“I knew you were upset and didn’t want to add to your anxiety, so I shielded my end of the link.”
“Can you teach me how to do that? It’s not fair for you to shut the door if I don’t have the same option.”
“I will, but you need to get used to the link before we worry about constructing shields.”
“All right.” Truth be told, she was comforted knowing he was only a thought away.
He took their trays to the recycler then returned and held out his hand. “Ready?”
She nodded and stood. “I can’t help you find Marsden. I don’t know the specifics of the Solar Warden project. However, I can help you capture my—Shadow Leader. I don’t want to think of him as my anything anymore.”
“That’s understandable.” He led her across the food court and toward the express tunnel that led directly to the Pavilion. “But we don’t have to think about any of that tonight.”
“I don’t think the thoughts will let me rest until I…we have a specific plan.”
“That’s fine too. I don’t intend on resting.”
She punched him playfully in the arm. “Didn’t get enough on the shuttle?”
“I’ll never get enough of you.”
She smiled, but her thoughts remained dark. “I’m not going to be able to focus on you until this is settled.”
“Fine.” Clearly, he wasn’t thrilled with her persistence. “We’ve known where to find Shadow Leader ever since you told us his identity. Locating him shouldn’t be a problem.”
“I agree, but he’ll be on guard after today. I wouldn’t be surprised if Kage keeps the house shielded so we can’t stream in or out.”
He stopped walking and faced her. “There is no ‘we’ in this. You will not be directly involved in his capture.”
“I have no problem with that. Don’t confuse me with Kelsey.”
“That shouldn’t be a problem.” He chuckled and started walking again. “Jakkin won’t let anyone else near her.”
She shot him a sidelong look. “I don’t like the sound of that.”
“He won’t hurt her. She’s his—”
“Mate,” she finished for him. “Yeah, I know. That doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
They reached the Pavilion a few minutes later, but lingered in the courtyard. The dome above the three-tiered fountain displayed a simulated sky. It was late afternoon and the sky was vivid blue, with a smattering of fluffy blue clouds.
After absorbing the tranquility for only a moment or two, she returned to the incomplete topic. “Shadow Leader is a creature of habit. He’s almost obsessive about his routines. I don’t think you should try to take him at home. That’s too predictable.”
He sat on the wide stone edge of the fountain and pulled her in between his legs. “Clearly you have something else in mind.”
“Mother loved horses,” she began. “We had a full stable until she died. It broke my heart when Dad sold them off one by one, but he couldn’t part with Sargent. He was the last colt born of Mom’s horses. Dad really bonded with him.”
“Sargent is a horse? I’ve seen images of the massive beasts, but I’ve never been near one.”
She leaned in and kissed the tip of his nose. “I’m not suggesting we go riding. Father visits Sargent every Sunday afternoon. It’s a longstanding ritual, and often the highlight of his week.”
Dakar’s eyes narrowed and his head tilted to one side. “Visit indicates that this horse is kept somewhere else.”
“Correct. Horses are a lot of work. Dad only wants the fun parts, so he boards Sargent at a horse training center about fifteen miles from his estate. There are no classes on the weekends, so Dad pays the owner for private access every Sunday afternoon. From one to four, day after tomorrow, Shadow Leader will be more or less alone at Flatirons Equestrian Academy.”
“You honestly think he’ll go play with his horse after what happened today?” He looked doubtful and his emotions were muted again. She hadn’t felt him raise his shields but the difference was striking.
“He can’t help himself. He’s obsessive about Sargent, and Sedrik is right. Shadow Leader is too damn arrogant to change his habits for anyone.”
“That’s foolish.”
“He’ll be there day after tomorrow. I guarantee it.”
He paused, clearly milling over her suggestion. “It’s certainly worth a look.”
“Good. Now lower your shields. I need to feel you inside me.”
He grabbed her hips and dragged her closer, kissing the side of her neck. “You never have to ask twice for that.”
She’d meant she wanted his energy in her mind, but desire curled through her, an intense combination of hers and his. “Can we take a bath before we go to bed?”
He nipped the underside of her jaw. “Or we can take a bath after.”
She shook her head. “I really need to relax.”
“Fair enough.”
They walked into their suite hand in hand then undressed in the luxurious bathroom. He turned on the tub’s water supply, but drew her toward the shower. After their quicky in the shuttle it was probably a good idea, so she went willingly, but insisted they wash themselves.
“I’m not doing this in the shower,” she told him.
“Again?” He laughed.
Heat suffused her face and made her nipples tingle. Their first night together had been a marathon of sex and laughter. They’d made love so many times she’d stopped counting, but each time was as amazing as the first. “I mean it.” She pushed his hand away from her breast and retreated as far as the shower allowed.
Once they were both squeaky clean, they moved to the tub. He leaned against the sloping edge and she sat with her back to his chest. It was crowded, but nice and he kept his hands mostly to himself. She rested her head against his shoulder and closed her eyes.
“Oh, I almost forgot to ask you.” She opened her eyes but didn’t lift her head. “A boy in a soldier’s uniform brought me clean clothes. Was he just dressed up like his father or was he actually part of the military?”
He sighed and regret churned within his mind. “They aren’t allowed to fight, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
She twisted around so she could see his face. “They? How many boy soldiers are there?”
Looking decidedly uncomfortable, he admitted, “Hundreds. Sedrik would know the exact number. They’re abandoned by their families and most end up in the military anyway, so the military educates and takes care of them until they’re old enough to fight.”
“I don’t understand. Why would their families abandon them?”
His arm encircled her waist and he pressed his face into her damp hair for a moment before he explained. “Battle born children have one purpose in life, to reinfuse Rodyte bloodlines with magic.”
She nodded. The instructors on the Fearless had explained that much.
“Battle born females often develop some version of their mother’s abilities, but battle born males do not.”
“Never?”
“Never. So many battle born boys are cast aside as failures as soon as they’re born.”
“That may be the saddest thing I’ve ever heard.” Stunned, she couldn’t think of anything to say for a long, tense moment. “Children don’t belong in the military. There has to be another way to deal with this.”
“I agree and the Triad, our new governing body, is making changes as fast as our culture will tolerate them. These situations are why we went to war.”
She released a sigh and relaxed against him, finally willing to let it go.
Dakar sensed the change in Alyssa. Tension melted from her muscles and the emotions battering her mind faded into the background. “Day after tomorrow.” He brushed her hair back from her face and kissed her temple. “Once Shadow Leader is in custody, we’ll spend several days in bed.”
“You’ll get no argument from me.” Her voice turned soft and dreamy. “I’m more than ready for some alone time wit
h my mate.”
My mate. The words sent joy swelling through his soul and awakened his slumbering body. “Are you relaxed now?”
She turned around, kneeling between his legs. “Thank you for giving me time to process this. I know you were anxious for something else.”
“Whatever you need, whenever you need it,” he whispered, then brushed his lips against hers.
“That’s quite an offer. I hope you don’t regret it.” She carefully stood and crawled out of the tub, immediately reaching for a towel.
He watched her rub the soft material over her sleek body, content for the moment just to look at her.
“Are you coming?” She flashed a siren’s smile then walked from the room.
Practically vaulting from the tub, he snatched a towel out of the compartment inset in the wall and hurried into the bedroom. She stood beside the bed, finger-combing her hair, gloriously naked. Abandoning his halfhearted attempts at drying off, he growled low in his throat and swept her into his arms. He pressed her to his chest and devoured her mouth, unable to be gentle.
She only allowed the frantic kiss for a moment, then pushed against his chest. “You said anything I need.”
“Speak the words and it’s yours.”
“Sit down on the edge of the bed.”
He did, though he didn’t trust the wicked gleam in her eyes.
She knelt in front of him then urged his legs apart and moved closer. “You always make me so desperate, I forget about you.”
He laughed. “Have I seemed dissatisfied?”
“No, but you’ve been in control of everything we’ve done.”
His gut clenched and his cock bucked, easily guessing where this was leading. “Anything you need.” He moved his legs farther apart and gently stroked her hair.
She smiled, then ran her hands down his chest, up his sides, then down his arms. “Your body is unbelievable. I’ll never tire of touching you.”
Already he was rock-hard and his balls felt tight and achy, but she clearly needed to explore, needed to control some element of her life. He understood her motivation, but was dominant by nature. The passive role was torture for him.
She reached back and unbound his hair, spreading it over his shoulders and chest. He’d been tempted to cut it so many times, tired of the hassle and the ribbing from people like Sedrik. Now he was really glad he hadn’t. Her exploration descended along his torso to his hips, but she ignored his sex entirely and touched his legs. Down one tense thigh, across his knee and up the other. Her touch was featherlight, making him shiver.
He chuckled, understanding her purpose. “Is this what I do to you?”
“Oh yeah.” She circled is sex, coming close to, but not touching anything important. “You’re a ruthless tease.”
Her fingers finally circled his shaft and he groaned, needing her touch so badly it made him tremble. “A tease wouldn’t give you what you want.” He panted. “I just make you wait for it.”
“True.” Her lips brushed against his tip, then she kissed her way to his base before reversing direction and licking her way back up to his tip. Each movement, each caress was a gentle assault on his senses.
“Your killing me, woman.”
He fisted the back of her hair, but she looked at him and shook her head, warning clear in her eyes. “Behave. Whatever I need, remember?”
His fingers unclenched, but didn’t let go and she returned to her sensory torture. Finally, she parted her lips and let him slide inside her warm, wet mouth. He threw back his head and moaned so loud he embarrassed himself. She rewarded him with a slow, deep suck and then a swirl from her tongue. Pleasure overflowed his mind and spilled into hers. It was said that everything felt better with a mate. Now he knew it was true.
She slid her lips down so far he bumped the back of her mouth, then drew back until only his tip remained inside. Over and over, she took him deep, her lips firm yet soft against his straining flesh. His balls drew up and threatened to spill. He tugged on her hair, but she ignored him.
“Stop or I’ll—”
She sucked harder and slid faster, her intention clear. She wanted him to lose control, to fly apart while she watched, knowing she’d done it to him. He understood the feeling all too well, because he frequently felt that way with her.
So he lowered his arms to his sides and fisted his hands on the bed. She worked him ruthlessly, demanding his surrender as he so often demanded hers. It felt so damn good, he couldn’t resist for long. He watched her face, the determination and joy so obvious in her expression. Not to mention her building arousal rippling into his mind.
Unable to withstand the tension, he simply let go and pushed to the back of her mouth. He came in hot spurts as he looked into her eyes. She stayed with him until the last shudder passed then gently released him from her mouth.
“You’ve had that coming for days.”
She seemed quite pleased with her victory, so he didn’t point out that no male in the galaxy considered what she’d just done for him a punishment. “And now it’s your turn.”
She laughed and pushed to her feet. “It’s always my turn. That was the point of this. You always—”
He silenced her with a kiss and pulled her onto his lap, arranging her legs to either side of his hips. And I always will. Nothing pleases me more than pleasuring my mate.
Encircling her waist with one arm, he stroked her breasts with his other hand while his mouth plundered hers. Her nipples were already tight, but he tweaked and caressed until they hardened even more. He loved the sounds she made. Every gasp and whimper fanned the fire building inside him.
It only took a few minutes for his cock to stir again. He couldn’t seem to get enough of her regardless of how often they made love. Bonding fever. Knowing where the urgency came from didn’t make it less intense. He caressed his way over her belly, then onto her hip.
She lifted so he could slip his hand between her thighs, clearly needing his touch. Pleasuring him left her wet and wanting. He pushed two fingers deep into her core and felt her inner muscles flutter around him.
I need you there, she whispered in his mind, her mouth still melded with his. Please. Having you in my mouth drove me crazy.
He covered her clit with his thumb and began a slow, circular stroking. Payback can be torture, sweet love. His tongue stroked over and around hers, echoing the movements of his thumb. Come for me and then I’ll fill you.
I don’t think I can. I need you too badly.
You will, or you’ll go right on needing.
She whimpered into his open mouth as her hips rotated and rocked against his hand. He kept his fingers deep and let her rub against his thumb, taking what she needed so she could obey his command. It wasn’t a complete surrender, but he was willing to compromise.
Her head fell back, her panting harsh and loud. “So close,” she whispered over and over as she rode his fingers.
He could feel pleasure building inside her, so he increased the pressure of his thumb, careful not to interrupt the building tension. Her inner muscles tightened, then tightened even more. She gasped and shivered, completely lost in the sensory storm.
Unable to stay the impulse, he pulled her head back to his and kissed her, pouring desire and tenderness into her mind. His thumb stroked back and forth over her clit, pushing her closer to completion with each firm pass. She ripped her mouth away and cried out sharply, arching violently as rippling spasms detonated in her core. Her hands clutched his shoulders, then her body went limp as pleasure overwhelmed reality.
Wrapping both arms around her, he stood then turned to face the bed. She clung to him, still dazed and foggy from the explosion of endorphins released with her orgasm. He crawled onto the bed, not an easy feat while supporting her. With her still wrapped around him, he settled her on her back and positioned himself at her entrance.
“Are you with me, love?”
She blinked sleepily then smiled. “I’m back. That was…powerful.”
> He chuckled, pleased by the praise. “Ready for more?”
“Always—with you.”
The stipulation pleased him even more than her compliment. She was his, now and for always.
He found her hands and entwined their fingers, pressing her arms against the bed. He wasn’t really holding her down, but the position fed the aggressive side of his nature. She unhooked her ankles and opened herself wide, welcoming his darker instincts.
Looking deep into her eyes, he entered her slowly, filling her until he had no more to give. She arched, taking him just a bit deeper. Love flooded his heart at the unmistakable message. She wanted all of him, body, mind and spirit.
He drew his hips back and paused when just his tip remained inside her, savoring the beauty of his extraordinary mate. Her eyes shone with passion, lips reddened from all their kisses, and her mind was just as open as her body.
“I love you, Dakar.” It was the first time she’d spoken the words out loud and they sank even deeper because of it.
“And I love you.” His throat was so tight with emotion he could barely get the words out.
Demand surged through the softer impulses. He drove inward fast and hard, filling her completely. She gasped again, eyes wide and luminous, but her mind remained open, surrendered. She reveled in his aggression, craved this aspect of his personality as much as she needed his gentleness.
After a few quick strokes, he was consumed by need, unable to think of anything but her. She lifted into his downward thrusts, but he controlled the speed and depth of each penetration. He angled her hips up, allowing him deeper, filling her more completely. She gasped and tossed her head, her pale hair wild about her face.
The last fiber of his control snapped and he pounded into her, lost to everything but their consuming need. She thrashed and arched, her inner muscles tightening around him as she neared another orgasm. He arched over her, rubbing her clit with his pubic bone, sending her over the edge.
She cried out, shuddering violently as sensations exploded all over her body. He clenched his teeth, determined not to let it end, but his body refused to cooperate. With a defeated growl, he thrust into her one last time, then echoed her cry as he surrendered. Pleasure blasted through his body, forcing his seed out as he shuddered and groaned.
Enforcer (Battle Born Book 11) Page 17