Solar Heat

by Susan Kearney

  In space the quarters were bound to be tight, crowded. Hiding her abilities was going to become more difficult. Especially if she stayed around Derrek and Tad. The two of them evoked too much feeling. Feelings she couldn’t afford to wallow in.

  But she was going with them. To a place where no First would be welcomed, among people who would despise her if they learned of her abilities.

  She worried about Derrek finding out about her secret, sensing he would not only be shocked, but feel as though she’d betrayed him—perhaps even worse than his first wife had done when she’d abandoned him.

  Azsla didn’t really have much choice. By not going back to work at the Space Ministry where the tranqed Firsts could contact her, she’d likely missed the last ride home to Rama. And staying behind on Zor was a death sentence.

  So she would go to the asteroids with Derrek Archer. The idea should have upset her more than it did. And she recognized not only that she was trapped, but that her feelings for Derrek had evolved to another level.

  Defining that level was impossible, yet interesting. Intriguing.

  16

  DERREK AND AZSLA accompanied Tad to a room down the hall from the master bedroom. While Tad checked out the vidscreen, ate a few cookies with a glass of milk, and settled into his new surroundings, Derrek linked in to Sauren about the evacuation plans. As he’d expected, Sauren was doing everything that could be done and promised to let Derrek know if he required any help. Ships with employees and their families along with equipment were making a mass exodus. It was only a matter of time before someone noticed and word of Katadama got out.

  Tad might be a bright, curious, adventuresome boy, but this was the first time he’d ever been away from home. Azsla tried to make him comfortable, but Derrek sensed that he was missing his family and trying not to show it. Derrek handed Tad a com link for personal use. “Call home whenever you like.”

  Tad sighed with relief. “You aren’t worried that I’ll tell them you’re going back for Tish?”

  “I’ll trust you until you prove yourself untrustworthy.” At Derrek’s statement Azsla winced, making Derrek wonder if he’d stated his position too baldly, but Tad seemed to get it, his eyes shining brightly. Derrek squeezed his thin shoulder, determined to make the transition as easy for the kid as possible. When Tad offered him a happy grin, Derrek warmed in wonder. Did every parent think their offspring brilliant?

  He hadn’t known the kid but a few hours, and he already knew he’d give up everything he had to keep Tad safe. His heart swelled with love until he felt as if it was too large to fit in his ribcage. Bursting with pride over this tiny replica of himself, he told himself to enjoy this moment together.

  “Goodnight, son.” He gave Tad a quick hug, ruffled his hair, and smiled at him.

  “Night, Dad.” Tad seemed a bit embarrassed at the open display of affection, but he lay on his pillow with a brave grin.

  Derrek and Azsla strode from Tad’s room, and he took Azsla’s hand. She glanced sideways at him. “Were you that inquisitive at his age?”

  “According to my brother, I was a slave, working in a coal mine and too busy trying to stay alive to pursue normal boy things. However, I like to think that if I’d lived on Zor, I would have been just like him.”

  “He’s a great kid.”

  Derrek sighed. “I wonder if he’s so smart and perceptive despite Poli’s parenting or because of it.”

  “Maybe a little of both.”

  “Will you go back with me tomorrow to get Tish?” Derrek asked. “I hate to make you party to a kidnapping, but I’m clueless when it comes to teenage girls. However, I’m not clueless when it comes to women,” he teased, his voice tempered with interest.

  Azsla arched an eyebrow. “Really?”

  Derrek’s tone turned husky. “You were wonderful today. Thank you.”

  “That’s not a bad start,” she offered. “A girl always likes to hear compliments.”

  From the time he’d gone after his kids, she hadn’t interfered or offered an opinion except when asked. In comparison with Poli, who made things difficult, Azsla had eased the situation. Now he was seeing Azsla in another light, as not just a partner, not just a sexual fantasy, but as a real, living, and very attractive woman. A woman who just might be interested in him.

  And no way was he letting this opportunity pass. Not after that kiss, or the vision. Since the moment he’d seen her, she’d fascinated and intrigued him, and the attraction on his part had been fierce, immediate, and held him in a tight grip of yearning. Azsla already felt like part of him, and he ached to make it so. “How about you come back to my room for a drink, and I’ll thank you properly?”

  “Sounds good. A drink, maybe a few kisses. But that’s it,” she warned.

  “Whatever you say.” He heard her terms and would abide by them if she insisted. But he wouldn’t be a red-blooded Zoran male if he didn’t make a play for more. Derrek might not have had to go out of his way to seduce a woman for a very long time, since there was no shortage of females who put the moves on him, but he hadn’t forgotten how to pursue a woman. “However, I’m not going to make it easy for you to leave tonight.”

  At his words, her eyes dilated. Her nostrils flared. “One drink.”

  “You haven’t even tasted my offering yet.” He linked his arm through hers and led her down the hall to his suite, thinking he’d been spending too much time working, too much time alone. “Did I ever tell you one of my many lines of work was bartending?”

  “Back on Rama?”

  He should his head. “On Zor. It was my first job.”

  “Did you make good tips?”

  He grinned and opened the door to his suite. “Oh, yeah. Those healthy tips paid for Beta One’s repair. She was a retrofit of a crashed Raman vessel.”

  Derrek slipped behind the bar, thankful for his private area. He had room in here to sleep, work, or entertain; outside his quarters he had servants who would have been happy to cough up anything he requested, but he liked having Azsla to himself, mixing her a drink by his own hand. He watched as she kicked off her shoes and curled her elegant legs beneath her on the couch. He dimmed the lights, put on soft music, and handed her the beverage.

  She held up the soft aqua concoction to the light. “What’s in it?”

  “Blue rum. A shot of tart haola berries, a twist of citrus, and a dash of mint stirred over cubed sweet meringue.”

  She sniffed, her nostrils wrinkling at the corners of her cute-shaped nose. “It smells delicious.”

  He enjoyed watching the way she savored the look of the drink and the scent of it before tasting. He sat beside her and placed an arm over her shoulder. “Go ahead. Try it.”

  She didn’t shrug out from beneath his arm. In fact, she almost snuggled into him. Azsla tilted the glass and sipped, her eyes watching his over the rim of her glass. “Mmm. For a drink this good, I would have left you a great tip.”

  He tried and failed not to stare at her glossy lips or the tip of her tongue as it swirled over her bottom lip for a second taste. Despite her earlier words, from the signals she was sending out, hot sparks that heated his core, she appeared inclined to stay for more than a drink.

  “Glad you like it. Watch out for the—”

  “Kick.” She gave him a wry look. “Wow. That’s powerful magic.”

  “Yeah, it’s stronger than it looks.”

  “Like you.”

  She thought him strong? At the compliment his blood went south. “I do my best, but it’s difficult to keep in shape in space. Taylo’s working on artificial gravity but has yet to—”

  Amusement lit her eyes. “I was talking about inner strength. Not many men have accomplished what you have and to think you made all this possible”—she gestured to the luxurious suite—“and accomplished it after a mind wipe tel
ls me you have hidden strengths.”

  She sipped some more, her expression thoughtful. “The kick is smooth, sleek, and surprisingly sneaky.” She laid back her head onto his shoulder, her hair cascading over his arm, her scent invading his lungs.

  He leaned into her hair and inhaled. “Sweet Vigo, you smell good, and I’ll bet you taste even better.”

  He held his breath, wondering if she’d retreat. But she didn’t. She remained snuggled against him, her breath on his neck, her thigh nestled to his, her breast a light pressure against his chest. As much as he wanted to kiss her, he prolonged the moment. He’d found her in space, a refugee from the same world as he. And ever since that first moment, the connection between them seemed to be deepening.

  Almost as if she were his fate. Her summer to his winter. Her light to his darkness. He hadn’t really been living, only existing, until now. In the business world he was a success, but his personal life had been nonexistent. He’d feared to love again. Feared loving and losing.

  But Azsla was changing and healing him, making him reach out for a full life again.

  One kiss would not be enough. Just as one night would not be enough. One lifetime might not even be enough. He didn’t understand why he was so certain she was his woman to love, or why it was his time to love, but he was absolutely convinced that Azsla belonged with him.

  He leaned forward to kiss her, and his com beeped. He ignored it and pressed his lips to hers. Her lips were supple, silky, soft. Best of all she welcomed him, sliding her arms around his neck, parting her lips.

  The beeping grew louder.

  “Should you get that?” she murmured.

  “Yes.” But he ignored the summons and kissed her again.

  She leaned closer, her chest molding against his. “But suppose it’s Tad or Tish?”

  He glanced at the sender ID. “It’s Sauren.” He flicked on the speaker. “Can it wait?”

  “Not really. Bad timing?”

  “The worst.”

  “I’ll give you an hour.”

  “Make it two.”

  “One and a half. Best I can do, boss man. I also sent a shuttle to pick up Cade, Shara, and their children. He’ll meet us on Alpha One.”

  “Thanks.” Derrek clicked off the link and tugged her across his lap until his arm curved around her back. “Now where was I?”

  “You were trying to convince me that you’re a good kisser,” she practically purred as she slid her hands up the sides of his head and combed her fingers through his hair.

  “I am a good kisser,” he insisted.

  “Uh-huh.”

  “In fact, I’m so good that you aren’t leaving after just one kiss.”

  “Is that a threat?” Her eyes glowed as she tugged his lips to hers.

  “No threats. A promise.” He shifted one arm under her legs and stood, lifting her as easily as if there were no gravity. Then he carried her to the bed. “We might as well be comfortable.”

  “I only agreed to—”

  He didn’t want to hear her put restraints on him, so he cut off her words with a kiss as he took her to the bed. Somehow, he managed to carry her, then place her on the goose-down mattress without once releasing her delicious mouth.

  But the moment her back touched the mattress, she bolted upright, placed her feet on the floor. “I just said one drink.”

  To stop her from leaving, he placed a hand on her tense shoulder. For one moment he saw anxiety in her eyes. And her reaction confused him, set alarm signals ringing.

  Back on Rama, slaves didn’t have a lot of joy in their lives. Sex was one of the primary ways slaves had to take the edge off their misery. It was how they connected with one another. Sex was casual and easy. Her saying no, didn’t make sense. And his suspicion was too close to the surface to control the hard edge in his voice. “What’s the big deal?”

  At his tone, she flinched but kept her cool. “I thought being a free woman gave me a choice.”

  “But isn’t it your choice to enjoy? Why are you resisting me when you want me?” He expected her to deny wanting him. She didn’t, confusing him even more.

  She stared at him, her face blank. When she didn’t come up with an answer, he recognized her indecision. Releasing her shoulder, he gave her a micronbit of opportunity to go. But she stayed, and he leaned in again, very lightly nudged her nose with his, until their lips met again.

  Then she was pulling him down. Close. Closer. Kissing him deeply. Frantically. She might have been holding back before . . . but no longer.

  As if reading his desires, she started to unfasten his shirt buttons. Then impatient, she yanked it off. Buttons popped. He didn’t mind. How could he when she was running her fingers over his flesh, teasing his shoulders with her bare palms? And all the while her tongue teased his, urged him to take. Take. Take.

  Derrek never moved this fast. He liked the warm-up before lovemaking. He enjoyed long, slow kisses and tender words. He liked looking forward to what they could offer one another. But with Azsla he needed to know her all at once. Craved to taste and touch and smell her delicious scent.

  He nibbled a path down her slender neck and enjoyed the way she arched into him, pleased that she hadn’t stopped his progress after the one kiss she’d previously said she’d allow. He kissed a trail over her collar bone and dipped toward her breasts.

  He couldn’t recall ever wanting a woman so much. Right now he couldn’t even recall any others. Azsla filled his senses and his thoughts. And all of it was good. “God, you’re beautiful.”

  She breathed out a sigh, her hands busy roving over his back, urging him faster. “You aren’t so bad yourself. Except . . .”

  “Except?” He lifted his head and nuzzled her ear.

  “You’re taking way too long to remove my clothes.”

  He chuckled. “Always happy to oblige.” He really wanted to slow down. To tease off her clothes, item by item. But when he lifted the hem of her blouse, she took matters into her own hands and shrugged out of her shirt, her bra, her slacks and panties, tossing them all onto the floor until she was totally open for him to touch wherever he wished.

  Then she turned onto her side and frowned. “Your turn.”

  “Let me look at you.” All golden skin, except for her tight pink nipples, she was feminine, her muscles emphasizing her neat shape, her clean lines, her awesome curves. “Your body pleases me. You please me.”

  She tugged at the closure of his pants. “My turn.”

  “Are you always so impatient?”

  “Actually I can’t remember since it’s been so long.”

  “Then let me make this good for you.” He placed his hand over hers and stopped her, surprised to find her fingers trembling. Pleased that she wanted so badly, that she wanted him so badly, his pulse raced.

  She drew in a deep breath through her nose and released it slowly as if to regain a measure of control. But he didn’t want her in control. There would be none of that. He wanted her wild and needy and melting.

  He ached to give and then give more. Yet, the waiting would increase her female pleasure. “I want our first time to be memorable.”

  “Fine.” She didn’t sound happy, and, obviously reluctant, she relaxed her hand on his pants, but he could tell it was difficult for her by the fierce pulse in her neck. And how she lay back stiff, watchful. “Do what you wish.”

  Ever so gently, he brushed the pads of his fingertips over her nipples. “Tell me how this feels.”

  “Fine.”

  He was beginning to hate the word “fine.” Something wasn’t quite right. She was trembling, clearly wanting him. Was she so annoyed that he’d slowed them down that she couldn’t let it go? “Tell me what you like best,” he murmured.

  “I want more kisses.”

  “Then
more kisses you shall have.” He kissed the hollow of her hips, her flat stomach, her breasts. And his hands caressed the insides of her slender thighs, strong thighs. She threaded her hands through his hair, tugged his head up to her breasts, parted her legs to give his hands roving room.

  And he kept thinking. Too fast. Much too fast.

  Why was she rushing him? Did she fear the pleasure he could give? But if that was the case, why wasn’t she backing away instead of urging him on?

  With her scent in his lungs, thinking became difficult. His blood roared through his veins, heating him. Tension gathered in his loins, and he ached with the blood hammering, a pulsating drum beat that made it almost impossible to ignore his own rhythm of need. “I love the feel of your skin. Your softness over firm flesh reminds me that although you look sweet enough to eat, you’re strong.”

  “Must you talk?”

  He smiled at her eagerness. “I like strong. I didn’t know that until I met you,” he crooned, “but a strong woman is a sexy woman, and you are very, very sexy.”

  She guided his lips to her breast, and as he took her nipple into his mouth, she moaned. “You feel too good.”

  “No such thing.”

  “Way too good.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “I mean it, Derrek. You can’t keep doing that. My head is spinning.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Sweet Vigo.” She panted. “Where . . . did . . . you learn to do . . . ah . . . that with your tongue?”

  “Wait until I lick and swirl it between your legs.”

  “If you . . . I’ll melt.”

  “Exactly.” And he followed through, tasted her core, and as he pleasured her, she almost arched off the bed with a muffled scream.

  But he didn’t stop. He couldn’t. Especially since he planned to push her into another spasm of pleasure and then another.

  “Please. I need you inside me now.”

  “Okay.” He started to roll from her to remove his pants. But her fingers beat him to the job and suddenly were tearing at him, frantic, needy, wanting.