by Rena Marks
Steele’s eyes snapped to hers, but she avoided looking at him. What the hell was she talking about? She was covering for him, he realized. She knew when he was “lost in his head” he was distracted, communicating with one of the others. She didn’t want these doctors to know they had telepathic communication.
The male doctor’s mouth tightened. “I see. And his testosterone levels?” His voice was mocking now.
It was the female’s turn to tighten her lips. She turned and walked from the room, leaving him alone with the fat, greasy man.
She is not on our side. She just left me at the mercy of the fat doctor.
She probably had no choice. Pax’s voice was soothing.
I watched. She chose to leave.
It is perplexing, Beast agreed. But there are three of us who believe one way—that the female doctors are at least neutral—while you believe another. It stands to reason there is another reason for your distrust. Perhaps you have unresolved feelings toward this female?
The fat doctor dropped the light he had been shining into his eyes. “Bah. Idiot just dazed out.”
“Dr. Robyn is right. It took some time for the intelligence levels to increase in this one. We’ll give it time.”
The fat one looked frustrated as they walked from the room.
They left.
It appears she knew what she was doing, Renegade said drily.
Steele refused to answer. The morons always jumped to her defense. He felt his blood run hot, heating to a simmer, just below the surface of his skin. Deliberately, he shut down the pathway between him and the others.
She would come in later that night. After thinking about the situation all day, Steele knew what he had to do.
The most logical course of action would be to scratch the itch that was Dr. Robyn, and remove it from his system. Something about her bugged him.
The soft knock at the door indicated when it was her.
As she entered, almost tentatively, he decided to come out with it. His voice was more stern than he’d have liked, a deep growl of frustration. “What are you hiding from me?”
“What—what do you mean?” she stammered, instantly defensive. A tendril of hair untucked from behind her ear, curling near her eye. Her slim, delicate fingers tucked it again. She smelled sweet and appeared fragile, a pulse thumping in her throat. Her breasts moved with the effort of breath, and he wondered what those pink tipped beauties would look like, pressed together and heaving as she breathed over him and took him into her body.
I don’t care anymore if she is lying to me, Steele thought, licking his lips.
Her soft black hair was twisted up into a messy knot on the top of her head, the weight of it framing her beautiful face. Her neck seemed longer with it up, more elegant, and the line of her shoulders delicate, yet strong.
He grabbed her, his hands much stronger as they grabbed at her slim upper arms, yanking her to him. The delicious pink lips that had been driving him crazy opened in surprise.
It was more temptation than a man could take.
He ground his mouth down on hers, forcing her to open to him. But instead of biting his lip or pulling away, she moaned into his mouth.
He didn’t expect that at all.
The honeyed taste of her lips was driving his need to completely possess Robyn to an unbearably painful ache in his groin. She was so sweet, so responsive, and he no longer wanted to think the worst of her while staring into her almond eyes. He wanted to believe, like the others did, that every word she uttered would be absolute truth. He wanted her to make a believer out of him.
Pathetic, he silently berated himself. He had lost his mind over a small, frail human. He’d sworn to never allow her to get too close to him, but right now it was all he wanted.
He’d not only lost his temper but his tight rein on his basic instinct, his carnal urges and his mind. She was human, one of the doctors not to be trusted, yet he still wanted her.
It appeared she wanted him just as urgently. Her small, white teeth nipped at his bottom lip, and she pressed herself against him, feeling the thick ridge of his cock between them.
His arms wrapped around her, cupping the swells of her buttocks in his palms. He lifted her small form, swinging her up to wrap her thighs around his hips where he could press the burgeoning strength of his cock to her core. The thin material covering him was nothing. It felt like tissue paper. Still, it was a barrier he didn’t need. With the slightest movement, he pushed his scrubs low on his hips so his cock could kiss air.
She was gasping and frantically rubbing herself on him. She didn’t even notice when he released the button at her waistband and pushed her own scrubs down.
He dragged a finger through her slit. She moaned, a long, needy sound. She was soaked with arousal, wetting him to the second knuckle, and lightly he circled her clit with her own slick juices.
As the blunt, thick crown of his cock pressed hard against her, breached her channel, and forced her body to stretch to take him, panic seemed to make her eyes dart frantically, and she bucked away from him when he pushed deeper inside her pussy. Now just the tip of him enjoyed her warmth.
“Are we doing this?” she gasped.
He froze as their gazes met. He narrowed his eyes, and his breathing turned harsh. “You can take me,” he snarled. “No one needs to know. I want you too bad. I’ll be gentle.”
He lowered more over her body, sinking into her deeper. Her muscles stretched to accommodate his thick shaft as he continued to penetrate her, giving her body no choice but to take him. He didn’t stop until he was fully seated inside her snug channel. He paused, not only to allow her to adjust to his size but to savor the feeling of her grip. Robyn had her eyes clenched tightly as she breathed hard.
“Look at me,” he gritted. Her beautiful eyes snapped open. He moved, withdrew a few inches, slowly, and then pushed back in.
A moan escaped from her. Good. She was satisfied with his size. He was big and broad enough to rub against every sensitive nerve ending that lived inside her. Her body had to enjoy the tight fit of them together. Hell, she fit perfectly around him, warm and slick, like she was made for him. He tensed and a soft groan passed his parted lips while their gazes remained on each other.
“I knew it would be this incredible,” he stated in a raspy voice. “Too good.” Anger tightened his features then for a few heartbeats. “Damn you for affecting me this strongly, Robyn. What sort of magic do you have over me?”
“The same one you have over me,” she said. “Move faster.”
Her tight cunt tightened around his cock, sweet, sweet torture. He pulled through the hot muscles, and again slid deep inside her pussy. She cried out in pleasure, her lips seeking his. Together, they could muffle their sounds. He crushed his mouth to hers and moved again, repeating the slow thrusting but driving into her harder. Robyn sucked in a harsh, ragged breath through her nose at that movement, and his shaft slid against her swollen clit. Her body became so wet, it intensified his need. The pleasure so intense, he knew he wouldn’t last long. But until then, he’d give her all he had.
Steele moved faster, the forceful need increasing their pleasure. Robyn’s warm sheath clamped tightly around his driving shaft, and then she gave a long, intense moan, her body seizing as the climax gripped her, seizing her, convulsing her internal muscles. Her body twitched and milked him as he continued to move inside her.
He roared out his own release loudly, and his face dropped to her throat, muffling the sound. Warm jets of his semen filled her.
He kept his face against her skin to hide his expression. The rage started to ease, and then one of his brothers broke into his mind.
Dr. Amanda on her way.
“Fuck,” he growled viciously.
Robyn looked at him blankly.
“Someone’s coming,” he said.
She didn’t react, not at first. Then he gently nudged one of the legs around his middle and put her down on the firm ground in front of him,
yanking her scrubs up.
“Robyn,” he whispered, his voice loud enough to break her from her daze. Behind them, he could hear the soft knocking at his door. Suddenly Robyn flew into service, grabbing her discarded log book and picking it up. She hardly noticed Steele covering his cock.
“Morning,” Amanda said from behind them, holding a tray in her hands as she entered backward, pushing the door with her back. “Brought some lunch out. Don’t test too long, or it’ll cool off. I brought you one, too, Robyn. It’s on the cart outside. Do you want me to bring it in, or will you eat out at the computer desk?”
“I’ll get it,” Robyn said tersely, fleeing the room.
It was only when she was in the hallway, grabbing a covered tray off the cart, that he realized she didn’t exactly answer. She was acting odd, as though she couldn’t help it. She had no idea how to act, and that left him strangely satisfied. Apparently the good doctor was just as affected by him.
Amanda was fishing silverware from the cart. She whistled softly under her breath, and then paused, head turned toward the closed door of his room as if she could see through it to find Robyn.
“Was she coming back? I think I missed it.”
“No, I believe she took her lunch to eat in Beast’s room. You are free to eat in Renegade’s.” He saw the confusion in Dr. Amanda’s eyes for a moment before the idea of being able to eat in Renegade’s made her eyes brighten.
Robyn never told her they could communicate. Why?
“I can eat with you if you like.”
“It is not necessary to change your plans. I will finish my lunch and wait for her to come back to do my stats later.”
Dr. Amanda nodded and left the tray, rushing away like she couldn’t wait to get to Renegade.
Incoming. It’s Dr. Amanda. Where is Robyn?
She is bringing my tray. Beast’s thoughts were curious.
Remind her she needs to take my stats. That would make sure she didn’t avoid him the rest of the day.
Only then did he realize his mistake. He referred to her as Robyn.
* * * * *
Robyn pushed open the door to Beast’s room after knocking softly. Like Amanda had earlier, she entered back first, carrying two trays of food, one in each hand.
“I think it’s my turn to have lunch with you. If not, I’ll have to owe Steele one.”
The direct gaze from Beast nearly made her flinch. It was like he could see right through her. It was definite verification that a pathway of communication was open between the four.
Beast didn’t bother to cover it up. “He said not to forget to take his stats later.”
She handed him a tray and sat down warily, on the edge of his bed, the way she did with Steele. She placed her tray on her lap, lifted off the top, and stared at it.
“Does that make you uncomfortable?”
“No, it doesn’t.” What would make her uncomfortable was having to face Steele tonight, to take his stats.
They began to eat companionably, side by side.
Chapter Ten
Robyn knocked on Steele’s door and stuck her head in.
“Time for your measurements.”
“I wondered when you would come back.”
“I’m sorry. I just needed space.”
“You are upset,” Steele said, curiously. “From our interaction. Why? Didn’t you want to establish trust with Xeno Sapiens?”
She looked up from her log sheet, which was making no sense anyway. “Not like that. And I wasn’t upset with you. I was upset with myself. I should have been more professional.”
“Why?”
“Because I am in a position of trust. It is not fair for me to place my attentions on you. You can’t exactly say no.”
“I don’t wish to say no. I thought that was clear.”
She sighed. “It would be frowned upon if others knew of my indiscretion. Dr. Amanda would never be so unprofessional.”
“Wouldn’t she?” Steele’s voice was mocking.
“I don’t understand you anymore,” Robyn said. “Why would you think trust between us would equate to sexual behavior?”
He shrugged. “Perhaps it’s just what I want to do. Ease the tension between us, see if the need goes away once we give in to it.”
So much déjà vu. They’d been here, in this predicament, weeks before. Robyn wasn’t sure how much more her heart could take.
“Steele,” she whispered.
He cocked his head.
“You’re a bit more aggressive due to the revival process. It’s upped your testosterone a bit, which has probably made you more sexually aggressive. We had no choice but to use a chemical naturally produced in your brains to give you an extra dosage to counter the brain damage that occurred by oxygen deprivation.”
“We were conscious before then?”
“Yes,” she admitted. “Two months ago.”
“How many times?”
“Ex—excuse me?”
“How many times have we lived?”
“I have no idea.”
“Please leave. I do not wish to see you and your lies any longer.”
“Steele, you have to believe me.”
“Why? I asked you a question and you didn’t respond.”
“Because I don’t know the answer.”
“Did you know we were conscious beings before?” His voice was so angry.
“I didn’t.”
“Why should I believe you?”
Robyn wanted to assure him, but there were no words to take away the bitter expression on his face. She’d helped put it there, and no excuse could change the past. She stared at him and closed her mouth. Steele’s focus lowered to her chest. The hesitation only slight until he raised his hand to cup her breast again, held it gently, and she arched her back to press tighter against his palm.
His gaze returned to hers. “I want you. I hate it. But my body craves to be deep inside your depths, to know what it would feel like to have your warmth wrapped tightly around me, and the pleasure we could bring each other. I’ve never wanted a woman more than I do you. Tell me I can have you or help me remember that I can’t ever forgive what you did to me. Say something, anything, to remind me why I shouldn’t hurt to be with you so much it makes it hard for me to breathe.”
The look in his glittering eyes nearly stopped her heart. So many emotions—desire, longing, fear, and pure unadulterated lust. Her tongue came out to wet her lips. A soft growl came from Steele. She understood. He wanted her as badly as she desired him. For as much as she fought against it, the fighting took her nowhere.
She slowly nodded. She thought back to the first moment she’d ever seen him locked inside a cell. He’d been so proud despite his circumstances, the pure masculine beauty of his body tempted her beyond words, and his powerful presence drew her in like a quivering besotted fool instead of the esteemed image she was.
“I’m so sorry,” she moaned. “I can’t help myself.” Her breast was in his hand, and truth be known, her heart was too.
His head moved closer to her. “Let me love you.”
He barely caught her nod as his lips captured hers.
* * * * *
It was a delicate balance, trying to spend as much time as possible with Steele while trying to thwart the attentions of Director Meade and his staff.
As for Steele, the only time he was tender with her was when they were making love. The rest of the time, he was suspicious. And toward the end of two weeks, he actually grew more tense, not trusting her fully yet not wanting her out of his sight. Not that she wasn’t tense herself. Meade was breathing down her throat, consumed with the thought that the revivals were a failure. He had no idea what failure was. Failure was the vegetative state the four would be in had she and Amanda not intervened behind his back.
Things were spiraling out of control too quickly. She wasn’t going to be surprised like last time, without a plan in place. But she needed time to execute it. Frantically she searched hidden ema
ils for some clue of what they were up to on their end. She could find nothing. She decided to look through the medical records of Esson Four to see why they were growing tenser with each passing day.
She glanced up just as Amanda approached.
“Have you noticed something different with the Esson Four group?” Amanda asked.
“Yes. Their aggression levels are slowly rising, and I can’t figure out why. I would be the first to suspect testosterone levels rising, especially after the lie we told to Meade. But there are no signs—no records of injections and the lab technicians haven’t been alone with them.”
“I’ve been watching, and I don’t know what it is, either. I’ve tested their testosterone levels, but nothing seems unnatural.”
“Are things just coming to a head, but this time we’re noticing?”
“It could be,” Amanda agreed. “I don’t know if I can bear this again.”
“We don’t have a choice.”
Amanda took a deep breath. “What do you need me to do?”
“We need a delay of about a week,” Robyn said. “A week’s reprieve from them being in our hair, watching the lab, plotting our demise. During that week is when we’ll get moving on a plan.”
Amanda looked thoughtful. “How about if I inject myself with a good, old fashioned virus? I found some in their storage unit, which they used to vaccinate the Xeno Sapiens. I’ll be rejected from the decontamination unit until it’s cleared and if I manage to infect other doctors, we won’t have enough staff for a healthy shut down or revival, whatever they’ve got up their sleeves. It’ll force Meade to reconsider.”
“Sinister. But perfect. I didn’t think you had it in you.”
“What’s the plan?”
Robyn took a deep breath. “The chemical that we isolated and re-injected into their brains for the revivals. Any samples left?”
“A trace amount, just enough for testing. Why?”
“If we take this chemical and inject it into me, what will happen?”
Amanda’s jaw dropped. “Are you fucking crazy? You’ll die. You’re human. Our brains don’t produce Quinteah. It’s an ancient hormone that’s not even native to Earth, or to our dimension. We have no idea how it got into Xeno Sapiens and why they produce it.”