Dating Outside Your DNA

by Karen Kelley

  “I was out of commission from an injury. I go back to active duty when I finish training you.”

  “But you don’t want to train me,” she guessed.

  “I don’t, you’re right. I think you’ll be a distraction more than anything.”

  “A distraction?”

  “Look in the mirror. You’re hot and sexy. A distraction.”

  She didn’t know whether to be insulted or flattered. She wasn’t sure she liked his answer. Most Nerakians were beautiful. She wasn’t that concerned about her looks. “Do you have something against Nerakians?” She looked at him again, but he kept his gaze forward.

  “I don’t think they’re anything special.”

  She bristled.

  “But then, you’re only half Nerakian,” he said.

  She sat straighter. “I’m proud of both sides of my ancestry.”

  Actually, she hadn’t really thought about it that much. She was who she was, and that was all that mattered. Well, until lately. She found she was a little more curious about the Nerakian half of her heritage.

  She knew very little about that side. Her mother had rarely spoken of the planet that had disowned her. Lyraka only knew that Nerakians had a heightened sexual awareness, and that chocolate could become an addiction.

  She also knew Nerak was a planet populated only by women. After the elders had manipulated the DNA so only females would be born the wars stopped. Her mother, Aasera, had been an intergalactic traveler—until she’d gotten pregnant.

  Aasera had been given the choice of aborting the pregnancy and returning to Nerak, or being exiled on Earth. Lyraka knew the decision had been difficult for her mother. She’d had to give up everything.

  Aasera had protected Lyraka as best she could over the years so that Lyraka wouldn’t make the same mistake. But the one night, well, almost a whole night, she had spent with a poet had awakened desires inside her that she was finding hard to keep under control.

  She closed her eyes for a moment. It had been really good while it lasted. Lights had flashed around her. She’d in turn absorbed their color, her skin turning shades of deep purple, hot red, and cool blue.

  The Jeep hit a bump in the road and she was thrown off balance. She quickly righted herself as she pulled her thoughts back to the present. She refused to relive that night. Poor Rick had been as white as a sheet of paper. She’d quickly realized he wasn’t having nearly as much fun as she was having. What little she’d experienced though had been earth shattering.

  If they’d have finished, she was pretty sure it would’ve been an awesome encounter. She had a feeling she was going to be doomed to a celibate life.

  She glanced out the window at the trees on her side as they traveled higher into the mountains. For a moment, she longed to escape to the quiet serenity the woods would offer. They had always been as much a part of her as the colony. It was good to know they were close enough that she could lose herself in the fragrant scents and peace they had to offer if things became too chaotic.

  Lyraka and Roan made the rest of the trip in silence, but she couldn’t help notice when Roan slid his hand along the curve of the steering wheel, absently stroking it with his thumb. She drew in a ragged breath and closed her eyes.

  Why did Nerakians have to be such a passionate race? That was how her mother had ended up pregnant. A baby would be nice someday, but not at this time in her life.

  “Home sweet home,” Roan muttered as he pulled in front of the two-story building.

  A cold shiver of foreboding swept over Lyraka as she stared at the stark, and very sterile, building. It was nothing like her mother’s colony where there were bubbling fountains and fragrant flowers. This place looked institutional.

  They got out of the Jeep and walked to the front door. It opened as they approached, and a man stepped outside. A very tall man, almost as tall as Roan, with broad shoulders. She wondered if he worked for the agency, too.

  “We’ve been expecting you,” the man said. “I’m Cole.” An older woman joined him. “This is Frances.”

  Roan’s eyes narrowed. “I was told we’d be working alone.”

  Cole smiled. “And so you will. We take care of the place. We’ll be here but you won’t really see us that much.”

  Roan took a phone out of his pocket and flipped it open. After he punched in some numbers he put it next to his ear.

  “You said we’d be alone. Two of them. Yes, a man and a woman.” He frowned. “Next time, tell me your plans before I blow off someone’s head.”

  That’s when Lyraka noticed Roan’s hand was resting on the butt of a gun that was under his jacket. His stance had looked so casual that she hadn’t noticed anything out of the ordinary.

  “Joe should’ve told you about us.” Cole shook his head. “I hate when he leaves out details.”

  “So you’re what—a butler?” Roan asked as he replaced his phone.

  Cole frowned. “Retired agent. I still like to help out, and I’m an extra pair of hands if needed.”

  “Sorry.”

  “I’ll be preparing all the meals,” Frances said. “I’ve been told I’m a good cook, and I do the housecleaning, too.”

  Lyraka thought the woman was a little abrupt. She had a feeling Frances might have a military background.

  “Your rooms are across from each other,” Frances continued as she started back inside.

  Everyone followed.

  “Second floor,” she continued. “Roan’s is the first room on the left, and Lyraka, I put you in the one across from him. I serve meals at nine, one and six. If you’d like the times changed, just let me know, otherwise we’ll stay out of your way. We leave at seven in the evening, and return at eight the next morning. If you require something, you can leave a note here,” she pointed to a desk in the hallway where there was a pad and pen.

  “She runs a tight ship,” Cole said with a twinkle in his eye.

  Frances frowned. “I’m organized.”

  “The times to eat are fine,” Roan said with little warmth.

  Was he always this abrupt? He was going to be a lot of fun to be around. Yeah, right.

  “If there’s nothing you require, we’ll leave you to get acquainted with your new home.” They disappeared around a corner when Roan didn’t say anything.

  It wasn’t exactly a homey atmosphere. There was nothing personal. Not even a picture on the wall. Lyraka had to remind herself that she’d wanted something different from what she’d known her whole life. It would just take a little adjusting on her part. She started up the stairs.

  “Where are you going?” Roan asked.

  “I thought I’d check out my room.” He sounded awfully bossy, much like Frances, and she was getting a little tired of people telling her what to do.

  “Wait.”

  “Why?”

  “Your first lesson: treat everything as hostile.”

  She raised an eyebrow. “Like almost blowing away the help?”

  His expression wasn’t happy. “You can’t be too cautious.”

  “I can take care of myself.”

  His gaze slowly roamed over her in a way that made her body go from hot to hotter. He really, really shouldn’t look at her like that.

  “That’s my job from now on. Joe said your…abilities were different. That you needed more control and discipline.”

  “My abilities?”

  “Joe told me your skills weren’t the same as other Nerakians.” His gaze moved over her again. “I can’t see where you could be a national threat or anything. Most pure bred Nerakians don’t have much power, if you ask me.”

  So Mr. Beacon hadn’t mentioned that instead of lessening her abilities because she was half earthling, her skills were greater than anyone could imagine. It would be interesting to see his reaction.

  She sauntered closer to him. “I think it goes deeper than you not wanting to be stuck training me. You really don’t like me very much, do you?”

  His gaze dropped to her lips
and she could almost feel the warmth of his brushing across hers, but then he frowned again. He did that a lot.

  “I don’t have any feelings for you one way or another, lady.”

  She could actually accept him not liking her. She wasn’t that crazy about him—only his body. It was time she got a little even, though.

  “He was right you know,” she told him.

  “Who was right?”

  “Mr. Beacon. My abilities are different.”

  “Whatever. I’ll check the upstairs. Don’t come up until I give the all clear.”

  “I don’t take orders well.”

  “It’s time you learned.” He walked to the steps, stopping halfway and looking back at her. “I’m the boss while you’re here.” He turned and continued up the stairs.

  Roan felt a brush of air and looked over his shoulder, his hand automatically reaching inside his jacket, resting on his gun, but the breeze hadn’t come from an opened door. He turned back around and saw Lyraka at the top of the stairs. His gaze jerked back to where she’d been standing, then back to the top of the stairs.

  “Like I said,” Lyraka began, “I don’t take orders very well.” She sauntered toward her room.

  How the hell had she made it past him! No one could move that fast. No one!

  Crap! He should’ve made Joe explain more about Lyraka. Roan had assumed she’d be like all the others. He ran a hand through his hair. He had a feeling this assignment had just gotten a whole lot harder.

  Chapter 3

  “What the hell was that?” Roan asked as he burst inside Lyraka’s room.

  “What was what?” She stood at the window, looking at the dense trees.

  “You know damn well what I mean.”

  Yeah, she did. She was stalling. He’d pissed her off, and she’d wanted to get even with him, with Mr. Beacon, with the fact she was being isolated again.

  She turned, and for just a second, forgot what she was going to say. It wasn’t fair that one man should look this devastatingly attractive, nor should her over active hormones be raging this much.

  But he was, and they were.

  “That was one of my abilities,” she said. “I can move really fast. Want me to show you again?” She raised her eyebrows in question. “Maybe you didn’t see it the first time.”

  Before he could answer, she moved to stand behind him. Now she was showing off and she knew it, but for a very long time she’d hidden most of her skills, not wanting to draw attention to herself. There was a sense of freedom that came with showing Roan exactly what she was capable of doing, and that she wasn’t like every other Nerakian he’d trained.

  “Did you see me that time?” she whispered, smirking, and not caring that she did.

  He whirled around, grasping her shoulders so she couldn’t move. Oops, she hadn’t been expecting that.

  “If you think you’re being funny, you’re not.”

  Even with him holding her, feeling the heat of his hands on her shoulders, she still couldn’t help goading him just a little more. “But you’re impressed, aren’t you?”

  It was rather interesting taunting him. She’d never felt this energy running through her before. She’d always been quiet and obedient and stayed in the background, as her mother had warned her to do. No one could discover they weren’t quite normal.

  But now, for the first time in her life, she felt alive. “Maybe you’re thinking that you judged me too quickly? That I might be more than you bargained for?”

  He let go of her as if to say he didn’t give a damn if she left the room or not.

  “You’re fast.”

  He pulled his gun from under his jacket and held it up before she could think to move out of harm’s way, not that he was actually pointing it at her.

  “But I’d wager even you can’t stop a bullet,” he said.

  Anger boiled inside her. He’d turned the tables on her, and she didn’t like it. “Are you sure?” No, she couldn’t stop a bullet but he didn’t have to be so damned cocky about it.

  His expression darkened. “Someone else might have been tempted to find out. This might be a game to you, but it isn’t to me. If you’re going to be on the elite force, you have to learn to follow the rules.”

  “We don’t officially start until tomorrow, right?” she asked.

  “Yeah.”

  “Then if you don’t mind, leave.” She stepped out of his way so he could walk past her and out the door.

  He holstered his gun. “Anything you say, sweetheart.”

  He went around her, leaving her door open. She walked over, tempted to slam it. Instead, she very calmly closed it and reached inside her purse for her cell phone, then punched in Mr. Beacon’s private number.

  “Please tell me you haven’t killed Roan,” Mr. Beacon said before she could say a word.

  She flopped down on the side of the bed. “If you knew what kind of a man he was, why did you pick him as my instructor?”

  Silence.

  She frowned.

  “You didn’t kill him, did you?”

  “Why? Would he be such a great loss?” Mr. Beacon didn’t know all her skills, but she couldn’t just kill someone. What’d he think, that she’d vaporize people with one look? It was a tempting thought.

  Silence.

  “No, Mr. Beacon, I didn’t kill Roan—yet.”

  His sigh of relief was audible. “I picked Roan because he’s the best. He’ll be able to train you in all areas of covert operations. And call me Joe. We’re not so formal here.”

  She leaned back against the pillow and stared at the dull white ceiling. “Okay, Joe. Now tell me how Roan is going to complete my training in a few weeks?”

  “It’ll probably take longer,” he hedged.

  “But he thinks he’ll be going back to field work pretty soon. Does he even know I’m not a warrior?”

  “Not exactly.”

  She rolled her eyes. “He’s not going to be happy.”

  “I don’t think he’ll mind too much once he witnesses some of your extraordinary abilities.”

  “Yeah, but I might.”

  “Just give it a little time. Roan has a tendency to grow on people.”

  “My mother once told me there’s a species that grows on people. I’m not sure I want Roan to grow on me.”

  Joe chuckled. “That’s what I like about you, Lyraka. You have a great sense of humor.”

  “Oh, yeah, I’m a regular comedian.”

  They talked a few more minutes and then said good-bye. She didn’t feel the least bit reassured. Her gaze moved to the window. She didn’t want to stay cooped up inside. Not when she was surrounded by woods just waiting for her to explore.

  She opened the closet. Her clothes had been neatly put away. She changed out of her dark slacks and pulled on a pair of jeans and a dark green T-shirt. She traded her heels for socks and heavy, lace-up, hiking boots.

  Lyraka made sure the coast was clear before she slipped out of her room and down the stairs. She needed space—air she could breathe without sharing it with another person. She needed the safety of the woods where she could feel at peace with the world, with herself. Roan had made her jittery and out of sync. It wasn’t a feeling she liked.

  Once outside, she began to calm down and breathe easier. The air was crisp with a hint of fall as summer began to fade away. The trees became thicker the farther she went. This was where she felt the most serenity. Deep in the woods where there was only the sound of animals and…

  Her forehead puckered.

  And the sound of someone following her. She stopped and listened. Not an animal, unless it was a bear. No, whoever it was walked too carefully to be a big, lumbering bear. But the tread was heavy. It had to be human. She hated that someone had taken it upon himself to disturb her tranquility, and she was pretty sure she knew who it was.

  She moved past a tree, then stopped, leaning against it. For a moment, she stood still, eyes closed as she became one with the tree. She was gettin
g faster at blending in. Like a chameleon, her body and her clothing transformed until she actually became part of the tree.

  If someone had asked how she did this, she wouldn’t know what to tell them, except that it just happened—when she had total concentration. It was the same with her speed and her hearing. She didn’t know why she was so fast, or why she was sensitive to sound, she just was.

  Whoever followed was getting closer. There was just the slightest noise of rustling in the fallen leaves. It really helped to have better than average hearing. She opened her eyes just enough to see who followed her.

  Roan, of course. She’d already guessed as much.

  He covertly crept past her.

  “I’m sure you’re not out for a nightly stroll. I’ll just assume you’re following me,” she said.

  Roan whirled around. His gaze quickly scanned the area. “Come out from whatever tree you’re hiding behind.”

  She smiled. He was standing right in front of her. “You mean this one?” She stepped forward. There was barely a foot between them.

  “Christ! How the hell did you do that?”

  “Do what?” she innocently asked.

  “Camouflage yourself with the tree.”

  “Practice.”

  “That’s a good way to get yourself killed.”

  “I’m not scared of termites if that’s what you’re implying.”

  He closed the space between them. So close she could see flecks of gold in his green eyes. His presence dominated the space. It was all she could do not to step back.

  “It’s not termites I’m talking about. When I’m startled, sometimes I shoot first, and ask questions later.”

  “I doubt Joe would like it if you shot me.”

  “Don’t come out here again. Not alone.”

  She raised her chin. “Like I said, I can take care of myself.”

  “Can you?” His eyes half closed and before she could stop him, his mouth lowered to hers.

  At first, he only brushed his lips across hers. The chill she’d felt earlier quickly left her body as Roan ignited a fire inside her.

  His hand moved to the back of her neck and began to massage. She couldn’t stop the moan as she leaned in closer, wanting more, needing more. The familiar heat swelled inside her.