Reclaiming Mystique (SpaceStalker Saga Book 2) (12 page)

“Stars,” he moaned and deepened the kiss, rubbing her faster and faster.

And Naria lost all control.

She clutched him to her, her eyes closed as ecstasy unlike anything she’d ever felt exploded within her. The sheer joy was everything bright and good, and so different from anything she knew. It made her tremble and gave her a strange sense of freedom.

But what about Jace? “Jace? You—”

“Shh. Easy, Naria.” A few soft curses, then he slowly extricated himself from her and put a measure of distance between them.

When he stood, she saw his unappeased arousal. “Jace?”

“Change into those clothes.” He pointed to the clothes she’d forgotten about on the bed. Then he left the room.

Naria did as he ordered, sated yet confused about what exactly had occurred between them. She’d experienced desire and passion for the first time. Jace had too. She was pretty sure. From her studies, she knew there was usually more to it, but perhaps offworlders procreated in other ways? At the thought, she froze. Had he given her a child? There was no way he could know they might be biologically compatible, thus he had to want the sex for pleasure’s sake. But he’d left looking unsatisfied.

Even she knew males had to find release to enjoy such physical exertions. Right? Or did he release in some other way?

He hadn’t left looking as pleased as she felt. With a shrug, she changed into the garments he’d left, surprisingly content at their comfort. The trousers reached her mid lower leg and the blouse clung to her bosom, but they fit well enough.

Jace returned to find her fully clothed. He also appeared much calmer, his trousers no longer bearing testimony to an aroused male. “You’re good, Naria. I’ll grant you that. Have no doubt that when the timing is right, I’ll take you the way you want me to. Until then, I advise you to keep your assets hidden behind normal clothes. Dress appropriately and keep a reign on that hunger, or so help me I’ll dump you on Rovi so fast your head will spin. And trust me when I say you don’t want to tangle with horny miners.”

Naria blinked. “Horny miners?” She had no idea what he meant. In one breath he’d said she was good, in another, he acted as though he distrusted her. “Do you doubt what transpired between us?” Hurt he might think she used wiles on him, she started to grow angry about the situation. “I am no incubus.” He’d been the one arousing her!

“An incubus? What in the five hels are you talking about?”

“You’re the one who enflamed my body. And now you’re angry with me. But I refuse to take the blame for something I did not do.”

Jace looked like he wanted to respond. Instead he clamped his mouth shut, paused, then said, “We’ll talk about this later. But let there be no confusion about
this
—leave my men alone. You’ll deal with me, and me only.”

“Oh, you—”

He left her steaming in his room, locked in with no place to go. A pitiful reminder he was in charge, especially after his amorous display.

Control was more than important to Jace. It was his key to survival, to regaining his place among his people. For over a decade he’d been honing his abilities to carefully structure his mind, allowing no distraction. Despite loving Dare as a sister, and sharing himself intimately with a few lovers here and there, Jace kept something of himself apart. But in just one amazing, sexual spell with Naria, he’d come undone.

The most infuriating, arousing, unsatisfying sexual experience in his life with a woman he’d guarantee had never before had an orgasm. What was wrong with him?

He’d been so consumed with Naria that he’d lost control of his mental shields for the first time since he’d left Mystique. When she’d reached her climax, her mental waves of pleasure had nearly triggered his own. Had she looked into his mind, she could have taken whatever she wanted, he’d been that far gone into her.

It had to be Naria’s fault. He’d withstood a demon lord, Meklens, the Cazeth. Two secnoids in her presence and he’d lost his objectivity, wanting nothing more than to know her better.

Unfortunately, though she seemed to be a hapless victim of Lord Demise, she was also proving to be the possible destruction of all he’d worked for since the loss of his people. Stubbornly refusing to give in to her influence, Jace knew he’d only be able to conquer his distraction by getting to the heart of the problem. Namely, by figuring out Naria’s mysteries. Maybe in so doing, he would regain not only his stalwart control, but a new ability to withstand the darkness that even now he felt creeping into his soul.

-7-

Mikhel’s hair looked limp and lifeless, and Jace wondered what the poor Fenturi had been forced to endure. For years Mikhel had lived on the fringe of Bylaran society, fighting for his people, doing his best to survive their slaughter led by a cruel king. He’d given his entire life to rebuilding his race and had finally started to live for himself, working aboard the
SpaceStalker
away from the pain of prejudice.

Only to land on Dark World and face even crueler torture.

Mikhel groaned, and the blanket fell off of his body. Bitemarks and gouges covered his entire body. The poor man looked like a piece of raw meat. And the Light only knew what else had been done to him.

Careful not to touch his wounds, Jace gently covered Mikhel in the blanket and left the room. He checked in on Nesham in the control room and spent the afternoon with him and Koneru plotting a new course and figuring where to go. After Rovi, then what? Time passed, and he had to order Nesham to take a break, since the stubborn Fenturi needed less sleep than the rest of them. If not working, Nesham took no pleasure in living.

Castor popped in before also being ordered to leave, which made Jace realize Naria had been alone all day with nothing to do. He felt a measure of remorse. Just because he’d lost his mind from a few kisses didn’t mean she was a fault. Not exactly—unless she really was the enemy under the guise of a misfortuned female.

He shot Koneru an order to see to Naria, then returned to the ship, deliberately ignoring thoughts of Naria.

More time passed, and Jace manage to get everyone to take a break while he commanded the ship. A blessed hour of peace and quiet before Nesham returned.

He checked the monitors. “Holding steady, Jace.”

“Good.”

A pause, then Nesham said, “Mikhel continues to suffer.”

“I know. Dark World is about pain and torture, one that never seems to cease.” Jace sighed. “But at least we’re free of that place. I’m still not sure how you got us out, because that ghostly spirit isn’t ringing true, but”— he said to forestall Nesham’s interruption, “I’m too tired to question it right now. I’ll be in the galley if you need me.”

“I won’t need you. I have everything under control here.”

Jace believed him. Self-contained and grieving Nesham might be, but he’d never put the crew in jeopardy if he couldn’t handle things.

In the galley, Jace saw with Koneru and Castor and grabbed himself a plate of food. They spoke about life on Fenby, now that the Bylarans and Fenturi had managed huge leaps into integrating their cultures. Dark World remained an unspoken topic, though they felt free to rip into the Meklens. Time passed in welcome camaraderie, healing unseen wounds, before Castor rose unsteadily to his feet.

“Now if you don’t mind, I’m going to get cleaned up and sleep like there’s no tomorrow.” Castor walked slowly, clutching his side, and ambled out the door.

“That wound has healed.” Koneru stared after him thoughtfully. “Yet perhaps the pain of Dark World lingers deeper than skin.”

Jace nodded, thinking of Mikhel. “I have to agree.”

“We might want to keep an eye on Castor for a while.I’d swear he was one foot away from passing into the beyond when Nesham’s mysterious ‘friend’ helped him.” Koneru finished his meal. “I’m off as well. I’ll break Nesham when I’m finished.”

“Right.” Talk of Dark World gave Jace the urge to be clean as well, and he sought his private lavatory. He emerged feeling clean and relaxed enough for sleep. Except thoughts of his sexy neighbor refused to give him any peace.

With a groan, he knocked, heard nothing, then entered her room. She lay on the uncomfortable bed looking like an angel. Frustrated she seemed to have no problem sleeping when he’d spent the better portion of the day doing his best not to think of her, he debated waking her to talk about her past. The need to know of her bordered on obsession.

She sighed and tucked into herself on her side, like a sleeping kitten. Except she didn’t purr, she moaned. “Please. No. No more.” She whimpered, cringing at bad dreams, and pulled at his heartstrings.

“Hel and damn.” He knew it was a bad idea even as he lifted her into his arms.

She immediately eased and cuddled into his arms, and his heart softened even more. He took her into his room and put her gently into his bed, under the covers, and watched her lips curl into a smile.

He leaned closer and looked with his inner senses, but the beautiful woman was asleep. Once in his bed, she settled and didn’t stir.

Great. Now she looked comfortable while he was anything but. He would never take advantage of a female. He didn’t quite trust her, so it was probably best he stay as close to her as possible. Besides, he had plenty of room to accommodate two people.

He continued to rationalize his insanity as he stripped
down to a pair of short leggings. Then he pulled back the covers and eased into his bed next to Naria.

She did nothing more than sigh and move closer to his warmth.

He stroked her hair and kissed her cheek, then closed his eyes. But he kept his shields in place around the enticing beauty. Even in sleep he’d be cautious, or so he told himself. Then with a yawn, he joined her in rest.

***

Naria sighed and snuggled deeper into the warmth holding her close. She didn’t recall ever feeling this safe or comfortable before and frowned at the unfamiliar touch.

Then she inhaled the clean, tantalizing scent of pure power and man.

She couldn’t shake herself from the dream, and she didn’t want to. She didn’t fear the warm presence by her, though it didn’t make sense to trust. Her body seemed to ache in odd places, and she felt a strange surge of need.

She shifted in place and grazed naked skin—not her own. A wonderful dream.

A large hand passed over her bare stomach and rubbed soft circles over her skin. She turned over, seeking the source of contact, and found her lips caught by another.

Fire licked her insides, her blood heating as his tongue entered her mouth, staking a claim of fierce possession. His hands joined in the taking, touching her everywhere. She kissed her dream lover back, aware of herself as she’d never before been. Her breasts tingled where they met his hard chest, her sex aching for something more that only he could give her.

His mouth slanted over hers, drawing her in deeper as he groaned and touched her everywhere.

Naria ran her hands over his bare back and found him corded with strength, his skin firm and hot under her touch. A sense of togetherness, and psychic well of love and need and devotion enticed her to drop her shields, that she might truly join her lover.

She sent a psychic probe, desiring the love of her other half. And then…nothing.

Feeling as if she moved in a fog, she reached out blindly, unable to see, and felt nothing but the cool sheets underneath her. Though her body cried out for him, her mind demanded rest, and she sank back into oblivion.

There, her dreamman took on a familiar face, and she sighed his name.

“Jace,” Naria said on a soft moan.

Jace shuddered with need as he stared down at a sleeping woman who’d made him burn. If she could get to him like that while asleep, imagine had they both been awake and aware.

He had a hard time getting his breathing back under control. And other parts of his body took longer to relax. Running a hand over his face, he hit the lav.

Good night, but one minute he’d been sound asleep, the next he must have subconsciously recognized the sultry female next to him and kissed her. Or dreamed he kissed her.

He could still taste the strange mix of her innocence and carnality, as if the experience between them had been real. He frowned. It hadn’t been, had it? Waking up with an erection and all but glued to her body had made it hard to tell.

Jace forced himself to relax. Naria might have turned to him in sleep or she might not have. Either way, she was vulnerable and needing his protection, not his lust.

He reentered his room and dressed, keeping a wary eye on her. Fortunately, she didn’t stir. Before she woke and looked up at him with those deep, violet eyes, he left the room and joined Koneru and Nesham in the galley—their favorite place to be. “Feeling better?” he asked them.

Koneru nodded and continued to consume everything on his plate. The large Rovi had been starved for days and apparently resolved to make up for lost time. Nesham picked at his food.

“Nesham?”

“What?” He glanced up and frowned.

Jace sent a light mental probe over the man but sensed no injury. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s just…” Nesham paused. “I feel like I’ve missed something.”

“How so?” Jace asked.

“I’m not sure. It’s like there’s something at the very corner of my eye, but when I turn to look at it, it’s gone.” He jerked his head to the left and swore. “There it goes again.”

“Run a deep-seven scan. It’ll take more resources, but enough is enough. And this time do it on all of us as well. Organic and nonorganics aboard ship. Scan the food, the walls. Every damn thing until we find what we’re clearly missing.”

Nesham nodded and sprung to his feet. “I’ll find it. I swear.” He darted out of the galley with a new sense of urgency.

“Mikhel’s looking much better today,” Koneru said to fill the sudden silence.

“Good. I was planning to see him after I grabbed something to eat.”

“I checked on him after Castor. Nesham put him in the med-unit while we slept. Most of Mikhel’s scars have faded, but the more serious ones need more time. He’s looking much better than I’d thought. Has to be his Fenturi blood speeding his recovery.”