His clever mouth kept her too busy to focus on the distance between their bodies. The man knew how to kiss. He knew how to take control. His lips commanded and then demanded more. She willingly gave, and her lips swelled under his attention. Her lungs strained for air, and she had no idea when she’d closed her eyes, allowing her to focus on the scalding rush of heat that boiled through her veins and elicited a whimper.
If Kirek’s kiss had been a tide, he would have rushed in and swept her away. If his kiss had been a drink, it would have been the rarest champagne, bubbly and effervescent and lingering. If his kiss had been a fire, it would have been smoke and flames that sparked and flared into an inferno that burned away to leave white hot embers.
And if they’d been playing poker, he’d just won the entire pot.
Stunned by her reaction, shocked by the pleasure he gave, she had no idea how much time had passed. She only knew that the connection between them ran like molten lava, burning hot, dangerously thrilling, totally awesome.
Explosive.
She had no doubts that together they would ignite. Yet despite the rushing in her ears, despite the hammering of her heart, she knew that while lust would be enough for her, it wouldn’t be enough for him. A man like Kirek wouldn’t settle for less than long-term potential.
She spoke bluntly. “I’m not looking for more than a fling.”
“I am.”
His words reminded her that Kirek was all about home and hearth and babies. Then she opened her eyes and looked at him … and swallowed back the tightness in her throat at his fierce hunger.
Before, he’d been imposing, but now he dominated the space around him. With his passion firing on all cylinders, he had a reckless heat in his eyes, a swarthy swagger in the curl of his lips that reminded her of a man who could deliver more pleasure than she’d ever dreamed. From the cocky tilt of his hip to the flex of his powerful shoulders, he brimmed with a magnificent command of sexuality.
His gaze flared with wild need. A muscle in his neck rippled. Yet he held perfectly still—all that power perfectly contained—just waiting for her to unleash.
He would be delicious. She knew it. He knew it—she could tell by the utter confidence in his eyes.
So it took every measure of her control not to forge ahead. After all, if they became lovers and it didn’t work out, they still had a mission to finish, and on a small ship, there was no room for a lovers’ quarrel. “We aren’t right for each other.”
“If you say so.”
“We shouldn’t …”
He grinned. “We won’t.” And then as if she’d said nothing at all, he kissed her forehead, her nose, and once again found her lips.
She practically melted. Her bones seemed to go liquid. She had difficulty breathing, standing, reasoning.
“I can’t think when you do that.”
“Thinking isn’t required.”
“But—” It took all her self-control to yank her lips away from him and what she craved. “I said no.”
“But you meant yes.” He raised one hand and slowly traced a finger down her cheek, her jaw, her neck. She yearned for him to go lower, to explore her collarbone, her breasts, and the moisture between her thighs.
She tried to put resentment and attitude into her tone. “Don’t tell me what I mean.”
“Someone needs to.” Amusement lit his dark blue eyes. As if reading her body’s demands, his hands slid up from her waist to gently cup her breasts. “Are you denying that you like this?”
He looked her straight in the eyes. His thumbs flicked over her nipples, his touch rough and perfect. Electric heat shocked her, and she moaned. She had the urge to bite him, claw him, throw herself at him, take him right there in the corridor up against the bulkhead.
Her tone came out sassy and bold. “I don’t do relationships.”
“Okay.”
“You don’t want me.”
He flicked her nipples again. “You’re exactly what I want. Look how well you fill my hands.”
Ah, his hands felt like heaven. It had been much too long since anyone had made her feel so good. Kirek seemed to know what her body was craving. She craved him. His touch. His kisses. His flesh against hers.
Yet, despite her hunger, despite how much she savored his skillful teasing, she resisted. “Are you sure you won’t want more than I can give?”
He chuckled. “That’s not your concern. Rystani warriors take what we want.”
Oh God. Moisture trickled between her thighs. She wanted him to take.
And take.
And take.
Yet … that was lust talking. They’d still have to work together. She should keep the relationship simple and become true friends. “Just so you know I’m not cut out for long term—”
“Long term didn’t work for you before because you chose the wrong men for the wrong reasons.”
Damn him for turning her words against her, though his logic was faulty. It didn’t matter who the man was, she simply didn’t do long-term relationships. Period. She liked her freedom too much to compromise. She craved her independence as much as she craved air in her lungs.
While he played with her breasts in the most delightful manner, she cocked her head and challenged him. “What makes you think I’m doing a better job of choosing this time?”
She expected him to tell her that he was different. Special. But no … he shot her a wicked grin. “Because this time, you aren’t making the decision.”
“I’m not?”
“I am choosing you. And my judgment is always sound.”
“I suppose you’re always right, too,” she teased but then grew serious. “But—”
“I won’t take no for an answer.” His eyes darkened with desire, sparkled with interest.
Stars! Lust ripped through her.
He read her as clearly as a holopic. He slid his hands down to her waist. Immediately her breasts missed his touch. Her nipples hungered for more. This time he lifted her by her waist. She yielded and wrapped her legs around his hips. No way could she fight her own needs and him, too.
Placing her hands around his neck, she leaned back and mock-scowled at him. “Who put you in charge?”
“Rystani don’t require permission to take over.” His hands cupped her bottom and squeezed. “In fact, during our marriage ceremony husbands place bands on their wives, bands that allow them to control their partner’s suits.”
She’d never heard of such a practice, and yet the idea excited her. She liked sex toys and playful experimentation. “Too bad we’ll never marry.”
“My psi can take control without the bands.”
All of a sudden, he tweaked her nipples, and the feeling was just as wonderful as before. But his hands remained on her bottom. He’d adjusted her suit to give her pleasure. The idea of such power and confidence and skill mixed with passion excited her.
Angel had gone into space for new experiences. She’d always enjoyed the thrill of stepping onto a new planet, meeting beings with other customs. But never had she imagined meeting anyone as intoxicating as Kirek.
In awe of his psi and the wondrous things he was doing to her breasts, she started to squirm and learned that she couldn’t move. He’d taken total control of her suit and their lovemaking, placing himself in charge of giving her pleasure.
“Yes.” Her muscles quivered, and her breath hitched.
“There’s more pleasure to come.” He sounded so pleased with himself.
“Bring it on.”
He tweaked her nipples again, and while she bit back a moan, he slanted his mouth over hers, cutting off any more words. Her lips parted of her own accord, and when next she noticed her surroundings, they were in her quarters. Lion hissed at Kirek for interrupting his nap, but then with an arrogant flick of his tail, her cat disappeared around the corner, leaving them alone.
The Rystani didn’t bother looking around at her desk or her rock collection. He didn’t glance at her cheery curtains that fram
ed the portal. He looked only at her.
Kirek turned her suit transparent, leaving her wonderfully naked.
But he was frowning at her breasts.
Damn. Now was not the time for him to become picky about her body. “What’s wrong?”
“You use your suit to compress them.”
“So?”
With a psi thought, he gently lifted her breasts. No longer confined by the parameters she’d set in her suit, her breasts looked perkier, larger. Her waist smaller. When she glimpsed her reflection in her mirror, her nipples appeared tight from his attention, her lips swollen from his kisses. She looked softer. Willing. Eager.
He fluffed her hair from her face, the pads of his fingertips soothing her scalp. Although his hands no longer supported her bottom, she remained locked in place by her suit and his will.
“Tell me what you like.”
“I like my men naked.”
At her wish, he turned his suit transparent. If she’d thought him awesome before, the nude Kirek stole her breath. His well-proportioned body sported magnificent bronzed skin—and a multitude of thin scars across his shoulders, back, and hips. She had the urge to kiss away the memory of every hurt he’d ever suffered and wondered what kind of accident he’d been in.
As if reading her mind, he answered her unspoken question. “The scars are from a whip. From my stay on Endeki.”
His tone may have been light, as if he’d put the incident behind him long ago, but she was outraged for him. Someone had deliberately marred his beautiful skin. Yet she instinctively understood that he didn’t want pity. “The scars give you character. Otherwise you might be too pretty.”
He winked at her. “If that’s a compliment, then thank you. Now tell me what else you like.”
“Hmmm.” She eyed him, making her expression sassy. “With you—I think I’ll like just about everything.”
“Captain.” Leval’s voice came over the com. “The clutch beam just went down.”
“The Vogan ship?” Angel asked, her mind snapping back to business.
“We’ve lost her.”
AT THE BAD NEWS, Kirek had immediately released Angel. They’d rushed to the bridge, and Angel acted as though she had never kissed him. Kirek expected no less. He appreciated a woman who took her work seriously—even if his loins ached and his skin still tingled. At first her revelations about her past husbands and the taking of lovers had thrown him. Luckily, Kirek had been exposed to other cultures and understood that he had no right to judge Angel by the morality of his world. Kahn had taught his Terran wife to fight like a warrior in order to win the Challenge. Zical had learned to love a woman that had been born as a computer, and due to their love, they’d kept the Sentinels on guard at the galaxy’s rim. Extraordinary tasks required adaptation. If these great Rystani leaders could alter their morality and beliefs to serve their people, then so could he. Kirek could accept that her past was not the normal one man, one woman relationship of his people and still take her as a lover. Obviously, she’d grown up without the guidance of a loving family. Angel was special and had so much to offer. While he was on board, she would take no other lovers. They would spend enough time together for him to discover whether his attraction rang true. So he bit back his disappointment over the interruption and told himself the delay would sharpen his appetite. Meanwhile, he watched her handle the emergency.
“Frie. How long until you fix the clutch beam?”
“Not until we reach Dakmar. I need spare parts.”
“What’s the status of the Kraj ship?” Angel asked.
“Still out of sensor range.”
Angel nodded. “Leval. Turn us around. Place the Raven alongside our salvage—as close as possible without endangering us.”
“Aye, Captain. But without our clutch beam—”
“Frie. Get the chain out of storage and into the shuttle bay. I’ll be down there shortly. If you think we need more brawn, wake up Petroy.”
“I can help,” Kirek offered.
“Thanks.” Angel didn’t hesitate to accept, and that pleased him. While working, he wanted her to think of him as one of her crew. During his many trips around the galaxy, he’d seen how a crew could gel, forming friendships that lasted a lifetime. When people put their lives on the line for one another, the bonds forged could be as strong as those of blood kinship.
But when they weren’t working, when she wanted to talk or kiss or make love, he wanted her to think of him as a man. She was intelligent, determined, and independent—all traits he admired. He’d recognized almost immediately that she was special and meant to be his. The memory of his vision and his powerful response to her told him that Angel was the woman for him despite her protestations. Had he been a gambling man, he’d have bet all his credits that Tessa would never have imagined she’d end up in love with Kahn. Zical had protested strongly against a love match with Dora, not to mention the fact that Alara and Xander had come from enemy races. She could protest, but Kirek would prevail. Rystani warriors always did.
“Coming?” Angel tossed the question over her shoulder as she left the bridge.
Kirek trailed after her, enjoying the sway of her hips as much as her determined stride. “I’m right behind you.”
“Stop staring at my butt,” she ordered as if she had eyes in the back of her head.
“You ask the impossible,” he said, enjoying the view.
With a scowl, she stopped, turned, and gestured for him to go first. “Behave. Turn right at the end of the corridor.”
He laughed and took the lead. A few steps later, he glanced back and caught her watching him. “Now who’s enjoying the view?”
“Captain’s prerogative.” When she didn’t even try to deny her interest or her irritation that he’d caught her, he began to whistle happily.
His mission might require personal sacrifices, but at the moment there was nowhere in the galaxy he’d rather be than on the Raven. During his life, Kirek had been in enough dire circumstances to appreciate the good times. He didn’t mind that Angel wanted to remain independent. In fact, he was going to enjoy overcoming every single one of her doubts.
When he turned the corner, he found Frie and an antiquated bot struggling to remove a giant ball of chain they’d salvaged and stored in a cabin. Obviously space on the Raven was tight, and they used the extra room for cargo. Frie had turned off the artificial gravity, and the chain floated, but managing the mass in such tight quarters was tricky.
A careless mistake could set hundreds of tons of metal into motion with little effort, but to stop that kind of mass once it was in motion required enormous forces. So Frie and the bot were moving with extreme care.
“How long did it take to stow the chain in this cabin?” Angel asked.
“Hours,” Frie told her. “I wouldn’t have bothered if I’d known we would find the Vogan ship, but at the time …”
“We needed every credit,” Angel finished her sentence. She surveyed the chain, the doorway opening, and the corridor. “Let’s unroll it.”
Frie shook her head. “There’s no room.”
Angel lifted one end of the chain. “If you took this end to the shuttle bay, we could unwind—”
“Even if I could handle this end by myself, not even you, Kirek, and the bot would be able to stabilize the spinning mass.” Frie shook her head. “If you lose control, the ball of chain could crash straight through the hull.”
“Ladies,” Kirek interrupted, “I can control this end by myself.”
Frie eyed him. “Not even Rystani muscles are up to—”
“I’ll place a psi force field around the mass. It will spin but stay in place.” He could do that much with a damaged psi. If he’d been healed, he could have moved the entire mass with his mind.
“Let’s do it.” Angel attached the end of the chain to the bot, and then she and Frie guided the chain down the corridor, around a bend, and into the shuttle bay. Kirek kept the mass steady and allowed the chain to unwind s
lowly.
One Federation hour later, they had the entire chain in the shuttle bay. Angel had rewound and rolled the chain into another ball and was busy welding the end of the chain to the Raven’s outer hull. Frie was gone.
The hatch to deep space was open. In her suit, Angel had enough air to breathe for several hours. Angel obviously planned to secure the other end of the chain to the Vogan ship. But if they ran into trouble, she had no way to cut the salvage loose.
Kirek used his psi to float outside and joined her, appreciating the straight and even weld. “Nice work.”
“Thanks.”
Kirek didn’t want to criticize, and yet … he couldn’t stop from suggesting. “What about a quick release?”
“Since I won’t be releasing the salvage, there’s no need for a safety mechanism.”
“You’re risking our lives for salvage?”
She winced, but her steady hand didn’t waver. “We need the salvage credits to pay for supplies and fuel. I’m not stranding my crew on Dakmar.” Finished, she turned off the welder. “Besides, I gathered your mission to defeat the Zin was important.”
“I have funds on Dakmar.”
“No.” Her tone was tight.
“The credits were transferred months ago. It’s unlikely they have been traced.”
“No.”
“I don’t understand.” He’d thought she was concerned about the danger of being traced. The Kraj had already tried to kill him. If they found them, they’d try again. So what was the harm in him giving her credits so they didn’t have to risk their lives to save her salvage?
“I don’t use credit. I don’t want to owe anyone,” she huffed, refusing to meet his gaze. Instead she examined the chain.
“The funds would be payment for my transportation.”
“Look, we already made a bargain.” Her tone was prickly. “I agreed to help you on the mission. In exchange, I have salvage rights on the Zin world. Anything that goes beyond that—then I’d owe you.”
“Would that be so terrible?” he asked. But he finally understood her reluctance.
Rystani Warrior 04 - The Quest Page 7