Authors: Lisanne Norman
* * *
Reluctantly he pulled himself away from her. "No more yet," he said with a small shudder. "I want to see you." His voice had deepened now that he was fully aroused.
He reached for the neck of her shift which she was still clutching. Gently he opened her fingers; she didn't resist him. Putting his hands to her shoulders, he pushed her garment back, letting it fall to where she still held her arms across her chest.
"Tomorrow," he said. "Tomorrow you can share this with your Kris if you want, and nothing will disturb you, I promise, but this night is ours."
* * *
His voice is so gentle,
she thought as the heavy languor rolled through her again. As if in a dream, she moved her arms, letting the shift fall to her waist.
Rezac gently tried to force it lower, but the opening was too narrow to pass over her hips. Dropping his head, he pulled the seam toward him, carefully biting through the stitching for another inch or two, his eyes all the while still on her face. He let it go and straightened up. Nothing prevented it from falling to the ground now.
She watched as he took a step back, his eyes traveling over her nakedness. Strangely, she found she wasn't embarrassed. His reaction would have been satisfying enough for any woman.
Tentatively he reached out to stroke her breast. "So beautiful," he murmured. "So different from our females."
* * *
There was no going back now, no stopping for either of them, she realized. Part of her mind was totally bemused by all that was happening, unable to understand how a male so different from her own kind could engender such feelings and responses from her. He was beautiful, though. Firelight flickered across his pelt, highlighting his muscles, making the dark brown fur gleam. His hair, almost black in this light, was long, framing his face almost like a mane. In the dim light, his eyes glowed. She looked lower, seeing the well-muscled chest that tapered only slightly in to the hips, then the immensely powerful thighs and lower legs, the joints in all the wrong places to her eyes. His tail flicked into view as it swept lazily from side to side. She'd forgotten his tail.
Looking back up to his face, she realized he was waiting for a signal from her. Reaching out, she took hold of his hand, placing it over her left breast. He didn't need a second invitation. Leaning forward, he teased her nipples with the tip of his tongue, fascinated by her response.
She remained leaning against him, supported by his left arm, her head lolling back against his shoulder. The sensations he was creating entranced her— as did those she felt from him. His other hand was exploring her body, stroking gently across her back, moving lower over her buttocks and across her hips to her belly. By the time he ran his fingertips up the inside of her thighs, she was trembling on the edge of orgasm.
Where?
he sent.
Where do I enter you? You're as different from our females as I am from your males.
She showed him, body arching with pleasure as he briefly touched her before scooping her into his arms and carrying her over to his pallet by the fire. He knelt, placing her down amid the rugs. Pulling him close, she felt her body thrill to the silky touch of his belly fur against her bare skin. Her hands curved round his hips, stroking down to his thighs, then curling round between his legs before returning to his lower back where the root of his tail lay.
As she touched him there, he moaned, reaching behind to stop her.
Not yet,
he sent, rearing up. He grasped her round the waist and eased her into a position he hoped would be right for both of them. He couldn't wait any longer; her scent, the sight of her nakedness, was driving him wild, and he had to stay in control. The Gods had given him a second chance, why, he had no idea, but this time, he
had
to get it right!
She realized what he was doing, but before her fear had time to take hold, he'd entered her. Instantly their minds merged in an explosion of sensations and images. She could feel not only his movements within her, but also how tightly her body gripped him.
"Dear God," she whispered as he came down on top of her again, his long fur stroking her belly as he began to move more urgently. His mouth closed on her cheek, alternately licking and nipping her till he reached her mouth. She held him there with a kiss as wild as he could wish for. They climaxed as one, bound now into a Triad.
Images continued to flicker through her mind, images of his life, until she knew him as intimately as she knew herself. As the Link faded, leaving them once more separate, she felt Rezac begin to move away from her, both mentally and physically, tensing himself as he did.
Her Talent now fully awakened, she sent to him, wanting to know why. Even before he responded, she knew what it was, that it touched the very heart of his trouble with Zashou: her inability from that first knowledge of him, to accept him not only for what he was, but for what he'd been. He was expecting an outburst of anger from her similar to Zashou's when she'd discovered they'd formed a Leska Link. She remembered then how Zashou had yelled at him, what she'd said and felt about having a Link to him, and realized with shame that she'd behaved no better than his Leska.
He withdrew from her, sitting back among the rumpled covers.
"I'm sorry, Rezac," she said, reaching out to touch him. An echo of the fire they'd felt was still there, sending a tingle through her. This time, she didn't let go. "I was only thinking of myself. I forgot that you have feelings, too. I had no right to say what I did."
He looked up, ears hidden by his hair, and shrugged. "It's all right, Jo. You weren't to know, especially considering what you went through with the Valtegans."
"It's not all right," she insisted, sitting up and moving closer to him. "I am sorry, and you were right, we did enjoy ourselves."
His ears lifted slightly. "We did, didn't we? I made a mess of it with Zashou. She's never forgiven me for that— or for being what I am."
For a moment she saw the unsure young male who hid behind the battle-hardened warrior. She smiled, taking him by the chin, drawing him close enough to kiss.
The magic's still there,
she sent as she felt them once more sharing sensations.
I know.
Do we have Link days?
Perhaps. There were no Links like this when we left Shola.
She felt his hesitation.
Will you stay with me till it passes?
She moved closer. "Hold me, make me want to stay," she whispered, her mouth catching hold of his ear. "I would like to."
He began to purr, a sound she'd never heard a Sholan make before. "Let me speak to Zashou, tell her what we're doing."
"Will she mind?"
His laugh had a bitter edge to it as he scrambled to his feet. "No, she'll be pleased." He took a couple of steps away from her, then returned to her side, kneeling down again. "What about Kris?"
"I want to be with you, Rezac," she said gently. "You said tonight was ours."
"You really do mean it," he said, surprised. "But how can you, when you know what I've done?"
"We're the same, Rezac. We've paid a price for freedom that others can't understand. You were forced to join the packs because of your family, to pay a debt they owed. That's not your fault. The authorities pardoned you when you were recruited for the Telepath Program. It's not what you were that matters, it's what you are now." Again she kissed him.
"How can you see it the way you do?" he asked, between kisses.
"Because we're alike, you and I."
He stood up reluctantly, letting his fingers trail off her cheek till he was no longer touching her. "I'll not be long," he said.
Taking his tunic from the chair, he hastily pulled it on before going into the lounge. It was empty apart from Kris, who sat there waiting for him. He slowed to a stop as the Human looked up at him.
"I figured she'd be staying the night with you," Kris said, indicating a small bundle on the table. "Her things. Washcloth, towel, clothes, you know the stuff."
"Thank you," said Rezac, stepping over to pick them up. "Zashou?"
"She's in with us." He got to his feet. "She says you can use the bed."
"I'm sorry, Kris. I wouldn't have come between you if I could have helped it."
"Leave it for tonight, Rezac," Kris said tiredly. "I found out what I wanted to know. Go on back to her. She'll be worrying about you because I'm here."
Rezac picked up the bundle and turned to leave. "Kris. The only person who won tonight was Jo. She's beginning to heal now. I can promise you that the Valtegans won't bother her dreams again."
"I'm glad. Now go back to her, Rezac. I'm fine."
* * *
Jo, draped in a blanket, was returning from the chest where the wash basin stood.
Rezac put the bundle down on the chair. "Kris gave me some clothes for you," he said.
"Kris?"
He nodded, going over to his pallet and sitting down. "He cares a great deal for you," he said quietly as she came over to join him.
"I know. I like him a lot, too." She stepped past him, sitting next to the fire.
"Are you sure you wouldn't rather be with him?"
"I'm sure, Rezac."
She edged closer to him until he grasped her at the waist with both hands and lifted her up beside him, tucking her against his side. She let out a small cry of surprise, never having felt his full strength before.
"What happens now?" she asked, relaxing against him.
"Anything we want. I suggest sleep, unless you're hungry. I always bring some food into the room at night."
"Sleep sounds fine," she murmured. "But take off your tunic first. I like the feel of your body next to mine— your fur feels so good."
He began to purr, a gentle, rumbling sound that came from deep within him. "You are just so unbelievable," he said, his hand caressing her neck. "If we don't have Link days, will you still want to spend a night with me when we can?"
"When we want," she corrected him. "Tell me, though, why do we need to stay together for a whole day? We don't need to exchange memories, do we?"
"It's safest to be alone when we're this highly sexually charged. It can affect those around us with rather embarrassing consequences. As to not having to exchange memories, look into your mind and you'll find I'm there. I've been sensing your presence within mine for several days now. Not intrusive, just there."
"I've felt the same," she agreed, mouth opening in an enormous yawn.
"Sleep time, I think. We can use the bed if you wish."
"Is this where you sleep?"
He nodded.
"Then here is fine. This will be our space. Now take off your tunic!" she said, sitting up and tugging the hem of it upward, much to his amusement.
As they settled down in the warm glow of the fire, Rezac knew that in this alien female, he'd at last found a soul mate.
* * *
T'Chebbi was leaning against a fence where the path to Noni's joined the main road.
"Am I not even allowed to leave Stronghold alone?" he asked quietly as she fell in step beside him.
"Want you kept from hurting yourself," she said shortly. "Not my idea." Her breath formed small clouds in the crisp air.
"Do they expect me to climb a mountain and throw myself off?" he asked, turning to look at her, eye ridges raised in mock surprise. "They don't know me very well."
"Who does, these days?" she retorted.
They walked in silence for some time, Kaid trying to fathom what was wrong with her. "Is that you speaking, or them?"
She stopped abruptly, turning to face him. "You want truth, or polite answer?" Her ears were pricked forward.
He winced and looked away for a moment. "Truth."
"You drive Kusac too hard; you forget his upbringing. Why put yourselves down on duty roster? No need. Could pick and choose missions— achieve same! No need to do execution detail!" She turned away from him and started walking again.
He felt her anger like a physical blow and by the time he'd collected his wits again, he had to run to catch up with her. "Did Kusac complain?"
"No. Carrie did. Loudly, to me, after he'd left. Why take him on that detail?"
"Because of the U'Churians that trade on Jalna. He's never really fought our own kind, never had to kill Sholans. I don't want him freezing up on me if we have to shoot U'Churians."
She stopped again. "That's fighting. This was legalized murder."
"They chose their death," he said reasonably. "They had the choice of a lethal injection or mental reprogramming. It was their decision."
"Even we aren't given that duty till near graduation, and you take him after only a month!" She made a noise of disgust.
"He coped, didn't he? We don't have long until it's time to leave for Jalna."
"Carrie didn't. I had to calm her!"
"She has to learn, too. The world's still too bright, too soft for her now she's a new mother. That has to be left behind. At least she only experienced it secondhand."
T'Chebbi snorted. "What you trying to prove, Kaid? That you have no feelings even though you are a telepath? Were never this hard before."
He grasped her arm, angry with what she was saying, angry because it echoed what Noni had said.
"Is that what you think?" he demanded. "That I don't care about them? Why d'you think I'm pushing so hard? I'm to take two complete novices out into the field on an alien world to rescue nine people, that's why! If it was up to me, I'd take more than six months, maybe as much as a year, to get them properly trained!"
"May be true, but you expect too much! Don't need to teach them everything. You're trying to show that you're the same, that nothing's changed— that's what this about! It has— you have. Only you won't admit it."
Angrily he pushed her aside, heading back to Stronghold at a pace that wasn't far short of a run.
Once inside, he hesitated at the temple doors. A month and a half ago, he'd have gone there, but not surprisingly, he was now barred. He continued up the stairs to his suite, going into the bedroom and closing the door. His head hurt, and he massaged his throbbing forehead as he sat down on the bed.
Maybe she was right and he was pushing Kusac too hard, but he couldn't risk taking them to Jalna untrained. The duty officer had offered to reassign the execution detail to another team, but he'd refused for the very reasons he'd told her— they might have to fight U'Churians, and they were remarkably like Sholans if the Chemerian vids were accurate. T'Chebbi was right that it had been too soon, though, even if Kusac had coped with it.
Kusac had balked when he'd realized why they were there, and had seemed about to object, then, jaws clenched, ears back, he'd stood in line with the rest of the detail. Afterward, he'd refused to talk about it.
Lying down on his bed, Kaid wondered if he should see the physician about the headache but decided against it. He'd only say it was due to his Talent developing and there was nothing he could do.
Were Noni and T'Chebbi right? Was he sinking himself so deeply into his work that he was losing sight of the people involved? For T'Chebbi to openly criticize him like that was unprecedented. Tiredness and pain claimed him, and he was drifting into sleep by the time he heard T'Chebbi enter the lounge next door.