Flames of Arousal

by Kerce, Ruth D.

  He nodded. The promise of power was seductive and too tempting to resist. “This power does not require a certain genetic code?”

  “A simple implant only. In the back of your throat. Using specific pitches in your voice, you’ll be able to control sound waves—to soothe or to destroy. It’s still experimental, but shows high promise.”

  Experimental? And an implant. “I wasn’t told the power was experimental.”

  She shrugged. “The choice is yours. Do you wish to proceed?”

  Technical powers could be sabotaged, defeated, controlled from the outside. Still, the lure remained strong. Finally, he nodded. He needed to appear cooperative.

  “We have Healers standing by. After you’re re-initiated to serve us, the implant will be surgically placed. You will, of course, provide us with the information we require before the implant is placed.”

  “Of course. That was the agreement.”

  The woman stepped out of the shadows. Long black hair, tied and pulled away from her face, hung down to her waist. Her pale skin looked as smooth as Mesci stone.

  Striking blue eyes, filled with intelligence, pierced him. Though many years since he’d last seen her, she still was one of the most beautiful women he’d ever known. “Frost.”

  Inwardly, he cringed, as soon as the name passed his lips. That wasn’t her true name, just the nickname Torque had bestowed upon her years ago, given her personality.

  “Don’t worry, Kam. I’ve embraced the title. The image that name invokes has served me well, especially with my enemies. I’ve been using Frost since I started working for my…my new leader, Daegal.”

  She’d been about to say, “since I started working for myself,” before she’d caught herself. He was almost certain of it. He knew Daegal was in control here, but he wouldn’t be surprise to learn that Frost also had her own agenda. A gleam of evil shone in the woman’s eyes, so evil that he actually felt sorry for her. Well, almost. He’d need to be extra careful around her.

  “Hand your weapon over to me, Kam.”

  “Weapon?”

  “Please don’t insult me. You’ll never get through my security system with a firearm in tow. I’m sure the weapon carries a Xylon marker.”

  Yes. Of course. She was right. Knowing it useless to protest, he pulled out his disruptor and handed the weapon to her, butt first.

  “Is the re-initiation process difficult?” he asked, as she pulled the weapon’s power-pack from the chamber. He’d participated in a re-initiation before, though on Xylon, and he wasn’t the one being initiated at the time, but a female. The rite, sexual in nature as most of their ceremonies, played out differently for male initiates than females. The sexual fever that followed, however, was the same.

  The Dome’s ceremonies weren’t well documented, so he wasn’t certain what to expect. Would he lose his sanity? He was so far gone already that he wouldn’t be surprised, though he’d taken protective steps.

  She placed a hand on his arm. “There is no need to worry. Our Initiation Ceremony is very similar to the Rite of the Lair.”

  He nodded, knowing that was far from the truth. Her eyes revealed the lie.

  Regardless, he knew his path. “Very well then. I’m ready.” He intended to do what had to be done.

  “Are you? Let’s see how ready you actually are.” Deliberately, her hand slid from his arm, across his chest, inside his unbuttoned coat, and down to his cock. He stiffened, literally, and was careful not to move. This was an unexpected turn.

  “Hmm. Not bad at all.” She smiled up at him. “I hear those skilled in reading Sensor Screens give the best sex, and orgasms so strong that their partners have been known to pass out.” She undid the front of his uniform. “Is that true?”

  “Yes.” The fact was well-known. Even if it hadn’t been, he wouldn’t have denied such a talent. As a Sensor Reader, he knew what she was feeling and could use those feelings to his advantage. The ability to read a person’s feelings, and even intent, was a talent that made skilled Sensor Readers excellent lovers, if they chose to use the readings to enhance the pleasure given to their partners. Apparently, she wanted a sample.

  Her fingers curled around his semi-hard cock, and she lifted her lips to his.

  “Perhaps I could entice you to give me a demonstration.” She kissed him, easing her tongue into his mouth.

  He touched her tongue with his and kissed her back, pushing against her soft hand as he became fully erect. Staying on Frost’s good side was to his advantage.

  With an easy touch, his fingers skimmed her breast through the silky blue garment she wore. He sensed her excitement—he didn’t need to check his wrist sensor for that—

  but he also sensed her feelings that he was an easy mark. He needed to change strategy.

  Better for him to keep her interest level high.

  He pulled back. “You want a demonstration?” A chuckle rumbled up from low in his throat. “How about you get on your knees and demonstrate what you can do for me?” With his thumb, he grazed her bottom lip. “Lick my balls, Frost. Suck my cock all the way down and swallow my cum. If you’re good and make me come hard, then I’ll decide if I should give you a taste of what a Sensor Reader can do.”

  A look of shock crossed her face, but she immediately squelched it. He almost laughed at her reaction. He knew she’d never drop to her knees in front of him. That would be too submissive for her, unless the idea had been hers to begin with. But the sexual power struggle should appeal to her, given what he knew.

  Her eyes narrowed, and she uncurled her fingers, releasing his shaft. “Bastard,” she whispered, her voice strained. “For someone seeking power and medication, you’re out of line. I make the rules here.”

  “Really? And I thought Daegal did.” She had spoken angrily, but his sensor picked up her rising excitement at the challenge. Still, he reached down and refastened the front of his uniform, knowing for now their encounter was over.

  “Be careful, Kam.” Her voice hardened. “I do enjoy a good chase, as I’m sure you remember from our past and have read on your little machine there. But if you push me too far, you’ll find my wrath quite formidable.”

  Yes. He remembered her manipulation of Braden, then Torque. Using her body and intelligence to turn the men against each other, for her own selfish purposes. Because of her, the two brothers’ relationship had suffered for a long time. Frost was good at destroying relationships.

  She turned and stepped away from him, but then abruptly turned back. “Next time I ask for a fuck, Kam, your only response better be, how hard? Or instead of licking your balls, I’ll cut those balls off, and make you eat them right in front of me. Is that clear?”

  * * * * *

  Forests of Xylon

  Erik Rhodes paced the length of the small control room. Waves of frustration rolled off him, making the air tense with emotion. “This is fucking messed up! You know that?”

  Turning from a control board, Braden Koll faced his friend, feeling much the same.

  “I know. We need to be doing more.” Watching everything from a distance, sort of, made him feel useless. They were still on Xylon, but in a highly-secure underground chamber, deep inside the forest.

  “We should be down in the Lair, or up in our ships, fighting for and with our people. Not hiding out here, like defectors.”

  “You’re not hiding,” another male voice replied. “And you’re not defectors.”

  Erik and Braden turned toward the entry into the central hub of their new location.

  “What would you call it, Laszlo?” Erik barked. “We might as well not be Warriors.”

  Laszlo collapsed into his control chair.

  “Do you need Leila?” Braden asked.

  Laszlo raised his hand. “No. I’m fine. She needs to concentrate on Alexa. Her delivery time is approaching.”

  Soon he would be a father. Braden couldn’t be more excited…and concerned for his mate and ch
ildren. Leila promised to let him know when the time came. After Alexa had disappeared, and he couldn’t track her, he’d feared the worst. Then Laszlo had snatched him up, through his transport-connector, just as he’d done with Alexa, and reunited them here. Laszlo had taken them from the Lair to save their lives. To save the future of Xylon. So he’d said. Braden still didn’t totally understand. Laszlo gave out his secrets slowly. Only his great respect for the leader, and for his power, kept Braden from rebelling and trying to find a way to the surface and back to the Lair.

  “What is Xylon’s status?” Laszlo asked.

  “Holding,” Braden answered. “Marid ships are in the area, but haven’t attacked yet.

  Communication, personal transport, and some weapons are offline. Technical problems as you predicted, but remaining major systems are still functioning. At the moment anyway. I’ll continue to monitor.”

  “Which weapons are offline?”

  “Ground-to-space lasers only, from what I can tell.”

  “That’s temporary. They’ll kick back on as soon as Marid moves their ships closer.”

  “How do you know?” Erik asked.

  Laszlo simply cocked an eyebrow in his direction. When Erik grumbled something under his breath, Laszlo switched his gaze back to the control board screen. “Kam?”

  “On the Sand Moon,” Braden replied. “Pitch Pantera is with him.”

  “Pantera?” Laszlo asked, his eyes narrowing. “Why?”

  “I don’t know. Something must have gone wrong in the Lair when he left.”

  “Hell,” Erik interjected. “Tell me something that’s gone right. Kam probably recruited Pitch to go along. Thinking he left Josella on the Sand Moon didn’t sit well with Pitch, so he probably was quite willing to follow through with Kam on this to correct what he viewed as his failure.”

  Braden felt bad for Pitch. None of them knew at the time that Laszlo had snatched up the young woman through a transport-connector she’d handled during her recovery mission. The team simply thought she’d escaped, and they’d been unable to find her.

  “Doubtful,” Laszlo said. “It wasn’t part of the plan. Kam wouldn’t deviate, unless he had no choice.” Laszlo’s face took on a contemplative look. “Well, Pitch’s presence shouldn’t affect anything adversely, as long as Kam doesn’t tell him too much. Has Kam met with Frost yet?”

  “Unknown,” Braden answered. Frost. The nickname suited her. The fact that she’d managed to fool him, ensnare him into her sexual web all those years ago, sent such rage through him that he felt ready to explode. If Laszlo was right, if the Lair ended up destroyed, if more Warriors died, the fault would lie on his head for trusting that bitch and not securing his access code the way he’d been trained to do.

  Her patience had been phenomenal. She’d waited until Xylon was at its weakest to use the knowledge she’d gained against them. Or maybe Daegal was the one who’d waited, after acquiring what he needed. Either way, the outcome was the same. Xylon’s survival or destruction hinged on what happened in the next few days, all in response to a takeover plan put into motion years ago.

  “Halah’s location on the moon? Braden?” Laszlo prompted.

  “Um, sorry. Also unknown. What if Halah won’t help Kam?”

  “She’ll help. Her training is still strongly ingrained in her.”

  “She’s already betrayed us by serving Daegal in the past,” Erik pointed out. “And after we didn’t give her Josella’s exact location the last time, she pretty much told us to go to hell.”

  “She left Xylon,” Laszlo replied. “But she never really served Daegal. Not in her heart. Kam will convince her to side with us. She wants her sister. That’s her motivation. As long as we have Josella, we have Halah. Where is the girl, by the way?”

  “With the other ladies,” Braden answered. “She’s not happy, but cooperating.”

  * * * * *

  Sand Moon

  Even through the strange fog, Halah saw him step out of the orbiter. Yes! Kam Nextor. He was here!

  “Damn.”

  She barely made out his curse, but knew his thoughts. The heat on the Sand Moon was stifling. Sweat rolled down her body, making her feel uncomfortably sticky. A cool shower with real water would feel so refreshing right about now.

  “What the hell?” Kam looked disoriented, as he turned and walked forward into the cloud of hot fog that was quickly enveloping the area.

  “Kam?” she called out, not wanting to lose him. It would be easy to get separated from each other. And she needed his help.

  He squinted, trying to see her. “Here.”

  She stepped through the fog toward him, and saw him wipe his eyes. She strolled forward, pushing her short black hair out of her face. She hated this pelt thing she was wearing and wished for a uniform like he wore.

  “Halah?” He sounded so surprised to see her here.

  “I know everything. I will help you,” she said to him. She’d seen the orbiter land and knew he couldn’t possibly have proper clearance, otherwise he’d be accompanied by a team. No Warrior came to the Sand Moon on a mission alone. Solitary missions to any Banishment Zone went against regulations. So that meant he would need her help getting off the moon. Or at least, she’d convince him that he did, so he would agree to help her in return. “And you will help me.”

  “Yes, of course I’ll help you.”

  Her hands settled on his chest, so broad and strong. “It’s good to see you again, Kam.” Even though he’d agreed, if she added a little incentive, he definitely wouldn’t refuse her later when the decision actually counted.

  “Is it?”

  She heard the doubt in his voice. “You don’t believe me?” She rose up and pressed her mouth against his. Ah, yes. Hot and sexy. She’d wanted to do that for too long. And much more.

  His arms automatically slid around her back, and he held her close. She wanted to rip off all their clothes and feel his bare chest against her breasts, his chest hair tickling her nipples. His tongue played with hers.

  Kam had such a great tongue and knew how to use it. She pressed her pelvis against his groin, trying to entice him further and also ease the ache she’d begun to feel between her thighs. An image of his tongue, not in her mouth, but in her pussy, licking her clit wildly, about drove her over the edge. When she broke the kiss, she stepped back, breathing hard. “We need to mate.” She couldn’t be much more blunt than that.

  “Excuse me?”

  His surprise registered on his face. She knew the exact things to say to convince him, to push him over the edge. “It is destined.” She unhooked the skirt-like pelt she wore, exposing her pussy to him.

  His gaze immediately shifted to stare between her legs. She saw his eyes dilate with growing passion. His reaction caused her desire for him to increase even more.

  Her fingers tugged open his uniform. “I need you to fuck me, Kam, right now!”

  His cock hardened at her words. He grabbed her around the waist and forced her down to the sand. He pushed her thighs wide and plunged his cock hard into her pussy, more deeply than she thought possible.

  “Yes!” she screamed. Oh, his cock felt so good inside her. Long, thick, and hard as stone.

  Kam grunted and plunged into her again. And again. “Come!”

  Oh, yes, yes, yes! Her hips bucked, forcing him deeper into her cunt. She was ready.

  Ready to feel his seed fill her.

  She jerked and the fog lifted.

  Bars appeared before her eyes. Damn it. She had fallen asleep. Not wise, considering where she was. And she’d had another dream about Kam. She shook her head, dismissing the visions of him that had become too common lately. She quickly changed positions, crouching in the corner of one of three large cages filled with female sex slaves. She needed to remain ready to move in case she felt in imminent danger.

  She couldn’t believe she was even here.

  When the hatch on her ship had slid open,
somehow she’d expected Kam to step inside. He hadn’t. Rave—a Marid Pain Master, and one of her worst enemies—had entered instead. That woman may even have been the one who planted the bomb on her ship. At least, she was one of several possibilities.

  The only way Rave could have gotten aboard was if she’d acquired the Xylon codes to bypass the security hatch. A scary thought. That meant someone high up on Xylon, someone in the Lair, with access to top-secret data, had betrayed their people. Not every Warrior knew those secret codes. Only a select few, along with the Council members, were privy to the information.

  Once aboard, Rave had stunned her with an inducer before she could react. Damn that woman! Halah’s jacket shield would have protected her from a disruptor shot, but then Rave knew that, which was, no doubt, why she hadn’t used one. Halah had already cursed herself several times for being caught off guard. But at the time, she wasn’t certain if the situation were real or another damn dream.

  Shortly before the hatch opened, she’d felt dizzy and unsteady on her feet. She wondered if Rave had somehow pumped a substance into the orbiter before entering, causing the effect and slow response on her part. That made more sense to her than all of a sudden losing the skill to defend herself. She began to think more clearly as soon as they’d entered some sort of cave, where cooler air washed over her, making her feel refreshed. By then though, she’d already been shackled and collared.

  Her power pack was gone. Rave had stripped her of her jacket. So only her natural electrical abilities remained. She tugged at the hard, gray collar around her neck. No give at all. Unfortunately. The metal collar decreased her natural, electrical power to almost nothing. She’d been through this before, when captured on a Marid ship. She knew she couldn’t remove the collar by force. Only release codes would free her. If not for the collar, she might have been able to fight her way out of this prison. Her electrical capabilities, even greatly diminished, had always served her well.

  A group of Egesa loped by the cage. She pressed into the corner, making herself as small as possible, hoping they’d pass her by. She wouldn’t be able to fend them off in her current state, should they take an interest in her.