Wicked Wishes

by Joanna Wylde, Stephanie Burke, Marly Chance

  "Are we safe for the moment?" Tiffany worked to keep calm.

  Zak took a step toward her. His tone was reassuring. "We're safe. He has no way of finding us right now. His haste this morning was a miscalculation. It's not like him. A lot of this doesn't make sense to me. How did he find out I was alive? How'd he find Gorden? If he had simply broken Gorden's access code and studied the arm-pc data, he could have surprised me. Something is pushing him, but I don't know what. He killed Gorden and contacted me rather than choosing stealth. It's not making sense."

  Zach rubbed a hand over his face in a familiar gesture of weariness. "I placed an anonymous call to Earth authorities via public access telling them that Gorden was dead and who was responsible. Now Merlez's options are more limited. It will be hard to look for us while Earth authorities look for him. We need only stay here for two days and be careful."

  Zak looked her in the eyes. "I promise you, I wouldn't say it if I didn't believe it, Tiff. The real danger comes when we leave this place. Merlez will be hunting us and he's very good. He may eventually find the emergency plan in Gorden's arm-pc. If so, he'll know where we're meeting Rojda and when. We'll be taking a huge chance to go to that meeting, but it's the only way to get to Rojda and find out what's happening. Until then, we stay here."

  Tiffany's thoughts were racing in circles. What was going to happen to them? Even if they weren't found, what happened next? Would Merlez be at the meeting? Was it better to go into hiding? Her mind was in total turmoil. Her emotions were all over the place.

  Zak probably loved her. It looked like he had noticed her for six damn years. A crazy alien hitman was trying to kill both of them. She might have to run away with Zak to some distant planet for the two of them to be safe. And wouldn't that be the mother of all airtranspo rides? Excitement was entering her life on a bitch and a half scale. Freaking birthday wishes.

  Tiffany looked around the motel room and it suddenly seemed like a very small place. "What the hell are we going to do for the next forty-eight hours?"

  Zak's face changed and then he slowly smiled. In six years he had perfected the art of imitating her and he had her down pat. He drawled, "Well, gee, Tiff, we're in the Little Layaway Motel in the Cuffs-Enough Room with possibly less than 48 hours to live. We're promised. We've wanted each other for six years. What do you think?" His voice deepened. "Somehow I don't plan on playing cards. I think a very…unique…and…private…birthday celebration is in order."

  He walked toward her and asked in a low, husky voice, "Have I mentioned how good you looked in those straps, baby?"

  Chapter Four

  Oh boy. Tiffany watched as Zak walked toward her. She felt the heat rising inside her with every step. She squeaked, "Zak, uhhh, I'm…you're…I never said I wanted you. You only said you wanted me. Let's just slow down a minute here and think…"

  Zak smiled that sexy smile and continued to move forward. He had the look of a predator stalking wary prey. It was only then that Tiffany realized she was walking backward. She backed into the wall and knew instantly that it was a mistake.

  Zak stepped forward quickly and placed a hand on each side of her head, caging her. She felt her heart racing and wondered how someone so familiar and so trusted could make her feel so panicked and so thrilled. She knew Zak would never hurt her. She trusted him completely.

  And yet, this was new territory for them. Zak had never looked at her the way he was looking at her now. He looked sexy and dangerous. She swallowed. There was no doubt that he was exciting her. He hadn't even touched her and she was already wet. She watched as he leaned forward until his face was close to hers.

  "Tiff, you're acting so nervous. Now why is that?" He sounded even more aroused. He brought a hand down and she felt the warmth of it caress her face. She tried to think, but it was getting harder to do while he was actually touching her. She had wanted to feel his hands on her this way for so long.

  Zak asked huskily, "Could it be because you're remembering those dreams?" His hand drifted from her cheek to her neck. "Are you remembering all of the things I want to do to you?"

  Tiffany swallowed. He was seducing her with that husky voice and the tender touch of his hand. She struggled to slow her breathing but her breaths were coming more rapidly. She knew her nipples were pressing against the cloth of her unidress. He was staring into her eyes, watching her face intently. She felt mesmerized, caught in the spell of his words and touch. His hand drifted to her breast and he began kneading it gently. She swallowed a moan and murmured, "Ohhh…"

  Zack leaned forward and she felt the light touch of his mouth on hers. His lips were warm and moved with easy skill. Tiffany began to move her mouth in response. The kiss was non-threatening at first, almost friendly. Then she felt the first brush of his tongue along the seam of her mouth. The feel of his hand on her breast excited her unbearably. He was rubbing her nipple with his palm and using a little more pressure. It felt so good.

  She parted her lips and Zak immediately took advantage. His tongue entered her mouth and began teasing hers. She was shaking with excitement. She could feel the wet velvet of his tongue against her own and responded tentatively. She felt more than heard his moan of approval. She responded more aggressively and the kiss caught fire.

  For several moments, the world narrowed down to just the two of them and the feel of him exploring her mouth. Tiffany was shocked when he pulled back abruptly. Zak was breathing heavily and his face was hard.

  He asked roughly, "Tiff, do you trust me?"

  Tiffany looked into the familiar face of the man who was her best male friend in the world. He might look like a stranger at the moment and she had never seen that look on his face, but she knew Zak. "Yes."

  His face gentled. "Good." He reached down and took one of her hands in his own. He brought it to his mouth and kissed it. She felt her heart turn over. With his other hand, he captured her free hand and brought that one to his mouth as well.

  His face changed and he said in a firm voice, "Then trust me now." She felt him bring her arms over her head. He let go of her wrists and said, "Leave them there."

  Tiffany knew her surprise was showing. Leave them? As her sluggish brain began to kick back in gear she saw him reaching above her head. It was only as she felt the first soft click that she realized he was cuffing her. She burst out, "Zak, about that whole aggressive thing…hmmm…well…when you say aggressive, you don't mean frothing-at-the-mouth feral, right?" Her voice was a little too high.

  Zach paused and placed a gentle hand under her chin. "Tiffany, I would never hurt you or abuse you in any way. You know that, don't you?"

  Tiffany looked into his face and couldn't help smiling at the concern she saw there. She was acting like an idiot. This was Zak. She said, "Of course I know it. Brief moment of panic. That's all."

  He continued to stare into her eyes sincerely. "If you don't like what's happening then you say the word stop. That's it. I'll stop, Tiffany. On my life, I swear to you I'll stop no matter what. But you say anything else and I'll keep going anyway. Understand?"

  Tiffany felt more than reassurance at his words. She felt the warmth and comfort of six years of solid friendship and caring. He wasn't going to stop unless she used that word. The arousal that had gone through her at that notion was shockingly strong. She nodded. "Okay."

  The second cuff locked into place. The cuffs were very soft around her wrists, but very strong–-the same material that had been used as straps for the chair. She flexed her arms and could move them, but not much. She was well and truly caught. She swallowed hard. She'd never been tied up or cuffed. She'd certainly fantasized about it more than once, but this was reality.

  When he leaned back and smiled, she relaxed a little. It was scary in a way, but exciting, too. Her heart was hammering in her chest and she wondered what he planned to do with her now. Without thinking about it, her eyes sought the holostatue in the corner. The woman in the statue writhed and squirmed. She jerked her eyes away from it guilti
ly and looked up at Zak.

  His smiled widened into a grin. "Tiff, that was quite a hint."

  Tiffany burst out, "No really. I wasn't hinting. I…"

  Zak chuckled and leaned forward until his mouth was next to her ear. He said softly, "I'm going to taste you like that. And I'm going to have you squirming like that, too. Will you scream for me when you come, Tiff? I want to hear you scream while my mouth is between your lovely thighs. "

  Tiffany swallowed and felt the rush of excitement all the way to her toes. Just the thought of him doing it was unbearably arousing. She remembered a particularly vivid dream from a few nights ago when he had driven her wild with his mouth.

  Suddenly, a soft computer voice could be heard from her arm-pc. "Arousal level requires system check. Please wait. Running diagnostic. No disease present. Contraceptive functioning at maximum level. Remember to reset manually as auto-diagnostic is now shut down. Proceed if desired."

  Zak smiled. "I love that kind of efficiency. So tell me again, Tiffany, about how you may not want me."

  Tiffany closed her eyes as embarrassment creeped in. Granted, it was highly effective and everyone had one, but it never failed to mortify her when her computer announced her syscheck. Oh what the hell. It was pretty damn obvious anyway that she was excited and aroused.

  The best defense against embarrassment was to turn the tables. She opened her eyes and was moved by the tenderness she saw on his face. Why was she acting so reluctant? She must have lost her mind sometime earlier today amidst the weirdness. Screw impending danger and mad killers. Her wish, her most important wish in the universe, was coming true at this very moment. She'd wanted Zak for so long. She said, "I do want you, Zak. I want to feel you touching me. I want to feel your mouth on me. I want to feel you inside me."

  Zak looked surprised and then his expression changed to pure hunger. He leaned down and kissed her roughly, obviously inflamed by her words. Tiffany felt the hard pressure of his mouth against hers and the aggressive thrust of his tongue inside her mouth. She moaned and tried to bring her body into contact with his, but the cuffs held her in place.

  Zak broke the kiss and then his mouth traveled down to her neck. He kissed along the sensitive line of her throat. When he reached the curve of her neck and shoulder, he sucked gently. Tiffany leaned her head to the side and gave another moan. She had never realized that spot was so sensitive. She moaned again and distantly registered his arm-pc performing his syscheck.

  Zak reached the edge of her dress just as the computer voice announced, "Proceed if desired…"

  Zak muttered, "If desired…yeah…right…"

  He licked along the neckline of the dress and Tiffany shivered at the sensation. She wanted his mouth on her breast. Her nipples were aching. She needed more. She muttered, "Zak, please…"

  Zak's head came up and he looked at her. He said huskily, "Oh, I like the sound of that word. I will please you, Tiff. What is it you want right now….hmmm?"

  He brought one hand up and slowly pushed the material of her dress down just a little. The upper curves of her breasts were exposed, but that was all. The hard outline of her nipples was clearly visible beneath the fabric. "You know what I like about this strapless unidress, Tiff? I can peel you out of it a bit at a time."

  He leaned down and placed kisses along the slopes of her breast, saying in between kisses, "It's like…mmm…unwrapping…a present…very slowly… I can…savor you. "

  He pulled the dress a little further down and Tiffany's breath caught. The material was as far as it could go without her nipples being exposed. His mouth moved over the skin newly available. Her breath was coming in pants now and her heart was hammering so loud she wondered if he could hear it. She'd never been so turned on in her life. His tongue swept under the fabric a bit and narrowly missed her nipple. She whimpered.

  He muttered, "That's it, Tiff. I want to hear you. Don't hold back."

  Tiffany realized something in that moment. There was no chance of holding back. This man was exciting her physically and emotionally at a level that she'd never experienced and she was shaking with it. She arched forward almost without thought, silently asking for what she wanted. Zak pulled the material down and she felt the moist heat of his tongue as he licked around her nipple. She muttered, "Oh that's good…Oh…"

  Zak made a little hum of approval and continued to tease her nipple, licking it in slow circles. Finally, he pulled the length of it into his mouth and sucked. Tiffany felt her knees go weak and leaned back against the wall for support. He followed her with his mouth, never pausing. He continued sucking, occasionally pulling back to lick and then drawing her nipple back into his mouth again. It felt unbelievably good.

  Then Zak moved to her other breast, giving it the same treatment. He brought his hand up and she felt the gentle tug as he toyed with the nipple he'd just left. She was already exquisitely sensitive from his mouth and she shivered and moaned as he rolled it gently with his fingers. Finally, Zak pulled back completely and used both hands to continue the sensual torment.

  He watched silently and then lifted his eyes to her face. "You are so beautiful. I've imagined you like this but the reality is so much better. You're so sensitive to my touch. I can hear your heart beating, Tiffany. Kerlan senses are more acute than that of humans. I can smell your scent when you get aroused. I can feel the heat of your body as that arousal gets stronger. Can you imagine what you've been doing to me for the last six years? Can you imagine how hard it's been to hold back when I knew you wanted this as much as I did?"

  Tiffany shook her head, feeling drugged. She was too far gone to make any coherent reply. She could understand what he was saying, though, and it just made her ache more. He sounded on the edge of control, like a man pushed to the brink.

  Zak stopped suddenly and said, "Tiff, look at me. Really look at me."

  Tiffany focused and stared at him. His face was drawn tight. He looked like he was in pain. He pulled the dress further down until it was below her breasts completely. He said, "I need to feel you give yourself to me. I've dreamed of it night after night. That look on your face when you come apart for me."

  Zak planted a tender kiss on her mouth. Then, he knelt on the floor. He said in a strained voice, "You're my promised. Once I claim you, there's no going back. You understand? I'll never let you go."

  Tiffany smiled, despite the fever in her blood and the excitement still pounding through her. "Yes."

  Zak leaned forward and placed his mouth against her stomach. Tiffany felt her muscles tighten there and shivered. He was looking up at her with dark eyes as his mouth continued downward. She felt the tug of the material as he pulled it over her hips and she saw him pull back a little as the material was pulled down to her thighs. He looked from her eyes down to the nest of dark curls between her legs and she heard his breath catch. He ordered, "Step out of the dress."

  Tiffany moved clumsily, feeling as if her legs were weak and not working. He was shaking her up with the intensity of his words and the excitement of his touch. She stepped out of the dress. He reached out and helped her to remove her shoes. She was left standing nude, while he was on his knees in front of her still fully clothed. She jerked when he leaned forward suddenly and put his mouth on her sex. He pulled back a little and placed a gentle kiss into her curls. He murmured huskily, "Relax…"

  Tiffany felt him cup her hips with his hands and then felt his lips pressing kisses over her. She was shaking hard. When she felt the moist heat of his tongue lick into her sex for the first time, she moaned loudly. Her knees went weak again. She clenched her hands into fists and leaned against the wall for support. Zak delicately licked and sucked until Tiffany could no longer hold back her moans. He was driving her out of her mind. She murmured, "Please Zak…"

  Zak circled her clit with his tongue and then pulled back enough to ask, "Please what?"

  Tiffany said, "I need…" she couldn't even think of the words. She needed relief. She needed to climax. She was moving
her hips against his mouth now, but he was controlling her movements with his hands on her hips. She pulled against the cuffs, aching to touch him. She wanted to feel his hard length driving deeply inside of her.

  Zak muttered, "Not yet…look at the holostatue, Tiffany…"

  Tiffany looked at it dazedly and then her concentration sharpened as something registered. The couple in the holostatue had changed. The woman now had short dark hair. She was staring at something to one side of the room. She was naked and her breasts were full. Her nipples were hard and her skin was flushed. She looked a little wild and intensely aroused. The man was on his knees staring up at the woman. His hair was pulled back in a stubby ponytail and he was fully dressed. The shock of recognition filled her. She said, "It's the two of us!"

  Zak said softly, "Watch yourself, Tiff. Watch me send you over the edge with my mouth on you."

  Tiffany shook her head, but felt a jolt of excitement at the forbidden idea. In spite of guilty thoughts, she couldn't tear her eyes away.

  Zak murmured, "That's right." He leaned forward again and strained a little harder, pushing her closer to the edge with great skill. Tiffany pulled against the cuffs and said, "Let me loose…"

  Zak said roughly, "No," and continued to lick.

  Tiffany felt her knees go completely and realized he was holding her up with his hands on her hips. She arched against his mouth and pulled on the cuffs helplessly. "Uncuff me. Now."

  Zak merely continued pushing her. She felt the tension gathering in her body and she bit her lip. The image of herself being pleasured by Zak depicted by the holostatue was just one more level of excitement that was driving her like a fury.

  Zak ordered roughly, "Scream."

  Tiffany whimpered and pulled harder on the cuffs. She wanted more of his mouth and yet the torment was making her crazy. She tried to pull back from him, but he held her tighter. She moaned loudly and the entire world narrowed to the place between her legs. Her sex clenched and her vision blurred. She let go completely. Incredible pleasure began to pulse through her and she screamed and screamed until the last wave died away and there was only the sound of her harsh breathing in the silence of the room. She looked down as Zak lifted his mouth from her curls.