Deadly Pursuit (A Blood Hunter Novel, #2) (48 page)

“Yeah.”

“Again.”

His gaze roamed around the clearing. “So what happened?”

She shrugged. “I guess Hezrai hated me more than I thought.” There had to be more to it than that, but she needed to think things through, try and make sense of what had happened and why. “He told those men they could do what they liked as long as I was dead at the end of it.”

“Bastard. Did they rape you?” he asked, his tone harsh.

She shook her head. “No, you stopped them in time.”

“Good.”

His gaze ran over her, and suddenly she wanted his touch, needed it to wipe away the memory of that other hand on her breast. She loosened her grip on the front of her dress and it fell to her waist. Her nipples were already tight in the chilly air, but they stiffened under his hot stare, and heat pooled at her core.

When he raised his gaze to her face, she saw her own needs reflected in his eyes. “How do you feel?” he asked.

She took stock of her various aches and pains and realized she might be up to more than looking, after all. She licked her lips.

“I’ll be fine if I just lie down for a minute.”

…

At her words, the tight knot of tension inside him unwound. He knew she was giving her consent.

Just as he knew he shouldn’t be doing this.

She was hurt, probably traumatized. He should be caring for her, getting her away from here in case that bastard came back.

But he always found his urges harder to control after he’d shifted. Usually his mind controlled his body, but after a shift, those roles were reversed. It had been so long, he’d forgotten what it was like. His body felt stronger, bursting with life force, clamoring for some sort of release.

Back with the pack, there had always been a woman available, an unmated female happy to oblige the pack alpha. Now there was Alex. He studied her. Physically she was nothing like the women he’d gone for in the past. She was small, fine-boned with slim hips and a narrow waist that emphasized the fullness of her breasts. The marks from Bastion’s fangs had faded, but new bruises blossomed across her pale skin, and his fury rose again at the thought of others touching what was his.

He’d told her she was weak, but she was strong. She’d been half their size, yet she’d still managed to take one of those men down.

“Please, Jon.” Alex’s softly spoken words broke into his thoughts. “I need you to hold me, make me forget.” As he watched, she loosened her dress at the waist so it pooled around her feet. She stepped out of it and stood before him naked but for the tiny scarlet panties and knee-high boots.

Blood rushed to his groin. He’d sworn never to have anyone rely on him again, but now Alex was his. The need to take her, mark her rose inside him. He would be quick. And gentle. But he had to have her.

His gaze settled on the horror of a dress. He picked it up, took her hand, and led her out of the clearing. Once away from the carnage and the stench of blood and death, he spread the dress out on the sand.

“You’re sure?” he asked.

She nodded, and he picked her up and lowered her gently to the ground, before coming down beside her.

“I’ll be gentle. I won’t hurt you.”

“I know.”

Warmth washed through him at her trust. How could she know? After everything she had gone through—the betrayal, the attack—that she would trust anyone amazed him.

Stretched out on his side beside her, he studied her for long minutes, his gaze snagging on the purple mark of the cross that marred the skin of her right thigh. He stroked a finger over the slightly raised skin—such a little thing to have such an impact on her life—then he hooked the finger in her panties and slid them down her legs so she could kick them off.

“Kiss me,” she whispered.

Careful not to touch her anywhere else, he leaned across and his lips met hers. He nipped her with his teeth, and her lips parted beneath him so he could slide his tongue inside and stroke the velvet softness of her mouth, taste the sweetness of her. Her tongue moved tentatively against his, but he forced himself to keep his movements slow and languid, thrusting gently into her.

His fingers barely touched her skin as he stroked down the line of her throat, over the swell of her breasts. He rubbed his palm over a nipple, then tugged it between his finger and thumb. Leaning over her, he kissed the marks that marred the perfection of her flesh as though he could take away the pain. He licked a slow stroke of his tongue across the tightly swollen bud, loving the sound of her indrawn breath.

Her eyes were closed, her lashes dark shadows on her cheeks, her lips slightly parted, her breath short and ragged.

He took a nipple in his mouth and bit down softly, laved it with his tongue, then suckled her until he could feel the tiny lifts of her hips in time with the movement.

His lips moved lower, and he kissed the sharp jut of her hipbone, the hollow at the top of her thighs. Burrowing his nose in the silky red curls at the base of her belly, he breathed in the warm scent of her arousal, and his cock jerked in response. He needed her and soon, but first he wanted her hot for him, so hot the horrors of the day would be driven from her mind. He shifted down her body, parted her thighs, and kissed the mound of her sex.

Her whole body arched, and a small squeak left her mouth. “Ow.” Her eyes were wide-open now. “Sorry. A twinge. Don’t stop. Please don’t stop. I never...” She trailed off.

He lowered his face to her and pushed between the folds of her sex with the tip of his tongue, the salty sweetness sending another rush of blood to his shaft. Parting her with his fingers, he licked a long, slow stroke from the cleft of her buttocks, stopping short of the small swollen bundle of nerves. He repeated the action until he thought the taste of her would make him burst.

Alex had gone still, but her murmured almost frantic pleas rang in his ears, and he placed a soft kiss right on the center of her desire. She was so close, and he shifted his hands to clamp her hips so she wouldn’t move and hurt herself when she came.

Then he took the tiny bud in his mouth and sucked. She exploded, and he held her tight as she shivered and trembled against him. After bestowing one last kiss, he raised himself on all fours and moved up her body until he crouched over her. Her eyes were glazed with desire, her cheeks flushed.

“Ready?”

She nodded, and her small fingers fluttered along the length of his shaft. His muscles locked solid. He shifted over her, fighting to keep control, as he reached between them, his fingers opening her, readying her for him.

“Jon.”

Alex whispered his name, her tone filled with urgency. He opened his mouth to reassure her, and they were bathed in a bright white spotlight from above as the sky filled with the hum of an approaching ship.

For a moment, he didn’t move. Maybe it wasn’t anything to do with them, and it would disappear if he ignored it. The hum grew to a roar as the shuttle hovered directly overhead.

“Goddamn, fucking crap.”

Chapter
Thirteen

Alex’s first thought was that Hezrai had come back, they were naked, and the laser pistols were back in the clearing. Her hand tightened on Jon’s shoulder, then she forced her fingers to loosen as he pushed himself off and jumped to his feet.

“If that’s the priest back, I’ll rip the bastard limb from fucking limb,” he growled.

Alex squinted up at the sky. She recognized the shuttle instantly, and some of her panic receded. “It’s Skylar.”

“What?” Jon stared down at her, his dark brows drawing together.

She nodded up at the shuttle hanging in the air above them. “That’s Skylar’s shuttle.”

Her panic was replaced by a deep sense of disappointment. Why couldn’t they have waited a little while longer? God hated her. That was it. She was being punished.

Her body still thrummed with residual pleasure. She never imagined anything could feel as good as the warm, velvet rasp of his tongue against her flesh. A shiver ran through her at the memory.

Jon had also obviously recognized the ship now, and some of the tension drained from his figure. The knowledge didn’t appear to improve his mood though. “Shit. I feel like ripping
someone
limb from limb.”

As the shuttle landed, he paced the area like a caged beast, which she supposed he was in a way. At least she was getting used to him naked. It seemed somehow right. She was also naked, and she wasn’t anywhere near as comfortable with that. She lifted her bottom, pulled the black dress from under her, and clutched it to her front.

The shuttle doors slid open. It wasn’t Skylar who stood in the open doorway, but Tannis and Rico.

“Great fucking timing,” Jon snarled.

Rico turned to Tannis. “Hey, we came to rescue them, and this is the thanks we get.”

“Did we look like we needed rescuing?” Jon moved to stand in front of them, hands on his hips, oblivious to the fact that he was naked.

“Actually, Tannis wasn’t sure what was going on. I had to explain.” Rico patted her on the shoulder. “Poor thing. It’s been so long, and she’s forgotten what happens. She thought you were eating Al or something.” He cast an amused glance at Alex.

She had an instant image of Jon’s mouth between her legs. A wave of heat washed over her, and her fingers tightened on the black cloth.

“Any chance of anyone putting some clothes on around here?” Tannis said, her gaze wandering down over Jon’s naked figure. “We don’t want Rico getting an inferiority complex.”

“Yeah, like that’s going to happen.” Rico grinned as he looked him over, but at least it took his attention from Alex, and she managed to wriggle into the dress. As she struggled to her feet, Jon hurried over and helped her up.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

Her legs shook. Her ribs ached. She nodded.

“I’ll go find my clothes. I’ll be back in a minute.”

Alex watched him walk away. The rear view was as spectacular as the front. She sighed and turned back to the shuttle where Rico and Tannis lounged in the open doorway. Rico was watching her, a lazy smile curling his lips. Tannis was watching Jon disappear, until he vanished behind one of the huge rocks. Finally, she turned her attention to Alex and her lips twitched in amusement as she took in the bedraggled mess before her. Then she frowned.

“So, are you going to tell us what the hell happened? And who blew up my goddamn shuttle? And why you stole my goddamn shuttle in the first place?”

“Mine, actually,” Rico murmured.

Tannis scowled but ignored the comment and pointed to the clearing. “And there are three dead guys over there. Who the hell are they? And who killed them?”

Alex didn’t answer any of the questions. A wave of exhaustion washed over her, as much emotional as physical. She wanted to be alone, to go over what had happened. Try and work out why Hezrai wanted her dead. There was no way she could return to the Church now. What did that mean for the rest of her life?

And Jon? He’d come back for her. Saved her life a second time. Nearly made love to her. Now, with reality setting in, she wasn’t sure how she felt about that. While he might have come back for her, that didn’t mean he would stay. Jon hadn’t suddenly changed—he was still the same man she’d decided she couldn’t risk falling for. The man who would no doubt break her heart. Was it worth the pain?

“Well?” Tannis asked.

“Sorry.” Alex shook her head. “I—”

“Leave her alone,” Jon said, striding toward them. He was fully dressed and was strapping a laser pistol around his waist.

Alex smiled at the sight of him. Jon didn’t smile back. His features had settled back into their habitually closed, slightly wary expression. But that didn’t matter. She could accept that he wasn’t a smiley man. It was enough that he was there, rather than dead. And so was she.

They had both come close today. Things could have turned out so differently.

At the thought, dizziness washed over her, the world darkened around the edges, and she swayed, putting her hand out to rest against his warm, hard chest. The steady beat of his heart drummed against her palm.

Jon scooped her up and held her close in his arms. “Go to sleep,” he murmured.

He carried her past Rico and Tannis and into the shuttle. Once inside, he didn’t put her down, just stood with her wrapped in his arms as they took off and headed back to
El Cazador
. Headed home.

For now, she was safe. She closed her eyes and slept.

When she awoke, she was in the sick bay back on the ship. The hated black dress lay crumpled on the silver floor while she lay on the examination table—naked, except for a light sheet covering her—and Janey was running a scanner over her body.

“Hey, you’re awake,” she said. “Welcome back.”

Alex made to rise, but Janey pressed her down with one fingertip. “Not yet. I’m not finished.”

She collapsed back. In truth, she felt as weak as a baby—her body weighted and heavy. Everything ached, with the occasional sharp pain added in. “So how am I?”

“Just bruising. But there’s a lot of it. Bastards.”

Yeah—that about described them. “Jon killed them,” she said.

“He told us that you killed one of them.”

“He did?” She waited for the guilt to strike her, but nothing happened.

“Yes. Good for you.”

“So, where is everyone?

“Having a conference in the meeting room. Or rather waiting for you to join them, and then they’ll have a conference in the meeting room. Jon said we had to sort you out first. He was most insistent. You know, he likes you, right?”

“Maybe.”

She didn’t want to think about it right now, there was too much else to consider. They were waiting for her, and they would want answers. Answers that she didn’t have.

“I’m going to give you a shot for the pain. A stimulant to wake you up, and five minutes radiation to sort out the bruises. Okay?”

Alex nodded.

Daisy popped her head in the door when the radiation switched off, saw Alex sitting up on the examination table, and came in. “Clean clothes,” she said and tossed a bundle onto the end of the table.

Alex jumped down to the floor with not even a wince of pain. A sense of anticipation bubbled up inside her; she tried to push it down but couldn’t quite manage. “You know,” she said as she tugged on the pink jumpsuit, “I thought I’d never be back here, I’d never see you all again, and I’d have to wear horrible black, heavy robes for the rest of my life.”

She pulled on her boots and ran her fingers through her hair before glancing at the other two. “Do I look okay?”

“You look fine—well, at least you don’t look half dead anymore. And you’d better get over there fast. Rico’s telling everyone how they arrived to rescue you only to catch you two at it. I’m sure he’s only doing it to wind Jon up. But it’s working.” Daisy grinned. “He’s prowling around like a frustrated werewolf.”

Actually,
when
they
reached
the
meeting
room,
Jon
wasn’t
prowling.
He
sat
in
one
of
the
chairs,
his
booted
legs
on
the
table
in
front
of
him,
hands
shoved
in
his
pockets,
a
scowl
on
his
handsome
face.
He
didn’t
look
up
as
she
entered.

No
doubt,
he
was
regretting
his
actions.
But
it
was
too
late
now.

Alex
took
a
seat
across
the
room,
where
she
could
observe
him
without
being
too
obvious.
They
were
all
watching
her,
and
she
lifted
her
chin.
There
was
no
reason
to
hide
what
she
was
anymore.
No
more
cowering.

Everyone
else
sat,
apart
from
Tannis
who
paced
the
floor
fizzing
with
nervous
energy.
She
came
to
a
halt
in
front
of
Jon
and
her
eyes
narrowed.
“So
what
happened
to
my
shuttle?”

“It
got
blown
up.”
Jon
shrugged,
appearing
almost
bored.
“You
can
have
the
reward
I
got
for
Alex.
It’s
enough
to
replace
the
shuttle.”

Tannis
appeared
slightly
mollified.
“Okay.”
She
turned
to
face
Alex.
“So
are
you
going
to
tell
us
what
happened?”

Alex
wanted
to
say
no,
but
she
didn’t
think
that
was
an
option.

“What
do
you
want
to
know?”

“How
about,
why
didn’t
you
come
to
us
if
you
decided
to
go
back?”
Skylar
asked.
She
was
seated
on
the
floor,
her
back
resting
against
Rico’s
knees,
his
hand
on
her
shoulder,
and
she
sounded
almost
hurt.

“I
thought
you
might
try
and
persuade
me
not
to.”

“And
would
that
have
been
so
bad?”

Alex
gave
a
half
grin.
“Well,
in
hindsight,
no.
But
I
wasn’t
exactly
expecting
what
happened.”

“And
what
did
happen?”
Tannis
asked.

“He
wanted
me
dead.”

“Who
wanted
you
dead?”

“Hezrai.
The
High
Priest.”

“The
guy
who’s
been
following
us?”

Alex
nodded.

“So
why
would
he
want
you
dead?”

“I
don’t
know.
I’ve
been
thinking
about
it
ever
since,
and
it
doesn’t
make
sense.
Oh,
I’ve
always
known
he
hates
me—”

“Why?”

“I
don’t
think
it’s
entirely
because
I
threw
up
over
him
when
I
was
a
baby,
though
I
did
it
again
today—it’s
the
effect
he
has
on
me.”
Well,
that
and
being
kicked
in
the
belly
and
threatened
with
imminent
rape
and
murder.
She
shuddered
at
the
memory.
“I
think
maybe
he
just
hated
sharing
the
power,
however
nominal.”

“That’s
hardly
reason
enough
to
follow
you
across
the
universe
and
pay
a
bunch
of
mercs
to
murder
you.”

“He
told
me
I’d
eavesdropped
on
a
private
meeting.
That
he
couldn’t
take
the
risk…”
She
shook
her
head.
“I
don’t
know
what
he’s
talking
about.”

But
she’d
reached
the
conclusion
that
it
must
have
been
something
to
do
with
the
day
she’d
run
away.
She
frowned
as
she
tried
to
remember
what
had
happened.

“You’ve
thought
of
something?”
Tannis
said.

“Maybe.
It
must
be
about
the
day
I
left
the
Abbey.
But
I
can’t
see
why,
or
what
was
so
important.”

“Okay.
Take
us
through
it
slowly.
See
if
we
can
spot
anything.”

Alex
rested
her
head
against
the
back
of
the
seat
and
forced
her
mind
to
go
back.
“It
was
the
day
after
the
feast
of
the
Everlasting
Life.
That’s
our
biggest
celebration,
and
it
seemed
like
I’d
been
praying
for
an
eternity.
I
needed
to
get
out
into
the
open,
or
I
was
going
to
scream,
which
wasn’t
acceptable
behavior
in
a
High
Priestess.
It
wasn’t
easy
in
the
Abbey—I
had
people
with
me
everywhere
I
went,
but
I
managed
to
give
them
the
slip
and
sneaked
out
onto
the
roof
where
I
could
see
the
landing
bay.”
Jon
was
now
sitting
up
straight
in
his
chair,
leaning
toward
her
as
he
listened,
and
she
spoke
directly
to
him,
needing
him
to
understand
who
she
was.
“I
often
went
up
there
to
watch
the
ships
come
and
go.
I’d
wanted
to
go
into
space
for
as
long
as
I
could
remember,
but
I’d
rarely
left
the
Abbey
since
I
was
brought
there
as
a
baby,
and
then
only
to
the
cathedral.”

Night
had
been
the
best
time;
she’d
liked
to
sneak
out
and
lie
on
the
tower
rooftop,
stare
at
the
stars,
and
imagine
what
it
must
be
like
out
there.
On
a
good
night,
she
would
maybe
catch
sight
of
a
ship’s
lights
far
off
and
would
try
and
imagine
the
places
it
would
travel.
But
she
didn’t
mention
all
of
that—she
had
an
idea
it
might
come
under
the
heading
of
“needy.”