by Liz Craven
Call and Response
© 2008 Sara Rustan
Janeth Dewellin, a powerful empath, is on the planet Dragnath to find her missing brother. Her search is interrupted when she abruptly enters a second puberty and must quickly find a mate, or risk losing herself to madness. Alone and far from her people, her only hope is to “call” for a mate.
Empathic investigator Tom K’Restan follows a strange broadcast to see if this is the source of the negative empathic energy he is investigating. He finds Janeth, and an explosive attraction to her he cannot understand—and cannot resist.
Running out of time and options, Janeth secretly mates with Tom and uses their intense sexual energy as a beacon to call to her missing brother. Love will have to come later, if she can overcome Tom’s dismay and convince him they are destined to be forever lovers.
But the dark entity is still on the loose, one that feeds insatiably on their energy, threatening not only their fragile relationship, but their very survival.
Enjoy the following excerpt for Call and Response
He took a step closer and she moved back against the rough brick wall behind her.
“And this sexual arousal? Is that caused by another of your talents?”
Her eyes widened. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He stepped even closer, and she could feel the rigid shaft of his erection pressing against the softness of her belly. The arousal she’d been fighting surged through her, and her legs shook. Only the wall behind her prevented her from collapsing to the ground in a puddle of hormones. Her gaze fastened on the lips that were so close to her.
“I don’t normally go around with an erection that could break rocks, and certainly not for someone I don’t even know, even though you’re an attractive woman.” His lips skimmed hers, and pleasure coiled inside her. He pulled back an inch. “So, answer the question. What are you doing to make me so goddamned horny?”
She heard the words, but the meaning didn’t quite make it to her brain because all functioning neurons had been drafted into the service of her body, which wanted sex right now. It took all her willpower to keep herself from pressing against him, licking those tender lips, wrapping her arms around him. If only she knew how he would react.
He repeated, “What are you doing to me?”
She felt dazed and fuzzyheaded. “Sorry. My brain isn’t working very well.”
He waved a hand in front of her eyes. “Can you answer the question?”
“It’s kind of hard to explain…”
“Try.”
“Well, I’m not deliberately doing anything to you. But my people… Let’s just say I’m very aroused—and very attracted to you. And I can’t control it well right now.”
“And why does your arousal make me horny?”
“I’m an empath and…we have an emotional connection. You’re responding to my need.”
His body stiffened. “I don’t like being made to feel things against my will.”
“Well, it’s not my choice either. I don’t even know you.” She pushed against the wall, trying to put a little space between them.
“Why me? Why not that kid down the street?”
“You’re especially sensitive to me. There’s a…a link between us.”
He frowned. “I don’t understand. When did you figure out that I was sensitive to you? How?”
“I called, and you responded.”
“Called? That empathic broadcast?”
She nodded.
“So the fact that I came to figure out what you were doing means… Hell, it doesn’t make sense. I chose to come to where you were. You didn’t make me.”
“That’s how it works.”
He pressed his erection against her. “There’s nothing you can do to stop making me feel like this?”
She licked her lips and whispered, “We could have sex. That would satisfy the need. For a while.” Her face felt hot with embarrassment.
He stepped back, and she missed having his body against hers. “Do you do this a lot? Call men to have sex with you?”
Now it wasn’t only her face that was hot; her whole body warmed with shame. If only she were at home on Lorelly where people understood. “No, never. It usually only happens once. I’ve never done it before.”
“Once. And I’m just the lucky guy?” He raised an eyebrow.
She flashed a weak smile. “Yes, I guess so.”
“Do your people have a name? I’ve never heard of a race like yours.”
She looked down. “I’m sorry. We like to keep our existence quiet.”
“So what are you going to do, wipe my mind?”
“I won’t wipe your mind. I promise.”
He paced back and forth in front of her. “This is just…too much.”
He was right. This was getting too complicated. She couldn’t keep up these explanations, couldn’t make the situation plain, couldn’t tell the entire truth. Her body was so eager for him she couldn’t think. Maybe if she were away from him, her mind would clear.
If she pushed him to have sex with her, she would feel even more responsible for concealing the truth. If he made the move, her guilt would be less. It might be splitting hairs, but the stakes were very high. That ought to count for something.
“I understand that it’s hard to accept.” She straightened her shoulders. “Let me know if you are willing to help me.” She took a step. “I’ll be in my room, where we met yesterday.”
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