A perverted moron at that, since she found the man responsible for the fall of her friends so damned sensual, erotic, and wholly masculine. A drug that overshadowed any hint of inhibition. Just looking at him, she wanted to drown in sensation. For the sake of the others, don’t lose focus.
“Do you like it soft or do you like it rough, Ale— Macy?” he purred.
Why not both? Knife. Get the knife. “I—I don’t know. Why don’t you find out?” Inch by inch, she trekked her trembling fingers down his sides, not stopping until she reached the coarse material of the holster. Almost there . . . almost . . . Her palm found smooth material and hard muscle, but no weaponlike bulge.
“What’s your real name? Tell me. Please.”
Would he never give up?
“I promise not to tell,” he murmured. “You have my word. But how can I kiss you properly if I don’t know what to call you? Please.”
She didn’t want him to leave her yet. Not until she had the knife. And she feared he would indeed walk away if she refused yet again. That was the only reason she was giving in, damn it! “Aleaha,” she found herself saying. She didn’t trust him, but part of her did want him to know, which was why she didn’t simply lie. “Happy now?” Where the hell was the knife?
“Aleaha.” He closed his eyes for a moment, as though he savored the reverberation. “Much better. And now that we’ve got that settled . . . are you looking for this, Aleaha?” In a movement so swift she saw only the remnants of his spirit, he palmed a blade from his boot and waved the gleaming silver tip over her nose. “I moved it during our chase. Just in case. Over the past two years, I have learned to plan ahead.”
With a yelp, she shrank deeper into the cold ground. Ice-covered rocks stabbed into her bared back where her jacket and T-shirt were torn. “If you cut me, I’ll . . .” She’d what? Bleed all over him and ruin his clean clothes. Like he didn’t know that already. She was screwed.
“I told you, there will be no bloodletting. Besides, I like the passion and concern you’ve shown for your friends,” he said, tossing the blade out of reach. Then he baffled her by bending and sniffing her neck, his nose brushing the sensitive skin there, the thundering pulse. “I won’t punish you for that.”
Another shiver rushed her. Concentrate. Without the knife, there was no reason to remain in this position. No intelligent reason. “Let me up and I’ll negotiate for the agents’ freedom,” she said, recalling his earlier attempt at bartering. “Just like you wanted.”
“The time for that is over.” The inflection in his voice was dark, carnal, and animalistic. His gaze lowered to her lips. “Now I believe I promised you a kiss.”
“Don’t you dare kiss me.” The words were automatic, but there was no heat behind them. Passion, like fear, was not a good thing for her. Yet a part of her wanted him to take her mouth anyway. Take everything she had to give and demand more, forcing her to feel, to need, to crave. Finally. As she’d dreamed of for so long.
“Don’t cut you, don’t kiss you. Anything else I shouldn’t do?” She started to tick off an entire list, but he added, “Never mind. I’m through with this conversation.” And then his lips were meshed with hers, his hot tongue probing for entrance.
She flattened her palms against his chest and shoved. He didn’t budge. In fact, he grabbed hold of her wrists and repinned them over her head, smashing her breasts into his chest—mmm, good, so good—at the same time cupping her nape and forcing her jaw up, preventing her lips from moving away.
“Open,” he commanded against her mouth.
She shook her head, even though denying him was one of the most difficult things she’d ever done.
“Open.” He applied a hard pressure with his chin, creating the smallest of gaps.
Still she resisted. She’d lose control, and he’d find himself kissing a stranger, maybe even another man. He’d become enraged, disgusted, and she wouldn’t be able to blame him.
Determined, he changed tactics. The pressure gentled, and he pulled back slightly. Soft, so softly, he traced his tongue over the seam of her lips. “Open. Please. You’ll like what I do. I swear.”
Don’t give in, her mind beseeched, even as she recalled all the nights she’d lain in bed, aching so badly she’d wanted to die, wishing intimacy weren’t so dangerous for her. Wishing a lover could please her without discovering her secrets. She’d been down that road a few times, and she couldn’t allow herself to take it ever again.
The first time, she’d been regarded as a freak. The second attempt had ended in a fight for her life. The third—and final—attempt had started rocky but had ended successfully. Or so she’d thought, until she was chased down and nearly locked up.
Breean has seen you in action, so he already knows what you can do.
But he’s a monster.
So are you.
I am not!
The internal debate ended with an, Mmm, he smells better with every second that passes, like cinnamon and honey, wildflowers and sex. Down-and-dirty, nothing-held-back sex. The kind she’d always fantasized about having while she touched herself, alone, always alone, finger dancing over her clitoris.
She must have unintentionally obeyed him and opened her mouth because suddenly his tongue was pushing past her teeth, stroking, thrusting, twining. Every nerve ending in her body leapt to instant life. Liquid heat flooded the apex of her thighs, and she trembled.
“Sweet,” he praised. “So sweet.”
Make him stop, she thought, dazed, even as she wound her legs around his waist and locked her ankles, arching her back. His erection rubbed the new center of her world, and she gasped, lost to sensation. As feared, she felt her appearance change, expanding from average height to a bit taller, a little more rounded.
Shockingly, he didn’t seem to mind. Seemed to like it, actually, as he hissed in a breath. “Again.”
She did, unable to help herself. She arched, appearance changing to someone shorter, rounder. They moaned simultaneously, then his tongue was back inside her mouth, hotter now, harder, and he was sucking her the way he might suck on a woman’s clit, laving and savoring every drop of moisture. Their teeth banged together as he drew her closer. Her still-hard nipples pressed into his chest, abrading deliciously.
“M-my shirt.” She wanted to tell him to rip it the rest of the way off her, but was having trouble forming the words. She ached, oh, she ached, and that ache demanded all of her attention. A touch, a glide. Something. Except, she felt the hair on her head shorten, her legs lengthen, and something harden between her legs—and it wasn’t Breean.
There wasn’t time even to gasp in horror. Because of her sudden spike of fear, the male form was quickly replaced. This time her hair grew and the color of her skin went from tanned to pale, her body from lean to lush. In a snap, however, she changed yet again. Female, still, but longer, slimmer. She clutched at Breean, relieved, needy. He hadn’t erupted when she’d sprouted a penis. He hadn’t even stopped kissing her.
“I knew I’d like the dark hair.” His tight clamp eased on her nape and his fingers slid to the front, stopping at her voice box, fanning over her pulse, then dipping to her breast. He kneaded the soft curve.
With his acceptance came a flood of uncontrollable, undiluted desire. And holy hell, did she have pent-up desire. That touch, so tender, so innocent, wasn’t enough.
More, she thought. “I need . . . I need . . .”
“Me.” He jerked the material up, revealing her navel, her bra—which he moved, too—and then her breasts. Her stomach quivered as he studied her. Cold air beat around them, but she felt only heat. Only need. “Pretty,” he said, sounding as if he were in some sort of trance. “Like berries. Pink, ripe. Mine.”
He palmed her, skin to skin this time. Yes! When he thumbed a nipple, plucked it, she lost hold on reality, arching, writhing, ready to beg. There was only amazement, wonder, pleasure. So hot, blistering, singeing all the way to the bone. “Yes, yes!”
“I could touch
you forever, I think.”
“Lick,” she commanded. Something was flowing through her veins, so potent she was almost drunk with it. That desire, yes, but also . . . what? His scent? It was strong, heady, dizzying, but could it have caused this sweet urgency? This sizzling desperation? No longer did she care where she was, who she was with, or how many times she shifted. Satisfaction was the only thing that mattered.
Her body was not her own. In that moment, it was his. Breean’s. His to do with whatever he pleased. She had no shame, truly no goal save climax.
“Give me,” she said, only then realizing he hadn’t obeyed her. He was still staring down at her, tension bracketing his eyes. “Lick.”
“I don’t think I’ll ever tire of looking at you.”
“That’s great. But look and touch at the same time,” she said.
He chuckled.
Finally his lips settled over one of her nipples, tongue flicking against it.
Raspy gasps escaped her, and she rode his cock up and down, sliding, sliding, still desperate, so desperate. He sucked, hard. She cried out, closer to heaven in that moment than she’d been in her entire life. Happily, willingly swimming in pleasure, the need for release a constant ache between her legs.
“More,” she demanded. “Harder.”
This time he obeyed quickly, giving her what she wanted. She chewed on her bottom lip, tasting blood, wishing it were his lip she nibbled. His mouth, his tongue. Perhaps his cock, thrusting in and out, filling her, stretching her jaw. Her tongue would lave the thick head, sucking, sucking, until he was wrung dry, until—
Who are you? drifted through her mind. Who is this sensual creature you’ve become?
His fingers abandoned her breast, only to slip lower to the waist of her pants. In a few seconds, he was going to delve past her panties and sink straight to the heart of her. He’d feel her wetness. He’d work those naughty fingers into her one by one. He’d pump them in and out, driving her to the brink.
Yes, yes. That’s what she wanted; there was no fighting this desire. This fog. Yes, fog. That’s what it was. That’s what was swimming through her veins, clouding her judgment and lighting her on fire. Blazing, delicious. And wrong.
Wrong?
“S-stop,” she managed to gasp out. The madness had to stop. And if she just paused a moment, she could figure out why this was wrong.
Instantly, he stilled. He was panting as their gazes clashed. “You want it,” he growled low in his throat. “You want me.”
“No,” she said, then more loudly, “No!” It wasn’t her writhing, but someone else. Someone he’d created.
Nailed it again, she thought. Somehow he was changing her, making pleasure her only concern. And okay, yeah. Some part of her suspected this was her fault. That she simply wanted him more than she had ever wanted another. But that was wrong for different reasons, so she would still stop him.
“I can feel the desire inside you. You need a man.”
“Not you.” You, only you. Damn it. Stay strong.
“I need a woman.”
Pick me! Strong, remember? “Not me.”
Desire was blended with irritation and anger, all three fiercely directed at her. He looked frightening just then, reminding her of the warrior who’d attacked and defeated AIR’s best in a matter of minutes.
Now she felt shame. Now she felt guilt she would never be able to deny. What kind of woman tongued her enemy, no matter the reason, while her teammates languished?
“You deny us both, Aleaha.”
Her stomach clenched, but she forced herself to say, “I don’t know you, I don’t like you. Of course I deny us both.”
“Very well.” He popped to his feet, dragging her with him. He was scowling. “In time you will learn about me, and you will like me. That’s a command.”
“I haven’t obeyed you once.” Or maybe she had. The details were as foggy as her mind. “What makes you think I’ll start now?”
He peered down at her, one golden brow arched. “I’m halfway there already. Your nipples are still hard.”
“So?” Cheeks flushing, she fought the urge to cover herself. “It’s still cold out here.”
“You begged for me.”
That was not something she needed to be reminded of; she remembered, both hating and loving herself for it. Hating because of all the baggage that came with the pleasure, and loving because, well, it had felt so damn good. But just as soon as she’d spent a few minutes alone, she’d love herself to earth-shattering completion and could hate him without this pesky need being in the way.
“Temporary insanity. I also told you to stop.”
Clearly frustrated, he tangled a hand through his hair. “Do you have an answer for everything?”
“Yes.”
His tongue swiped over his teeth. She’d tasted that tongue, almost bitten that tongue.
Never again, she told herself. Enough stalling. It was time to act. She pictured Macy in her mind and felt her body respond accordingly. Her hair shortened, as did her legs. Her boobs grew—a lot. Much better. This was her shield. Her armor against the world. And now against Breean.
He scowled at her but didn’t comment. “Come. There is much to do and I’ve wasted enough time chasing you.”
Yes, she’d made sure of that. But still the backup agents hadn’t shown. Aleaha prayed nothing had happened to them. With the bleak turn this night had already taken, however, she doubted the prayer would be heeded.
FOUR
Breean’s warriors had gathered the AIR agents, as ordered, and started for the underground holding cell they’d hurriedly constructed on one of their trips here. It had taken him fifteen minutes to catch up with them and their human cargo, Aleaha tossed over his shoulder, and then another five to reach the dilapidated house they’d confiscated on the outskirts of the city; it was the perfect hideout, since the area was seemingly forgotten by Earth’s inhabitants. Maybe because there was no vegetation or animals, the air drier than dirt, stinging the nostrils as though acid were being inhaled. It was still cold here, but there was none of that beautiful white snow.
Breean left Aleaha locked up in one of the bedrooms, comfortable and fed, yet separated from her people, for an entire Earth week. She tried to escape at least twice a day, but he caught her each time, attuned to her in a way he didn’t understand.
He’d hoped to develop a resistance to her while he saw to the defenses of his true home in the city. He’d hoped to develop a resistance to her while the days passed.
Despite his best efforts, Aleaha never left his mind. His only hope now was that time had softened her dislike of him, that she craved another of his kisses. The first had nearly burned him alive. No woman had ever tasted so sweet or felt so perfect against him. And, yes, others had clutched him with utter abandon, moaning their pleasure, desperate for more, but none had ever affected him like this. Why, he didn’t know.
No longer could he delude himself, even slightly, into thinking that any other woman would have done. It was her he wanted. Her specifically. Aleaha. The fierce glow in her eyes, the sharpness of her wit. The challenge of winning so strong a prize. What would she look like when she smiled? How carefree would her laughter sound?
He had to know.
Finally, it was time to move everyone into the permanent home. It had better security and was in a livable location. Yes, they would be more easily spotted by AIR, which had, thank the blessed sea, failed to find his hideaway on the outskirts, but it was worth the risk. He planned to contact them soon anyway, and start the bargaining process at last.
By the time the prisoners were taken care of, night had fallen. Breean returned to the wasteland with half of his forces. He couldn’t contain his eagerness as he entered the house and walked down the crumbling hallway to gather Aleaha. What would he find? The blond goddess or the dark-haired vixen? Eagerness to match his own or anger?
He was actually shaking with anticipation as he unlocked Aleaha’s door. I won’t be
d her until she begs for it, he vowed. After what she’d already given him, nothing else would be acceptable. The hinges creaked open, and he stepped inside. She stood in front of the bed, watching him warily, pale hair dancing around her shoulders.
His heart thundered in his chest. In arousal, yes, but also in disappointment. He’d wanted the vixen.
She wore the T-shirt and jeans he’d brought her, and the material hugged her body nicely.
“Nothing to say?” he asked, feeling tongue-tied himself. Never had he wanted something so badly. Never had he had to tread so carefully.
She arched a brow, as stubborn as ever. “What about, and stop me if you’ve heard this one, let me go. Let my friends go.”
So. She still meant to resist him. He revealed no hint of his frustration. “You will stay with me. Your friends . . . maybe.”
“Why keep us? You’re going to destroy us anyway. That’s why you’re here, right?”
He frowned. “What do you mean, I plan to destroy you?”
“Why else would you be here?” Every word was layered with disgust. “I’ve been thinking about it, since that’s the only thing to do here, and I’ve decided you’re here to prepare the way for that stupid queen.”
“What are you talking about? I have no queen.” Not anymore. Apparently, the Rakan queen had been one of the first females to succumb to the disease. She had killed her own husband. Her own children.
Aleaha studied him, her expression pensive. “I know you’re not ill since I bit you and haven’t exhibited any symptoms, and I know you’re Rakan rather than Schön, but why else would you have come to Earth if not to help the Schön queen? An alien was interrogated recently and revealed that warriors would be arriving that night in the forest with the sole desire of clearing a path for the Schön queen. Then boom, you arrive. You take out AIR. What’s that if not clearing a path?”
Everything inside him locked down. First in panic—not again, he couldn’t put his men through that again—and then in rage. “Schön? You expected those vile Schön?”
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