Kyele's Passion: A World Beyond Book 4 (14 page)

“Kye—”

“I owe you an apology.”

They spoke over one another. Joni grinned, adrenaline leaving her with an off-kilter dopey feeling. “You saved me. I don’t think you should apologize for that.”

He glanced at her. Stark. Intense. Then he faced forward again. “I’m sorry I pushed you away.” 

Joni swallowed. She knew exactly what he was referring to. “We don’t have to talk about it.”

In fact, she preferred they didn’t.

“You gave me a gift. A beautiful part of yourself.” His hands dropped from the wheel but he kept his head bowed and didn’t reach for her. “Now I’ve shown you an ugly side of me and it frightened you.”

With every fiber, Joni wished he’d reach for her. She’d already pushed herself on him the night he dropped her off. Rejection didn’t sit well and at the risk of poking her finger in an open wound, she remained in her seat.

Still, she could offer something if it pushed him toward her. “I’m not afraid of you, Kyele.”

He looked up at last and angled his head in her direction. She let him see the truth of her words. His green eyes glinted with determination and Joni caught her breath. “You should be, Joni. You should be very afraid of me.”

The current between them shimmered with unspoken demands. It was almost a relief when he gripped the steering device and drove.

Chapter 17

As soon as they entered the Jutak facility, Jaron greeted them, crossing the lobby in short strides. His blond hair stuck up in skewed waves. “What happened?”

Joni stepped away from his side and Kyele reacted by catching her forearm to hold her in place as he answered his friend. “A Chamele broke into Joni’s residence. She contacted me on the communicator and was able to escape through the vents.”

A crease formed between Jaron’s brows. “You mentioned assassins.”

The memory of the attack ripped into him. Kyele batted down the emotions bubbling to the surface. “There were three others waiting to take her when I arrived. It was a coordinated attack.”

Jaron’s gaze shifted to Joni, the cut lip and bruise on her face. “Are you alright?”

“I’ve had better days.” Joni rolled her eyes.

Jaron’s tense posture eased as his gaze moved over her. Kyele stiffened and tugged until Joni’s side bumped against his. Having the Team One Leader see her in the wet garment disturbed him on a level he didn’t want to contemplate too closely. “I need to get Joni settled. In the morning we must speak with Torkel to discover what’s going on.”

“I’ll give him an update now. Take care of Joni.” Jaron stepped back and let them pass.

Kyele directed Joni straight for the elevator, his only goal to see to her safety for the night.

“I should stay with Sylvie.” Joni spoke as soon as they reached his floor.

She followed Kyele as he let her into his place. For a brief moment, he considered the ramifications of Joni alone in his home. One look at her shivering frame and Kyele knew his answer before he shook his head. “It’s late and they’re probably resting.”

He closed and locked the door behind them.

“Maybe I could ask Torkel about my old room.” The words left her lips as a whisper.

Kyele’s gaze snapped back to her face. Was she concerned about being alone with him after what she’d witnessed? Perhaps she finally understood his reasons for staying away from her. But the driving need to see to her comfort wouldn’t allow him to let her leave. “You are staying here until we can figure out what’s going on, Joni.”

As if to underscore the point, she shivered again and clamped her arms around her waist. Kyele cursed. “We need to get you warmed up and out of your wet clothes.”

Joni screeched as Kyele crossed to her side and lifted her into his arms. He didn’t let himself think about how good it felt to hold her again.

Her arms went about his shoulders as she glared. “Put me down!”

Ignoring her threats to do him bodily harm, Kyele didn’t stop until he reached the cleansing room. He set her on her feet only long enough to get the water sprays started then reached for her before she could move away and yanked the bronze gown over her head.

“Kyele!” Joni’s cheeks flamed as she tried to cover her nude body. One arm went over her chest and the other stretched down to plant a palm over the apex of her thighs.

It didn’t help. Kyele’s lips parted and his eyes widened. “You’re not wearing undergarments.”

Joni dropped her arms on an exhale. Kyele made no attempt to hide his absorption. Her body was full of sensuous curves appropriate for her slender frame. Arms lightly muscled and a torso with taut abs were a feast to his senses. Aside from a small patch of red hair, the rest of her mound was bare. The slow burn of arousal tightened his belly as she shifted her legs. His gaze followed the minute movement, nostrils flaring slightly.

“I have it on good authority that you Jutaks aren’t fond of wearing anything under your uniform pants either,” Joni said, tipping her chin up.

“Your information is correct.” He didn’t question how she knew that as he slid a black disc from his ear then placed his weapons on the floor.

Joni inhaled. “What are you doing?”

Without fanfare, he unbuttoned his soaked shirt and let it land on the floor with a splat. He turned back to the enclosure and hit a button on the door to the shower. The glass retracted as he stepped back. “I’ll return with something for you to wear when you are done.”

There was no way he could stay in the same room with a nude Joni as she cleaned herself.

“Kyele, wait.” The words burst forth from her before he could leave.

He stopped at the door, hands gripping the frame. Muscles quivered at the note of fear in her tone.

“Don’t leave me, Kyele.” Her voice sweet and low rolled over him.

Kyele refused to turn. If he did, his control would crack. He closed his eyes and sought the power to resist. “I won’t go far, Joni. I’ll be close enough to hear if you need me.”

“Stay.” Light steps pattered behind him as she drew close.

“I can’t,” he ground out even as the throbbing of his cock protested his words.

Before he could list the many reasons he needed to stay far away from her, Joni pressed her body along his. He could feel every delicious inch of her. The softness of her round breasts cushioned his back, the pebbled tips stabbed his flesh and the heat of her mound with the enticing aroma of arousal filled his nostrils. Kyele began to shake and told himself to move away. Fast.

But he didn’t.

Joni curved her arms around his waist. Her fingers inched up. His senses tuned in to the delicate touch with hyper-focus. Slowly she stroked until she reached her destination. His heart pounded against the hand she flattened on his chest. The violent thud matched the rhythm beating against his spine.

“Stay with me.” Joni whispered, her breath teasing his sensitive back. “Shower with me. I don’t want to be alone right now, Kyele. Please.”

Her admission broke him. Kyele turned within her embrace and faced her glittering gold stare. He cupped her cheek and nudged her chin up. He’d rushed Joni to the cleansing room to warm her up and get her out of her wet clothes. Wet clothes which had done nothing to hide her figure. Sex sharing was not a part of his wish to help her but her gold eyes pleaded so prettily.

Sweet, sweet Earthling
. She was everything he’d ever wanted for himself but never dared dream. “I will stay but not to share sex.”

He let his gaze travel over her sleek curves again. Her full breasts were perfectly formed, the mounds plump and tipped with pale nipples which crinkled as the steam in the room built. Her waist gently flared at the hips and her legs…Joni’s legs looked as if they went on forever.

Kyele’s hands went to the snap of his damp uniform pants. He would be strong. He would clean off the blood and grime on his body all without touching her.

***

Joni wasn’t sure what she expected when Kyele lowered his pants and stepped toward her. His cock sprang free, confirming the question about underwear. Long and thick, it curved to the left, the rounded head tanned and pulsing. He might have said he didn’t want sex but his body was sending another message.

Joni reached for him and gasped at the solid feel of him in her hands. The skin was as soft as silk, the fluid from the glands adding to the ease of her strokes as she caressed him.

Kyele let out a hoarse groan. “What are you doing, Joni?”

She ran her hand up and down his shaft, stroking his hard length in even measures. “You really have to ask?”

“Joni.” His brows lowered in warning. Then he clamped his hand over her wrist. “That’s not why I brought you in here. The attack has you upset.”

Joni suffered a lot of mixed feelings after what she’d been through but her desire for Kyele wasn’t one of them. “I’m fine.”

Kyele eased her hand away and stepped back. “No. We will shower only.”

Once the glass enclosed them, he put action to words and adjusted the multiple sprayers to include a cleansing agent. Ignoring the running water, Joni couldn’t stop staring. Bubbles formed on his wet skin and glistening trails of soap slid over him to run in rivulets to the tiled drain in the floor.

When Joni shivered this time, it wasn’t because of the cold. Seeing Kyele naked was a sight to behold. His body was one coiled muscle layered over another. A thin line of hair trailed from his waist to his groin and the erection he sported was worthy of a second and third look.

His shaft swelled further as if sensing her attention. Green eyes burned bright while he used his hands to cup water over his chest. Joni felt the gaze like a physical caress. Hard abs rippled as he twisted about cleaning himself. A dark purple bruise marred one side of his torso from armpit to waist.

“What happened?” She extended her hand without thought.

“The Chamele at your place.” Kyele backed away from her. There wasn’t much room for him to go anywhere. “I will have Dr. Maku check on it later.”

Joni inched closer, touching the mark on his wet skin. He flinched, brows furrowing. “Joni.”

“Kyele,” she mocked, her hand continue to glide over the hurt he’d received on her behalf.

Groaning, he turned his back toward her and focused on cleaning the dots of blood from his body. Joni released a breath and followed suit. The water on the floor held tints of red as she rinsed the visible evidence of the men’s brutal death away from her arms and shoulders.

Her hands caressed and stroked as she washed, never taking her gaze off the beautiful picture Kyele made beneath the water. His head tipped back, placing his face in profile. The hard angles of his features and grim expression warned a person to trespass with care. Her gaze snagged on the jagged scar running down the side of his face and throat. Clearly old, the injury reflected barely hidden violence beneath the indifferent mask he wore.

Joni swallowed. Kyele didn’t care about his looks. He should. He was quite handsome despite the mark that spoke of a dangerous past. Her gaze lowered. Water streamed down his taut shoulder blades, playing down his spine in fat droplets, then running down his legs.

His round butt flexed as he shifted his stance. The pull of muscle brought to mind visual sexual images. Kyele crouched over her, all of his blazing intensity focused on her. Vivid green eyes pulling her into their depths. Her breasts swelled. Joni’s hands slowed as she remembered what he looked like from the front. The thrusting shaft, swollen head and heavy sac gave her reason to believe he wanted her as much as she wanted him.

Unfortunately, Kyele finished before Joni could act and stepped out of the shower, giving her no opportunity to touch him again. “I’ll leave you one of my shirts to wear until you can get something from Faye or Sylvie in the morning.”

He fled, leaving Joni alone.

Chapter 18

Joni hurried through rinsing off and stood under the heat blower in the ceiling, waiting until her hair dried in waves about her shoulders. When she opened the door a black long sleeve shirt slid to the floor. She lifted the material to her nose and inhaled. It smelled like Kyele and she wondered if he’d worn it recently. The thought provided her a bit of strength as she slid her arms in the overlong sleeves. She rolled them to her elbow, the hem brushing her thighs as she walked toward his bedroom.

The opened door beckoned and Joni walked through with trepidation. Kyele stood in the middle of the bedroom, drawstring black pants hanging low about his hips. The front bulged as it cupped the heavy weight of him, not hiding his aroused state. Pleasure jolted through her system at the obvious evidence of his physical prowess.

He’d been staring at the data pad in his hand but set it down on the table at her entrance. His gaze locked on her. Joni tugged on the edge of the shirt which barely covered her lower half. She’d worn less in his presence before.

“Are you alright?” His question lacked the intensity of desire from earlier. His ever present control was back much to her frustration.

Letting her emotions get the best of her, Joni snapped, “I’m tired of being asked that tonight.”

He remained aloof. “Then I’ll leave you to rest. You can sleep in my bed and I’ll stay in the other room on the sofa.”

She didn’t want him in the other room. She wanted him with her. Frustration bubbled and the unabated need he’d created burst forth. “Damn it, I want you, Kyele!”

The green of his eyes glowed. Danger stirred in their depths and the promise of something more awakened. “Little Earthling, you are playing a perilous game.”

Menace laced his statement but all the threat did was make Joni hungry for his touch. She worked hard to calm her pounding heart but her breath rasped in her throat. Now was not the time to wimp out. Her brow arched in challenge as she walked a complete circle around him until she came to a stop in front of him once more. “Am I? What if it’s not a game?”

Silence.

When he said nothing, her emotions tumbled about. Past and present collided. She could have died tonight. Joni blinked back the sudden burn of tears. “Is it me? What’s wrong with me that you don’t want this?”

“Nothing,” he grated and curled his fingers at his sides.

Joni wanted to push. None of his behavior made sense. “It’s something. Something has you afraid.”

“Why would I be afraid?” he countered and quirked his lips. He rocked back on his heels and folded his arms across his bare chest. “
You
should fear me, Earthling.”

Joni studied him, looking deeper. He wanted her. His body provided visible proof, his green eyes smoldered and the defensive posture showed the effort of his restraint.

“I’m not afraid of you.” She repeated her claim of earlier. Not once had she ever been afraid of this man. If anything, his presence gave her strength and hope. With Kyele she felt safe. Protected.

Kyele approached in slow measuring steps. The air shifted to one of sexual energy with something deadly entwined. Her stomach flip-flopped. Joni shifted slightly but kept her breathing steady. When he reached her, he ran his hand over the back of the shirt she wore. Heat licked up her spine, his fingers trailing in its wake.

“You have no idea of the things I want to do to you.”

“Do it,” she dared, stepping into his body in a purely aggressive move.

His nostrils flared as he gave her a considering look and Joni knew she’d gained his attention.

***

Kyele stiffened, knowing he’d made a tactical error but unsure how.

“You want me,” Joni declared.

Kyele wanted to deny her statement but there was such relief in her words, he couldn’t refute the claim. He fisted the material of the overlarge shirt on her diminutive frame and yanked her into his chest. His other hand slid down her back to cup her covered ass, then her plump folds.

The damp heat of her through the thin material tortured him. He nudged it up and out of the way, reaching his goal. Hot and welcoming. His lips curled. He should be strong enough to resist but he was done with that. “I do want you.”

He’d tried hard to stay away. Fear she’d shy from his darker nature governed his behavior and yet here she stood. Challenging him to take what he wanted.

So Kyele did.

Holding Joni tight, he reluctantly withdrew his fingers from her slick channel and banded an arm about her waist. He released the shirt to bury his fingers in her hair, pulling her head back. Her mouth fell open on a gasp, but not in fright. Excitement glittered from the golden orbs and Kyele ached to give her what she’d been begging for.

“Are you sure about this, Joni?” He needed to be certain she wanted this as much as he did.

She licked her lips and nodded. “Yes.”

Need slammed into him. He ripped the shirt from her body. She moaned, neck tipped back in complete submission. Trust. Joni trusted him not to hurt her. Holding the back of her head steady, Kyele lowered his mouth and kissed the thumping pulse at her throat. He smoothed his other hand over her hip, continuing until he reached the wet core of her from behind. His fingers probed past her rounded butt cheeks to her entrance. Tight. Deliciously tight and it set his cock to throbbing as he thought about how she’d feel.

“You asked for this and now there’s no turning back.” He muttered the words as he dragged his lips along her collarbone.

Goosebumps popped along her shoulder. Joni’s lids narrowed to slits and already her breath escaped in pants. The sight caused his fingers to tremble.

As if she sensed him wavering, Joni reached up and wrapped her small hand around his wrist. “I know you won’t hurt me.”

There were many ways to hurt a person. Physical, mental and emotional. At some point Kyele had experienced it all and given it back in return.

Joni released his wrist and both hands came to rest on his bare shoulders. “Trust
me
not to hurt
you
.”

Her words acted as a catalyst. To keep from revealing how strongly she moved him by asking for such implicit faith, he lifted her by her hips and tossed her to his bed. Her body bounced, breasts bobbing and legs splayed as she landed.

Catching his gaze, her mouth curved up. Kyele shoved his pants down and joined her. Joni stayed on her back, eyes watching his every move. She raised her arms above her head and clasped her wrists together. Heat exploded in his groin and his cock thumped against the bed sheets as he climbed between her legs.

Joni bent her knees and planted her feet. “I’m yours, Kyele.”

Again she touched him with nothing more than her erotic whisper, voicing his deepest needs and desires. If only it could be true. Kyele grabbed her thighs roughly and spread them wider. She jerked at the hard touch then relaxed. With his eyes locked on hers, he lowered his head and licked her slit.

Joni tensed, but her arms stayed above her head as her torso twisted.

“Don’t move,” he growled, knowing if she grabbed his hair or made a sudden motion toward his face, he could potentially forget how much this female meant to him. He wouldn’t allow himself to hurt Joni.

“I won’t,” she promised then closed her eyes and leaned her head back on the pillow.

Kyele debated what he was about to do. He searched for remorse but he was hard and ached. His heart pounded in his chest and bringing Joni to release was all he could think about.

Planting his face in her moist treasure, he tongued her with renewed vigor. Her hips arched up but his hold on her legs kept Joni exactly where he wanted her. Kyele mouthed her swollen bud, tasting her sweetness.

“Kyele!” She yelled his name. Then the sound cut off abruptly.

Without lifting his head from what he was doing, he raised his gaze to see she’d thrown an arm over her eyes and had a fist pressed to her mouth. He groaned and fluttered his tongue over her center, alternating the light touches with rougher strokes. Her musky scent filled his nostrils and she flowed rich and creamy in his mouth.

Unable to stop, he rocked his hips into the bedding to soothe his driving need. Her thighs trembled and her muffled moans grew louder. Kyele knew she was close. The clenching of the legs he held aloft and her broken cries signaled the nearing of her climax. He eased off, allowing her a moment to catch her breath.

“Ky. Ky, don’t stop.”

His head came up abruptly and he almost lost the grip on her thighs. “What did you call me?”

“Ky, please.” Her head tossed on the pillow, tendrils of flame against the white cloth.

No one had ever cared enough to shorten his name. Not even the papan who’d fostered him. Only Joni would do such and not realize the impact of her actions. He tugged one leg to rest over his shoulder, freeing his hand to do what he planned.

Kyele returned to pleasuring her with his mouth, sucking on her pink flesh. As soon as he felt the tell tale vibrations, he plowed his fingers in her spasming core with a determination to see her through her climax. Her hips arched up from the bed as she screamed. He stayed relentless and stroked her until her other leg broke from his hold to wrap around his neck.

Kyele buried his face in her heated center and tasted pleasure, relief and all of his dreams combined. This woman. She was what he wanted but didn’t deserve to have. Fingers sliding and tongue caressing, Kyele worked Joni until she finished coming with a full body shudder, both legs locked around him.

He rose above her, breaking the hold and crawled up her body. He didn’t stop until his arms bracketed her head as she lay panting, lost to the moment. A full reddened flush stained her face and upper chest. Beautiful. Never had another female been as beautiful to him. In this moment, Kyele knew he would do anything for Joni. Anything she asked.

Joni’s lids fluttered open. Her mouth parted twice before she got out what she wanted to say. “More.”

Kyele snarled and flipped her to her belly. He pulled her hips up, placing them flush, his chest to her back. He held his aching shaft and prodded her dripping entrance without giving her time to adjust. As he eased inside, the flesh quivered and clamped, protesting his efforts. Her release had made her tighter.

“Let me in.” His teeth clenched as he shoved forward.

Joni moaned, the sound one of pleasure as she dropped her weight to her elbows and pressed back. Kyele pulled out, teasing her entrance with the thickened crest of his manhood.

“Yes, yes, Kyele.”

Throwing back his head, Kyele kept an arm about Joni’s waist and palmed her throat. He eased her up to her knees and braced her weight against his chest. She leaned her head into him, neck up and the gesture sent his pulse into overdrive. He caressed the line of her elongated throat with his thumb, the vibration of her heartbeat connecting them. Joni rocked on his lap as her inner muscles gave and he slid deep, fully seated.

Like a velvet sheath, she enclosed his length, hot and vicelike. Her arousal leaked down her thighs, sticking to him as well. Kyele ran his nose along the side of her shoulder, up her throat and paused at her ear. “Do you still doubt that I want you?”

Her warm walls clenched around him as she bit her bottom lip and struggled to move in his hold. He flexed his fingers over the slim column of her neck while his other hand slid down the flat planes of her torso, then lower, and palmed the heart of her. He pressed down against her wetness. “Do you, Joni?”

“N-no.”

“Good.” Kyele pulled out and thrust back, slickening his path until her body welcomed him fully by allowing his strokes without resistance. The erotic push and glide drove him higher. “Because I swear on my honor as a Jutak that I will never want another the way I want you.”

“Pleeeeassee.” The sensual moan humming from the back of her throat undid Kyele.

“Fuck.” He dropped them to all fours again, his arms caging hers as he continued to grind into her. Her back arched and rolled as her hips snapped against his. He kept his eyes open, wanting to memorize every second of this moment.

“So close. Feels good.” Joni’s voice faded to a mumble as her head hung low, spilling the red length of her hair about his bed.

Too much to take in. The wet slap of their bodies moving together, the smooth line of her back and the bunch of her hips as she welcomed and matched his pumps. Kyele braced his weight on one hand and pulled her hair to the side to see her face better. Joni glanced at him over her shoulder and he almost lost his rhythm.

Glazed, gold eyes stared back at him, her full lips parted as she breathed in short pants. Her cheeks were red and the stain ran down her neck where he caught sight of her swaying breasts topped with swollen nipples. In order to last, Kyele jerked his gaze toward the ceiling. The bland structure brought back his balance.

“More, more,” Joni chanted, her backward pumps becoming erratic.

Kyele sped up his pace. Each driving thrust pushed her to the edge. Pushed her fast and hard toward release. He kept his hand at her hip to hold her steady for the lust rising from his core. He locked his jaw and risked a glance down. Her face strained as she rocked with him and then it hit.