Deep Kiss of Winter (42 page)

Both men relaxed, but only slightly. “Let her stay with us,” Blue Eyes said in that persuasive voice. “In one of our cells.”

The thrum of jealousy returned but the urge to obey did not. Either the agent was not very good or Breean was building an immunity. “Are you related to her?”

“Do you want us to be?” Glitter asked.

Breean ran his tongue over his teeth. “Is she your woman?” The question burst from him before he could stop it.

A pause, heavy, tight.

“What if she is?” Blue Eyes flashed an evil smile.

Breean could have entered the bastard's body right then and punished him. Something,
anything
to hurt him. But he recalled the disgust on Aleaha's face when she'd spoken of Marleon doing it—and his own disgust at the punishment he'd carried out only an hour earlier.

“Are. You. Her. Man? That is a simple question.”

“Hurt her, and I'll fucking murder you while you
sleep,” Glitter said without any inflection of anger. He would enjoy it, too. That much was obvious. “How's that for an answer?”

“She's innocent. She's not like us. Let her go.”

The thought of releasing her without knowing the full depth of her passion was abhorrent to him, and he shook his head. “She stays,” he said, then arched a brow in curiosity. “Have you no care about my plans for
you
?”

“Not really.”

“Nope. Can't say that I do.”

“Is this conversation over? Because I like the view from my cell better.”

Obviously, the irreverent men weren't going to tell him what he wanted to know. He wasn't going to beg, nor was he going to torture them. That would smack of desperation.

“No. This conversation is not over.” He did, however, switch topics. “We have a common enemy, it seems. The Schön.”

That got their attention. They straightened, glanced at each other, frowned.

“The Schön destroyed my home, my family. My planet. That is why we are here. We'd hoped for peace. We'd hoped to live among people who knew how to combat such an enemy. Yet we arrive only to learn that our enemy beat us here and they even plan to send their queen.”

No response.

“We have decided to stay and fight them. Fierce as they are, we could use your help.”

Again, no response.

Damn them, making him work for every scrap. “
You
could use
our
help. Unless, of course, you want to see your own planet destroyed, your women eyeing you like a tasty meal just before trying to gut you with their teeth.”

Nothing.

“I've seen their queen. I've dealt with her.”

Blue Eyes gulped.

Nearly imperceptible, but a show of interest. Finally.

“She came after the males had taken out our royal family and their guard. She's one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen, with a powerful voice very much like yours.” He motioned to Blue Eyes with a tilt of his chin. “She kept a harem. They all did. But they only slept with each of their victims once. After that, the ones who weren't warriors were discarded out on the streets to fend for themselves, even as the disease began to consume them.”

“How did you survive?” Glitter asked. There was no hint of mockery in his tone. Not any longer.

Sweet progress. “We aren't sure. None of us were chosen by the queen. Nearly all of us were bitten at some point as we were forced to fight our own people and loved ones, but we never sickened.”

Blue Eyes and Glitter shared another of those dark looks.

“I'm willing to aid AIR against them in exchange for our freedom to roam this planet.”

“To be honest, I don't think anyone will trust
you,” Blue Eyes said. No hesitation. Which meant, he didn't have to think about it. He simply knew. “You came on the night the Schön were due. You killed several of our men.”

That damn Marleon.

“And, let's face it, this could be a trap,” Glitter said.

Blue Eyes spread his arms, an I'm-here-to-help gesture. “Let us go, and we might,
might,
be able to convince our captain that your intentions are good.”

Rather than answer, he said to Talon, “Take them away.” He needed to think some more, weigh the pros and cons of each avenue. Then, in his own language, he added, “I want at least one spirit walker in town at all hours of the night. Everyone else is to take shifts. Guards are to be posted here, of course, enough for every exit, but others can head into town and find females.” How could he deny his men while he luxuriated in Aleaha? “Those who spirit-walk are to find out what they can about AIR and the Schön. They probably won't hear anything, but it's worth a try.”

Spirit walking. Propelling your conscious mind from your body, roaming without being seen or heard or sensed in any way. It was how he had learned so much about Earth before anyone had discovered his presence.

The only problem was, when your mind left your body, your body was completely vulnerable. If someone attacked, you couldn't defend yourself. In fact, you wouldn't know you were being attacked until it was too late. Until you were dead.

Not all Rakans possessed the ability, unfortunately. Both Breean and Talon did, along with five others.

“Consider it done,” Talon said with a nod.

“Those who are hunting sex know they are to hide their skin as best as they are able and be careful, I'm sure.”

“Of course, but I will remind them anyway.”

“Thank you.”

Neither agent said a word during the exchange or even as they were led from the room.

Alone again, Breean ran a hand down his face, trying to scrub away his questions, his dark emotions, even his desires. He wanted Aleaha here, wanted to discuss all of this with her. But if he had her brought here, they wouldn't talk. She might deny it, but she wanted him. She'd stripped for him, after all. But the simple fact was, his desire for her was wild, fierce, while she seemed to have no trouble resisting him.

Perhaps he should join his men in New Chicago and find a woman to warm his bed. A woman who was meek and docile, who would delight in his every gesture. A woman who would fill the aching void that had grown each time one of his people had died. Once he'd had sex, he could do what he was supposed to do: plan.

But he could not work up a single shred of passion for anyone save Aleaha.

His body wanted
her
. Only she, with that dark hair, those piercing green eyes, that lean body, would do.

Just picturing her caused him to harden, to ready.

Damn this. He needed some relief so that he could better deal with her and his problems.

To prevent himself from changing his mind and going to her tonight, Breean pushed to his feet and stalked to his bedroom. When he was shut inside, he stripped and stepped into the waterfall he'd erected in place of the enzyme shower stall. Scowling, he slapped a hand against the cool tile to brace himself. With his other, he gripped his cock. He used the moisture beaded at the tip as lubricant and began slow, measured strokes.

He imagined Aleaha's mouth in place of his hand, her hot tongue swirling, her teeth lightly scraping. His testicles drew up tight; his strokes quickened. She'd kiss those testicles, of course, making them feel better after her earlier mistreatment of them. Her hands would grip his ass, perhaps delving where none had been before, her nails scoring deep. She might suck one of his balls into her mouth, might then lick her way up the shaft before sucking the head again. Sucking until he was dry. Until he couldn't take any more.

Breean's entire body jerked in ecstasy. With a roar, he came, hot seed spurting from him. “Aleaha,” he shouted. Sweet, challenging Aleaha.

He stood there for a long while, panting, hand still circling his cock, Aleaha still in his mind. Jacking off, as the humans said, had helped, but it hadn't alleviated his need completely. He
still
wanted her with a hunger that surprised him. Still couldn't think of anything but being with her.

Damn this!
he thought again.
And damn her.
He strode to the bed and fell onto the cold, empty sheets. He wished Aleaha were here. He yearned to hold her, to smell her delightful scent, feel her soft skin.

There had to be some way to win her. Some way to tear down her defenses against him. She wanted him; more than stripping a little while ago, the way she'd kissed him that first night was proof. She was just stubborn and probably scared.

What could he do? What could—

His eyes widened as an idea began to take root in his mind, growing. He grinned slowly. Oh, yes. He'd never done such a thing before, but he had fantasized. Now, he would experience.

Tomorrow, he would summon her. He would do that which he'd never allowed himself to do to another. And he would show her no mercy.

“Come with me.”

Ignoring the unfamiliar Rakan's command, Aleaha remained seated at the far end of the cell. She wasn't sure exactly how long she'd been inside it. At least eight hours. Probably twelve. Maybe an eternity. She'd heard the other “guests” clanging against
their bars, heard the whisper of their conversations, but when she'd called out in Macy's voice—where's backup, these warriors hate the Schön as much as we do, tell me what you want me to do—no one had answered her.

“Come,” the warrior said again.

He wasn't
her
warrior, Breean, so she didn't feel any urge to comply. “I'm not going anywhere with you.” Surely Breean hadn't tired of her already. Surely he wasn't palming her off on one of his men.
Oh, God
. What if he was? She hadn't exactly been the nicest of captives.

Captives aren't supposed to be nice, idiot.
He'd seen her naked. Maybe he'd disliked what he'd seen.
Oh, God,
she thought again.

The warrior looked like him: golden skin, golden hair, big, lovely features better suited for a woman yet somehow completely masculine. But his golden eyes didn't mesmerize her. He didn't smell of honey and cinnamon, and she had no desire to try to seduce him to kindness. She had no idea how to deal with him, actually.

“Are those . . .” His eyes widened as he spotted the trail of blood she'd accidentally created along the floor.

“Diamonds?” she finished for him, pretending to misunderstand. “Fat stacks of cash?”

Panic consumed his expression when that gaze reached the blood dried on her wrists. He backed away, probably not even aware that he did so. These men hadn't blinked at facing down the lethal members
of AIR, but show them a little blood and they wanted to hide.

“Did you cut yourself?”

She saw no reason to lie. “Yes.”

“What did you use? You're wearing our clothing, which means Breean checked you for weapons when you changed. And,” he gazed around, “there is nothing sharp inside this cell.”

She just shrugged.

“Tell me how—” He jumped away from her as if she were poison.

Jeez. She was just stretching out her legs to get more comfortable. She was all for precaution, but really, these men took their hatred and fear a little too far. What would he do if she bit her arm and dripped on his shoe?

Hey. That might actually be a good escape plan. She'd hold out her bloody arm, and the guys would beat feet, too afraid to grab her. She could walk right out of the house. But what about the rest of the agents? She could come back with help—
if
she could find it.

So much time had passed without an AIR assault, part of her now thought something nefarious had happened to Mia and her backup squad. They were good at their jobs, after all, and knew how to track and find the unfindable. The other part of her wondered whether Mia and her squad had stayed away on purpose. But why would they do that?

“Doesn't matter, I guess,” the warrior before her said, reclaiming her attention. “You are not mine to deal with.” Trying to hide his disgust but not quite
managing it, he motioned her over with a wave of his fingers. “Come. Breean has requested your presence. But, please, maintain your distance from me.”

The magic word:
Breean
. Aleaha popped to her feet, anticipation slithering through her. He hadn't tired of her, then. She ignored a sudden, intense rush of relief working through her.
Him,
she could deal with. Kind of.

Before, in the forest, Breean had craved her desire. If she hinted that she would ultimately fall into his bed, she could buy time. Time to “get to know each other” without being kissed, touched, or caressed—which she shouldn't want but couldn't stop thinking about. Time to figure this out.

“I was told not to hurt you or even to grab you. If you run, I am to alert Breean. He wants you to know that if he is forced to chase you, he will catch you. And he won't stop what was begun last week.” The warrior's head tilted to the side. “What was begun last week? Sex?”

Her cheeks heated, and she told herself it was in embarrassment.
Not
arousal. “Just lead the way. I'm not going to run.”

With a disappointed nod, the warrior ushered her past the other cells. As she walked, her gaze clashed with that of Dallas, whose hard expression and fierce blue eyes told her nothing. Beside him, Devyn grinned at her, eyebrows wagging. They remained silent, just as they had last night.

Upstairs, down a long hall, and around two corners, the Rakan stopped. “Here we are.” He placed
his palm over the ID box on the door. Azure lights scanned between his fingers and all the way to his wrist. A moment later, the entrance slid open.

She sailed past, changing her appearance as she walked. Gone were the blond hair and blue eyes. Gone were those magnificent breasts. She was herself again, just as Breean seemed to like.

The guard, who was gaping at her now, didn't enter behind her. He merely said something in that language she didn't understand and shut the door between them, locking her inside. Her heart began to hammer wildly as the scent of honey filled her nose.