Dating Outside Your DNA (2 page)

At least he was sitting again. His presence didn't quite feel as though it were swallowing her. It was much easier to concentrate on why she was here. She was going to be an elite agent, fighting crime and...and putting away the bad guys. Anticipatio n flittered through her.

She was going to actually do the things she'd only read about in adventure books while growing up at the colony. She'd devoured all the books in the local library, and watched all the secret agent movies she could get her hands on . It was hard to believe she was actually

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here, and soon she would start her training.

Her gaze strayed toward Roan and she saw that he was  checking her out. That was unexpected and unnerving. She quickly  looked forward again. Of course he would check her out. He was an  agent. Duh. They did stuff like that.

"How was your trip?" Mr. Beacon asked.

"Long," she said as she returned her full attention back to him  and off Roan.

Mr. Beacon looked different from the man who'd stayed at the  colony. Not as relaxed, but that had only been a cover for him. No  wonder he couldn't paint. The man didn't have an artistic bone in his  body.

No, Mr. Beacon had chanced upon Lyraka's mother one day, and suspected she was Nerakian. He'd begun to watch her more closely, even renting one of the cabins, hoping to one day recruit her.

After her mother returned to Nerak, he'd recruited Lyraka instead. She'd jumped at the chance to train for the elite force of agents who kept the world safe.

Had she made the right choice? Roan hadn't said or done anything, but he made her nervous the way he seemed to study her every move. She was getting the distinct impression that he didn't even like her. There hadn't been an ounce of welcome in his

expression.

Now she was being ridiculous. The  trip had been tiresome from  East Texas to Colorado, and she wasn't the most experienced driver  in the world. She was exhausted, nothing more. The man didn't even  know her.

"You're special, Lyraka," Mr. Beacon continued. "For now, I  don't want you mingling with other Nerakians, or anyone else for that  matter."

Dread washed over her. She closed her eyes for a moment.  This was going to be just like her life at the colony. Always watched, always having to be careful of what she said or did so no one would

suspect she was part alien. This was the one place she thought

would be different. She knew she wasn't like other earthlings, or other

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Nerakians, but she was tired of being alone.

She made a quick decision and came to her feet. "You know what life was like at my mother's colony, the isolation." She shook her head. "I thought it would be different here. I was wrong." She started to turn away.

"It's only until Roan can teach you how best to use your...unique abilities," he hurried on. "Give it a chance, at least. I promise you won't be isolated for long."

She looked at Mr. Beacon, but could see nothing deceiving in his expression. He'd been good at fooling everyone at the colony while he'd studied her mother, though.

But he'd been more than just a guest at the colony. He'd been like a father to her, and had even taught her to drive. She suddenly felt as though she were being tugged in two different directions.

"Please, just give this a chance. That's all I'm asking."

She watched his expression, but saw only  sincerity. Maybe she wouldn't completely trust him, or Roan, but then, she didn't have much of a choice. It was either stay here or make the drive back to the colony. Did she really want to leave? If it did work out, then all the better. "Okay, for a while."

"Good," Mr. Beacon rubbed his hands together. "I know it's late, and you've had a long day. Rest tonight. Tomorrow morning will be early enough for you to start." He turned to Roan. "I took the liberty of having your things moved, and Lyraka's as well, to Building F. I thought it would be better if you had as few interruptions as possible.  You'll find everything you need when you get there."

"Remind me later to thank you," Roan said.

His deep voice was like a rush of hot air washing over her. It

was raspy, and had a way of touching her in places that hadn't been  touched in a long time. She fought down the tingling sensation that  quickly spread over her body as her Nerakian blood heated. She  would control her sexual urges this time. She would.

Her one  and only night of sex had ended in disaster, and she  didn't want to repeat the experience. She had a feeling she'd scarred  the man for life. Poor Rick.

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He'd run back to his cabin before they could finish, but what she had experienced had only whet her appetite for more. Except Rick had been gone the next morning. Since that disaster, she'd tried to keep all her sexual thoughts under control.

Lyraka glanced Roan's way. She could tell by the way his jaw twitched that he wasn't happy about the situation. What was his problem? She wasn't that thrilled, either.

Damn it, she'd hoped for more freedom and the ability to do as she pleased while in training. Rather than show her disappointment, she raised her chin and met his frown when he looked her way. She

wasn't afraid of him.

Well, maybe a little. He was really big...and had lots of sexy

muscles.

Joe came to his feet. "I'll check your progress in a few days."

Roan stood. She did the same. So this was it. The beginning of a new life.

She chewed her bottom lip.

But no sex. Her gaze moved to Roan. She would just take a lot of cold showers. And hope they worked.

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Chapter 2

L
yraka followed Roan outside to an olive green Jeep that was parked in front of the building. She cast one last glance at the bui lding before she stepped off the curb. It would have been nice training with other people, and probably safer--for him.

Roan climbed in on the driver's side, tossing a manila envelope into the backseat. Lyraka slid in on the passenger side. Even with a

gear shift between them, he was way too close to suit her. When she

inhaled, she caught the spicy scent of his aftershave. It was a little

too nice, a little too pleasant. She subtly moved closer to her door.

"I won't bite," he spoke gruffly, breaking the  silence.

No, but she might.

Roan would be training her. She would need to get used to

being around him. Easier said than done. His presence filled the

Jeep.

"I didn't think you would bite," she told him. "Most earthlings

aren't cannibals."

He snorted.  She wasn't sure if it was meant to be a laugh or

not.

"You don't like me very much, do you?" She might as well bring

her thoughts out into the open. She wanted to know why he disliked

her so much. She hadn't done anything to him.

He met her gaze. "You're a means to an end," he said, then

returned his attention to the road.

"What exactly does that mean?"

"That as soon as you're trained, I get to go back on active duty."

"Why can't you do that now?"

"Do you always ask this many question?"

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"No."

He chuckled at her words. The sound was different from the

snort of a moment ago. It rippled over her in small waves of  excitement. Her nipples tightened in response. This wasn't good. She  glanced his way. His shoulders were less tense than they had been  when he'd first climbed behind the wheel. Angry was better, safer.

"I was out of commission from an injury. I go back to active duty  when I finish training you."

"But you don't want to train me," she guessed.

"I don't, you're right. I think you'll be a distraction more than  anything."

"A distraction?"

"Look in the mirror. You're hot and sexy. A distraction."

She didn't know whether to be insulted or flattered. She wasn't

sure she liked his answer. Most Nerakians were beautiful. She wasn't

that concerned about her looks. "Do you have something against

Nerakians?" She looked at him again, but he kept his gaze forward.

"I don't think they're anything special."

She bristled.

"But then, you're only half Nerakian," he said.

She sat straighter. "I'm proud of both sides of my ancestry."

Actually, she hadn't really thought about it that much. She was

who she was, and that was all that mattered. Well, until lately. She

found she was a little more curious about the Nerakian half of her

heritage.

She knew very little about that side. Her mother had rarely  spoken of the planet that had disowned her. Lyraka only knew that  Nerakians had a heightened sexual awareness, and that chocolate  could become an addiction.

She also knew Nerak was a planet populated only by women. After the elders had manipulated the DNA so only females would be born the wars stopped. Her mother, Aasera, had been an intergalactic traveler-- until she'd gotten pregnant.

Aasera had been given the choice of aborting the pregnancy and returning to Nerak, or being exiled on Earth. Lyraka knew the

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decision had been difficult for her mother. She'd had to give up  everything.

Aasera had protected Lyraka as best she could over the years  so that Lyraka wouldn't make the same mistake. But the one night,  well,  almost a whole night, she had spent with a poet had awakened  desires inside her that she was finding hard to keep under control.

She closed her eyes for a moment. It had been really good  while it lasted. Lights had flashed around her. She'd in turn absorbed  their color, her skin turning shades of deep purple, hot red, and cool  blue.

The Jeep hit a bump in the road and she was thrown off balance. She quickly righted herself as she pulled her thoughts back to the present. She refused to relive that night. Poor Rick had been as white as a sheet of paper. She'd quickly realized he wasn't having nearly as much fun as she was having. What little she'd experienced though had been earth shattering.

If they'd have finished, she was pretty sure it would've been an awesome encounter. She had a feeling she was going to be doomed to a celibate life.

She glanced out the window at the trees on her side as they traveled higher into the mountains. For a moment, she longed to escape to the quiet serenity the woods would offer. They had always been as much a part of her as the colony. It was good to know they were close enough that she could lose herself in the fragrant scents and peace they had to offer if things became too chaotic.

Lyraka and Roan made the rest of the trip in silence, but she couldn't help notice when Roan slid his hand along the curve of the steering wheel, absently stroking it with his thumb. She drew in a ragged breath and closed her eyes.

Why did Nerakians have to be such a passionate race? That was how her mother had ended up pregnant. A baby would be nice someday, but not at this time in her life.

"Home sweet home," Roan muttered as he pulled in front of the

two-story building.

A cold shiver of foreboding swept over Lyraka as she stared at

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the stark, and very sterile, building. It was nothing like her mother's  colony where there were bubbling fountains and fragrant flowers. This  place looked institutional.

They got out of the Jeep and walked to the front door. It opened  as they approached, and a man stepped outside. A very tall man,  almost as tall as Roan, with broad shoulders. She wondered if he  worked for the agency, too.

"We've been expecting you," the man said. "I'm Cole." An older  woman joined him. "This is Frances."

Roan's eyes narrowed. "I  was told we'd be working alone."

Cole smiled. "And so you will. We take care of the place. We'll  be here but you won't really see us that much."

Roan took a phone out of his pocket and flipped it open. After  he punched in some numbers he put it next to h is ear.

"You said we'd be alone. Two of them. Yes, a man and a  woman." He frowned. "Next time, tell me your plans before I blow off  someone's head."

That's when Lyraka noticed Roan's hand was resting on the butt of a gun that was under his jacket. His stance had looked so casual that she hadn't noticed anything out of the ordinary.

"Joe should've told you about us." Cole shook his head. "I hate when he leaves out details."

"So you're what--a butler?" Roan asked as he replaced his  phone.

Cole frowned. "Retired agent. I still like to help out, and I'm an  extra pair of hands if needed."