by Lori Foster
With a battle cry meant to send fear into the outsider’s bones, Valder shot away. He was long gone before anyone could even think of trying to follow him.
HEARING the roar of the same orbiter that had come to take the AFA sacrifice sent stark fear hammering through Mallet.
His first thought was of Kayli.
He jerked around toward where she’d concealed herself, but couldn’t see her at all.
His heart dropped, his knees went weak, then everything was replaced by blinding fury. “Kayli.”
“He’s gone now,” Hauk said quickly before Mallet could launch into a run. “He was only here to spy.”
His heart continued to punch. “And Kayli?”
“She’s fine, still hiding away.” Somehow the computer managed to make his voice soothing.
A deep breath helped to unclench his guts, but Mallet wasn’t about to relax. Not yet.
God almighty, nothing had ever scared him more. When he thought of someone taking her from him …
He sucked in another deep breath and tried to still the furious gallop of his heart.
Flattening a hand against a large tree for support and needing more reassurance, Mallet asked, “You’re positive she’s fine?”
“Yes. He was listening to you.”
“Yeah, I know that.” Rage tightened his fists and bunched his muscles. “Now.”
Had the bastard seen Kayli undressed? No, he couldn’t think that way or he’d explode.
As if Hauk had read his mind, he said, “He did not show up until after Kayli had hidden. But Mallet, he was here for a while, all during your chat with Mesha.”
Mallet pushed off the tree and stood there, fuming. “Damn it, Hauk. If you knew, then why the fuck didn’t you tell me before now?”
Unaffected by Mallet’s temper, Hauk said, “I deduced it safest not to.”
“You want to explain that—and fast?”
“If I had told you, you would have gone charging after him.”
Mallet lifted a fist into the air, wishing he could grab Hauk and shake him. “Damn right I would have! And I’d have caught him, too.”
“But,” Hauk pointed out, all reasonable and calm, “Kayli is the head of defense, so she would not have remained safely stashed away as you engaged in battle.”
“Oh.” Thunderstruck by that sound reasoning, Mallet shuddered. Good God, after that awful scare, the last thing he wanted to think about was Kayli engaging in a physical confrontation with some guy twisted enough to demand women as payment for not destroying their colony.
Scowling, he ran a hand across the back of his neck. “Damn.” He hated to admit it, but knew he had to. “Yeah, okay, you’re right.”
“Of course I am.”
Though it choked him, Mallet commended Hauk. “Good thinking. Thank you for keeping her out of it.”
Still concealed by shadows, Kayli’s strident voice lashed out. “No, it is not good thinking at all.”
Oh shit. Mallet moved forward and the second he saw her, he realized she was beyond furious. Hurt, anger, betrayal … each emotion flashed over her features.
“Kayli—” he started, but nothing brilliant came to mind. What could he say in his defense? She’d overheard too much.
Her eyes glittered in the darkness. From tears?
He prayed not.
“You say you trust me.” As she spoke, her lips barely moved. “You say we’re in a partnership, and that you understand the importance of my position.”
“I do.”
Arms folded, expression pinched, she waited for him to say more.
He did trust her, damn it.
But she was still just a woman.
He sighed. “It will never be easy for me to put you at risk.”
Sensing the static in the air, Hauk whistled.
Kayli’s small body went tight with resentment. Stepping toward him, her voice low, wounded, she said, “It’s all a game to you, isn’t it?”
“No.” He’d never been more serious about anything in his life.
“I gave up control for you,” she accused. “I trusted you.”
“Yeah, uh, if we’re talking about sexual stuff—”
She slashed her hand through the air, cutting him off. “But you can’t do the same, can you?”
Damn, when she went all female on him, she was as difficult to deal with as any other woman. His own temper prickled. “I told you I trust you and I do.” Caring for her had nothing to do with trust.
“Oh no. Not this time, Michael.” She shook her stubborn head. “You tell me what you think I want to hear just to appease me. And it usually works, doesn’t it?”
His frustration amplified. “I’ve been honest with you if you’d just stop and realize it.”
His words had no apparent impact on her. “You don’t trust my ability at all, do you? Why don’t you just admit it?”
Mallet hated being cornered, almost as much as he hated having words put in his mouth. Facing her anger with his own, he glared down at her. “I can’t help it if my instinct is to protect you.”
As if she’d hoped for him to say something different, the light faded out of her eyes. Her shoulders loosened, her expression went flat. Seconds ticked by while she visibly fought emotion.
Finally her chin lifted, and her words sounded with sadness, maybe even apology. “Then I can’t make a union with you.”
Mallet locked his jaw. “That’s bullshit and you know it.”
“I’m sorry, Michael.” She didn’t blink, didn’t soften. “I really am.”
Pointing a finger at her, he said, “You brought me here, woman. I didn’t ask for any of this. You studied me, so you damn well knew the type of person I was before you propositioned me.”
She nodded. “Yes, of course you’re right. It has all been … a mistake. My mistake.” She started around him. “It’s over.”
His heart skipped two beats; the wind left him as if someone had just sucker-punched him in the solar plexus.
Did she not realize all the concessions he’d made to her and her back-ass colony? Couldn’t she tell that their relationship was damn special?
In a little less than a roar, he commanded, “Kayli, come back here!”
She never slowed in her determination to leave him.
Mallet saw red. She thought it was over?
Not by a long shot.
Stomping after her, he said, “You’re head of defense, Kayli, so shouldn’t we at least talk about the asshole who spied on us?”
But even that didn’t breach her current frame of mind.
Without a backward glance, she said, “I’ll take care of it.”
Before he could reach her, she got on her aircycle. Her shoulders straightened, and her voice, chilled and even, reached him over the silent night. “Understand something, Michael. I don’t regret what we did.”
He had a moment of hope.
Until she said, “But it won’t happen again. It can’t.” And then she was gone.
CHAPTER 16
FOR long minutes, Mallet stood there, trying to figure out what the hell had just happened. Not that long ago, she’d been soft and sated in his arms.
Now she’d just walked out on him, telling him that something he’d thought was special wasn’t special at all.
How the hell could she call it quits so easily?
He blamed Kayli for the confusion, of course. She was fickle, twisting him around her little finger, then kicking him in the nuts.
Or so it felt.
She’d brought him here to defend her and her colony, but then had a hissy when he tried to do just that. She only wanted half measure, but he wasn’t a man used to half-assing anything. If he did it, he did his best.
Frustration sent him pacing; worry kept his heart thumping. “Hauk?”
“Yes, Mallet?”
The sympathy in the computer’s voice made him grind his teeth. “Are you with her, too?” He didn’t want Kayli alone right now. She was stubborn and
capable—but he’d allowed her go off alone while she was thoroughly distracted.
Would she even notice if someone crept up on her?
“Yes,” Hauk said. “I’m with her. Always.”
“Good.” Mallet wanted to ask, but he didn’t even like the idea of a computer knowing how she’d gotten to him.
Somehow, while he’d thought he was in control, accepting absurd changes and believing the unbelievable, Kayli had crawled under his skin.
He might have caused a stir in her colony, but she’d sure as hell caused a bigger stir in him. Damn it.
“She’s okay, Mallet.”
Under his breath, he muttered, “Damned intuitive machine.”
Hauk ignored his continued ill humor. “She is, however, furious.” He hesitated. “And badly hurt. By both of us.”
Mallet wanted to howl, he wanted to punch something. “Fuck.”
Commiserating, Hauk said, “Yes, fuck, Mallet.”
“Oh, shut up if you can’t say it right.” The monotone use of such a word just made it sound comical, and there was nothing funny about his current predicament.
“What will you do?”
Good question—not that there was any real choice. “Apologize. Work on her.” His hands fisted. “And find the jerk who was here, spying on us.” When he did, he’d make the bastard pay, big-time.
Something occurred to him, something that would at least get Kayli talking with him. He hoped. “Hauk, I need to have a town meeting, but I need to discuss it with Kayli first.”
“Now?”
“No.” God no. He had the distinct feeling that once Kayli had time to get her emotions in check, she’d resent him for causing her to come that close to tears. He recalled what Mesha said, that she never cried.
No, she wouldn’t appreciate that he’d upset her so much, or that he’d witnessed her struggle.
“She needs time to settle down.” What an understatement. “Let’s say tomorrow morning.”
“Kayli might dwell on this and be even angrier in the morning. She has a habit of going over things until she gets the conclusion she wants.”
“I’ll take that chance.” Most times, Mallet figured he knew women, knew how to get around their little idiosyncrasies.
In most cases, some warm loving worked wonders.
Though Kayli wasn’t like most women, hopefully the same logic would apply. “Keep everything just between us. Don’t tell her I’m going to see her in the morning. Got it?”
“Er …”
“Your word, Hauk.”
“Computers do not have a conscience, which negates the importance of giving my word.”
Mallet threw up his hands in annoyance. “Give it anyway, will ya?”
“Very well.” The computer sighed. “Because I know it’s not your intent to further hurt Kayli, you have my word that I will not tell her of your intentions.”
“Great.” Having come up with a sound plan, Mallet was starting to feel a little better about things. He’d already reconciled himself to a whole new life away from past friends and acquaintances. He was in the future—with Kayli.
Together, they’d have good sex, a lot of laughs, and great companionship. He wasn’t about to let her pride change things now.
“I’ll need you to let me know before she leaves her room in the morning.”
Again, Hauk balked at his decision. “Er …”
“It’s okay, Hauk. I won’t forget that your loyalty is to her.”
“Yes.”
“And I’m glad.” It assuaged some of his worry to know that Kayli had Hauk protecting her, especially since she wouldn’t let Mallet take that position. Yet. “Trust me that this is in her best interest.”
“If you are lying, I will do reprehensible things to you.”
Mallet laughed. “I’m glad she has you, Hauk, I really am.” He looked around, and realized the moon had settled behind clouds; it was now pitch-black, and he didn’t have a ride. “I don’t suppose you can show me the way home?”
In the next instant, Mallet found himself in his room on the spaceship. “Damn it, Hauk, warn a man before you do that.”
Hauk had nothing to say to that.
“Well, since we’re here already and I’m nowhere near ready to sleep, how about you get me one of those media viewers Kayli had at the hospital and some tapes on her fighting techniques.” He rubbed his hands together. “By morning, I want to be familiar with all her best moves.”
IT had been a sleepless night for Kayli, fraught with worry about the future and memory of what Michael had done to her.
Now, as she finished dressing, lack of sleep, frustration, and overwhelming curiosity got the better of her.
She wanted to curse Michael for bringing this on her, for making her doubt herself and her abilities, for wanting him in her life despite his dismissal of those things most important to her.
For making her ache all night long, wondering over the touches and sensations he’d already evoked, and those that might have followed had he not forced her to cut him out of her life.
Closing her eyes, she again felt the gentle touch of his rough fingertips, the power of his warm palms, and the rasp of his damp tongue over places she’d seldom ever thought about, much less touched.
Breathing a little harder, she put her fingers to her ear—but it wasn’t the same. Today, without Michael’s stimuli, it was just her ear.
Just her breast.
Just her … body.
It was Michael who had made her lips so sensitive to his, he who had made her ache and then later, filled her with the most delicious wash of feeling that exploded with immeasurable pleasure.
How he’d done it, and if it could be achieved with anyone else; that’s what she needed to know.
Not that she was anxious to be with any other man. In her current frame of mind, still ridiculously hurt over what felt like a betrayal, she couldn’t imagine the intimate involvement. No, with Michael banned from her life, she would naturally accept her old lifestyle back—alone as a warrior. Besides, the thought of anyone else touching her was repugnant.
Today, being calmer, she hoped to talk to Michael, to convince him to stay in the colony, while remaining separate from her.
To distract herself from her preoccupation with his possible reaction, she ordered Hauk to fill her room with some of her favorite music. It was loud, raw, with a heavy beat that helped to give her a new focus as she opened her media viewer.
Biting her lip, she called forth the images she thought might best satisfy her inquisitiveness. Settling back in a chair, she curled up her legs, crossed her arms over her knees, and rested her chin there.
Huddled like that, she watched generic depictions of unknown men and women in a variety of sexual acts.
The images, while somewhat clinical, were fairly forbidden, and she’d die if anyone knew of her interest. But now, with her own personal knowledge of the thrill of carnality, the threat of being caught wasn’t enough to keep her from watching.
She was in a daze, her lips parted in intrigue and her heart beating a little too fast, when Michael said from behind her, “If I’d known you were into porn, Kayli, I sure as hell could have supplied some better stuff than this crap.”
She screamed.
Her attempts to bolt were hampered by the chair’s crazy shifting efforts to accommodate her.
With a roll of his eyes, Michael caught her arms and lifted her free.
Humiliation rolled over her in suffocating waves. Her breath strangled; she felt light-headed with shame.
The second her feet touched the floor, she shoved him back and gasped, “How dare you?” That wasn’t enough to stifle her mortification, and she charged forward to thump him hard in the chest, repeating, “How dare you?”
Under normal circumstances—meaning any circumstance other than this—she was a calm, collected, deliberate woman who handled situations accordingly.
That Michael grinned at her, slow and easy and, oh yes
, amused, only made her temper detonate.
She pushed up her sleeves as she backed up to put fighting space between them. “You have no business—no right—transporting yourself into my private quarters unannounced.”
His blue eyes glittered in challenge. “I know.” He made the mistake of glancing down at her body, and Kayli kicked out.
The strike landed hard on his shoulder, knocking him sideways. But he didn’t lose his balance, didn’t fall, and did not stop grinning.
“Oh ho! It’s like that, huh?” He took a stance. “Just take it easy, Kayli. Everyone likes a little porn every now and th—”
Her next kick landed on his ribs, and he gave a satisfying “oof” of surprise.
“Not bad,” he rasped, still watching her, still unconcerned with her mood. He straightened in what she knew was a deceptively casual stance.
His arrogance infuriated her.
“It’s your fault,” she told him, to keep his attention divided. “What you did to me last night left me wondering about what else there might be to do.”
The look in his eyes grew heated. “Is that so?”
As she circled him, she gave a slow nod.
He kept her locked in his gaze. “You didn’t have to resort to bad sex tapes to get answers, you know.”
Left shoulder lifting, she shrugged. “Hauk has divided loyalties now, so I couldn’t continue to ask him.” She curled her lip. “And as … nice as that was last night, I’m not discussing sex with you ever again.”
His eyes narrowed. “Wanna bet?”
Michael’s unwavering confidence pushed her, and she switched up, kicking with her other foot. While it threw him off a little, he blocked it with his forearm so that it didn’t do any real harm.
As he straightened again, his smile grew. “So we’re going to do this, huh?”
She didn’t answer. She wouldn’t give him any forewarning of her intent.
“Clear the furniture, Kayli. Then we’ll see what you’ve got.”
Keeping her eyes on Michael, she ordered, “Do it, Hauk,” and the furniture all tucked away, leaving the room mostly empty.
He flexed his neck, preparing himself as they circled. “We have a problem, you know.”
