Kyele's Passion: A World Beyond Book 4

by Michelle Howard

  “I was s-scared.”

  “I know.” Kyele ran his hands up and down her back to soothe, long, broad strokes from waist to nape over and over again. He never let emotions get the best of him, but Joni held his heart in her soft Earth hands. The trembling slowed as he lifted the weight of her hair to entangle it about his fist. Desire rose and his shaft hardened with an ache that had him clenching his jaw on a groan. His arm at her waist clamped tight as he dragged in a ragged breath and pulled her impossibly close.

  This. This was why he’d rushed over; the very air he breathed trapped in his lungs. For this female who fit in his arms as if there was no better place for her to be. He inhaled, taking in Joni’s familiar scent as it teased his senses.

  “I’ve got you,” he murmured again and his throat swelled with need.

  He was hers.

  She was his.

  Someone he couldn’t have. His arms crushed her to him, the folds of her sleep gown sliding against his hands. Delicate, silken fabric he could rip. He wanted to feel her. Skin to skin. The urge to do so pounded at his temple with an insistent beat.

  His fingers rested above the rounded curve of her ass. If he lowered it the smallest fraction he could cup and squeeze to his delight. Her soft body said she wouldn’t protest.

  Joni’s cries dwindled and she let out a broken hiccup. Such a little sound but it gutted him further and acted as a reminder. They needed to leave. Until he figured out who was behind breaking into her place as well as the earlier attack on the females, it wasn’t safe to stand about. But his chest tightened at having to let her go.

  Kyele forced himself to release his grip. Joni’s fingers clenched on the material of his shirt when he pulled back, but using utmost care, Kyele carefully loosened each finger. They stood close enough their fronts brushed. She tipped her head up, gaze questioning. His thumb traced her bottom lip and her tongue darted out, the tip tasting him.

  Sensations flooded his veins and unable to hold back his relief any longer, Kyele kissed her. A hungry demand for her surrender. He pulled her tight and spun them, using the wall to brace her weight. When she curved one thigh around his hips, he groaned and pumped against her.

  “Kyele,” she moaned his name into his mouth as his tongue slid along hers.

  He hitched her higher, plush form cradling his throbbing erection and ignored the twinge from his ribs. Her hips rolled as she sought to get closer, both legs wrapped around his waist. Kyele pulled back and Joni followed, biting his lip in retaliation. Kyele growled and slammed her hands to the wall by her head. Her breath quickened.

  “You are temptation itself,” he muttered before his mouth plundered the depths of her glistening lips.

  Joni rocked against him, her heels kicking his thrusting hips. It was too much. He could drown in her softness, the warmth of her body. Desperation drove him to rotate against her center as pleasure curled up his spine. Another groan and Kyele broke away with a gasp, their breath mingling.

  When he lifted his head, her lids fluttered, revealing a slim line of gold. Loose strands of red caressed her pinkened cheeks. She swayed toward him and Kyele gritted his teeth to keep from leaning forward for a deeper savoring.

  He tried to lower her slight weight to the floor but her heels dug in. Fear glimmered in her eyes and she shook her head. The gesture shredded his heart. He kissed the side of her mouth to whisper, “Release me. Please.”

  It was the second time he’d used the word with Joni, but he needed her strength to break away and a will of iron.

  Her legs slid down and he lowered her to until she had her footing. His grip on her wrists eased and Kyele dragged air into his chest and moved back another step. “I am taking you to the Jutak facility.”

  Joni fingered the chain about her neck. Worry tightened her features but she didn’t argue. “Do you know what’s going on?”

  He clasped his hand with hers, giving himself the small connection. He didn’t like Joni frightened and wished he could kill the Chamele all over again. “The male I found in your bedroom is dead. I’m unsure if another worked with him, which is why we must leave.”

  Kyele tugged her in the direction of the electric stairway. He didn’t like being as exposed as they were. Thunder sounded outside as if to underscore his point. Without his attention fully on Joni, he once again pulled on his training as a Jutak warrior. Getting her behind secure walls became a priority.

  At the main entrance on the lower level, he risked a glance at her, dismayed at the sight of her bare feet. Rain still pounded the ground outside the glass door. She’d be drenched in no time. Nothing they could do about it since he had no intentions of returning to her place without his team with him.

  “Are you ready? I have the hover-car waiting a little further down.” He was grateful for the foresight which kept him from parking in front of her building. Something about this brazen attack didn’t feel right.

  “More than ready,” she quipped with the beginnings of the humor he associated with Joni.

  Kyele unholstered his laser while keeping his other hand firmly in hers. As soon as they went outside of the building, rain slicked the tiny bronze gown she wore to her skin. The hard jut of her nipples pressed against the material causing his mouth to water. She shuffled from one foot to the other, her long legs golden and lean. Kyele struggled to tamp down his desire.

  “Stay close to me,” he ordered, knowing his voice came out harsh.

  Her residence in the city contained multiple roadways and smaller pathways that went to the back entrances of some of the neighboring buildings. Tree shuddered from the force of the storm. To be safe, Kyele led Joni through several twists and turns. None of it stopped the itch at the back of his neck. Someone was watching them.

  “We’re going to run.” He didn’t look down at Joni but scanned the surroundings, their backs pressed against the wall of the building he used as cover. He’d taken them away from the hover-car with the intent to double back. Now he wished he’d gone straight for the transport.

  “Running’s good.”

  The laughter in her comment drew his attention. Joni smiled up at him, droplets of water clinging to her eyelashes. Trust blazed back from the golden depths. Her hair was a wet slick coil draped over one shoulder but she didn’t complain. His gaze dropped to her body. Wet all over and shivering from the cold.

  Once more his rage flared. She had every right to be angry with him. She could have called someone else to help her after the way he’d treated her. But she still trusted him to keep her safe and he wouldn’t let her down. Kyele released her hand to cup her jaw. “You’re sure you’re alright?”

  She swiped at the sodden hair falling in her face and blinked as rain continued to fall around them. “I’m tough. Don’t worry about me.”

  Never. He’d never stop worrying about her. He tugged on Joni’s arm and ran toward the direction of the hover-car, keeping Joni close to his side.

  Laser fire sounded, sending chipped pieces of stone exploding by their faces.

  “Kyele!” Joni screamed.

  “Down! Get down!” Heart in his throat, Kyele pushed Joni to the ground in front of him. He covered her body completely and listened. After the first burst everything went quiet. Holding his laser blaster at the ready, he angled his head in the direction of the probable shooter.

  “What’s going on?” Joni didn’t struggle against him but the waver in her voice brought back his seething anger.

  “It seems you indeed have more than one visitor tonight.” Staying low, he guided her to crawl ahead of him until they reached the first break in the flow of buildings.

  Standing with her, the narrow wedge allowed him to corner Joni and block any access to her from all sides. Pulse pounding, Kyele’s gaze roamed the area as he tried to judge where the sniper had set up. A brief flicker caught his eye from a nearby rooftop. Right there. Bastard wasn’t as smart as he thought.

  Kyele spoke to Joni over his shoulder. “When I tell you to go, hea
d for the hover-car. I’ll be right behind you.”

  ***

  Joni stared at Kyele’s back, adrenaline pumping. She pushed strands of wet hair behind her ear and tried to decide if he was telling the truth or not. Right now, his body heat and the rigid way he held himself told her more than his brief words. He was in deadly Jutak warrior mode. A man capable of doing harm.

  “Did you hear me, Joni?” His voice roughened on the question.

  That particular tone brought back the vivid memory of climaxing on his lap. Right before he’d rejected her. And still she would willingly listen to him because Joni knew with every fiber of her being that Kyele wouldn’t let anyone hurt her. She spun him around to face her. “You’re going to be behind me?”

  Shadows played over his face. “Yes.”

  The green hue of his eyes darkened. He was lying. Joni didn’t know how she knew but she did. Her stomach twisted into knots. The thought of Kyele hurt gave her chills.

  Glaring for good measure, she fisted his shirt and leaned in close. Now wasn’t the time to be scared. She put as much iron will in her voice as she could muster. “You better not let anything happen to you, Kyele. You won’t like what I’ll do.”

  The corner of his lips curled, recognizing the play on the words he’d spoken to her earlier. He clasped one of her hands and kissed her knuckles, melting Joni with the simple gesture. “Go, little Earthling.”

  Joni ran.

  As soon as she took off, lasers blasted nearby. Her heart stuttered as Joni ran full tilt doing her best to keep ahead of Kyele. No foot steps clambered in her wake. She risked a glance over her shoulder. Whimpers escaped her trembling lips when she realized he wasn’t behind her. Her lungs labored as panic threatened. Damn alien soldier. She faced forward determined to stay safe. More weapons fired, creating a cacophony of sound, but this time it came from feet away letting her know Kyele was doing the shooting.

  Chapter 16

  As soon as Joni took off, Kyele focused on the enemy. He waited to make sure she reached the safety of the hover-car fired again and again in the direction of their attacker to keep him pinned down. when a laser blasted near her, Joni ducked and raised her arms over her head.

  Leaping into the middle of the walkway, Kyele ran in the opposite direction and kept firing to distract. As soon as the doors slammed on the vehicle, Kyele zeroed in on the lone figure perched on the edge of the rooftop directly across from where he stood.

  Resolution settled now that Joni wasn’t out in the open. The figure rose from his crouch and started running across the top of the buildings for his escape since he’d lost the benefit of surprise. Kyele’s gaze hardened as he smiled and assumed his other form. Now to find out who was so determined to hurt Joni.

  When he reached the rooftop, Kyele shifted back and raced ahead, gaze on the fleeing man. His boots splashed water up, soaking the bottom of his pants. The man surged forward then made the mistake of looking over his shoulder. Kyele assumed his other form and was on him instantly.

  His hand snapped out, closing around a slim throat. The startled scream broke off as Kyele became physical again. “Who are you? Who sent you?”

  “Please. It’s just a job.” The pleading ended on a cry as Kyele tightened his grip.

  Patience running thin, Kyele used his free hand to bring up his knife and place it directly over the man’s pounding heart. “Who. Sent.You?”

  “The Collector.”

  He frowned, the name not registering. “The Collector?”

  The man struggled but Kyele’s grip tightened as he pressed his knife closer, the point tearing through the fabric of the dark colored shirt.

  “That’s all I know. He’s The Collector and wants the woman from Earth.”

  Kyele would have Jaron figure out the rest later. “Did you send the Chamele to her place?”

  “We’re partners.” The rapid pulse beneath his fingers sped up. “We do jobs together.”

  Kyele let out a harsh growl and leaned in. The knife dug deep. “Consider yourself without a partner.”

  Brown eyes widened and the man moaned. “Don’t kill me. There’s two more.”

  The blood drained from Kyele’s face, his head jerking up and to the side. He strained to view the street below but couldn’t see the hover-car from here. “What?”

  “I came with three others. You…you only mentioned the Chamele.” He blinked rapidly and for the first time smiled. The gleam held malicious pleasure. “They’re down below. One inside her place, me on the roof to take her out if she escaped and then two street side in case she had help.”

  “You’re done.” Kyele plunged the knife deep and dropped him. After wiping his knife on his pants leg, he tapped his comm and sped back the way he’d come. “Jaron?”

  “What’s wrong, Kyele?” It didn’t matter that it was the dark of night. Jaron monitored the communications of every team member with diligence.

  Kyele hurried to the edge of the building. “Someone sent four assassins after Joni. Find all you can about The Collector.”

  “Do you need assistance?”

  Not when he got through with them. “No.”

  Jaron hissed. “Be careful.”

  Kyele dove over the side as he shifted forms mid-flight and landed on the walkway on two legs, the impact jarring his bones. Joni’s scream ripped through the air and he disconnected without responding to Jaron.

  He rushed toward the hover-car only to find it empty. Another piercing scream broke the night. Kyele turned, catching sight as two men dragged Joni behind a building. There was a rough edge to them, confirming his assumption she’d been targeted by a criminal element. Whoever it was lacked professional mercenary contacts, because these men were amateurs. There clothes were worn and the skin around their faces held a yellow tint hinting at lack of nutrition or sickness.

  Kyele followed. Joni put up a good fight, every kick and punch well placed. They held her between them trying to hurry. Thanks to her efforts, Kyele reached the one on the left without notice and wrapped his arms around the man from behind. Her gaze met his. He’d expected the fright in their depths but not the anger.

  The second guy abandoned his partner and threw Joni over his shoulder as he took off running. Everything in him wanted to pursue but he needed to be strategic and that meant taking them out one by one. It seemed they wanted Joni alive. Kyele had to trust in that as he let the distance between them grow.

  The assailant he held spun in his hold and punched him in the side. It was the same spot the Chamele had injured. Kyele gasped, his grip releasing reflexively but he reached for his knife and swiped upward. The spurting blood filled him with satisfaction but the attacker lashed out with a kick that skimmed Kyele’s temple. He stumbled back on the rain slick ground.

  A low chuckle rumbled forth. “Not so great now, Jutak.”

  Unwilling to waste time, Kyele drew his laser and aimed for the brown eyes staring at him. He pushed to his feet, hand unwavering. “Who sent you?”

  Although his skin paled, the next words proved the man didn’t care what happened to him. “You’ll have to shoot me, Jutak.”

  Another of Joni’s screams lifted the hair on Kyele’s head. The distraction cost him as a blow to the face sent him crashing back into the wall of the building behind him. Kyele fired and missed as the man raced off on a burst of speed.

  Curses lodged in his throat as Kyele rose to his feet with a roar and ran after him. From his memory during the times he scouted the area for vulnerable positions, the unused street ended with no outlet. They’d be trapped. Kyele closed in, lungs pumping.

  Joni must have managed to break away but they blocked her exit. She faced them, hands raised in a defensive position. Both men closed in on her. The one on the right shoved her to the ground and picked her back up by her hair. She rammed a fist into his crotch area and he retaliated with a punch to her face.

  Panic slammed into Kyele when she cried out. He bit his inner cheek hard and stayed where he was
though everything in him wanted to rush forward and annihilate. He couldn’t risk Joni being hurt in the cross fire. Going against his nature, he tried to placate them. “I’m not attacking. Don’t hurt the female.”

  They turned toward him as the taller of the two banded an arm across Joni’s middle and yelled, “Drop your weapon!”

  After activating the locking mechanism, Kyele carefully tossed his laser to the ground. He didn’t need it to kill them. Joni lifted her head and stared. His chest constricted. She was soaked, hair falling about her face and chest rising with each breath but her eyes blazed with fire. It was the most beautiful sight Kyele had ever seen.

  “She’s pretty.” The man gripping her hair nuzzled his cheek along Joni’s and Kyele’s need to lash out almost broke free. Then he noticed the smear of blood on the corner of her lip and the small bruise forming on her right cheekbone.

  “You’ll pay for that,” he said, sending them both a dark look of retribution.

  “Why do you care about one woman?” The one on the left asked.

  Kyele didn’t waste time answering. He had his own questions to ask. Questions that would help him figure out how to protect Joni. “Who sent you?”

  “The Collector.”

  Joni flinched, drawing Kyele’s attention. Her face lost all color and her shoulders rounded forward as if to protect herself from a hidden foe. The extreme reaction cut through his skin deeper than any blade. A fierce need to protect surged forward and in that moment he lost all desire for more answers.

  Shifting forms, he surrounded the two dark haired men before they knew what hit them. Kyele retained enough control to deposit Joni far back from the mayhem.

  Pure rage ruled. Faster and faster he whirled, creating a vortex of wind and rain. He partially changed his fists mid-way to plunge through flesh as he caused the most damage possible. Every sound they made was a symphony of pleasure to Kyele’s ears. Using the gift of his heritage, he delved into their bodies and laid waste to their insides.