Dating Outside Your DNA

by Karen Kelley

  She couldn’t put it off any longer, though, and came to her feet. She would have to face Roan sooner or later. Besides, she was getting hungry. As she walked across the gravel parking area, she glanced up and caught a movement at one of the windows. Roan? Probably.

  Lunch was an excruciating experience. Roan didn’t speak and as soon as it was over, he stood, dropping his linen napkin on the table. “I have to leave for a while. Keep reading.” He didn’t say another word, just left.

  Oh, yeah, he got to leave while she was still stuck here. This was not how her life was supposed to be. And did he care? No. He was probably going out with the guys or maybe he had a hot date.

  She marched back to the training room and crammed the book between two others, then skimmed her fingers across the rest and drew one out that looked as though it might be interesting. It was about killing people. She might need that sooner than she thought. She took it to the living room and made herself comfortable on the sofa.

  The day passed slowly. She could hear every tick of the clock. She read the same paragraphs more than once, then had to go back and read the passage again.

  If he was with another woman, what did she look like? Was she pretty? More than likely. They were probably having a nice dinner—candlelight and wine. He would laugh when he told her about the rookie he was trying to train, then they’d laugh together.

  Evening fell. Dinner was a disaster. She couldn’t even work up a good appetite. She stabbed her vegetables until they were mutilated, finally gave up, and went back to the living area.

  After Frances and Cole left for the night, an eerie silence filled the building, and even though Cole had started another fire to ward off the evening chill, it didn’t seem to help.

  But then the silence was broken. She could hear the Jeep getting closer and sighed with relief. Would he still be angry with her? Not that she cared. He’d gotten out for a while and played while she’d been stuck here reading a book that didn’t even tell her a good way to kill him and get away with it.

  She didn’t turn around when the door opened, but continued to stand in front of the fire warming her hands.

  He went into the living room and stopped. His building anger was palpable. It almost matched hers. He either snorted or growled, she wasn’t exactly sure which, then he walked away from her. Apparently, he changed his mind because he came back inside the room.

  “I thought it was understood that you wouldn’t go to the woods alone?” he practically growled.

  So, he wanted to start a fight. Fine with her. And if he needed to use her going to the woods as an excuse to drop her from the program, that was fine, too, but she wouldn’t go out like a little lamb. Nope, he’d just opened the storm doors to all her anger and frustrations. Bring it on, baby!

  She turned from the fire and faced him. “No, you said I couldn’t go to the woods alone. I didn’t agree. You also said we would work alone. You’ve told me exactly what I can and can’t do, and it’s getting pretty damn old.” It was irrelevant at this point in time that Joe was the one who’d made the decision for her to train one-on-one. She was pissed at Joe, too, and if he was here, she’d tell him exactly how much!

  Roan stepped in front of her. “I thought you wanted to be an agent. Is it too tough for you? Are you backing out?”

  “Why can’t I train with the others? They’ll have to know what I can do sooner or later. Why not sooner?” Her anger rose to the surface. The log in the fire split and cracked, spewing embers up the chimney.

  He crossed the room, not stopping until he stood right in front of her. “Because you can’t take orders. You’ve proven that only too well today.”

  She planted her hands on her hips and glared at him, but she had to raise her head to do so since he was so close, and so tall. “You can’t tell me you like the situation any more than I do. You said so yourself that you want to go back into the field. How do you think I feel? I wanted to be around other people who are training. I want to feel like I’m a part of something. I’m tired of being…” Her words trailed off when she realized how much of herself she was exposing.

  His anger seemed to vanish in a heartbeat. At least, his jaw stopped twitching and the hard glare in his eyes was replaced with a softer, kinder look.

  He brushed her hair behind her ear, then smoothed his knuckles across her cheek. Lyraka realized just how much she’d yearned for his touch. Or was it just the touch of another person. She loved her mother, but Aasera hadn’t been one to hug. The Nerakians weren’t a demonstrative race.

  “Tired of what?” he asked softly. “Tired of being alone?”

  He dropped his hand down to his side and cold enveloped her. Did he sense how much she longed for more?

  She didn’t want his pity. She squared her shoulders. “Yes, but you already know that.”

  “Yeah, I do.”

  “Of course, you’ve read my file.”

  “And you.”

  “What do you mean, and me?”

  “I see it in your eyes. All your hopes and dreams. You have very expressive eyes.”

  Lyraka wasn’t sure she liked the idea that he could read her thoughts so well. What if he…

  “And yeah, I know you want me as much as I want you.”

  “No, I don’t,” she lied, trying to bluff.

  He brushed his palm over the front of the thin shirt she wore, across her breast. Her nipple immediately hardened and a flash of heat spiraled downward and settled between her legs.

  “Don’t you? Even now your body tells me exactly what you want. Do you deny that you want me to unbutton your shirt and slip it from your shoulders? Or that you want me to unhook your bra and let it fall to the floor so I can look at your breasts, touch them, squeeze them…take one tight nipple into my mouth and suck on it while caressing your other breast? Do you deny that’s what you want?”

  “I…we…can’t.” But, oh damn, she wanted to do that and a whole lot more.

  She needed air, and distance. She abruptly turned and walked to the window. Her body trembled with need.

  He followed her, resting his hands on her shoulders. “What are you scared of? I promise I won’t hurt you.”

  “But I can’t promise I won’t hurt you,” she whispered.

  He turned her around until she looked him in the eyes. “What’s that supposed to mean.”

  She bit her bottom lip. “I’ve been with one other man. A poet. He said…” God, this was so embarrassing.

  “He said what?” Roan prodded.

  “That I burned him.”

  His eyes widened. Then the worst thing that could’ve happened, happened. He laughed. She’d known it wouldn’t go well, but she’d hoped Roan wouldn’t laugh.

  “I’m sorry,” he quickly told her before pulling her into his arms.

  His warmth circled her, filled her with a sense of peace and the knowledge that this was exactly where she was supposed to be. But no matter how much she wanted to be there, she had to make Roan understand.

  “I’m serious. Rick, the poet, left that very night.” She frowned. “My mother might have had something to do with that, though. I think she might have paid him off. My mother doesn’t like men very much.”

  “Tell me what happened.” He lightly ran his hand up and down her back.

  It felt good to just stand there in his arms. She wished she could stay forever.

  “Do you really want the sordid details?”

  “I don’t think you can burn people.”

  “You didn’t think I had speed, either, or that I could fade into my surroundings, or move objects without touching them. Oh, and I finished that book you gave me and two others. I read very fast.”

  He leaned back and looked into her face. “You really finished the book? It was the most boring one in the bunch.”

  “It wasn’t that bad.” She frowned. “You wanted to torture me?”

  “I was angry. You spoke to Gavin. Even after I gave you the book, you went against the rules, a
nd headed to the woods alone. You disobeyed a direct order.”

  “I’m sorry.” She snuggled back into his arms.

  “So, tell me how you burned this guy.”

  “Rick.”

  “Okay, how did you burn Rick?”

  “I’m not exactly sure.”

  “But it was while you were having sex.”

  When he put it like that, she pretty much wanted a hole to open up so she could crawl inside. Actually, why was she even talking about her sex life, or lack of, with Roan? But she already knew the answer. Because she wanted him to fix whatever was broken inside her so that she could have sex again. The little she’d experienced had been really, really good.

  “Yes. While we were having sex. We didn’t actually finish, I don’t think. He said I was defective. Broken.” She still remembered how she’d felt when he’d run away. Up to that point, it had been so much fun. She sighed.

  He lightly caressed her back. “Then there’s only one way to find out what’s wrong,” Roan said. “We’ll just have to have sex.”

  “And if we incinerate?”

  “They can scatter our ashes over the mountainside.”

  She wasn’t so sure she liked that solution, but his hand was causing all sorts of things to stir inside her. Maybe they could just take things as far as a first degree burn.

  Chapter 12

  Lyraka shook her head, stepping out of the comfort of Roan’s arms as fear filled her. “I’m not going to be responsible for watching you go up in a puff of smoke.”

  “Does that mean you care about me?” He ran his hand lightly through her short black hair sending tremors over her body.

  “I care whether you die or not, especially if I’m the cause.” If the truth were known, she was starting to care for him more than she wanted to admit. For that reason, she couldn’t put his life in danger, no matter how badly she wanted to have sex.

  That, and he was a really good instructor. Joe would probably be pissed if something happened to Roan, too. It seemed to her that she was in a lose-lose situation. Well, except for the hot sex. Hot sex would be nice.

  “Why don’t you let me decide if I want to take the risk? You don’t know for sure that I’ll burn to a crisp, do you?”

  She should lie and tell him she’d corroded a case of batteries and as many vibrators, but before she could, he gave her a warning look.

  “The truth.”

  She’d never been very good at lying. Why couldn’t she have that skill?

  “I don’t know anything for sure,” she admitted.

  “Then if it gets too hot, I’ll stop.”

  “And if we both incinerate?”

  “Then we’ll die happy.”

  She wasn’t sure if she was ready to die for sex. Before she could decide one way or the other, he slipped the top button on her shirt through the buttonhole. Her body trembled as she watched his hands move to the second button, then the third and down to the last one.

  This would be a good time for her to demand he stop. Just open her mouth and tell Roan, no. He would stop. She already knew that much about him. He would never force her to do anything against her will. She should tell him. Then again, maybe they could stop before the heat got too unbearable.

  With a feather-soft touch, he fanned back the edges of her shirt and pushed it over her shoulders, tracing his hands down her arms. Trembles followed in his wake. Their gazes met just before he let her shirt drop to the floor.

  Maybe they would just die happy, consumed by the heat of their passion.

  “You’re so beautiful,” he said.

  She was glad she’d worn her white lacy bra. It was cut low and pushed her breasts up, barely covering her.

  He ran the tips of his fingers over the curve of her breasts. “Not even scorched.” He raised his hand and wiggled his fingers.

  “That’s not funny.” But he was right and she was glad, although she could feel the familiar heat as it began to build inside her.

  He reached behind her to unfasten her bra, but she moved away slightly.

  “I won’t hurt you,” he said.

  Heat of a different kind flooded her face. “It’s not that.”

  “Then what is it?”

  “I don’t want to be the only one without a shirt on.” How did she tell him she wanted to see him naked without dying from embarrassment? What she wouldn’t give to be more experienced.

  “An easy remedy.” He reached for the hem of his olive green T-shirt and pulled it over his head.

  Ohmygod. She tried to swallow, but her throat had suddenly gone dry. His naked torso was better than she could’ve imagined. He was all hard muscles and sinewy ridges. She couldn’t force her gaze away from his six-pack abs.

  “It’s okay if you want to touch me, too,” he said with barely restrained laughter.

  “It’s not funny—again.” But her words were barely a whisper.

  “Hey.” He grabbed her chin and raised her head. “Haven’t you ever touched a man before?”

  “Only Rick, but he didn’t look at all like you. I mean…”

  He drew in a sharp breath. “I feel as though I’m taking advantage of an innocent young woman. Maybe this isn’t such a good idea.” He reached for his shirt.

  “No!” If he stopped, she had a feeling she’d never have a real orgasm with a man. “I’m not innocent. I’m twenty-eight years old, Roan, but I feel like I’m dying a slow death.”

  “It’s okay.” He pulled her against his chest, kissing the top of her head. “I won’t stop unless you change your mind. Just do me a favor and don’t wait too long to decide you’ve changed your mind.”

  “Deal.”

  Good, she was glad he hadn’t changed his mind because now that she was against his naked chest, she didn’t want to move. He began to lightly caress her back. She felt the heat again, but not so bad that she couldn’t stand it. She began to relax against his chest. He smelled wonderful, manly.

  When he unfastened her bra, she closed her eyes. He slid the straps down her arms until the only thing holding it in place was his chest. If he stepped away, she’d be naked from the waist up. What if he found her lacking?

  “I want to see your breasts,” he said close to her ear. “I want to look my fill, then I want to caress them and tug on the nipples. You have sensitive nipples, don’t you?”

  She nodded, unable to speak. Her whole body was as tight as a well-strung bow.

  He took a step back and her bra fell to the floor. “Stunning. Just like I’d known they’d be.” He brushed his palm over one hard nipple.

  She gasped.

  He stopped. “Do you want me to stop?”

  “No.”

  “Good.”

  Roan knew Lyraka hadn’t been exaggerating about the heat. He could feel it coming off her in waves. Not so bad that it burned, but it did make him wonder just how hot it was going to get. He had a feeling she’d be worth getting burned over.

  He pinched her nipples between his forefingers and thumbs. He watched her expression, enjoying what he was seeing. She bit her bottom lip, her eyes drifting closed.

  “Do you like when I pinch your nipples?”

  She nodded.

  “Look at me.”

  She shook her head.

  He grinned, knowing she was embarrassed, but at the same time not wanting him to stop. He was afraid he was going to make her a whole lot more embarrassed before this night was over, but by morning, he doubted she’d have any regrets.

  She was innocent. She had been with this Rick, but apparently he hadn’t known what he was doing. Lyraka might as well be a virgin. Roan would take it slow, but he wanted her to find pleasure in every aspect of making love. That included being a part of foreplay.

  “Open your eyes,” he told her again.

  And again, she shook her head. He stopped. Her eyes flew open.

  “That’s better. How can I teach you if you have your eyes closed?”

  “Is this part of the training?”
She cocked an eyebrow.

  He leaned forward, running his tongue across her upper lip, then her lower. He felt her sigh, her surrender. He straightened.

  “No, not part of your training as an agent. This is a training exercise in the proper way to make love.” He rolled a nipple between his finger and thumb again.

  She gasped. “I think you’re using emotional warfare.”

  “But you enjoy it.”

  “Oh, yeah. A lot.” She nodded.

  “Touch me.”

  For all her bluster and external toughness, she was really nervous. He saw it in the way her hand trembled just slightly. In the way she didn’t quite meet his eyes. But once again, just like in everything she’d done so far, she wasn’t backing down.

  He took her hand and guided it to his chest. “Touch me,” he said in a softer voice.

  She ran her hand over his chest. “You’re really firm.” She licked her lips and he wondered just how long he’d be able to last. Hell, he’d wanted her from the moment he’d seen her, even though he hadn’t been ready to admit it to himself.

  She brushed across his nipple. He closed his eyes, relishing her touch on his naked skin.

  “Are you sensitive there?” she asked.

  He opened his eyes and laughed down at her. “You catch on fast.” He had a feeling this was going to be a test of his own endurance.

  “I’ve been told I’m a fast learner.”

  And she was beginning to come into another kind of power. One that women had held over men through the ages. Roan didn’t mind.

  “So if I rub your nipple like this…” She lightly massaged the pad of her finger across the nub. It immediately hardened. “Oh, look, it got hard, just like mine.”

  Time for lesson two. “I can make it feel even better.”

  She stopped, and looked at him. He almost regretted drawing her attention away, but he had to stay in control or he wouldn’t last very long. This night should be about her, and he wanted to make it one she wouldn’t soon forget.