The Alien Huntress Series

by Gena Showalter

  His eyelids closed briefly, and he sighed. “Thank you for not killing them.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  He jerked her closer, hugged her, and squeezed the breath right out of her. And then their lips met in a heated kiss. No preliminaries. One of his hands tangled in her hair, the other cupped her jaw, angling her head for deeper contact. She held on to him, afraid to let go.

  Desire swept through her, hot and hungry. He tasted as decadent as she remembered, was her anchor in the midst of a storm as she’d always craved, and gave her a sense of wholeness she’d never found with anyone else.

  How had she ever lived without him?

  He lifted his head and simply stared down at her, silver eyes intense. “God, I missed you.”

  “What took you so long?” she asked, nuzzling her cheek against his neck. His pulse was strong and fast. Dallas had to be wrong. No way this powerful man could be destroyed.

  He traced the tip of his thumb over her lips, and she shivered. “We’ll talk about that in a bit,” he said. He turned toward his friends, keeping Mishka snuggled at his side. “You locked her up?”

  No longer was his voice tender and loving. He sounded mean, like he could coldly murder anyone who stepped into his path.

  Unrepentant, Mia squared her shoulders. “Seemed like a good idea. She wrote a list, detailing all the ways to kill you.”

  He shrugged, unconcerned.

  Just like that. He trusted her, she realized with shock and awe. He didn’t even have to hear her reasoning.

  Mia shook her head in disgust. “Where have you been?”

  “I’ll explain later.”

  “It is later! We’ve been waiting. You left without warning. What else were we supposed to do? Let her go back to the otherworlder? Who has contacted his brethren, by the way. Not that you asked or even seemed to care.”

  A muscle ticked below Jaxon’s left eye, causing his scar to dance. “She’s mine, and I will not tolerate poor treatment of her. Understand?”

  Mute, Mia scowled at him.

  Dallas rubbed at his temples, as if warding off an ache. “Why don’t I go with my instincts anymore?” he muttered. “Just lift my gun and shoot.”

  Jaxon growled low in his throat.

  “Look,” Mishka said. “It’s fine. I’m fine. Just tell him about Nolan so we can all get back to work.”

  Dallas just shook his head in frustration and stomped off. He cared about Jaxon, she knew that. But no matter what his visions told him, she wasn’t going to let Jaxon get hurt. She’d die first.

  Facing Jaxon and ignoring Mishka as if she wasn’t even in the room, Mia said, “Eden snuck into Nolan’s apartment. She used X-ray goggles. That bubbly plaster in the bedroom wall is being used to hide something, a book of some sort, but she couldn’t get to it without letting Nolan know she was there.”

  “Did he do his disappearing act?”

  Mia nodded. “Twice. Lucius was able to monitor his body heat, though, and learned something interesting. Nolan doesn’t go to another planet or even to another parallel, as we first suspected. He doesn’t even molecularly transport. He just becomes invisible.”

  “But I watched him walk through a wall,” Jaxon said.

  Now Mia shook her head. “No. That’s what he wanted you to think. All he did was disappear in front of a wall, bit by bit. He stayed in the club the entire time, is my bet. Might even have followed you home.”

  Shit, Mishka thought, impressed. Sneaky bastard.

  “We’re not sure who he’s playing,” Mia said. “Us or his brethren.”

  “We need to find out what his ultimate goal is,” Mishka said.

  “No shit,” Mia muttered.

  Jaxon stiffened.

  “Don’t,” Mishka told him, knowing he was about to yell at the agent.

  Slowly he relaxed, and she fought a smile. She loved how protective he was of her, how he rushed to her defense. He’s mine. For now. The stray thought brought a frown. Don’t think like that.

  “If Nolan can’t transport, that means he can be locked away.” Jaxon stroked a finger along the stubble of his jaw. “Which means the others can be locked away, too.”

  Mia gave another nod.

  “Any more victims?”

  Yet another nod from Mia, this one grim. “Two civilians. Jack has them and he’s ceased all testing since three of the doctors became infected. Also, one of our own succumbed. Jaffee. She was dating one of the doctors.”

  Mishka kissed Jaxon’s neck. “I’m sorry.”

  He massaged her shoulder in acknowledgment. “I need a few hours with Mishka. Alone. And then—”

  Mia growled. “You’re putting another halt to the case to screw your murdering girlfriend?”

  He released Mishka and was in Mia’s face a moment later. “First, there’s not much we can do until we find the other Schön. And we can’t find them until Nolan makes a move. Right now, he’s not moving. Second, don’t talk about Mishka like that. I will retaliate. She’s endured more than you’ll ever know. She suffered for your friend, did you know that? She—”

  “Jaxon,” Mishka said. “Don’t. Please.”

  He ran his tongue over his teeth and quieted. He didn’t want to, she could tell, but he did it. For her.

  Suddenly Kyrin shoved Mia behind him, violet eyes glaring hotly at Jaxon. “I will retaliate, as well. You do not yell at Mia.”

  “Bring it on.”

  Mishka had always wanted someone to fight for her, and now a man was doing it. Truly, Jaxon had made all her dreams come true. But now she realized that it would be better for him to not fight for her. He could lose his friends, people he cherished.

  Now his happiness came before her own.

  When she died, she did not want him left with nothing.

  “Jaxon, they didn’t hurt me.” She stroked a hand over his spine. “They fed me, gave me shelter, and were even mildly entertaining.”

  The stiffness did not leave his body. “You deserve better.”

  Okay. Seriously. She loved this man. “I wanted to be here. I knew you’d show up sooner or later.”

  His shallow breaths became more even and deep.

  Huffing with indignation, Mia pushed her way back to front and center and glared at Jaxon. “Look at the trouble she’s causing already. I wouldn’t doubt if she caused this strife on purpose. And that list—”

  “Isn’t important. I need her for the case, so I’m taking her,” Jaxon said, getting them back on track. “She’s our best chance for success, and you know it. Just give me a fucking couple of hours. I have something to show her and then she’ll be able to convince Nolan to lead us directly to the other Schön.”

  Something to show her? What?

  “You know how to reach me,” he continued. “Call me if anything happens.”

  “Yeah? I should call you if she tries number eleven? Injecting a virus into the tip of your penis so no one will find the puncture wound and know what happened?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Fine,” Mia snapped, “but you’re stupid to trust her. She’s been in touch with her boss since you left. He ordered her to kill you. Did you know that?” With that, Mia and Kyrin stomped off, their footsteps echoing in the hall.

  CHAPTER 23

  I’m not going to kill you,” Le’Ace assured him, a sort of desperate panic in her voice. She gripped his shirt. “I’m not even going to try, I swear. I made the list because I was planning how best to protect you, to fortify your vulnerabilities. As for Estap—”

  “I know, sweetheart.”

  Jaxon glanced over at Mishka, and his heart swelled in his chest. At the word sweetheart, her red lips had parted on a gasp and tears had misted her hazel eyes.

  God, she was lovely. His friends hadn’t let her bathe; her hair hung in tangles, and dark circles formed half-moons under her eyes, but she was still the most beautiful sight he’d ever seen. Strong, courageous, and loving. Yeah, he could see it in her gaze.

  The
woman loved him.

  Her face glowed with the emotion, softening her features with all kinds of sexy. More than that, she wouldn’t have given herself to him otherwise. She wouldn’t have waited here with people who hated her. He knew her skills; she could have escaped at any time and killed everyone in residence.

  She was probably scared right now. Not of him, but of Estap. She probably expected punishment and pain. Yet still she remained in place, unwilling to hurt Jaxon in any way.

  “You trust me?” she asked, incredulous. “I mean, I realized you did when you didn’t care about the list, but…”

  “But you need to hear me say it. I understand. Absolutely I trust you. No question. I see your heart, woman, I know who you really are.” He drew her closer, so close their chests pressed together. He cupped her cheeks and traced his thumbs over her smooth skin, wishing he could give her the world. Would give it to her, in fact. “Come on. I need to show you something.”

  She swallowed. “You mentioned that already. What?”

  “Sweetheart, you’re just going to have to trust me. It’s a surprise.”

  Her eyes misted again. Obviously she liked being called by the endearment, so he was going to make sure he called her sweetheart at least fifty times a day.

  “I don’t understand what’s going on.”

  “You will,” he promised. He twined their hands together and tugged her from the cell, up a flight of stairs, and into the main area.

  His friends were congregated in the living room, where they’d set up observation. Snack wrappers and empty cups littered the floor. Eden and Lucius manned the computers. Devyn lounged in a chair, flipping through a holocopy of Kink magazine, it looked like. Not that Jaxon had a subscription or anything. Mia and Kyrin sat on the love seat and Mia was outlining Jaxon’s “dumb-ass behavior.”

  “Call my cell if anything changes,” Jaxon told them.

  “Will do,” Eden said, flashing him an amused grin. Her skin and hair were so golden they glittered in the light. A honey scent wafted from her, and that scent apparently affected Lucius in a big way. The man’s cheeks were flushed and he was shifting uncomfortably in his seat.

  Jaxon knew the feeling. He’d like nothing more than to whisk Mishka away for heart-pounding, sweat-dripping sex, her pleasure screams in his ears, her nails in his ass, her legs on his shoulders. Afterward, he wanted to hold her, talk to her.

  Soon…

  He’d missed her more than anything he’d ever missed before.

  Outside, the sun shone brightly and he had to blink against its harsh rays as they stepped past the garage’s bared walls. The midday air was warmer than usual, beading sweat over his body. Cars sped down the surrounding streets, flashes of color quickly gone. To the right, he could see the gates to Nolan’s building. A group of people were leaving, talking and laughing.

  Jaxon helped Mishka into his SUV and buckled her in. After giving her a swift kiss, he settled in the driver’s seat and programmed their location. Automatically the car jostled into gear and onto the road, its sensors and navigation system in control, freeing him to face his woman.

  He lifted her hand and kissed the inside of her wrist. Her pulse hammered. He couldn’t keep his hands off her, had to be touching her, had to know she was near and she wouldn’t float away like a dream.

  “I didn’t mean to be gone so long. I’m sorry.”

  Her lashes lowered, casting shadows over her cheeks. “You don’t owe me an explanation.”

  “Yeah. I do. We’re in what I like to call an exclusive give-and-take relationship. That implies certain rights. You have a right to know where I am and what I’m doing, just like I have a right to know about you.”

  White teeth nibbled on her bottom lip. “All right. Where were you?”

  “With Estap,” he admitted, expecting an explosive reaction.

  “What!” Her mouth fell open, and her gaze snapped to his. “What did he want? What did he say to you? Did he hurt you? That dirty piece of—”

  “He wanted me to interview an infected human,” Jaxon said, fighting a grin, “but that human died while I was in flight. And Estap said a lot of shit, most of which I ignored.”

  “Oh, my God. You pissed him off. That’s why he called me.” A statement, not a question.

  Jaxon nodded.

  Her lips edged into a slow smile, though there was panic in her eyes. “I wish I could have been there. Did you punch him? Tell me you punched him. Lie if you have to, but tell me!”

  Excitement had blended with her panic, radiating from her, and Jaxon just couldn’t resist a moment longer. He had to hold her in his arms. He unbuckled her and tugged her into his lap. She had to straddle him to fit into the small alcove his big body and the seat provided.

  His cock jumped in response, reaching for her, wanting to be inside her.

  “Can anyone see us?” she gasped out as she settled against him.

  “Tinted windows. And yeah, I punched him.”

  Moaning, she closed her eyes in ecstasy. She gripped his shoulders, her strawberry tresses falling like a curtain around them. “Tell me more.”

  “His lip busted and two of his teeth fell out. Blood poured, and he cried like a baby.”

  “God, that’s the sexiest thing I’ve ever heard.” Mishka arched against Jaxon’s swollen shaft, pressing hard before flitting away. Both of them groaned at the intense surge of pleasure. “More.”

  Jaxon palmed her breasts. Her nipples were so pearled they stabbed at his palms. “I kicked him in the stomach.”

  Up and down she moved against him, rubbing…tantalizing. “I’m so wet.”

  “You want to come?”

  “Yes. Please.”

  He unsnapped her pants and delved a hand past her panties, right to her very center. Hot and wet, just as she’d claimed. He hissed in a breath. She cried out his name, practically ripped open his jeans, and wrapped her fingers around his cock.

  Their lips met in a heated clash, tongues thrusting, bodies undulating. She tasted so sweet, like passion and eternity. He pumped two fingers inside her as she rode his shaft with her hand, up and down, up and down.

  More, he needed more.

  He pulled from the kiss and bent his head, sucking one of her nipples through her shirt. Her inner walls squeezed at him, encouraging him to do more, take more. Another finger slid inside her, and his thumb circled her clit.

  “I want this inside me,” she gasped, working the head of his penis. Round and round.

  “Shit,” he managed to get out. “Don’t stop.”

  “Want to make love,” she pouted.

  “Here?”

  “Here.”

  He had her pants on the floorboard one second later, and his dick inside her two seconds later. Besides Mishka, he’d never taken a woman without a condom. Just like before, her heat and wetness proved to be paradise. And yet, never had something been more erotic, more satisfying. This was home.

  The car turned a corner and they shifted to the side, but he never stopped pumping deep, hard, fast. She undulated against him, nipped and bit at his face, jerked at his hair, completely lost in her desire.

  When their orgasms hit, they hit with the strength and force of his thrusts. Jaxon reclaimed her lips, swallowing her screams as he shot inside her, over and over again. Until he was empty, his strength depleted.

  She slumped against him, and he realized their hearts were racing in sync.

  What could have been a minute or an eternity later, the car eased to a stop. Cursing under his breath, panting, he glanced out the window. They’d reached their destination. “We’re here.”

  Mishka’s head lifted, and she gifted him with a luminous, satisfied smile. He wanted to curse again when she pulled away from him, but he didn’t. They were on a time crunch. Instead, he tugged his shirt off and used it to clean them both up. As she shimmied back into her pants, he righted his own.

  Tonight, I’ll linger over her, he vowed.

  “Where are we?” she
asked.

  “My house.”

  Eyes wide, she faced him. “Really? You brought me to your home?”

  She asked as if she didn’t deserve to be there. “Of course.”

  “Why?”

  “That’s the surprise.” He commanded the car door to open and it obeyed. Out he climbed before lifting Mishka to the ground beside him. Up, up, up she gazed.

  “Wow. The pictures didn’t do it justice.”

  He looked the house over, trying to see it through her eyes. Tall and winding, the four-story mansion boasted red brick, pristine and well kept. The lawn was manicured and green, the trees scattered throughout real. There were no other houses in sight, since he owned the surrounding hundred acres.

  “It’s a family home. My grandfather gave it to me.”

  “I love it.”

  He was glad, since he planned to move her in as soon as possible. “Come on.” He looped an arm over her shoulder and ushered her up the steps, past the porch, and through the French double doors, which opened the moment the sensors registered his identity.

  The entryway boasted intricately carved beige walls, with red velvet vanity chairs positioned around a cherrywood half-table. Four columns led to the wide, winding staircase. To the left and right, swirling gold and black carpet formed a path into the front and rear drawing rooms, both of which led into never-used formal dining rooms.

  Mishka ground her feet into the wood floor, trying to slow him down. “Hold on. I’m looking.”

  He brought his stride to a casual gait. She eyed the crystal chandelier and the portraits of his family hanging throughout.

  Her brow furrowed. “There are none of you.”

  “No. My mother has the ones of me as a kid, and I haven’t had any done since moving out on my own. Like I really want to look at my ugly mug every morning.”

  “That’s ridiculous. You’re not ugly.”

  “You sound like my mom.”

  “Fuck that,” she muttered.

  He barked out a laugh. “Okay, now you sound like my woman.”

  A rosy blush colored her cheeks. “Much better.”

  Finally he managed to get her up the polished steps and past the square center hall. He bypassed the second-floor drawing room where he kept his poker table and virtual game center.