aHunter4Saken (aHunter4Hire) (29 page)

“Niail
was devastated when he thought he had lost his connection with you.” Kimi
winced as she remembered Niail’s pain when he had believed that he would never
connect again. “He is healed now?”

Partlan
nodded. “It will take more time before he is fully connected, but he is
starting to hear us.”

She
sighed and started toward her bedroom. When she entered her bathroom the shower
was still running. She put the clothes she had found on the counter and was
about to leave when the shower door opened.

“Are
you finished?” She reached for a towel.

“I
am just starting.” Niail captured her arm and pulled her into the shower. “Now
I want to pleasure my mate.”

“In
the shower?” Kimi giggled.

“Why
not?” Niail nuzzled her neck. “It is invigorating and I need to be with you.”

Kimi
spread her hands over Niail’s chest, savoring the feel of his beating heart. It
pounded steady beneath her fingertips. It could have so easily been different.
She leaned close and let her lips linger over his skin.

“You
have too many clothes on.”

Niail
pulled her shirt over her head and made short work of the bra. He unzipped her
jeans, but she had to help get them off her legs. Denim was impossible when
wet. When she was naked he lifted her by the waist until she was positioned for
him to enter her.

Her
legs wrapped around him and in one swift movement he slid into her. She
shuddered as a delicious tendril of pleasure spiraled through her. There was a
sense of total oneness and belonging that was as erotic as the sensual rhythm
Niail was creating with each thrust.

His
teeth nibbled at her lips and then his tongue soothed her before Kimi opened
for him. His tongue plunged in, sliding against hers and sending shivers of
excitement through her veins. Together, they moved as one. It was fast and
powerful as they built a tension of bliss that burst with an explosive
shattering of ecstasy.

Their
lips clung together as they descended the heights. Tiny shivers of sensation
still skittered across Kimi’s body. They were still joined, together and
complete. It was as it should be. Gradually, Niail lowered her and they took
turns washing each other.

Passion
sizzled between them.

Their
hunger had not been appeased.

Niail
turned the water off and lifted her into his arms. He stepped out of the shower
with her and grabbed a towel to wrap around them.

“You
will get cold.” Niail rubbed it over her back.

Kimi
kissed his chin. “So will you.”

“Not
with you in my arms.” Niail threw the towel to the floor.

“You
should put me down.” Kimi hugged him closer. “We can’t stay like this forever.”

“I
intend to stay with you always.” Niail set her on the bed before joining her.

“Don’t
forget the children will be awake early.”

“I
am taking last watch. I will be up for them.” Niail pulled the blanket over
them. “That means I can pleasure you all night and you can sleep in the
morning.”

“You’re
spoiling me.” Kimi stretched her arms out to him.

“You
are my mate.” Niail’s pushed a strand of wet hair from her face. “To love and
protect you is all I want.”

“Will
you live here with me?” Kimi’s voice was hesitant. “Or will we have to move?”

“Your
home is where I will be.” Niail’s heated gaze sent a shiver of renewed hunger
through her. “On my planet, it is the woman who makes those decisions.”

“It
won’t interfere with your work if we live here?”

Niail
shook his head. “My fellow Hunters understand that my first priority is you and
the children.”

Kimi
sighed. “So I can continue to be with my people.”

“Always.”

Niail
captured her mouth in a searing kiss and any further doubts she had were
silenced. Their tongue danced together in a sensual duel until Kimi was lost to
everything but the sensations Niail was creating within her.

His
lips moved lower, caressing her neck and then her breasts. His fingers
feathered across her skin, sending shards of pleasure throughout her body.

His
tongue flickered across her nipple and a jolt of excitement stirred in her
womb. His teeth nipped and then suckled until she squirmed with the mounting
tension. He moved to the other breast and began his sensual torture again. His
hand roamed lower and touched the moist heat of her inner core. His finger
caressed as his mouth suckled. She splintered into a blinding climax within
seconds.

Niail
held her as she recovered and then he was moving over and in her. She groaned
as he filled her. She would never tire of being connected to him. He set a
leisurely pace, driving deep and withdrawing slowly, only to plunge again. Each
thrust of his powerful body sent Kimi higher and higher until they reached the
edge and shattered together.

Their
breathing was ragged. Their hearts pounded in unison as they descended back to
reality. Niail gathered Kimi close and rolled onto his side. They were still
connected. Kimi nuzzled his neck and inhaled his scent.

“I
love you.” Her voice was a faint whisper.

“You
are my mate.” Niail’s voice was gruff. “You are the only woman I will ever
desire. There is nothing I will not do for you.”

“What
if I wish you to love me again?”

Niail
thrust and Kimi felt his renewed hardness. She smiled. He was inexhaustible,
but she couldn’t resist. She pushed him onto his back and straddled his hips.

“This
time I set the pace.”

The
smell of bacon frying woke Kimi from a deep sleep. She stretched her arms over
her head. She couldn’t remember ever feeling this good before. Niail had made
love to her until the early hours of the morning. She had been too exhausted to
even notice when he had left to keep watch.

She
pushed back the covers and made her way to the washroom. A quick shower and she
was wide awake. It was time to face the day and the aftermath of last night.

Niail
knew the moment Kimi entered the kitchen. Her essence wrapped around him. It
made him whole. She had been sleeping peacefully when he had gone for his
watch. He was filled with deep satisfaction and pride at knowing he had given
her pleasure.

Jake
and Eluwilussit were at the table. Peta was on Jake’s lap and Wil was beside
Niail. The children had woke up at the crack of dawn and had been with him
while he stood watch. Now Wil wanted to help prepare breakfast. He stood on a
chair beside the stove and watched Niail tend the bacon.

Partlan
was leaning against the counter with a coffee in his hand. Turlo and Malac were
beside the table talking to Eluwilussit.

“It’s
about time you woke up.” Jake’s voice boomed as Kimi entered the room. “You’re
the only one who had any sleep last night.”

“Speak
for yourself.” Partlan grinned. “We sleep when we can.”

Kimi
went to the stove. “I’ll finish.”

Niail
put his arm around her waist. “Did you sleep well?”

“You
know I did.” Kimi reached up and kissed his chin. “I didn’t hear you leave for
your watch.”

“It
was early.” Niail smiled at Wil. “And I had company.”

“I
learned how to stand guard.” Wil straightened his shoulders. “It’s an important
job.”

Niail
reached over and pulled Wil into his arms. “Your mother needs space to cook.”

He
took the chair over to the table and sat Wil on it. Kimi made short work of the
eggs and toast, and within minutes everything was ready to go. Just then a
vehicle pulled up outside.

Partlan
pulled out a pistol and went to the door. Niail blocked the children with his
body. Turlo and Malac stood in front of Kimi. Jake and her grandfather didn’t
have a chance to move before Partlan eased away from the door.

“It
is safe.” Partlan put his handgun back in the waistband of his pants. “It is
Gur and Ranon returning with Ann.”

The
tension in the room eased. Kimi heaved a sigh and turned back to the stove.
Once the newcomers were inside, she served breakfast. Afterwards, they stayed
gathered in the kitchen.

“What
are your plans?” Jake leaned back in his chair and looked at Niail.

“I
will stay with Kimi.”

“Just
a second there buddy.” Jake winked at his grandfather. “In the old days, a man
would tie up horses outside the tipi of his father-in-law as payment for his
wife.

“Hunters
do not buy women.” Partlan crossed his arms. “It is not honorable.”

“But
Kimi is Blackfeet,” Jake continued. “She believes in living a traditional
life.”

Kimi
leaned back into Niail’s arms. “Women have freedom today.”

“So
you want to pick and choose what you believe and follow?” Jake shrugged. “I
have no argument with that. It’s what I do myself.”

Kimi
sighed. “You’ve made your point Jake.”

Eluwilussit
cleared his throat. “Times change and we must keep abreast of what is new. Our
people had difficulties when the buffalo disappeared, but we survived.”

Ann,
who was sitting next to Ranon, cleared her throat. Her eyes darted from Hunter
to Hunter before settling on Eluwilussit. She put her coffee mug back on the
table and straightened her shoulders.

“Do
you know who these men are?”

“They
are the ones who protect.” Eluwilussit touched Ranon. “Can I see your symbols?”

Ranon
looked over at Partlan, who nodded. He lifted his left sleeve. Ranon was clan
Leigh which was symbolized by a circle and with an attached stick on one side.

Grandfather
touched the clan symbol and nodded. “That is similar to the universal symbols
given to us by the Star People. It is the spirit of doctoring.”

Grandfather
motioned Partlan over. He pointed to his arm.

“What
is this symbol?”

“It
is for clan Obair. We have the gift of the mechanical and instruments.”

“For
us it signifies the law of light, sound, and vibration. These are all parts of
engineering.”

“What
does the fact that they wear these signs mean?” Ann asked in a hesitant voice.

“They
carry the symbols of the universal laws that were given to us by the Star
People.” Eluwilussit looked at the men in the room. “I believe that they were
sent to us for a reason.”

“The
Star People sent them?” Jake rolled his eyes. “That makes them aliens. They may
be larger than most men, but they look human.”

“I
agree.”

Silence
followed Eluwilussit’s announcement.

Kimi
was the first to speak. “What are you suggesting?”

“There
are many legends surrounding the Star People. All I know for certain is that
they wear the symbols given to us. These men must have some connection with the
people who visited earth from the stars.”

“That
may be why we were sent to this planet to be executed.” Niail frowned. “It
might also explain why Gur and Turlo were stranded here as children.”

“So
there is a connection between Cygnus and Earth?” Partlan’s voice held doubt.
“Why have we not heard of this before?”

Malac
leaned back against the counter. “There is no mention of Earth in our
histories. We know that we were not from Cygnus originally. The Ancients
brought us from an inferior planet. We were bred and genetically modified to be
elite warriors.”

“So
it’s possible that inferior planet was Earth?” Jake laughed. “That’s just a bit
farfetched.”

Niail
sensed Kimi’s fear. He sent her soothing thoughts.

“They
may look human, but they have powers we don’t.” Kimi’s voice shook. “The
government would capture them if they knew this. No one can know about Niail or
the others.”

“It’s
too dangerous.” Ann agreed. “I won’t say a word. You guys saved my life.”

“I’m
not going to tell anyone. That will just ruin the story I told my bosses about
last night.” Jake snapped. “I’m not a fool.”

Kimi
exhaled. “Thank you. We have to make certain that this stays among us.
Otherwise they will never be safe.”

“What
about a secret identity. All superheroes have one.” Wil looked up from the
picture he had been coloring. “Niail could be a football player.”

Niail
frowned. “What is football?”

“It’s
a sport.” Kimi shook her head. “We have to choose something you know about.”

“We
know battle” Gur and Turlo spoke together.

“I
know machines.” Partlan added this.

“I
know our history.” Malac’s voice was almost apologetic.

“I
know medicine.” Ranon smiled. “Our leader Ardal knows strategy, and Niail is
the best marksman in the unit.”