by Aubrey Ross
Her gaze shot toward Grayson. He’d told her the truth. All he’d been worried about last night was another male detecting his scent. He’d known he wouldn’t hurt her if he’d come inside her.
“Why the scare tactic?”
“It’s the general’s preference that there be no fraternization at all between his troops and my cats, so he’s used the complication to his advantage.”
“What complication? You just said there is no danger.”
“No, I said their semen isn’t toxic. Certain females are at risk from morph males.” Darman made an adjustment to the scanner, then went on. “When a female has dormant aptitudes in her physiology, sexual interaction with a morph male can trigger a dramatic metamorphosis.”
“Fucking a morph turns some women into a morph?” She had to make sure she understood what he meant.
“It’s not that simple. If the female is pure human, there is no danger.”
“You don’t think I’m human? Is that where this is going?”
“In a word, yes. But if you’d be a little less impatient, I’ll explain how I came to this supposition.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be rude. It’s just not every day you’re told you’re not human.”
“I’m not human,” Darman admitted cheerfully. “Or not purely human. It’s my understanding that you know how morphs came into being.”
Just like that, the Executive Director of Alpha Colony admitted he was part of a global cover-up? “Then it’s true? Morphs aren’t evolutionary anomalies?”
Darman looked at Grayson and shook his head. “It still astonishes me every time I realize someone actually believes that nonsense.”
“People believe what they need to believe to ensure their lives remain in balance. I sort of screwed that up for Sasha last night.”
Darman turned back to her, his expression serious again. “I was adamantly opposed to the cover up, but no one gives a damn what scientists think. I also had no direct involvement in phase three.”
“His team created hybrids not morphs,” Grayson clarified.
“Did you alter your own DNA or was this done to you?”
“I volunteered, as did most of the members of my team. We wanted to be sure the procedure was safe before we moved forward.”
Despite the sincerity in his tone, Sasha wasn’t convinced. “That’s very noble, but it doesn’t make sense. If something went wrong, the project would have been devastated by your loss. Why did you really do it?”
“Look at me. We saw what the feline DNA did for the test subjects and we wanted what they had. Is that so hard to understand?”
“And DOMA allowed it?”
“It was my project. They weren’t in a position to dictate to me.”
“In other words, ‘it was easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission’,” Grayson said. “His superiors knew nothing about it until it was too late. They’ve been suspicious of him ever since. He might be the civilian head of the morph colonies, but DOMA keeps him on a pretty short leash.”
Resentment hardened Darman’s expression. He didn’t argue with Grayson’s description. Still, it obviously bothered him.
“So, how can I be a hybrid, yet know nothing about it?” The same way she hadn’t suspected the truth about morphs. People only saw what they were allowed to see. Information was strictly regulated by endless layers of bureaucracy. “They’re still at it, aren’t they? They’ve just gone further underground.”
“I’m way out of the loop now,” Darman said, “but that’s my best guess.”
“How do we stop them? What should we do?”
Darman chuckled. “Let’s solve the current mystery before we take on the world. How’s that sound?”
“Far too reasonable for my current state of mind.”
“I understand, but the longest journey is made one step at a time. Grayson, why don’t you wait in my office? This could take a while.”
“What if someone sees him?”
“Sees my grandson loitering in my office? They’ll probably ask him if he needs anything, and then go about their business. Relax. You’re among friends.”
“I’ll go set up the clinic,” Grayson told his grandfather; then he smiled at Sasha and added, “You’re in good hands. I’ll see you later.”
Relaxation was not Sasha’s strong suit on a good day and this day was far from good. She’d thought Grayson’s revelations were astonishing. Now they’d been compounded with the possibility that her DNA had been altered without her knowledge.
“How long have you been in the military?” Darman opened a compartment in the exam table and took out a handheld scanner and a device she didn’t recognize.
“Fourteen years.”
“Have you noticed any unusual changes in your physical or mental abilities during those fourteen years?”
“I’ve grown stronger and I can run faster, but that’s physical conditioning. I always excelled academically, so I don’t honestly know if I’m smarter.”
He swabbed the inside of her mouth and inserted the swab into the unfamiliar device. “This only takes a few minutes, but I wanted to speak with you privately. I can neutralize mating fever. If you only feel a passing fancy for Grayson, it would probably be the wisest course.”
“My fancy for Grayson has been simmering for years. I was extremely attracted to him the first time I saw him.”
“All right. Neutralization is off the table. Let’s see what we’re dealing with.” He picked up the DNA sequencer and scrolled through several screens. “It’s official, my dear. You might work for Homo sapiens but you are not one.”
“If they jacked with my DNA, I’m sure I’m not the only one. There are probably no humans left in the military.”
For some reason Darman found that extremely funny. “I’ve suspected that for years.”
“So what am I?” Oh God, what if they’d interjected more than cat DNA. What if she was a hodgepodge of all sorts of wacky stuff?
“Every time we tried multiple crossmutation the result was disastrous. You’re definitely a feline hybrid. I’m trying to verify which species.”
She accepted the information without argument; then her mind snapped to attention. “You just read my thoughts. I didn’t say the last part out loud.”
“I told you I wasn’t human. All the morphs are telepathic.” He glanced at her and smiled. “I’ll have Grayson work with you when we’re done here. I bet he can have you sending and receiving thoughts before the day is through.”
Something on the screen caught his attention. He leaned forward and stroked his beard.
“What is it? What do you see?”
“Let me verify this before I explain. I want to be absolutely sure of my findings.” He walked to the access terminal across from the table and activated three separate applications before he spoke again. “Good. That’s a relief,” he muttered, then issued a series of commands. The terminal’s verbal response made no sense to her, but Darman finally turned back around.
“Well?”
“Sorry. I’m really not tormenting you intentionally. These are the facts. Your DNA contains several feline segments, and the recessive genes within those segments indicate the donor was a white tiger.”
She refused to panic. His explanation had barely begun. “Grayson and I aren’t related, are we?”
“No. The genetic material contained in your DNA was extracted from a different donor than either of Grayson’s parents. That’s what I triple checked before this conversation went any further.”
“You said you’re Grayson’s grandfather. Did you alter the DNA of one of your biological children or… never mind. It’s none of my business.”
“My son applied for inclusion in the program, but he was twenty-three at the time. I rejected his application and he kept reapplying until I gave in. Now you know where Grayson gets his stubborn streak.”
“And his mother? Was she part of your program as well? Were they expected to… was a mating sche
dule included in this program?”
“Christina was a morph not a hybrid. My only role in her life was father-in-law. As for a mating program.” He chuckled. “Cat DNA makes any encouragement on our part unnecessary. I can’t speak for the other projects, I only work with cats.”
“Okay, so I have tiger DNA. My superiors have to know about this. I have yearly physicals and --”
“Of course they know. More than likely they did this to you. Why do you think you’re only allowed to see military doctors?”
“They lock away morphs while they create more hybrids. It’s almost too twisted to accept.” She released a tense breath and focused on the present. “What do I do? What are my options?”
“The rest is for you and Grayson to decide together. You’re both infected with this mysterious virus, so I’m going to quarantine you in the old clinic. Grayson knows how to tap into the security system, so you’ll be warned if anyone approaches the building. I’ve already been exposed, so I’ll deliver your meals personally. That should give you plenty of time to figure out if you want to secure a future for yourselves or take on the world.”
Chapter Six
Grayson watched Sasha approach the abandoned clinic on the newly reactivated security screen. His cock lengthened with every step she took. The perimeter alarm had warned him of her presence, so he felt confident in the preparations he’d made. Her rifle was slung over her shoulder, but she’d left her helmet behind. She was off duty, quarantined until further notice. And so was he.
Mine. The cat in him had known all along that Sasha was different, had sensed a connection the man in him was unable to define.
But Dyauna had figured it out. Dyauna was suspicious of all things human, so her mind wandered down paths others disregarded as foolish and impossible. She expected the worst and too often the worst was what she received.
The door swung open and Sasha moved into the room, carefully locking the door behind her. “Are we alone?” Her voice was barely a whisper.
Rather than answer her question with words, he charged, pressing her against the door and sealing his mouth over hers. He heard the dull thunk of her rifle landing on the floor, and then her arms wrapped around his neck. She raised one leg to his hip and rubbed her mound against his erection.
Before she arrived he’d drawn the blinds and scanned for surveillance equipment other than the units he controlled. They were safe from prying eyes and unwanted interruptions.
“Are you --”
“Feline hybrid,” she confirmed, tugging his shirt off over his head. He jerked her suit open down the front while she went to work on his zipper. Tugging her arms out of the sleeves still left her breasts covered, so he ripped her bra open as well.
They left a trail of discarded clothes from the front door to the first room they came to with a flat surface. He bent her over the exam table and gathered her arms behind her back.
An excited shiver shook her shoulders and the scent of her arousal blossomed all around him. Her legs were already wide enough to accommodate his entry, but he kicked her feet wider and urged her farther forward until she rested on her toes.
He pushed between her thighs, coating his shaft with her cream. Then he thrust to the hilt with one forceful drive. She cried out sharply, her cunt squeezing him in rippling waves. He closed his eyes against the pleasure, never wanting it to end.
Possessive desire coursed through him, blinding him with its red haze. He shifted her wrists to one hand and cupped her breast with the other. All the while he fucked her hard and fast as he’d longed to do since he saw the image in her mind. She came again, the rhythmic spasms driving him precariously close to release.
Holding still inside her until the last twinges passed, he gritted his teeth and forced his body to obey. This would last longer than five seconds. He had more control than that!
He drew out slowly, ignoring her whispered protest. With one hand on the small of her back, he released her arms and said, “You will only move if I tell you to move, and you will not come again until I give you permission. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir. I’m sorry I didn’t wait. I know better.”
The hushed surrender in her tone sent tenderness surging through his being. She wanted this, needed this as badly as he did. “We’ll discuss your punishment later. Right now I need you, disobedient or not.”
He turned her around and lifted her to the table, guiding her hands to the far side so she could hold herself up. Then he knelt and spread her thighs wide, pausing to savor her evocative scent.
“Watch me. Don’t shift your gaze from me and do not close your eyes.”
Sasha’s feet rested on his back as he bent to her creamy folds. She gasped and shivered, her hips shifting restlessly. Remaining still was almost impossible whenever his tongue circled her clit. Pleasure spiraled, deepening into the beginnings of an orgasm.
She dug her fingernails into her palms, but the sting only heightened the pleasure. “Please, sir. Stop! I can’t hold back when you…” His tongue retreated, gently outlining her slit until she regained control of her senses.
Over and over he took her to the edge, pulling her back just before she tumbled over into oblivion. Her abdomen quivered and her thighs trembled. How much longer would he make her wait?
Not long, my love. He stood, shifting her legs to his elbows as he positioned himself at her entrance. “If I come inside you, there’s a real chance you’ll transform. It won’t happen right away, but it could happen. Are you ready for that possibility or should I pull out again?”
“Never again. I’m already a hybrid. I’d be honored to join the ranks of the morphs.”
He started to say something and regret flashed through his expression, but burning desire incinerated the weaker emotion as if it had never been. His hands slipped beneath her ass and he pushed into her slowly. They both watched his thick shaft disappear into her body.
All distractions dissolved with his first thrust and she focused entirely on the pleasure. She braced for each drive, letting the impact push her higher. Knowing he wouldn’t pull out, that they’d share the climax together, filled her with joy and tenderness like she’d never experienced before.
The fullness intensified and his gaze bore into hers. Now, Sasha. Come for me. Come now.
Her body happily obeyed, her orgasm starting before he finished the command. He clasped her to his chest as his cock bucked deep inside her. His tongue pushed past her lips, filling her mouth with the taste of her pleasure as his seed saturated her inner walls.
She wrapped her legs around his waist and returned his kiss with equal fervor. Her eyes drifted closed and lights danced within her mind. Sensations continued to rain down upon her, washing over her, soothing her -- and drawing her deeper into him.
He gave of himself freely, replacing her essence with his. She was afraid to open her eyes, afraid their bodies had literally fused into one large pulsating entity.
His telepathic chuckle eased her uncertainty. You’re safe, sweetheart, and there is only one part of my body inside yours.
She opened her eyes then, blinking to clear her vision. “Why have you never sent your thoughts to me before?”
“I had no idea you’d be able to hear them.”
“But you’ve always been able to hear mine.”
“No.” He brushed her hair back from her face and pushed her braid behind her back. “I can manage to send and receive thoughts if someone is intentionally transmitting. I occasionally pick up stray thoughts and images, but reading minds requires an aptitude I don’t possess.”
He’d glanced away when he said “stray thoughts and images.” She was starting to learn how to interpret his expressions and the knowledge was liberating. “So what thoughts or images have I inadvertently sent to you?”
“There have been so many down through the years.” He nipped at her bottom lip, then whispered, “Where would I start?”
“With the one that made you hide your gaze from
me.”
His brows slanted to a challenging angle and he tilted her hips, making his awakening erection unmistakable. “While you touched me in the forest, you told me to pretend your hand was your pussy and an image flashed into my mind. You were on your knees and I was fucking you from behind. I wasn’t being gentle. I took you hard and deep. But even that didn’t really surprise me. I’ve always known you were passionate. What I found remarkable was --”
“That my hands were tied behind my back?” His only response was a nod as his gaze devoured hers. “So you tailored what happened in the cabin to fulfill my fantasy?” If he was doing this for her it was artificial, like a costume he could take off when it no longer entertained.
“I won’t pretend that I wasn’t trying to enlist your imagination in my seduction, but all the image really did was confirm that my feelings were real. I could never mate with a female who didn’t crave submission. This isn’t a preference with me. It’s not like my favorite sexual position. My basic nature is dominant. I can be no other way.”
She wasn’t sure what inspired the motion, but she lay back across the width of the table and spread her arms out along its length. Her head hung over the other side and her breasts were thrust upward by the arch of her back. She relaxed her legs as he grasped her hips and his elbows caught the bend of her knees.
He moved slowly, focusing them both on the slide of his shaft in and out of her pussy. Her clit twitched and her nipples tingled, but she surrendered entirely to him, trusting him with her pleasure, just trusting him.
Sasha looked so incredibly lovely spread before him in willing submission, but he knew the position wouldn’t remain comfortable and he wanted this time to last. He moved his hands to her waist and pushed in deep.
“Grab me with your legs. I want to swing you around the other way.”
“How many ways do you swing?” She laughed, but did as he directed.
“Now raise your arms above your head. I think this will work a little better.” He waited until her legs released, then started thrusting again.
A gradual smile parted her lips and she turned her face away.