Fallon's Fall (8 page)

“Do that again,” he hissed.

Dora stroked his horns with her fingertips, then reversed direction.

Fallon’s body jerked, sending his shaft deeper.

She wrapped her fists around him and applied more pressure, as she worked her hands up and down his horns.

Fallon couldn't breathe. Between his shaft and his horns, he was in overload. “Dora.” Her name came out as a curse and a prayer.

“Move.” She tilted her hips as she played with his horns.

Fallon thrust forward, burying himself to the hilt. The sensations were too much. If she kept that up, he was going to lose control. “Dora, you need to stop.”

She had the audacity to laugh. “Not a chance,” she said. “You’re not the only one who’s been waiting for this.” Her grip on him tightened and she stroked even faster.

Fallon’s vision faded as pleasure swamped him. He pulled out of her and drove back in. The harder she stroked, the more frenzied he became. He captured her mouth in a searing kiss and his tongue surged inside of her. Their teeth knocked. Fallon tasted blood, which only spurred him on.

Dora never faltered. She met him thrust for thrust, stroke for stroke.

He rode her hard, unable to pull back. Not that Dora seemed to mind. If anything, she encouraged him. Fallon gyrated his hips, tearing another whimper from her throat. Her legs locked behind his back. The move allowed him to bury himself inside her.

Fast and frantic he took her. Slamming into her over and over. Sweat covered their bodies. Moans filled the air. Dora’s sheath tightened, driving the breath from his lungs. A second later, her body seized and she let out a keening cry.

Fallon impaled her one final time, then jerked violently and bellowed, blinded by his shattering release. When awareness finally returned, Fallon realized he was still pulsing inside of her, which had never happened before. He hugged her tight and rolled, until she lay on top of him. Their bodies remained locked together. Neither ready to separate.

He gently brushed her dark hair away from her face and kissed her. “You okay?”

It took effort for Dora to lift her head. When she did, their gazes met. The coldness was gone from Fallon’s eyes. Once more she saw the boy she'd fallen in love with, the boy who would always hold her heart. “Pretty sure I died and met the Goddess.”

“You and me both,” he murmured. “Was it worth the wait?”

Dora saw a flash of insecurity cross his face. He couldn’t be serious, but his expression said otherwise. This had been the best sexual encounter of her life. She doubted that she could ever surpass it.

“Yes,” she said. “Was it for you?”

“Oh, Dora.” Fallon hugged her. “You were everything I imagined and more.”

She stroked his chest. “What happens now?” She was more confused than ever. Dora couldn’t stay, but the thought of leaving Fallon left a gaping hole in her chest. He had made a life for himself just like she had. Without his abandonment ten years ago, she would’ve never accomplished her dreams in such a short time. They couldn’t just set the past aside and start over. Could they?

Fallon’s expression closed down. “You’ll return to your ship like I promised.”

He was going to let her go. Even after what just happened. Fallon wasn’t even going to fight for her. When had he become so noble? And why did it upset her so? If she didn’t go, the
Anemone
would destroy Fallon and his crew. Dora didn’t have a choice. She couldn’t lose him to death. The only way to protect him was to give him up.

Fallon knew he couldn’t let Dora go and he couldn’t keep her. He went back on his word once and it had cost him her love—cost him everything he cared about. He wouldn’t do it again, even if it meant his destruction. If this time was all they had, he’d make it memorable.

They made love throughout the night, each time more poignant than the last. When the lights in his cabin automatically brightened, the protective sensual bubble that had surrounded them shattered and reality returned.

“Get dressed,” he said. “Hawk will be hailing your ship in a few hours.” Fallon kissed her one last time, then rushed out of the room. He didn’t want her to see his pain. Didn’t want her to know that his heart was breaking.

D
ora watched
Fallon hurry out of the room. She had managed to hold back her tears until the door closed, but she couldn’t hold them back any longer. Goddess, she was stupid. How could she have ever believed that she could sleep with Fallon and remain detached? It was impossible.

This time, she would be the one to walk away, the one to leave him behind. Pain spiked through her. She clutched her chest. How could this be worse than the first time he left her? Dora had nearly died of heartache. She knew now that she wouldn’t die, but she doubted that the emptiness inside her would ever be filled by anyone other than him.

“What have you done to me?” she whispered, but she already knew the answer.

Fallon had made her fall in love with him all over again. Who was she kidding? She’d never stopped loving him. Seeing him again and sleeping with him, only drove home the point.

You have a job to do
, she told herself.
You worked hard to get your position.

Dora loved her job, but the thought of leaving Fallon behind seemed unbearable. “You doing it to save him,” she whispered. “Even if he doesn’t understand that.”

She sat down on the pallet and brought his pillow to her nose. His scent filled her lungs as she pressed the material to her face.

“Damn you,” she muttered and inhaled again. “Why’d you have to save Echo? Why couldn’t you be the cold Morean you appeared to be?”

F
allon’s limbs
felt like ore by the time he reached the bridge.

Hawk spun in his chair to face him. “Ready?”

He swallowed hard and nodded, even though everything inside of Fallon screamed no!

“Hail the
Anemone
,” Hawk said.

“Aye, Captain,” Lex said.

Numbness filled Fallon as his fingers moved over the instruments. In a short while, Dora would be gone and life as he knew it would be over.

“Please bring Dora to the bridge, Little Cat.” Hawk caressed Opal’s back. “I’d like to speak to her.”

“Sure thing,” she said.

Fallon resisted the urge to go with her. It would only make things worse. Would only draw out the pain. Lex contacted the other ship. By the time the
Anemone
responded, Dora had joined them on the bridge.

“Thanks, pet.” Hawk stroked Opal’s back.

Dora shot the woman a dirty look, then her gaze locked on Fallon.

Fallon had no idea what had occurred between the two women, but it was obvious Opal had done something to get on Dora’s bad side. He forced himself to focus on the instruments. Fallon couldn’t bear to look at her. As it was, her lush scent was driving him insane.

“Permission has been granted to send her up on a shuttle,” Fallon said.

Hawk nodded, then looked at Dora. “On behalf of my crew, I would like to apologize for any inconvenience we’ve caused.”

Dora nodded, then glanced Fallon’s way. Why wouldn’t he look at her? Did he already regret their time together? The thought was crushing. She walked over to where he stood. “I guess this is goodbye,” she said.

Fallon’s throat closed as he glared at the navigational screen in front of him. “Have a...” his voice trailed off. He swallowed hard to clear the obstruction. “Goodbye, Dora.”

She turned back to Hawk. “I’m ready to go,” she said, feeling as if she was being ripped in half.

“Reaper will take you to the shuttle,” Hawk said.

Dora looked back at Fallon one last time, then walked away.

Once she was gone, Hawk ambled up beside him. “Does she know that she’s your mate?” he asked.

“No,” Fallon said. “And no one is going to tell her.”

“Do you know what you’re doing?” Hawk asked.

Fallon didn’t bother to hide his pain. “Yes,” he said. “I am giving her closure. She needs to be the one to walk away. It needs to be her choice.”

He hadn’t understood that when he’d taken her. Hadn’t understood the ramifications until Dora had freely given herself to him. Now Fallon did. He’d had his choice of being with her denied when they were young. He had experienced the pain that decision caused firsthand. Fallon could still feel it burning deep within his chest.

Their fathers had done what they thought was right. Fallon hadn’t based his decisions on right and wrong. He’d only cared about his wants and needs. But no matter how much Fallon wanted Dora to love him, he couldn’t force her. It had to come freely, willingly. The only way to achieve that was to let her go. And even then, the gesture might be too late.

Hawk frowned. “You will never be able to mate with another.”

Fallon shrugged. It didn’t matter. There had only ever been one woman made for him, one woman he ever loved, and she was about to get on a shuttle in the cargo bay.

Hawk shook his head. “If it were me, I would go after her,” he said.

“I’m not you,” Fallon said.

“No,” Hawk replied. “You’re a Horned Morean, which is why I am surprised by your behavior. I thought your people were dominant or was that tale a load of Cornga excrement?”

Fallon scowled. “They are,” he said.

Hawk shoved him around to face him. “You said it wasn’t uncommon for males to fight for their mates.”

“It’s not!” Fallon ground out.

Hawk got into his face, forcing Fallon to move his head back. “Then what are you still doing on the bridge?”

Fallon snarled and his fists clenched. What was he still doing here? Was he really going to let Dora leave without a fight? “I’ll be right back,” he said.

The moment he left, Hawk smiled.

Dora had just stepped onto the shuttle, when she heard footsteps coming up fast behind her. Her heart leapt. Could it be? She turned and saw Fallon sprinting across the cargo bay. He had a blade strapped to one thigh and a blaster secured to the other. He stopped a few feet away, then pulled his weapons off and put them on the ground.

What was he doing?

“I stand before you stripped of my defenses, naked of all bluster,” he said.

Excitement rushed through her. “What do you want, Fallon?” she asked.

He dropped to his knees and bowed his horned head. “I’m here to beg you to stay.”

Dora’s mouth gaped. Horned Morean males
never
acted submissive to a female. It went against their very nature. But this was something the sensitive boy she knew long ago would do. All doubts of his sincerity fled.

“What say you?” he asked.

“I’m thinking.” Dora wasn't about to make it easy on him.

Fallon gave her a look of impatience. “Think faster!”

A nervous laugh bubbled out of her throat. Dora couldn’t go through the kind of pain she went through the first time he left, but she couldn’t see spending the rest of her life without him. “How do I know I can trust you?”

He climbed to his feet and closed the distance between them. His warm breath brushed her cheek. Dora’s skin prickled and her nipples hardened. Heat swept over her face, before settling in her abdomen.

Fallon inhaled and his gaze heated. “You’re my mate,” he said. “The only place I want to be is by your side. If you choose to go, then I’ll go with you.”

She stared into his face. The raw emotion Dora saw there made her head spin. “You love me,” she said.

He frowned. “Of course I love you. I would’ve never put up with my father’s actions had I not loved you,” Fallon said.

“What if I’m not your mate?” she asked.

“I’d still love you.” Fallon cupped her face. “I’ve always loved you, Dora. And I always will,” he said. “No matter what you decide to do.”

Dora had waited for what felt like a lifetime to hear him say those words. Fallon was leaving the decision to her. This time she held their fates. She kissed him, then slipped around him and picked up the dagger.

Fallon’s eyes widened. “Dora, what are you doing?” he shouted as she brought the blade to her wrist. “Stop!”

Dora cut the tracking device out with one clean incision. She handed the knife back to Fallon and pulled out the bloody chip. Without a word, she dropped the tracker into his palm.

Fallon stared at it for a moment, his shock evident, then a smile spread across his handsome face. “Is this what I think it is?”

Dora nodded. “But if you leave me again,” she said. “I’ll cut off your horns and mount them on my wall.”

Fallon kissed her hard, leaving her gasping for breath. “There’s not a chance of that happening,” he said, then dropped the bloody chip onto the floor and stomped on it.

After all these years, he finally had
his
Dora back.

Dora grabbed him by the horns. “Come with me,” she said. “You’ve shown me what you can do with those horns. Now it’s time for me to show you what else I can do with a rope.” She patted the pouch strapped to her waist that held the rope he’d given her.

Fallon couldn’t wait to find out. He noticed Reaper grinning at him. “Let Hawk know there’s been a change of plans,” he said. “We should be able to safely escape detection now.”

“Never thought I’d see the day that a Horned Morean would willingly allow someone to tie him up,” Reaper said.

“Not someone,” Fallon said. “My mate.” He grinned. “You’ll learn the distinction soon enough.”

Reaper shuddered. He had no intention of taking a mate. Never had. No female would be insane enough to bind herself to a man whose kiss could bring death.