Jaron's Promise

by Michelle Howard

  Not that Sasha expected an answer. This would be her second visit to Dr. Kirkem today. He usually limited himself to once in the morning. After the last three days, she’d become adjusted to the pattern. This unexpected change didn’t bode well. A warning.

  Maybe she should have known something was wrong earlier. During her time in the make shift lab, his behavior had grown more erratic.

  They crossed into the next room and Dr. Kirkem waited. His eyes gleamed. “I’ve perfected it. I didn’t realize I had to account for your Argoran genetics. What I tried before was too strong and considering your race is already prone to the mating heat, you wouldn’t react the same as my Jutak.”

  Jaron wasn’t his anything, but Sasha held her silence. Targa strapped her into the bindings with the clamps Sasha had yet to break. The upright position against the wall left her body exposed for anything The Collector wanted to do. Even her arms were stretched uselessly over her head.

  Dr. Kirkem came closer. He avoided her claws, waving the injector in his hand. Sasha jerked and pulled, her growls and hisses only amusing him.

  He plunged the device against her neck with a malicious jab. Desire burned and burst forth. It was as if someone ignited a flame to her insides. The drug blazed a fiery path through her veins. Sasha gasped and pulled from the wall in an unnatural arch as her nipples hardened and her lower lips grew wet.

  “Yes. Yes,” Dr. Kirkem cheered, watching her every gyration intently.

  Liquid heat seared her blood and a scream broke through Sasha’s gritted teeth. Dr. Kirkem frowned, chewing his bottom lip. “The arousal is there like with him. Where he felt pleasure, you’re feeling pain. Why the change?”

  Sasha writhed on the wall, wishing she could claw his dark, glowering face. Her flesh burned. She feared the slightest touch would have her climaxing in front of him as she shouted in agony.

  The Collector typed on his data pad, fingers stabbing at the screen. “It should work. It should.”

  He said the last on a frustrated scream. Sasha managed a weak laugh, every nerve bubbling to life then cutting like the sharp blade of a knife to her mid-section. “You’re a failure. A worthless, no account scientist.”

  The whites of his eyes bulged. He turned to Targa, the female Marenian, hovering in the shadows. “Take her out of here. She can suffer until I know where I went wrong.”

  Sasha moaned as Targa loosened her bindings, the rough touch of fingers equating to a sensuous caress. When the sleeve of Targa’s shirt brushed Sasha’s front, she jerked away and bent over at the waist to wait out the sensations.

  Never had she felt such pleasure and pain at the same time. The dual input was maddening and Sasha struggled to focus. In front of her, Dr. Kirkem laughed.

  He had the nerve to laugh in the face of her suffering. Anger at her situation clouded her judgment. On a lunge, despite the waves of desire, Sasha slashed at him. Fortune or luck was on her side. Her claws caught at the lab coat, tearing a large hole in the side before he darted out of her range.

  “Get her out!”

  Targa was as strong as she looked and wrestled Sasha to the ground. One blow to the head combined with battling the drug’s effect and Sasha’s mind swirled and clouded. Every step agony, she was yanked to her feet and pushed and shoved. One foot in front of the other, they teetered to the second room.

  Unnatural heat. Her skin itched, the roots of her hair sizzled.

  “You’ll learn to keep your mouth shut.” Targa’s whisper barely registered before Sasha was chained to the wall by the ankle cuff and left alone.

  Hips thrusting, Sasha rolled to her stomach and curled into a ball on the dirt floor, her only thought to work through the fever in her pores.

  The fire in her belly swelled and ebbed as she fought the influence of The Collector’s injection. Was this what Jaron went through? Her thighs rubbed together and the pressure tore an unexpected orgasm from her.

  Sasha screamed and screamed as her body convulsed.

  Chapter 17

  Back on Enotia, Jaron demanded Dr. Maku, the Unit medic, give him the fastest check over. Aside from the residual drugs nothing came back to worry over. For added precaution the doctor injected him with several preventatives. Jaron stayed still for the whole process, answering every question asked.

  At long last, Maku blew out a breath. “I expect this behavior from the others not you, Jaron.”

  How long had it been? Hours. Hours of Sasha possibly back in The Collector’s hands. “Are you done?”

  The medic backed away at his sharp tone. “I am done. Later we’ll do a better work up. Right now, I’m sensing you want to get out of here.”

  He did. There were plans to be made and he had to convince Torkel of going back right now.

  However, it didn’t work out that way. It took three days of messaging and communicating with the Commander to get an answer. In the conference room amongst the three teams, Jaron received the devastating news. The mission was deemed not necessary and without proof or confirmation The Collector was still at the last known location, the request to follow through was denied.

  Jaron almost lost his composure. He jumped to his feet and slammed his palms on the table they all sat around. “Fuck this!”

  “Sit, Jaron.” If he hadn’t caught the calculating look on Torkel’s face, he would have walked out. “We will go back for her.”

  Jaron’s chest drew tight before he exhaled a ragged breath. “Thank you, Torkel.”

  His Unit Leader understood. Later that evening in the locker area, Torkel outlined the plan in short succinct order. “Kyele and Arak will accompany you. Fast and hard, Jaron. Then you get out. Nothing more.”

  Buckling his protective vest over his shirt, Jaron nodded, his mind firmly on rescuing Sasha. “Affirmative. Fast and hard.”

  “This isn’t approved, Jaron. Don’t get caught.”

  Jaron understood the risk to Torkel and the others by helping him return for Sasha. “Yes.”

  His Unit Leader nodded. “Bring her to Enotia. Dr. Maku can make sure The Collector did nothing long term.”

  Jaron swallowed, barely able to acknowledge the directive. Kitten, you better be alright.

  Kyele twirled his knife, brows knitted. “The intel we had was unclear. Are we sure The Collector is still there with the female?”

  Jaron snapped the last strap and gazed at his friend. Kyele’s scar twitched, but no other expression crossed his face. Even his voice sounded neutral. Not possible. Or shouldn’t be because Kyele had the biggest hard on for Dr. Kirkem. The man had done some very nasty things to Kyele’s Chosen, leaving Joni with nightmares she battled to this day. And Kyele did not like some of the things he saw in Joni’s bad dreams.

  “I had Bane help me.” Bane’s sheer comp genius made Jaron look like an amateur. “No trace of a ship departing. Reports are varying after the incursion from the small group of Marenians. We have to work on the assumption they are still there.”

  Marenians had been the ones to attack Dr. Kirkem’s site. Seemed Lothar wasn’t partnering with him any time soon.

  Arak added extra laser cells to the other weapons on his person. Of all of them, Jaron expected Arak to keep his calm the most during the mission. Other than support, he wasn’t as emotionally vested in this as Jaron and Kyele were.

  “Do you want me to stay with the shuttle or assist on the ground, Torkel?”

  The initial plan revolved around Arak piloting the shuttle with Kyele and Jaron going in to grab Sasha and run. An easy in and out. Hopefully. Contingency allowed for changes if necessary.

  “I want you on the ground, Arak. Keep them in line.” Torkel hiked a thumb in their direction. “And please, no more bodies than necessary.”

  He emphasized the last with a brown eyed glare aimed at Kyele, who only smirked and rose to his feet in a slow easy step.

  Arak grinned. “Looks like I’m acting Team Leader.”

  Since it was so far from the truth, Jaron laughed outright, causin
g the Argoran to snarl. The familiar sound tore something loose in Jaron’s chest and he rubbed at the ache. Sasha. He needed to focus on Sasha.

  “I’m ready.”

  Arak and Kyele followed him to the lower level and out the building’s front exit. Outside, a slim woman with a fall of red gold curls leaned against the door of the parked hover-car. She wore a knee skimming dress in black with sheer panels on the sides, revealing a hint of the toned body beneath. Black boots covered her long legs to mid-thigh.

  Kyele bumped his shoulder in his haste to get by Jaron. Joni curled a finger at him, her face set in grim lines and gold eyes narrowed. Kyele stopped, leaving several feet between them. “What are you doing, little Earthling?”

  Jaron folded his arms over his chest and noticed Arak doing the same. He bet his own expression matched the smug look on Arak’s face. Watching these two always drew a source of amusement.

  Casually and with no sign of hurrying, Joni eased the hem of her dress up and slid out one of two Marenian knives from the sheath strapped to her thigh. Though Jaron had no interest in her, he confessed to finding the move hot. Joni tapped the tip of the blade against her pointed chin. “Did you think because you sexed me up, I’d sleep through you leaving?”

  Out of the corner of his eye, Kyele jerked, red staining his cheeks. Blushing? Jaron double checked, doubting what his eyes saw. His teammate definitely blushed. “I did not as you say sex you up.”

  Joni glared and withdrew the second knife as her stance shifted, no longer relaxing back against the door of the vehicle.

  Kyele continued. “You sexed me up.”

  Arak snickered and whispered in an aside to Jaron. “I do love the terms the Earthling females use. I will ask Sylvie to sex me up when we return to make sure the translator matches what I think it means.”

  No matter how many times, Dr. Maku updated their implanted translators Sylvie, Joni and Faye managed to confuse them daily with their strange use of words and terms. Most of the hardest ones to understand centered around sex sharing.

  “You were going to leave without saying goodbye.”

  None of them could miss the glimmer of hurt in the accusation. Showing more restraint than Jaron expected, Kyele strode toward his Chosen and swiped the blades from her hands before she could blink. He tucked them in the back waist of his pants and had Joni backed against the car, her arms pinned to her side from one minute to the next.

  “There is no goodbye with us.”

  Though he lowered his voice the short distance from the entrance to the hover-car allowed for Arak and Jaron to hear everything.

  Joni’s mouth puckered as she twisted about, her frustration visible in the rigid lines of her body. “Give me back my knives, Kyele.”

  Instead of complying, he slid his hands up her arms and kissed her. Jaron tipped his head to the side to give them a moment of privacy and noticed Arak doing the same. He counted off in his head and reached thirty when Kyele spoke again.

  “They’re back in your sheaths.” Kyele released Joni and stepped back.

  She patted her upper thigh and grinned suddenly, her short laugh following. “I swear I don’t know how you do that so easily.”

  Looking happier than Jaron ever remembered, Kyele chucked her under the chin. “I’m a Jutak warrior.”

  “Yeah, yeah.” She pushed at his shoulder then zeroed in on Arak and Jaron. No embarrassment at all. “Hey, guys.”

  “Hey.” He and Arak answered together. They all found the strange Earth greeting funny because it made no sense to them at all.

  “Make sure you bring him back in the same condition he left in.” Another pointed look at Kyele. “Don’t leave me.”

  The warning wasn’t about Kyele going on the mission. It was far deeper and a subtle reference to a time when Kyele had lost his mind and sought vengeance on Joni’s behalf with a brief killing spree.

  “Never.” One last touch to her hair and Kyele got in the back seat of the hover-car. Joni entered the building with a slight wave, a calmer look in her eyes along with glowing cheeks and swollen lips from the kiss they’d shared.

  Arak beat Jaron to the driver’s seat so Jaron took the front passenger side. Joni’s fear reminded Jaron of his concern about taking a Chosen while he served as a Jutak. How would Sasha feel about it?

  ***

  Day 4

  Sasha trembled and wrapped her arms around her folded knees. A saving grace was that she’d stopped climaxing. Tears burned as she fought off the shame and humiliation. Making the situation worse, her skin’s sensitivity remained high.

  Air pebbled over her ripe nipples, causing her to choke off a moan. Hunger and desire toyed with her. No one was brave enough to get close to her for the rest of the night.

  Or was it still the same day? Her sense of passing time was distilled. This was what Jaron had faced. As bad as it had been, it must have been so much worse for him in front of Dr. Kirkem and whoever else was present.

  Trepidation left her quaking. Any more of this and Sasha wasn’t sure she’d survive. Jaron needed to hurry the fuck back or she’d claw his eyes out. She sniffed and swiped her arm over her slick forehead. Chills and hot flashes marked the drugs progress through her system. Fury and vengeance stewed in a cocktail she wanted to unleash on the good doctor.

  The door slammed open. “Get up!”

  Sasha jerked then lunged to her feet, growling and snarling. The guard dodged the rake of her claws in time. He aimed his weapon at her head. “I don’t care about what The Collector wants. I will kill you.”

  She couldn’t see his face due to the helmet, but his savage tone led Sasha to believe him. She’d bid her time. Holding back the urge to kill, she let him lead her to the torture chamber as she decided to dub it.

  Dr. Kirkem waved at the chains suspended from the wall. The guard grasped Sasha’s wrists roughly and attached them. She managed to slice at his forearm with a single claw and received a slap to her face. Her head swerved to the side with the blow and a low rumble ruptured from her gut as Sasha tugged on her arms.

  Too late. He had the clamps on her ankles and withdrew. She was spread eagle. So much worse than the cells. In this position, she was exposed and bared completely. Her inner thighs bore traces of her earlier orgasms.

  He glanced down but didn’t comment on it. “You have caused me unending trouble.”

  The Collector spoke quietly as he walked toward her. Sasha kept her gaze on his. Flames of desire continued to lick at her flesh. That didn’t stop her from taunting him. “My work here is done.”

  He moved quickly back handing her across the face. Air wooshed from her lungs and if not for the chains, Sasha would have fallen over. Instead, she gasped and blinked back the pain.

  “My attempts at muata may have failed.” Spittle dripped from the corner of his mouth. “But there is one thing I can do for certain. Something I’m sure would make any Argoran suffer.”

  Inside Sasha’s nerves jumped. Desire flowed through her system and she found herself on the verge of another climax. Face burning, she yelled, “Fuck you!”

  Dr. Kirkem shook his head, but she caught the glimpse of rage he managed to blank out. “Let’s see how you feel after you lose one of your senses.”

  What? What was he talking about? Sasha leaned back as he drew closer. In his hand he held up a silver tube. “What would you do without your eyesight, hmmm?”

  He grabbed her hair with his other hand and yanked her head back. The wall cushioned the force of the blow. He waved the silver device in her face. Near her eyes.

  “What are you doing?” She couldn’t help the way her tone trembled.

  Dr. Kirkem smiled. His fingers tapped a ribbed button at the base of the silver cylinder. An instant later her left eye burned. His appearance wavered.

  “Excellent. Now this one,” he murmured.

  Pain from her right eye shot toward her brain. Sasha screamed as the world went black.

  “Welcome to the darkness.” Dr. Kirkem
laughed. He whispered in her ear. “Enjoy my permanent gift.” His steps paced away. “Targa take her away.”

  Sasha jerked her head around. She couldn’t see. Nothing. Everything was mired in darkness.

  Rough hands undid her cuffs. “Follow me, suare.”

  Targa’s voice. She recognized the female Marenian. Stumbling, she bumped along. Though disoriented, Sasha realized they weren’t heading to the previous room she’d been kept in.

  “Why?” she asked through dry lips.

  Targa ignored her and Sasha hated herself for the weakness. For the fear that had her leaning against the other woman looking for some sense of the familiar. Targo pulled away on a low chuckle.

  The crack and whine of an electric door. Sasha’s ears flicked. What was going on? What else did Dr. Kirkem have planned for her? Before she could voice the question, a hard shove to her back sent Sasha falling.

  The weightless sensation startled her, wind rushing past her face until she hit the hard ground. Mildew and wet filtered through her nostrils among other foul scents. Sasha groaned, her body one giant ache. A basement of some sort.

  That wasn’t the worst of her concerns. Sasha patted her eyes. The gloom around her wasn’t strictly because of the darkness. He’d done it. He’d really taken her eyesight. Panic smashed into her and all of Sasha’s senses screamed. Her breath wheezed in and out, pulse kicking into overdrive.

  What would she do? How was she to survive, be a Bounty Retriever? The sensory deprivation pressed in on her. Sasha dug her claws into the dirt floor beneath her.

  “Jaron.” His name fell weakly from her lips. She wasn’t the same. Without her sight, she was less. A choked sob ripped from Sasha and she pounded her fists into the uneven floor.

  Footsteps clambered above her head. Sasha scuffled backward, her back hitting a wall. She plowed her fingers through her hair, working to level out her breathing.

  “Please, please.” She wasn’t sure what she begged for.

  The darkness grew until it suffocated. Sasha let out a low whine and curled her knees up beneath her.