GABRIEL (The Innerworld Affairs Series, Book 4) (27 page)

"Don't worry," Gabriel said, ushering Shara toward the door. "We'll be long gone by then."

The scooters were where Misha had said they'd be and Gabriel quickly examined one. A narrow metal box formed the base very close to the ground. Beneath it was a single runner of four wheels and a pipe extending from the back that suggested it had a propulsion system. Gabriel adjusted the height of the steering column and crossbar affixed to the other end and located the ignition button on the right-hand grip.

Stepping onto the standing board, he told Shara, "Get on and mold yourself to my back as if we were one body. Try to move only as I move and don't let go of me. The last thing we need is to attract attention by having an accident before we even get out of the city."

Shara stepped on behind him, wrapped her arms around his waist... and prayed that he was a fast learner.

They had a jerky start and wobbled a bit but Gabriel soon had them pulling away from the shelter. The position of the setting sun advised him which direction to travel but he had to avoid going by the park, lest anyone should see them too closely. Then he was forced to take a number of detours to bypass the massive wreckage throughout the city.

Another tension-filled hour crept by before they finally reached the outskirts. The moment they were out in the open, Gabriel pushed the ignition button in as far as it would go and the scooter increased speed to the point at which its wheels barely skimmed the grass. In seconds they were at the top of the hill where the Friends had first looked down on their targets.

Gabriel stopped the scooter and took the time to record the scene as it now appeared. He knew that the city would soon be rebuilt, but it was a depressing sight nonetheless.

He paused again when they reached the rise above the commune, but for another reason. "I don't think anyone stayed behind but these uniforms make us the enemy here. We might not be given the chance to explain." He directed Beauty to scan the area for evolved life-forms.

As it did so, Shara ran a mental check of her own. She had suppressed her abilities for so long, she hadn't realized she could get such satisfaction from using them.

Assured that no one was about, they discarded the uniforms and Gabriel drove them down to the lodge. Taking her hand, he hurried Shara inside. "Put the belt on and let's get out of here."

Away from imminent danger, Shara's mind had reorganized the order of her priorities again. "We can't leave yet."

He turned toward her with a stunned look on his face. "I beg your pardon?"

She scrambled for an excuse he might accept. "Misha said no one would be coming here until tomorrow. I'm filthy, I'm starving and I'm exhausted. What if we time-hop into another crisis? You may be able to go days without sleep but I can't. Gabriel,
please,
I can't go on like this."

He didn't like the idea of sticking around another microsecond but her point was well taken. "All right. We can shower and have a meal here but then we head back to where we hopped in to get some sleep. It won't take long with the scooter."

She rose on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. "Thank you."

His hands moved to bring her closer but she spun away too quickly.

"Clean clothes!" she said exuberantly. "I must have clean clothes."

"I'd suggest we wear the tunics until we're ready to leave—just in case we run into one of the neighbors unexpectedly."

She grimaced. "All right. I'll wash it while I shower."

Not certain he could keep his hands off her if they showered together, he suggested she go first while he found something for them to eat.

She reentered the lodge a short time later, feeling much better for having scrubbed from head to toe. Her tunic was still wet, but at least it was clean.

Gabriel's stomach did a somersault as he watched her walk toward him. The way the damp cloth clung to her curves was more alluring than if she had been nude. He cursed his body's instant response, knowing the urge had to go unsatisfied until her fever began to rise again. For a moment he considered telling her
his
fever was mounting to gain her cooperation, but as soon as she touched his cool flesh, she'd know he was lying. Without a word, he headed for the shower.

By the time he returned to her, he had his thoughts and his body back under control. They filled up on cold meat, bread and fruit juice, and Shara wrapped up some extra food to take along before they put everything away.

He noticed that she didn't seem to feel any more talkative than he did and he was curious about what sort of thoughts were occupying her mind.

As they prepared to go, he received a shock. His degrav was missing! He had another stowed inside his satchel but it bothered him to know that someone had purposefully taken it and that an object from the future would be left in the past.

It took some improvising but he managed to secure their bags to the steering column of the scooter using his spare degrav and a length of rope.

His nerves would have begun to calm as soon as they started away from the commune, if it hadn't been for his heightened awareness of Shara's voluptuous curves pressing into his back. Within seconds he was back to being unbearably aroused. Quickly he calculated how long he might have to wait for relief. The periods between the fever's peaks were now twenty-three, nineteen and seventeen hours. Even if this stretch were reduced by several hours, he still had a long,
long
time to restrain himself.

Unless she could be convinced to see the logic of not waiting for the fever to strike again before taking the cure.

Surely she would understand the rationale of preventative treatment. He realized that he was once again preoccupied with thoughts of Shara but it no longer stirred resentment. He told himself he wasn't losing sight of his priorities. He was simply accepting what he had no control over—a reasonable attitude that he desperately wished Shara could adopt as well.

He hoped this torture would be ended in a few more hours. They would be back in their own time, receive medical treatment for their condition and he could get on with his work... and his solitary life.

Rather than giving him a sense of relief, that knowledge clenched a fist around his heart again and he wondered if he was developing another disturbing side effect to the fever.

Night came as they rode but a clear, full moon lit their path. As he stopped the scooter and dismounted, he felt the strength ebb from his body. Shara had been right to suggest they get some rest before attempting the return time-hop. He was exhausted. After removing their bags from the scooter, he pulled out the sleeping pouch. The sooner they took a nap, the sooner they could be on their way.

All things considered, Shara felt pretty good. She had survived a terrifying chain of events and, though her mission was not yet accomplished, it could be soon.
If
one of the many hair samples she'd collected that morning was a match to Khameira's. And
if
she could sneak away from Gabriel long enough to arrange a brief meeting with the Ruling Tribunal.

Gabriel was already tired and she knew one sure way to wear him down even further. It no longer seemed immoral to consider sharing her body with him. He was certainly not a stranger anymore and they
had
established a bond of sorts. She was acutely aware of the personal danger of freely coupling with him but she reminded herself that sometimes the reward is worth the risk.

As fatigued as she was, somehow she would force herself to stay awake a few more hours and accomplish her primary goal.

She inhaled the fragrance of night-blooming flowers and scanned the star-filled sky. It was a warm, beautiful night and she was with a handsome, desirable man who wanted her badly enough for her to take advantage of him.

The situation could be a lot worse.

Chapter 14

As Gabriel spread the pouch on the ground, he felt the wind lift the skirt of his tunic... only there was no wind. He smoothed the material back down over his buttocks and bent over to straighten the pouch. Again the tunic blew up and bared him from the waist down.

Shara's giggle gave her mischief away. He whirled around to find that she was standing too far away to have lifted the material by hand. He started to question her when she touched a finger to her lips. He didn't understand until he felt a tug on the braided rope around his waist. Looking down he saw it untie itself then slither down his stomach and between his legs. He held very still as it coiled around one thigh and snaked its way down to the ground, tickling his genitals in the most extraordinary way. Next, his paralyzer rod left its sheath and traveled to the ground on its own.

Normally he would have been angry that she was using her mind to toy with him but what she was doing was far too erotic to be infuriating. Smiling seductively, she eyed the front hem of his draped tunic and it began to gather together. Ever so slowly, it slipped between his thighs, teased its way up his back, over his bare shoulder then floated through the air to land at her.

Ping

Gabriel removed Beauty and tossed it on the ground. He didn't need some stupid device to tell him his temperature was rising. Shara slipped out of her sandals, so he did the same, but otherwise he held still for fear any movement on his part would cause her to change her mind about playing with him.

Stepping toward him, she said, "I think it's time for me to demonstrate that I am the reasonable person I have claimed to be. Whatever this is between us, I'm done fighting it."

As he stood there, naked and more than ready, yet waiting for her direction, a heady power rushed through her. Surely Zeus's nectar would be no match for the exhilaration she was feeling. Letting the power flood her body and fuel her purpose, she handed Gabriel the end of her rope belt. He untied it then, imitating what she had done to him, he dragged the material of her tunic over her body as if he were in no hurry to reveal what she was finally willingly offering, with no coercion whatsoever.

When he tossed the barrier aside, she stepped into his arms. "Let's find out what we've been missing," she whispered and rising on tiptoes, she pressed her lips to his.

With the first taste of his mouth, she forgot her ulterior motive for this seduction, forgot why she had been fighting him for so long. Later, when it was absolutely necessary, she would remember her sensible reasons for not wanting to fully share herself with this man. But for now, and as long as they had no choice in the matter, she would enjoy every kiss, every touch, every exciting moment he could give her.

She couldn't tell if it was her fever reigniting or his talented hands roaming over her, but her flesh had begun to tingle and she felt the stirring of her sexual pulse. Her hands held his hips in place as she deepened the kiss and moved against him to relay her wish to please him, for a change. He had been ready when she removed his tunic but she wanted him more than ready.

Slipping her fingers through his golden chest hair, she teased his nipples until they puckered for her. Then she continued dragging her nails slightly down his abdomen while she lowered herself to her knees before him.

Gabriel groaned aloud as she took his erection into her mouth and continued to use her nails to tease the rest of his sensitive flesh. It took an incredible amount of strength to remain standing as she pulled him closer to the edge of his control. With every ounce of willpower he possessed, he brought her back up to her feet to face him.

Rather than entwining their bodies more intimately however, he stepped back from her and took a deep breath. Shara reached for that part of him that was straining to return to her but he took both her hands in his before she could touch him.

His tongue caressed each of her wrists then he dipped his head forward to give her a light kiss on her mouth. Still holding her hands, he said, "You wanted to find out what we've been missing. So do I. There's no need for another frantic coupling as long as the fever isn't in control."

He brought her hand to his cheek then touched hers. "We're both a little warm but nowhere near delirium. Nothing in life is supposed to be as pleasurable as foreplay and coupling during one's mating fever. Consider this a rare opportunity to experiment with something you may have had to wait decades for. Close your eyes, Shara, and don't think about anything except what you're feeling. Let's see just how long we can make the pleasure last."