Dating Outside Your DNA (18 page)

me."

"Good, because I plan on stripping every last article of clothing  from your body." He ran his fingers across the top of her bra,  scraping over her nipples and down her stomach. He stopped at the  waistband of her pants.

She could barely breathe as she waited impatiently for him to  take off her pants.

"Eager, aren't you."

She nodded.

First, he unlaced her hiking boots, then pulled them off. Next, he undid her pants and slid the  zipper down. He didn't hurry. She could have counted the teeth on the zipper as he slowly took it downward. Then he was tugging the material over her hips, down her thighs and helping her to step out of them.

"Black lacy panties. Did you wear them just fo r me, hoping we'd have sex?"

Had she? She knew the answer. She had. She just wished he wouldn't point the truth of his words out to her.

"Did you?"

"Yes," she admitted.

"I like them."

Pleasure rippled through her.

"I'm going to take them off. Not rig ht now, but soon. First, I want to see your breasts. I want to feel the weight of them in the palms of my hands." He slid his hands around behind her and unsnapped the clasp, then removed her bra.

If he didn't touch her soon, she'd die. Her body ached for him.

Last night had awakened her sexual cravings. She wanted to

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experience everything.

"I love looking at your breasts, your rosy nipples." He pinched

the nipples, her body quivered. "Sweet."

She moaned.

"Do you like that?"

She nodded, biting her bottom lip.

He slid his hands over her hips, tugging on the waistband of her

panties. "I want to see all of you." He pulled them down, then placed

her hand on his shoulder. He'd knelt in front of her so she knew he

was looking at the most intimate part of her body, but she was so on

fire for him right now that she didn't care.

She raised her foot when he nudged her, then he was removing

her panties. She stood before him completely naked, and she loved

it.

"I'm going to kiss you right here." He brushed his fi ngers

through her curls.

She drew in a breath. "I don't know...I've..."

"Trust me." His mouth covered her, sucking and licking.

She gasped. No one had ever done this to her. Ohmygod, the

sensations were almost too much, but it was so fantastic. She

reached out, connected with his shoulders and held on before she  collapsed.

"I can feel your heat. It sears me, but it doesn't burn."

"Your skin feels hot...too," she finally managed to say. If they  both burned to a crisp at least she would die happy.

He pu lled her down to her knees. She didn't want to move.  What he was doing with his mouth felt too damn good, but she was  too weak to resist.

"I put a blanket in my backpack. Don't move."

She nodded, not knowing if he saw the movement or not. She

couldn't speak. He'd drained all the energy out of her. She heard a

rustle in the leaves, then he was reaching for her, helping her to lie

down. He lay beside her, cupping one of her breasts, tweaking the

nipple.

She reached toward him, the palm of her hand connecti ng with

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his shirt. She slipped her hand beneath it, sighing when she felt his  rigid muscles. There was a lot more that she wanted to touch this  time.

There was a rustle, then voices. She froze. His hand stilled.

"Someone's coming," she whispered. Why had n't she heard them before now? Some agent she would make. She hadn't paid enough attention to her surroundings to hear whoever was stomping through the woods. She reached for the blindfold. He stopped her hand in midair.

"Trust me," he said.

"Someone is  coming. I need to get my clothes."

"I'll protect you. Just lie quietly."

"No!" She kept her voice low. There were at least two of them  and she could hear them getting closer. Being naked in the woods,  making love in the woods was all well and good, but she'd just as  soon not be caught outside like this by strangers.

"Trust me," he repeated.

Trust him? She didn't think so. Roan was still dressed. Okay,  she could do this if she concentrated. She let out her breath, felt the  blanket beneath her. All she had to do was concentrate, stay calm,

and blend in.

Roan stroked between her legs, breaking her concentration.  Damn! Did he even realize what he'd done? Probably not.

"I have to get my clothes. Now!"

"I told you, I'll protect you, if you'll only trust me. I swear I won't let you come to any harm or embarrassment."

The voices were getting nearer. She sat up, tugging at the silk fabric that covered her eyes. As soon as it was off, she flung it away from her. It took a few moments for her eyes to adjust. As  soon as she could see, she scrambled into her clothes. Damn, why wouldn't her fingers work?

She buttoned her shirt crooked, but she didn't care as long as she was covered. She grabbed her pants and jerked them on. Forget her panties. She'd put them in her pocket.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw that Roan hadn't made a

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move to get up. Why should he? He was dressed. He probably  thought it was cool to be caught out in the woods with a naked  woman. Well, she wasn't about to be a trophy he could parade

around.

Finally, she'd had enough. "Aren't you going to at least get up?"

"Why?"

She whirled around and faced him. He was holding a small box.  What the hell was going on? He pushed a button. It sounded as though someone was walking up on them. A tape recorder?

Anger boiled inside her. She'd never felt this much fury swirling inside her. She stomped her foot. "I hate you!"

He pushed the button and there was silence. No one was going to walk up on them.

"You still haven't learned to trust me."

"This..." She waved her arm. "It was all a test?"

He nodded.

"You used me."

He stood. "I'm trying to save your life."

She raised her chin. "Do you use this test on all your students?"

She sneered. "Bring them out here and shame them?"

He rested his hands on her shoulders. "I didn't mean to

embarrass you."

"Didn't you?"

He shook his head. "You might not like what I did, but I only did

it to protect you."

"Go to hell, Roan." She turned and was gone in a flash. She

would never let him touch her again.

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Cha pter 14

R
oan wanted to kick himself. He shouldn't have done it. He doubted she would ever learn to trust him now. Damn it, he shouldn't have gone that far.

He raked his fingers through his hair. Damn it, he had because she did mean so much to him. That was the kicker.

Lyraka had to learn to place complete trust in him, in the team she would eventually be assigned to. What choice did he have?

When it came right down to it? None. He sank to the ground, leaning his back against a tree.

He'd seen it in her eyes the first day--innocence. It would get her killed. If she hated him for the rest of her life, at least she might stay alive. He was teaching her some hard lessons.

His cell rang. He reached inside his pocket and brought it out, glancing at the caller ID displayed on the screen. Joe. Great, that was all he needed.

"Yeah."

"You sound like you're in a good mood."

"I couldn't be better."

"I have some news that might cheer you up."

"I'm going back in the field?" Not that he felt as though he could

leave Lyraka right now. She still needed too much training.

And he still wanted her.

"I want Lyraka integrated into the training here--with the team

she will be working with."

"There's a lot she still needs to learn." He shook his head. "No,

she's not ready."

Silence.

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"I need her back here," Joe finally said. "There's been some

activity."

"What kind of activity?"

"The Roverts. King Ethgar has died. Prince Banyon is the new

ruler."

A cold chill ran down Roan's spine. He'd never met the Prince, and didn't care to. The Roverts were nasty creatures, like vampires, who sucked the essence out of other species, draining them dry. It only lasted a week, but for that week, the victims were in a vegetative

state.

If the Roverts wanted, they could keep their victims that way indefinitely, letting them come out of their coma long enough to realize what was happening before putting them down again. It was an extreme form of torture and Roan pitied the victims.

"When do I leave?"

"You don't."

"But..." Then it dawned on him what Joe was saying. "Surely  you don't plan to send Lyraka in. She's not even close to being ready.  If you do this, her death will be on your conscience." And he would do  everything in his power to stop her from going.

"She won't be alone. You'll be with her."

"This isn't a good idea, Joe." Damn it. There was no way she'd

be ready.

"We need her skills."

"Speed won't save her."

"But her ability to blend in to her surroundings will."

Roan closed his eyes, raking a hand through his hair. "Yo u

know about that?"

"Yeah, I saw her do it once. It was right before she came here. I

knew then she was something special."

"It doesn't matter what she can do. It's what she can't do that

bothers me. There's more to being an agent then one or two special

abilities."

"Then you'll need to make sure she learns. I want her here in

the morning. Our spies tell me the Roverts are planning something.

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Right now, we're still on yellow alert, but that could change."

"They'd be stupid to go to war."

"Would they? The Nerakians are all bluff. They haven't fought a war in years. It wouldn't take much to get control, especially if they join forces with another species who wouldn't mind a fight." There was a pause. "Roan, we might not have a choice."

"Okay, okay. When  do you want her back down the mountain?"

"Tomorrow morning. We'll see how she does working with a team, but I still want you to oversee her training."

They spoke for a few minutes, then Roan snapped his phone closed. Damn! He'd hoped for more time with her. Right now, Lyraka hated him with a passion.

He stood, grabbed his backpack, and headed up the hill. But when he got to the top, she wasn't waiting for him at the Jeep. Had she walked back? It was at least five miles. He glanced around before he climbed inside. A niggling of worry crept over him.

There was no sign of her as he drove down the mountain. He didn't like that she hadn't waited for him. Not that he blamed her. He'd acted like a jerk using that kind of tactic. He wouldn't have used it on

anyone else.

He had hoped she would trust him--that they'd been through enough together she would know he wouldn't let anything or anyone hurt her.

He pulled into the parking area and got out after turning off the ignition, looking around as he did. The sun  was slipping lower in the sky. He didn't sense her watching him. His gut said she was probably inside nursing her wounded pride. That made him feel lower than a grain of sand on the bottom of the ocean.

He found her in the living room sitting on the sofa, staring at the fireplace even though there wasn't a fire. Damn, she looked lost and sad. He didn't feel any better knowing he'd been the one to make her feel like this.

"I'm sorry."

She didn't look at him.

He walked around the sofa and stood in front of her. "I wanted

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you to trust me. After all we've been through, I thought you would."

"It was mean. I thought someone was walking up on us." She  raised her head and looked him in the eyes. "You're the only person  who's ever seen me naked. I did trust you. I trusted you enough to  make love with you. Maybe it's you who needs to learn to trust me.  I'm part of the team, too." She stood, looked at him with tears in her  eyes, then walked from the room.