by Keri Kruspe
“Not a chance,” Qay piped in before Ki responded. “My people were very thorough with the human women’s records.”
“Okay, good.” She gave a nervous chuckle as she tucked the hair behind her strangely round ear. “I’ll need identification restored in the United States system to request an audience with the Secretary-General. You know, something with an official position and title to help get me through the door. Can you pull that off?”
“Oh dear, you are so simple,” Elemi responded. “I can make you Queen of the Universe if Ki wants me to.” A put-upon sigh filled the cockpit. “There, it’s done. You are now a person of Earth with proper credentials.”
A panel in the front black console opened. A strange white plastic badge embossed with her picture lay in it. Looped at the top was a metal clip to fasten on her clothing.
Sherri lifted it out to examine. Whatever Elemi made seemed to satisfy her, and she addressed Qay. “This should do.” She turned to Ki. “I’ll need to change my clothes before I go.”
The situation was getting away from him. Time to state the obvious. “Elemi will remain cloaked when we transport to the surface.”
“You’re going with me?” Sherri’s eyes widened.
Ki’s jaw clenched tightly. Time to end this fantasy she had of leaving without him. What kind of male did she think he was?
“Of course I’m going with you.” A tight fist was kept hidden as he leaned into her personal space. “I’m not letting you out of my sight.”
Feminine eyebrows rose as she gave him a once-over. “Um, okay?” She leaned away in her seat.
“Good!” Qay slapped an open palm on his desk. “Glad that’s settled. Go to Earth, prepare the humans as best you can until our ships reach you. You’ll have to hold out for a few Earth hours until we get there.”
“Oh Qay, I almost forgot.” Ki snapped his fingers. “I have a present for you.”
Qay’s mouth twitched. “Really? What is that?”
Ki waved a hand to encompass the ship. “Elemi, would you be so good as to show Qay the guest in stasis?”
“It will be my pleasure.”
A holographic image appeared of the captured WOL leader, Drirux, caught in the throes of a stasis field.
“Oh, and who is this?” Qay leaned forward with an eager expression.
“This puntneji piece of filth is the head of the Warriors of Light, the one who gave the order to kill your TrueBond, Aimee.”
The hard expression that crossed Qay’s face was one Ki hadn’t seen in a long time. The mantle of royalty slid from his noble features. In its place was a primitive male Zerin focused on protecting his TrueBond.
“I thank you, mihr.” Qay licked his lips as he glared at the image of the Zerin rebel. “I am ever in your debt.”
It had been a long time since Qay used the word for “brother” toward him. While it was an honor to receive such a label from his friend, Ki was uncomfortable when it came from his prince. Some days it was hard to separate the two.
“When we meet again, he is yours.” Ki bent toward Qay in a slight bow of respect.
Qay’s eyes narrowed as his lips pulled back to expose his long fangs. “I look forward to seeing you both soon.” His eyes flicked back and forth between Ki and Sherri. “Have your ship give me updates on a regular basis.” The crown prince of Zerin sat back as his face relaxed into a warm smile. “May the Sacred Goddess of All protect and keep you. Good hunting, my friend.” He regarded Sherri before he addressed Ki again. “In all things. Qay out.”
Chapter Seven
SHERRI
In Sherri’s previous life on Earth, she’d met heads of state, presidents, and those of various remarkable achievements. Even so, it was hard for her to believe she sat there talking with an honest-to-god alien prince. It took everything she had to keep her mouth from hanging open and staring like a lunatic. However, the more the conversation continued, the more she realized she wasn’t all that impressed.
While he was one of the best-looking men she’d ever seen, he missed that certain something she craved in the opposite sex. True, Qay’s dual-emerald eyes flashed with an exotic flair—the deep verdant inner ring surrounded the lighter and matched the iridescent pupils. Thick, black eyelashes gave him a smoky allure. But, those alien irises were not dark navy-blue circled by a dusky hunter green. Qay’s obsidian hair remained in a tight braid away from his striking profile. It wasn’t shoulder length in a luxurious dark-mahogany curtain that framed a masculine profile to perfection. Qay bore the unmistakable mark of his noble birth; Ki’s blunt features had the hard-won earmark of character and grit.
Ki’s scar might cause some women to run in terror, but Sherri shivered in wanton appreciation. Late at night, she had hot fantasies about tracing that scar with her lips and tongue, mapping and claiming the angry skin.
Whoa. Sherri jerked and glanced to make sure Ki hadn’t noticed her zoning out. God! What if he caught her mooning about him? Their playful activities notwithstanding, he’d never given her any indication he was interested in any personal relationship with her, other than a basic sexual one. Great… Earth was on the brink of an alien invasion and all she could think about was the hot guy next to her. Some hero she turned out to be.
It is proper to crave your TrueBond. The soft voice spoke in the back of her mind. When the time is right, we will mate with our males.
The image made Sherri shiver. After enduring the psyche violation from the Dread Pirate, she now believed another symbiont lived in her. While it might be awkward having someone sharing her conscience, the female blended with Sherri rather than being something separate.
Maybe she should take the plunge and speak to the dragon. It was a big, final step, acknowledging the dragon was real. Once she did, there’d be no going back. Okay… I doubt he feels the same way.
Ah, child.
The smooth reprimand from Cheithe soothed the hurt feelings Ki produced when he’d acted as if she didn’t mean anything to him. Humph, like the man hadn’t been all over her…giving her the best orgasm ever.
The boy is a confused and wounded male. It will take patience and cunning from us to show him what is right.
Sherri smiled. The dragon called that huge man a boy. Cunning?
Yes, he is male, after all. A light snort. I assure you—he wants you more than he admits… even to himself. Therefore, we will allow enough time to pass for him to come to terms on the fitting nature of our TrueBond pairing.
We will?
Yes.
An image of a smirk on the delicate, silver snout made Sherri give one of her own.
However, not too much time. The soft feminine chuckle faded into the background.
“We should arrive in Earth’s orbit in a few clicks. Elemi will put us an appropriate distance away from the United Nations in an unpopulated area to avoid detection. From there, she will arrange a transport to take us into the city.” A big hand waved at her body. “If you want to change before we land, you’d better do it now.”
It took a few moments before Ki’s words penetrated the fog of Sherri’s mind due to the conversation between her and Cheithe. She blinked and tried to focus on what Ki had said. Clothes? Oh, yeah…going to Earth. Time to get decent clothes instead of the wrinkled, creme tunic she wore. Her heart thundered when she remembered how it got so rumpled, bunched in one of Ki’s large hands while the other played her body like a master.
“Um, okay. I’ll be right back.” She stood without looking at him. Heat crept along her neck as she headed for the sleeping quarters on the other side of the ship.
Once there, she painstakingly described to Elemi the outfit she wanted the ship to replicate. She envisioned a sleeveless dark peach blouse with folding drapes tucked inside a pencil-thin gray skirt topped with a small belt. A soft white sweater jacket trimmed with delicate dual black strips at the wrists and along the breastplate. A pair of platform stiletto heels in the same color as her blouse to match round, dangling earrings. A
single gem drop necklace completed the look as it nestled above her cleavage. A matching single-handle purse in white with peach-and-black trim completed the ensemble.
Feeling like herself for the first time in ages, she was ready to face the UN.
“Did you put me on the schedule for the Secretary-General this afternoon?” Sherri asked Elemi, putting paperwork the ship provided into the handbag. She also had a small tube of lip gloss to go with the mascara and light eye shadow.
After a moment’s consideration, she folded up the Zerin slipper shoes into a tight roll and put them into the purse. No telling if there’d come a time when a quick departure was necessary. She’d be damned if she’d run around in platform stilettos.
“You have a 3:45 pm meeting.” Elemi’s voice lacked sarcasm for once.
Ki walked into the small room reading a hand-held device. “Are you ready to—” His head came up. “—go?” He stumbled with wide eyes and an open mouth.
At first, his inspection made her uncomfortable. She ran a sweaty palm down the skirt and glanced to make sure it was on right with the blouse tucked in. When she peeked at him and his dumbfounded expression, she couldn’t help the feminine smile of satisfaction.
His dual-colored eyes narrowed. Between one heartbeat and the next, his dark cheeks bloomed in an interesting shade of mauve. “What the fruk do you think you’re wearing?” With long strides, he stood before her. Mere inches separated them as a blast of his masculine scent surrounded her. The hand not holding the device fisted on and off as if he had a hard time controlling his emotions.
Sherri’s face flushed at the aggressive demand. What in the world crawled up his ass? With a fist on her hip, she gave him her best don’t go there glare. “Look, buddy.” She poked the middle of his solid chest. “I don’t know what your problem is, but this is how a professional woman on Earth dresses—ack!”
He cut off her incoherent squawk with his mouth.
The unique tang of his taste made her head spin. Sharp and spicy…sinful temptation that ramped up her response. A large palm at the top of her buttocks squeezed as her core clenched and melted. Automatically her arms wrapped around his neck to pull them closer. Feminine softness meshed with male hardness. She stroked with her lips as they caressed and devoured one another. Her only wish was to hang on and never let go.
With a low moan, Ki dragged away, and they slid apart.
Her eyes closed for a few heartbeats as she savored the lingering sensation he’d caused. When she opened them, the burn of twin iridescent pupils filled her vision. Sherri gulped and shuddered. Holy Mother of God, his kisses were everything she’d ever dreamed of.
Ki’s firm hold held her in place. Hmm, what happened to the device he’d been holding?
“You…”
“Ki, dearest. We are now in orbit around Earth.” Of course, Elemi interrupted.
The grip on her ass tightened as his eyes closed. Now she had a free moment to examine the ruddiness that stained his skin under the short beard. Ki was a force of nature, a mature man in his prime. Overt virility ensnared her befuddled mind as she writhed in feminine appreciation.
A vein at the corner of his neck beat a fast tattoo. A muscle in his jaw twitched.
Ah, good to know he wasn’t as unaffected as he liked to claim.
Ki released a breath and opened his eyes.
Damn, caught staring.
His fingers tightened before letting go.
Sherri couldn’t wait to see what he’d do next.
“I’m sorry.” He took a step back. “I shouldn’t have done that.” The words came out soft as his gaze fell to the floor and he picked up the device where it lay upside down. By the time he straightened, his face was expressionless and void of the previous heat.
A wave of hurt at his indifference squeezed her chest.
He gripped the device with white-knuckles as the screen unnaturally captured his attention.
Sherri swallowed a smile of satisfaction. Ha! Someone was working hard on keeping his emotions in check.
“As Elemi stated.” He cleared his throat with a deep rumble.
Her smile widened.
“Now that we are in Earth’s orbit, we can transport down whenever you’re ready.” He gave the appearance of stoic indifference.
“How will we meet up when I’m finished?” Sherri spied the purse sitting on the bed and went over to retrieve it.
A choked sound jerked her around. What in the world was that? It sounded like a cross between a growling tiger and a strangled baboon. A quick glance around the room revealed only her and Ki, and he hadn’t moved.
Ki’s passive appearance had morphed into one of primitive intent.
She gripped her chest when his eyes narrowed and the skin stretched tightly over his sharp cheekbones. Good Lord, he must have eyeballed her ass when she’d bent over. Sherri bit the inside of her cheek to stop a smirk from showing. Instead, she straightened and made sure her face was expressionless. She held the handle of the handbag with both hands in front of her. Yeah, that would protect her.
A heavy-lidded male gaze landed on the swell of her chest.
“My eyes are up here, big guy.”
Blue/green eyes snapped away from her chest.
Now her grin came out as she sauntered to him. “As I was saying, how do I get back in touch when I’m done?”
Ki may have heard her, but he took his sweet time answering. A sensual smile curved that full mouth, a sure sign of male appreciation. “You are an extraordinarily beautiful female, Sherri.”
The deep baritone sent shivers up and down her spine. Caught in his mesmerizing expression and words, she trembled when he invaded her personal space. No need for his touch, she’d become hyper-aware whenever he was near. The heat and enticing scent seared.
“When we’re finished here, you and I are going to spend some time alone.” It was a whispered, blatant dare.
Normally, when given such a directive, she’d dismiss the person without another thought. Not this time. This time Sherri was in complete agreement. Hard to say where their involvement would end up, but she was more than willing to find out. She rewarded him with a sultry smile and ignored his last statement.
“Is there some kind of communicator for me to use?” The sooner she left, the sooner she’d be back to indulge in their sensuous play. Okay, time to concentrate on the impending invasion of Earth and stop flirting with the tempting man. Her nails bit into her palms. Maybe the slight pain would keep her focused.
“That is not something you need to worry about.” Ki spoke into the shell of her ear. His warm arms wrapped around her and pulled her flush against a wide chest. “I’ll be close enough for you to touch the whole time.”
Sherri’s head jerked back. Her nose scrunched as she tried to figure out what he meant when Elemi’s transportation dissolved the room.
* * *
KI
A prickle of unease slithered across the base of Ki’s skull. Elemi had put them in an area surrounded by a thicket of tall strange brown and green plants Grirryrth described as “trees.” Since meeting the delectable Sherri, the dragon had developed an unusual curiosity about all things Earth. Grirryrth promised to give him pertinent information about the landscape of the foreign planet from time to time as he gained knowledge.
Enough. Time to concentrate on the female who walked in front of him. Speaking of delectable… He admired her spunk and intelligence, wrapped up in a feminine package he’d have to be dead not to notice. He gave an involuntary grunt. When he spied her in those Earth garments, all higher cognitive functions disappeared. He’d reverted to a primitive male ready to claim his female.
Caught up in the way her tight ass swayed in that short covering, he almost stumbled. The back of the soft material of her top stretched across her shoulders and emphasized her supple muscles with each movement. Ki blinked as an image of that shirt draping over full breasts had his fingers itching to caress and delve into the softness underneath
. He would love to pull her back against his chest and reach under and push those beauties up to create a deep valley. Once her nipples became puckered and solid, he’d turn her around and dive between those mounds to explore fragrant skin with eager lips.
But it was those ridiculous things on her feet that caused him to swell to the point of pain. His arousal was swift, wild, and hard enough to punch through the impenetrable suit of his Crart ancestors. He’d wrap those long legs with the spike heels around his waist and thrust into her tight, wet sheath. Ki’s breath caught. By the father of all, he was no better than an eztli bull in rut. It took conscious effort to step back. With a clenched jaw, he went into protective mode and scanned the surrounding area with an expanded sense of smell. Nothing to note except the normal scents of nature polluted on an industrial planet.
Elemi had promised them a transport nearby, something called an SUV? It should be two measures to the left. Ki passed Sherri. “Do you know where to go to meet this leader of yours?”
A sharp yelp of laughter came out of her full lips. “Are you asking me to take you to my leader?”
Why was that funny? An image of Grirryrth shrugging his massive shoulders. The dragon didn’t understand why she laughed either.
With a wide smile, she wiped a small tear from her left eye. “Anyway, we—I mean, you—can’t appear at the UN and not cause a panic.”
Sherri’s exotic brown eyes caressed him, lingering on his chest, which puffed out in pride under her appreciative glance.
“You don’t exactly blend in, you know.” She stopped with her hands on her hips while she tapped a foot.
Ah, he loved watching her face flush a darker shade of pink that highlighted those exceptional brown eyes. Before he told her how he would get around his appearance, a loud clack echoed in the air followed by several repeating sounds.
Sherri flinched, her gaze darting about the landscape.
