“He was flirting with me before the fight started too.” She watched him closely, clearly waiting for him to react to her statement.
“Oh was he now?” He unfastened his safety restraints as he swiveled his chair to face her. “How was he flirting?”
“He gave me an air kiss then winked.” She bit her bottom lip, clearly trying not to smile. “He’s unpolished, but I can see why some women would find him attractive.”
His brow arched and he released her straps with a practiced motion. “Only ‘some women’?”
“I already have a savage mate.”
He stood, pulling her up with him. “Savage, am I?” He tangled his fingers in the back of her hair and tilted her face up. “That didn’t sound like a complaint.”
She finally stopped fighting her smile. “It wasn’t. I love your wild streak. It’s exciting.”
Determined to live up to the label, he bent his head and kissed her. He usually eased into a kiss, deepening the contact slowly as the urgency built. Today he held her head still and boldly claimed her mouth with his lips and tongue. Her taste sent desire rocketing through his body, yet tenderness filled his mind. The contrast was dizzying and addictive.
I could spend the rest of my life kissing you.
Her carefree laughter drifted through his mind. But I always want more than kisses when you touch me. Proving her point, she found the seam release on his shirt and triggered it. Her small, warm hands moved boldly over his upper chest and shoulders as her lower body rubbed against his.
Provoked by her passion, he spun her around and ripped open the front of her blouse.
“Dakar!” Surprised, but not upset, she pressed back against him and arousal flowed in both directions across their link. She really did like it wild.
He cupped her breasts, teasing her nipples through the thin material of her bra. “You wanted savage.” He drew her blouse and bra straps down her arms, then lowered the cups, baring her flesh and lightly binding her arms. “I’m happy to oblige.”
She turned her head sharply, offering her mouth.
Turning her just a bit, he accepted her offer without losing access to her breasts. Her skin was so soft, her nipples so responsive, he couldn’t stop touching her. She moaned and wiggled, then awkwardly reached back and unfasted her bra. He eased his hold just enough so she could rid herself of the unwanted garments, then pulled her back into his embrace.
They kissed and kissed as his hands moved over her body. But she was right, soon kissing was no longer enough. He drew her skirt up with one hand while he anchored her head with the other. She wasn’t trying to escape his demanding kiss, but she’d stirred his savage nature and he couldn’t seem to back off the aggressive impulses.
“Are you sure we have time?” She panted softly when he freed her mouth so he could remove her panties.
“I want you so badly, this won’t last long.” He pushed his hand between her thighs and groaned at the wet welcome he found there. She clutched his forearms, nails digging in, but she wasn’t pulling his hand away just steadying herself. He caressed her slick folds, savoring the softness and heat. Then his middle finger sank deeper, easily finding her clit. “Come for me, love.”
She trembled in his arms, gasping as his finger stroked her most sensitive spot. “I need you in me.”
“Come first.”
Her nails dug deeper and she moved her legs farther apart, giving him more room between her thighs. He crossed his arm over her breasts, holding her still and focusing her attention on his touch. She dropped her head back against his chest, moaning as he escalated the sensations. Steady waves of desire surged into his mind and he sped the motion of his finger.
She cried out suddenly and trembled as pleasure erupted inside her. He drank down her enjoyment, savoring each tingling pulse before feeding it back to her. She sagged forward, resting her forearms on the seat of her chair. He grinned and took full advantage of the position.
He quickly opened the front of his pants then flipped up her skirt, baring her lovely bottom. With a desire-drugged groan, he pushed between her thighs and deep into the core of her body. Hot and wet, her passage engulfed his aching cock. He paused for a moment, savoring the bliss.
She tightened her inner muscles and arched her back, taking him deeper with her restless movements. “Move,” she murmured. “Please.”
Unable to refuse her anything, he steadied her hips and began rocking, pulling nearly out before thrusting his entire length back in. She countered each drive and soon the sound of flesh slapping against flesh filled the cabin along with their harsh breathing.
His balls drew up tight and he fought with all his might not to give in to the demands of his body. She felt so good, too good to end this so quickly. He pumped faster, harder and she tossed her head, sending her hair flying out all around her.
Emotions poured into and out of his mind. He could no longer tell where they originated. They were truly melded, body, mind and spirit.
She cried out again, her core rippling around his thrusting cock. He frantically fought for control, but it was no use. He tensed, his entire body bowing as sensations washed over him in scalding waves. She shivered and moaned as he shuddered against her, helplessly spilling his seed.
The overwhelming sensations gradually receded and he stroked his hand down her hair. “You okay?”
She looked back at him and smiled. “I sort of asked for that, didn’t I?”
“Sort of.” He slapped her butt as he separated their bodies. “There’s a lavatory in the back if you want to put yourself back together.”
After snatching her discarded clothing off the floor, she hurried into the back of the ship.
He refastened his uniform and returned to his chair, feeling content and lazy. He hadn’t planned this, but passion was a frequent reaction to highly contentious situations. She returned a few minutes later, hair tidied and shirt tails tied at the waist. Following the direction of his startled look, she laughed. “For some reason I’m suddenly missing half the buttons.”
“Sorry. I’ll buy you a new one.”
“I’m not worried about the shirt, but you should probably stream me to my apartment so I can change.”
He looked at her with a guilty smile. “I had your things moved to my suite. I hope you don’t mind.”
She shrugged. “Why would I mind? Anyone would rather stay in your rooms than mine.”
“Some people don’t like others touching their possessions.”
Again she just shrugged. “I grew up with housekeepers and nannies. I’m used to it.”
Her emotions were so jumbled, he could only guess at the forces that had twisted them. He should let Indigo talk to her. Helping people work through emotional problems was Indigo’s specialty. But his mate was hurting. Clumsy or not, he had to try to ease that pain.
“You can’t let him get to you.” He didn’t know what else to say. “He’s not worth your pain.”
Alyssa glanced at him and smiled, but the warmth didn’t reach her eyes. “I’m well aware of my ‘daddy issues’. I’ve rearranged my world to please a man who doesn’t give a shit about me. Dear old Dad made that perfectly clear today.”
She quickly averted her gaze again, but hurt and betrayal pushed into his mind, making his chest ache and his gut tense. “If we hadn’t been surrounded by armed guards, I would have dealt with his disrespect. There’s no justification for such cruelty.”
She didn’t look at him, but her mouth curved up at the corners. “In a strange way, I needed to hear it. It makes switching sides a whole lot easier.”
He wasn’t sure what else to say, how to help her. Thanks to their link, he could feel her hurt, her grief, but none of it showed on her face. Rather than pushing her further, he reached over and took her hand. Their future might be uncertain, but they would face each obstacle together.
Chapter Eleven
They arrived at Lunar Nine a short time later and Dakar streamed Alyssa to their suite. S
he changed her clothes, smiling as she remembered the urgency with which they’d made love. She’d always found spontaneous passion incredibly romantic, and Dakar had given her that and so much more. Indigo described the complete intimacy of a soul bond during orientation, but no human could truly understand until they’d experienced it for themselves.
She refused to think about her father. She had wasted too much time and energy on the man already. As she’d gradually calmed on the shuttle, she’d realized two important things. Her father was part of a past she was leaving behind, and he had no place in the future she was building with Dakar. As long as she stayed focused on those truths, she would be fine.
After combing out her hair, she braided it and went to find her mate. More than likely he was in the governor’s office on the top level of the commerce tiers. She took the express tunnel to the lowest level, then rode an elevator to the top tier.
She passed several offices, knowing one was Dakar’s but not sure which one. A conference room followed and then she heard male voices as she approached the last office.
“This is disappointing, but I’m not surprised,” Raylon was saying. Dakar must have finished outlining what happened on Earth.
“It would have been a miracle if Martin hadn’t been suspicious.”
Was that Sedrik? She leaned forward, peeking inside the office. Sure enough. Dakar’s older brother sat beside him in the chairs facing Raylon’s desk. His hair was very short and his bearing much more militant, but the family resemblance was undeniable. Maybe she shouldn’t interrupt.
“Do we have any leads on Royce Marsden?” Dakar was clearly frustrated, but she couldn’t feel his emotions. Was he intentionally blocking her access to his mind? “All of the merchants are clamoring for someone to be held accountable.”
“My instincts tell me to stay focused on Shadow Leader,” Raylon insisted. “Midlevel commanders are too easily replaced.”
Dakar chuckled. “Present company excluded?”
Raylon smiled, the rare expression softening his rugged features. “Of course. Everyone knows you’re irreplaceable.”
“We’ve avoided direct aggression, hoping to escape the same from Earth,” Sedrik said. “Well, that ship sailed. They took the first shot and, intentional or not, it was a direct hit. Why don’t we just go get the bastard? He’s too damn arrogant to hide.”
That was certainly true.
Folding his arms on the desktop, Raylon considered the options before he spoke again. “The Triad is adamant that this remains peaceful.”
Sedrik shrugged. “So we peacefully raid the estate and capture Shadow Leader. Surgical strike. Cleanly in and out before anyone is the wiser.”
Feeling like a naughty child, listening at keyholes, she moved into the doorway. “Care for a human perspective?”
Dakar snapped his head around and then smiled. Sedrik watched her intently.
“Come in. You know your world better than we do,” Raylon encouraged. “How do you suggest we proceed?”
Alyssa walked into the room and Dakar motioned her toward the chair he hastily vacated. She sat and he moved behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders. The position was overtly possessive, but she didn’t mind. Her nerves were still raw enough that she found his presence comforting.
“Sedrik’s right,” she began, glancing at her brother-in-law. “We need to make a statement and capturing Shadow Leader would send a loud and clear message. I also think you should station one of your biggest, baddest ships over each of the sacred bonding grounds.”
Raylon and Sedrik exchanged startled expressions. Then the governor asked, “How long has your father known about the sacred bonding grounds? Tandori Tribe is incredibly secretive. We only recently found out about the areas and their significance.”
Tandori Tribe was a group of Rodyte refugees who refused to participate in the war with Bilarri. They were also the only Rodyte blood line still having access to magic. They’d settled on Earth centuries ago and worked very hard to blend in with humans. However, to maintain their magic, it was necessary to mate with other members of Tandori Tribe or at least balance Tandori blood with human. So they established sacred bonding grounds, geographical areas mystically empowered to draw Rodytes together when they were physically mature enough to mate. A side effect of the spell also drew humans genetically compatible with Rodytes. It was this side effect that interested the battle born.
“Vincent Tandori had been selling my father Rodyte secrets for years. He became so paranoid toward the end that my father wasn’t sure how much of his information could be believed, but I was still saddened by his death. He seemed really lonely.”
Even though she was building on Sedrik’s position, he was the one who objected to her suggestion. “Won’t showing off our firepower antagonize Solar Warden into further attacks?”
“I don’t think so. Two of Earth’s super powers were locked in a bitter arms race around the time Lunar Nine was built. Russia had just gotten nuclear weapons and so had America. There was a ton of posturing, even threats, but each side knew if they used their bombs the other side would immediately retaliate and both sides would be destroyed.”
“Mutually assured destruction.” Sedrik nodded, his expression grim. “The strategy is known to us.”
“We are not at war with Earth,” Raylon stressed, surprising her with his vehemence. From what she knew about the governor, he was often the first to suggest aggressive action.
“I’m telling you how to prevent a war, not start one,” Alyssa told him. “Peace through strength.” She looked at Sedrik and smiled. “That’s another well-known strategy on Earth.”
“If I’m not mistaken,” Dakar said, “the Triad suggested the same thing.”
Sedrik and Raylon both nodded, then Sedrik clarified, “We were waiting until a demonstration of strength was warranted. I think we all agree that we’re there now.”
“We have to capture Shadow Leader before we go on the offensive,” Raylon reminded.
“Agreed,” Sedrik said. “Say the word and me and baby brother will put together a strike team.”
Raylon snickered and shook his head. “Dakar I can justify, but you have no business leading a raiding party.”
“Dakar is newly mated,” Sedrik countered.
“You command the entire Earth-side fleet. Isn’t that enough responsibility for you?”
Sedrik grumbled, clearly annoyed by the outcome. “It’s been so long since I saw action. I’ve almost forgotten what it feels like.”
“Apparently not or you wouldn’t miss it so badly,” Dakar pointed out.
“You’re adrenaline junkies.” Raylon and Sedrik looked confused by her comment, so she tried again. “You crave excitement and danger because of the thrill it gives you.”
They nodded, looking completely unrepentant.
“If we’re putting together a strike team, I want Zilor and Jakkin,” Dakar told his brother.
“Zilor makes perfect sense. He knows the Phantoms better than anyone. But Jakkin has his hands full right now.” Sedrik’s little smirk made Alyssa clutch her fists. These men might be amused by Kelsey’s situation, but Alyssa was definitely not.
“It might do him good to get away from the situation for a few hours,” Raylon put in. “Give him and his mate a chance to deescalate.”
Kelsey wasn’t Jakkin’s mate yet, or was she? Feeling a bit panicked, she looked back at Dakar, but he was focused on his brother, waiting for him to respond to Raylon’s comments.
Sedrik nodded, though he still looked reluctant.
Dakar squeezed her shoulders. “Was there anything else?” he asked Raylon.
“We’re done for now. Let me give some more thought to the raid and I’ll get back with you later.”
“Sounds good.” He drew her to her feet and led her from the office. “You look good enough to eat,” he leaned down and whispered in her ear.
Tingling heat washed over her body, but she ignored the familiar temptatio
n. “I’m ready for actual food for a change. Can we grab a bite in the food court before we head back?”
“Of course.” He pulled her into his arms in the elevator and kissed her soundly.
She smiled up at him, but pulled back as soon as the door slid open. “Raylon referred to Kelsey as Jakkin’s mate. Did he mean it literally? Has Jakkin claimed her?”
“Not that I know of,” Dakar told her. “But no Rodyte male is going to give up a potential mate without putting up one hell of a fight.”
She nodded understanding his point, but not satisfied with the answer. “Do you need to check on your men or are you mine for the evening?”
“I checked in before I went to Raylon’s office. Today was mercifully uneventful.”
They chose their food then sat at a small round table and chatted casually. She needed a few minutes of normalcy before they returned to the conflicts surrounding them. But all too soon her mind filled with possibilities and speculation.
“A storm cloud just settled over your expression.” He leaned back into his chair and crossed his arms. “What are you thinking about?”
“I don’t know Royce Marsden well, but I’m worried about his reaction. Dad was angry about the explosion, which indicates that Marsden arranged it without his permission. If Marsden is being held back by Shadow Leader, won’t removing Shadow Leader embolden Marsden?”
“It could. It could also shut him down.” He stacked her dishes on top of his tray then put his tray on top of hers. “When push comes to shove, Solar Warden is no match for any of our ships. We could annihilate them with a couple of Phantoms.”
“That didn’t keep them from killing eleven people and hurting many more.”
“True.”
Again his expression was filled with conflict, but she couldn’t sense his emotions. “Why can’t I feel you anymore?”
He grinned. “You can feel me anytime you like.”
“Your emotions. I could sense you so clearly before, but now it’s only an occasional muted surge.” She felt something shift and his being flowed into her mind. “Oh, that’s better.”
Enforcer (Battle Born Book 11) Page 16