“Yes,” she wheezed and coughed again. “Thank you.”
He helped her to her feet just as his other self rolled to a crouch. They circled the assassin, the intention to finish him off clear.
Panic filled her. “Wait! You can’t kill him!”
“Watch me,” the Fentons growled in unison.
“If you do, it’ll release a plague on the entire sector.”
The Fentons froze, still poised to attack. “How?”
“His brain has been genetically altered. If he dies, the space where his mind was will act like a vortex, sucking in all the brain waves for a light-year. He’s the ultimate killing machine, programmed to take out his targets by any means necessary.”
Slowly, Fenton recombined himself, then looked to her. “So how do we beat him?”
She shook her head. “I have no idea. That’s why I’ve been running, hoping to evade him. If not for your gift, he would kill us both. He’s telepathic and telekinetic and I’ve heard he can even take control of other people, like possession.”
“Then we are left with only one option.” Taking her hand in his, he led her from the room. Once the door closed behind them, he pulled a panel from the wall and yanked the wires out, sealing the room off.
“That won’t hold him for long.”
“It doesn’t have to.” Fenton tugged her through the corridors of the ship, heading back to her room.
“I don’t think I should bother packing,” she argued as he tugged her through the door.
Fenton ignored her, instead going to the window seat. He rattled off a few commands, and the seat itself flipped over into a smooth 3-D command console. “Do you know how to fly?”
“Not well,” she admitted, moving to his side. “What is this?”
“The reason I chose this particular suite of rooms. Here’s propulsion, docking clamps, navigation, communication.” He pointed each system out. “We can’t go fast but we can go. And you’re flying because I know nothing about space travel.”
“The suite is a ship?”
“We don’t have much time, Alison.”
Taking a deep breath, she released the docking clamps. The entire room listed downward, and a giant shudder rocked them.
“What heading?” she asked.
He rattled off coordinates as if by rote. She had no idea where that course would take them or what he had planned next.
Fenton grabbed her around the waist with one hand and braced them against the bulkhead. Anything not bolted down tumbled forward and he grunted as various objects hit him.
“Sorry,” she said, fighting for altitude.
“I knew it was a bad idea to let you purchase so much stuff.” His tone was light, teasing almost.
The ship righted itself and she took a deep breath as she set their course. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were enjoying yourself.”
The hand around her waist tightened, and she shivered as he breathed into her ear, “Maybe I am.”
His hard body pressed into hers, and there was no mistaking his erection. Unbelievable.
“Seriously? What about that turned you on?” After engaging the autopilot, she turned to face him.
He nuzzled the side of her neck. “It’s complicated.”
For the first time in her life Alison wanted answers more than she wanted sex. Shoving him back, she whirled on her heel and snapped, “You are a moody pain in the ass, you know that? Before, I’m throwing myself at you and you couldn’t get away fast enough. But now you know I have a demon straight from the fires of hell hunting for me, and you’re all raring to go?”
His eyes were bright, his lids lowered with lust. “You have someone after you. You need protection.”
“And that’s your hot button, huh?”
He shook his head and she saw him clench his fists at his side.
“Explain it to me, Del. Explain what’s different now from an hour ago.”
“Everything,” he rasped, moving toward her again. He needed release so badly he could taste it, and with the autopilot engaged and the bed not even a foot away, all he could think about was stripping Alison to her skin and loving her body until they reached their destination. “We almost died.”
“I’m well aware of that.” Moving to the other side of the room, she started picking up random items. “What I don’t understand is why you’re all hot for me all of a sudden.”
“It’s not all of a sudden.” The words came out more like a growl. “You have no idea how difficult it was for me to resist you earlier.”
“Then why did you? I’m a whore, Fenton. A sure thing and you still refused.”
“You’re not a whore. You only did that because you had no other choice.”
Shoving an armload of clothing into the closet and sealing the door, she turned to face him. His heart nearly stopped when he saw her eyes were wet. “That’s all I am. All I’ve ever been. Back on Earth, it was different. I was a pleasure companion, one of the best in the business. An hour with me cost more than most men earned in a month. And I made sure they got their money’s worth.”
Shame burned color on her cheeks. “But I fucked up. Epically. I traded more than my body, I traded my soul. So don’t sit there and kid yourself that I was only doing what I had to in order to survive. I’m not a good person. I’m not even a good whore anymore.”
He couldn’t stand to see her cry. Slowly, so as not to startle her, Fenton moved closer until he tugged her into his embrace. She struggled at first, but he persevered until she was wrapped in his arms. Rocking back and forth he offered her silent comfort until she sagged, emotionally spent.
She was so soft and warm in his arms, she fit like she’d been born to mold into him. Hearing her confessions should have cooled his ardor, but he was still hard, still fighting the phase split.
Tilting her chin up he said, “Alison, listen to me. You risked your life to save me back there. I owe you my life. You aren’t bad. I know, I’ve seen evil up close.”
“The overlord?” she mumbled.
Fenton wasn’t sure how much she knew, but he refused to lie to her. “Yes. He was pure evil. He killed for sport, for pleasure, to alleviate his boredom. The deaths of my entire family are on his head. And to save myself I did some despicable things too. But I’m determined to atone for my sins as best I can.”
She sniffled and wiped her eyes. “You ever sleep with someone for money?”
“No. But my sister did.”
Raising her watery gaze to his, he watched her shock register. “What happened to her?”
“She died of wasting sickness. Gave of herself until there was nothing left to give. It was horrible to watch the disease consume her a little bit at a time.”
“I’m sorry.”
He nodded, accepting her softly spoken condolence. Fenton could have told her then about his mission, why he’d been resisting her, but she had that look, the one he’d seen on some of the men under his command, desolate and exhausted and utterly without hope.
“I only told you that because I want you to understand that I will not judge you on what you’ve done in the past. I see the person you are now, strong, self-sacrificing, a survivor. A beautiful, independent woman.”
She snorted, but he saw the pleasure creep over her face so he forged onward. “How did you learn so much about the culture in the Hosta System?”
“Observation mostly. I watched and listened to others to pick up what I needed to know.”
“And you’ve done this before, correct? Mimicked other cultures to help yourself blend in?”
Her teeth sank into her full lower lip but she nodded.
“Do you have any idea how impressive that is for me, someone who has never left his home sector before? Being a soldier, gambling and killing, is all I’ve ever done. But I hope to do more. I want you to show me how to be more.”
For a moment he worried he’d gone too far, because her eyes were once again filled with tears. But then she smiled beautiful
ly. “I’d add sweet-talker to the list.”
He shook his head. “I’m only speaking the truth.”
His gaze dropped to her lips. Her tongue darted out, wetting them. His cock twitched and slowly, he gave in to the temptation to lower his mouth to hers. A soft puff of air escaped, a surprised and eager sound. The kiss heated and he pressed her up against the wall, tasting her fully, thoroughly, the way he’d been yearning to do. Her pliant body yielded to him with a sensual grace, melding around him, pulling him in deeper.
There was so much left unspoken between them. He still didn’t know why that man with the uncanny abilities was after her, or what he could do now. But what he did understand was that Alison’s life had been in danger before they’d ever met. Resisting her was pointless, fruitless, and he refused to waste his energy fighting her magnetic pull any longer.
Her fingers tangled in his hair and her legs wrapped around his waist. He rubbed against her, seeking her warmth and wetness. The hum that indicated the phase split was eminent spread through his body but he tamped it down, not wanting to share her right now, even with himself.
Breaking the kiss, he whispered low in her ear, “Share your body with me. For no other reason than because you want me as badly as I crave you.”
“Yes.” Her reply was breathless but immediate.
“Tell me you want me.” Fisting his hand into her hair, he rocked his shaft against her.
“I want you. Only you.” Her lids were heavy as though drugged with lust.
Though it pained him, he set her down and backed away. “Take the dress off before I tear it from your body.”
She wobbled slightly but her hand went to the side closures. He watched eagerly as she unfastened the pin holding the shimmering fabric in place over her decadent curves. She held it apart, baring herself to his greedy gaze.
Before he knew it, he fell to his knees, nuzzling the plump breasts, the curved waist he’d fantasized about. The honey-colored thatch of hair at the juncture of her thighs glistened. He scented her need, her desire. It was sharp, a flame licking through her bloodstream, but he wanted it to burn like a wildfire, raging out of control until she was desperate for him.
Holding her gaze, he licked over the tip of one breast. Her back arched as she shoved more of the ripe flesh to him, as though eager for him to consume her. Swirling his tongue around the beaded peak, he explored the dip of her waist with his fingers, lightly teasing and caressing all the wonders she’d displayed.
“My shield,” she whispered as he switched to the other breast. “I need to activate it.”
Plumping the wet breast with one hand, he used his teeth to scrape lightly across the other, tormenting the pretty bit of flesh to a point. “Do you?”
“Yes.” Panic flared in her eyes at his suggestion. Clamping his hands down on her hips, he kept her from bolting.
“I vow I harbor no disease. I wouldn’t risk you if I did.”
Shaking her head she tried to pull away again. “I could still get pregnant.” Her words were laced with terror.
He wanted to pleasure her. To cement their new understanding. The need to mark her with his essence clawed at him, but he wouldn’t get anywhere with her so apprehensive. Slowly, as though gentling an easily startled creature, he traced her woman’s seam back to her puckered opening. “Not if I take you here.”
If anything she appeared even more distressed as he massaged the tight ring of muscles with the pad of his finger. “I don’t . . . that is, I’m not really sure . . .” She closed her eyes, swallowed, then tried again. “I don’t like that, okay?”
The way her hips rocked back into his touch told him otherwise. “I know how to make it good for you. I’ve had plenty of practice.”
She scowled. “That’s not exactly reassuring.”
His lips twitched as he caught wind of her jealousy. It thrilled him that she could feel possessive over him. To ease her unnecessary apprehension, he elaborated, “On myself.”
Alison blinked, then blinked again. He watched every flicker of her face as she wrestled with his words, groped for comprehension before reaching the correct—and by all appearances, shocking—conclusion.
He couldn’t resist teasing her mind the same way he did her flesh. “With my ability, do you really think there’s anything I haven’t tried?”
For a moment he thought he had gone too far, that she would order him away from her body once and for all. Then a wave of lust washed over her features and she bent down to whisper two words that were his undoing.
“Show me.”
9
The look on Del’s face was priceless. Stunned definitely, but she also picked up on traces of excitement around the corners of his mouth. He wanted to show off for her, share his intimate secrets almost as badly as she wanted to see them.
Better he demonstrate his skills on himself than on her. She was still floored he wanted to fuck her without her shield. On Earth, there was an amendment to the Constitution, that only legally bound couples who had a permit to spawn could engage in unshielded intercourse. Sure, people still did it, but Alison had never even been tempted, even by her few private lovers who insisted sex was better sans shield.
Fenton wasn’t human, though, and he didn’t have a shield. As an alien whore, her patrons were usually just relieved that her cool equipment package left her disease- and pregnancy-free so they could have their fun and be off without consequence.
Was that why Fenton so badly wanted to come inside her unshielded body? Did he think he needed to set himself apart from the other alien men she’d been with?
Whatever his motivation, she’d found a simpler solution. Moving away from his touch, she sauntered to the bed, shucked her dress, and crawled onto the mattress. With the autopilot engaged, there was no way to tell that their luxurious cabin was moving on its own. “How far will the ship take us?”
“Not far. It’s a short-range cruise ship leased from the parent vessel. A day or two and we’ll have to disembark before the homing beacon is activated.” He rose from his crouched position and turned to face her, his skin flushed. “Are you sure this is what you want?”
She smiled the triumphant grin of a woman who knew when she’d won. “Better your ass than mine.”
He didn’t smile back but lowered his eyelids. For a moment she thought he was having second thoughts, but the air shimmered next to him as he replicated himself.
Alison rose up as the two men—who were really one man—began to strip. Her curiosity could no longer be contained. “Which is the real you?”
“Both,” they replied in unison. “I feel everything, just as your left hand and right hand can act independently of one another, so can my two forms.”
Both of whom revealed delectable eyefuls of hard male flesh. Alison licked her lips as more and more tanned skin was made bare.
There was no slow seduction here, just pure intent. Fenton was a man on a mission, both of his hard cocks ready for action. Her sex creamed just imagining the show in store.
Two sets of celestial blue eyes fell on her. “You’re going to help.”
“How?” She’d been intent on watching, observing the proceedings like her own private erotic peep show. But Fenton had other plans. Sprawling on his back next to her, he pulled her over to his side. “Lie on top of me, like a blanket.”
She moved, activating her shield. His sigh filled her ears, but too bad. The kind of close contact he was looking for, her body flush with his, meant she needed to protect herself.
“One of these days, luscious, you will trust me.” The Fenton still standing stroked his fingers down her cheek, her shield snapping and sizzling away all traces of him.
“If it makes you feel any better, I’ve trusted you more than I’ve ever trusted anyone.” The words slipped out before she thought about them. It wasn’t like her to make herself vulnerable in any way. She didn’t know who she was anymore; her priorities were skewed, all jumbled up by her need to survive. Pretending sh
e even distantly resembled the same woman who’d left Earth was ridiculous.
His thumb roved across her lip even as arms from the male body beneath her wrapped around her, guiding her into place. “Lie back.”
She would have thought it would be uncomfortable, that she would feel unbalanced. But Fenton’s big body seemed carved like a sensual piece of furniture, contouring to her form precisely. Her head rested on his shoulder, his hands roved across the expanse of her torso. His cock had somehow managed to nestle itself between the cheeks of her ass. Her thighs were parted by his and when he drew his knees up to rest his heels on the end of the mattress, hers were parted wide, putting her sex on display for the man looming above them.
Exposed, she shifted restlessly and he groaned aloud. Big palms cupped her breasts even as they ran up her legs.
“You have no idea how sexy you are, do you?” It wasn’t a question, not really. “To see you like this, spread out before me like a banquet, all sweet and hot and mine.” His head lowered between their spread legs.
His tongue made a zigzag motion across her parted folds, a light caress that made her ass cheeks clench. Beneath her he arched, pressing his cock against her more fully. Fingers tightened on her nipples, pinching and squeezing the taut buds, adding kindling to the fire raging out of control.
“You taste so good,” the one beneath her whispered in her ear even as his counterpart swept deeper into her folds. “I love the way your flesh yields to me, your sweet cream flooding my senses. I want to lose myself in your wet warmth.”
Turning her head, she took his mouth even as another set of his lips mated with another set of hers in a primal kiss. He invaded her every sense and she forgot the end goal, forgot everything but his overwhelming presence.
He worked her body hard, urging more and more wetness from her sex until it coated his face, her thighs, his balls drawn up tightly beneath her. Two fingers glided inside her grasping cunt just as he dragged his teeth over her clit. She broke the kiss, her body bowing up off the bed as release slammed into her with meteor-like impact. The cock between her buttocks twitched eagerly and a soft sizzle let her know precum had seeped from his shaft onto her shield. The thought alone made her come again, the next wave cresting before the first broke as she creamed over him, for him, on him.
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