Taking Command

by Jennifer Leeland

  Warm hands touched her shoulders and began to knead her muscles. It was heavenly. They stroked her upper arms and back to her shoulders in a strong but gentle movement. She purred. The massage table was equipped with a place to rest her face, so she couldn't see what form the computer masseuse had taken, but she didn't care. Melting into those expert hands, she floated into half sleep, focusing on the fingers that coaxed her muscles to unwind.

  There was a little tickle and wetness as those palms rubbed oil on her skin. It smelled of musk and she sighed. Fingers rolled her lower back and tension eased out of her. When they gripped her hips, she squirmed without thought. Then, those hands were stroking her butt muscles.

  Her body came alive. Damn! I don't want to be horny.

  "Prompt...” she started.

  "Shhhhh. Let me finish.” No mistaking that luscious voice. In a quick twist, she was on her back facing him.

  "What are you doing here?” She heard the panic in her voice.

  "You left me. Was what we did too much for you?” There was pain in his voice.

  "Yes. Please, Jake...” She squirmed and his hand held her down with light pressure.

  "We should have talked about it.” His eyes shone with compassion as they held hers.

  "I was afraid."

  "All the more reason we ought to talk about it.” His voice lowered and he broke eye contact. “I went too far, I know."

  "No! No, you didn't,” she protested as she touched his arm. “I wanted everything you gave me. Everything.” Her voice dropped to a whisper and she closed her eyes. The warmth of his hands on her body and the seductive scent of him spiraled through her and boiled her blood. As she opened her eyes, she found his gaze riveted on her face.

  "I miss you.” His dark eyes were hooded and his features were tight as if bracing for a blow.

  Why couldn't she move? Mesmerized by his black eyes and calloused hands, she stared at him as he gently moved her back onto her stomach.

  As his hands kneaded her aching body, she restrained herself from arching and moaning into them. The sexual tension between them stretched and snapped. She knew the minute his touch changed from soothing to needy. As his fingers stroked the crack of her butt cheeks, a sound escaped her lips. He rubbed her small, tight entrance as if it fascinated him. Her clit burned for his touch. Her breasts were heavy and tight. Any thought of resistance didn't even occur to her.

  This was the man she wanted. Her back arched and her breasts scraped the surface of the table, bringing them to hard, needy peaks. As if he knew, he gripped her hips and flipped her over. Grasping one nipple in his mouth, he plunged two fingers into her wet entrance and moaned when she clasped her muscles around them.

  Her hands threaded through his black hair, reveling in its texture and strength. His fingers drove faster in and out and her hands clenched rhythmically, massaging his scalp. She splintered in his arms, crying out and spilling over his hand. He growled in response and twisted her around again. Glancing back over her shoulder, the dark need on his face twisted her heart and heated her body. He was running his hands over the fleshy globes of her ass and she squirmed beneath them.

  It burned when he rubbed his finger around the tight ring of her butt, but the pain was lessened by the clever, searching hand that found her clit. With one finger sliding into her from behind and one flicking her erect nub, she thought the pleasure might kill her.

  Her breath was fast and she bucked back into his hands, desperate for him to go deeper and harder.

  "Prompt. Chair. Four feet.” His voice was strained and hoarse.

  For a moment, a thrill of fear careened along her veins, but somehow she knew that this was different. This was no play scene. He wanted her and wanted her now. His jerky movements and hoarse tone spoke volumes to her.

  He lifted her off the table and bent her into the chair with her elbows in the cushions and her feet planted on the floor.

  "Prompt. Dildo. Seven Inches.” His hand reached around and slammed the dildo into her weeping pussy, driving her higher and higher. She was whimpering and rotating her hips frantically as his hard steel pressed against the curve of her bottom.

  Inch by inch, he slid his cock into the tight sheath of her butt, his breath catching. The pain of his invasion mixed with the intensity of her excitement. Her mind imploded as he filled her ass and stroked her pussy with rough, uncontrolled thrusts. Her explosive orgasm squeezed him as he slipped inside her deeper, his balls touching her butt cheeks. With a shout, he streamed his hot release inside her ass and she fell over the edge again into her own release that went on and on.

  Collapsing on the chair, tears streamed down her cheeks. She couldn't figure out if she was crying because of her intense release or because her connection to this man seemed doomed to destruction.

  His arms wrapped around her waist, and set her in his lap as he sat in the chair. “Shhhh. It's okay, Daniella.” His sweet kisses on her face only increased her tears.

  "No. It's not. You shouldn't be here. We shouldn't...” She stopped, tears choked her.

  "It's inevitable.” His fingers traced her features as if they were precious. For once in her life, she felt beautiful, treasured.

  "Please, Jake,” she whispered and closed her eyes.

  "Oh, I intend to please.” His lips brushed her throat.

  She giggled. Just like a girl. “That's terrible."

  "I know.” He lifted his head and stared into her eyes. “I'm not very smooth or romantic."

  "I know that.” She reached up and touched his face. The lines there spoke of dark pain. His eyes were normally cold, but volcanic when they gazed into hers. His crisp black hair was cut to military regulation and his muscles were sculpted. Whatever his life had been, it had shaped him into the man she was falling in love with.

  "The computer put us together. We're stuck.” He smiled at her.

  Her eyes widened. “What are you talking about?"

  He stroked her face, his fingers traced the trail of her tears. “The computer's primary functions have decided that we fit. I've decided to accept it."

  Burying her face in his neck, her voice was muffled. “No. If the general finds out you've been sleeping with me, you'll be in trouble. I just can't figure out how to stay away from you.” Tears threatened again. “And I've never...” She stopped.

  His tone was warm, soothing. “You're not a suspect, Daniella. The general still won't like it but there's nothing he can do about it.” His hand began stroking her breast and heat pooled between her legs.

  There was a shift in the VFR. Daniella jumped to her feet and Jake stood beside her, tense and ready as if to protect her.

  * * * *

  Someone was controlling the VFR while they were still in it. That couldn't be good.

  As the room shifted, Jake wondered how he could protect Daniella. He shot a quick glance at the woman standing in front of him and he knew that he'd never want anyone else. Black hair, golden eyes, generous curves and an unquenchable fire would always be his need, his desire.

  It was so overwhelming and nothing like the pale shadow of feeling he'd had for the woman who betrayed him on Earth. He didn't like the direction his thoughts were headed. He needed to focus on their immediate danger.

  The walls of the room disappeared and Jake found himself and Daniella standing in the center of a very primitive forest complete with creeping fog and bird cries.

  "Where are we?” she whispered.

  Smiling grimly, Jake thought he knew. “I'm afraid we're in one of my training modules."

  "Training for what?” she demanded. Her golden eyes glittered with fear.

  "Survival.” His eyes scanned the trees. It had been a while since he'd used this program and who knew what input was now included. “We have to move.” With a short laugh, he studied Daniella. “At least whoever it is won't let us wander around naked.” They were both clothed in jumpsuits given for military training.

  "What a relief.” Her sarcasm made him s
nort.

  "Let's see what we can get to help us. Prompt. Packs. Military #86."

  "That request does not fit the parameters.” was the emotionless response.

  "Shit. Well, clothes are apparently all we're allowed."

  Daniella's hand clenched around his bicep. “How do we get out of here?"

  He laid his hand over hers and gazed into her eyes. “We have to finish the program."

  "Which means?"

  Sighing, he told her. “It means we have to reach the ‘Base Camp'. It's a twelve mile hike and filled with enemy fighters. Usually, the program includes weapons and survival gear. We have none. When we cross the Base Camp boundaries, the program will end."

  Shuddering, she crossed her arms over her breasts. “I see."

  "And then, I'll kill the bastard who tried to kill me.” He gritted his teeth. His eyes studied the area. “We have to move. We're out in the open."

  Taking her hand, he stepped in the direction of the Base Camp. What he didn't explain to Daniella is that whoever messed with the VFR could have changed everything; the Base Camp direction, distance, number of enemy, anything.

  As they stole through the trees and thick brush, a bullet slapped into a tree just above Daniella's head. “Get down!” He emphasized the order with a hand on her head forcing her to the ground. Another bullet careened into the ground in front of them.

  Gripping her arm as they both lay prone in the brush, he whispered, “Stay here. I'll take care of this.” She nodded.

  Quiet and stealthy, he circled around until he spotted the shooter. One enemy fighter, perched on a low branch. His rifle was trained on the spot where Daniella lay absolutely still.

  Using all his training, he swung into the tree and managed to kick the man in the throat, breaking his windpipe. He retrieved the sniper's weapon and found a knife and grenade as well. No blaster. This guy, whoever he was, had programmed only conventional, old style weapons. Nothing modern.

  Sneaking back to Daniella's position, he put a finger to his lips indicating no talking. He admired the fact that she only nodded and followed him through the brush.

  He spotted the next two men lying in wait almost immediately. With a sharp movement of his hand, he signaled to Daniella to get down on the ground. She sank down, keeping her eyes on him. He indicated the area where he'd seen the two enemy soldiers. Going in a backwards circle, he snuck up behind them. One of them got off a shot as Jake sliced the other man's throat, but the bullet missed him. Barely. He flung the knife and hit the shooter in the throat.

  They were holograms so there was no blood. One thing he'd always complained about to the Brass was that the training modules didn't give the full impact of this kind of mission. The smell of blood and the sound of death just couldn't be taught.

  Gunfire erupted from his right, further across the thick forest. Another sniper had zeroed in on Daniella. From his vantage point, he could see that she hadn't moved. The sniper aimed for a spot behind her, but she wasn't military. She'd bolt if she hadn't taken a bullet already.

  Trying to remain calm, he tracked the sniper and found him in a tree. This time, the sniper saw him first. Jake zigzagged and a bullet grazed his arm. He reached up and pulled the man out of the tree. A desperate hand to hand battle began. The knife that Jake raised to strike the sniper was deadlocked. His opponent was pressing on the arm that was bleeding, trying to get him to fold.

  Suddenly, the man stiffened and his eyes were blank. As he dropped, Daniella stood behind the dead sniper with a knife in her hand. Her eyes were wide and the gold in them more intense.

  He took the knife from her limp fingers. “It was a hologram. You haven't killed anyone.” Bending over the prone body of the enemy soldier, he removed more items they might need. Night goggles, binoculars and the man's rifle all added to their ability to survive the program.

  Grabbing Daniella's arm, he started moving her toward the area where the Base Camp should be located. They picked through the brush and along the way, none of the enemy was out of character with the program as he had made it. Whoever dumped them in this program hadn't been able to hack all of his parameters.

  In automatic mode, he began to think. Who would have access to this kind of training module? The General? Certainly. But with his access, there were easier and quicker ways to get rid of Daniella Pearce.

  George Finton? No. He didn't have the expertise or the access.

  Who? It had to be someone on that list of military personnel that had access to the ATHVs. Not the spook. The Space Elite armed the Tribunal with infinite keys to every file known. Even personal codes wouldn't keep a Tribunal soldier from his intended target. This program would have been immediately deadly had Paul Lestrano arranged this little fantasy.

  This was someone who had limited access, but enough to sabotage the military equipment. Someone who was hoping that Daniella wouldn't make it out alive.

  The jungle teemed with animal sounds that masked approaching enemies. But Jake was prepared for that. It was the emotional turmoil that his companion stirred in him that threw him off his stride.

  As they ploughed through the thick brush, the light began to dim and he decided not to travel at night. Or what passed for night in the VFR. It was going to be a cold, damp sleep for both of them.

  He found a small, flat area with good ground cover and an excellent vantage to keep watch. “We'll stop here.” His eyes traveled over her, noting the bruises and scrapes that she had acquired from their adventure. “You need rest."

  Her face twisted in a grimace. “Yes, but will they let us rest?"

  "No. We'll have to keep watch. I'll do it, since I'm used to going without sleep."

  "Let me take a turn,” she protested. “I'll take the first watch. I don't think I could sleep anyway.” She rubbed her arms with her hands.

  Adrenaline turned her eyes bright gold and her pupils were dilated. She seemed wound up and, in the dusk light, he knew she would be okay for a few hours. A little sleep would give him the energy to get through the next day, which would be tougher than this one had been. He nodded and lay down on some soft moss in the clearing. “Wake me in three hours.” He set his watch and closed his eyes.

  Sleep eluded him at first. When he opened his eyes, the vision of Daniella sitting on the large boulder that provided a good look at the surrounding area took his breath away. She wrapped her arms around her knees, with her chin resting on them. Her dark hair framed her face, giving her a wild demeanor that reminded him of their sexual encounters. But her face was etched in fear and sadness. Whatever she was thinking about wasn't pleasant.

  He fell asleep with the picture of her in his mind.

  When three hours past, his watch woke him. His eyes sought her and found her sitting ram rod straight with her eyes scanning the jungle. “What's up?"

  She started and her eyes met his. The fear he noted there twisted his gut. She cleared her throat. “I think there's someone out there.” Her eyes shot back to a spot to their right.

  With stealth, he crept over to her. If the enemy soldier was watching, he wouldn't know that Jake was now awake. “Show me."

  She didn't look at him and spoke. “He's about four hundred feet to our right. He's been there for a while and I've only seen him move once. I can't even be sure that I saw it. If there's someone there, he's good."

  "Why didn't you wake me?"

  "You need to sleep and the guy wasn't moving. I kept an eye on him and figured if he moved, I'd holler."

  "I ought to punish you for that,” he growled at her.

  Her smile sent his body into instant alert. “Promises, promises."

  A rustle in the area that Daniella had been watching put Jake in action. He crept the four hundred feet, keeping himself to the right of the enemy soldier. He spotted him a moment later. The soldier had hefted his rifle and was aiming for Daniella.

  "Get down!” he yelled and launched himself at the enemy fighter. The gun exploded and Jake wrestled with the man to get i
t away. He took an elbow to the face and responded with a flat handed blow to the man's chin which snapped his head back. With a twist, he broke the soldier's neck.

  Out of breath, but anxious, he tore back to the boulder. Daniella wasn't in sight. “Daniella!” Fear made his voice crack. Where was she? “Damn it! Answer me."

  "I'm here.” She was curled up in a ball by the brush that gave them cover.

  "Are you hurt?” He leaped over the rock to get to her.

  "Just shaken, I think. I dove off the rock when I heard the gun go off and got the wind knocked out of me.” She held her stomach.

  Without another word, he sat down and hauled her onto his lap. He buried his face in her hair and, unconsciously, began to rock her back and forth.

  "Jake, I'm okay, really.” She touched his shoulder and stroked his neck.

  "I know.” His voice was muffled by her hair. “Go to sleep. It's my turn to take watch."

  He knew the moment she drifted off to sleep. He held her just for the sheer pleasure of having her close and then set her down on the ground. With an effort, he kept his eyes on the surrounding vegetation and not on her.

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  Chapter Seven

  They reached the boundaries of the Base Camp the following morning. By the time they reached their goal, Jake was bleeding from the graze on his arm and several scratches on his face. Daniella was bruised and battered but she held up.

  In the morning light, as provided by the VFR, Jake studied her face. It was drained of color and her dark hair mussed with leaves caught in the strands. Her hands and face were filthy and dark circles gathered beneath her eyes. She looked beat.

  Just as they reached the boundary, two soldiers barred their way. Jake sped across the brush to intercept them before they called for reinforcements. One took Jake head on. The other slipped past him toward Daniella.

  "Watch out!” In a grip with the soldier, he tried to keep the man from firing the gun and giving away their position. He only had a second to see her crouch down to fight the oncoming soldier. Why didn't the man just fire his gun? He managed to trip his opponent and crush his larynx. As he looked up, he found Daniella crouched in front of the other soldier with only a knife in hand. The other man had no gun either.