Worlds Apart (Warriors of Risnar)

by Tracy St. John

  “Uh huh. That’s what I thought.”

  “I mean it, Nex. You have messed with the wrong damn woman.”

  “If you say so.”

  Nex shook his head at her and turned his back. He began to eat.

  As he did so, he grew another tail, then a third. They were far slenderer than what he used to maintain her healthy leg under control, but then, he didn’t need much bulk for what he was about to do. Only finger-size diameters were required. One wriggled beneath the waistband of her pants and underwear. The other slid under her blouse and nudged her bra up and out of the way.

  He chewed his food with enjoyment, both of its flavor and the sound of her angry curses changing their tone.

  * * *

  I’m going to kill this big, striped bastard.

  Anneliese squirmed desperately as Nex’s slim tails played with her flesh. One rubbed over her breasts, occasionally circling her nipples to give exciting squeezes and flicks over the hardening tips.

  The other took full advantage of the first tail that held her strong leg out at an angle, forcing her open. The smaller appendage slid between the slick petals of her sex. She didn’t dare move the bad leg. Its familiar burning throb warned her any attempt to do so would result in horrendous pain. She’d screwed up by going to the bathroom on her own, aggravating both the knee and the hip joints.

  Stupid Risnarish and their floor-level toilets. Anneliese had been forced to squat low to use Nex’s, and the position had played hell with her already tormented knee. The hip had decided to complain in solidarity.

  No, she couldn’t move that leg and not scream from the agony that would accompany any attempt to ward off Nex’s lewd tails. She told herself that was the only reason she held the tortured limb motionless on its angled perch of pillows.

  Damn Nex and his irritatingly valid solution to her need to refuse help. He sat next to her on the edge of the bed, his broad back to her. Holding her down. Doing those exciting things to her that he did so well, that choked off her threats to life and limb.

  With him teasing her naughty bits, rude impulses danced in her head. Despite her impotent fury, Anneliese had the insane urge to lick the tiger brown stripes that decorated his skin. She could follow that up by licking down his spine. As flutters of excitement danced where he touched her, she could almost taste him. Running her tongue from where his mane ended between his shoulder blades down to the cleft of his muscular and squeeze-worthy buttocks was a heady fantasy.

  Maybe she should be tied down more often and compelled to physically accept what her iron will wanted no part of.

  Like those amazing tails that tickled and explored her. How was Nex doing that, working on different parts of her with different appendages at the same instant? She could barely use her hands simultaneously, and certainly not for totally different tasks.

  Nex had independent control of everything. He pushed food in his mouth with his hands. He held her leg down with the largest tail. One of the smaller ones caressed and squeezed her breasts the way he’d learned aroused her. Her sensitivity to such play was beginning to fragment her thinking, taking the angst of having control seized from her. The other tail played about her clit, sending her into a needy acceptance of his power.

  That tendril made her wet with eager longing. Somehow, being helpless added to the allure. Anneliese wondered at the fraying of her usual resolve to hold the reins, but only a little. His flesh worked at her, destroying the need to reason, to understand, to evaluate. She craved freedom from her demanding personality. How glorious to let Nex do to her as he wanted! The urge to let go and simply feel overrode all that usually drove her.

  Desire had sounded like such a warm emotion to Anneliese. In Nex’s hands—and other appendages—it started that way, but quickly grew into a ravening beast. It nipped at her insides, grew hot in the pit of her gut, caused her pussy and clit to throb as if they possessed their own beating hearts. When Nex’s tail entered her, thickening to fill her with gorgeous pressure, Anneliese cried out. Her body begged to writhe, to expend some of the restless energy that came with such demanding arousal. Instinct to save her leg from flaring up kept her from much movement. She cried out again when the hot length within her rubbed about and found the spot where she was most sensitive. It swelled more and moved back and forth, applying steady friction. On and on, making rapture huge, sending her to the precipice where he kept her as he finished his meal.

  Nex set his tray on a nearby table. Only then did he turn to her. His flesh continued to work hers, holding her at the razor-sharp edge of climax. He smiled. “Tell me what you think of this example of how you can relax and let someone take care of you?”

  Her vision had gone blurry, making him appear misty. Anneliese’s body struggled for release that hovered just out of reach. Arousal bit at her, coming close enough that she thought she must at last succumb to pleasure. Then lust would ease, as if watching warily for its next opportunity to snap again. Overwhelmed and desperate, Anneliese whimpered a pleading sound.

  Nex lifted her blouse up and eased her pants down to expose her. His hands joined his tails in exploring, delighting her flesh, luring orgasm closer. Her fists clenched as the first sweet surge of impending completion convulsed her pussy.

  Nex cooed, urging her on. “That’s it. Give in, my proud, beautiful Anneliese. Just relax, and I’ll take care of you. That’s all I want to do, is take care of you.”

  She was caving in to his ministrations, her body surrendering. However, hearing his voice encouraging her to give everything over had the opposite effect on her will. It rose to fight, to deny Anneliese what she wanted.

  Physically and emotionally, the rest of her begged, Let go! I can trust Nex with everything. He’s proven it time and again! Let me have this!

  Nex continued to press her, his hands and tails building the need that hurt even as it enthralled. “Sweet Anneliese. I want you to surrender all of it. I’ve got you, and I’m not going to let go. Let it happen.”

  Miracle of miracles, for a brief moment, she did. For a split second, her control crumbled, allowing her to find paradise.

  In that instant Anneliese belonged to Nex, and her heart claimed him as hers. She gave herself utterly, allowing him to be her security as well as her lover. That notion of safety and support was as exalting as the climax that billowed starburst-bright through her body, fulfilling her as nothing else ever had. She immersed herself in the beauty of being a part of something bigger than herself as electric spasms shook her to the core.

  As the convulsions eased, the climax fading into a throbbing glow, the old guardedness returned. Anneliese fought it, but it was too comfortable, too familiar to keep away. It fell into place, impregnable. That flash of perfect sharing faded, her glimpse of heaven going faint.

  Nex, unable to see that the golden moment had passed, looked pleased. He gave her a long, lingering kiss. He rewarded her for something she hadn’t been able to maintain, though she wanted it bad enough to bring tears to her eyes.

  He murmured, “Well done, Anneliese.” Meanwhile, she railed against her indomitable will, beating against the iron that wouldn’t let Nex permanently through.

  Chapter Sixteen

  The second day of Anneliese’s “incarceration,” she got Nex to let her leave the bedroom. It took a lot of convincing, but she put on all the charm she could manage. In the end, he carried her to the visiting room’s couch and set her up comfortably there. Piled pillows elevated her knee, and more supported her back. A warm throw was slung on the rear of the sofa, ready to be snuggled in. Though irritation rose first and foremost that she had to rely on him for everything, a small part of her basked in the overt proof of how much he cared.

  Her self-control was rewarded when Nex promised she could soak in the bathing pool that afternoon if she behaved herself. Anneliese was determined to win that prize when she noted the blameless blue
sky over the dome.

  That meant battling the part that chafed at the reminder she wasn’t involved in sustaining the security of others. The part that said she was diminished. Had Salno been right? Did she have a hero complex? Was the only way she could feel worthy was to come to everyone’s rescue?

  It wasn’t a welcome notion.

  Because Anneliese wanted to believe she was better than that—and because more than anything she wanted Nex happy—she did her best to stay relaxed about her leg’s setback. She got past her stubbornness enough to admit that rest was indeed the best medicine to speed the healing. Just the single day off her feet had allowed the medicine time to work wonders. The swelling in her knee had almost dissipated, leaving only moderate pain and the uncomfortable sensation of things shifting in the joint when she moved. With recovery on track and Nex’s constant smile to reward her, Anneliese behaved herself. She let him carry her to the lavatory and back, she didn’t budge without assistance, and she didn’t gripe about having to rely on him.

  If only she could find contentment in sitting on her butt while someone else waited on her like she was a helpless invalid. Every now and again, Nex decided to play with her sexually. When he teased her to orgasm until she was loose-limbed with gratification, she gained a measure of comfort in being cared for. She glimpsed how sweet life could be if she could allow more of a give-and-take existence.

  Those flashes didn’t last for long, however. Am I doomed to be the person nobody on Risnar appreciates—a woman so strong willed and combative that people withdraw? It had been the same on Earth. No one wanted a relationship with a partner who found an argument in every conversation. Anneliese was ready to admit she had a problem, but how was she to solve it?

  In the meantime, she sought distractions from her helpless position, from being the person to be saved rather than the woman who saved others. She hit on a possible solution when her ear became sore from wearing the translating device. She got to work on learning some conversational Risnarish. To her delight, she discovered that the planet’s other Earthling resident Jeannie had already put an easy-to-operate program into place. Nex, who had taken time off from work to take care of her, sat close to assist in pronouncing the more guttural sounds that Anneliese had difficulty with.

  They’d been working on the lessons when a summons at the door roused them from their practice. Anneliese had been worried about the rest of the Cas villagers since the tempestuous temple meeting where she’d been eyed with suspicion. On alert for potential trouble, she asked Nex, “Were you expecting visitors?”

  Nex frowned at the door hidden behind a partition that separated the visiting room from the entryway. His expression smoothed, but not before Anneliese got the feeling he was as concerned as she. “I’m sure it’s nothing. I suspect it might be my neighbor offering extra trafreb. Efno says he’s got an excellent crop already.”

  He got up and went to the door. Anneliese shut down the language program and listened to the voices on the other side of the partition.

  Nex’s voice was warm as he greeted his visitors. “Hello, Salno. Mirtan, this is a surprise. Welcome. Please come in and say hello to Anneliese.”

  Anneliese’s ears perked up. The Risnarish spy who had spotted Earthlings in the hive was there? She sat up straight, ignoring the warning throb from her hip and knee. The trio rounded the wall.

  As Nex rejoined her on the couch, Salno touched her palm to her chest. “Hello, Anneliese. I asked Mirtan if he would talk to you about what he saw at the portal.”

  Anneliese stared. She and Salno had parted the day before under not the best of terms, but the woman had approached Mirtan on her behalf? It must have taken quite a bit of convincing too. Judging from the look on Mirtan’s black, gray, and ivory face, he did not want to be in Anneliese’s presence.

  Nex motioned to the two large chairs that completed the room’s seating. “Please, sit down. I will bring us all something to drink.”

  Mirtan waved him away. “Nothing for me, Nex. I’d like to get going as soon as possible.”

  Salno also demurred. “I don’t require anything either, but thank you.” She perched on a low-backed tan seat.

  Mirtan remained on his feet, watching Anneliese with open doubt. She decided she had to allay his misgivings quickly. She started with a look of heartfelt gratitude. “Thank you for coming to talk with me, Mirtan. I’m struggling with what you saw at the hive. I can’t understand how my fellow Earthlings could be working with those terrible Monsuda.”

  He drew himself up, as if she had refuted his claim. “I am quite sure of what I saw. Those men were not lab subjects.”

  “Will you tell me about them?” Anneliese adjusted her position, seeking a more comfortable pose. She winced as pain flashed through her leg. Fortunately, it was just a quick warning shot, there and gone in a second. Yes, she was recovering nicely. Risnarish medicine was great stuff.

  When she looked at Mirtan again, she saw him regarding her with gentler uncertainty, as if he had sympathy for her predicament. Anneliese smiled reassuringly. “This is nothing. I’m used to the pain, and if the rate I’m getting better is any indication, I could be up on my feet as early as tomorrow.”

  Nex scowled. “Not according to the temple doctor.”

  Anneliese fought to not roll her eyes. “Okay, okay. I’m not quite the soul of patience.”

  “This is true.” Salno hid her mouth behind her hand. Heaven forbid anyone see her actually smile.

  Mirtan’s grin was unabashed as he settled on the second chair. “I’ve heard you’re a tough fighter. Jape has told me he trusts you.”

  “Jape is a wise man,” Anneliese deadpanned.

  That got a laugh out of the two males. Mirtan relaxed and launched into his story. “The drones at the entrance to the hive were easy to overcome, especially since they hadn’t re-established their force field. I snuck around the hive, checking on the general scope of activity.”

  Anneliese looked at him with respect. “You are brave. That’s a hell of a chance to take.”

  He bowed his head with modesty. “Fortunately, it’s not a full complement of drones in there right now. That made things easier.”

  “Still, I’m more than a little impressed. Go on with the story. You got to the portal room and saw more people like me.”

  Mirtan eased more when she didn’t contest his assertion, stating it as a fact. “I got to the doorway and peeked in. Two men, obviously Earthlings, stood talking to a Monsudan. The Earthlings spoke in your language, though there was no translator to allow me to understand their words.”

  “They must have taken the translation program we installed offline,” Nex mused.

  “The Monsudan responded with the same kind of speech, though it didn’t sound exactly like yours.”

  “The mandibles make it difficult,” Anneliese said. “The first time I was brought to the lab was after my last deployment, when I’d suffered the injury deviling me now. A Monsudan took an interest and attended. It found my leg injuries fascinating. The big bug kept having to repeat its questions because I found it hard to understand.”

  “Ah.” Mirtan’s expression flashed a moment of perception. “The Monsudan kept repeating the same things when I was there. The Earthlings must have had the same difficulty you did.”

  “You wouldn’t happen to remember what you heard, would you?”

  He shook his head. “Your speech sounds so garbled, I can’t repeat any of the sounds. I’m sorry.”

  Anneliese sighed. She would have liked to have known what passed between the men and the Monsudan.

  Mirtan continued. “While I couldn’t decipher what they spoke of, it was obvious that the Earthling men were not frozen or restrained. They moved about with freedom. They did not appear afraid, and I’m sure they were dealing with the Monsudan as equals.”

  “Yeah, that doesn’t sound so good,
” Anneliese said. Earthlings talking to a Monsudan without fear? How could such a thing happen?

  “I guess that’s all I can tell you. I was spotted after a few seconds and had to run for it.”

  It wasn’t much to go on. Anneliese deliberated over what other clues she might tease out of Mirtan, anything that would give her more pieces to fill the puzzle’s gaping holes. Who on Earth would have a friendly—or at least a non-victim—relationship with the Monsuda?

  Inspiration struck, an idea that Anneliese didn’t enjoy for a single second. She ignored a sick feeling in her gut and asked, “Mirtan, what were the men wearing?”

  He pondered, his gaze trained on the floor as if trying to visualize what he’d observed. “One wore more than one layer of fabric over his body. There were many pieces of clothing, more than what you’ve got on.”

  “Just go slow. Try to tell me, piece by piece.”

  “On top was a kind of blouse with long sleeves. His leg covering matched in in color, which was a dark olive green. Round, gold catches closed the front of it. It had colorful bars on the chest here.” He pointed to the left side of his chest. “There were other designs on the sleeves.”

  Anneliese was sure Mirtan described a military uniform. Not the U.S. military, please.

  Mirtan went on. “Under that top cover was a white shirt that appeared to fit closer to the man’s body. A knotted black strip of cloth hung from the neck. He wore foot coverings of shining black.”

  Anneliese licked dry lips. “And the other man? What did he wear?”

  “His clothing was loose and covered in a pattern of brown blotches. His foot coverings were also brown, and the fabric of the leggings was tucked into them.”

  “Camouflage,” she whispered, more to herself than the others.

  “This is familiar to you,” Salno said in a low voice.

  Anneliese didn’t want to know, but she had to be sure. “Mirtan, did you notice a rectangle on the shoulder of the man in brown? Maybe a patch with red and white stripes, a block of blue in the upper corner?”