Jaci's Experiment (19 page)

***

Out in the forest, very near the treeline that circled the O’Hara ranch, Grady Prime knelt in the dirt, rubbing disturbed soil between his fingers. Something wasn’t right here, but it was very hard to detect exactly what it was. Still, something bothered him and he’d learned to always trust his instincts. It was part of the reason he’d risen so quickly to Prime of his line here on the new planet while so many of his comrades were more ready to take everything purely at face value. Grady Prime would not ignore his instincts this time. He’d stay while he sent the majority of his troops back to the city.

He liked being out in the woods and if nothing else, this exercise would give him a chance to work on his bush skills. He could also look in on the O’Hara ranch from a different vantage point—from above.

He liked the O’Haras. As much as any Alvian could actually
like
anyone. But being a soldier gave Grady just a bit more than his compatriots. He felt…echoes…of affection 171

when he saw the O’Haras together, or viewed the littlest members of the family playing. He wouldn’t mind a chance to observe them from afar. They intrigued him and were the main reason he was considering participating in Mara 12’s latest experiment. They’d given him the skinpatch, but he’d have to be off duty to apply it. He could still change his mind. The skinpatch was back in the city, in his quarters, waiting for him to get back and take himself off the duty roster while the experiment ran its course. He wanted to have Jaci’s disappearance tied up before it came to that.

So he’d stay. For a while at least. He’d watch and wait, and see what happened. Probably nothing would disturb his silent vigil, but vigilance was his calling.

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“Caleb says to sit tight,” Mick reported back the next day on his conversation with his oldest brother.

“Things are happening fast now, he says, and he’s not altogether certain of your future, but it is a pivotal one, Jaci. Your accident wasn’t without purpose. Take comfort—what comfort you can—in that, at least.”

“I don’t know if I should be glad or scared to death, being the subject of one of the Oracle’s visions.”

Jaci stifled a laugh that was on the edge of hysterical. Without her mates nearby to stabilize her emotions, she was feeling decidedly ragged.

“Things were vaguer than usual for Caleb, but he did tell me that you’ll have a role to play in the ultimate goal we all have for the human race.”

Jaci wasn’t sure how she felt about that either. “But I’m Alvian.”

Mick waved one hand in her direction. “You’re more human than alien now?like Davin’s always been.

I’ve gained some understanding of Alvian culture from him and I can say from my observations, you’re not like them anymore, Jaci. You may look like them, but you’re more human every day.”

Tears formed behind her eyes. She was at a loss. And she felt lost. Who was she anymore? She had no idea.

“Look, I can tell you’re having a rough time with all this.” Mick stood from the chair beside her bed. Her leg kept her mostly in the small bedroom set off from the rest of the building by wooden walls and a hand-made door. “Take some deep breaths. Rest a while. Find your center and don’t sweat the small stuff. For now, your job is to heal and you’re coming along nicely. The rest will sort itself out as time goes on.”

“I wish I had your confidence.” She tried to wipe her eyes surreptitiously, but Mick saw and pulled a clean handkerchief from his pocket. He gave it to her, making her meet his eyes before he handed it over.

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“I know it’s hard, but try not to worry. If even a small part of what Caleb glimpsed in your future comes to pass, it’ll be a good thing for all of us.” He left her then and she tried to take his advice. After a while, she dozed.

***

Michael and David came to her in dreams that night, as usual. It was her greatest pleasure and her greatest heartache. She wanted to be with them in the flesh, but if these interludes in dreams were all they had, she wouldn’t trade them for anything. Still, her heart pined for them during the days when she was awake, separated from them by the reality of life. They dared not communicate too often by crystal. They didn’t want to take the chance of being found out by some random spy. Davin had been careful to shield all the crystals he gave the O’Haras, but he’d also warned them that since his mating, other crystallographers had been working on ways to crack his protections. The Alvians needed him, but didn’t trust him—with good reason, Jaci realized. As a result, their conversations were limited outside of the hour or so every other night when Michael brought them all together on the dreamplane.

And when they were together in dreams, they didn’t spend a lot of time talking. More often than not, passion was the topic and pleasure their only goal.

“Do you like to be watched, Jaci?” David kissed her stomach, his hand between her thighs on the dream bed Michael had conjured for them. She didn’t know how to answer and her hesitation must have showed on her face. “Hey, Mike, I think our little vixen likes the idea of being observed.”

“Really?” Michael hovered in the background, allowing David time with her while he held them all in the dream using his special gift. He leaned in, a twinkle in his eye that spoke of mischief. Of the two cousins, Michael was the more spontaneous, she’d learned, much to her delight.

“What do you think?” David moved back to look at his cousin.

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“I say we give it a go.”

Both cousins looked at her, a speculative gleam of excitement in their eyes. She didn’t know what their cryptic words meant or what they intended, but she’d learned over the weeks to trust them when it came to pleasure. They knew how far to push her and just how hard. They were masters.

Michael shifted closer as the setting changed. The bed turned to a platform with restraints that wrapped around her arms and legs, posing her according to Michael’s whim. The small room opened outward, the walls replaced with blackness that hinted at an audience she couldn’t see as a spotlight interfered with her vision into the distance.

She was on a stage of sorts, bound in front of the two men she trusted and loved more than life and the illusion of others watching. The feeling was decidedly wicked.

“I think she likes it, Mike.” David smiled at his cousin, watching her reactions with approval.

“I think you’re right,” Michael agreed as he moved to her side. David was standing near her waist on her right, Michael at her left. “But maybe we can step it up a notch.” Michael tipped her chin up with one finger so she had no choice but to look into his dancing eyes. “Think of someone, Jaci.”

“Someone?” She didn’t understand.

“Someone you want to watch you come for us.”Michael’s expression practically steamed as her temperature spiked higher. Without conscious thought on her part, the image of Grady Prime appeared in her mind.

Both men jumped when the hulking mass of Grady Prime materialized in the dream. She’d forgotten how big he was—and how much the cousins hated him. Truth be told, she wasn’t sure why he came to mind, but then she realized he’d been her last encounter of a sexual kind before the cousins, and of all the Alvian men she’d serviced, he’d been the only one to give her pleasure that even came close to her mates. Close, but not the same maddening rush her two men gave her with the simplest of touches.

“Son of a bitch!” David looked at the new arrival on the dreamplane with a mix of anger and disgust.

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“Interesting choice, babe,” Michael looked at her speculatively. “I was expecting an Alvian, but not this one.” His eyes narrowed with suspicion. “Did you have sex with him?”

Caught, she couldn’t lie to them. Mutely, she nodded. Michael looked at Grady Prime with even more hatred than before, if such a thing was possible. Michael turned his smoldering gaze back to her.

“Never again, Jaci.” She felt the vibrating thrum of his warning through her whole being.

“No. Never,” she agreed. “I don’t want him.”

“But you did,” David accused. “You must have.”

“I didn’t,” she protested. “It was an assigned duty. And it was only once. But it happened right after my accident and I felt…” She couldn’t finish the thought as their eyes darkened.

“You enjoyed it?” Michael asked finally, shooting Grady Prime a speculative look.

“It was the first time I’d really enjoyed the act of sample collection.”

“Sample collection?” David asked, shock and outrage warring in his tone. He stared into her eyes while he got control of his emotions. “Your people are barbarians, Jaci.”

“I understand that now, David.” Her voice was tempered with regret, but the situation was getting to her.

She was restrained and naked on the small stage, a confused Alvian warrior off to one side watching everything. She noted that Michael had conjured restraints for Grady Prime, locking his wrists and ankles together so he couldn’t move.

“You do realize we’ll have to punish you.” Michael’s words shocked, but the look in his eyes promised nothing but pleasure. Unable to speak for the excitement rushing through her veins, Jaci looked up at him and nodded agreement.

“Good girl.” David’s voice purred over her senses, teasing, tantalizing as he flipped her over. The restraints allowed any movement the men directed, it seemed, but gave her no quarter when she tried to move her arms or legs. Convenient, considering that Michael controlled everything about the environment of the dream.

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Masculine hands smoothed over her ass. She liked the feel of David’s strong hands against her bare skin. He dipped lower, into the dark valley between her thighs, lingering a moment, stroking inside the wet lips.

Her legs were still together, but now the restraints moved, pulling her knees up and apart. David’s large fingers spread her and exposed her most intimate area to Grady, who stood directly behind her. She couldn’t see the Alvian warrior from this position, but she knew he was there. The very idea of it—even though this was only a dream—raised her temperature.

“I love the way you warm for me.” David’s fingers stroked rhythmically within her.

Her only response was an almost incoherent keening as he sent her higher. She needed relief and she needed it soon.

Thwak!

The sound of the swat made her jump almost as much as the sting on the fleshy cheek of her butt. She looked over her shoulder at Michael, and he grinned at her.

“You have the most perfect ass, Jaci. And your skin is so fine, it won’t take much to turn it a lovely shade of pink.”

“She likes it, Mike,” David said, his fingers still within her. “You do understand the concept of spanking, don’t you, Jaci? It’s punishment, but as I think you’ve just discovered, it can be exciting under certain circumstances.”

“I—” Jaci had a hard time speaking, but she knew they were waiting for her to answer. “I’m learning rapidly.”

Michael tipped her head up to meet his gaze. “Is it okay, sweetheart?”

“She liked it, Mike,” David didn’t give her a chance to answer, though Michael kept watching her.

“Take my word for it.”

Still, Michael hesitated. “Honey?”

Since David’s fingers were teasing her again, she could only nod. Michael smiled and the satisfaction gleaming from his eyes made her feel even better about her response. When his hand came down on her butt once more, this time on the other cheek, she felt better still.

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The sensations racing through her epidermis would bear study, but they were so exciting, she found she couldn’t concentrate on anything beyond the next delicious wave of sensation. The mix of pleasure and the sting of those loud smacks made her hotter than almost anything the cousins had tried with her before.

These two men could surprise her and turn her on like no one and nothing before.

“That’s just beautiful,” Michael said and she looked back again to see him gazing down at her with a mix of lust and satisfaction.

“I’d say she’s learned her lesson, cuz.” David pulled his fingers from her pussy. She whimpered, wanting his touch back in the worst way. “And now it’s time for her reward.”

David lifted her upward with little effort on the dreamplane, bringing her face to face with Grady Prime.

She gasped, seeing the heated look in the soldier’s eyes. She’d almost forgotten he’d been watching, with a pussy-level view of her torment.

Grady Prime’s jaw firmed and a tick near his eye indicated just how tense he was. She looked downward and noted the thick bulge she remembered from their one encounter. He was aroused. And she was naked, aroused and wanting. But not Grady Prime. Certainly, having him there—or the illusion of him, at least—elevated the experience, but the only men she wanted were her mates. And she wanted them now.

“Please.” Her voice was just a whisper as she tried to focus on her men. Her body was Humming as they touched her, the vibration of sound and the blistering heat of her arousal sending her higher than she’d ever been before. Making her needier than she’d ever been before. But they wouldn’t leave her wanting. Would they?

David moved her again as Michael stepped back. In their dreams, Michael always held back to let David make love to her first. He had to. Michael held the dream with his power. If he came first, the dream would dissolve, leaving his cousin unfulfilled.

They worked well together and especially when they made love to her, their teamwork was something she loved to indulge. After all, she benefited greatly from their sharing of minds.

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David spread her out before him, flat on her back so he could look down into her face as he joined them together. His was a dominant personality and she loved the way he dominated their loveplay.

He came into her in a rush and his excitement matched hers. She was more than ready for him and the hard thrusts sent her spiraling upward with little effort.

“See him watching you? Wanting you?” David thrust heavily within her. “But he can’t have you. He can only watch. And wish.” David sped his strokes, raising her temperature yet again as her excitement rose higher. She cried out on every inward push of his strong body, clinging to him for strength as she came hard around him.

David came with her, thrusting one final time and holding, tight within her while his seed erupted in a hot, gushing torrent. His eyes closed as his head fell back in ecstasy. She loved making him look like that. She loved that they could drive each other to the brink of sanity.

David stepped back, disengaging from her body as he left her. A recliner formed behind him so he could collapse into it—one of the few times he was able to stay in the dream even after the tumult of climax.

She looked to Michael, knowing he was holding this dreamplane together for all of them.

His grin was wicked as he turned the stage into a decadent bed, wider than any that existed in the real world and twice as comfortable. He came to her, kneeling between her legs as David looked on with indulgence from the side of the room.

Grady Prime was still there too. Bound hand and foot.

“Let him go, Jaci,” Michael kissed her cheek, nibbling down to her jaw.

“What do you mean?”

Michael flicked a look back to the Alvian soldier. “He’s here because he’s part of your imagination.

Frankly, I’m surprised you held his image this long, but we don’t need him. All we need is each other.”

He continued to kiss his way down her neck.

Jaci tried to locate the thought that was Grady Prime and realized she hadn’t been thinking of him at all for quite some time.

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“Uh, Michael…” She tugged at his hair to get his attention. “I’m not thinking of him. It must be one of you.”

Michael left off sucking on her skin and looked up, his narrowed gaze going from her to Grady Prime to David.

“It’s not me,” David protested.

“Son of a bitch!” Michael leapt off the bed and turned to confront the Alvian warrior. He walked around the captive man as if inspecting him. “You know, Dave, I think he’s really here.”

For the first time, Jaci noted the way Grady Prime observed them, his calculating stare one she’d never received, but which was legend among the troops he led. Grady Prime was studying them. He didn’t speak, but then his image was more transparent than Michael and David’s, as if he weren’t fully with them on the dreamplane. Jaci didn’t know what that meant, but his presence here was troubling, to say the least.

“That means—” David began, but Michael cut him off.

“No shit. He’s nearby.” Worry crept into both of their expressions as Jaci sat up, clutching the bedding to her chest.

“Can you??” David didn’t even need to finish his thought, so aligned were the cousins.

“I’ll escort him back and plant a few suggestions. Hopefully he won’t remember any of this.”

“You can do that?” Jaci asked, astounded anew by her mate’s power.

Michael sent her a mischievous wink. “How do you think Dave and I handled dishonest competitors when we were in business? There’s a reason we were as successful as we once were. Between Dave’s smarts and my ability to make folks play fair, we were able to compete with the big corporate sharks and do rather well.” She could see the pride Michael had in his long-ago achievements though she didn’t understand all of what he talked about. “Don’t worry. I’ll take our voyeur back to his own mind and try to figure out what he’s doing so close to you, sweetheart. Warn the others. Grady Prime is closer than any of you think.” He turned back and gave her a kiss as David stood and did the 180

same. “When I go with him, this dream will collapse. Know that we love you, sweetheart, and we’ll be in touch. Try not to worry, but be vigilant.”

“I will.
”
She did her best not to cling to either of them, but the specter of Grady Prime watching—knowing now that it really was him—was enough to want to end this dream as soon as possible. “Be careful.”