax for the rest of the day."

  "I'll check on you later,” he promised. “I'll just be in my cabin beside yours if you need me."

  "No worries."

  The shower was utter bliss, the hot water bringing some relief to her sore buttock. But no matter how much she craned her neck, she couldn't see the sore spot.

  She soaped her hair and thought back to the event that had caused it all. Who knew that Illam would respond with such aggression to her methods of data collecting? The other Felys had purred and enjoyed the sensations, but Illam ... Illam had been majorly aroused.

  The strength and aggression in him when he'd grabbed her ... Tera felt the shiver go through her, and tried to convince herself that it was loathing, not delicious delight.

  "Oh hell,” she said in disgust. “Admit it, Tera. You loved it. It's been ages since anyone grabbed you and swung you around and kissed you so thoroughly. You loved every second of it, you deviant."

  Well, until the needle jabbed her in the bottom. That had cut short all desire.

  "All right, not a deviant in all areas.” She grinned ruefully.

  * * * *

  Cold showers were not something any Felys liked. Warm water, scented soap, luxurious suds ... that was the thing. Cold showers were hell.

  Illam had been in hell a lot lately since meeting Tera.

  The cold water poured over his heated flesh, and he could almost imagine that it sizzled as it touched his overheated skin and dissolved in a cloud of steam.

  It did serve to put out the fire burning in his groin, though. Sort of. His raging erection wasn't going down without a fight. It wanted a hot channel to bury itself in. A hot, slick channel. Tera's channel.

  Groaning, Illam turned his face up to the cold spray. Don't think about her, or you're going to have to introduce your right hand to your penis, and unfortunately, you've already done that a couple of times this trip. And every single time it's to do with that little witch.

  That hot little witch.

  He had some facts to deal with, and some puzzles to sort out.

  And Denyon, he knew, was waiting to have a word with him.

  It had taken Illam a full hour to get his temper under control. He'd left Tera's cabin unwillingly. She'd been hurt, and he'd wanted to see for himself that she was all right. He knew she was all right. It was only a needle stick injury, by Delcat. It would hurt, but it wasn't dangerous.

  But he'd wanted to check, to run his hands over the soft globes of her bottom, and rasp his tongue across the injury...

  His staff throbbed, his sac pulling tight at the image of Tera naked and sprawled out on her stomach on the bed, waiting for him. Moaning as he licked her injury then ran his tongue lower, his hands dipping between her soft thighs...

  With a groan he wrapped his hand around his burgeoning staff, feeling the hardness of it, knowing it wasn't enough to give himself relief, but it was the only way.

  Leaning back against the cool tiles, he stroked himself, imagining that it was her hands on him, her channel gripping him tightly...

  The water beat upon the sensitive head of his rod, the spray inflaming him more.

  His hand moved faster, his fist tightening. Gripping himself. Pumping his staff.

  And all the time he imagined it was her, the gasps coming from his mouth intermingling with those of his fantasy lover.

  His sac drew up tighter. Tighter. Reaching down, he cupped his sac. Squeezed firmly yet carefully. Pressing himself up against his perineum, while simultaneously pumping himself harder and faster.

  The image that tipped him over the edge was of Tera's mouth taking him in deep and sucking hard.

  He came, his seed erupting, only to be washed away down the drain.

  It left him physically sated, but mentally and spiritually unsatisfied. Turning off the water, he reached for the towel, and leaning against the wall, he dried himself off. When he'd finished, he left the shower and dressed in a pair of loose, bla
ck pants that hung low on his lean hips. Picking up the brush, he ran it through his drying hair.

  It was soothing, but not as soothing as Tera's fingers had been as they'd combed through his hair and massaged his scalp.

  Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath.

  "Illam?” Denyon called from the main cabin. “Are you ready to talk to me?"

  * * * *

  Space

  The space pirates had broken through the hold, and were slowly fighting their way up the stairwell.

  He'd jammed the platform lift, cutting off their progress from below. But the fighting was fast and furious.

  He knew his friends lay dead and dying below. Several of them burst through the stairwell door. One was being half carried, blood blossoming on his chest. Another man had blood coating the whole side of his face, and for a split second, he almost didn't recognize his friend.

  "They've broken through!” his friend shouted. “Help me jam the door shut!"

  They locked it, and then rammed an iron rail through the handle. Thumps came from the other side, followed by the high-pitched whine of the metal cutter the space pirates wielded.

  "Where's the Cap'n?” Another man yelled.

  "He's coming down from the laser guns."

  At the moment, their captain came through the door from the stairwell leading to the top floor. He looked bleakly at them all.

  "The guns...?” one of the men began.

  "The lasers are destroyed.” The Captain looked around at the men standing in the corridor. “Some of us make a stand here.” The Captain looked at him. “You take half of the remainder of the crew and hold the third floor."

  He obeyed without question. Half the crew followed him, using the platform lift. Looking back at his comrades, he wondered if he'd see them alive again.

  Their faces, normally so happy and full of laughter, looked back grimly at him. They raised their hands in a silent salute ... or a goodbye?

  * * * *

  Denyon was standing by the space shield, staring out at the stars beyond. Though he appeared relaxed, Illam knew he was alert to his every movement. As soon as Illam appeared in the doorway of the bathroom, Denyon let the curtain drop back over the space shield. Turning around, he surveyed him out of green eyes. His pupils were slitted as he contemplated his friend and second-in-command.

  Illam watched him warily. He'd never before challenged Denyon, yet he had in Tera's cabin. Pushing forward and denying Denyon the right as his captain to make the decision between himself and Illam as to which of them would check Tera's injury. Illam had overstepped his bounds. It was a challenge he hadn't even been aware of making.

  He raised a brow at Denyon, waiting.

  "It's time we had a little chat,” Denyon stated.

  "Just a chat?"

  "I'd take you to the sparring cabin for a bloody good fight to determine who is the dominant Felys on this ship, but I have a feeling this isn't a leadership challenge issue."

  Illam relaxed. “I don't challenge your leadership, Denyon. You're my friend and a damned good captain. I'm proud to serve under you on this scout ship."

  "But there's still the fact of that challenge."

  Illam had the grace to look a little sheepish. “I blame it on that head massage Tera gave me."

  "Head massage?"

  "The feelings she produced in me were indescribable."

  Denyon repeated everything that Tera had done to him, adding, “Did she do anything different to you?"

  "No.” He could just about feel those slim fingers tunneling through his hair now.

  "Then how come it affected you and not the rest of us?"

  Rest of them? Illam's head shot up and he glared at Denyon.

  "Hmmm.” Denyon stroked behind his ear thoughtfully.

  "There's no ‘hmmm’ about it,” Illam growled.

  "Your reaction when I mentioned that the other Felys had the same treatment from her was quite interesting."

  They better not have felt anything more than the pleasure of being stroked. None of them had better of had lustful thoughts about her!

  "I'm no mind reader, Illam, but I can see the thought doesn't please you."

  "Did any of them even hint to you that they felt anything more than pleasure?"

  "No."

  Illam relaxed slightly.

  "Which makes me wonder why you reacted so differently?” Denyon raised one brow. “Like a Felys scenting a female in heat."

  Illam recoiled. “I didn't!"

  "Snarch shit.” Denyon stabbed his finger in his direction. “Ever since you've met Tera, you and she have been sparking off each other. You did all but issue an ownership challenge back in her cabin."

  "No way.” Yes way. Illam cleared his throat.

  Crossing to the sofa, Denyon dropped down onto it and stretched out his legs.

  Taking the hint that the confrontation wasn't going to an angry one, Illam took the armchair opposite and rested his ankle on his opposite knee. Placing his elbow on the armrest, he rested his chin on his fist and watched his friend.

  "I'm not going to muck around,” Denyon stated quietly. “You're attracted to the Argon healer."

  "No.” Would you call a raging erection attraction? No, it's lust, plain and simple.

  "Let's see.” Denyon held up his hand and started to tick off on his fingers as he spoke. “You've kissed her. You've been caught in a compromising situation with her. Sparks smolder whenever you two get within a couple of feet of each other. She can make you lose your temper like no one else can. You challenged both me and Wylin for her, whether you want to admit it or not.” He quirked one brow, a habit that Illam was starting to find most irritating. “Need I go on?"

  "What, you have more?” Illam sneered.

  "You marked her with your scent. You claim to be able to smell her perfume.” Denyon narrowed his eyes. “The female wears no perfume that you describe, Illam."

  "Of course she does. Something spicy yet sweet."

  "You're the only one who can smell that on her. What does that tell you?"

  "You're getting a cold?"

  "What, all the soldiers on this ship?"

  Illam shrugged, still unwilling to admit anything.

  Denyon sighed in impatience. “Illam, I know you, like most of us, aren't happy with the fact that one of our females has fallen in love and mated with an Argon—"

  "An outworlder."

  "Whatever. But she has, and it goes to show that if it can happen to her, it can happen to any of us."

  Illam snarled his disagreement.

  "Maybe you should consider that you're attracted to Tera,” Denyon said bluntly.

  Illam scowled. “Preposterous."

  "Why? All the signs are there."

  "You think I go sniffing around her?” Illam's scowl grew.

  "I don't think, I know. I see you inhaling her scent whenever she's in the vicinity, and even when she isn't nearby. You know where to find her when no one else has a clue."

  "You're imagining it,” Illam scoffed. “She smells strange, that's why I know where she is."

  "Oh, really? So how come you can't smell Wylin? How come you don't know where to find him?"

  Illam opened his mouth to retort, but he really didn't know, so he closed his mouth and shrugged.

  "One thing you're not is dumb, Illam. If this was me, what would you be saying?"

  "Nothing."

  "Stop snarling. You're more temperamental than I normally am, and you're supposed to be the easy-going one of the two of us.” Denyon leaned forward. “Your moods swing, and the sooner you come to accept that you're attracted to Tera, the sooner you'll figure out what to do about it."

  "You're wrong."

  Denyon stood up and shook his head. “Just think about it, Illam. Your prejudice is blinding you right now—"

  "Prejudice?” Illam was stung. “If I was prejudiced, do you think I'd be tolerating the Argons around me?"

  "If Tera was a Felys, Illam, you'd have
had her up against the nearest wall days ago. Almost as soon as you met her, in fact. But you can't get past the fact that she's an outworlder."

  Involuntarily, Illam's top lip lifted and a low growl came from him.

  "Just think about it, Illam.” Denyon crossed to the door and pulled it open, then he stopped and turned to give him a long, hard, considering look. “And if you're not attracted to Tera, why did you have to give yourself relief in the shower?"

  Illam shot to his feet. “By Jocat, Denyon, you go too far if you've been spying on me!"

  "Spying? No one has to spy on you to see that bulge you had in your trousers when I ordered you from her room. By Delcat, Illam, your jacket couldn't even conceal it properly. You're just lucky I got you out of there before your hormones went wild and you lost control.” Denyon stabbed his finger in his direction. “Sort yourself out before we get back to Scytha."

  He slammed the door behind him and left Illam snarling in the cabin on his own.

  Tense and angry, Illam started pacing. He didn't want to admit that Denyon could even be a smidgen correct. Attracted to that sharp-tongued little healer? No! Inconceivable! He just hadn't yet found a mate amongst his own kind, that was all. He needed one of his own to mate with. It was just being in such close proximity with Tera that was wearing on him. Maybe his sexual peak was coming on him. But it had never affected him like this.

  He stopped in the middle of the cabin, his feet ankle deep in the lush carpeting. Who are you trying to fool? You've not been attracted to one of your kind for a long time. Tera turns you inside out.

  He recommenced pacing. There was no chance of anything between them. They were too different. He was a Felys, she an Argon. If she was one of his kind, then maybe...

  Jaw squaring, Illam stopped and drew a deep breath. Decision time.

  He found her attractive. Red hot, in fact. But it made no difference. He wasn't ready to think about relations with a female from another species. And even if he did, she was here on a mission on behalf of his people. How would it look to the Argons if he diddled with their healer? Wylin would be after his blood, no doubt about it.

  Rolling his head on his shoulders, Illam sought to ease the knots of tension. No, Tera was on a mission. He'd keep his distance and ... and what? Hell, I don't know. That's why I'm keeping my distance from now on.