Lisia's Journey (4 page)

thinned. Her hands bunched and landed on her hips. She almost looked ready for a

fight. Anger practically crackled around her.

“I didn‟t dismiss you, Lisia. I am the
Shi’an
here and you will respect my authority.

If I have to, I‟ll redden your ass to make you see the truth.” He strolled into the room.

His cock hardened at the thought of that soft body draped over his knees, that gorgeous

round ass bared to his hand. He resolutely took control of his thoughts before they

ripped away his control.

“I don‟t recognize your authority over me. I don‟t even want to be here.” She folded

her arms across her chest.

The wild little cat obviously hadn‟t learned enough respect from her
Shi’an
. He‟d

have to correct that mistake. The animal half of him wanted to prove that he had

authority over her immediately and in the most fundamental way. He stepped closer to

her and stroked his fingers up her inner arm. He had to give her credit. She didn‟t back

away from him. There weren‟t many women who had maintained his stare this long.

She shivered and swallowed audibly.

“Now, we‟re going out into the communal area and we‟re going to talk.” His

fingers wrapped around her wrist taking the decision out of her hands.

17

Rebecca Airies

As he turned away, Jarritt heard a low growl, but ignored it. She‟d learn her limits

just as any other female did. Her lessons would only seem harder to her because they

came so late in life. He‟d enjoy teaching her everything she needed to know about life in

this
Aridi
pack.

Although her pace was slow, she walked beside him out to the large communal

area. She cast him a cautious glance from beneath long golden lashes. He didn‟t try to

fool himself that she‟d learned her lesson already. She was just a little wary right now

and trying to think of some method to get her way. It was going to take more than a

little physical intimidation and threats to get through to her.

He led her past the large gathering area near one of the fireplaces to one of the

rectangular polished wooden tables. The dark wood gleamed in the overhead lights. He

pulled out a chair for her and waited for her to take a seat. It wasn‟t good manners he

was demonstrating so much as good sense. He wasn‟t going to take a chance that she‟d

make a run for it right after he sat down. Only when she‟d relaxed against the back of

the chair did he go around the table and sit opposite her. He was willing to let her make

her own mistakes, but he wanted answers right now, not to have to chase her.

She sat calmly at the table her fingers laced together, her mouth turned down in a

slightly mutinous expression. He liked her spirit and had no intention of breaking it,

but she needed to learn to obey his orders. Time to stir that temper a little. He didn‟t

want her thinking and plotting when he asked her questions.

“Go get us something to drink. I prefer
culdri
ale.” He leaned back against the

cushioned back of the chair and watched the heat rise in her face.

He felt the fury rise in her so clearly. He reveled in the connection between them.

Her mouth opened, but she closed it with a distinct clack of her teeth. The chair legs

scraped loudly as she pushed away from the table. Her palms slapped against the top

and then she rose and whirled away from him.

Quick clipped strides carried her to the corner where beverages of all types were

kept available morning and night. He let his gaze linger on the firm curve of her

buttocks in those gray pants. He saw her draw a mug of
culdri
ale for him and pour a

glass of something for herself from one of the carafes. As she set his mug in front of

him, he caught the sweet scent of
maca
wine. She dropped into her seat and glared at

him.

“Your explanations earlier left a lot unsaid. So we‟ll start with the basics. What‟s

your full name?” He asked.

“Lisia Fariel.” She cupped her hands around the glass and seemed to be staring into

the wine.

18

Lisia’s Journey

“Where do you come from and what‟s your clan‟s name?” He took a drink of his ale

and waited.

Her lack of eye contact didn‟t worry him. Not at the moment. He had a feeling that

giving her name hadn‟t been that important to her. It was the more in-depth questions

that would probably cause her to become reluctant to answer or even stubbornly refuse

to answer. She might fight to the last. He would get his answers. One way or the other.

Her mouth opened and her head lifted. She drew in a slow breath, but didn‟t say

anything for a moment. “I‟m of the clan Arragi on Deshra.”

The name of her planet and clan didn‟t mean anything to him, but he‟d expected it.

She‟d said they were out on the edge of known space. Deshra was probably on the other

end of the known universe. Since she didn‟t know the area, she couldn‟t know that the

galaxies in this area were filled with
Aridi
and other shifters.

“Now, why didn‟t you introduce yourself as
Aridi
? At least after Hern had been

taken away.” Jarritt leaned forward. Now onto the more interesting questions.

“I know you‟re going to find this hard to believe. I only wanted to go home. Getting

the UDA soldiers access was only a means to an end.” She sighed, lifted her hand and

flipped her braid back over her shoulder.

Jarritt chuckled. “You said you needed the Lieutenant Commander‟s help to get

home. What‟s keeping you from just boarding a shuttle and going home?”

She tensed. “That‟s not your business. I‟m here only because of your
Ferot’s
whim,

but I don‟t have to tell you my life story.”

“Do you think the Lieutenant Commander would hesitate to tell me if I asked him

about it? I‟m sure he could be induced to tell me anything I wanted to know.” He didn‟t

explode out of his seat and demand an answer. He could tell that that was what she

expected from him just by the tension in her body. He relaxed back into the seat. “Don‟t

you want to tell it your way?”

She glared at him. He could practically see her thinking, trying to find a way not to

tell him. Tension, anger and worry ruled the emotions he could feel from her. She

squirmed in her seat. He knew that he‟d know the answer soon either way, but he

wanted her side of the story. Finally, her shoulders slumped and her full lips turned

down into a frown. The jut of her lower lip caught his eyes. She looked so sexy.

His attention was drawn away from those pink lips and expressive golden eyes by

the arrival of his men and the Lieutenant Commander. They came across the room. The

Lieutenant Commander carried a small maroon bag. If that held her clothing, she had

maybe three changes with her. One of the first things they‟d need to get for her was few

more clothes.

The Lieutenant Commander smiled at her and she smiled back at him. Jarritt

wanted to reach across the table and haul her into his arms. Part of him only wanted her

to smile for him, but he knew that was irrational. He didn‟t like the raw edge of

jealousy slicing through him. Her firm denial of what was between them only made

things worse. She was his and part of him wouldn‟t be satisfied until she admitted it.

19

Rebecca Airies

“I‟ve brought your bag for you, Lisia.” Lieutenant Commander Carson stopped a

few steps away from her.

Jarritt eyed him narrowly. Maybe the man wasn‟t entirely stupid. He hadn‟t gotten

any closer to her. The Commander‟s hand rose holding the bag out to her.

“Thank—” Lisia began as she stood.

“You could have given the bag to one of my men. They would have brought it to

her. They would have known where to find her.” Jarritt overrode her soft thanks. He

wanted the man away from her, at least until he could stake his claim on her.

“I also have a message for her from her brother.” Lieutenant Commander Carson

straightened, but didn‟t budge after the bag left his hand.

She grimaced. “What did he say?”

“You want to talk here?” The Lieutenant Commander looked pointedly at Jarritt.

Jarritt smiled. “She‟s not going anywhere so give her the message from her

brother.”

“It‟s all right. You can tell me here. I doubt things could get much more difficult

than they already are.” She shrugged and chuckled ruefully.

“He said „Tell them soonest.‟ Oh and when you get your mess cleared away to

contact him,” the Lieutenant Commander relayed.

“Thank you. I expected that, but it‟s not necessary. They already know.” Lisia

stepped forward and took the Lieutenant Commander‟s hand briefly before stepping

back.

Jarritt had had enough. He couldn‟t take any more of her embracing other men. He

suspected the Lieutenant Commander felt more for her than friendship and gratitude.

He knew that he felt more than that and he‟d just met her. Without a second thought, he

surged to his feet. He stalked around the table to where she stood. Stepping up behind

her, he curled an arm around her waist. She tried to pull away, but he tightened his

arm. She turned her head and frowned up at him. Her fingers gripped his forearm and

tugged. When it didn‟t move, she rested her fingers on top of it.

“We‟ll be getting in touch with her brother soon. I‟ll want to talk to him.” Jarritt

stroked his fingers across her stomach. “I‟ll be over to talk to you soon.”

He enjoyed her swift intake of breath. She tensed, remaining totally still. He felt the

tiny thrill that went through her. He wanted to see how she‟d respond to a more

intimate touch and watch her eyes glow with arousal.

The Lieutenant Commander didn‟t look as if he was going to take the dismissal for

a moment but he nodded. “If you need anything Lisia…”

“She won‟t and if she does, I‟ll help her.” Jarritt felt the growl rumbling in his voice.

“I‟ll talk to you later, Lisia.” The Lieutenant Commander nodded and turned and

left.

20

Lisia’s Journey

Only when the Lieutenant Commander was out of the
marrohl
did Jarritt loosen his

hold and step away from her. Just as the door closed, it opened again and one of his

Ferot
, Arik came into the communal room. Jarritt gestured for Arik to come join them.

“Go get Arik a mug of ale and then take a seat again. We still have things to talk

about.” Jarritt walked around the table and sat.

Lisia turned and shot a narrow-eyed glare at him. Jarritt smiled. Oh, yes, the

passion burned high in her. He looked forward to feeling something other than anger

pouring from her. She exhaled loudly and went over to the refreshment table. Grabbing

a mug, she drew a glass of ale and returned to the table.

She put the mug in front of Arik where he sat beside Jarritt. Walking back around

the table, she sank onto her seat. He saw the light of mutiny in her eyes. Her lips were

compressed into a straight line as she put her hands palms down on the dark wood and

just stared at him.

“Now, what‟s keeping you from returning home?” Jarritt asked.

She opened her mouth but closed it before she said anything. For a moment he

wondered if she was going to try playing stubborn about it. He was determined to get

his answers. He needed to know exactly what type of situation she‟d gotten herself into

that had resulted in her coming here.

“I had a little trouble with a man who had some powerful friends. He‟d pretty

much blocked all the avenues back to my home planet. So I found Lieutenant

Commander Carson and asked for help.” She shrugged and looked to the side as if she

wasn‟t worried about the problem.

“What was the trouble?” Jarritt leaned forward and steepled his fingers.

She continued to hedge and delay. He‟d been very obvious in his actions. She had

to know that this wasn‟t negotiable. It wasn‟t just idle interest on his part. He‟d found

his mate and he wasn‟t going to let her deny it.

“You do realize it‟s not your business what trouble I had.” She crossed her arms

and looked straight at him. “I have no connection to this clan. I‟m here only because

there wasn‟t any other choice.”

Arik laughed.

“Everything about this is my business. Now tell me why you had the trouble.”

Jarritt smiled.

He knew he‟d get his answer. Her body language told him everything he needed to

know. She was leaning a bit away from him and spent some time studying the contents

of her cup.

“The man wanted me…for a pet.” She gritted from between her teeth.

Jarritt felt his mouth drop open as the surprise hit him. He was stunned. Of all the

answers he‟d expected, he‟d never thought of anything remotely like that. And what

exactly did she mean by that?
Aridi
were recognized as sentient beings with all of the