Dominated By Desire (30 page)

Heather didn’t seem to be thrilled at the man’s attention either. “I’m not sure that is a good idea.”

“Why?” He moved a little closer.

“I was wounded when the ambassador was attacked.” She looked at him. Her hesitation surprised Storm. Maybe she knew who he was deep inside. “I was in a coma for a while and am not quite back to normal. I need time to learn to be myself again. Until then I feel I need to keep to myself.”

“I don’t wish to harm you.”

“Harm me?” She moved away from him. “Why would you say that?”

“I’m sorry. Your human language is hard for me.” He smiled and sat back.That seemed to mollify her.

“How do human males woo your females?”

That brought a smile to Heather’s lips. “Woo. Haven’t heard that one in a long time. Just be yourself and try not to push me so hard.”

“I can do that.” The waitress came and took their orders. The rest of the evening went too well by Storm’s standards. He didn’t like the man so close to his mate. They walked back to her room talking quietly. She stopped them by her door.

“Well, thank you for a wonderful evening.” She hesitated again, allowing the man to take her into his arms and press his lips to hers. Heather did nothing for a moment, probably shocked by it all then she started to fight him.

“No!” and the world dissolved around him.

****

The next time he entered her mind he found himself in a gym. Heather worked out nearby. This time Storm took on his persona and walked up to her. What time of day was it in her mind? There was no real way to tell.

She spotted him. “Morning, Ensign.”

“Morning, Ma’am.” He smiled. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”

“I work out every morning.” She continued through her routine. Moving in small segments to a beat only she could hear.

He went to the weights and started to lift them. Why did she bring up this scene? The last three had the best man in them, but unless he showed up to work out with her this was her mind creating something new. Did the man know it? Would he try to manipulate this to his advantage?

Should Storm?

He decided to let Heather control this scene. Let her make the first move.

She continued to work out in her corner while he kept to the spot he had picked. Storm watched her the whole time, but didn’t try to get in her way. Once she was done with her workout she approached him. “Let’s see what you got.”

“Excuse me?” That could be taken so many ways and his libido was the first one to respond.

“You’re fresh out of the academy, right?’

He nodded.

“Then let’s see what you’ve been taught.” She took a defensive stance and signaled him to attack.

“All right, but I might just surprise you.” He thought about acting like a man from her planet and use those tactics but he wanted her to see him for who he really was. He used a maneuver she wasn’t ready for and had her pinned to the mat in about thirty seconds.

She looked up at him in shock. He smiled down at her.

“You couldn’t do that again.”

“Oh, but I can.” He hadn’t let her up, enjoying the feel of her body pressed against his.

“Ensign, you will not be able to pull that one again. I promise you.”

“Okay.” He helped her to her feet. “And what do I get if I can?”

“What?” She looked frightened.

“You don’ believe I can pin you like that again and I believe I can.” He couldn’t help the joy that raced through him. Maybe he could make this work in his favor.

“You want to make a bet?”

“Wouldn’t you?” He smiled at her, knowing if she went along he might just be able to break the spell she was under.

“Alright.” She didn’t look convinced. “What do you wish for?”

“Well, you seem so sure I can’t do that again, what do you want from me?” He didn’t know what she would say to that but he wanted to know what she desired and hoped she would take this time to tell him what she wanted.

“I – I don’t know.”

“Sure you do, Heather. You’ve never had a problem telling me what you want from me.” He made sure his lips were next to her ear as he said,

“Ever.”

A slight shiver flowed through her, but she didn’t have an answer.

“I know what I want for you,” he kept his lips close to her ear. The room had emptied as he spoke, her mind cleared the room at the promise his voice held. “Something simple. Just a kiss.”

“Ensign.”

“Forget our ranks for just a moment.” He walked in front of her so she would look him in the eyes. “I’m not asking for anything more than a kiss.

How could that be too much? You give your friends a kiss when you see them right? Relatives get them too.”

She looked at him but didn’t answer. Did he push too far? The reality flickered for a moment before she agreed. “There is no way you’re going to be able to do that again.”

“Yes, Ma’am.” He took his stance and waited. She made the first move and he had her pinned beneath him in about twenty seconds.

She looked up at him, a mixture of emotions in her eyes. Shock he could do it a second time, then excitement and fear which fought each other.

Storm took her face into his hands, if he didn’t he feared his hands would have a mind of their own.

His heart beat harder at the thought of being able to kiss his mate. He lowered his face to hers, capturing her lips before using his tongue to sweep into her mouth. Her body responded the way he hoped, he could feel her tongue dancing with his, giving as much as she was taking. He got lost in the sensations of the kiss.

Then just as fast as the scene became real he watched as it disintegrated and he was back with his uncle.

“What happened?” his uncle seemed concern that he had been released so fast.

“Just what I wanted.” No matter what his uncle thought, Storm didn’t feel he made a mistake pushing her a little. Now he had to see how that would affect the rest of the times they were together.

****

Hynna sat across from Storm. Heather’s mind only took a few moments before she had created another scene to this reality. Storm took it as a good sign.“Ready to go back in?” His uncle asked him.

“Yes.” He closed his eyes once again and found himself just outside her door. He rang the buzzer and the door slid open. She stood there wearing the same shift she had worn when they first kissed. Part of her mind remembered.

He went hard in seconds. “Lieutenant?”

She didn’t think twice about what she had on. “Come in and let the door close.”

He did as she asked. Praying his body’s reaction didn’t show in her dream world but by the smile that spread across her face he knew he was just as hard here as he was sitting in the chair with his uncle watching.

Instead of getting upset with him she laughed and pulled a uniform on. His being screamed for him to pounce on her as he saw flashes of her skin while she changed. It took every ounce of willpower to stay rooted to the spot.

Her lack of modesty confused him. This wasn’t the same woman who was embarrassed by their mating ceremony. She did it to see how he would react and his reaction made her happy. What was going on inside her mind now? Did the kiss do this? He needed to know more before he could be sure.

“Ready?”

“I need a minute.” Storm swallowed hard, working to keep his hands from reaching for her.

“What is the matter, ensign? Not used to seeing an officer change in front of you?”

“Not one so desirable.” He couldn’t lie to her.

“You find me desirable?” Her features softened.

“Very much.” He placed his hand over her heart. “Remember, my heart?” He hoped she did.

Heather stepped back from him. “We’re due to speak to the ambassador’s best man in a few minutes.”

“About what?”

She tilted her head then called him along, not answering his question.

Sometimes he found her mind a bit confusing. They walked down several corridors before they stood in front of large white doors. They opened to reveal an opulent room.

“Heather, thank you so much for coming. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to see you before I got called back to Vespia.” She smiled and took the hand he offered her. She ignored her assistant as she spoke to the man. “You needed to speak to me?”

“Yes.” Storm could see her reaction wasn’t what the man wanted. “You and I have spoken about you coming home with me. I came to see if you were ready.”

“No.” Her words came out forceful. “I can’t go with you. I have told you that before.”

“Why not? What is holding you here now? The ambassador is gone.

You’ve outstayed your usefulness here. It’s time.”

“No!” She took off in a run, trying to get to the doors before he could overpower her.

Storm moved with her, blocking the man from reaching her and helping Heather get out the door before she could be stopped. She ran down a corridor. One he recognized. He took her hand and led her to the nearest alcove. It was the one from her memory. He pulled her into the small dark room and closed the door.

Now there was nothing but the two of them. Once again he placed his hand over her heart, hoping she would remember. The darkened interior wrapped them in a gentle cocoon. He hoped this time she would remember because they were running out of time.

“Storm?”

His heart sang. “Yes, my heart.”

“Where have you been?”

“Looking for you. It hasn’t been easy.” He pulled her into his embrace.

“But I have found you now.”

“I don’t understand.” Her voice filled with sadness.

“What?” he brushed his fingers down her throat.

“I saw you marry another.”

“Only you. Three times I believe.” He needed her so badly, but heeded his uncle’s words. “Everything else has been a nightmare.”

“How do I know it’s really you?” She touched his face.

“You tell me.” Just a touch aroused her. The steady beat of his heart calmed her. Even now he could feel the rapid tempo of her heart slow to match his.

Her hand covered his heart as they stood together. She pressed her lips to his shirt, then the collar of his uniform. When he felt her tongue lick along the length of his neck he felt it all the way to his toes.

Heather continued her exploration. He wasn’t sure what to do. His desire wanted him to grab her and have his way with her but after all he had been through he knew he needed to listen to what his uncle recommended.

But keeping his hands to himself was torturous.

“Storm?”

“Yes, my heart.” He touched her face the way he had in the past.

“I don’t know how to get home.”

“Yes you do. First you need to break the hold of this dream reality.”

“How?”

“What is the one thing that you know is real?”

“Us.” She pulled him down into a deep kiss. One that shattered the room.

Now it was just the two of them. They stood in a brightly lit area devoid of anything but them. Her hands worked against the seals of his uniform, fighting with the cloth as she forced the uniform off of his shoulders.

He could only mimic her movements, releasing her uniform in the same places she did.

“Why do I feel like I’m moving through water to remove your clothing?”

“Because you’re trying to use your hands when you should be doing this with your mind.” He suddenly stood before her naked.

She closed her eyes for a moment and she stood before him devoid of clothing. “You should have told me that a long time ago.” She touched his face. “I need to feel you inside me again, please.” He lifted her and pushed himself deep inside. Closing his eyes, he was home. Heather moved against him, their minds as one. She would shift to increase the sensations and he felt it just as strong. They shared everything.

Storm gripped her hard as he felt her orgasm start. “Together, my heart.

We have to do this together.”

“I’m not sure I can wait.” Her head dropped back as she felt everything tighten. “Is that you or me?”

“You.” He pulled out and then surged back in. They both felt his shudder. “That was me.”

He found her throat and nibbled. Every time he slid in and out he could feel her get closer. When she tightened against him they both felt it. She tightened her hold on him. “Now, Storm.”

He couldn’t agree more. Everything shifted when he picked up the pace. Heather moved with him. Racing for an invisible goal. Her body tightened against him, squeezing him so he was reaching his orgasm with her. As their world exploded the device keeping Heather locked from him shattered, exposing all she was to them. He felt the strength of her mind, how it protected her. He could see everything she did. His mate belonged to him and only him, no matter what someone else wanted.

Storm recognized where she was being kept. He opened his eyes. “I know where she is.”

Chapter 18

Heather’s release was so powerful. Only Storm could give her this. The desire that raced through her paled in comparison to the joy of knowing she hadn’t been dreaming all along. The world where Storm was her mate was real.Another sensation took over. One she had never felt before. It started in the back of her head. It was slightly painful but it felt like a veil tore in her brain. Energy flowed through her, more powerful than she had ever felt. The darkness around her disappeared and she found herself secured to a metal bed. Where was she?

“How did you overcome the medication?” The voice asked her.

“Let me go.” She pulled against her restraints.

“Sorry, Heather. You’re not going anywhere.”

She looked around, trying to figure out where she was. The images she had seen in her vision were very close to what she saw now. The ceiling was dark because the lights hung so low. The row of cabinets she had seen were old lockers lined up. If she could get a chance, she’d wanted to find a weapon to protect herself. But how could she get off the table?

“It has happened, hasn’t it?” She could hear the excitement in the voice.

Was whatever he wanted from her at hand?

Changes continued inside her. She felt a second heartbeat and just a hint of a thought. A baby? Now? How was she going to protect it?

“What are you talking about?” Her head swam with all the new sensations floating through her mind. Heather found it hard to think straight.