Preferably without a lot of pain.
“I’m sorry I got you into this mess.”
A pent-up breath rushed from his lungs. “It’s okay.”
Tessa shook her head. “No, it’s not. Because I insisted on opening the sea-gate, you’re about to be executed.” She slammed her palms against her forehead over and over. “I’m so damn brainless.”
“Hey, stop that!” Kenneth’s fingers circled her wrists, bringing her hands down. “You couldn’t have known what was behind that thing when you opened it. Hell, I think we all wanted to know.”
She shook her head stubbornly. “You didn’t. You warned us it could be trouble messing with the unknown. If you’d have been smart, you wouldn’t have followed me through.”
Kenneth gave her an incredulous look. “Do you honestly think I could have stayed behind, not knowing what happened to you? There was no way in hell anyone could have kept me from going through that gate after you vanished.”
Her vision blurred. “I signed our death warrants when I opened the sea-gate.”
A wry smile parted his lips. “Except for Jake’s. He seems to be getting along quite well.”
Tessa blinked back her tears, refusing to let them fall. “That rat bastard. Somehow he always manages to slither away untouched.”
“Maybe it’s our one advantage. Given some time, he may be able to convince the queen it’s in her best interest to release us.”
She sniffed. “You really think he’d do that?”
He nodded. “Jake’s crafty, and so is Magaera. She clearly plans for the Mer to make a return to our world now that the sea-gate is open. But they just can’t exactly come swimming out. She’ll need help.”
Tessa considered. “Maybe Jake can convince her she needs our cooperation. The moment the Mer come out, the whole damn world’s going to freak.”
“We can hope.” Kenneth’s fingertips trailed slowly down her cheek, raising an exquisite sensitivity. “Meanwhile, stop beating yourself up. Let’s just wait and see what happens.”
She smiled. “How did I get lucky enough to find a man like you?”
He arched a brow. “You found me, remember? You’re the one who fished me out of the water.”
Tessa laughed. “Looks like I caught myself a keeper.” The filtered light cast gentle shadows across his face, lessening the severity of his angular features.
His gaze fastened onto hers. “When I said I’d follow you to hell and back, I meant it. I love you, Tessa. I think I’ve loved you from the day your lips first touched mine.”
Tessa tilted her head to look up at him. “Really? You’re not just saying that because we’re about to die?”
One corner of his mouth tugged up. “I’m not just saying that. I mean it. I want to be with you, whether we’ve got five more minutes or fifty more years.”
Drawing a deep breath, she shook her head. Wow. She couldn’t say for sure how she would’ve felt had their positions been reversed. Betrayed. Maybe even angry. She’d run roughshod over him and he’d taken it. If that wasn’t the mark of a patient man, she didn’t know what was.
She inwardly cringed.
And I’ve been such a bitch, insisting on getting my way every time.
“That’s . . .” Emotion clogged her throat, cutting off her words.
Kenneth leaned closer, closing the narrow distance between them. “Called commitment. And if you haven’t already figured it out, I’m very committed to you.” His mouth slowly covered hers.
Lips parting under his, Tessa eased into the kiss. Sensing his need for control, she allowed him to take command. He eased his tongue in, delivering a velvety stroke. The taste of him was rich and smooth, like taking a bite of rich dark chocolate.
Her internal temperature hitched up a notch. So did strategic body parts.
Goddess, I want him
.
Now.
Tingling with anticipation, Tessa’s hand began to trace the inside of his thigh.
Kenneth pulled back, letting out a reluctant groan. “Better be careful.” He darted a glance toward his hips. “I don’t think I could hold back.”
Body temperature inching higher, Tessa breathed a soft sound laced with need. “I want to.” Heat curled through her, traveling lower. Moistness dampened her panties. “This might be our only chance to be together again.”
Tipping back his head, he blew out a breath. “God, I wish it wasn’t here, like this.”
She cupped her hands around his face, forcing him to look at her. “So it’s not moonlight and roses.” She pressed another quick kiss to his mouth. “It’s you and me being together.”
Kenneth lifted a strong hand, brushing a few stray locks of hair away from her face. His gaze searched hers. “You really want this?”
Tessa swallowed over the lump in her throat and nodded. “Yes.” All she knew was need, the desire to touch and be touched. Licking dry lips, she glanced down, exploring the bulge beneath his jeans. “And I doubt you’re in much of a position to say no right now.”
He smiled crookedly. “I damn sure wouldn’t want to.”
Tessa stretched out over his lap. “You don’t have to.” Unbuttoning his jeans, she tugged his zipper down.
Kenneth gasped as her fingers circled his shaft. “Oh, God, I can’t believe you’re actually going to . . .” His gasp of surprise filled her ears as her lips closed around the plum-ripe crown.
Tessa pleasured him with her mouth, tonguing his length with slow circles and wicked little nips. She continued the sweet torment, making him moan more than once.
Fighting through the pleasure to catch his breath, Kenneth tangled his fingers in her long hair. “If you don’t stop now, I’ll lose it.”
She smiled. “Just let it happen.”
But Kenneth wasn’t content to just let it happen. He needed control.
Absolute control.
With a groan of effort, he assumed the superior position, pulling her up onto her knees and turning her around. “You’re not running away from me anymore, Tessa.” His strong hands circled her waist, ripping the front of her jeans open. He fiercely tugged them over her hips.
Hands pressed firmly against the floor, Tessa glanced back over one shoulder. When they’d made love before, he’d always been a gentle, considerate lover.
Now he’d turned into a tiger, and his carnal appetite made her the prey. There was no way she could resist his hard, sleekly muscled body. There was no way she wanted to. Her body pulsed in anticipation.
She caught a glimpse of his erection. “Come on,” she challenged with throaty gasp. “Make me yours. Only yours.”
Answering her cry, Kenneth gave a single, unsparing thrust.
Shuddering in surrender, Tessa felt every inch. Her nails scraped against the cold stone floor as he moved in and out. Each jolt of his hips against hers only stoked the flames higher.
Wildly aroused, she moved her hips to meet him. It wasn’t long before waves of pleasure took over her, giving her no chance to catch her breath. Tessa came with a strangled cry. The sensations went on and on, spreading through her like a searing wildfire consuming dry prairie grass. Kenneth’s body shuddered as final release claimed him, and they collapsed together, a heap of tangled limbs.
Gathering her into his arms, Kenneth pulled her close. His arm pillowed her head. Limp and stunned, Tessa couldn’t move. Not one single inch. The exertions of the entire day had suddenly caught up with her and she was too damn exhausted. They lay in the semidarkness for a long time, her back pressed to his front.
Just as she was about to slip into a dreamy sleep of contentment, a portion of the obsidian wall began to glimmer. A slice of the stone vanished, leaving a doorway-sized opening.
Tessa hurriedly sat up as Jake Massey stepped inside. A Mer guard followed closely at his heels.
Blue eyes glittering, he eyed her half- naked body. “Well, well, looks as if we’ve caught you two doing the nasty. Unfortunately, in Ishaldi it’s a crime against nature for a Mer to mate with a motley inferior.”
Despite the languor seeping through his bones, Kenneth snapped instantly awake. Pushing to his knees, he struggled to pull his clothing back into place. Beside him, Tessa was cursing as she fought with her own zipper. He’d given it quite a yank earlier and she couldn’t seem to get it up again. Her cheeks were flushed, blazing with embarrassment.
“Who the hell you calling motley?”
Ignoring her question, Jake kept his sultry gaze pinned on Tessa. “She’s a great lay, isn’t she?”
“Jake,” Tessa cried angrily. “Now isn’t the time for your games.”
Clothes back in place, Kenneth stood up. “What the hell are you up to, man?”
Jake waved a hand casually. “Queen Magaera has given me the chance to come and say good-bye.”
Kenneth felt a cold spike go straight through his heart. Any confidence he’d had that Jake could help them escape certain death fizzled away. “What do you mean, say good-bye?”
“Although I tried to change Her Majesty’s mind, I’m afraid the queen is still set on executing you both.”
Tessa let out a gasp. “Doesn’t sound as if you tried very damn hard.”
Jake shrugged. “I had no choice in the matter. I have to stay on her good side.”
Kenneth felt the rise of anger. “Why? Because it benefits you?”
Jake smiled with smug self-satisfaction. “Don’t you see what’s happening here?”
Kenneth shook his head. “Aside from you continuing to kiss ass to get your way? No, I don’t.”
Raising his hands in front of him, Jake clenched his fists. “I’ve found Ishaldi,” he said. “Don’t you see what that means? My entire career is about to rise from the ashes.”
Kenneth could only stare at him, utterly speechless.
Tessa sprang to her feet. “That’s it?” she yelled. “You’re going to sacrifice my life and Ken’s life for a fucking career move?” Lunging into motion, she shot across the cell, intent on taking the archaeologist down.
The Mer guard accompanying Jake immediately raised her arm. The Ri’kah curled around her hand pulsed. Kenneth caught a bright flash of energy just before Tessa reached her target.
The flash shot out, striking Tessa squarely in the chest. The force slammed her violently back against the wall. She slumped to the floor.
Heart pounding in long jarring beats, Kenneth immediately dropped to her side. “Tess. You okay?” He checked the back of her head. A nasty lump was beginning to form.
Eyes out of focus, Tessa’s gaze wavered. “I-I’m okay.”
“What the hell are you doing?” he spat furiously toward Jake. “Why are you helping these people? Can’t you see what they are?”
Jake grinned. “I’m saving my ass.” His eyes glinted deviously. “In this case, the needs of the many outweigh the loss of a few. The Mer must return to our waters to survive. Once there, they can begin rebuilding their sovereignty as a sea-going people.”
“With you as the man easing their way, I suppose?”
“Of course,” Jake said cheerfully. “Not only will my long years of research be vindicated, but my credibility will be totally restored. History will be rewritten and I will be immortalized.”
Kenneth barely resisted rolling his eyes. “You’ve got to be kidding.”
Jake sneered. “No, I’m not. But don’t worry. When I tell the story of how the sea-gate was unsealed, I’ll be sure to include a bit about the heroic effort you both made.” He clucked his tongue. “Too bad you had to die in the end.”
Pressing a shaking hand to her head, Tessa shot her ex-lover a nasty glare. “You bastard. You used me. Now you’re using my people.”
Jake’s contemptuous smile widened. “They ceased to be your people when Queen Nyala chose to seal the sea-gate.”
Kenneth swore silently to himself. He’d seen right through Jake from the beginning, but had tolerated him because of Tessa. Her dream, her life’s dream, had been to discover the truth about her people. Everything she’d hoped for had turned to ashes in her hands.
Kenneth eyed the dangerous guard, wondering if he could move fast enough to evade a bolt from her weapon. By the look of disdain on her face, she’d love the chance to take a few more potshots at the humans.
Talk about feeling impotent, totally useless.
Hands clenching into fists, he got to his feet. Maybe he’d just try it. What did he have to lose anyway?
The Mer caught his move. Her weapon came up. “Do not try me,” she warned in perfect English. She bared her teeth viciously. “You will not survive.”
Jake smirked. “All it takes is a flicker of a thought for her to set that thing from stun to kill.” He raised a brow. “Though their technology dates back a few hundred centuries, it is amazingly effective. Their weapons rival some of the best we have today. I think when the Mer emerge, they will be taken very seriously, if you get what I’m saying.”
Kenneth smiled coldly. “It must thrill your tiny ego to be the leader of an army of women.”
Jake ignored the insult. “My ego’s doing just fine, thanks very much.” He smiled, pointing to himself.
Kenneth’s heart lurched. “You’re really going to do this, aren’t you?”
Flicking his long blond locks off his shoulders, the archaeologist smiled. “I have no choice. It’s destiny.” He laughed, giving a flash of straight white teeth. “Vindication has the most delicious feeling about it. It almost sends a shiver down my spine. Not quite as good as being rich or Mer, but it’s damn close.”
Shaking off the blow she’d taken, Tessa climbed unsteadily to her feet. “Fuck you, asshole.”
Jake sauntered out of the cell. His Mer guard paused long enough to restore the wall to its former solidity.
Once again they were locked in. The stone walls seemed to bear down from all four sides, crushing them in a relentless grip.
Without warning, Tessa launched herself against the wall. “Fuck you, you son of a bitch! You lying bastard!” She pounded at the stone wall with her fists.
Fearing she would hurt herself, Kenneth rushed to grab her. Arms closing around her waist, he dragged her away from the wall. “That won’t help anything,” he said, attempting to get her under control.