Deadly Pursuit (A Blood Hunter Novel, #2)

by Nina Croft

  Hurt flashed across her face, but he ignored it. Time she learned the realities of life. He reached out and pulled the jumpsuit closed, right up to her neck.

  “Now you’ve said your thank you. Get out.”

  She opened her mouth. Then snapped it closed again, whirled around, and left the room.

  Jon took a deep breath and slammed his hand on the panel to shut the door. His body ached. He couldn’t remember ever feeling like this. Needing some sort of relief, he shoved his hand down his pants, wrapped his fist around his erection, and closed his eyes.

  An image of Alex played across his mind, on her knees in front of him, her soft pink mouth wrapped around his engorged cock. He’d bet she’d never done that before either. No doubt, he’d have to tell her how he liked it, but she’d be a fast learner. He could almost feel her small fingers stroking his balls, while her tongue…

  “Oh hell.”

  A minute later he came.

  …

  Alex got halfway down the corridor and stopped. Instinct told her she’d nearly had him; he’d been so close to losing control.

  She had a brief twinge of guilt over the tears. Especially when she had sworn she wasn’t going to cry again. Maybe she would burn in hell. But Janey had suggested it if all else failed. She’d said most men went to pieces if a woman cried, and that had certainly been true of Rico earlier. He’d been shocked.

  Shocked was better than no reaction at all.

  Her lips still tingled, and she touched them with her finger then pressed her hand against her breast.

  His mouth had been hot and hard, the taste of him unforgettable. But there was also a gentleness in the way he touched her that was at such odds with his words and size. He’d said he wasn’t in the business of protecting anyone, but he had rushed in and rescued her. And kissed her.

  Her first kiss.

  Beneath her palm, her heart gave a little jump and unease shifted inside her. This thing with Jon was supposed to be simple fun—it was never meant to touch her heart.

  Chapter Ten

  “So what sort of fighting do you want to learn?” Skylar asked.

  Since their escape two days ago, they’d headed out into deep space, the idea being to keep a low profile while Janey worked on the information they’d got from Jon’s contact. She was searching for anything that would give them some idea of why the Collective wanted Jon—and the rest of the crew—dead so badly.

  Everyone was on edge, waiting for something to happen, and Skylar had jumped at the chance to teach Alex some fighting moves. She’d led her down to the docking bay, where there was more room, and spread some mats on the floor.

  Alex frowned at the question. “What sort of fighting is there?”

  “Well, to my mind, there are only two kinds. The kind you start, and the kind you try and finish. That’s offensive and defensive.”

  “Defensive, I suppose.”

  “You don’t sound too sure?”

  Alex thought about it. Mainly, she wanted to know how to defend herself. She never wanted to feel as helpless as she had with Bastion again. Even if she couldn’t win against someone so much stronger, she’d still rather go down fighting. On the other hand, she had to admit that there were a few people she wouldn’t mind starting a fight with. Hezrai for one.

  Skylar grinned. “Okay, we’ll do both. But you’ve got to realize that you’re at a serious disadvantage in any hand-to-hand.”

  “I am?”

  “Yeah. You can build up your strength, but you’ll never be a match for most guys. Probably your best bet is to play on that. Try to look weak. Lull them into a false sense of security.”

  Alex sighed. “Only trouble is the sense of security would hardly be false.”

  “Don’t worry. You just have to learn to use your strengths and play down your weaknesses.”

  “I have strengths?”

  “Course you do. I’m betting you’re fast, and you’re bright. We can work with those. Okay, so the first thing you have to learn is that physical combat should only be entered into as a last resort. A professional soldier—somebody that does this stuff for a living—will almost always back down from a fight he isn’t absolutely compelled to take part in.”

  “He will? I can’t imagine Rico running from a fight.”

  “I did say professionals. Rico’s not a professional—he’s a…”

  She seemed at a loss for words.

  Blood-sucking maniacal monster?

  The words hovered on Alex’s tongue, but she bit them back.

  Skylar shrugged. “There’s also a danger that you might learn to enjoy it. The adrenaline rush can be like nothing else—it’s addictive. Which is fine if you’re a six-foot-four vampire with big teeth. Or a six-foot-four werewolf with big teeth. Not so good if you’re a…” She trailed off a second time.

  “A five-foot-one woman with small teeth?” Alex supplied for her.

  “Yeah. So your first tactic is avoid situations which might lead to violence.”

  “You mean stay on the ship when there’s a scary, bad vampire outside.”

  “Exactly. If you can’t help but put yourself into harm’s way, the next best option is—run. As fast as you can. But if you absolutely have to fight, try and get it over with fast. Take the initiative, and once you’ve committed don’t hesitate.”

  Alex nodded.

  “Right, I want you to come at me. Pretend I’m about to do something you don’t like, and you have to stop me.”

  Alex had no clue, but she gritted her teeth and hurled herself at Skylar. A moment later, she was flat on her back on the mat. She wasn’t even sure what had happened—Skylar had moved so fast—but she suspected she’d swiped her feet out from under her.

  Staring up at the black and silver ceiling, she wondered whether she should stay down here.

  A hand appeared by her nose, she clasped it, and Skylar pulled her to her feet.

  “Don’t take it too bad,” Skylar said. “I’ve been fighting since I joined the Corps over a hundred years ago. Come on—try again. This time you know what to expect.”

  Thirty minutes later, Alex was a sweaty, heaving mass of aches. She hadn’t landed a single blow on Skylar though the last two times she had managed to stay on her feet for at least thirty seconds—a huge improvement. She pulled the clingy material of the jumpsuit away from her breasts and fanned her hot face, then got ready to try again. Despite the pain, she was actually enjoying herself.

  A sound from the open doorway behind her made her turn, breaking her concentration, and Skylar swiped her legs from under her, dropping her on her ass for about the twentieth time. Rico chuckled, and she ground her teeth.

  “Hey, that’s not fair,” she muttered. “I wasn’t ready.”

  “Life isn’t fair, and you’ve got to learn to be ready whatever happens. Use every advantage to take the other person down, and don’t let yourself be distracted,” Skylar said. “Keep your focus on your opponent.”

  Alex dragged herself to her feet and rubbed her sore backside as Rico sauntered over and flung himself into a chair close by.

  “Hey, Al’s got breasts.”

  She went still and looked across to where he lounged, arms clasped behind his head, an amused expression on his face. “Who would have guessed it?”

  Skylar turned around to stare at him through narrowed eyes. “It’s Alex not Al. And you’d better stop staring at her breasts, or you’ll get another laser shot across the butt.”

  “I wasn’t admiring them or anything—I was just surprised. Though now you come to mention it…”

  Skylar made to draw her laser pistol, and he raised his hands in mock defense.

  Alex had been terrified of him when she first came on board. She still was, but not nearly so much. He had changed since Skylar joined them. Before that, he’d been a dark and mysterious figure who’d kept to himself and refused anything to do with the crew, well, except for the captain.

  Obviously, all he’d needed was the
love of a good woman. Perhaps that’s all Jon needed as well. Trouble was, she wasn’t sure she was good. Besides, she wasn’t looking for love. All she wanted was a new experience before she went back to real life. Love didn’t come into it. How could it when she didn’t even believe in love? She shoved aside the memory of the queer little twist of her heart when he’d kissed her. Or to be more honest—when she had kissed him.

  “You know,” Skylar said, “I can teach you some basic moves, to use as a surprise tactic, but you really need something more.” She studied Alex, hands on her hips. “Hmm, I’m thinking serious firepower. And a blade, maybe two.”

  “Why do I find that seriously scary and an enormous turn-on at the same time?” Rico drawled.

  “Because you’re a pervert?” Skylar suggested.

  “Oh yeah.”

  Alex personally liked the sound of serious firepower, and she followed Skylar across the room to the weapons cabinet tucked in the corner. Together they studied the contents.

  “Here,” Skylar said and handed her a weapons belt with a laser pistol.

  “Are you sure that’s wise?” Rico asked from behind them.

  “Of course it is.” Skylar watched as Alex wrapped it around her waist. “Just remember never aim at someone you’re not willing to shoot.”

  Alex liked the feel of the gun at her waist. She rested her hand on the grip and practiced a quick draw.

  “What’s going on?”

  Jon stood in the open doorway, and the muscles clenched low in her belly. He’d showered and his hair was wet and slicked back from his face. He wore black leather pants and a white shirt, the sleeves rolled up over his dark forearms, a laser pistol strapped to his waist. Alex swallowed.

  “Skylar’s teaching Alex to fight,” Rico replied.

  “Is that wise?”

  “Exactly my question.”

  “Wow,” Skylar said. “Great minds think alike.”

  “She any good?” Jon asked, coming into the room.

  To Alex’s amazement, Rico didn’t immediately jump in and say she was crap. Instead, he shrugged. “Well, she’s fast.”

  “Useful for running away.”

  Alex’s hand tightened on the laser pistol. But she remembered Skylar’s words, and she didn’t think she was quite ready to shoot Jon yet, though she was getting close. Instead, she shoved the pistol back in its holster and wiped some of the sweat from her forehead.

  At least he seemed to have stopped flirting with the others, or he didn’t do it when she was around. Which was just as well, as she reckoned that would be legitimate cause for a laser blast.

  He was watching her now, a disdainful expression on his face. “She’ll never be a fighter. She doesn’t have the instinct.”

  Rico grinned. “Oh, I don’t know, looking at her expression right now I think the instinct’s there.”

  Jon stepped farther into the room and shrugged. “The only way to fight is to presume you win or you die.”

  “Not everyone would agree with you.”

  “Yeah, they’re the sort who do the dying.”

  “And what sort are you?” Skylar asked.

  “What do you think?”

  Skylar nodded toward the mats. “You want to have a go?”

  He grinned. “Why not?”

  Skylar led the way, and the two stood facing each other. Skylar was at least six inches shorter than Jon and half the width, but she faced him with an easy confidence that stirred a flicker of jealousy in Alex.

  Rico patted the seat next to him. “So how are you feeling?”

  Alex glanced at him warily, but sat down on the edge of the seat. “Why?”

  “I just wondered. Some people react strangely to a vampire’s bite. They get cravings.”

  “Cravings?” Then she realized what he meant and a shudder of disgust ran through her. “Ugh!”

  He gave a short bark of laughter. “Well, that puts me in my place.”

  There was actually something Alex had wanted to ask since the attack—now was as good a time as any. “That thing you and Bastion did…”

  “Thing?”

  “Where you made me do what you said.” She nibbled her lower lip. “How far does it go? Can you make me do anything?”

  “You want me to test it?”

  “No!”

  He grinned. “Don’t worry—it only works for simple physical acts. If too much thinking is involved, the brain takes over and breaks the compulsion. That make you feel better?”

  It did—the idea that Rico could make her do anything just by telling her had played on her mind. She nodded and turned away to watch Skylar and Jon. They were circling each other now. “She won’t hurt him will she?”

  Rico grinned. “You don’t have much faith in your boyfriend.”

  “Jon’s not my boyfriend.”

  “But you’d like him to be.” Her gaze flew to his face, and he raised an eyebrow. “You’re not exactly subtle.”

  “I don’t have time to be subtle,” she muttered.

  “Forget the wolf. When this is over, we’ll get some down time. Visit one of the bigger planets. You can find a nice boy.”

  Was he being deliberately obtuse? “What are you, a matchmaking service? Besides, I don’t want a nice boy.”

  “No, that’s obvious. But let me tell you a bit about wolves, especially lone wolves.”

  Alex was torn between wanting to watch Skylar and Jon and wanting to listen. Rico wasn’t always so talkative, he might never open up again, and she wanted to know. “What’s a lone wolf?”

  “Well, your normal wolf is a pack animal. The pack gives them structure, a purpose and a place in life, and a strict set of rules to live by. Pack wolves, especially alphas, can be bad news, but at least they’re predictable—their one purpose is to protect their pack. But you know the only thing more dangerous than an alpha werewolf protecting his pack?”

  Alex was sure he didn’t expect an answer, but she shook her head anyway.

  “An alpha werewolf without a pack to protect. A lone wolf lives by nobody’s rules but his own. Most of them have a death wish.”

  “Jon doesn’t have a death wish.”

  “No? Going one on one with Skylar isn’t exactly sensible.” He shrugged. “Maybe he doesn’t have a death wish, but he doesn’t care if he lives or dies. And that makes him dangerous. Also, I’m betting he isn’t shifting regularly.”

  “Shifting? You mean turning into a wolf?”

  “Well, I don’t expect he can turn into anything else. Back on Earth, they had no choice—they had to shift at the full moon. Out here, the older ones don’t need to change, but if they resist, it builds up inside them. My guess is our boy over there”—he nodded to where Skylar and Jon were still circling—“isn’t shifting, except for that fancy hand stuff. It’s one of the reasons he’s so bad-tempered right now. And one day he’s going to blow, and you don’t want to be around when that happens.”

  Alex considered mentioning that Jon was hardly a “boy”—he was a hundred and ninety-two. But she supposed to someone of Rico’s age, that would seem very young. Besides, something else he’d said interested her.

  “One of the reasons?” she asked.

  Rico turned to her, his gaze sliding down over her body to linger on her breasts pointedly. She resisted the urge to cross her arms. “My guess is he’s hankering after the one thing he’s told himself he can’t have, and it’s making him a little testy.”

  Alex opened her mouth to ask what he meant, but at that moment, the two fighters stopped circling.

  “At last,” Rico muttered. “Now watch.”

  Alex watched, her gaze glued to Jon. He was beautiful to watch, all leashed power.

  Skylar made the first move; she whirled and kicked out. Jon evaded her easily. Then they were moving fast, almost a blur of speed. Each too quick to get caught by the other, until Skylar landed a punch on his right shoulder. He appeared to fall back, but as Skylar followed through, he swiped her legs from under her
, and she crashed to the floor. She was up in an instant and they were circling again. This time Jon made the first attack, diving for her, the weight of him driving her down to the ground.

  “There—that’s where size will always win in the end. Sheer brute force,” Rico murmured from beside her.

  For a moment, it seemed like the fight was over, but Skylar got her knees between them and heaved him off. He landed on his back, and she was on him in a flash, a knife appearing in her hand. She couched over him. The point pricked his throat so a bead of blood welled up. “Yield?”

  Alex cast Rico a quick sideways glance. “Isn’t that cheating?”

  Rico shrugged. “I think she’s probably trying to illustrate a point. There’s no such thing as cheating in a real fight. Just winning or losing.”

  “Well?” Skylar nudged him with the tip of the knife. He winced, then nodded.

  “Have I missed the fun?” Janey asked, strolling into the room. As usual, the other woman had the instant effect of making Alex feel small, scruffy, and decidedly unfeminine. She’d had to work hard at the beginning not to hate Janey for that. And she’d succeeded. But since Jon had come on board, she seemed to have regressed.

  “Why? Do you want to learn to fight as well?” Rico asked.

  “I don’t think so.” Janey shuddered and smoothed down her black dress then grinned at Alex. “You’re learning how to fight? You are keeping busy. She had me teaching her how to hack into systems this morning.”

  “Very useful talent for a high priestess,” Rico murmured.

  Alex wasn’t going to try and explain the intrigue and political infighting that went on within the closed walls of the Church. When she went back, she would make sure she wasn’t at a disadvantage and having access to knowledge would help.

  “What’s going on?” Skylar asked Janey, as she rose gracefully to her feet. Jon still lay on the floor, but he rolled onto his side and propped his head on one hand to watch them. Alex had expected him to be furious at Skylar for beating him, but he appeared more relaxed than she’d ever seen him, the harsh lines on his face smoothed out, as though the fight had released some of the pent-up tension inside him.