Kiss of the Night (2 page)

* * * * *

Lust and decadence.

Those were the two descriptors that came to mind as Briana stared into the captain’s quarters and drooled. Decorated in rich jewel tones and voluptuous hanging materials, the room looked nothing like the rest of the ship. She felt as if she were standing on the threshold of an ancient harem—a purely masculine retreat with all the comforts a woman could desire. Add Alexei Night to the picture and a woman would have everything she needed to be sated.

Releasing a deep breath, Bree leaned against the doorjamb and pictured the infamous pirate reclining on the bed, spread out for her pleasure. Alex’s dark, dangerous presence would be showcased beautifully in such a bedroom. She closed her eyes and breathed in his scent, remembering the feel of him between her thighs, his powerful body flexing and bunching beneath her as they flew through the night. Never in her life had she experienced anything so thrilling, the world racing past her in blur, leaving only Alex as the one solid thing she could hold on to. Even now, the memory of him in her arms made her wet, made her breasts swell and grow heavy, the tips aching.

When she’d set out on this course of action, she’d told herself he was the obvious choice because he was considered the best and she tried to believe that was the only reason she’d hired him. But that wasn’t entirely true. From the moment James had opened the data file she’d been captivated by the rakishly handsome captain.

The seductive promise in his gaze and wicked grin had riveted her, causing her pulse to leap to attention just from the sight of his pilot’s photo. She should have known the reality would be so much better—after all, who looked good in their license picture? Alexei Night, that’s who. And the damned thing was, it had been a bad photo.

Briana had wanted him on sight and when his expertise had been proven, it had given her the excuse to have him. She’d dressed especially for their first meeting, choosing her attire and hairstyle to be more appealing. Her mission was vital and her primary focus would remain on its successful completion, but in the downtime she wanted to be seduced. Truly, completely awash-in-lust seduced by a master lover. She wanted, just once, to experience the sort of mind melting pleasure she’d read about in erotic romance e-books and Alex Night was more than enough vamp to give her what she wanted. The question was, would she be able to give him what
he
wanted?

She was damn well prepared to try. As many times as necessary.

He’d had centuries of experience while she, a mere human, had only a dozen or so liaisons in her lamentable sexual past. None of them had been extraordinary. Thankfully, the vampire was interested, but she wanted him more than interested. She wanted him panting and hungry for her. Desperate to fuck her. She wanted to unleash his animal side and leave a memory behind that he wouldn’t soon forget.

That would take more than a quick capitulation. Alex would have to earn the right to take her. He was going to have to work for it. Then he would appreciate it, which in turn would make her more appreciative.

The powerful engines rumbled to life and snapped Bree out of her reverie. She turned to find another room and ran headfirst into soft pseudo-skin covering solid titanium alloy.

“Damn it, James!” she complained. “You scared me half to death. How can you walk so silently when you weigh so much?”

He smiled with endless charm. The only way one could tell he wasn’t human was by the lack of matching warmth in his blue eyes. “Your thoughts are naughty, Mistress.”

Bree wrinkled her nose and muttered, “You don’t know the half of it.”

“Not true. I detect your rapid pulse and quickened breathing. Those physical reactions are not due simply to the recent danger.” He shook his head. “When will you learn that you cannot hide things from me?”

“It’s an archaic expression, James darling,” she explained with a sigh.

“Your father will be fine.”

Her throat tightened. It still disconcerted her to realize how deeply James could read into her thoughts.

“It’s all my fault he’s in danger,” she said bitterly. “I knew my position on vampirism would make me plenty of enemies.”

“But you never knew it would come to this.”

Bree arched a brow. “But you did. Anyone using logical reasoning would have known that if they couldn’t get to me personally, they’d go after my family. Being shot at, being hunted… Hell, I’m used to that. I even expect it. I accepted the inevitability of my early demise long ago. But my family…?” She shuddered.

“Your family is the reason you are doing this, Mistress. They knew the risks and they support you completely.”

“Because I swore they’d be safe. I told them I would protect them.”

Three years ago, when her younger sister Stella married a vamp, Bree had known something had to be done to further the rights of vampires. They were banned from certain sectors, denied jobs and provided the bare minimum of health care. Sure they had healing skills that were far beyond human capability, but the virus that infected them also prevented them from bearing children and some humans wanted to keep it that way, afraid vampires would take over and the human race would become extinct.

James circled her and placed his hands on her shoulders. “You did the only thing you could think of to help your sister have the children she wanted. As the Delta Quadrant Representative your power is almost limitless.”

Like any politician worth their carbon, she’d lied, cheated and deceived her way into the position. Basically, she’d played the dumb blonde role to perfection. She’d allowed the powerful lobbyists who could have kept her from winning to think she’d be easy to control and too stupid to make her own decisions. Then, once she’d won the election by a landslide, she did whatever she wanted. She did what was right.

So many of her peers started their careers with such high hopes, but eventually the need for reelection campaign funds drove them to sell their votes to the highest bidder. Briana was lucky that vampires, her largest contributors, had a tendency to be very wealthy. Based on firsthand historical knowledge, vamps were highly cognizant of monetary forecasts. They could almost predict changes in the market and adjusted their finances accordingly.

Kneading her tense shoulders, James murmured, “With the massive financial support behind you, Mistress, you are not susceptible to bribes. You are untouchable, unbeatable and determined as hell to get your way.”

“I’m determined all right, determined not to let my family suffer because of vamp haters. They want to hit me where it hurts? I’ll hit them right back. Twice as hard.”

“And you will succeed. I have no doubt.”

She sighed. “I wish I could be as sure.”

“You are tense,” he purred in her ear, “which makes it hard to think clearly. Would you like me to relieve you?”

Closing her eyes, she let her head fall forward to better enjoy the magic of his massaging fingers. “Ummm… That sounds divine.” She knew how good his hands felt all over her body.

Alex may not like the idea of turning a sex droid into a personal assistant, but there was no way a PA droid could offer such comforts. It just wasn’t in their rigid programming to learn ephemeral pleasures. Sex droids, however, were built to please and if that meant handling communications and data in addition to their other duties they did so with only a minor adjustment to their processors.

Bree stepped away from James and moved down the corridor to find another room.

“How about these quarters, Mistress?” he asked behind her. “They look comfortable and spacious.”

She paused, thinking she didn’t much care where she slept. If she had her way, she’d be sharing the captain’s quarters before too long and Alex Night could make her forget, if only for an hour or two, that the choices she’d made to help her family had now put them in danger.

As the ship lifted from the private landing bay and began its two-week journey to her homeworld of Tolan, Briana undressed and began to plan her lines of attack—one against the yummy Alex and the other against the forces that wanted his kind eliminated.

Chapter Two

Alex glanced around the dining area one last time, making sure that everything was as perfect as possible. He’d dimmed the cabin lights, turned on soft music and prepared Briana’s favorite meal. The last had been the hardest. Since he couldn’t sample the food, he had no idea if he’d cooked it right or not. It smelled…edible. However, if it was really bad, he’d purchased enough space rations to keep her alive.

He shrugged. He could always seduce her into forgetting about his questionable cooking skills. Hell, he planned to seduce her anyway. A long, slow seduction. Keeping Briana on edge was the best way to stay in control, which was a necessity. Regardless of the lust he felt for her, he had a job to do.

Her work in the Council was of unparalleled importance to the entire vamp race and he was charged with the task of keeping her safe until the threat against her family could be resolved. It was an assignment he took seriously. The mistakes of his past hadn’t faded and they never would, but he could lift himself above them if he worked hard enough. He’d been given a second chance and no matter what, he would prove himself worthy of it.

Still, he didn’t see the harm in enjoying her. If
he
called the shots.

With a multitude of tantalizing thoughts in mind, Alex moved down the corridor to Briana’s quarters, his senses coming to a heightened awareness as he drew closer. It had been a long time since he’d felt this kind of attraction. He’d forgotten what a rush it was. It flooded his mind with decadent pleasure, like warm hands coursing across his skin, kneading his flesh, making his spine arch…

Oooohhhh… Harder, James…deeper…

Alex stumbled to a halt.

What the hell?

The sensations he was experiencing were not lustful imaginings but feelings radiating from Briana.

He swore as his fangs descended. There wasn’t another woman in the universe like Briana Michaels. Physically she was no more or less than any other female he could have, but who she was inside was completely and beautifully unique. She laid her life on the line for a cause that wouldn’t benefit her at all simply because it was the right thing to do. Correcting an injustice and fighting prejudice were all she cared about and because of that, Alex cared about her. It was a potent combination, her unwavering convictions, the power she wielded so easily and her passionate nature. Quite simply, Briana was one of a kind.

These next few weeks were all the time he would ever be allowed to have with her. His work and hers were literally worlds apart. After this mission he’d never see her again, so having his fill had to happen now. No way was he getting usurped by a droid. Not after all these months of waiting and planning and dreaming.

Within seconds Alex was standing inside the door to her quarters watching with possessive eyes as the blond droid straddled his naked woman.

A snarl was the only warning he gave before leaping into action.

* * * * *

Bree drifted into a state of half-awareness, imagining hypnotically dark eyes and erect fangs attached to the hands that were presently moving all over her back. The chip in her mind signaled her preferences to James, whose motions went along with her thoughts, facilitating the massage until she was completely relaxed.

Then suddenly he tensed, his body becoming a crushing pressure against her thighs. She felt him pitch forward and she screamed, knowing the droid’s heavy weight could kill her.

But before that could happen, the burden was snatched away with a snarl. She rolled over, confused, and barely caught sight of James’ bent legs moving horizontally out the door.

“Hey!” she yelled, leaping from the bed and dragging the sheet with her. She covered herself as she ran out to the corridor. Alexei was already halfway down the hall, her droid tucked securely beneath his arm. Bree gaped. James weighed a ton, but the vamp carried him as if he weighed nothing.

Her bare feet slapped against the cool metal floor as she gave chase. “What the fuck are you doing?”

“This thing’s got to go,” he muttered.

She studied the odd stillness of her droid. “What did you do to him?”

“Shut it off.”

“You can’t do that!” she protested.

“I just did.”

Alex rounded the corridor and entered the cargo hold. Finding a neglected corner, she heard him drop James unceremoniously to the ground.

“You’re going to break him,” she complained, stumbling blindly into the darkness behind him.

He rounded on her, dark eyes flashing red in the unlit interior. “If only I could be so lucky.”

Bree scowled. “What’s your deal anyway?”

The laser brightness of his gaze grew more intense, signaling that he was moving closer. She stood her ground and lifted her chin even as her heart raced with excitement.

“I’m not sharing you with a droid. Got it?”

She blinked in surprise and then bit back a smile, grateful he couldn’t see it.

“I love your smile,” he purred, moving closer. “Even when it comes at my expense.”

Choking, she took rapid backward steps.
Damn!
She’d forgotten he could see in the dark.

“No need to make me jealous,” he said softly, the foreign inflection in his words making her nipples hard. “I’m easy.”

At the reminder, she snorted and spun on her heel.

“Hey!” Now he was chasing her.

“Go away, Alex.”

She shrieked as her feet left the deck and she was swung up into his arms.

“Don’t be mad at me, sweetness,” he said, nuzzling her throat. “I can service you much better than a droid could.”

“No doubt,” she said petulantly. “With your experience.”

He moved down the corridor, walking straight past her room. “Isn’t my experience something you want?”

Bree glared at him. “Stay out of my head, captain.”

“Call me Alexei, like you do in your thoughts.”