Rystani Warrior 02 - The Dare (32 page)

“CLOSE THE HATCH,” Zical ordered, not the least bit surprised when Avanti stepped through the portal and onto the bridge at the last second. She’d never struck him as a coward. He nodded in her direction. “Welcome aboard.”

The portal clanged shut. After boarding, Zical had taken a moment to change into his suit and to temper his elation at bringing his people on board. Although he’d always wish he could have saved everyone, he considered losing only the one panicked scientist after they’d first arrived a major victory—a victory that would allow him to continue his mission.

His responsibility to the Federation and Mystique was never far from his thoughts. With his mission back on track, he renewed his determination to find the Sentinel, to reprogram the machine so all peoples in this galaxy would remain safe from the Zin. With renewed purpose, he strode onto the bridge, pleased that his crew’s determination hadn’t wavered. No one had even suggested they go home.

With the Kwadii dampeners off, their engine worked and so did their psi controlled suits. It felt great to be clean again and able to move at the speed of thought. Living on Kwadii without their suits had been like living without one of their senses, and it was a measure of crew discipline that they hadn’t complained. In fact they’d adapted, and he was proud of them all. Especially Dora. He’d begun to realize just how difficult it must have been for her to adjust not to just the lack of a suit, but to human form.

There was much he wanted to say to Dora, but right now his priority was to lift his ship back into space. Put the mission back in the groove of hyperspace.

Zical glanced to his chief engineer. “Cyn?”

“We’re ready to go, Captain.”

“Vax?”

“Dr. Laduna and his staff are set for departure,” his first officer summarized. “Cargo and supplies are exactly as we left them. Water tanks have been topped off.”

The exhausted Kirek had departed for his quarters, but Dora remained at a computer station. She no longer needed hardware to tap into Ranth with her psi. But by the blank expression in her eyes and the lack of emotion on her face, she was linked, monitoring the Kwadii communications to ensure their liftoff would not be challenged.

His communications officer, Shannon Walker, sat at her station, but she had no job to do, since they planned to keep the Kwadii in the dark about their departure. Instead of asking for permission to depart, she instructed Avanti and Deckar how to web in for liftoff. Since the pair had yet to learn how to use their psi or their new suits to nullify the g-force, they would require additional protection.

“Dora?” Zical prodded her into giving a report.

Her tone was flat, indicating her attention was split between the ship and her exalted computer. “Captain, the Kwadii dampeners were developed by a race as old as the Perceptive Ones and as technically superior to ours. They power their machinery by converting both solar power from their sun and geothermal power from their lava flow, transforming it to negative energy on their moons. The result is a hyperspace defense system that can also be employed to enhance our journey as effectively as our initial boost from the Osarian black holes.”

His hope rose to joyful that they might complete their mission much sooner than he’d anticipated after losing their original momentum, but he kept his tone even. “Are you saying the Kwadii system will accelerate us back to our former speed in hyperspace?”

“Affirmative, Captain.”

“Will the Kwadii be able to come after us again?”

“We intend to drain their power almost dry. By the time they can recharge, we’ll be long gone.”

“What’s required?” Determination to place them back on track filled him.

“Ranth and I will perform the calculations.” Dora spoke in a voice so flat he had to refrain from wincing. The contradiction between his excitement and her cold mechanical-like aura vexed him. Now that he knew how warm and giving she could be, her return to efficient crew woman irked him.

While Zical needed her help, he’d always disliked when she popped back into computer mode. However, he couldn’t complain when she was doing her job so well. But he didn’t know if it bothered him more to watch her plug in and tether herself to the machine, or to know that she’d evolved to the point that she no longer required the hardware.

“Commencing countdown to liftoff,” Vax said.

Cyn, as usual, remained rock steady. “Engineering is a go.”

The liftoff procedures settled Zical. During the last few years he’d become more at home in space than in his quarters on Mystique, and the engine vibrations beneath his feet soothed him. He was glad to be back on course.

Kahn and Tessa must be worried by now, and he needed to check in once they were safely away. Miri and Etru would want to reassure themselves that Kirek was fine. The Federation would need particulars about Kwadii, especially about their beliefs that hyperspace travel might lead the Zin to the Federation. After Ranth and the scientists had carefully checked Kwadii libraries and data banks, Zical had no proof that the Kwadii belief that the Zin could find them through a hyperspace trail was anything more than superstition, so the mission would continue as planned. Zical had endless details, logs, and reports to file, but the person he wanted to talk to most was Dora.

He could no longer deny his attraction to her intelligence and her beauty or her courageous nature. But he didn’t wish to return to their old relationship, the kind they’d had before they’d landed on Kwadii. He wanted to openly express his affections. He wanted to seek out her company whenever he wished. If he had been Terran, he might have asked Dora to share his quarters. No regulations prevented crew members from forming social units, as long as they competently performed their assigned tasks.

However, Zical came from Rystan. On his world, men didn’t make love to women outside the bonds of marriage. He’d gone against custom once, making love to Dora, believing they’d be executed the following day. He’d flouted custom again, when Dora had a need to increase her psi powers by making love in the sub. His reasons had been good, and if he had the same choice to make, he’d do nothing differently.

Holding her, loving her, living so closely with her through such trying circumstances had convinced him what she’d seemed to know all along—that they were meant for one another. The idea pleased him. Although the timing could have been better, and he wished they weren’t on such a dangerous mission, if all went well, they would spend the next day or two in hyperspace, more than enough time to settle things between them.

The liftoff jarred him from his thoughts, and as the ship soared into space, his heart lightened. He could still complete his mission. His crew was safe. They’d found and rescued Kirek. Along the way, he’d found someone extraordinarily special to hold close to his heart.

Dora had a unique way of looking at the world that complemented his more serious nature. He recalled how often she smiled, how she gave of her body during making love, how she’d saved him with cool thinking when the Kwadii had been about to lop off his head, how she’d risked her life to save Kirek—all while keeping an upbeat disposition. Sure, her linking with Ranth disturbed him, but once their mission was completed, she would have no more need to lose herself amid computer circuitry. They could return to Mystique, build a home together.

Vax’s voice interrupted Zical’s musing. “Prepare for hyperspace.”

The familiar sensations of color and sound reassured Zical that all was well. They’d overcome enormous obstacles, and he was certain they would face many more. Yet, his confidence and hopes of success had never been higher, and he attributed his feelings of well-being to Dora.

Although he wanted to speak with her, the ship and his responsibilities were his first concern. It was many weary hours later before his shift ended and he turned in. Although he didn’t expect to share his quarters before marriage, he was hoping Dora might still be awake.

Zical threaded his fingers through his hair, appreciative he need no longer waste precious time shaving and bathing since his suit once again took care of his grooming needs. Yet, right now, the idea of sharing a water shower with Dora sounded enticing.

Stars. The woman had taken over his thoughts. He supposed once they’d spoken, he’d be able to better focus on his responsibilities. He wanted to succeed and bring everyone back safely. With that goal in mind, he convinced himself that seeking her out now might be best for the mission.

DORA AWAKENED FROM a wonderful dream to Zical’s kiss. “Mmm. I was hoping you’d come find me.”

With Kirek snugly tucked away in her sleeping quarters and the portal between the two areas closed, they had all the privacy they required. Although they’d made love recently on Kwadii, it seemed way too long ago and she wanted to try making love in hyperspace where the senses were especially sensitive. This time, they could concentrate on pure pleasure and she needn’t try to put aside her worry for Kirek, the Sentinel, and if they’d ever escape Kwadii.

They’d made it back into space. Now she was ready to reward the man who’d done everything possible to keep them alive. His arms around her allowed her to snuggle in ways she couldn’t have done while she wore clothing instead of her suit. A simple psi thought here and there allowed for perfect pleasure, perfect pressure. As she fitted her mouth to his, her senses quickened.

She’d always dreamed of having Zical for a lover and had feared that once they’d returned to the ship, he’d go back to treating her as one of the crew. But he seemed to want her as much as she wanted him, and happiness zinged through her. She couldn’t wait to make love with null-grav. The variations were as endless as the imagination. She already knew from past experience that Zical could be quite inventive.

Her flesh tingled in anticipation of his touch, and she used her psi to turn her suit transparent. She pulled him closer, kissed him deeply, showing him her eagerness to be with him.

“Are you awake?” he whispered a sexy murmur in her ear that she’d come to adore.

“Awake enough.”

“Good.” He pulled back with a wicked gleam in his gaze. “I thought we should talk.”

“Mmm.” She angled her head to kiss him again, thinking there were tricks to kissing in null-grav that she needed to learn. She yearned to steal a few moments from the mission to relax. They’d earned it. After their madcap escape and reuniting with the crew, he’d seen to everyone else’s needs. Now it was time for her to see to his. She placed her palm on the back of his neck to steady her floating body, let her fingers caress his speeding pulse. “Talk later. Do you know how long I’ve been waiting to make love in null-grav?”

He nipped her ear and with a psi thought let his suit go transparent, signaling his willingness to make love. “How long?”

“Too long.” She adored the long, clean lines of his warrior body. Loved the muscles in his powerful chest and how his strong arms could wrap her so gently in an embrace. But most of all she liked the glowing sparks in his eyes and the laughter on his lips.

She appreciated how his gaze raked her, interest turning the sparking gleam in his eyes to a fiery glow. Null-grave did wonderful things for her breasts, lifting them, rounding their shape, and just the heat from his look had her eager for his touch. Her breasts ached at the thought of his hands on her, his clever fingers touching, teasing, and taunting. Yet, she’d already learned that delaying caused anticipation and that anticipation increased their mutual pleasure.

But she didn’t want to only give him a lot of pleasure. She wanted to challenge him to let go again, to taunt him until he demanded what he wanted, until he took what he needed. She loved the power she had when she caused him to lose control of his passion. She liked pushing him, daring him to go after what he wanted. She was thrilled he wanted her—not just her body, which she’d created to entice his senses—but she knew him well enough to comprehend that he would never have come to her quarters if he wasn’t attracted to the person she’d become. His approval meant so much to her.

Nude, she floated before him, considering the possibilities. Without gravity, touching became … interesting. She no longer had to concern herself with weight. Every sensitive sliver of flesh, each delicate nerve became more easily accessible.

The basic laws of physics still applied in null-grav. For every action, there was an equal and opposite reaction. At her caress to his neck, Zical would have floated away, except she hooked her hand in his and held him steady. One finger crook was all it took to move his weightless mass.

Except he placed a palm on the ceiling and slid below her, attempting to place his hands on her bottom to capture her. But she drew her legs up, twisted, rotated, coming up behind him and lightly nipped his butt.

“Ow.” He complained but broke into a chuckle, even as he twisted to take her into his arms.

His hands barely glanced along her hips, her thigh, streaking heat along her legs, but again, she flung herself away, using the pad of her foot to stream toward the ceiling, like a swimmer doing a flip turn against the pool’s wall. Without hesitation, Zical zoomed after her, his reflexes quick.

Together they weaved and bobbed, playing a game of tag that lasted exactly as long as Zical was willing to let her tease him. He pursued her, grazing a finger down the inside of her thigh, skimming his palms over her breasts, another time licking her ear. She, in turn, caressed his spine, nibbled along his neck, slid her hands along the strong muscles of his thighs and buttocks.

When he caught her in the middle of the room, his timing was sheer perfection. He’d stopped their movement so that they floated equidistant between six walls. With her head toward one bulkhead and her toes pointed at the deck, he threaded his hands between the curls at her thighs, the slight tug shooting heat straight to her core.

With only a breathy tease of warning, his mouth closed on her
synthari
. Pure sizzling heat made her hungry and ready to taste his flesh as he was savoring her, nipping and nibbling until moisture pooled between her slick folds. With his tavis floating right before her, she eagerly took him into her mouth, enjoying the fresh tang of his skin, the smooth flesh that writhed under her lips and tongue. Floating, spinning slowly, his mouth intimately pressed on her, as her lips closing over his rigid flesh. She burned from wanting him and arched to take more of him into her mouth.