Razor's Edge

by Lisanne Norman

  “Stop it! You know I’m no good at mind-speaking!”

  “You’re a fighter, like me,” he said. “We’ve both fought this as best we could, but it’s stronger than either of us. Instead of defeat, look on it as a mission. I’ve never been with a Human before, just as you’ve never paired with a Sholan. It’s unknown territory for both of us, and the only way out is through it.”

  She shuddered as a wave of lust spread through her.

  “That’s the Link,” he agreed. “They’re right, it is like a Leska Link, only not as strong.” He moved away from the door. “I’m not causing it, or adding to it in any way. Everything you feel, I’m feeling, too. It would have been better for both of us if it had never happened, but that’s not the case, I’m afraid.” He was desperate not to scare her. He knew if he did, he’d have another problem like the one with Zashou on his hands, and he couldn’t bear that.

  Knowing her fear of aliens, he’d had plenty of time to think it through, to work out the best way to approach her when the time came. Slowly he began to undo his belt, throwing it aside before pulling off his tunic.

  Her eyes were becoming heavy as a warm lassitude spread through her. She tried to blink it away, aware with part of her mind that she was falling deep into some kind of enthrallment where what he was saying actually made sense.

  As he moved to put his tunic on the nearest chair, he sensed what was happening to her and thanked all the Gods. It had to be female-oriented because he wasn’t experiencing anything. It was akin to the effect jeggets had on their prey—hypnotic. At least it was damping her terror, making it easier for him to approach her.

  Holding his arms out to the side, he turned around slowly. “See? I’m not so different from your males,” he said. “We know we’re compatible because you say your friend has a Sholan Leska. I believe that now,” he added wryly. “There really is nothing to be afraid of.” His voice was a low, persuasive purr.

  She frowned, narrowing her eyes. Was it her imagination, or had he moved closer to her? And there was something very different about him.

  “We might even enjoy it,” he said, taking a slow step toward her.

  She stood her ground. “You’re sexless,” she said, shocked. “How can you possibly …”

  He laughed gently. “I’d be at a loss if I was. No, I’m male. Let me show you.” Slowly, slowly, he told himself. This was so difficult for him. Patience was not one of his strong points, but he was determined to get it right this time.

  As he came closer, she wrapped her arms protectively across her chest, suddenly realizing just how thin and revealing her night shift was. Her dismay drew his attention to its deficiencies. Though her legs, unlike his people’s, were straight, the glimpses he got of them hinted at a length and muscular firmness that only fueled his own mounting desire.

  “I don’t want to know.” She backed off again, but his hand reached out to catch her. “You said you wouldn’t force me,” she said, suddenly afraid.

  “And I won’t,” he said, adjusting his grip to make sure his claws remained sheathed. With his other hand, he reached out to touch her short cap of hair.

  She flinched instinctively, then stood still. His touch was like fire, a cool fire that flared brightly through her body, leaving her leaning against him, trembling.

  The hands that now held her face were gentle, yet she was aware of the strength within them that was being kept in check. With a touch as light as a feather, his fingers trailed down her cheek, brushing her neck only hesitantly before coming to rest on her shoulders. His body pressed against hers and she felt his breath warm against her cheek. Then he laid his face against hers. It felt silky-soft against her skin. He said her name as if it were a caress. “Jo.”

  It was the dream! Oh, God, this was what she’d seen!

  He turned his face to hers, his nose feeling cool as it briefly touched her. Once more her inner fire flared, this time starting low down in her belly. Against her will, a soft moan escaped her as she clutched him by the arm.

  “Doesn’t it feel good?” His voice was barely a whisper, then his lips touched hers.

  She leaned into the kiss, flicking her tongue across his lips, anxious to have more of the strange, cool fire coursing through her. Surprised, he nevertheless responded, tasting for himself the heat.

  Hesitantly he touched her neck, not sure if she’d allow such an intimate gesture yet. Again, she responded with a softly muffled sound.

  Taking one of her hands in his, he placed it so her palm was touching his side. He encouraged her to move it across his ribs then down his flank, following the lie of his pelt, across to his thigh.

  She felt him tense, his muscles briefly tightening. Clutching her hand, he drew it across to his lower belly. One moment she was touching the smoothness of his groin, the next she was holding his genitals, well aware he was a complete male. Before shock made her instinctively release him, he’d begun to swell.

  Reluctantly he pulled himself away from her. “No more yet,” he said with a small shudder. “I want to see you.” His voice had deepened now that he was fully aroused.

  He reached for the neck of her shift which she was still clutching. Gently he opened her fingers; she didn’t resist him. Putting his hands to her shoulders, he pushed her garment back, letting it fall to where she still held her arms across her chest.

  “Tomorrow,” he said. “Tomorrow you can share this with your Kris if you want, and nothing will disturb you, I promise, but this night is ours.”

  His voice is so gentle, she thought as the heavy languor rolled through her again. As if in a dream, she moved her arms, letting the shift fall to her waist.

  Rezac gently tried to force it lower, but the opening was too narrow to pass over her hips. Dropping his head, he pulled the seam toward him, carefully biting through the stitching for another inch or two, his eyes all the while still on her face. He let it go and straightened up. Nothing prevented it from falling to the ground now.

  She watched as he took a step back, his eyes traveling over her nakedness. Strangely, she found she wasn’t embarrassed. His reaction would have been satisfying enough for any woman.

  Tentatively he reached out to stroke her breast. “So beautiful,” he murmured. “So different from our females.”

  There was no going back now, no stopping for either of them, she realized. Part of her mind was totally bemused by all that was happening, unable to understand how a male so different from her own kind could engender such feelings and responses from her. He was beautiful, though. Firelight flickered across his pelt, highlighting his muscles, making the dark brown fur gleam. His hair, almost black in this light, was long, framing his face almost like a mane. In the dim light, his eyes glowed. She looked lower, seeing the well-muscled chest that tapered only slightly in to the hips, then the immensely powerful thighs and lower legs, the joints in all the wrong places to her eyes. His tail flicked into view as it swept lazily from side to side. She’d forgotten his tail.

  Looking back up to his face, she realized he was waiting for a signal from her. Reaching out, she took hold of his hand, placing it over her left breast. He didn’t need a second invitation. Leaning forward, he teased her nipples with the tip of his tongue, fascinated by her response.

  She remained leaning against him, supported by his left arm, her head lolling back against his shoulder. The sensations he was creating entranced her—as did those she felt from him. His other hand was exploring her body, stroking gently across her back, moving lower over her buttocks and across her hips to her belly. By the time he ran his fingertips up the inside of her thighs, she was trembling on the edge of orgasm.

  Where? he sent. Where do I enter you? You’re as different from our females as I am from your males.

  She showed him, body arching with pleasure as he briefly touched her before scooping her into his arms and carrying her over to his pallet by the fire. He knelt, placing her down amid the rugs. Pulling him close, she felt her body thrill to th
e silky touch of his belly fur against her bare skin. Her hands curved round his hips, stroking down to his thighs, then curling round between his legs before returning to his lower back where the root of his tail lay.

  As she touched him there, he moaned, reaching behind to stop her. Not yet, he sent, rearing up. He grasped her round the waist and eased her into a position he hoped would be right for both of them. He couldn’t wait any longer; her scent, the sight of her nakedness, was driving him wild, and he had to stay in control. The Gods had given him a second chance, why, he had no idea, but this time, he had to get it right!

  She realized what he was doing, but before her fear had time to take hold, he’d entered her. Instantly their minds merged in an explosion of sensations and images. She could feel not only his movements within her, but also how tightly her body gripped him.

  “Dear God,” she whispered as he came down on top of her again, his long fur stroking her belly as he began to move more urgently. His mouth closed on her cheek, alternately licking and nipping her till he reached her mouth. She held him there with a kiss as wild as he could wish for. They climaxed as one, bound now into a Triad.

  Images continued to flicker through her mind, images of his life, until she knew him as intimately as she knew herself. As the Link faded, leaving them once more separate, she felt Rezac begin to move away from her, both mentally and physically, tensing himself as he did.

  Her Talent now fully awakened, she sent to him, wanting to know why. Even before he responded, she knew what it was, that it touched the very heart of his trouble with Zashou: her inability from that first knowledge of him, to accept him not only for what he was, but for what he’d been. He was expecting an outburst of anger from her similar to Zashou’s when she’d discovered they’d formed a Leska Link. She remembered then how Zashou had yelled at him, what she’d said and felt about having a Link to him, and realized with shame that she’d behaved no better than his Leska.

  He withdrew from her, sitting back among the rumpled covers.

  “I’m sorry, Rezac,” she said, reaching out to touch him. An echo of the fire they’d felt was still there, sending a tingle through her. This time, she didn’t let go. “I was only thinking of myself. I forgot that you have feelings, too. I had no right to say what I did.”

  He looked up, ears hidden by his hair, and shrugged. “It’s all right, Jo. You weren’t to know, especially considering what you went through with the Valtegans.”

  “It’s not all right,” she insisted, sitting up and moving closer to him. “I am sorry, and you were right, we did enjoy ourselves.”

  His ears lifted slightly. “We did, didn’t we? I made a mess of it with Zashou. She’s never forgiven me for that—or for being what I am.”

  For a moment she saw the unsure young male who hid behind the battle-hardened warrior. She smiled, taking him by the chin, drawing him close enough to kiss. The magic’s still there, she sent as she felt them once more sharing sensations.

  I know.

  Do we have Link days?

  Perhaps. There were no Links like this when we left Shola. She felt his hesitation. Will you stay with me till it passes?

  She moved closer. “Hold me, make me want to stay,” she whispered, her mouth catching hold of his ear. “I would like to.”

  He began to purr, a sound she’d never heard a Sholan make before. “Let me speak to Zashou, tell her what we’re doing.”

  “Will she mind?”

  His laugh had a bitter edge to it as he scrambled to his feet. “No, she’ll be pleased.” He took a couple of steps away from her, then returned to her side, kneeling down again. “What about Kris?”

  “I want to be with you, Rezac,” she said gently. “You said tonight was ours.”

  “You really do mean it,” he said, surprised. “But how can you, when you know what I’ve done?”

  “We’re the same, Rezac. We’ve paid a price for freedom that others can’t understand. You were forced to join the packs because of your family, to pay a debt they owed. That’s not your fault. The authorities pardoned you when you were recruited for the Telepath Program. It’s not what you were that matters, it’s what you are now.” Again she kissed him.

  “How can you see it the way you do?” he asked, between kisses.

  “Because we’re alike, you and I.”

  He stood up reluctantly, letting his fingers trail off her cheek till he was no longer touching her. “I’ll not be long,” he said.

  Taking his tunic from the chair, he hastily pulled it on before going into the lounge. It was empty apart from Kris, who sat there waiting for him. He slowed to a stop as the Human looked up at him.

  “I figured she’d be staying the night with you,” Kris said, indicating a small bundle on the table. “Her things. Washcloth, towel, clothes, you know the stuff.”

  “Thank you,” said Rezac, stepping over to pick them up. “Zashou?”

  “She’s in with us.” He got to his feet. “She says you can use the bed.”

  “I’m sorry, Kris. I wouldn’t have come between you if I could have helped it.”

  “Leave it for tonight, Rezac,” Kris said tiredly. “I found out what I wanted to know. Go on back to her. She’ll be worrying about you because I’m here.”

  Rezac picked up the bundle and turned to leave. “Kris. The only person who won tonight was Jo. She’s beginning to heal now. I can promise you that the Valtegans won’t bother her dreams again.”

  “I’m glad. Now go back to her, Rezac. I’m fine.”

  Jo, draped in a blanket, was returning from the chest where the wash basin stood.

  Rezac put the bundle down on the chair. “Kris gave me some clothes for you,” he said.

  “Kris?”

  He nodded, going over to his pallet and sitting down. “He cares a great deal for you,” he said quietly as she came over to join him.

  “I know. I like him a lot, too.” She stepped past him, sitting next to the fire.

  “Are you sure you wouldn’t rather be with him?”

  “I’m sure, Rezac.”

  She edged closer to him until he grasped her at the waist with both hands and lifted her up beside him, tucking her against his side. She let out a small cry of surprise, never having felt his full strength before.

  “What happens now?” she asked, relaxing against him.

  “Anything we want. I suggest sleep, unless you’re hungry. I always bring some food into the room at night.”

  “Sleep sounds fine,” she murmured. “But take off your tunic first. I like the feel of your body next to mine—your fur feels so good.”

  He began to purr, a gentle, rumbling sound that came from deep within him. “You are just so unbelievable,” he said, his hand caressing her neck. “If we don’t have Link days, will you still want to spend a night with me when we can?”

  “When we want,” she corrected him. “Tell me, though, why do we need to stay together for a whole day? We don’t need to exchange memories, do we?”

  “It’s safest to be alone when we’re this highly sexually charged. It can affect those around us with rather embarrassing consequences. As to not having to exchange memories, look into your mind and you’ll find I’m there. I’ve been sensing your presence within mine for several days now. Not intrusive, just there.”

  “I’ve felt the same,” she agreed, mouth opening in an enormous yawn.

  “Sleep time, I think. We can use the bed if you wish.”

  “Is this where you sleep?”

  He nodded.

  “Then here is fine. This will be our space. Now take off your tunic!” she said, sitting up and tugging the hem of it upward, much to his amusement.

  As they settled down in the warm glow of the fire, Rezac knew that in this alien female, he’d at last found a soul mate.

  T’Chebbi was leaning against a fence where the path to Noni’s joined the main road.

  “Am I not even allowed to leave Stronghold alone?” he asked quietly as she
fell in step beside him.

  “Want you kept from hurting yourself,” she said shortly. “Not my idea.” Her breath formed small clouds in the crisp air.

  “Do they expect me to climb a mountain and throw myself off?” he asked, turning to look at her, eye ridges raised in mock surprise. “They don’t know me very well.”

  “Who does, these days?” she retorted.

  They walked in silence for some time, Kaid trying to fathom what was wrong with her. “Is that you speaking, or them?”

  She stopped abruptly, turning to face him. “You want truth, or polite answer?” Her ears were pricked forward.

  He winced and looked away for a moment. “Truth.”

  “You drive Kusac too hard; you forget his upbringing. Why put yourselves down on duty roster? No need. Could pick and choose missions—achieve same! No need to do execution detail!” She turned away from him and started walking again.

  He felt her anger like a physical blow and by the time he’d collected his wits again, he had to run to catch up with her. “Did Kusac complain?”

  “No. Carrie did. Loudly, to me, after he’d left. Why take him on that detail?”

  “Because of the U’Churians that trade on Jalna. He’s never really fought our own kind, never had to kill Sholans. I don’t want him freezing up on me if we have to shoot U’Churians.”

  She stopped again. “That’s fighting. This was legalized murder.”

  “They chose their death,” he said reasonably. “They had the choice of a lethal injection or mental reprogramming. It was their decision.”

  “Even we aren’t given that duty till near graduation, and you take him after only a month!” She made a noise of disgust.

  “He coped, didn’t he? We don’t have long until it’s time to leave for Jalna.”

  “Carrie didn’t. I had to calm her!”

  “She has to learn, too. The world’s still too bright, too soft for her now she’s a new mother. That has to be left behind. At least she only experienced it secondhand.”

  T’Chebbi snorted. “What you trying to prove, Kaid? That you have no feelings even though you are a telepath? Were never this hard before.”