Flames of Arousal (14 page)

She glided her tongue down the thick vein on the underside of his shaft.

Satisfaction filled her when he groaned her name. She pulled back, then touched her finger to the tip of his wet cock, sending a charge down his shaft.

“Damn, Halah!” His whole body contracted. “Ah! What are you doing to me?

That’s fucking great!”

Yes, she knew. Rarely did she use her power to sexually stimulate her partner, but she wanted to give him a phenomenal experience. One he’d never forget.

“I’ve never felt anything like that. My entire cock and balls felt ready to explode. I need to feel that again, Halah. I want to come in your mouth.”

She smiled. He seemed to have regained his voice fairly well now.

Her mouth slid over the tip of his cock, then lower, taking all of him that she could.

Her fingers found his balls, and she sent small pulses through him. She didn’t intend to stop this time, until he came. He should come hard, right down her throat, and continue coming until she released him.

Kam’s hips lifted, and he groaned. “Oh, yes!” He moved beneath her, tangling his hands in her hair. “Don’t stop!” He pumped his hips, fucking her mouth voraciously.

“My balls are tingling.”

She sucked him while she rolled and massaged his balls, making sure she varied her electrical pulses to cause pleasure and not make him numb. “Mmm.” She slid one finger underneath him to tease his asshole with a small charge.

His hands tightened almost painfully in her hair. “Ah!” His body stiffened, and he shot his cum down her throat. “Yes! Halah! Yes!”

She used a technique she’d learned from an electrical-power instructor long ago to keep him coming, through a special method of electrical transference—concentrating on his balls and the small puckered hole of his ass. She intended to milk every ounce of cum from his body.

“Halah! Ah-hh!”

She swallowed his cum and sucked for more. His body was shaking now, and she knew he had reached his physical limit. She eased her fingers away.

A sound between a sigh and a moan escaped him.

After taking the last of his cum, she slid her mouth off him and licked his balls to soothe him. He jerked once, then relaxed.

“Damn, woman.” Breathing heavily, he pulled her up to him. He kissed her mouth, forcing his tongue inside. Slowly, they tasted and shared a moment more tender than she’d expected from him.

Pulling back, she patted his chest. “Rest now.”

He nodded. Instead of releasing her though as she’d expected, he spooned her against him, wrapping his arms tightly around her, and fell asleep.

Halah closed her eyes, feeling surprisingly content. This wasn’t quite how she’d planned things. Fighting with him against the Egesa had brought back a lot of memories of their times together, as well as a lot of Warrior memories, when she’d served Laszlo and the Lair. It had been a better life. Maybe the decisions she’d made in her life the last few years hadn’t been the best. But she couldn’t change those choices now. The best she could do was not repeat past mistakes.

His lips nuzzled her neck, and she sighed.

Why she’d used her powers sexually with Kam, she wasn’t certain. Her EP

instructor and mentor had warned her not to use the technique on a man unless prepared to keep him around, because after experiencing the intensity once, it became additive, and he wasn’t likely to leave of his own volition.

She’d only used the method twice before in her life. Both men, Warriors, had long ago died in battle. But she’d never been as affected by a man’s pleasure as she seemed to be now. She rubbed Kam’s hand and he snuggled closer.

Even with all their problems, she didn’t regret what she’d done. But now, she wondered what would happen between them. Had a new bond of trust been formed?

Or would their relationship continue on the same volatile path?

Kam lightly stroked Halah’s hip as he watched her sleep. Amazement flowed through him. No woman had ever made him come like she had. Her electrical stimulation of his cock, balls, and asshole went beyond ecstasy. Surprisingly, his head no longer hurt either. From the electrical pulses, even though she hadn’t applied the power to his temples? He had to wonder.

She was making the cutest little sounds in her sleep, something between a purr and a sigh. Whenever Halah showed her softness, he wanted to wrap her in his arms and never let go. This woman possessed so many layers. He ached to know each and every one of them.

He checked the time. He could contact Laszlo now. The satellite would be in position. As he rolled over, a package on one of the food counters drew his attention.

Carefully, so as not to wake Halah, he eased off the bed and went to check it out. He recognized the markings on the box as from a med-lab. Must be the medicine. He didn’t remember the box being there before. Someone had to have come in while they slept.

He didn’t like the idea that someone was able to get in and out without either he or Halah noticing. Whoever did the delivery must have materialized in. He’d have heard the door if they had come in the traditional way.

In the Lair, materializing into someone’s quarters without permission would be a major privacy violation—with very few exceptions. Apparently, here, no such restriction existed. Or if it did, the restriction had been ignored.

He opened the box and saw it filled with pills. He’d expected shots. Would a simple pill work? All the same color and shape, so only one kind appeared to be required. The instructions on an included piece of paper were to take one as needed, but no more often than two hours apart.

It almost seemed too easy after all these years, though he hoped he wouldn’t need to be popping these things every two hours. If so he’d rather stay with Leila’s shots.

Even if not as effective in eliminating the pain, he wouldn’t need to worry about having enough meds on hand all the time. Especially if away on a mission.

Since he didn’t need a pill right now, he’d wait. At least, they’d fulfilled their promise, though he now doubted the strength of their supposed “cure”. He touched his throat, wondering if he should test out his new power. He didn’t know how to control it. Trial and error, he supposed. Since his throat no longer hurt, he peeled away the patch and felt the skin beneath. Smooth, as if he’d never had the surgery. If not for the pain and loss of voice, he’d believe they hadn’t operated at all. He couldn’t feel any device in his throat.

His gaze switched to the bed. He needed to wake Halah and tell her what was going on. Then he needed to contact Laszlo and complete this mission.

The safest place for them to discuss why he was here would be in the shower. If any sound devices were still active in the quarters, the water would drown out their words.

And if any video devices picked up their actions, a shower together would simply look normal after sex.

He walked over to the bed and sat down. With a gentle hand to her shoulder, he shook her. “Wake up, Halah.”

She stretched, smiled, then sobered. Quickly, she sat up. At first, she avoided his eyes. Not knowing what to think or how to act after what had happened between them, he supposed. Although, he’d never known Halah to be shy.

“Come. We need to shower.” He took her hand in his, lacing their fingers. She didn’t resist. She also didn’t speak, which worried him.

Once in the bathing room, he turned on the shower. As soon as the water felt perfectly, he urged her under the spray. “You’re quiet,” he said. “Are you all right?” If she turned against him now, he doubted anything he said would sway her back to his side.

Halah nodded, even though she wasn’t all right. Just looking at Kam made her emotions swirl. Their lovemaking—hell, fucking—had been the best she’d ever known.

She felt more connected to Kam than she’d ever felt to a man. Not only had she experienced a massive orgasm with him, but she’d never experienced so much enjoyment out of giving a man pleasure in return.

His tender touches and concern, even after she’d tried to escape him, were beyond her understanding. She’d expected him to react with violence and certainly much more anger than he’d shown her. In fact, she’d wanted him to react that way, so she could hate him. But she couldn’t hate him. He wouldn’t let her.

Somehow, with very little effort, he’d managed to change something deep down inside her, which made her think about living a different kind of life. Fighting the Egesa together in a common cause had felt good, like she was a part of something bigger than just looking out for herself. She touched his throat. “All better?”

“Yes.” He smiled. “And they brought my medicine.”

“Medicine?”

“For the headaches.”

Her heart lurched and fear shot through her. Never would she trust these people with something so important. “Don’t take it, Kam.”

He cocked an eyebrow. “Why?”

“You don’t know what’s in it.” No telling what they might give him. The medicine could change his whole personality or even kill him. She touched his cheek, worry filling her. “Are you in much pain?”

He reached up and caressed her fingers. “No. None at all, right now. Whenever you send your electrical pulses through me, I seem to get better.”

Pleased by his words, she smiled slightly and relaxed. Another skill she’d learned.

Electrical transference didn’t work with all pain or genetics, but usually helped brain-related problems, since the brain functioned through such pulses anyhow. They’d lucked out with Kam’s condition, for his genetics seemed compatible with her training and abilities. “I’m glad. That’s the way we should treat you for now.”

“We?” He grinned.

Avoiding his gaze, she tugged at the hair on his chest. “Well, as long as we’re together.” Revealing her tender emotions to people, especially men, who too often took such a display as weakness, made her uncomfortable.

He softly stroked her back. “The pills are probably safe, Halah. I don’t think Daegal is out to kill me…yet.”

“Perhaps, but he still might try to control you chemically.” She looked him in the eye. “Promise me that you won’t take those pills. At least let Leila test them first.”

“I can’t make any promises, Halah. And Leila is not here.”

Her heart lurched. She’d forgotten and spoken as if he hadn’t turned from his Warrior ways. She lowered her gaze, determined not to let him see that she realized her mistake. “I just meant—”

“Shh. I need to talk to you about something important.”

The serious sound of his voice caught her attention, and she looked back up at him.

The intensity of his eyes filled her with concern. “What?”

“Xylon and Marid are at war.”

Her stomach clenched. So it had finally come to pass. She’d known that war between the Lair and the Dome was inevitable. Still, she’d hoped never to see the day.

Her conflicting emotions were probably playing across her face, but she did nothing to hide them from him. Kam had to sense her feelings.

“What’s your position, Halah?”

She sighed, not really wanting to voice her thoughts, but she doubted he’d accept her silence. “You know I hate Daegal for what he’s done to me and my sister.” If he had actually turned and was now an Agent, she’d just shown her disloyalty and mistrust.

But then, she figured as a slave her response would seem logical and not really punish-worthy to someone serving Daegal. Besides, it was the truth. And Kam would have hurt her long before now, if he’d intended to do so. She had her suspicions about his true loyalty.

“I know you hate the Lair for what we didn’t do.”

We
. Not
they
. Yes! She knew it. He had to still be loyal to Xylon. “The Council made the decision.” She was unknown to Kam and his friends at the time. Though a Class 1, she’d worked mostly alone, on special undercover weapons assignments for Laszlo, bringing back technology from other planets for Lair use and security advancements.

“I know. I read the report before the mission to Marid. If it were up to the Warriors—”

“Well, seems to me that they turned on me, too. I was a Class 1 Warrior, Kam. With hopes of being on track for a command ranking in the future. Nobody backed me up.

Are you telling me if Braden disappeared, and the Council said ‘we’re not going to help’ that everyone would just sit on their ass and forget about the man?”

A look of guilt crossed his face. “No, I can’t tell you that. I’m sorry nobody helped you. I’m sorry I wasn’t there and able to support you when you needed a friend.” He paused, then in a rush added, “I haven’t turned, Halah. I’m here undercover.”

Finally. She’d suspected as much and was so glad he’d admitted it to her, but she still needed to be certain he wasn’t trying to trick her. She wanted some questions answered before she opened up to him any further. “You went through the reinitiation?” She held her breath.

“Yes.”

The air whooshed out of her, and her heart sank. Too late. No matter what he thought, what he said, he’d been turned. But she’d try to find out the details. Whatever explanation he offered should be interesting. “How did they not turn you?” If someone went through the Rite of the Dome, they served the Dome. Period. He might be lying as part of a bigger plan to gain more information from her about Xylon and the Lair. As a higher-ranking officer, even though no longer commissioned, she knew things that even Kam wouldn’t have had access to. She hadn’t told Daegal most of what she still knew, only using information when she needed it for survival or to negotiate a deal.

“Leila came up with an experimental formula to prevent Warriors from being turned. I came here to test it, and then infiltrate and destroy Marid’s systems. Now that I know the formula worked, as soon as I contact Laszlo, we’ll begin to distribute the synthetic to all Warriors. The compound should release those Warriors turned against their will.”

Was it possible? She eyed him warily. A formula that could release turned Warriors? If so, that could completely change the direction this war took. At full strength, Xylon could never be defeated. Something else Kam had said caught her attention, raising her interest immediately. Something he wouldn’t have said, if not true, for it served no purpose. “Since when is Laszlo in charge again?”

Everyone in the system knew about his disappearance. The Lair leader had tried to help her at one time. More than once actually. The only one who’d tried. And although powerful, he’d refused to go completely against the Council, giving her some kind of philosophical excuse, while talking about the future and fate. All things she didn’t understand at the time. Hell, she still didn’t understand his reasoning.

“It’s a long story, and there’s no time to fully explain now. Although I removed all the surveillance equipment I found, I don’t want to take a chance of being overheard, which is why we’re talking in the shower.” He filled his hands with cleanser, then began to stroke her body. “Let me quickly run down the plan. I’ll explain in more detail later. I’m here to upload viruses into the Dome’s computer system. I need you to take out their weapons system after I hack into the controls.”

While she listened, she tried to avoid thinking about his hands slowly gliding down her body. “Why should I help you do this?” Was that why he’d fucked her? Trying to get her on his side by giving her an orgasm so strong that she’d do anything for him, just for the chance of getting more? She didn’t like the thought. His hands cupped her breasts and she resisted the urge to moan.

“You don’t want Daegal in control of this system. I know you don’t, Halah.”

She stiffened her spine, determined not to let his touch sway her. She needed to make her decisions based on facts, not feelings. “I hate Daegal, but once I get out of here and find Josella, I’d planned to just leave the system. So why should I care, one way or the other, what he does?” Which would mean she’d be leaving Kam, too. Damn it, why did that thought make her miserable?

“If Daegal wins, he’ll not only control the quadrant, but he’ll expand to more systems outside the quadrant. Will you just continue to run?” He slid his hands down her back and cupped her butt, holding her close.

Although his touch made her want to melt against him, his words angered her. “I’m not running! I just want to make a new life.” She was quite familiar with all the different habitable planets and moons within reasonable travel range. She and Josella could build a completely different life for themselves. A safer life. And if they needed to continue venturing farther out to system after system, well, so be it.

“You don’t even know where Josella is. This war will be over before you find her. If Daegal wins, do you really think you’ll ever be free? If you don’t realign with the Warriors, you’ll pay the consequences for the rest of your life. And so will Josella.”

“I’ll find her.” Somehow. With or without his help. “And we will decide who we support and how we will live.” No government would decide. No man would decide.

“The knowledge you’re using now for negotiating privileges and freedom will hold no further value if all Warriors are killed or imprisoned. Your own imprisonment here is just a preview of what’s to come.”

A sense of unease skittered down her spine. “I’m only here because of Rave. If I could speak to this Frost woman in charge, I could negotiate my release. I’ve always been able to do so once I get access to the person in charge. I’ve very good at what I do.”