Sex, Love, and Aliens 2 (3 page)

His gaze raked over her body, and she shivered. “There’s a gym upstairs. If you wish to use it, let me know and I’ll ensure that you remain undisturbed.” The richness of his voice coated her like silk. She shuddered, and he frowned. “Do you need me to turn down the air conditioning?”

“Uh, no. Sit down, Commander. I’d like to discuss what happened at the airfield this morning.”

His lips thinned, but he gave a tiny nod. “Of course.”

Dria lowered herself to a chair and he followed suit.

“I’ve received intelligence that the Incubi expected you at ten o’clock. The delay in your landing brought you in at the same time they were planning to attack.”

“What’s the possibility that the delay from air traffic control was caused by some of their operatives?”

He screwed up his face then sighed heavily. “It’s certainly possible. I have some of my people looking into that right now. I had hoped for you to arrive earlier in the day, but because we didn’t want to tip them off that we’d received...” A shake of his head told her how much this upset him. “In hindsight, you should have landed before dawn like I wanted, then we would have avoided this.”

She understood the frustration and anger that chewed at him. If they’d arrived earlier, then none of their people would be heading home in lead-lined caskets. “Yes, I understand that. I don’t have any contacts within your traffic control, so can’t assist. Captain Anterrinhem has made available tactical specialists who would like to check the site of the explosion.”

“Of course. So far we’ve ascertained that the projectile was placed at a refueling station on the western border of the landing field. Outside the secure zone.”

“
Oh.
Yes, I see the difficulty. They must have figured out that the field was secure.” She bit her lip, realizing how stupid her comment sounded as soon as she closed her mouth. Of course Vane would have realized that.

He smiled, a little lopsided, and her heart skipped a beat. “I’d say.”

“Well then, I’ll get in touch with the captain and have him organize a security team to inspect the site.”

“You’re not quite what I expected.” His face flushed a dull red, and he glanced away.

She knew that the words had slipped out, but couldn’t control her smile. “I hope that’s a compliment?”

“Uh, yeah. Absolutely.” He pushed away from the chair with a jerk. “Look, I’m planning on a training session tomorrow morning, after you’ve had time to...” He waved his hands in the air.

“I’d like that. Say seven o’clock?”

“Good.” He headed to the door. “I’m placing men at the door.”

“I’ll stay here. Not make contact with anyone on anything other than the secured line. I’m going to read through the reports you have made available then try and get some rest.”

Once he left and the door clicked shut behind him, she scooped up the thick file on the table. The briefing notes had been joined by the hastily prepared reports from her own people and Marcus Vane.

* * * *

“Commander, you flatter me.” A soft hand fastened on his thigh, resting gently without rubbing or inching upward. The inference in her touch was clear, but unlike most women, she didn’t need to be overt in her invitation. His body tightened and he gulped. His mind spun madly as wisps of excitement skittered along nerve endings.

“I’m not... I don’t want to get involved with someone I’m working with.”

“Commander... Marcus. I’m not looking for involvement. Maybe we could spend some time together? Get to know each other...
better
.”

“It’s not right...”

She smiled and leaned in.

Bleep! Bleep!
He waved his hand, looking for the alarm button that interrupted this delightful tete-a-tete with the princess. Then he realized it wasn’t the bedside alarm he’d programmed for the morning. It was the strident wail of the alarm he’d fastened to the princess’s door. His hand slid beneath his pillow even as he sat up in bed.

The princess. The Incubi.
“God damn!”

He moved quickly, feet silent as he reached for the door and wrenched it open, pistol in hand. The hallway was empty, but that didn’t mean the coast was clear.

He slid along the wall, his eyes scanning back and forth.
Where are my people?

His mouth thinned as he rounded the corner, his gaze settling on the two men at her doorway, slumped to the floor.

A thud and the sound of a thwack resounded and he pounced, punching through the partially open door. “
Turana
Dria?”

Panting, quick and heavy, filled the air and the outline of someone dressed in black loomed in the doorway. He tensed, unsure of what to expect, but before he could speak he heard her sultry voice.

“Commander Vane? The coast is clear.”

“What do you mean?”

“They’re subdued, Commander.” She reached for a light switch and a glow flared. He glanced around and noted two bodies on the floor, hands behind their backs and fastened with some kind of metallic binding.

“Jesus!” The words escaped on a breath. “What happened?”

“I don’t know what happened to the guards outside the door, but a noise woke me. I’m a light sleeper after all my years of training, so when I heard something unexpected, I responded. The lights were off, but I was able to get behind the door before they entered my chamber.” She grinned. “This was the first thing that came to hand.” She held up a lamp, the cord still dangling on the floor. “The first one was simple. A quick blow to the head knocked him out, but before I get around him, the other was there.” She shrugged nonchalantly.

Marcus strode closer, noting the sheen of red liquid that snaked along her arm. “You’re hurt?”

“Not anything life-threatening. He got a swing with his needle at me before I could avoid him. He scraped me, but I managed to evade whatever was in the syringe.”

“Syringe?” He bent and looked at the man. Nothing was in his hand.

“It’s still on the floor in the bedroom.”

A strange sensation filled him, like the congealing of his innards. “They were after you,
Turana
. This location is no longer secure.”

“I would agree, but what do you recommend then?”

“We go to the base. It’s secure.”

The princess cocked her head. “If you think that’s best.”

“I do.”

“All right then. You’ll want the syringe too?” She cocked her head as if sizing him up.

“Yes. I’d like to know what they were going to inject you with. Grab it and whatever you need for the next few days, then we’ll get out of here.”

She turned and hurried away from him.

He slid his fingers into his pocket, took out his phone, and made the call to have the prisoners locked away securely. At least until they could be interrogated, then whatever happened to them was in the hands of the courts.

Chapter 2

The bed was hard. Narrow. It reminded Dria of home.

She rolled onto her side wondering, not for the first time, why then she couldn’t settle into a deep and dreamless sleep.

Two things rattled around in her mind. The first was the situation with the Incubi. They’d obviously decided she was the weak link, and that was exactly what they wanted to achieve. She would use that, and they’d be lulled into a false sense of security.

That brought her to the second and most puzzling problem of all. “
Marcus Vane
.” She whispered his name into the darkness and a frisson of recognition flooded her.

A thrum started between her legs at the thought of him.

“Why? Why him and why now?” She dragged the pillow up and enfolded it in a hard hug against her chest.

Never before had she experienced this flush of interest in a man. Of course she’d enjoyed the odd sexual encounter over the years, but never did her body tingle madly at the
thought
of a man.

Maybe it was her human side. Those who were born of pure
Ba’Tua
families were still repressed to the point of asexuality, but the hybrids born of
Ba’Tuan
and human relations were more open to the advantages of touch and intimacy.

She rolled again, the bed squeaking as she shifted her weight.

She couldn’t say what alerted her, but she turned, instantly aware. It took a second for her eyes to become accustomed to the low light, the gloom punctuated by the light from the computer. Still, it was enough that she could see the doorknob turn soundlessly. Dria rose, mentally preparing herself for battle as she make her way in that direction.

The door opened...

Marcus Vane strode inside, and her breath caught.

“What are you
doing
in here?” She couldn’t control the squeak.

He closed the door behind him. “I came to tell you they’re using a sedative called midazolam. It’s a fast-acting drug that works within minutes.” He scrubbed his hand over his face before advancing into the room.

He thrust his hands in his pockets, and she got the impression he was as uncomfortable with their close proximity as she was. She would swear that all the oxygen in the room had evaporated, and her heart beat rapidly in her chest. “Oh. That’s not really a pleasant thing, is it?” She bit her lip.

He captured her gaze, his eyes burning, and she had to turn away from him.

Dria glanced down, and for the first time, she realized he wore very little. All that covered him was a short pair of pants and a tank top baring his shoulders and outlining the muscles of his chest.

Oh my God! How impressive are those muscles?
Her eyes traveled down, catching sight of the bulge in his pants, but she kept them going and noted the scars on his leg; threads of red and pink, denoting healing scars. Her gaze traveled back to his shoulders.

“Are you...” He cleared his throat and glanced away. “Are you comfortable in here? I know it’s not quite the same comfort level as the hotel, but...” His shrug was tight and quick, as if he didn’t quite know what to do with himself.

“Yes. It’s... It’s similar to my home on
Dirustandi
. I live on the base. It reminds me of this.” Her stomach jiggled a little, betraying her nerves and interest in the super sexy Marcus Vane. “Why don’t you sit down? I have something to discuss with you.”

She turned away, sure she’d jump on him if she wasn’t occupied. Reaching for the light, she switched it on. Only when she turned toward him did she realize how revealing her outfit was. A light cami top and panties didn’t cover much.

“What did you wish to talk about?” The sound of his gravelly voice raked over her.

She gulped and with great difficulty dragged her gaze away from the sight of his chest. “I found... I found the tracker you placed on me. Or rather, my clothes.”

“Ahh.” He looked uncomfortable. “It’s so I know where you are. For your safety.”

“Well, it could very well have been the reason they found me. You do realize that, don’t you?” The fog of interest dissipated as she aired her concern. “That’s why I don’t wear one.”

“Maybe.” He shrugged. “But while you’re on Earth, you
will
have one. It’s part of our security protocol, and your minders and parents agreed to it.”

She opened her mouth to argue, but he held up a hand.

“Please,
Turana
. Even if it’s just to keep the pen pushers happy.” He smiled, and the softening of his face had her close to hyperventilation.

Her nipples pebbled into tight buds of hunger, jutting against the light cotton. It took every ounce of willpower for her to refrain from covering herself.

Dria knew the instant he realized just how aroused she was by him. His eyes turned smoky. His gaze drifted to her chest.

“I... Uh...” Intelligent thought fled as the rapid thumpa-thumpa-thump of her pulse ratcheted up. She reached out, needing the touch of his skin.

“
Turana...
” His deep voice rippled over her, and she was sure stepping forward was the right choice.

The
Ba’Tuan
part of her mind screamed that this action made no sense, as her foot moved, stepping toward the man who intrigued and attracted her. “I... Marcus, if you don’t feel...”

“
Ishouldleave
.”

His strangled words stopped her in her tracks, hitting her hard and stealing the breath from her lungs.
He doesn’t want me.
Never had she thought that a man turning away would gut her like this. An integral part of her being, maybe it was her soul, cried out in anguish.

Carefully, with great deliberation, she pulled her hand back against her body, hoping the tearing pain didn’t show. “Of course. I appreciate you apprising me of the findings.”

Without a further word he spun on his heel and left.

A single tear escaped and burned a track down her face. She knew if she called, he’d return to the room, but consoling her wasn’t enough. With a growl, Dria strode to the table and snatched up her personal communicator. Any hope of sleep had fled, so instead she’d work.

“It’s never failed me before.”

For the first time, she realized that in disengaging herself from her peers, she had turned her back on companionship. There was no one she could ask for aid or assistance in matters of the heart.

She turned away from pondering her confused emotions and tugged her tiny handheld comp-screen closer. Dria logged into the security system and began a tactical search.

* * * *

Marcus lumbered down the hall and settled himself into his room, slumping to the bed with an
oomph
.

I want her. God help me!

She was the only woman since... Marcus refused to allow the other woman into his thoughts. But the
Turana
, she was so far above his pay grade that he might as well be asking for the moon.

She was royalty, and he... He was nothing more than a damaged fighter with a questionable past and not much of a future if he couldn’t make this mission work.

The memory of the
Turana
rekindled the erection he’d been sporting since leaving her room. He’d noted the rosebud points of her nipples, the way they jutted against the material, and it had taken every ounce of his resistance to drag himself away.