Damned and Defiant (5 page)

Their lips parted enough to gasp for a breath, and in that moment she cast him a quick glance. His eyes met hers. She saw lust in their brown depths, a mad craving of lust.
Yes!
She rejoiced on the inside.

Without warning, Dante abruptly released her and stepped back. “I’m sorry, Haley. Bad idea.”

“No, it’s not. I want this.” Her body was humming, aching with need, so much need she could scream.

His jaw flexed. “Get some sleep.” He turned and walked out, closing her door behind him.

Chapter Five

Dante knew he wouldn’t be able to sleep. The energy he’d drawn off Haley was surging through his body, and he was still horny. Leaning back on the couch, he closed his eyes and thought about touching her, kissing her again. Her taste was still on his lips. Fortunately, Haley was able to protect herself. Had Ambros taught her a new skill or had she acquired this ability during her ordeal on Anartia?

Having her on the ranch was dangerous for both of them. Best he avoid her as much as possible.

Giving up on sleep, he got up to build a fire in the fireplace. Once he got the fire roaring, he stared into the flames, trying to image a new life on Prygos, far away from the pain and failures of his Earthly life. A chance to start over, erase the past.

Nothing would relax him, not even the mesmerizing crackle of the flames. His hand rested on an object. The other nebula stone he’d taken from the Drone Brom. These stones were a powerful connection to Anartia. If worn near a portal or vortex, the wearer could be transported to their world. With Haley staying on here he should store it away.

Kneeling in front of the hearth, he lifted the loose brick in the floor. Months after he’d moved in, he discovered it. The house had been built in the late 1800s, and he suspected this stone was purposefully set to hide valuables. It was by accident that Dante had pressed on the right corner, revealing a hollow space beneath.

He heard movement in Haley’s room. Was she having trouble sleeping too? How was he going to make it through two weeks without wanting to take her as his Kithra? His blood boiled, aching for her, his cock hardening. He’d have to find other Kithras to relieve this compulsion for sex and the need to collect chi. His heightened sex drive was a matter of instinct and survival. But now the thought of hunting for new prey sent utter dread through him. The best way to protect Haley was to resist her.

Focus on the horses and what she needs to do. That thought gave him some peace. Maybe now he could sleep. From the corner of his eye, he caught movement. Standing a few feet away was Haley, naked.

“You weren’t in your room,” she said softly in a sultry voice.

His groin stirred. God, he wanted her as a man wanted a woman, not as a Drone craved his next Kithra. This was why she shouldn’t be here. “Haley, this is a bad idea.”

She walked up to him and placed her hands on his chest. “Why? Don’t tell me you don’t want me. I saw it in your eyes, felt it in your kiss, among other places. So why is this so bad? We’re two adults.”

He took in a breath and felt himself grow hard. “This is dangerous for you.” There. He’d said it.

She laughed. “Dangerous? Spare me. You have no idea where I’m from. Or what I’ve lived through. Your tough friends don’t scare me.”

He frowned. “What did you live through that makes you so tough?” How much did she remember about Anartia?

“It’s not important. What happened in Texas was years ago. That was another life.”

“Texas? What happened in Texas?” He was confused.

She groaned. “Forget it. Take me to bed.” She stroked her breasts with the tips of her fingers, then pinched her nipples.

His cock was so hard now it ached. He shook his head. A Drone is created to seduce and collect chi, not resist advances. Did he even have the power to resist? Her breasts were so invitingly close. Even without his heightened senses, he could smell her arousal. “No, Haley. I’m sorry.” He stepped away from her, grabbed a poker and stabbed at a log, sending sparks up the chimney.

“Then I’ll sleep right here on this blanket in front of the fire.” At his feet, she stretched out on her back, her arms over her head and her legs slightly parted. Was it instinct? How did she know that was the position he usually took his Kithra?

“You’re beautiful, Haley.” Firelight danced across her naked body. Never had he taken a Kithra to his cabin before. It was a precaution in case the Kithra remembered anything the following day. Could he make love to her without reaching an orgasm? His gratification could be deadly for her.

Haley was a natural Sha Warrior. Her state of high energy wasn’t acquired by hours of regimented meditation. Standing over her, he felt the sexual draw to her. A Drone’s purpose was to acquire chi for the survival of his universe. He groaned. No amount of willpower could stop that drive. He’d take care with her, but he couldn’t resist her any longer. His cock pulsed with an ache that would only be relieved by a collection of chi or an orgasm.

Raising her head, she looked at him with pleading, lustful eyes and arched her back. “Touch me, Dante,” she breathed as she moved her hands over her breasts, then began to stroke her pussy. There was a frantic tone to her voice.

He gave in. He was draining chi by fighting his lust for her. He would stay in control. Quickly, he removed his clothes and knelt down beside her. She reached for him and shot him a grateful smile.

Dante’s hands roamed inches above her smooth skin without touching her. His flesh tingled as the surge of energy sparked off her body. This was drawing the chi to the surface and at the same time, lowering her conscious mind into a trance state. This encounter would be a sizeable collection and visible to her if she was not in a trance.

No matter, she wouldn’t remember much of this encounter afterward. “Enjoy it. No need to rush.” He used his mystical power voice to send her in deeper. Then the sparks along her body vanished. She was strong-willed and resisting the trance on a subconscious level.

“Yes,” she sighed, raising her hips and reaching for him. “I want to come, please.”

“In time.”
Arms over your head
. He sent the mental image to see if she was under his control yet.

“Sweet torture,” she whispered, her words slurring now. She lifted her head up slightly. “Look how hard your cock is. I want to feel that thickness inside me.”

“I want to pleasure you first.”

“Yes.”

Leaning forward, he rested his hands on either side of her shoulders. The scent of her arousal and the fire mingled together provoked a sudden urge to take her, plunge his cock into her pussy and thrust it deep until he came. Not an option. He took a breath between clenched teeth and tightened his muscles, then willed his cock to behave.

Then she grabbed his shaft. Fuck. Every muscle tensed as he held back his orgasm.
Woman, you have no idea how close to death you are.
When he got himself under control, he sent her another image, more forceful this time.
Arms over your head and I will lick you.

This time she complied. She opened her eyes and stared at him, frowning. Her eyes went wide in a panic and began to struggle under him. “What are you?”

Oh, shit. He drew back away from his animal state. “What’s wrong?” He waved a hand over her face, then brushed her hair back, using his power to ease her mind and sending a thought that she was imagining things.

She laughed. “Oh my, God. It must be the firelight playing tricks on me. For a moment, I thought I saw an image of a coyote over your face.”

“Hmmm. Then I’ll put your mind on something else.” He took a nipple into his mouth and bit gently.

Haley moaned her approval. “That’s better. I want to forget that ugly image. I want to forget everything.” She raised her hips.

“Don’t move your arms and keep your eyes closed.”

She nodded and complied with his demands.

“If you move or open your eyes, I’ll stop.”

She still resisted his trance. If she opened her eyes she might see him drawing off the chi. Dante trailed his tongue over to her other breast, pinched the nipple between his teeth, then released it.

“Yes, I understand.”

“Good.” She was a tempting mortal, more so than any Kithra he could remember. In truth, it was safer thinking of her that way. He tried not to think how long ago it had been since he enjoyed sex for the simple pleasure of it. He tried not to think this was Haley and how much he’d wanted her over these last few months. Groaning, he dragged his thoughts away from his groin. He had an offering to collect for the demoness. Ah, the price of immortality.

Sparks danced along her body. Finally, she eased into the trance. Power and control came back to him in a rush. She was ready. His mouth moved down to her stomach and she raised her hips. When he reached her slit, her body shivered, and she whimpered. “Yes, make me come.”

“Don’t open your eyes,” he warned.

“I promise.”

His body thrummed from the energy awaiting the collection. Then the nebula stone hanging around his neck grew warm. Son of a bitch, not now. He ignored the summons from the demoness. Gwyllain would have to wait. If she wanted her chi offering, she would have to be patient. The demoness was never patient. He knew he’d be punished, by not returning right away. It would be worse if he returned without a good offering.

Dante moved closer to Haley’s pussy, teasing it with his mouth. She cried out but obeyed his orders and didn’t move her hands or open her eyes. Almost there. Soon the collection would begin.

He lapped at her swollen clit, tugging it between his lips, rasping his tongue across her most sensitive spot. Her hips quivered, and her moans grew louder. Spreading her labia with his fingers, he glided his tongue down her cunt and pressed into her channel, tasting her sweet cream. Raising her knees, she splayed her legs open wider. “Dante, fuck me now. Please.”

“Soon.” As his hands skidded over her thighs, the surge of electricity knocked him back like an ornery horse kick. Damn, he couldn’t believe how much energy a Sha Warrior had. She could knock him on his ass if he drew all her lifeforce in one rush. A blue glow illuminated over her body. The chi energy was ready to be collected. Then the nebula stone vibrated and grew warmer. Another warning from the demoness to come to Anartia? No, the vibration meant something else. Usually the presence of another Drone, but he wasn’t expecting anyone. Could it be caused by Haley’s energy?

His mouth ravaged her swollen clit, teasing it, bringing her close then backing off.

“Don’t tease me anymore,” she moaned.

Outside, the horses stirred, whinnied and raced around the corral. Something disturbed them.
Great.
This was a hell of a night. This chi collection wasn’t going well. He never should’ve started this with Haley. The horses would be fine. They could go inside the barn if they wanted.

“Make me come now,” she added.

Before she finished her sentence, Dante grasped her clit again and shoved a finger inside her pussy, sending her over the edge. She cried out in ecstasy, her hips bucked as the orgasm coursed through her. While she was still thrashing, Dante moved up between her legs, hovering over her body. His mouth almost touched hers as the chi flowed into his mouth like a geyser.

He was so focused on maintaining control, he didn’t realize that she had slipped out of the deep trance. She wrapped her legs around his hips, drew his cock to the entrance of her pussy and thrust her hips.

His shaft sank deep into her warm, slick depths. He couldn’t stop. The only time he did this was with the demoness and he never felt such intense desire. He pounded into her, pumped his shaft deep and hard.
Fuck, yes.

Bracing himself above her, he thrust deep and hard and felt the tightness of his groin and belly as an orgasm approached. If he continued, he would kill her just as easily as if he had thrown her over a cliff. Looking down at his Kithra—no, beautiful Haley—sparks danced over her skin. The residual chi. Along his arms, sparks also skittered over his skin—he was losing chi.

“Come for me, Dante. I want to feel you come,” she said in a drowsy voice. She was still in a semitrance state. With her eyes still closed, she reached up and grabbed her breasts. The sight sent him over the edge.

In an instant, he threw himself off her and dropped onto his back. His release pulsed in spurts across his abdomen. Swirls of sparks rose in an electrical cloud from his body and vanished by the time they struck the ceiling.
Fuck.
He’d just lost most of the lifeforce energy he’d collected.

Glancing over at Haley, he noticed she had her eyes closed and wasn’t moving.

Dante bolted to his feet. “Haley! Haley! Are you okay?” He leaned over and brushed hair from her face and felt for a pulse at her neck. Thank God.

When he saw her chest rise and fall, Dante sighed, relieved. Then he heard a small snore. Asleep, she was sleeping. He crumpled to the floor, chuckling.

After he cleaned himself up, he scooped her up in his arms and carried her to her bed.

He covered her with a blanket, and left her room, then paced around his living room like a madman. How close had he come to destroying her? Would she remember their lovemaking? She hadn’t asked for protection. Not that he could get her pregnant or transfer a disease. A condom wouldn’t protect her from the rapid energy drain. What if they weren’t so lucky next time?

The horses were still carrying on. Was the owl still out there or did the horse see a coyote, bobcat, or rattlesnake?

He slipped on a pair of jeans, a T-shirt and cowboy boots, picked up his Colt .45 and walked outside on the porch. The gun was more for nostalgia from his Gold Rush days than a weapon. A man back then had to protect his land and belongings. But if there was a predator after his horses he’d chase it off. Mostly he used the gun for target practice now. He stuffed it in his waistband and peered into the darkness.