“Do not speak of such things. I will keep you alive.” Partlan’s voice was firm. “You need sleep. I will wake you when it is safe to move.”
“What about you?” Grace listened to the steady beat of Partlan’s heart under her ear. It was soothing. “You haven’t had any rest.”
“I am trained for this.” Partlan ran a hand through her hair. “You have no worries.”
She lifted her head off his chest and strained her eyes to make out his face in the dim light of their small cave. He was gazing back at her with a look that caused her insides to twist with love.
Love?
Did she love Partlan?
She inhaled a sharp breath at the thought. Surely she couldn’t be serious. There was no way she could have fallen in love with an alien, even if he was human.
“What troubles you?” Partlan’s voice held concern.
“Nothing.” Grace turned her face into Partlan’s chest.
It couldn’t be true.
No one fell in love that quickly. Especially in their present circumstances. Danger surrounded them and throughout it, Partlan had been at her side. She had thought she was in love with Travis, her ex-fiancé, but that had been different. There had been no connection between them. They’d shared the same goals, and had both wanted a family, but that was all. She’d mistakenly believed that was love. It hadn’t been enough.
“What are you thinking about?” Partlan lifted her chin.
“Travis, my ex-fiancé.” Grace didn’t bother to lie. Too much had happened for her to hold back the truth now.
“The man who left you?”
“He ran at the first chance he had.” Grace’s voice took on a musing quality. “It’s funny the things you remember. He never once said he loved me.”
“He was a fool.”
Grace shook her head. “I was the one who was blind. I wanted to find love so badly that I was willing to accept whatever excuses Travis gave me.”
“You deserve better.”
“I know that now.” Grace’s voice dropped to a low whisper. “I never knew what love was before I met you.”
“You believe in the pair bond.” His voice cracked.
“I don’t know about that, but I believe in love.” Grace stroked her finger down Partlan’s cheek. “I’ve suddenly realized what that means.”
She reached up and brushed her lips across his. A jolt of electricity shot through her. She gasped at the intensity, but she didn’t end the kiss. She wanted more. She needed to feel and experience everything about this man.
Her tongue stroked his and then the power of their connection took over. Heated desire and wanton need had her pulling at his jacket and shirt. She craved the touch of his skin; to know what his hard muscled firmness felt against her body. Partlan broke the kiss. His breath was coming in gasps.
“What do you want?”
“You.” Grace kissed his chin. “I have to know if this is real.”
“Show me.”
Grace rolled the ends of his shirt up his chest. “Take your top off.”
Partlan did as she asked. His hand reached for the button of her blouse. “What about you.”
She shook her head. “This is your first time. It should be about you.”
Her hand roamed over his firm chest and abdomen, reaching lower until she felt the barrier of his belt and pants. “Take these off too.”
“If this is for me, then I need to see you too.” Partlan pushed off his boots.
Grace ran a hand over his lower abdomen, luxuriating in the power she felt when he tensed at her touch. The sun was low on the horizon and a streak of light brightened the darkness of their hiding place. It shimmered and highlighted the taut muscles of Partlan’s chest and abdomen. The man was gorgeous.
His fingers moved across her waist. “Do you need help?”
Grace shrugged out of her jacket and gathered the edge of her blouse and pulled it over her head. She wore her clothes loose enough so that was all she had to do. She pushed her pants off her hips and kicked her legs free. Partlan followed suit. Soon, they were both naked and facing each other. Grace didn’t feel exposed, though.
She had come home at last.
There was no shame or judgement in letting this man see her body.
Partlan’s eyes skimmed over her, leaving heat in their wake. She took his hand and placed it over her heart. It beat fast and furious as his fingers brushed her skin and then moved up to her neck. He tilted her chin until she could see his eyes. An inner light glowed from the deep black of his orbs.
Adoration.
Commitment.
A forever love.
A shiver of longing went through her. Never had a man looked at her like that. She melted. She stretch up and captured his lips and let her body and soul lead her on this new journey of love. She didn’t care about the danger they faced, or the threat of capture. All she wanted was to be with this man, who claimed her as his mate.
The kiss was a promise.
Grace let the world spin away as she lost herself in the beauty of love. Partlan’s fingers caressed her cheek and neck, moving lower until he touched her breasts. His thumb fluttered against her nipple and a sharp, sweet twist of desire settled in her lower abdomen. She ran her foot down the length of Partlan’s leg, almost purring when she felt the answering tremor in him.
This was what she wanted and needed.
It didn’t matter that they were hiding in a cave, or that they were being hunted by men who would kill them. All she craved was to experience the sensations that Partlan was stirring within her. She had searched for love her whole life and she wanted to experience it, no matter what the future held.
Partlan let his fingers and lips roam over her breasts, licking and tasting every inch of her before he took her nipple in his mouth and suckled. Moist heat flooded her inner core and she groaned.
“Did I do something wrong?” His voice held concern.
Grace shook her head. “It’s perfect. Don’t stop.”
Partlan grinned. “As you command.”
He moved to her other breast and his ministrations had her body pulsing with need. She arched her back and reached out to touch him. Her fingers feathered across his chest and then she brushed his nipple. Partlan inhaled a sharp breath as a tremor shook his body. Grace pushed him onto his back and kissed her way up his chest to his neck.
She straddled him and nibbled his lower lip.
“You make me crazy with need.” Her voice was a husky whisper. “I want to take this slow, but I don’t think I’ll be able to.”
He framed her face with his hands. “I cannot wait.”
She grinned and leaned in for a searing kiss. Their tongues dueled and the heat within her built to a breaking point. She rubbed against him, luxuriating in the shivers of delight that sparked between them. Her body ached for more.
She wanted him deep within her.
To dance with him in the flames of passion.
She stroked his long length as she guided him to her. He was magnificent. She arched her back and eased herself onto him. She held her breath at the wonder of being joined with Partlan. Her eyes locked with his. When he filled her completely, it was as if he’d touched her soul. The beauty of it was devastating.
Shards of bliss exploded within her and settled in her womb.
She tilted her hips up and slid down again in a delicious, slow, descent.
Every nerve ending in her body screamed for more. Partlan grasped her hips and guided her movements until she was lost in the motion of their lovemaking. Time ceased to exist. Pleasure rippled through her as she leaned down to kiss Partlan.
He held her close, his lips drinking from hers, stroking and caressing until she was crazed with need. Partlan twisted his body and moved her beneath him, continuing to thrust with an unhurried, steady, penetration that had her on the screaming edge of euphoria. She pulsed with feverish tension until exquisite rapture exploded within her in a shattering climax. Seconds la
ter, Partlan shuddered and collapsed onto her.
Grace trembled with the aftermath of ecstasy that filled her. Never had she experience such complete fulfillment. The barriers that surrounded her heart gave way and a lifetime of suppressed emotion burst through. Tears welled up in her eyes and she found herself sobbing against Partlan’s chest.
“I have hurt you.” Partlan’s voice was full of distress. He shifted off her and pulled her close.
Grace shook her head and tried to halt her tears, but once the dam had broken there was no stopping it. “You did nothing wrong.” Grace’s words were interspersed with sobs.
“You should not be crying.”
“I need to.” Grace clung to Partlan. “Hold me.”
Partlan’s arms tightened around her. “I will never let you go. You are my mate and there will never be anyone else.”
“Promise.”
“It is a truth and my vow. A Hunter never betrays his word.”
It was several minutes before her tears subsided. Grace was refreshed and cleansed. She hiccupped as the last of her sobs gave way to yawns. She was emotionally drained, but free of the past. She owed that to Partlan. He’d shown her what true love was. She snuggled closer to him and let the steady beat of his heart relax her.
“I love you.” She whispered.
Chapter 19
Never had he imagined such bliss. Loving a mate was a delight that he had been denied as a Hunter, but he had no regrets. All the years of fighting and training, had made the wait meaningful. His skills as a warrior would guarantee that Grace was kept safe.
His arms tightened about her.
She loved him.
His heart swelled at the wonder of it. He had never dreamed it possible to have a woman’s love or know the delights of a mate. Both had been granted to him, and he was thankful. He brushed a soft kiss across Grace’s head. She was fast asleep. They’d walked far last night, but there was still a few more miles of hiking before they reached the airport. His instructions were to wait there for Ardal.
Partlan put Grace’s blouse on her shoulders and rested her head under her rolled up pants. He shifted her so that she lay beside him and pulled the blanket over her before getting dressed. He had to be ready in case they were found. It was unlikely that they would be detected in the cave, but he needed to be certain. He wouldn’t let anything hurt Grace.
Any pain she felt was his.
He would die defending her.
It had been a close call with the Albireons and he couldn’t risk it happening again. It would require all of his abilities as a warrior to see them to safety. Ardal was aware of the danger of this place. They might not be able to help the humans who had already made a pact with the Albireons, but as Hunters, they would make certain that no others were harmed by the greedy and deceitful extraterrestrials.
The hours passed as if in slow motion. The cave was cool, but outside the beating heat of the sun, would have had them dehydrated within an hour. Cicadas could be heard, along with the fluttering wings of a red-headed bird landing in the trees at the cave’s opening. Inside, the steady rhythm of Grace’s breathing eased his heart.
When the sun moved lower in the sky, he shook her awake. “We need to move.”
She yawned. “What time is it?”
“Dusk.” Partlan cleared his throat. The sight of her was enough to send a surge of renewed desire throughout him.
“Did you sleep?” She stretched her arms over her head.
“I stood guard.”
Grace frowned. “You need rest. Let me take over while you get a couple of hours of shut eye.”
“My eyes need to be open.” Partlan gathered Grace’s clothes together. “I want us to reach the airport before sunrise. Then, I will sleep.”
Grace took her clothes and put on her underthings. “How long will it take?”
“Not long. We will stay close to the road. We may be able to get a ride.”
“Won’t they be looking for us to do that?” Grace pulled her blouse over her head.
“Let’s hope they think we’ve gone north.”
“What if they don’t believe that?” Grace unrolled her pants.
“Then, they will assume we will try and get to the airport.” Partlan kept his voice emotionless.
“So, we may be walking into a trap.” Graced pulled on her pants.
“I have made plans for that.” A muscle clenched in his jaw. He did not want Grace in danger, but they had to get to the airport. It was their best chance of escape from this place.
“Are you going to tell me?” Grace raised an eyebrow. “I might be able to help.”
“I do not want you injured.”
“If our relationship is going to survive, you have to trust me.” Grace leaned forward. “I’ve been trained to protect myself and others.”
“You are a true warrior.” Partlan hesitated a second before continuing. “Once we are at the airport, I will be able to assess our next move. Hopefully, Ardal’s team will already be there.”
“That sounds reasonable.” Grace slipped on her shoes. “Another night of walking. I don’t know how much more my feet can stand. These shoes look good, but they weren’t made for hiking.”
“Just a few hours.” Partlan stepped outside and held his hand out for Grace. “This will be a short night, if everything goes as planned.”
Grace took his hand and let him lead them away from the rocky hideout. The air was cool now and the sun was below the horizon. He headed toward the road. They continued to follow close to the highway until the lights in the distance signaled that they were near the town.
“Eogan said the airport was south.” Partlan pointed in that direction. A glow lit the night sky. “We will go in that direction.”
A few minutes later a vehicle pulled up beside them. A young man leaned across the front seat of his truck. “Need a ride?”
“To the airport.” Grace went up to the man. “Is that out of your way?”
“You don’t sound as if you’re from these parts.”
“We were out hiking and got lost.” Grace grinned. “We should have stuck with our guide.”
“I’m headed to the drag strip and that’s right beside it.” The young man motioned to the back of his truck bed. “Your friend can sit in the box, but you can hop in beside me if you want.”
Partlan caught Grace by the waist and lifted her into the box of the truck. “She stays with me.”
He jumped up and sat close to Grace. He kept one hand on the side of the truck and one around her.
“You sound jealous.” Grace’s voice was playful.
“I am not going to let you out of my sight.” He motioned to the driver. “He looks harmless, but I will not take a chance.”
Grace leaned back into him. “That’s alright. I feel safer around you.”
The truck pulled into a gravel parking lot twenty minutes later. The sign announced Inland Dragway. The truck stopped and Partlan jumped down. He reached up for Grace just as the driver came around to meet them.
“The airport is over there.” He pointed to the east. “Take the road going into the terminal, otherwise you’ll run the risk of being on the runway. I don’t think any planes come in this late. You’re going to have a long wait until morning.”
“Thank you.” Partlan nodded.
The man shrugged and then head off to the track. Partlan took Grace’s hand and walked towards the lights of the airport. The tension in his body increased with each step. If they were going to be captured, the airport would have been one of the first places the agency people would have under surveillance.
“You’re nervous.” Grace pulled Partlan to a stop.
“The other Hunters are not here yet.”
Grace straightened her shoulders. “What do we do?”
Partlan scanned the horizon. “They should be coming in by helicopter, so it would be best if we went to the helipad area.”
“Do you have any idea where that might be?”
Partlan shook his head. “There is only one way to find out. We will ask at the airport.”
They followed the edge of the roadway that led to the terminal. Partlan kept away from any camera surveillance, but close enough to read the directional signs. There was an Inland Helicopters. It was a place to start. They headed there.
A plane flew in low over their heads and then turned toward the runway. Partlan scanned the area to be certain that there was no other aircraft nearby. The skies were clear of lights. There were no vehicles on the road either. That probably meant that no flights were scheduled.
So who was in the plane that was landing?
He sent out a mind connect to Ardal. “Have you arrived?”
“We are still several miles outside of the town.”
“Be advised that we have company. I will scout the area and report back.”
“Understood.”
They kept their bodies low as they came to the first outbuildings and hangars. The runway was lit up, but the only plane on it was the one that had just landed. It was taxiing into a hangar by the time they reached Inland Helicopters. To the side of the office, there was a large helipad.
Partlan flattened his body against the steel exterior of the building and pulled Grace close to his side. “The men from the base are waiting for us. They probably flew in reinforcements on the plane that just landed.”
“Now what?” Grace’s voice was calm.
“We have the element of surprise.” Partlan moved so his body covered Grace. “I will find them first.”
“We have to make every shot count.” Grace pulled her gun out.
Partlan motioned her to move behind him. “You will only have to use the gun if something happens to me.”
“No.” Grace spoke in a hoarse whisper. “We both get out of this alive, or neither of us does. I couldn’t continue living if something happened to you. Not now.”
Partlan turned to her and ran his finger down her cheek. By Cygnus and Warrior, she was beautiful and brave. She was the perfect mate for a warrior. He would not fail her. He brushed his lips across hers and savored the delicious sweetness of her.
“I will be with you always.”
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