by Nina Croft
“So…?”
She took a deep breath. “Thank you. But that doesn’t get you out of your promises. Tell me.”
He leaned back against the console, folded his arms across his chest. But at least he wasn’t throwing her off the ship. “You really want to know?”
She gave an abrupt nod; all she could manage.
“I want you.”
Shock held her still for a moment. She’d never expected him to admit it, though she’d sensed it subconsciously, felt it in his gaze. It was what had driven her on in the face of a hundred rejections.
“For ten thousand years I’ve done what was needed, what I had to do…my duty. Now for the first time in all those years, I want something for myself.”
She licked her dry lips. “Have me then.”
He shook his head. She was half expecting him to say she was too young, or some other bullshit. “It’s not possible. You make me lose control. I can’t afford to lose control, because when I do, bad things happen.”
“What sort of bad things?” But an image of Drago’s exploding head filled her mind and she winced.
He ignored the question. “So I’ll go back to where I belong and do what I promised to do all those years ago. And one day, I will forget you.”
Never going to happen. Not if she had any say in it.
He wanted her. And as far as she was concerned he was going to get her. Afterward, he’d be hers. He’d stay here where he was meant to be. She had a flashback to that humiliating first time she had attempted to seduce him—not-so-sweet sixteen and desperate to wipe the taint of Drago from her body and mind. There had been no one since. Her life hadn’t exactly been conducive to forming relationships. Besides, she’d never wanted anyone but Thorne.
Shit, she could do this. How hard could it be? Thorne hadn’t moved, as though he was waiting for something. Maybe for her to turn around and walk away. If so, he was going to be disappointed. She had a brief flicker of concern about the whole control thing, but they would cope. Somehow.
“Maybe Rico’s right,” she said. “Maybe you need to get laid.” Taking a deep breath, she reached behind her and loosened her hair from its plait so it fell about her shoulders. And he still didn’t move.
She took a step toward him, her fingers hooking in the hem of her tank top. Then she tugged it up and over her head, tossing it on the pilot’s seat as she passed.
Now he moved, straightening, his wingtips quivering. His gaze dropped down to her naked breasts, and they ached, the nipples tightening under his intense stare.
She closed the last couple of steps between them, reached out and rested her hand on his chest, feeling the heat and the solid thud of his heart. Sliding her palm up, she looped her fingers around the back of his neck. He did nothing to either help or hinder her, but a pulse throbbed in his throat. Standing on tiptoes, she pressed her lips to the spot, flicked him with her tongue, tasting the saltiness of his skin.
She breathed in the warm, spicy scent of him then trailed her lips over his hard jaw, grazing the rough skin. She kissed the corner of his mouth, and still he didn’t move, then she licked along his sensual lower lip, nipping it with her teeth.
At last his arms came up. He drew back slightly, cupping her face in his huge hands, tilting her head back so she was staring up into those alien eyes. They sucked her in and for a brief second, fear flashed through her.
Then he kissed her, and everything else was pushed from her mind.
There was no gentleness in his touch; he was all raw need. His mouth came down hard on hers, his tongue thrusting into her mouth.
…
His control was cracking, but for the first time he didn’t fight it. Instead, he allowed it to split apart.
She felt so right in his arms. The taste of her was driving him crazy, all sweetness and tartness, and her skin was so soft. He relived that moment when she had stripped off her top and he’d known that he had no choice. This was going to happen. Or he might explode.
But as soon as he relaxed, gave in, the tightness in his brain receded. He’d been fighting too hard, keeping everything locked up too tight.
His hands slid down her shoulders, over the smooth, satin skin of her back, urging her closer, feeling the softness of her breasts, with the hard little nipples pressed against his chest.
He needed to get closer, and he cupped her ass, lifted her, and swung her around in one fluid move, without even breaking the kiss. Settling her on the console now behind her, he moved into the V formed between her thighs.
He raised his head. “Open your eyes.”
Her lashes flickered open; her irises had darkened to midnight blackness, and something feral shifted behind them. She blinked as though dazed. He stroked a finger down over her cheek, along her throat to the soft spot where her neck met her shoulder, and across the smooth slope of her breast. His thumb rubbed over her nipple, then he cupped one breast in his hand, squeezing, and her pupils dilated.
His cock was ready to go, but he needed to take this slowly.
If he was capable of that.
He hadn’t made love in too many years to count. Now he was clamoring with need.
Lowering his head, he took one nipple into his mouth, lashed it with his tongue, suckled hard, and her hand came behind his head to hold him to her. He moved to the other breast until her skin glistened with moisture and her nipples were swollen with need.
He stepped back and she looked up at him from dazed eyes.
“Tell me how you feel,” he said.
“I need you.”
It was enough. She was all grown up. This wasn’t wrong. Just the once, then he would go on, do his duty, leave her with her friends and family. Where she was safe from whatever it was he had become.
Her hands were on him now, stroking over his chest, down his belly, trailing over his dick, which was rock hard in his pants. She tugged his shirt out, and at last he felt the touch of her fingers on his skin.
The sensation was exquisite, and he lowered his head to kiss her.
But something was wrong.
Something was hammering at his mind, and he went still.
“Thorne?”
He blinked, stared at Candy, trying to push the feeling aside, but it came again. He released her, stepped back, swallowed, and then held up his hand to prevent her speaking. A weird sense of fear swamped him as he opened his mind.
“Thorne, it’s Reese.”
One of his people who had gone on ahead. He would have reached Espera by now.
“What is it?”
“They’re dead, all dead. We’re under attack.”
“Who? Where?”
“The whole colony.”
For a moment, the words made no sense. Then a vision flashed in his brain—he was seeing through Reese’s eyes. Fire filled the skies. Below, Espera was a burned out wasteland, the vegetation nothing but charred stumps, and here and there a body lay sprawled on the blackened earth.
Reese was flying high above the land, giving him a bird’s-eye view.
“The others?”
“All dead. It happened so fast.”
Was this his fault? Had he brought this down on them? Could he have somehow protected them? They’d left the colony pretty much defenseless over the last year while he and the others who’d undergone the Meridian joining had been here playing at war. They’d presumed Espera was too far away to be a target. And besides, few even knew of its existence. But they hadn’t taken into account the threat of the dragons.
Had they gone looking for Saffira? Had some lingering trace of their own universe drawn them to Espera?
Now his people had paid the price for his mistakes.
“They’ve seen me.” Panic roared through Reese’s thoughts. He swooped and dived as flames licked at his wings. Then he was burning, engulfed in fire. A scream ripped from his throat as he tumbled toward the ground, agony racing along his nerves as the fire consumed him.
…
Thorne crash
ed to his knees in front of her. He threw back his head and screamed, a sound of such primal agony that her hands came up to grip her head, shut the noise out.
What had happened?
How could she help him?
She jumped off the console and took a step toward him. But as she reached out, his eyes flashed open, and crimson whirls flashed in the violet.
“Stay away,” he ground out. He held up a hand to ward her off. “I can’t…” He dropped to all fours and a howl emerged from his throat.
At the same time, the ship’s alarms shrilled in the small space. The shuttle started to vibrate and beyond that the Blood Hunter spiraled, slow at first, then gaining speed until Candy was knocked sideways and into the chair. She stumbled, righted herself. Had no clue what to do, her mind floundering. Was he caught in some sort of mind control?
Her comm unit beeped, and she pressed it without taking her eyes off Thorne.
“Skylar is unconscious. So are Tannis and Callum,” Rico said, panic clear in his voice. “What the fuck is going on?”
“I don’t know. We were… Then something happened. Thorne’s lost it. I don’t know.”
At that moment he let out a howl of agony.
“Dios,” Rico said. “We’ve lost control of the ship, and we need to get it back, right now. Knock the fucker out. I don’t care what you have to do, but shut him down.”
Candy swallowed and then drew her laser pistol with shaking fingers. She flicked it to maximum stun and aimed at Thorne.
He raised his head as though sensing the focus, his eyes filled with pain. Her fingers tightened on the trigger, but before she could take the shot, a ripple ran through him, his eyes rolled up, and he crashed to the floor.
She hurried over, crouched down beside him, reached out a trembling hand. His skin was hot to the touch. Burning.
“Talk to me, Candy.” Rico’s voice came over the comm unit.
“He passed out. He’s unconscious, but I don’t know for how long.” She shook her head, trying to get her brain working.
“Set the shuttle to auto and get out of there,” Rico instructed. “We’ll eject him into space. Hopefully when he comes to, he’ll be back in control.”
“And what if he isn’t?” He’d crash if the shuttle lost control out in space. He could be lost forever.
She stood up, backed away until she hit the console. Turning around, she kept her gaze on Thorne as she set the shuttle for take-off.
“What are you doing?” Rico asked.
“I’m going to get him away from here, where he can’t damage the Blood Hunter.”
Rico was silent for long seconds. “Okay. But don’t take any risks. If he’s no better when he comes around, shoot him.”
“I will.”
The shuttle lifted, and she was heading for the docking bay doors. Then the doors opened, and they were out into space. She set the coordinates without thinking—she had no clue where to go except away from here. As they flew away from the Blood Hunter, Thorne shifted, pushing onto his elbows. They were still too close, and she swallowed, raised the pistol, and shot him in the chest. He collapsed back to the floor.
Candy sniffed, then headed the shuttle into deep space and watched as the Blood Hunter disappeared behind them.
Chapter Eight
Thorne came awake slowly and very reluctantly. His head hurt and there was a burning pain in his chest.
What the hell had happened?
They were dead. Reese, Medina…everyone. He’d sworn to take them to the Promised Land. Ten thousand years it had taken him, and finally, he’d succeeded. Now they were all dead.
What the fucking hell was the point?
He lay on his back on the floor, wings pinned uncomfortably beneath him, staring at the curved ceiling. He was still on the shuttle. What had happened? Did he care?
He was empty, numb where he knew logically that grief should be.
Maybe he was protecting himself from the inevitable guilt. He’d brought them to this and then abandoned them. Perhaps he couldn’t have done anything to stop the destruction. Now, he’d never know.
The shuttle was moving, flying slowly through space. How had that happened? He’d lost it. His last memory had been the shrill ring of alarms in his ears, competing with the screams in his head. Candy had been there. She’d aimed her laser pistol straight at him, fear in her eyes.
Then she’d shot him.
Had she ejected his shuttle into space? Maybe he would fly until the fuel ran out and then float about on the outer edges of space…one more piece of debris.
He raised himself up on his elbows, and went still. Candy sat in the pilot’s chair, her back to him. She hadn’t noticed he was awake yet. He couldn’t face talking to her, talking to anyone. Slowly he lowered himself back down and lay staring upward, not really seeing anything except the fire in his head, hearing Reese’s last scream.
The comm unit buzzed and Candy answered, “How is everyone?”
“We’re awake,” Tannis replied. “No thanks to your freaking boyfriend.”
“He didn’t do it on purpose. Something happened. I don’t know what. But something bad.”
“He still out?”
“I think so.”
He sensed rather than saw her get to her feet. She came to stand over him. Her eyes widened as she saw he was awake.
“He’s conscious.”
Tannis was silent for a minute. “Calm?”
“Yeah.” She frowned down at him. “Just a minute.” She crouched down beside him, but as she reached out a hand, he growled low in his throat. He didn’t want to talk, and he didn’t want to be touched. Her hand dropped to her side, and she pursed her lips. He closed his eyes and willed her to go away.
After a minute, she rose and spoke into the comm unit, “He’s awake, but he doesn’t seem quite with it.”
“Well, if he shows any sign of losing it again, shoot him.”
“I will.”
“And we’ll see you at the rendezvous point.”
“Okay.”
“And keep safe. Your mother will kill me if anything happens to you.”
He heard the click as she closed off the comm, then soft footsteps as she came back to him.
“Thorne?”
He ignored her.
“Thorne, please tell me what’s happening.”
He rolled onto his side, facing away from her, and kept his eyes closed. Eventually she went away. He didn’t know how long he lay there, his mind a blank wasteland.
“Thorne?”
He heard the whisper in his mind. Saffira trying to contact him.
“Thorne, talk to me. I know what happened. I’m sorry, so sorry. This is my fault.”
For a brief moment he almost replied. But what could he say? Maybe it was partly her fault. But it was more his. Those people hadn’t been her responsibility; they’d been his.
“Thorne, please answer.”
He made a conscious effort and closed off his mind. He had nothing to say.
…
He’d been lying there for a whole day, not moving. Occasionally, when she peered down at him, his eyes were open, but he just stared straight ahead, his expression blank.
The shuttle was made up of two rooms, this one for flying the ship and a second for sleeping. It contained six bunk beds attached to the wall, and a small bathroom. She took herself in there for a private conversation. She wanted to know what was going on, and clearly she wasn’t going to find out anything from Thorne. He was hurting, and she needed to find out what had caused it.
She called up the Blood Hunter. Tannis answered. “Candy, what’s happening?”
“Nothing. He’s awake but he won’t talk to me. What’s happened? Do you know?”
Tannis was silent for a moment. “Yeah. Saffira called in. Espera was attacked by dragons.”
“How bad.”
“Very fucking bad. Everyone is dead.”
“Why?”
“How the freaking hell
should I know? We’re talking about freaking dragons. Who knows why they do anything.”
“Well, maybe it’s time to find out.”
“Good luck with that.”
“Where’s Saffira?”
“She’s going to rendezvous with us on Trakis Four. She says she can’t get through to Thorne. He’s locked her out. See if you can get him to open up.”
“I’ll try.” Though she didn’t expect to have much luck. Poor Thorne. She’d joked about his people and his need to look after everyone. But this must have hit him so hard.
“How long until you hit Trakis Four?” Tannis asked.
“About twenty-four hours.”
“We’ll be a little longer. Don’t land. Stay in orbit until we get there and check everything out.”
“Okay.”
She closed off the comm and sat for a moment, stifling the urge to go straight back in and comfort him, tell him she was sorry. But she knew it wouldn’t help. This went too deep.
It fleetingly occurred to her that now he would stay with them. He wouldn’t have any responsibilities to drag him away from her. And she hated herself for the thought. Exhaustion tugged at her mind. She was completely cured from the illness, but it had taken its toll, and she hadn’t slept since.
Finally, she stood and made her way into the main cabin. Her hopes rose as she caught sight of Thorne. He was still on the floor, but at least he was sitting up, with his back to the wall. His expression was blank, and she resisted the urge to shout at him to get a grip. There were things to do—dragons to stop, this illness to sort out, the world to save. And now, maybe Thorne at her side.
It was funny, but she’d thought her life as she knew it was over with Drago’s death. But there were still a whole load of wrongs to put to right. And she felt a stirring of anticipation.
Unfortunately, she was first going to have to get Thorne to snap out of his funk.
As she crossed the room slowly, his eyes stayed fixed on the wall directly in front of him, as though she wasn’t there. She sank onto the floor beside him, stretched her legs out in front of her, totally conscious of his long legs next to hers, his big hands resting on his thighs.