Flames of Arousal

by Kerce, Ruth D.

Earlier, he’d checked the quarters and disengaged all the surveillance equipment he’d found. But if he’d missed anything, Frost could still be tracking them with some sort of monitoring device. If that device included video, hand signals to relate sensitive information would not be wise. Certain high-level Agents, if present on the moon and working for Frost, would be able to interpret the gestures. Any signs he used would need to be for simple communication only, and have nothing to do with the real reason he was here.

  Another concern hit him. If they were still being watched or listened to somehow and he didn’t fuck Halah, he’d look damn suspicious. He eyed her closely, wondering what his chances with her might be. He should have thought this through better. But he hadn’t anticipated her becoming his sex slave. He wouldn’t force his body on her.

  From the wary looks she kept giving him, he doubted she’d be ripping off her clothes and screaming, “Take me!” any time soon. So now, he faced a dilemma. More than one, actually.

  In frustration, he raked his fingers through his hair. Ugh! Still gritty with sand.

  How did the prisoners and security forces aboveground manage from day to day on this hellhole? His palms grazed his cheeks. At the feel of the still-present stubble on his face, he frowned. He was definitely a mess, through and through. And not used to feeling that way.

  A sharp cry drew his attention. Halah had flipped on one of the picturescapes, and a bird flew across the landscape.

  Kam watched her as she stood off to the side, unsure of what to do other than watch the bird, from what he could sense. A symbol of freedom for her? They both had definitely gotten pulled into a situation they’d rather not be in. Maybe he could fix things for himself, Halah, and Xylon.

  He took note of the time. Still too early to check in with Laszlo. The satellite had to be in the proper position before his special communication device would work.

  When she thought he wasn’t looking, a vulnerable look entered Halah’s eyes.

  Damn, he wanted her. The need hit him hard. He couldn’t get the vision of fucking her out of his head.

  He’d have to seduce her, if possible, for the good of the mission. For the good of his own needs, so he could again think clearly. Did that make him a bastard? Maybe.

  A loneliness he felt too often tugged at his heart. Ideas of family and a future filled his mind. Stupid thoughts to have here and now, he supposed. But one couldn’t always control such things.

  He’d pictured himself mated with some sweet woman who would love him and raise his children. He’d protect and provide for them and have a happy life. So why were thoughts of Halah constantly plaguing him? And more so than her just being some woman he wanted to fuck.

  She was a trained fighter. Nobody would ever label her as “sweet”. She certainly didn’t need him to protect her. She didn’t need him period. He didn’t even know if she was a Breeder. Although many Xylons, especially their women, were sterile, generally all Warriors were Breeders. But with Warriors who weren’t full Xylon, as they were, sometimes their combined genetics rendered them infertile. So many possible problems existed for two people such as themselves. No matter the visions he’d had of her, of them, they might never realistically be able to function as a mated couple.

  But if they could overcome their problems…

  A smile tugged at his lips. She was definitely tougher and savvier than most Warriors, male or female. They’d lived their lives by completely different philosophies.

  Still did and probably always would. But so what? He respected her abilities, admired her dedication to those she cared for, was definitely attracted to her physical assets.

  And he’d always loved a challenge.

  Damn, I’ m living in fantasyland here.

  With a grunt of frustration, he pointed to a chair. Halah needed clothes. The pelts hanging off her looked ready to fall apart.

  Pelts… Until just now, he hadn’t made the connection. She wore the same outfit here as in the dream—in the visions—while aboard his orbiter. Not a likely coincidence.

  He swallowed past the lump in his throat. His breeder-mate… Damn.

  Halah needed a shower and she needed food. She had always been thin and fit, but she looked downright skinny right now.

  After she sat, he signed to her, asking when she’d last eaten a proper meal.

  She shrugged.

  Feeling anger, which probably showed on his face—not that he cared, nor did he try to hide the volatile emotion from her—he walked over to the food section and grabbed some bread and fruit. Slave or not, she should have been fed appropriately. He set a tray in front of her and signed for her to eat. She hesitated, but only for a moment, before attacking the food.

  Even as grungy as she looked, he had to appreciate the view. Long legs, flat stomach, full firm breasts that his fingers itched to fondle again. Liquid from the fruit clung to her full lips. He ached to lick it off.

  She glanced up at him, and her look struck him hard. Full of emotion and secrets.

  And questions. So why didn’t she ask them? She doesn’ t trust me. He knew the truth, without even confirming it on his sensor. And that truth caused him to ache deep inside, for her big brown eyes made him want to take care of her.

  He shook his head. Damn his emotions. That’s probably what had gotten him into trouble the last time. Most of the information she’d helped him steal on Marid had turned out to be fake. A setup. He wondered if she was aware of that, if she had planned it or been in on the deception, at least.

  Should he trust her now? Or would that be his very biggest mistake? He glanced at his wrist sensor and read mixed feelings coming from her. Well, he had to trust her to a point, he supposed. He needed her weapons expertise to complete this mission. He needed…too damn much.

  As confusion rolled through him, he rubbed his temples. It was the pain. He couldn’t think clearly. Where was that medicine they’d promised him? Kam sighed, feeling completely wiped out. With effort, he tried to push his discomfort aside. It had been a stressful day, and he was still weak from the surgery, making him feel…off balance. Hell, since Laszlo had contacted him, told him things he’d rather not have known, his entire existence had felt off balance.

  After Halah finished eating, he grabbed some clean clothes for both of them from a box beside the bed, hoping they’d fit well enough. He approached her while she still sat in the overstuffed chair, her knees now bent to her chest, revealing a tantalizing peek of her pussy—unrealized by her, he was certain. He wrapped his fingers around her wrist and pulled her to her feet.

  She didn’t resist him. Not surprising. If she were smart, she’d realize that she was far better off with him than some other Agent.

  Other Agent? The thought stopped him in his tracks. Damn it, he was not an Agent.

  He gave himself a mental shake. He hadn’t turned.

  He pulled her into the bathing room and with his foot, slammed the non-electronic door closed. After tossing the clean clothes on the counter, he released her and reached into the shower to turn on the water, adjusting the temperature before pulling back.

  Real water—a luxury on the Sand Moon. Synthetic moisture, in the form of a fog or some other specially-treated type of humidified air, was used in most places with a short supply of water. This underground facility seemed to have plenty of the real thing.

  The Lair provided some water for the moon, brought in by special transports. But the Dome must be providing a large amount, also. And as often happened, those in power enjoyed most of the comforts, while the rest suffered with whatever they could scrounge up. Not that those banished to the Sand Moon were supposed to be comfortable. Still, he felt for those who suffered.

  Regardless of anyone else’s access to water, which he couldn’t do anything about even if he wanted, the shower should reinvigorate them both and hopefully clear his mind. He couldn’t afford distractions or muddled thinking right now. Watching Halah closely, he reached for th
e fastenings of his uniform.

  Halah’s pulse leapt. What was Kam doing? He’d brought clothes for the both of them into the bathing room. Certainly, he didn’t expect them to shower together.

  At that thought, she almost laughed. Of course he expected them to shower together. She had to stop thinking of him as a Warrior. He was no longer bound by Warrior code. Agents had no code.

  Even if they didn’t shower at the same time, he wouldn’t let this opportunity pass, she was certain. She wouldn’t be surprised if he watched her bathe, then fucked her well and good until he was sated.

  A plan started to form in her mind. It wasn’t like she could stop him, if he was truly determined to fuck her. Not with the collar on. Not only had her electrical powers waned, her physical strength wasn’t at full force. So she might as well turn the inevitable to her advantage.

  Freedom was her first priority. He’d gotten her out of the cage, which was what she’d wanted. Now she planned to escape as soon as the situation arose.

  She needed to get this collar off, and then find Josella. On her own terms. Not his.

  Not anyone’s. Unless she gained and maintained the upper hand, she’d always remain vulnerable to manipulation.

  As he undressed, her eyes riveted to his broad chest. He’d peeled the top part of the uniform from his body, and he looked more muscular than she’d expected. She’d seen his bare chest before on Marid, and been impressed, but she didn’t remember his muscles being as well-defined as they looked now. He must have gone through additional training since their last encounter. He might have been on track for a Class 1

  promotion.

  His uniform dropped from his body. She gasped before she could stop herself.

  She’d seen plenty of naked men. But Kam was perfectly formed, perfectly proportioned.

  Strong, well-defined muscles everywhere, but not overly muscle-bound. Even his cock, limp at the moment against a thatch of dark blond hair, fit his body. She’d never quite thought a man’s cock appealing in looks—just useful when hard. Until now. So long, thick, slightly reddish, and smooth-looking. Incredibly appealing.

  She couldn’t help but wonder how he’d look hard and ready to fuck. She’d seen him hard plenty of times in her visions, but those hadn’t been real. As the thought entered her head, his cock stirred, began to rise, grow, lengthen, and deepen in color to a dark red before her eyes.

  Her gaze snapped up to his, locking with a purely-male, ultra-intense stare that reflected his growing lust. The dusting of whiskers on his face made him look so dangerous and sexy. Her pussy grew moist, and it took all her strength not to sway toward him.

  A smile tugged at his lips.

  Her heart began to pound and she felt a blush heat her face. Not again. “I’m not staring. You just surprised me. That’s all.” She refused to look down, though she desperately wanted to. “If you’re going to beat me, or rape me, or even kill me, get it over with. I’m not very much fun to torture and a lousy fuck, so don’t expect a good time. You won’t get it.” All right, not the perfect way to get him on her side, or lower his defenses, but the words just kind of spilled out of her.

  As she continued looking into Kam’s disturbing blue eyes, trying to figure out his intent, she had a feeling he possessed a lot more depth than he let most people see.

  What he decided to do next would tell her more about the man than anything else.

  Her words sounded tough, but she was quite nervous, sexually and otherwise. Kam sensed that very strongly. He’d bet his ass that Halah was wrong about everything she’d just said. In fact, he’d bet she was one extra hot fuck. Maybe he should find out how hot right now, the hell with the shower.

  He circled behind her. He could feel her holding her breath. That meant he affected her, at least on some level. He eased the tattered top from her shoulders.

  She turned on him. “You don’t want to hurt me.” She tugged the top back into place, covering her breasts from his gaze. “I know you don’t.” She stepped away, putting some distance between them.

  Skittish. Interesting. Not her normal attitude. Leaning back against the bathroom door, he crossed his arms. He glanced at his sensor. Ah… She was trying to play him.

  Trying anything to put him off balance. Gain an advantage. Not a bad tactic.

  He touched the patch on his throat. The soreness was slowly fading. He should be able to speak without pain soon. Things would be much easier then. He pointed to her clothing and made a ripping gesture to let her know he wanted them gone.

  “What if I don’t want to?”

  He could see her mind continuing to work, trying to figure him out, and figure out how to best manipulate him for her own purposes. He cocked an eyebrow, but didn’t try to speak or sign anything else.

  “All right. Fine.”

  Fine? Just like that? What was she up to now? She slowly peeled down the straps of her pelt. When a barely-there grin appeared on her lips, his heart rate kicked up. Oh, yes. She was in pure manipulation mode. He wondered just how far she’d go…how far she’d let him go.

  The top pelt fell from her breasts and slid down to her waist. Her tits, just as full and round as he remembered, kept his attention. Her rosy nipples stood proud, practically begging to be sucked. She shimmied, but he barely noticed the top drift down her body to the floor. His eyes were glued to her bouncing breasts.

  Only when her hands glided down her ribs, did his gaze follow. Her narrow waist gave her a more delicate look than he’d expected. She pushed the bottom pelt off her hips, letting it drop to her ankles. Her pussy, covered in dark hair, made him groan and want to delve inside to discover all her sexual secrets.

  Although each inch of bared skin made him ache to move closer, he held his ground. When she stood before him, now both of them fully naked, he realized that his cock was still working and didn’t hurt anymore—at least not the same kind of hurt. He had begun to harden earlier when she was staring at him, but now he grew fully erect and ready for action.

  Damn, he ached to fuck this woman.

  “How about we negotiate a deal?” she practically purred, giving him a look of pure sin.

  A smile tugged at his lips. Oh, she was good. But she needed to know who was in charge here. No room for deals or compromise existed. He signed to her— no deals.

  When the seductive look dropped from her face, his fingers curled around her arm, and he pulled her into the shower with him.

  His sensor was waterproof, so he left it on. He might need it to help read her. She squeezed into the far corner, not looking happy. Too bad. He let the warm water rush over his body. It felt good, soothing. He reached out and pulled her under the spray.

  “Ack! You’re drowning me.”

  His hands glided down her slick, nude body, as he positioned himself behind her, but not such that she’d think he was going to enter her. He wanted her to trust him. Not deal for favors. And not just because he needed her help. Her skin felt so smooth, soft and warm. His cock hardened even more.

  “I can wash myself,” she told him in a tight, no-nonsense voice.

  Yes. But this was more fun. He lathered his hands with body cleanser and slowly stroked the sides of her breasts, her stomach, her hips, between her legs.

  She stiffened.

  He hadn’t touched her nipples and didn’t penetrate her pussy, because he knew that’s what she expected. He glided his hands slowly along the inside of her thighs, across her ass, up her back. Then he repeated the entire cycle.

  Touching her, but not really touching her, was pure torture. He leaned closer, taking in her natural scent. Oh, how he’d love to lick every inch of her.

  Halah trembled at Kam’s touch—not from fear, but with need. And frustration. She couldn’t figure out this man. He was being too nice, for the most part. Most Agents would have fucked her by now and tossed her aside. She didn’t know what to think, unless he hadn’t really turned. She glanced over her shoulder in
to his eyes. Was it possible he was still loyal to Xylon? Certainly he wouldn’t have been allowed a sex slave without undergoing a re-initiation.

  She’d been allowed slaves on Marid. But that privilege was in exchange for Warrior information and as payment for certain jobs she’d done for Daegal in the past. Kam couldn’t have been on the moon long enough to earn such a privilege, even if he had provided some data to Frost. He was a Class 2, so he didn’t know Class 1 security data.

  Nor did he hold a command ranking with all its knowledge. He had to have been put through the Rite of the Dome. So why was he acting so out of character for an Agent?

  His cock was hard and ready, so it wasn’t as if he couldn’t. He was definitely turned on. Unfortunately, so was she. His gentle touch wasn’t something she was used to. Her body seemed to ache for it, despite what her mind was telling her. Probably just her previous visions playing havoc with her good sense. If she hadn’t fantasized about Kam, hadn’t experienced the dreams, she wouldn’t want him so much—physically. He had no effect on her emotionally. At least none that she was willing to admit.

  She turned in his arms. “I give up. What do you want from me?” Besides sex. Why she thought he had another agenda, she wasn’t certain. But she did. Since she didn’t know what tactic to use with him to gain the advantage she needed, she decided to try honesty, for the most part.

  His eyes looked right into the deepest part of who she was. He didn’t answer her question though. He simply caressed her cheek, then brushed his thumb across her lips.

  She sucked in a breath. He seemed to know exactly how to touch her, to look at her, to make her go weak in the knees. Or maybe it had just been so long since she’d experienced a tender touch, or even sex, that she was ultra-sensitive to everything he did. “Is this a game to you, Kam? Seduce me into being a willing sex slave and gain points for the effort. Do you and Rave have a bet going or something?” Maybe if she goaded him, she’d get her answers. A picture of him and Rave laughing together played through her mind. She cringed at the image.