Conell would spend countless hours watching her from afar, memorizing every curve of her heart-shaped face and every fleck of color sprinkled through her hazel eyes. Brad, a long-time friend and the commander of the vessel, often teased him about laws being in place to prevent men from following women around but Conell couldn’t help himself.
“How did Mom and Dad find her?”
Darrin shut the hatch to his Star Union vessel. “They didn’t. Her father found them. He said his daughter was plagued by reoccurring dreams and that she talked in her sleep. He also mentioned she had no memory of them upon waking. They brought in a sleep expert and they hooked her up to a viewing machine.”
Conell had heard of the technique. It allowed people to see what the person dreaming was seeing. “And?”
Darrin grinned. “And apparently, she was dreaming of your sorry self. You know—” Darrin winked, “—home, hubby, two kids. The works. I guess when they spotted your University nametag, they hunted you down. Our parents decided the best way to ensure you’d meet with her would be to simply drop her off on your doorstep with the news she was to be your wife.”
Conell tried to soak in all the information. “And you were who they selected to be her escort?”
“No, when I heard about what was going on, I volunteered to stop—it was halfway between her and you, and pick her up. None of us knew the Vanos had invaded the station. We walked into a trap. I walked out.” He pointed in the direction Kiwi had left in. “She didn’t.”
He was quiet for a moment. “Darrin, you’ve had three years to tell me about her. Why didn’t you?”
His brother looked at him as if he were mad. “What the hell good would come of me telling you I not only met your future wife, your lifemate, but that I wasn’t able to save her?”
“Kiwi doesn’t know we’re brothers. Can we keep it that way for a while?” Conell stared off in the distance, his mind racing with the knowledge he’d been presented with.
“We can, but will Aeron and Brad?”
Conell thought about how much his friends wanted him happy and how much Aeron had pushed him to make a move with Kiwi. He smiled. “They will. Now, tell me more about Kisenia Wise. I want to know everything, Darrin.”
“Some of it isn’t pretty, Conell. I think that part should come from her. Not me.”
He didn’t argue with his brother. Instead, he pulled a crate up and took a seat, preparing himself for a talk long overdue.
Chapter Four
Kiwi stood, uneasy, staring around the planetside restaurant. When Aeron had all but insisted they head there to celebrate Darrin’s arrival, Kiwi wanted to hide away in her cabin. Aeron, the proud new mother of a beautiful two-month-old son, had a horrible case of cabin fever. Unable to deny her friend, Kiwi had agreed. When Aeron pulled out an evening gown with the intent of forcing Kiwi into it, Kiwi tried to renege. Unfortunately, it didn’t work.
She glanced towards her blonde friend, who was currently on the arm of her husband. Aeron gave her a wide smile. “You look amazing, Kiwi.”
Brad kissed the top of his wife’s head. “I have to hand it to you, Aeron, I wasn’t entirely sure Kiwi was a girl under all that grease.”
“Ha, ha,” Kiwi mused. “Don’t make me punch you in the gut again, pretty boy.”
“Pretty boy?” Brad’s jaw dropped. “I have never been…”
Aeron patted his arm and laughed. “Honey, it’s almost too easy for her to push your buttons.”
“Shouldn’t she be off in a corner, fidgeting and demanding to get back into her stained work pants?” Brad grinned over the top of his wife’s head.
Kiwi stuck her tongue out at him. It was childish but when he returned the movement, she realized he was a big kid too.
Brad laughed. “You know, you remind me of me at times, Kiwi.”
“Great,” Aeron huffed. “I don’t think I can handle two of you.”
A strong, warm arm slid around her waist. “Oh, the two of you are so very mature.”
Kiwi sucked in a deep breath. Aeron had told her Conell couldn’t make it down, that he had a meeting planned with several of the other scientists. As she looked to her side to find him standing there, dressed for the occasion, she couldn’t think. Couldn’t speak. She’d always known he was the type who would flourish in a setting such as this one but in no way could she have been prepared for just how handsome he truly was.
Conell bent down and pressed his mouth to her ear. “Show him your combat boots, delicatica. That’ll teach him.”
A tiny giggle erupted from her. “I can’t.” She lifted the gown, revealing a pair of clear heels. “Aeron confiscated them and left these in their place.”
Conell’s laughter bubbled around her. She’d thought he might behave strangely around her, having heard the truth of her past but he seemed to be himself. He pulled her closer to him. “Mmm, let’s have them get the table. Come on.”
He didn’t allow her to protest as he led her out and onto the dance floor. He was dancing gracefully with her before she could so much as blink and, truth be told, it felt wonderful. Kiwi missed little things like this. Things that made her feel feminine, sexy and desired but most of all, safe.
Conell led masterfully, as if he were a seasoned pro. He twirled her in a circle before yanking her against his body. The feel of him pressed so close to her left her panting and positive the temperature in the room had skyrocketed. She put her cheek to his chest and closed her eyes, imagining what it would have been like to meet Conell before her attack. He was exactly the type of man she’d have fallen for. Hell, she had fallen for him.
He increased their pace, taking the dance, based loosely from original Earth waltzing mixed with an old dance from the Eros region to a new level. Kiwi held firm to him and matched him step for step, laughing as Conell twirled her in a circle.
When the music stopped, she went to her tiptoes, tugged on him for him to bend down and planted a kiss on his cheek. “Thank you, Conell.”
“No.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “Thank you, Kiwi.”
She blushed, the look in his eyes reminding her of the night she’d surrendered her body to him.
He touched her cheek and bent, putting his mouth to her ear. “I want to be in you again. You have no idea how badly.”
“Oh…” she fanned her face, “…I think I know.”
He grinned, eyeing up a back hall. He lifted a brow in question.
Kiwi bit her lower lip. “Conell, they’ll be waiting for us to join them at the table.”
He kissed her cheek. “I like hearing my name on your lips, Kisenia.”
She wanted to chastise him for saying her real name in public but instead she went to her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his. He didn’t seem to care that they were in the middle of an upscale restaurant. He devoured her mouth and she let him.
He drew back a bit. “If you didn’t have the history you do, would you leave with Darrin to meet the man your parents wanted you to marry?”
She paused, surprised he’d taken the conversation there. “But I do have the history I do.” She ran a finger over his lower lip. “And it’s not fair to ask me that when I’m standing here with you.”
“Why?” he asked, the look on his face saying he already knew the answer.
“No reason.”
He pulled her closer. “Answer me. I need to hear how you feel about me.”
She gave him a longing look. “Isn’t it a little early to make any sort of declaration of feelings?”
She already knew how she felt about him, she just didn’t want to risk her heart by telling him the truth. What if he rejected her? Worse yet, what if he didn’t? He’d demand to know the intimate details of her time as a Vanos prisoner. She could never tell him about it. He wouldn’t be able to look her in the eyes ever again. She already knew she had to confide in someone about Ajos and the threat he represented. That person couldn’t be Conell. Telling him would mean he’d find out the ugly truth.
The slight up-curve of his lips told her he did.
He bent, kissing her gently. “That’s all I needed to know, Kisenia.”
Ajos watched as his woman danced with the other man—one Dr. Conell Ballou. He’d had his men digging for information about the man since he’d last seen him with Kisenia. He’d learned the man was on a watch list of his government and considered a viable threat to the Vanos as a whole. He also learned that, for a brief time, he’d held the doctor’s brother in his grasp. If all went as planned, he’d have not only the good doctor but his brother again. The mass escapes were an embarrassment. A mar on his record. To retrieve them all again and to bring in an enemy of his people would leave his higher-ups in awe of his talents as a commanding officer.
Deep in thought, Ajos reflected upon the time when he’d had Kisenia all to himself to do with what he may—the days of breaking her spirit down, of watching her beg for her life and for that of the others held with her, of feeling her squirm beneath him, her soft body conforming to him, accepting him even though the fire of hate burned in her eyes. He longed for the return of the fight. The sheer pleasure of inflicting pain she shouldn’t have been able to bear, only to find she could accept it and so very much more. Never had a female he’d taken prisoner given him so much fulfillment, so much joy. She was the ultimate game to play with. One he never tired of and who needed to be taught the lesson of a lifetime.
Soon. She’ll be mine again and she will answer for leaving me…for betraying me with him.
His cock hardened at the sight of Kisenia there, picking at her food, the fork sliding over her lips. Lips he knew well. Lips he would soon know again.
She glanced in his direction for the briefest of moments but looked away, not seeing him.
Ajos tapped his communicator lightly, gaining the attention of his men. “On my signal, move in and secure the female. I want the male she’s with taken alive. He will pay for daring to touch what’s mine and in the end, he’ll know who she truly belongs to.”
She sat, poking at the dish before her, knowing she should at least make an attempt at eating and appearing civil. Conell had gone out of his way to make this evening special. She couldn’t shake the cloud of dread hanging over her. This was all too good, too perfect. Nothing in her life in the last three years was this way. Something tragic always followed. Seeing Ajos only one quadrant over still ate at her gut. One quadrant was hardly enough space between him and her. He was a madman and if he held true to form, he’d be hunting her right now.
She glanced around, hating the way the windows in the restaurant reflected everything back at her. He could be there, lurking, watching, waiting for the right moment to strike. He’d go for Conell if Ajos knew what Conell meant to her.
She looked towards Aeron and Brad and noticed the way they watched one another. Brad hung on her every word, her every movement. Their newborn son was beautiful and healthy and their love for one another grew each day. A piece of Kiwi wished she had what they did—some sort of normalcy in the chaos.
The waiter came around, carrying a tray of drinks, special to the restaurant. The man scanned each person prior to handing them a drink. Kiwi had seen the act done before in regard to drinks not native to humanoids. By using a handheld scanning device, the establishment could determine who could and who could not tolerate the beverage. The advent of such technology and processes certainly did cut down on the number of eating-related deaths.
The waiter approached their table and scanned Brad. Nodding, he offered a drink to Brad before moving to Aeron. He paused and she blushed. “Yes, I’m lactating. And no, I don’t want a drink. Thank you though.”
Brad and Conell chuckled. Kiwi looked sympathetically at her friend.
Aeron winked. “Have one for me, Kiwi.”
The waiter gave Conell his and then scanned Kiwi. He stopped and bent his head, saying something in a language she didn’t recognize. Since Brad and Conell were both fitted with translators, they understood him. Whatever he said made Brad’s eyes widen and Conell turn and grab her to him.
Aeron nudged her husband. “What? I’m not fluent in his language. What did he say and why does Conell look like he might pass out or drag her out of here? Hmm, maybe both.”
Kiwi looked to the waiter and then to Conell. “Ballou?”
He grabbed the drink that should have been hers and drank it in one giant gulp. Brad smacked his hand on the table and let out a rather long line of curses, spanning every language Kiwi knew plus some. “Aeron tried to tell me there was something there between the two of you. I told her she was reading too much into it.” His voice hardened. “I was wrong.”
Lost, Kiwi glanced at Aeron who appeared as clueless as she was.
Brad narrowed his gaze on Conell. “It better be you that’s the…”
“It is,” Conell answered flatly.
“And you better not have hurt her in any way. If you so much as—”
Conell pivoted in his seat. “Hurt her? Don’t be a takjon, Fairbanks! There is no way in hell I’d ever hurt her.”
“You’re twice her size and I’ve seen the way she turns down your advances.”
Kiwi pieced together at least a portion of what they were talking about and pushed back in her seat. “Whoa. Hold on a minute here. We—” she pointed from herself to Brad, “—are not discussing my personal life or Conell’s.”
“Oh, he’s Conell to you now?” Brad set his drink down and ignored Aeron as she tried to calm him. “How many times have I walked past you, hearing you mumble about him being a cocky jerk?”
Conell stood slowly, looking lethal. “Tell me, Fairbanks, what the hell business is this of yours? You have a wife. Stop obsessing over mine.”
Kiwi bumped the table so hard with her rebuilt arm that she made her plate flip over. She stared up at Conell. “W-wife? I’m not your…”
He pointed at her. “Quiet. This is between Fairbanks and me.”
Her jaw dropped. She stood, pushing past him, making sure to give an extra shove as she went. He tripped but didn’t fall.
Pity.
Seething mad and thoroughly confused, Kiwi stormed towards the restrooms. She rounded the corner, making her way down the long corridor. Conell was suddenly there, spinning her around and pinning her to the wall. Kiwi opened her mouth to yell but he pressed his hand over her lips.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to order you around and act that way. I’m just…I’m absorbing, that’s all.”
“Absorbing what?” she asked, not following.
His gaze slid down the length of her and a slow smile moved over his face. “Kisenia, would you… Could you at least think about… What I mean to say is…oh, hell.”
He kissed her so thoroughly that her toes curled. She found herself being lifted off the floor and carried down the hall. Conell kicked the button to open a side door and then carried her through it. Kiwi stopped kissing him back long enough to notice they were in a storage room of sorts.
“Ballou?”
Grinning mischievously, he pressed her to the wall and returned to caressing her tongue with his. He wasn’t gentle about it and she didn’t want him to be. He lifted her gown, pulling on it as she continued swirling her tongue around his. Kiwi ran her hands through his hair, tugging on it, wanting him even closer.
Moisture pooled between her legs and she smiled against his mouth, remembering what it was like to have his cock there, moving in and out of her. She wanted everything he’d willingly give her.
The higher he lifted her gown, the damper she became. His fingers found her slit and she moaned as he eased her panties aside and entered her. He
felt around, deep within her, making her body spring with need. She savagely searched his mouth with her tongue. He pulled his drenched fingers from her core and brought them to his lips. The look of ecstasy in his green eyes encouraged her, making her bold.
Kiwi purred and rubbed against him. “More.”
The door to the storage room opened and Conell yanked her gown down, covering any signs of what they’d been doing.
Brad appeared, followed closely by Aeron who looked helpless. She stared at Conell. “Can we please go back to the ship?”
Brad glared at Conell before turning that same look upon Kiwi. “Get up to that ship, young lady. And don’t even think of coming out of your quarters.”
Aeron smacked his arm. “Brad! You’re acting like you’re her father. What’s going on? I know damn well you’re nowhere near old enough to be and I, for one, know exactly where you’ve been since you were a teenager.”
Brad exhaled slowly just as Conell moved Kiwi behind him in a protective manner.
“I don’t know what’s wrong with me. When I heard that waiter’s reason for refusing her the drink, all I could think about was locking her away from men and killing the guy who did that to her.” He stared at Conell. “Ballou, we’ve had our differences but we’ve known each other a long damn time. You’re a good guy. I know that. It’s just…something’s making me a little overprotective of her. I can’t explain it.”
Kiwi grabbed Conell’s hand with her reconditioned one and squeezed. He yelped and tried to pry her fingers free of his. “K-Kiwi.”
“What’s wrong? Why didn’t I get the drink?” She yanked on Conell’s hand.
The sounds of someone shouting came from the outer corridor. Brad and Conell ran out to see what it was, leaving Kiwi and Aeron in the storage room. Aeron offered a loving smile. “Conell is a fabulous guy.”
Droid Wars II: Magnetic Attraction Page 5
