Chasing Constellations (The UGS Constellation Series)

by HA Fortman

  A strong arm wrapped around her lower back and tugged her as it spun her until their chests pressed together. Her hands were trapped between the press of silk shirt and terry cloth robe, but still she was able to knead her fingers against his flesh, her nails lightly scraping sent a shiver coursing through his body. The ragged groan vibrated against her palms as it turned into a savage growl of need, one Elisa answered with a need filled whine when he tried to pull away. Daring more than she ever had, Elisa latched onto his lower lips and gently bit down. It was enough to cause the man to dive back in, to control the kiss as his tongue broached her own lips and delved in to swirl and dance with her tongue before conquering it.

  Elisa’s mind was gone, turned to mush in an instant that dragged a lifetime, but ended all too soon, her questions and even the world around them slipping from her mind like the tide. Awareness returning slowly when two sharp stings brought her back to present as Chase dragged his canines, long and wickedly sharp, across her lower lip where he had bitten down lightly and pulled back. As he released the tantalizing flesh with a softer growl Elisa allowed her eyes to flutter open. She had no idea that they had even closed.

  Their breaths stuttered together as both panted through the desire, her back arching when she felt the slight tug and pull of fingers pinching and lightly twisting a taught nipple. When had he managed to get a hand between their bodies? When had he cupped her breast through the robe she had wrapped so tightly around her body?

  “Am I dreaming again?” That couldn’t have been her voice, so breathless and full of aching need, but the words came from her own mouth. One that was still full of electrical zings and tingles.

  Chase leaned his forehead against hers, his own eyes closing as he fought to regain control of his body, fighting to stop the racing tremors that rocked him. “No, Anare, it was no dream. Not this time. And I pray never again will it be a dream, but a shared reality.” Soft words spoken against her lips, his breath minty as it fanned against her inflamed skin.

  “Shared?” Breathlessly Elisa rested her head against the hollow of Chase’s neck and shoulder. She felt him slide an arm about her shoulders and another under knees but didn’t want to look. Somehow she knew where he was taking her and she was anticipating it, but didn’t want to make it seem like she was untried and anxious

  “Yes. I knew you were dreaming of the kiss while you were on the ship, but I did not give that dream to you then, but I did want to. Now I will be able to and so much more. Will you will have me, Elisa?” How could such a strong man appear so vulnerable was beyond her, but Elisa heard that slight catch in his voice, almost as though he was afraid of her answer.

  Elisa wrapped her arms around his neck, once more curling into his warm and protective embrace. Unable to resist the temptation she lightly ran her tongue along the tall column of his neck, laughing softly when it caused him to stumble.

  Chapter 20

  Tracker pulled himself up off the floor where Chase had tried to make him one with the wooden storage unit.

  A deep rumbling chuckle filtered through his lips before he could stop it.

  While he knew Chase wasn’t going to tell Elisa everything, and he felt she deserved to know it, he couldn’t really blame his friend for over reacting. Although he would be sure to remember how Chase lost his near-finite control and take great pleasure in reminding his friend as often as he could.

  “What the hell? Are you ok?” Tracker turned his head and saw the surprise warring with the concern on the detective’s face, a look that caused a rare grin to spread across his own.

  “It would seem my friend and Commander is a bit jealous and protective of his Anare. He’s usually better at his shoves than this, but then his protective instincts are rising fast right now. Yes, I am well, but these walls were not meant for someone flying into them, I fear I have broken one.” When he had finally managed to pry himself loose he turned and surveyed the damage done.

  One door was hanging by a single hinge and swinging precariously. There was a crack in the Formica covering that ran for several inches over the top of a crack under its sticky surface. “Hmm... If Chase has his way then we will not have to worry about it, still I will send someone to repair the damages.”

  “Why won’t Elisa have to worry about the damage?” David said as he leaned over and looked at the door, nudging it with a finger. “I’ve gotta admit, I’m impressed. If he can do that to you then he can definitely protect her.”

  “Because Elisa will not be here, Chase will not allow her to be in further danger and he will be unable to leave her for long.” Tracker didn’t even really pay attention to what he was saying as he instead searched the cupboards curiously.

  He had no idea what any of the things were for aside from the obvious. The plates and bowls and like were obviously used for eating but the round things of various depths and sizes with handles? He had no idea or clue what they were or how to use them though he surmised they were for preparing food.

  “I’m going to guess that my Captain will not let us use Elisa as bait, and if he doesn’t then I will convince him somehow. I know you’re going to be going after her friend Sandy but what else are you and Chase going to do about this murderer that’s targeted Elisa? The more I can take to my Captain the more likely he’ll be to agree to it.”

  Tracker stopped looking through the cupboards just long enough to shoot a look over his shoulder at the detective before going back through them again.

  “I have already wired the house and grounds with recording devices and alarms. Should anyone show up then we will know about it. As soon as we iron out what Elisa will do then I will take myself off to this Detroit and search for Sandy and bring her back here. If the one that has her is like us then she will not be able to stay for her own safety.” His voice was a bit muffled as he opened the refrigerator and stuck his head inside.

  “We are giving you our trust as well Detective. You know many of our secrets and they could jeopardize our mission to capture Mestrock and I am sure your leaders would love to have the chance to examine us. We have seen what you broadcast to the rest of the universe.”

  “What we… I’m not sure I follow you here Tracker.”

  “The interrogations and attacking those not from Earth, how your leader's capture and dissect anyone they capture. Although not all of the transmissions were bad, and we understand that not all were unwarranted. However, we have not come here to harm your population, merely to apprehend someone that has broken our own laws well before he came here.” Tracker shut the door, amazed that for such a primitive race they had found a means to preserve food through individual cooling units, even if they weren’t as energy efficient as some of the ones on his own personal craft.

  “Oh good grief, are you talking about the shows on T.V.? Those are make-believe and meant to scare or excite people, they’re not fact and they’re not how our government would treat others! Granted, I can’t say just how the public would react to finding aliens in our own back yard. I know it shocked the shit out of me, but I’m good with it as long as we can stop this asshole from killing any more of my innocent citizens!” Tracker could tell how upset the killings had made David and he respected him even more for admitting it in his own way.

  “We will do all in our power to stop him Detective, but we cannot let you have him. Once we apprehend him we will have to take him with us to answer for killings he has done before now. I hope it will not harm you in any way when we do so. I would not wish to jeopardize you in such a manner. You seem to be taking this rather well. Learning that you are not the only ones in the universe has to be quite the shock.”

  “Honestly, at this point I just want him stopped. The case has stalled out for us and we have already lost half of our task force. As for being alone, I’d always suspected we weren’t and so long as we can work together to stop the bad guys from winning then I will curb my shock and deal with the larger matter at hand.” David shrugged before he moved to take a seat at the k
itchen table, the solid oak surface cool beneath his hands as he ran them back and forth.

  Tracker tilted his head as he watched this motion, humans sometimes did things when they were upset and not able to stop or even not able to do something. “Let us plan what we will do to entice him to come into our trap like a little Festra about to be caught by a hunter.”

  “What’s a Festra? Never mind. Let’s hash this plan out so I can go get raked over the coals by my captain before he finally caves and gives me the manpower to stop this man.” David waved his hand in the air, dismissing his own question before he pulled his notepad out of his pocket. Tracker bet that the man never went anywhere without it, even betting that he slept with it close by.

  “It is a small bird prey… but it does not matter. I said that I have placed hidden recording devices throughout the house and grounds. There are a few traps outside as well as in the house.” Absently Tracker began to outline where everything was located, watching as David drew out the layout of the house and grounds.

  He pointed to the various items and where he thought David’s men would serve best. Within an hour they had a plan roughly drawn out.

  “I think it best if we have Elisa give a general ‘this is what happened’ interview to the local newspapers. Have them release a main story as soon as possible. Then a few days later have her give a full-fledged press release with myself to rub in that she was able to survive the beating he gave her. Snub him with that fact as much as possible.” David’s suggestion made sense to Tracker, although he was unsure what exactly a press release was or why they would need to squeeze Elisa, or David for that matter. He would let this part of the plan be decided upon by David since he knew more of what means this planet had to communicate the news with.

  Once they had the plans hammered out Tracker peeked around the corner and saw that the other room was empty, tilting his head, he heard Chase and Elisa murmuring in another room and finally allowed that hovering grin to spread fully. He had always wanted his Commander to find someone to capture him, and the fact that it was Chase’s Anare was a bonus even he hadn’t planned on.

  “They have left the room, Detective, you are free to leave and speak to your superiors if you so wish. I will be gathering as much information as I can on this Sandy Constance and preparing to leave as soon as I am able to. When I find her I will contact you.”

  Tracker stood and moved toward the door, knowing that the detective would be on his heels. When he had opened the front door, he stood beside it, staring at the hand the detective held out to him before he grabbed the other man’s forearm. He was surprised when the detective shook his head and grabbed his hand instead, pumping it up and down once. “Good day to you Detective, until we meet again.”

  Chapter 21

  Chase was sure to be extra careful as he lifted Elisa. He didn’t want to add to her pain and wished he could take it away completely, or to at least have Yannick remove the last of the bruising, but he knew he wouldn’t be able to until they finally caught Mestrock. They had to make it as convincing as possible for the press to believe she was lucky to have survived the beating. Hell, he was amazed she had!

  As he carried her from the couch and to the bedroom, his world dropped out from under him. That long, slow slide of her tongue nearly brought him to his knees. He stumbled at the feel of it gliding over his body and fought to not take her here and now, the others be damned. It was only through sheer will power that he righted himself and all but ran down the hallway. Why was the room so far away when he really, desperately, needed it to be closer?

  He couldn’t bear the thought of losing her, not after he just found her. And while he was not happy with the idea of using her as bait, he was strong enough to admit that it might be their only chance. However, this was not a time that he was going to stop and think about such things, and especially not when that deep chuckle caused electricity to shoot down his body, or when the chuckle that flowed over the damp skin sent his own flesh into a riot of goose bumps.

  He finally made it to the door of her room and was able to fumble his way through the door, hooking his heel around the wood and slamming it closed with more force than necessary.

  “In a hurry are we, Chase?” Again she sent a storm of sensations across his body and she moved her head from the crook of his neck and bit down lightly.

  As she nibbled and sucked her way along his jaw, Chase’s steps stuttered to a halt. His eyes closed on a groan that was ripped from the very center of his being. When she moved her way back down to just over the collar of his shirt and bit down hard he about lost all resemblance of control and came like a youngling seeing their first naked female.

  He hurriedly made his way to her bed and all but dropped to his knees on the soft surface. Chase just barely managed to lay her on it before standing and stepping away.

  With her dark robe she looked like a sacrifice laid out for his pleasure. Her white flesh peeking through in a tantalizing manner that left her long, lean legs peeking in a stark contrast, drew his eye from the dainty feet upward. The only thing keeping it closed was the belt around her waist, the chest area gaping open to expose just a hint of the hidden treasures at her chest.

  He wasn’t sure if she was aware of just what a sight she made or how much he wanted to dive into her. Chase had to clench his fists at his sides to keep from devouring her right then and there.

  *~*~*

  Elisa was amazed. She had no idea that coming out to California would prove to be such a life changing event. Nor that a man… well, a male rather, would be as interested in her as she was of him.

  She had tried to resist the urges to lick and nibble and bite his flesh, but she simply wasn’t strong enough to. Each sound he made only drove her harder, sending more tingles zipping through her body until it pooled in her lower stomach. It seemed to feed the butterflies fluttering about and the tightening of her abdomen only increased their movements.

  When he ground to a halt and then rushed to place her on the bed Elisa couldn’t hide the grin that blazed across her face. A grin that turned decidedly wicked as she allowed her eyes to trail over his coiled body.

  While he stood beside her and obviously moved his eyes across her sprawled body, she allowed her own to take in the decadent treat waiting for her. His rapid breathing only teased as it pulled the shirt tight then loose over and over again.

  She’d done that. With just a kiss and a few nibbles she’d made this male become so lost to the haze surrounding them and building with each heartbeat that he stopped dead in his tracks and nearly dropped her.

  As soon as Elisa had Chase’s attention she let her hands slide over her own body. Cupping her breasts over the top of her dark robe before gliding down to the belt where she toyed with the ends, only loosening the knot slightly before dragging them further down to her thighs and playing with the edges of the robe.

  Ever so slowly as Elisa slid the terry cloth to the sides, she watched Chase’s reaction. His labored breathing stopped when her knees were exposed. His deep thrumming groan encouraged her to let it slide until most of her upper thighs were bared. She earned a deep growl when she pushed the fabric once more over her legs, giving a soft laugh. She felt powerful, sexy, and desirable in a way she never had before and wanted to see how far she could push him.

  Before she could do more Chase attacked, it’s the only way she could describe the way his fingers uncurled from their fists and he launched himself over her. He grabbed Elisa’s wrists and pushed them beside her head then slowly to the headboard. Transferring her hands so that he could hold both in one fist as he fit his body atop hers, his other moving to her knead her breast through the folds of the robe.

  “You are going to kill me for the wanting. Teasing in such a way will land you in trouble each and every time Anare.” His voice was so deep, so breathless, that Elisa wouldn’t know it was Chase if he weren’t hovered over top of her.

  Elisa moaned and pushed her head back as she felt the evidence
of her teasing pressing against the juncture of my hips. As innocent as she was Elisa didn’t realize the full extent of her movements, of baring her throat as she had and what it did to Chase’s predatory side.

  Chase didn’t skip a beat as he leaned down and returned the favor by nibbling and kissing. He started at her lips and feasted on hers before gliding to the side and lightly biting a path along her jaw. He scraped his canines along one side of her throat to her collar bone before retracing his path with a slow slide of his tongue and following the same torment along the other side of her neck.

  Soft lips pressed a line between her breasts. Pushing the edges of the robe out of the way and letting the short stubble of his facial hair to barely scrape against the swell of his life mate’s left breast.

  His breath was a rush of warmth that had Elisa curling her toes rose as it ran along the edge of her nipple nearly had her screaming in frustration as it just barely passed over the sensitive flesh. She arched her back and tried to push that aching bit of flesh into his mouth, but he only chuckled and pulled away, just out of her reach.

  Through half closed eyes Elisa watched as Chase smirked before dipping down once again. He never gave her the chance to look away. While he kept her gaze, he let his tongue slide out slowly into a sharp point that just barely tapped the tip of her nipple.

  Elisa gasped at the maelstrom of feelings that rushed through her body and brought her back bowing off the bed even higher than before and held her breath captive in her chest.