What To Read After FSOG: The Gemstone Collection Part Two (76 page)

“Lilly, I refuse to pry your legs open,” Dallas said quietly. “But Thaegan will if you don’t.” Unable to bear being near her without touching her more intimately, Dallas stood and stepped back.

Her gaze flitted nervously to Thaegan but stayed only a moment before skittering back to Dallas. She inhaled deeply and closed her eyes, her legs parting in slow increments until she was completely open to them. Her pink folds glistened enticingly, beckoning his cock to slide into her slick channel. But her silky slit didn’t hold his attention for long. A scarlet mark the size and shape of a ripe summer strawberry drew his gaze to her left inner thigh.

The heavy aroma of her arousal increased tenfold, the smell warm and inviting. His mouth watered to bury his tongue in that heat and taste her honeyed flesh. But Dallas had only seconds to enjoy the earthy scent before Thaegan lunged for Lilly. For a second time the feral cry of frustration accentuated his partner’s movement.

Dallas reacted immediately. Slamming his body into the Ka’al, he managed to do nothing more than send the alien off course and crashing into the dining table.

Thaegan turned back slowly, growling low, the primal look of sexual hunger darkening his eyes.

“You will
not
touch her, Thaegan,” said Dallas.

“Who will stop me?” His partner roared the words as he ran at Dallas.

But Dallas anticipated the move and used the alien’s own momentum to roll him over his back. Thaegan crashed to the floor. “Thaegan. You don’t need to touch her. We’ve proven she’s a Seraphelium. Now—”

“Now she satisfies
my
needs.” Thaegan charged again. This time when Dallas tried to dodge him, Thaegan anticipated the move and slammed his shoulder into Dallas’ gut, knocking him into the small couch under the front window. His partner stormed over to him and hauled him up by his shirt. In quick succession he landed punches to Dallas’ jaw and eye. The pain rang through his skull and the metallic taste of blood filled his mouth. Whatever had taken hold of his partner had doubled the Ka’al’s incredible strength.

With all the power he could muster, Dallas brought his knee into Thaegan’s groin. It was enough to loosen his grip and Dallas balled both hands together and brought them down hard to the side of Thaegan’s head. His partner released him and stumbled back but didn’t fall. Thaegan’s dazed expression gave Dallas some hope. He charged the Ka’al, hoping to knock him on his ass and maybe knock some sense into his head. But Thaegan was quicker. He dodged at the last second and rammed a heavy fist into Dallas’ side. He heard the crack of bone and the piercing pain of broken ribs forced a scream from Dallas’ lips. He went down hard, his head slamming into the stone hearth of the fireplace, completely crumpling his battered body.

The thud of Thaegan’s heavy feet vibrated the floor. Dallas rolled to see him moving toward Lilly. He wasn’t sure what his partner intended, but had no doubt that whatever had taken hold of Thaegan had robbed his partner of rational thought. As the world warbled in front of him, Dallas forced his swollen lips to move. “
Schrak nal tine kres. Rebk nesht bekin na’al.
”
Brother of mine blood. Not of birth but of war.

Thaegan stopped as if he’d hit a wall.

Despite the slur, Dallas forced the words through his swollen lips. “
Riecks lackt tral dein Ze’alkr.
”
I lay thee at the feet of thou most Holy.
Dallas had never intended to utter the words out loud—ever. Words he’d heard Thaegan repeat in a nonsensical mantra for hours at his bedside on Canus Delta. The musical notes had penetrated the haze of his coma and carried Dallas from death’s door back to life. “
Esch nar lemrl sesche.
”
And beg for your life’s soul.

But when the Ka’al turned, Dallas could see the prayer cutting through the madness that had engulfed his partner and dared to continue. “
Riecks kre’ick tine lemrl barkt laewsherl irk tine schrak qai’id.
”
I promise my life in servitude for mine brother’s health.
It had taken him months to translate the words from the Ka’al dictionary to English. And when he realized the power of what Thaegan had offered him, Dallas promised himself never to use it against the one man who had given him everything. “
Unt tine nerst tane fa’ulk.
”
If mine prayer but be granted me this day.

But desperation trumped all personal promises.

Dallas felt his body healing, the pain ebbing from his face where Thaegan had pummeled his flesh. Dallas forced himself to sit up.

“You heard?” Thaegan asked.

“Every word,” Dallas groaned as agony stabbed through him.

“And you invoke this promise I made?”

“If it means you’ll leave Lilly to me, then yes.”

“You know what you ask?” Thaegan’s gravelly voice was low and even.

“You don’t want to force yourself on her, Thaegan.” With his arm supporting the knitting ribs, Dallas forced himself to his feet, his head swimming with the effort.

“The witch brings it upon herself with her powers.”

“It’s not right to take without permission. Despite whatever has taken hold of you, you wouldn’t be happy if you did.”

Thaegan shot a look of pure hatred over his shoulder. “But she begs for it when she uses her magic.” He turned back to Dallas. “But you don’t believe that.”

“I know you believe it.” Dallas inhaled a shaky breath, the throb in his side already easing and his swollen lip returning to normal, his words no longer slurred. “I’m asking you to leave her alone. Regardless of what she’s done, the woman deserves to be safe while she’s in our custody.”

“Now that we know
what
she is and how she controlled the Znedu, she deserves only one thing,” Thaegan’s yellow eyes were hard and cold as a luna crystal, “and you know what that is.”

“I understand. And we’ll get to that. But you have to promise me you aren’t going to act,” Dallas waved his hand up and down, pointing to the madness that thrummed through his partner, “on whatever the fuck’s come over you.”

“
She’s
come over me,” Thaegan roared, pointing a shaking finger at Lilly. “You. Are. Just. Not. Understanding.” He looked at Lilly again, the ridges of his nose deepening as he scented the air. “Even now she works her powers.” Thaegan turned and stalked toward the door. “I’ll have to leave her to you. If I stay
she
will surely push me to the edge of delirium. And if I don’t release this sexual energy,
I
will surely lose my mind.” He put his hand on the old-fashioned doorknob, but didn’t turn it. “I’m just wondering who’s going to protect
you
when I’m gone.”

“I think I can take care of myself against a human female. It’s not like I haven’t had practice in that arena.” Dallas forced a laugh.

“But she’s not human.” Thaegan pulled the door open. “I’m not giving you any more time than it takes me to release this sexual itch and when I return, you better have her ready.” He started to leave, then turned back to throw one last dig. “Just be sure she isn’t controlling you,
brother
.”

The Ka’al slammed the door behind him, the explosive sound nearly obliterating the mournful note of Lilly’s quiet sobs.

S
he couldn’t stop. The despair came hot and hard, burning her throat and sending tears running down her cheeks.
She hated to be so weak
. Lilly should’ve expected their resentment. The minute the Ka’al had said the word
Seraphelium
Lilly understood history had reared its ugly head to begin her worst nightmare all over again.

Despite the pity in Dallas’ eyes, she feared there wasn’t anything she could do to alter her future and that scared the living shit right out of her. Lilly had learned from experience human males were ruthless creatures when they felt backed into a corner.

“P-please…” The word stumbled out on shattered breaths and she inhaled, working to control the terror threatening to choke her.

Dallas ignored her plea, stalking out of sight behind her. Water ran from the faucet at the sink and she heard the man sputter as it splashed.

“That’s not the usual Thaegan. You don’t need to worry about him,” Dallas said quietly.

“Anything. I’ll give you anything. Just don’t…” Lilly couldn’t bring herself to say the words. She’d fought the good fight on Earth only to find herself alone and trapped on a Drikspa frigate bound for Krystallos Three. But this was deep space. It wasn’t as if there would be docking stations with aliens to seduce. One quick shuttle hop and she’d be imprisoned forever so deep in the bowels of a whore house there would be no chance of escape. The hopelessness burned her throat and the backs of her eyes, bringing on a fresh wave of tears.

Dallas stepped into view, water dripping from the caramel curls of his hair, all remnants of blood washed from his face and head. “I’m not going to hurt you,” he said. “And despite what just happened—neither is Thaegan.”

She’d seen the beating the Ka’al had given him, yet the man’s split lip and swollen eye seemed to have disappeared. Lilly wanted to ask what the hell was going on with that, but convincing Dallas not to ship her into sexual slavery trumped whatever secret the human kept from her.

Swallowing her trepidation, Lilly found her indignation, allowing it room to give her strength and shield her in bravery. She didn’t deserve to be condemned for genetics. It’s not as if she could help who she was. Lilly had never asked to be given this power over men. Moments like this just proved once again what a shitty course her life had taken.

“You’ve got me trussed up like a pig and now the Ka’al is ready to send me to slaughter.” Swallowing her tears, Lilly pulled in a shaky breath, resolved to get herself free. She would
not
go into slavery without a fight. She threw back her shoulders, trying to portray confidence and a cavalier attitude, but only managed to put her boobs—with their traitorous hard nipples—on display.

Dallas dragged his eyes down her body, lust darkening the irises until they were rich as finely aged whiskey and just as smooth. Slow and needy, his gaze trailed down her naked flesh, leaving gooseflesh in its wake. Lilly shifted and another wave of her scent filled the air. Dallas’ nostrils flared.
Good.
A chink in that shiny armor of his. She’d managed to seduce him once tonight. She could do it again. As much as she hated being condemned for who she was, Lilly wasn’t beyond using her gift to save her life.

“I’m not sure what you did to him, but Thaegan isn’t himself right now.” The muscles in Dallas’ jaw ticked as he stepped closer, slowly unbuttoning his shirt.

“But Thaegan’s not here right now. There’s only you and me—alone.”

Dallas said nothing. He simply shucked off his shirt, the tribal tattoo on his forearm flexing with the movement. The dusting of hair on his well-defined chest narrowed to a line that circled his bellybutton and disappeared into his jeans. She hadn’t had time in the dark alley to admire the man. He’d felt solid and warm against her, but their encounter had been about the sex, not learning the fine details of his body.

And as much as she admired his torso, the one detail that seemed to be screaming at her was how remarkably unblemished it was for the pummeling it had just endured. “Dallas, how is it you’re even moving? I heard bones break and your face was raw when you got up from the floor. I mean…what the hell?”

“Suffice it to say I’m a wonder of alien medicine.”

She didn’t understand the cryptic statement, but as Dallas continued taking slow, measured steps toward her, his eyes locked on hers, she didn’t really care what he meant. All curiosity over his healed injuries evaporated as the man’s primal need flared his nostrils and tented his fly. Refocused, she sent a flux of energy crackling over her nerves.

Everything was fair in love and war—and survival.

The current hummed through her body, tightening her nipples and filling the air with the musk of her arousal. She needed to use Dallas’ desire as a means to her escape. And she had to do it before Thaegan returned. Now that the Ka’al had confirmation of what she was, Lilly had no doubt he wouldn’t get close enough to allow her to take him down again.

“Perhaps you can untie me and we can replay our little adventure in the alley,” Lilly suggested.

Dallas stepped between her legs, his jaw flexing as he scrutinized her face. “Thaegan advised against it.” With great care he laid his shirt over her torso, tucking it under her chin and behind her shoulders. It was warm and soft and smelled like the man bent at the waist, his breath feathering hot across her lips. “And until you tell me exactly what you did to my partner, and why you targeted the Znedu, you’re not moving from this chair.”

His eyes sparked with the jagged edge of danger. She swallowed hard against the panic percolating just below her calm exterior. “What makes you think I did anything?”

“Because Thaegan told me you did.” Cradling her face in his palms, Dallas swept his thumbs over her cheeks, removing the last remnants of the tears. “Now start talking.”