The Bond That Consumes Us (16 page)

“Thank you, Kamran. Taber has told me a lot about Eurus. I’m looking forward to seeing the station.”

“Hi, I’m Sara.”

The short blonde woman stuck her hand out and marched between the two Briel.

The Raqulian chuckled. “Nothing like butting in, Sara.”

“Hush, you. It’s not everyday a new woman arrives on the station.” Sara leaned closer and lowered her voice. “I hate to admit it, we’re a bit outnumbered genderwise out here. We need all the support we can get.”

Fallon liked this woman. She couldn’t stop the grin that slid onto her face and leaned a bit closer herself. “I’m a bartender. I’ll mix us up a few drinks and you can tell me all about it.”

“Oh, this is trouble. You had to bring a bartender back with you, Taber.”

“Shut up, Davin,” Sara said and sighed.

“Yes, dear.”

Fallon chuckled. Despite not wanting to get pulled into their world, she couldn’t help but like Taber’s friends.

Sara stood and linked an arm around Fallon’s. “Now if you gentlemen will excuse us, I’m taking my new friend to med bay. I hope you don’t mind, but I need to give all new visitors a physical before I let them on board.”

“All new visitors, or only bartenders who are the obsessed focus of a serial killer?”

she asked with as much mock sincerity as she could muster.

Sara grinned and looked over at Taber. “Oh I like her. Can we keep her?”

Fallon looked at Taber and had to fight to keep breathing. The strangest look was on his face—a mix of pride and fear. He simply gave Sara a slight bow and averted his gaze from Fallon before anyone else noticed.

“I believe she may want some say in the matter, Doctor.”

“Well, I’ll have to do my best to convince her then.”

And before Fallon could say anything else to Taber, Sara was pulling her away toward med bay.

* * * * *

Taber watched as Fallon was taken away by Sara. He hadn’t thought it was going to be this difficult bringing her to Eurus, to his home. But watching her with Sara stirred 110

something deep inside him. If he thought his protective urges were strong back on the
Damara
, they were even stronger here.

“There goes a pile of trouble if I ever saw it,” Davin said, sounding more amused than ever. “I don’t know if the station can handle a third woman in that particular posse.”

Kamran chuckled. “I have a sneaking suspicion Sara’s physical will be quick. She plans on taking your Fallon to meet Haylie. It would explain why my wife is suddenly blocking me.”

My Fallon.
By the goddess, he wished that was true. And if Sara’s examination revealed a child, then it very well would become a reality. He wouldn’t be able to let her go, even if it was her wish. A baby would link her to him in a way that even a bond between mates couldn’t rival. For the time being, he needed to keep everything the way it was. Didn’t need the added distraction of Kamran, Haylie and the others asking questions about Fallon’s and his past while there was a killer out there trying to hurt her.

“She isn’t mine, Administrator. I’m only doing my duty and trying to prevent any more murders from occurring.”

His tone was harsher than he intended, causing both the other men to turn and stare at him. Taber faced Kamran and bowed. “My apologies. I’m tired from the events of the past week.”

Kamran looked him over hard and Taber knew he was trying to read his body language. Not willing to give even a hint of what was going on inside his head, he met Kamran’s gaze steadily, relaxing as much as he could. He didn’t want his friend to know about his feelings toward Fallon or the turmoil that was currently churning in his head. That would lead to questions about his past, and he still wasn’t ready to discuss it. While Kamran was a talented ambassador, Taber didn’t want him to involve himself in his personal life—closest friend or not.

Davin snorted and crossed his arms across his chest. He no longer wore the gloves that covered his Raqulian tattoos, no longer caring who knew about his abilities. “Well, I can see why someone would fixate on her.”

Taber stiffened, his fists reflexively balling into fists. “And why is that?”

“She’s very pretty. Someone with a damaged mind who needed to cling to something could very easily fixate on someone as beautiful as she is.”

By the goddess, he hadn’t put much thought into the why or how of the killer’s fixation. Taber walked a few steps away and ran his hand through his hair and over the back of his neck. “It would explain why the murderer is killing off men who are friendly toward Fallon.”

“Your killer is murdering the perceived competition for Fallon’s heart. It could be that he plans on taking her for his own,” Davin said, his voice calm, steady.

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Inside, Taber was being eaten alive. He had to make sure Fallon was safe, so she could return to her life on Earth and finally be happy. As Taber looked at Davin and Kamran, a plan was began to form in his mind.

“Do you think the killer will chase her to Eurus?”

Davin frowned for a moment before nodding. “I believe so. You’ve basically put yourself out there as the front runner for her affections by taking her away. An obsessed mind isn’t going to let that pass and will find a way to get her back.”

“It sounds like you’ve made yourself a target,” Kamran said, taking a step closer to Taber. Kamran locked his gaze on Taber’s and lowered his voice. “Anything I should be aware of?”

With his heart pounding, Taber did the one thing he never thought he would—lie to Kamran.

“There is nothing. Though if Davin is correct, I should play the part of a suitor for Fallon. It will enrage the suspect and force his hand.”

Kamran cocked an eyebrow. “Are you sure? People will not believe a single Briel male is pursuing a human female in this fashion.”

“We won’t need everyone to believe it,” Davin said, stepping closer. “Just your suspect. He’ll see everything, every touch, smile as a far bigger gesture than it is. You’ll just need to give her a little extra attention and it should give you the result you want.

That is, if he shows up.”

“He will. You didn’t see the state of the last body we found back on the ship. He’s escalating and the next time he strikes will be harsh.” Taber nodded and stepped away, suddenly needing his space. “I will contact the
Damara
and let the captain know we will allow some visitors to the station, but only limited numbers for now and strictly controlled.”

Kamran reached out and grabbed Taber’s arm, preventing him from leaving. “I should do that. It will look less suspicious coming from me. You should go check on Fallon.” He looked over at Davin. “Make sure our mates don’t scare the poor girl half to death.”

Heart pounding and his breathing suddenly a conscious effort, Taber nodded, averting his gaze from Kamran. The jealously he’d felt before leaving for the
Damara
was back, stronger than ever. He didn’t want his friend to see that despicable emotion inside him and quickly walked away.

Taber blocked out everything, focusing his attention on Fallon. There was no turmoil when she was around—only raging lust. And that was turning out to be a far easier thing to control. He wanted her again, this time in
his
bed. But he knew they couldn’t do that. The last thing he wanted was to put Fallon in a position where she’d feel trapped by him. And if the elder council learned of their relationship, there would be questions, large ones that neither of them would be able to hide from.

He stopped by med bay first, and as he expected, there wasn’t any sign of them.

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“I think Sara took her to see Haylie,” Rachael said, barely looking at him as she read a report. “We moved her and Orya back to their quarters yesterday.”

“Were there any issues with her physical?”
Am I to be a father?

Taber’s heart pounded as he waited for Rachael to read over the data pad with Fallon’s results.

“Nope, she was right as rain. I imagine she had to be, working on a ship like that.

Don’t know how she did it myself.”

“Thank you.”

Spinning on his heels, Taber marched away from med bay. He knew it was for the best that Fallon wasn’t with child, but there was still a small part of him that was disappointed. It was just another thought to consume his mind, spinning around with possibilities of what kind of life he could have with her. It terrified him how much power Fallon had over his emotional state and she wasn’t even aware of it.

He moved down the corridor, through the bazaar and toward the Briel section of the station. Haylie and Kamran’s rooms were the largest the station had, and well protected in the middle section. Taber had been the one who’d suggested they take them, not wanting to put either one of them in danger from fear of attack.

Now he wished they weren’t so far away.

His body reacted with every step closer to Fallon he got. Taber’s breathing was still labored, his heart pounding. And be damned by the goddess, his cock was painfully hard. He needed Fallon in his bed, under his body moaning—quickly.

The ever present guard outside the door stiffened upon his arrival and Taber suddenly found himself being watched. It took all of his self control to stop and press the door chime, acknowledging his arrival. If he was to keep people from knowing the truth about him and Fallon, he needed to maintain a firm grasp on his control—

something that was becoming increasingly difficult.

Goddess, she is just inside…

Sara opened the door, grinning when she saw him. “Taber!”

“It’s about time you got your ass over here to see me,” Haylie’s voice drifted in from behind Sara. “They won’t let me get up, so get your Briel butt in here.”

The sigh that escaped him wasn’t an act. “I take it your patient has fully recovered.”

Sara winked at him. “Oh she’ll be terrorizing the bad guys in no time.”

They stepped inside and when Taber fully entered the room, he immediately froze.

Fallon was sitting on the sofa next to Haylie, holding Orya. Her long red hair was all piled up on the top of her head in a loose bun, exposing the soft, creamy curve of her neck. She was looking down at Orya, smiling and cooing softly to her, the baby’s small hand wrapped about Fallon’s finger. When she looked up at him and grinned, Taber thought his heart would stop.

“It’s about time you got here,” Haylie said grinning. “Fallon wasn’t very giving of the details of the murders.”

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Fallon looked up at Haylie, her eyes wide. “I didn’t think it right to talk about it in front of your little one.”

Sara chuckled. “Oh trust me, she’s already heard worse. Plus Haylie isn’t going to leave you alone until she gets what she wants.”

“I don’t have to bug her now. Taber is here.”

“I happen to agree with Fallon. They are not details for a child’s ears.”

“Orya doesn’t know what you’re saying. Now spill it. I haven’t had a good murder case to solve in years.”

“I would suggest we run,” he said to Fallon. “But I believe she would catch us.”

Sara gasped. “My god, was that a joke?”

Fallon giggled and returned her gaze to the baby, drawing a small smile from him.

She looked perfect sitting there with a little one in her arms. Taber couldn’t help but imagine what a child of theirs would look like—black hair and green eyes. They would most likely have a boy and he’d be strong, protective of his mother. And Taber would be very happy.

“Taber?”

Sara’s soft touch on his arm made him jump slightly. He looked down at her and realized both she and Haylie were staring at him.

“I should take Fallon to her quarters. It has been a long journey and we are expecting the suspect will give chase. She’s going to need her rest.”

Haylie slid to the edge of her seat, leaning forward. “She can always stay with us.

This place has the highest security on the station.”

It was then that Taber noticed just how tired Haylie looked. Despite her obvious enthusiasm for the case, there wasn’t any way she’d be able to help. And the last thing he wanted to do was to put her, Kamran and especially Orya in harm’s way.

“Are you kidding? You have a baby in here,” Fallon’s protests mirrored his thoughts. “Taber will look after me and keep me safe. But I’d love to come back and visit.”

“Of course.” Haylie reached over, took Orya and gave Fallon a light hug. “Anytime you want to stop by. Just make sure Taber shows you around the station.”

“And that he shows you a good time. He’s not the most social of our bunch here,”

Sara added, gently patting his arm.

“I believe they are about to gang up on me. Shall we get you some food?”

Fallon was on her feet and at his side within a moment and his body reacted. Her scent enveloped him, making his cock twitch and his heart pound.

“I’m starving. Thank you for the visit and, I don’t believe I’m saying this, for the physical. It was wonderful to meet you both.”

Fallon reached out, slid her hand over his forearm until it rested on the crook of his arm. She gave it a squeeze before letting hers drop to her side. The animal deep inside 114