Kyele's Passion: A World Beyond Book 4 (12 page)

The automatic lights should have come on but darkness encompassed Joni’s space. Nerves took flight in his stomach. Someone had gone through the effort of disabling her light sensors. Why? With terror governing his actions, Kyele didn’t bother to check her place as well as he would have, heading directly for the back. In her bedroom, he came up short. The mussed bed was a clear sign of the nightmare she’d mentioned.

Remorse at not being there to ease her fear threatened to overcome him. Kyele glanced up and a chill rolled down his spine at the displaced grate in the ceiling.

Options flowed through his mind until he came to one choice. If the person who broke in followed her, then Joni was being pursued through the vents. Kyele holstered his laser and climbed on her bed. His nostrils flared as the scent of the fragrance she wore wafted from the linen.

Ignoring the unexpected surge of arousal, he stretched up to grasp the edge when the blow to his mid-section almost dropped him to his knees. His ribs took the brunt of the punch and Kyele stumbled back. The give in the mattress had him struggling for balance when the second hit landed.

Pain radiated down his side but Kyele managed to jump backward, landing hard on the floor beside the bed. His shoulder took the brunt of the fall. The attacker leaped from the corner but Kyele rolled and dodged away.

“Stinking Jutaks,” a voice snarled.

Kyele launched to his feet to face his opponent. A brief flash of lightning revealed the man rushing him from the right. In one hand, the Chamele waved a spiral knife. The twisting, sharp tip blades burned when it pierced flesh.

As soon as the Chamele came close enough, Kyele used his knife to slash out in a smooth arc, blade up. Blood sprayed, dotting his soaked uniform. The Chamele fell backward, dropping to the floor in a sprawl. He was dead before he hit. Kyele straightened and agony tore through him from what he surmised to be cracked ribs. Blocking the pain, he climbed back on Joni’s bed and reached up toward the opening in the ceiling.

Chapter 15

Up or down. Joni shuffled to a stop when the shaft veered up on the left with a sloping slant then down to her right. She needed to make a choice. Fear hammered at her stretched nerves. For a moment she slumped and her fingers curled against the thin metal beneath her. Why was this happening?

Survivor instincts kicked in and Joni shook off the negative thoughts. She’d worry about the answers later. Blowing out a shaky breath, she turned right and scuffled forward. Unfortunately, crawling through the ventilation tunnels brought back bad memories and she once again stopped to steel her nerves.

Her actions allowed her to hear the small sound. The scuffle and scrape of cloth against the metal of the shaft came again.  Fear coursed through her mind. Joni’s pace increased as she hurried forward, no longer making any effort to disguise the sounds of her escape.

Maneuvering in the tight corridor was difficult. Her arms trembled as the person behind her drew closer. The narrow space and pressing darkness sent her pulse racing. Her breath shortened and her skin grew clammy. Another moment in the smothering shaft and Joni knew she’d scream, giving away her location.

A warm palm gripped her ankle. “Breathe.”

The husky, familiar voice brought tears to her eyes. Joni collapsed onto her knees and elbows with a cry. Tight, muscled arms circled her from behind as much as the shaft allowed. Damp heat pressed against her back. Only one person’s touch could still her fear so easily.

“Kyele,” Joni managed, unable to speak through the tight knot in her throat.

“Are you alone?” His warm breath stirred the tiny hairs at her nape, leaving pebbled flesh behind.

“Yes.”

He eased back and nudged her forward. “Keep going.”

Shaking in relief, she continued crawling. Further along, they reached another grate similar to the one in her bedroom. Kyele tapped her ankle as soon as she crossed it and Joni stopped. She bumped against the sides of the vent as she turned back in his direction. Below them brown flecked tiles glistened. No one ventured the halls this time of night. Kyele ripped the covering clear off its latches and tossed it aside. It fell to the floor with a loud clatter. Then he slid through the opening, landing silently on bent legs.

As soon as he stood, his head tipped back to face her. “I’m going to help you down.”

Joni didn’t hesitate and leaned over as she asked, “Did you catch the intruder?”

“Yes. Hurry.” He extended his arms, impatience marring his features.

Putting her feet first, Joni lowered herself through. Kyele palmed her thighs then higher until he gripped her hips. Secure in his rough hold, Joni relaxed as he drew her along. She let out a breath, her legs shaking.

“I’ve got you,” he whispered by her ear.

Joni expected him to set her down immediately. Instead, his arms slid around her waist, drawing her in close for a brief moment. The solid beat of Kyele’s heart comforted her in ways she hadn’t expected. Standing like this after the nightmare and the break-in was exactly what she needed. The intimate embrace reassured more than his words ever could.

Her hands flattened against the small of his back, her cheek pressed tight to his wet shirt.
Wet?
She jerked away, taking in his condition. His shirt was plastered to his front, his black hair carelessly brushed back in wet grooves, and water tipped his lashes. She’d forgotten about the rain. “You’re soaked.”

He stepped back and didn’t say anything. Joni glanced up and caught his eyes on her legs and the short length of the nightie she wore. The scar on his cheek flexed, a muscle in his jaw tightening but his green eyes burned with a fierce light. “Let’s go.”

“Kyele?” Her tone turned tentative.

***

Joni

She stared at him. His heart stuttered because it wasn’t a simple stare. The look in her eyes couldn’t be denied. The message in her gaze said he was all that mattered in her world and Kyele had never had anyone look at him that way. Not even Faan.

She hesitated then threw herself back into his arms. Kyele staggered back on one foot as her weight slammed into him with unexpected force.

“Thank you for coming.” Her muffled words whispered against his shirt.

The simple praise reached deep inside of him. Kyele lowered his head to rest it on the soft silk of her hair. “I will
always
be here for you, Joni.”

It was a vow he’d never break.

At his words she sobbed and the sound devastated him. Her nails dug into him so tight he knew he’d have the slight imprints on his back in the morning. Crying wasn’t something he’d ever witnessed Joni doing. She was strong, brash and confident. Tonight must have truly frightened her. Anger flattened his lips at the thought.

“I was s-scared.”

“I know.” Kyele ran his hands up and down her back to soothe, long, broad strokes from waist to nape over and over again. He never let emotions get the best of him, but Joni held his heart in her soft Earth hands. The trembling slowed as he lifted the weight of her hair to entangle it about his fist. Desire rose and his shaft hardened with an ache that had him clenching his jaw on a groan. His arm at her waist clamped tight as he dragged in a ragged breath and pulled her impossibly close.

This. This was why he’d rushed over; the very air he breathed trapped in his lungs. For this female who fit in his arms as if there was no better place for her to be. He inhaled, taking in Joni’s familiar scent as it teased his senses.

“I’ve got you,” he murmured again and his throat swelled with need.

He was hers.

She was his.

Someone he couldn’t have. His arms crushed her to him, the folds of her sleep gown sliding against his hands. Delicate, silken fabric he could rip. He wanted to feel her. Skin to skin. The urge to do so pounded at his temple with an insistent beat.

His fingers rested above the rounded curve of her ass. If he lowered it the smallest fraction he could cup and squeeze to his delight. Her soft body said she wouldn’t protest.

Joni’s cries dwindled and she let out a broken hiccup. Such a little sound but it gutted him further and acted as a reminder. They needed to leave. Until he figured out who was behind breaking into her place as well as the earlier attack on the females, it wasn’t safe to stand about. But his chest tightened at having to let her go.

Kyele forced himself to release his grip. Joni’s fingers clenched on the material of his shirt when he pulled back, but using utmost care, Kyele carefully loosened each finger. They stood close enough their fronts brushed. She tipped her head up, gaze questioning. His thumb traced her bottom lip and her tongue darted out, the tip tasting him.

Sensations flooded his veins and unable to hold back his relief any longer, Kyele kissed her. A hungry demand for her surrender. He pulled her tight and spun them, using the wall to brace her weight. When she curved one thigh around his hips, he groaned and pumped against her.

“Kyele,” she moaned his name into his mouth as his tongue slid along hers.

He hitched her higher, plush form cradling his throbbing erection and ignored the twinge from his ribs. Her hips rolled as she sought to get closer, both legs wrapped around his waist. Kyele pulled back and Joni followed, biting his lip in retaliation. Kyele growled and slammed her hands to the wall by her head. Her breath quickened.

“You are temptation itself,” he muttered before his mouth plundered the depths of her glistening lips.

Joni rocked against him, her heels kicking his thrusting hips. It was too much. He could drown in her softness, the warmth of her body. Desperation drove him to rotate against her center as pleasure curled up his spine. Another groan and Kyele broke away with a gasp, their breath mingling.

When he lifted his head, her lids fluttered, revealing a slim line of gold. Loose strands of red caressed her pinkened cheeks. She swayed toward him and Kyele gritted his teeth to keep from leaning forward for a deeper savoring.

He tried to lower her slight weight to the floor but her heels dug in. Fear glimmered in her eyes and she shook her head. The gesture shredded his heart. He kissed the side of her mouth to whisper, “Release me. Please.”

It was the second time he’d used the word with Joni, but he needed her strength to break away and a will of iron.

Her legs slid down and he lowered her to until she had her footing. His grip on her wrists eased and Kyele dragged air into his chest and moved back another step. “I am taking you to the Jutak facility.”

Joni fingered the chain about her neck. Worry tightened her features but she didn’t argue. “Do you know what’s going on?”

He clasped his hand with hers, giving himself the small connection. He didn’t like Joni frightened and wished he could kill the Chamele all over again. “The male I found in your bedroom is dead. I’m unsure if another worked with him, which is why we must leave.”

Kyele tugged her in the direction of the electric stairway. He didn’t like being as exposed as they were. Thunder sounded outside as if to underscore his point. Without his attention fully on Joni, he once again pulled on his training as a Jutak warrior. Getting her behind secure walls became a priority.

At the main entrance on the lower level, he risked a glance at her, dismayed at the sight of her bare feet. Rain still pounded the ground outside the glass door. She’d be drenched in no time. Nothing they could do about it since he had no intentions of returning to her place without his team with him.

“Are you ready? I have the hover-car waiting a little further down.” He was grateful for the foresight which kept him from parking in front of her building. Something about this brazen attack didn’t feel right.

“More than ready,” she quipped with the beginnings of the humor he associated with Joni.

Kyele unholstered his laser while keeping his other hand firmly in hers. As soon as they went outside of the building, rain slicked the tiny bronze gown she wore to her skin. The hard jut of her nipples pressed against the material causing his mouth to water. She shuffled from one foot to the other, her long legs golden and lean. Kyele struggled to tamp down his desire.

“Stay close to me,” he ordered, knowing his voice came out harsh.

Her residence in the city contained multiple roadways and smaller pathways that went to the back entrances of some of the neighboring buildings. Tree shuddered from the force of the storm. To be safe, Kyele led Joni through several twists and turns. None of it stopped the itch at the back of his neck. Someone was watching them.

“We’re going to run.” He didn’t look down at Joni but scanned the surroundings, their backs pressed against the wall of the building he used as cover. He’d taken them away from the hover-car with the intent to double back. Now he wished he’d gone straight for the transport.

“Running’s good.”

The laughter in her comment drew his attention. Joni smiled up at him, droplets of water clinging to her eyelashes. Trust blazed back from the golden depths. Her hair was a wet slick coil draped over one shoulder but she didn’t complain. His gaze dropped to her body. Wet all over and shivering from the cold.

Once more his rage flared. She had every right to be angry with him. She could have called someone else to help her after the way he’d treated her. But she still trusted him to keep her safe and he wouldn’t let her down. Kyele released her hand to cup her jaw. “You’re sure you’re alright?”

She swiped at the sodden hair falling in her face and blinked as rain continued to fall around them. “I’m tough. Don’t worry about me.”

Never. He’d never stop worrying about her. He tugged on Joni’s arm and ran toward the direction of the hover-car, keeping Joni close to his side.

Laser fire sounded, sending chipped pieces of stone exploding by their faces.

“Kyele!” Joni screamed.

“Down! Get down!” Heart in his throat, Kyele pushed Joni to the ground in front of him. He covered her body completely and listened. After the first burst everything went quiet. Holding his laser blaster at the ready, he angled his head in the direction of the probable shooter.

“What’s going on?” Joni didn’t struggle against him but the waver in her voice brought back his seething anger.

“It seems you indeed have more than one visitor tonight.” Staying low, he guided her to crawl ahead of him until they reached the first break in the flow of buildings.

Standing with her, the narrow wedge allowed him to corner Joni and block any access to her from all sides. Pulse pounding, Kyele’s gaze roamed the area as he tried to judge where the sniper had set up. A brief flicker caught his eye from a nearby rooftop. Right there. Bastard wasn’t as smart as he thought.

Kyele spoke to Joni over his shoulder. “When I tell you to go, head for the hover-car. I’ll be right behind you.”

***

Joni stared at Kyele’s back, adrenaline pumping. She pushed strands of wet hair behind her ear and tried to decide if he was telling the truth or not. Right now, his body heat and the rigid way he held himself told her more than his brief words. He was in deadly Jutak warrior mode. A man capable of doing harm.