by Sahara Kelly
The alert sounded at the front door and he went to inspect the monitor. He waved his hand over the sensor to open the door. He smiled at his best friend, Sev, another hunter like him.
“Speak English. I have an Earth guest,” he said, motioning Sev into the kitchen.
Mia raised a brow at Sev’s M’Loran form.
“Mia Logan is a hypnotist with the Earth Alien Enforcement Unit. Mia, this is Sev, a hunter.”
Sev inclined his head and said, “Welcome to M’Lora, Mia Logan.”
Her eyes still maintained that wide visage. “Thanks. And it’s just Mia.”
“What brings you here?” Ric asked, handing Sev a glass of Rlok.
“I have news of Vad.”
Mia sidled closer to the two men, who currently occupied the wide chairs at the stone table. She still couldn’t get over Sev’s size, feeling even smaller around him than she did next to Ric.
Sev must have noticed her eyeing him, because he turned to her and smiled, his cerulean eyes sparkling. “Does my appearance unnerve you? I can change to a human form if you’d like.”
“Oh no! It doesn’t bother me at all. I’m just not used to seeing M’Lorans in their true form.”
“It’s no bother. I don’t mind.”
Before she could object, his body began to glow, light shooting out from every pore. Mia averted her eyes until the light dimmed. When she turned, Sev had completely changed.
Gone was the striking blue M’Loran. In its place a golden god, sandy hair curling against his thick neck, turquoise eyes gleaming against his tanned skin.
“Oh, my,” she said, then quickly closed her mouth. He was gorgeous. She turned to find Ric frowning at her.
“Sorry,” she said to Sev. “You kind of take my breath away.”
Sev laughed, his voice booming. Ric scowled at his friend.
“She’s funny. And not bad looking for an Earth woman.” Sev winked at Mia, who found his teasing ways a delight. Besides, although he was good looking, she didn’t have that instant sexual pow of desire for him that she had with Ric. Then again, Ric didn’t know that.
“Thanks, Sev. I’ll bet you say that to all the Earth girls.”
“Dinner’s ready,” Ric announced, slamming their plates onto the stone table. Mia stifled a laugh. He was jealous of Sev’s attentions to her. How fun.
The food was tasty, and Mia ate more at one meal than she’d eaten in days.
“We’ll enlarge that ass yet,” Ric said to Mia, then winked at Sev.
“Yes, she does need some flesh on her bones, doesn’t she?” Sev added.
“Indeed. Too skinny. A good kusor would crush her.”
What? Was she invisible? She hated to be discussed as if she weren’t in the room. “Hey guys, I’m right here, you know.”
“Definitely needs a good kusor,” Ric said to Sev, ignoring her.
Sev burst into laughter. Mia was almost afraid to ask, but did anyway. “What’s a good kusor?”
“A good fuck,” Ric replied, his eyes darkening.
She just had to ask, didn’t she? Images flooded her mind, vivid pictures of her and Ric entwined, his large body covering her, entering her, making her come over and over again.
“She’s flushed,” Sev said. “Are you ill, Mia?”
She did not blush. She absolutely, positively, never blushed. “I’m fine. What do we do with all these dishes?” she asked, hoping to divert the subject to something more neutral.
“There is a bluk near the cooking oven. Place all items in there where they will be sanitized.”
Why couldn’t he just say dishwasher? Geez, this culture thing was harder than she realized.
“Tell me what you know of Vad,” Ric asked Sev.
Mia hurriedly cleared their dinner plates and sat down between the two men, wanting to hear the details on the hunt for Vad.
“Not much. He’s with the K’Mors. Hidden deep in their valleys.”
Ric sighed. “As I suspected. And now he has a head start since I had to go back to Earth first.”
Mia waited for Ric to turn accusing eyes on her, but he kept his focus on Sev.
“What’s your plan?” Sev asked.
“It’ll take a couple days to get to the neutral area. We’ll go on ground to avoid their radar. Then we’ll have to trek slowly through K’Mor territory. Once there, I have a fairly good idea where Vad is hiding out. We’ll sweep in from the back and take him.”
“It will be dangerous. Perhaps you should leave Mia here. I can go with you.”
“No way,” Mia interrupted. “I’m going along. And I’m not helpless.”
Ric and Sev stared at her, their dubious expressions raising her ire.
“I know how to protect myself.”
“You’ll be a hindrance,” Ric said.
“I will not. Besides, you’ll need me to subdue Vad when you find him.”
That statement set them both off in a round of husky laughter. She stood and left the room, deciding to explore the house rather than putting up with their alpha attitudes.
The house had only one bedroom, a huge bed centering the room. The foundation appeared to be a stone like substance. But where was the mattress? They slept on cold stone on this planet? No blankets, no warmth?
She’d have to sleep on the floor. Or maybe even standing up. She yawned.
“See? You’re already tired.”
She whirled at the sound of Ric’s voice.
“I’m not tired. I have…space lag.”
“Would you like to sleep now?”
“No. I want to go over the plan to capture Vad. Where’s Sev?”
“He left. He begged your forgiveness but he had an appointment that he couldn’t miss.”
“With a Pleasure Aide?” she asked with a snort.
“As a matter of fact, yes.”
“You should have asked if you could take his appointment.”
“I don’t want his appointment.”
She wanted to ask why. But she didn’t, wouldn’t get personal with him. Not like this.
“Come. We have planning to do.”
She followed him into the living area. He settled on one of the large sofas in front of the fire, motioning her to sit next to him. She situated herself on the cushion next to his, fully aware of how big he was, even in his human state. He stretched his legs out and Mia pulled hers underneath her, turning sideways to face him.
Damn, but he was a beautiful man.
“We’ll set out in a day or so,” he explained. “We have to gather supplies, and I need to obtain enough intelligence to lead us in the right direction.”
“Tell me again about the two factions here.”
“This side of the planet is the J’Sol, the intellect race. We are ruled by the blue moon. We live a peaceful existence, preferring to use our minds to enhance our way of life. The other side is the K’Mor, the warrior race, ruled by the smaller amber moon. They’re brutal and savage.”
“Which gives them an advantage over the J’Sols?”
Ric smiled. “Not necessarily. In terms of strength, both are the same. In terms of intellect, the J’Sols are far superior. Our weaponry is far more advanced than theirs. They’re slow and stupid, but also vicious killers. Makes them unpredictable.”
“Easy to see whose side you’re on.”
His smile died. “I take no sides. I hunt those that break the laws of other planets.”
“And the K’Mors are easier to hypnotize? Or are all M’Lorans the same in that regard?” She’d only hypnotized K’Mors, never J’Sols.
“It makes no difference. All M’Loran’s are hypnosuggestible.”
She leaned back on the sofa. “So, I could hypnotize you, then.”
“No, you could not.”
“Why not?”
“Because I can’t be hypnotized.”
“I can hypnotize anyone, Ric.” The audacity of the man. Although Mia had seen this before. Everyone thought they couldn’t be hypnotized. Right up t
o the point she put them under.
“Not me.”
“Is that a challenge? You know, I could give you hypnotic suggestions to do things you wouldn’t dream of doing while in a fully conscious state.”
“No, you couldn’t, filor. I’m trying to tell you—“
“I could even tell you to fuck me and you’d do it gladly, eagerly, as if I were one of your Pleasure Aides.”
He’d opened his mouth as if to say something, then closed it. “You could not.”
“I could. And you wouldn’t even remember that you’d done it.”
“Ridiculous.”
“Don’t screw with me, M’Loran. I know what I’m doing. I’m telling you that I have the capability to put anyone under.” She’d love to smack that grin off his face. Damn if he wasn’t smugly assured she couldn’t do it.
Then he shocked the hell out of her when he said, “Give it your best attempt, then, Logan. Hypnotize me.”
Chapter Four
Mia couldn’t believe Ric had agreed to be hypnotized. “Are you serious? Now?”
“Yes. It’s late and we can’t get supplies until morning. Go ahead.” He sat back and crossed his arms.
This was her chance, what she’d been waiting for. Hypnotize him, get a little action going and then tell him she’d made him squawk like a chicken or something. Her body hummed with the anticipation of having Ric under her control.
“Fine. Relax, then.” She stood and crossed in front of him, then kneeled at his feet. He raised a brow at her position between his outstretched legs, but said nothing. “Look at my eyes. Focus on them, and nothing else.”
“Yes, they’re very beautiful. Expressive, full of passion and—“
“Shhh,” she whispered. “Don’t speak, just listen to the sound of my voice.”
She watched his body, looking for signs of tension or wariness. Nothing. “Okay, now relax your mind, clear your head. Release any tensions or worries plaguing you.”
“You have a very sexy voice.”
“Dammit, Ric, don’t talk unless I tell you to.”
“L’nons, you’re pushy. I think you like being the dominant. I’ve heard this about Earth women before. They enjoy getting on—“
“Would you shut the fuck up and let me do this?” He might be relaxed, but she was wound up tight.
“Sorry,” he said, doing a terrible job of hiding the smirk on his face. “Continue.”
His gaze met hers and held it. She found herself, for the first time, unable to remember what came next. Forcing her mind on her job and off Ric’s mesmerizing eyes, she said, “Heaviness fills your body. Listen only to the sound of my voice. Shut out all other stimuli. You can’t hear anything but me.”
She reached for his hands, nearly pulling back at the pleasurable sensation of his skin against her palms. Firm, yet warm; soft, yet masculine. And so damn large her entire hand couldn’t even cover half of his. Excitement shot through her at the thought of what his hands could do. She moved her fingers up his arms, delighting in the feel of his muscles rippling under her hands.
Focus, Mia, focus. “Imagine yourself falling. Slowly, gently, knowing you’re safe. Falling into a cloud, so soft you could sleep on it. Imagine the most pleasurable sensations inside that cloud. Anything you want—your wildest dreams at your fingertips. And I can give you those things. Open yourself up to me, Ric. Follow the sound of my voice. Let me inside.”
She continued to talk to him, slowly and succinctly, never stopping until his eyes drifted closed and his body became almost limp. Yet she continued to touch him, longer, actually, than she would any other subject. Realizing how her hands lingered on his upper arms, her fingers nearly digging into the rigid flesh of his biceps, she sat back and waited.
Nothing. He didn’t move, didn’t speak, didn’t shift positions. He could have been comatose from the looks of him.
Can’t be hypnotized, my ass, she thought, supremely satisfied with her success. She should make him squawk like a chicken, or dance around the room, or some other embarrassing act that she could torment him with later. Would serve him right for planting that seed of doubt about her abilities as a hypnotist.
“Ric, can you hear me?”
“Lgork,” he said, his voice low.
“Speak English.”
“Yes.”
“Your actions will be under my control unless I give you free reign. Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
“Raise your left arm above your head.”
He lifted his arm.
“Now, lower it.”
Mia gave him a few simple commands to be sure he was fully under. He had to be, otherwise he’d be sitting there laughing at her. “You will follow only my commands, no matter what I ask you to do, do you understand? If so, say yes.”
“Yes.”
“You may speak to me normally, act as you normally would, do or say whatever you like. However, if I tell you to stop you will stop, is that understood?”
“Yes.”
Now was her chance to explore him, to touch him. Actually, she could have him do anything she wanted. The thought heightened her senses, her mind awash in visuals of exactly what he could do to her.
Except none of it would be his choice. She’d just taken away his free will.
She pushed aside the niggle of guilt that twinged in her stomach, and said, “Touch me, Ric.”
He placed his palm over her hand.
“Good, very good. Now, touch my arm.”
He slid his palm over her wrist, slowly gliding up her arm until she shivered.
“Very nice. Do you think it’s nice?”
“Yes.”
“You can elaborate if you wish.”
“Your skin is soft as a plrksu’s fur.”
She hoped that was a good thing since she had no idea what a plrksu was.
“You may touch me anywhere you like,” she commanded, needing to know whether her appearance completely repulsed him, or whether he might be able to tolerate touching her.
Up until now, Ric was only playing a game with Mia, planning to surprise her in the midst of it all by laughing at her. Then he’d smugly announce that he was right, he couldn’t be hypnotized. He’d explain about the blocking chip and that no matter how hard she tried, she’d never spellbind him.
He was wrong. She had mesmerized him. With her voice, so lazy and seductive to his senses, and her touch, the lightest flutter of which drove him nearly mad. He longed to jump up and carry her to his bed, but then knew she’d be angry when she discovered he’d lied. And a part of him didn’t want her to stop talking to him in her raspy, seductive voice. He didn’t want her to stop touching him, to stop rubbing her hands over his arms. Milok, if she fired him up so hotly by merely rubbing his arms, what would happen if she touched the intimate parts of his body?
The lure was too much, and in the end he remained silent and let her believe he was hypnotized. Especially when she invited him to touch her anywhere he wanted. How could he resist? Already he ached for her, wanted her more than he’d ever desired an Earth woman before.
“Tell me what you want, Ric,” she commanded.
“I want to gather you in my arms and touch your body, Mia.”
Her eyes darkened, her lashes fluttering to her cheeks. “I’d like that,” she said, her chest rising and falling quickly.
Pleased that she was as excited as he, he stood and stepped toward her, then paused. She was so small, he wondered if he should change his size.
“Would you like me to shift down to a size more compatible with yours?”
“No!” she said quickly, a red tinge appearing on her cheeks. “I mean, I prefer you this way.”
Ric resisted the urge to chuckle. So, the little pixie enjoyed large men, did she? Perhaps she might not be affronted by his M’Loran form. But right now he’d remain human. He didn’t want to frighten or hurt her in any way. Not when he was so close to getting what he wanted.
Why he wanted her was
beyond his ability to understand. She had a magic voice, a hypnotic touch, and he needed to explore her further. Nothing would come of it other than physical release for both of them, so why not?
“Ric?”
“Yes?”
“Are you going to touch me?”
He couldn’t help his smile at the impatience in her voice. “Yes.” He reached out and gathered her against him, wrapping his arms around her back. Her small breasts brushed against his lower chest.
“Damn, you’re big,” she mumbled against him.
“Does that bother you?”
“Hell, no. It’s impressive. Your size, your strength, your—“
She stopped speaking and her eyes widened, no doubt due to his growing erection.
“Oh, my,” she said.
“I will not hurt you if you wish to feel my cock inside you.”
She swallowed and he fixated on her slender neck. “How about we start with touching first, and see how it goes?”
“That is acceptable. I’d like to take you onto my bed where we can stretch out fully. I want to see your body.”
She frowned, clearly disturbed by his free thinking. He’d have to remind himself he was supposed to be under hypnosis, and temper his desire to control the situation. “Unless you don’t wish it, of course.”
“Actually, it sounds like a great idea. I’d like to touch you, too.”
He burned with her words, his erection elongating to uncomfortable proportions. If she could see him in his natural state, she’d—
No. Best to wait on that. He could have sex just as easily in human form as he could in his M’Loran form. He may not have all the same equipment, but it would be enjoyable nonetheless. Besides, he didn’t want to rush her, to shock her. Not until she grew comfortable with him.
Ric led her to his bedroom. She stood next to the bed and waited.
“May I undress you?” he asked.
Her breasts rose with her sharp intake of breath. “Yes.”
With slow movements he approached her, then leaned over and reached for her. “I want to kiss you.”