Part 7 (1/2)

”What ways?” Emily demanded but Tragar only shook his head. The methods he had been taught were theory only-nothing he had ever expected to actually have to practice. And even if he was called upon to implement them, he didn't know if he could. It was not for such as him to treat a Khalla in those ways-not unless it was a dire emergency.

”Tell me how to stop it, please!” Emily begged again but the big Kindred remained obstinately silent. He piloted the small car which had somehow become a s.p.a.cecraft and looked straight ahead, staring at the complicated array of instruments in front of him.

Emily sighed in frustration and crossed her arms over her chest. Was it possible-could she really be this Khalla thing he was talking about? And if so, was that the reason someone wanted to kill her?

Even a month ago the idea would have been preposterous. But a month ago she hadn't known she was adopted. And the heat waves, the dreams, the flashes of the other in the mirror had been far back in her past-easy to forget, easy to sweep under the rug along with the memory of what Grayson had done to her. Now they weren't so easy to deny.

But that wasn't the first thing the big Kindred-Tragar, he said his name was Tragar-had noted when he said she was a female of his kind. He said I smell! Emily thought indignantly. Which was clearly ridiculous-she took a shower every morning and a bubble bath every night before bed to relax. She was a very clean person.

She s.h.i.+fted away from him and ducked her head a little, pretending to stare out the window at the velvety blackness of s.p.a.ce. Earth was no more than a large blue marble in the sky now-a frightening prospect if she let herself think about it. Emily didn't let herself. Instead she ducked her head further and inhaled surrept.i.tiously, trying to see if she could smell what he was talking about.

A scent did come to her nose but it clearly wasn't hers. Warm and enticing, it smelled like leather and spice and coffee and smoke. Not cigarette smoke, though-it was the scent of a campfire at night out under the clear, icy sky when the stars look as bright as stolen diamonds.

It was a dark, dangerous scent-more of a warning than an invitation and yet it drew her. Drew her deeply to its source.

A male, whispered the voice of the other, just as it had so many years ago. A male-we need a male.

Yes. Emily turned to the big Kindred, feeling the heated waves wash over her, the liquid warmth between her thighs. Her eyes were burning and her nipples were suddenly tight with desire.

”Tragar?” she murmured.

”Yes?” He spared her a quick glance and then his eyes widened. ”Khalla, your eyes-remember I told you to stay calm.”

”I'm calm.” Emily leaned towards him and inhaled deeply, pulling in breaths of his dark, dangerous scent. ”You asked me if I had any dreams,” she murmured, looking up at him. ”Well, I think I had a dream about you. I'm only remembering it just now but I think I saw you in the mirror-long black hair...golden eyes.”

”You cannot have dreamed of me,” he protested, frowning. ”That would mean-” he stopped abruptly.

”It would mean what?” Emily leaned closer to him, deliberately invading his s.p.a.ce. She never would have done such a thing normally but the other was coming forward, urging her, riding her, filling her with l.u.s.t and every breath of his warm, masculine scent only fed the fire burning inside her.

Her proximity seemed to disturb him for he turned his gaze back to the viewscreen at the front of the shuttle and stared fixedly ahead at the sleek silver s.p.a.ces.h.i.+p they were fast approaching.

”Never mind. It means nothing.”

”Seems to mean something.” She slid one hand up his thigh, clad in tight black leather trousers, and felt his muscles go rock hard under her touch. Somewhere inside herself, Emily wondered where she had gotten the nerve to do such a thing-it wasn't like her at all to come on to a complete stranger like this. But somehow the impulse was too strong to deny. She slid her hand higher, enjoying the feel of his big, muscular body.

”Don't,” he growled, taking her hand and putting it firmly back in her own lap. ”You must not. Your scent makes being in close proximity difficult enough as it is.”

”You smell pretty good yourself,” Emily purred, leaning close to him again and taking a deep breath. ”d.a.m.n good.”

He gave a sort of frustrated growl and she saw a muscle in the side of his jaw clench as though he was holding himself back.

”You must stop. This kind of...of stress will cause you to move from Kalor to Scintil. It is dangerous...wrong.”

”What's so wrong about it?” They were docking with the big silver s.h.i.+p now but she barely noticed the vibration as metal kissed metal. The other was in full control of her now, just as she had been that fateful night in the bar with Grayson. It was urging her onward, telling her she wanted this...needed this...

”We've arrived.” The big Kindred sounded immensely relieved as he got up quickly and walked to the back of the shuttle. An airlock was already irising open to show the clean, metal and gla.s.s utilitarian interior of his s.h.i.+p.

Emily rose and followed him, her fingers itching to touch his broad back and shoulders, not to mention the tight, muscular a.s.s she saw working beneath his leather flight trousers.

”The air inside the shuttle is close and not very well filtered,” he said, stepping up to get from the shuttle to the s.h.i.+p. He turned and offered a hand to Emily. ”You should feel better here-there is much more efficient filtration so scents are not so...strong. So distracting.”

”Mm-hmm.” Her palm tingled again as they touched and she felt the waves of heat intensifying as his big hand engulfed hers. He pulled her up and into the s.h.i.+p but somehow the momentum carried her forward and she wound up in his arms which was exactly where the other wanted them to be.

Emily stood on tiptoes to wind her fingers through his long black hair. She could feel his hard chest pressed against her b.r.e.a.s.t.s and further down, something else that was long and hard and hot was branding her thigh. Hmm, so she wasn't the only one feeling this.

”Stop!” The Kindred's low growl carried a depth of warning Emily knew she shouldn't ignore. But the other didn't give a d.a.m.n about that-she wanted the huge, hard male in front of them. Wanted the dark stranger who would have scared Emily to death if she hadn't had the other inside her, urging her on. ”Stop,” he growled again, more urgently.

”Don't want to stop.” Emily reached even higher, dragging his head down, her fingers tangled in his hair which smelled like leather and smoke and warm, aroused male. She pressed her mouth to his and felt a low growl vibrate through him as she licked delicately along the seam of his sensual lips.

Somewhere deep inside the real Emily was screaming that this was wrong-was begging to know what was going on, what she was doing for heaven's sake. But the touch of his big body and the taste of his lips-salt and wild, dark spice-were like a drug that drove the other higher, made her want more and even more...

And for a moment it seemed he would give her more. Taking her in his arms, he pulled her close, molding her to him and deepening the kiss, opening his lips and sucking her tongue into his mouth, tasting her with abandon.

Emily felt herself melting against him. Right...oh G.o.d, this felt so right. It was like water in the desert-like food to a starving man. Like the answer she'd been seeking to a question she hadn't even known she was asking all her life.

Then, suddenly, he pulled away, breaking the kiss.

”Please,” Emily whispered, standing on tiptoes, trying to get to him again. She had to have more...more. The other demanded it.

”No.” He cupped her face in his big hands and pulled away, studying her closely. ”Your eyes are pure gold. Your Kit'tara is close.”

”Don't want to talk about that. I just want more.” Emily pressed close to him but he held her at a distance.

”Khalla, this is dangerous,” he rumbled, eyeing her earnestly. ”You must not allow yourself to be overcome or the Tenrah will be greatly accelerated and that must not happen-not now.”

”It doesn't feel dangerous-feels wonderful.” Emily rubbed against him like a cat, shamelessly begging for what she needed-for what the other told her they had to have.

”It...feels good to me too. But we must not give in to temptation. I am Verrak-fallen from the ways of our people. I do not deserve to service a Khalla and besides to service you now would be dangerous. We must get you to Rageron where you can have your pick of suitable males.”

”I pick you,” Emily purred, pressing closer. Reaching between them, she cupped the long, hard ridge of flesh between his legs. ”Please, Tragar, take me. f.u.c.k me.”

He drew in a deep breath, as though trying to regain control, and pulled her hand away.

”No! You must not speak so-you must not act so.” He shook his head. ”This isn't right or safe.”

”Why should I care about right or safe?” Emily rubbed against him again. G.o.d, she was acting so shameless. Somewhere buried deep inside the real Emily was mortified at the way she was behaving. Yet, with the other riding her, she seemed helpless to stop.

”Very well. You leave me no choice.”

Tragar took her by the hand and turned, leading her down a long metal corridor.

Emily followed without complaint. All she could think of was his mouth on hers and the exotic dark-spice taste of his lips. All she could do was what the other demanded and give herself completely.

It didn't occur to her that this idea would have been repugnant to her just a few minutes before. She'd had no s.e.xual encounters at all after what Grayson had done to her and hadn't wanted any either. But for some reason, she was willing and eager to do anything and everything with the big Kindred. She was ready to throw away any caution she might have felt if only he would promise to take her to his bed and make her his-completely his. Her entire body ached for him-longed to be filled with the thick, throbbing shaft she'd touched so briefly earlier.