Taming a Healer: 3 (Galactic Lust) (6 page)

Gabriel gave his turmoil the freedom to drift away. He and
Nolan hadn’t meditated in over a month. It seemed to have little benefit lately.
Breathing and stretching next to Sadie however, caused him to finally relax and
focus on his core. Clarity and peace filled him. The rare moments of lucidity
were a gift.

Without thought or premeditation, he caught the healer as
she turned to stretch. Placing the soles of his feet against her lower spine,
he held her hands and straightened his legs. She exhaled, trusting him,
allowing her spine to bend further and further. Separating his fingers so hers
would thread between, he bent his knees slightly before propelling her upward.

She balanced herself above him, her body a straight, taut
column hovering over his head. She gazed at him from her upside-down position.
Peace and tranquility surrounded her, making her eyelids heavy. She’d reached
her center.

He forced thoughts aside and gave himself to the moment so
they might once again share the intimate bond. They’d soon breathe together,
move together and be together in an utterly serene world far away from their
current reality.

Time lost meaning as he surrendered his consciousness to the
only woman he’d ever trusted. A deep vibration manifested within his chest,
spreading outward until every centimeter of his body flowed with renewed
energy. He’d only ever achieved this level of meditation with Sadie.

Sadly, the moments of deep peace drifted away as his mind
once again took control. He found Sadie resting atop him, a dead weight. She
slept trustingly against him after the prolonged workout. He stroked her back,
running his fingers along her spine. She didn’t so much as flinch, which
prompted him to repeat the caress. Her delicate bones stood distinctly against
her skin. How could she have survived the months of attacks from the beasts?

“May I take her from you and lay her by the fire?” Nolan
asked.

Her warmth permeated his skin as their heart rates continued
to slow in unison. This section of the cave wasn’t particularly warm or
comfortable. Still, he didn’t want to lose his precious healer just yet. He’d
dreamed of this moment for nine years, unable to convince himself he might hold
her in utter relaxation just once more before death. Having her trust, even for
this short time meant more to him than his next breath. He’d never intended to
hurt her. He’d never dreamed Markum would
teach her a lesson
.

“Gabriel?” Nolan once again interrupted his serene state.

He wiggled around until he could sit, placing Sadie
comfortably within his embrace. In one fluid movement, he came to his feet. He
staggered and Nolan grasped his arm, steadying him. He walked silently from the
small area back to the hissing, roaring fire. Gently, he laid her upon the
covers she’d previously used as a bed. He and Nolan layered her with thick blankets.

Gabriel stood and studied her. Her naturally bronze skin had
grown pale. Months of confinement in the caves had taken a toll. After a few
more nights, he hoped she’d be safely aboard a Governance war ship, heading to
a protected distant planet.

“Why don’t you get some rest?” Nolan asked.

“I’ll stand guard for a time, I think. The meditation’s
cleared my head. You’ve not slept much.”

“I’m fine.”

Gabriel gazed at his partner. “You’re not a very good liar.
I see the pain in your face. You can’t hide what’s happening, at least not from
me. I’ve been in your boots. Recently.”

“That you have, friend.” He yawned and handed Gabriel the
clothes he’d left in the cold antechamber. He trudged over to the pile of
blankets and lay down. “Wake me if you need to.”

Gabriel slipped on the clothes and sat next to Sadie.
Despite her behavior earlier, she must still trust him somewhat. She’d not only
allowed him close while meditating, she’d fallen asleep atop him. The dance of
firelight drifted over her features. He memorized each small detail and
mentally compared them to how she’d looked when he’d last seen her.

A small dimple on her chin denoted a hurt she’d received. A
long pink mark down the side of her neck looked more recent. Could one of the
beasts have caused it? The backs of her small hands held countless thin scars.
The berries she’d once adored grew in bushes with wicked thorns. Was the damage
to her hands from nine years of picking her favorite treat?

He’d known her so well and had been able to read her
emotions clearly. In actuality, he’d seldom needed to concentrate on what she
might be feeling by studying her body language and expressions. In some way, they’d
been connected and he could vividly imagine what’d saddened her and what’d
brightened her eyes.

Unusual noises drifted into the cave. Gabriel rose and
grabbed the discarded sword. He listened and turned toward the deep pool. He
scanned the area, watching for any movement. Only the ripples across the water
stirred from the hot spring constantly feeding the small body of water.

“Gabriel?” Sadie said quietly.

He held a palm toward her, silently urging her not to speak
or move.

Sadie quietly sat and scanned the area where Gabriel’s
attention lay. He stood perfectly still, his chest barely moving as his gaze
moved slowly over the interior of the cave. She glanced around, searching for a
weapon. She imagined Nolan retrieved his knife when she’d allowed Gabriel to
meditate with her.

An odd sound drew her attention to the ceiling of the cave.
Gabriel also glanced up as he took a few tentative steps toward the pool. The
constant noise grew louder. Something scraped at the solid rock above.

“No.” She stood, allowing the blankets to slither to the
ground. “They can’t claw through rock.”

“Shh,” Nolan said from behind her.

Damn him for always sneaking around! Her heart nearly
stopped when his breath touched her ear. Nolan stepped in front of her to stand
next to Gabriel. The two of them poised for battle made her heartbeat quicken.
She’d forgotten how imposing a hunter could appear when prepared to fight. No
malicitor
would take her with two hunters protecting her.

A rustling sound came from the cave entrance. Gabriel
immediately turned and crept toward the pitch-black area. She divided her
attention between the two men, unsure what to do. She bent, picked up a
partially burned branch from the fire and hoisted it over her shoulder. A
whimper from the wolfen pup drew her attention. She covered it with a blanket,
hoping it would curl up and go back to sleep.

A spray of loose pebbles rained down from the ceiling as
something scraped the rock wall by the mouth of the cave. Gabriel disappeared
down the black corridor. Her heart leapt into her throat. She clamped her lips
tightly as not to call out.

Seconds of silence ticked by before a loud scream echoed off
the cavern walls. She ran to the opposite side of the fire, prepared for the
creature that might slip past Gabriel. Thuds accompanied a scuffle before the
area fell quiet. The hiss and pop of the fire droned in her ears.

Gabriel! Come back to me, Gabriel!

He emerged a moment later from the darkness, his arms and
hands covered in blood.

No!

He gazed at her as he drew near. “The animal was weak and
almost unable to fight.”

“Are you hurt?”

“The blood is from the beast. Not me.”

Shudders of relief washed over her. Gabriel walked to Nolan
and both men listened and watched. Something pounded on the rock above their
heads. Nolan said, “They’ve a long way to go before they gain entrance. From
the sound, I’d say many feet of stone protects us.”

“I agree,” Gabriel replied.

“The disturbance at the entrance?”

“A creature rushed inside. It posed no real threat. It was
slow and weak from the heat of the fire.”

Nolan lowered the sword. “Clean yourself. The smell of its
blood is nauseating.”

Gabriel placed his sword on the lip of the pool and
submerged his arms.

The shaking in Sadie’s limbs worsened. Too little sleep, not
enough food and too many days spent in terror took hold. Her head whirled as
the room spun round and round. Screams stuck in her throat. “Matron, Darshal,
Moran, Anya.”

Names and faces appeared in her mind’s eye. So many had
suffered. So many had died. Did any of her people remain? Could she be the only
one left?

Strong, wet arms surrounded her, providing far more warmth
than the fire. Breath rushed over her face when Gabriel said, “Easy,
shae-shondah
.
You’re safe. No harm will come to you.”

Her brain cleared and she forced herself from the stupor. “I
know that. I won’t make the situation worse. I promise.”

When she would’ve pulled away, she found another huge, warm
body at her back. Nolan said, “You’ve been very brave, small healer.”

She huffed. “I’ve hidden my cowardice. It has nothing to do
with bravery.”

“Don’t discount what you’ve been through. By your own
admission, many of your people couldn’t bear what’d happened to your kinsmen.
They hadn’t the strength to live while everyone else died.”

Some of their lives had been cut so short. Men, women and
children perished by the thousands. Surely Natura’s surface was shrouded in
blood. Although many caves littered the planet, only a handful had hot springs.
Only a small number of her tribe could’ve survived. A mere speck compared to
the thriving world she’d once known.

She forced herself to draw deep, even breaths until the
tension and anxiety slid from her shoulders and neck. Wearily, she leaned
against Gabriel, allowing his scent and warmth to seep into her pores. Nolan
rubbed her back and soon the pounding of rocks above her head faded into
background noise.

“I’m so tired, Gabriel,” she said, stifling a yawn.

He cradled her head against his chest. “You need a few hours
of peace. Let me give them to you. Trust me to watch over you.”

She’d been on guard and prepared for attacks from the
creatures for so long, she wondered if she could remember how to drift off into
untroubled sleep. For months, she’d driven herself to the point of collapse
before she’d rest. Her eyes closed and she released a heavy sigh. The cave,
hunters and creatures faded as a veil of black satin drifted over her.

Gabriel hovered between slumber and wakefulness, enjoying
the rare feelings of peace and contentment. Sadie grumbled and turned toward
him in her sleep. When she’d fret, he’d comfort her by pulling her close to
gently stroke her spine until she’d settle once again. Nolan lay close by, also
dozing before waking to check their surroundings. They’d both grown accustomed
to broken sleep over the years. Assignments on various planets forced them to
learn that falling into a deep slumber could cost them their lives.

As Gabriel reminisced about his previous time on Natura with
Sadie, he again remembered how it’d felt to have her pressed against him,
kissing him. On the occasions when the Governance provided a woman for him, he
picturing the healer as he satisfied his sexual needs.

Soft lips traced the side of his neck. Surrounded by the
warmth and scent of the healer as she nuzzled him, he could barely control his
reaction. His cock swelled enthusiastically as he fought to retain a clear
head. Surely she hadn’t meant to arouse him. He stroked her side and hip,
giving her a reassuring squeeze. She wiggled within his arms, moving closer
until the front of her body pressed flush against his.

He shifted, trying to gain an inch of space. She simply
scooted closer. The blankets covering them slid down and an amazing smell
drifted from the confines of the covers. The scent of warm woman and her desire
swept over him, forcing his heart to quicken. In a microsecond, he fully woke,
his senses alert. When he tried to rise to gain some distance, she wrapped her
arms around him, holding him in place.

He could’ve easily broken free, but the tantalizing aroma of
her sexual hunger made him stay. Lust and need sank deeply into his groin,
lengthening and thickening his erection. It’d been so long since he’d last been
gifted with a woman.

“Sadie,” he said before a long moan escaped his throat. She
felt so amazing! “Please wake.”

“Mmm.” She yawned and shivered before falling back to sleep.

No harm would come to her. He could deny his urges and
provide her warmth and comfort despite her pelvis pressed against his erection.
Her lips nuzzled his neck a second time and without thought, he gave her
something else to occupy her mouth. His lips slid over hers and after a slight
hesitation, she opened.

His mind swam in a rich, deep, dark pool of decadent desire.
He never dreamed he’d ever taste her again. The delicate woman within his arms
deserved more than he could ever offer. While his mind understood those facts,
his body didn’t care. Common sense drifted away as currents of wanting and lust
swept him downstream.

“Gabriel,” Nolan whispered, “you mustn’t.”

She wants me. She needs me.

“Keep her safe,” Gabriel muttered in between sensual kisses
as lines between right and wrong blurred.

Sadie moaned and pressed her breasts more firmly against his
chest. Although she remained mostly asleep, she wanted and needed sex. Only a
few hours before, she’d been scared by his arousal. Fleetingly, he wondered
what’d changed. Perhaps she trusted him on a much deeper level. A subconscious
level.

Drowsy turquoise eyes opened to gaze at him when he ceased
kissing her. He’d never seen anything so breathtaking. Her thin lips had
brightened to a deep red. Her flushed cheeks held color. She appeared healthy
and vibrant with her deep, soulful and knowing gaze. He wanted her.

He’d always wanted her.

“Gabriel,” Nolan said with dire warning.

The situation was entirely appropriate this time. There
would be no refusal on his part to indulge and savor Sadie’s body. A spark of
indecision crossed her features. He kissed it away. At the moment, he didn’t
want her more fully alert. He didn’t want her to think about her actions or
what stood between them. He desperately attempted to confuse and confound her
so she’d continue to want him in return.

She stole a breath. “Oh, Gabriel.”

Certainly Nolan heard the rising desire in her voice.
Because of her willingness to share her body, Nolan would be obliged to
withhold his opinion and assist. As if on cue, Nolan knelt at Sadie’s back and
allowed her time to grow accustomed to his presence. Each time she hesitated,
Gabriel would distract her by stroking her hip and outer thigh.

She was so easily aroused! Each small touch hastening her
breath. He imagined she’d be this way. Generous, giving, passionate. As they
kissed, he gently eased the shirt she wore away from her hot, scented skin. His
hands trembled as he touched warm flesh. So soft! He would memorize her scent
and each square centimeter of her body. He would savor these precious moments
and take the memory to his grave.

She trembled and squirmed. Instinctively, he pinned her to
the blanket, unwilling to give up the progress they’d made, forcing Nolan to
move slightly away in the process. Sadie would be his. The swell of lust caused
a shift in his thinking and behavior. Generally, he received warning before it
happened. Usually he could temper his ravenous sexual appetite until the woman
was at least undressed.

Strong carnal urges swept over him, stealing his control and
common sense. It was for this very reason that hunters remained paired, even in
the most intimate of situations. Especially in sexual situations.

Sadie tried to remain calm as her mind rose to full
awareness. Something had changed, interrupting the arousing dream of being held
and kissed by Gabriel. She’d forgotten she hated him, feared him and no longer
wanted him. It felt as if she’d been whisked back to a time when she’d desired
him with every beat of her heart.

The rigid man pinning her to the blankets didn’t resemble
her hunter. His eyes glowed silver from the firelight. His expression relayed
urgency and deadly intent, as if she’d somehow become prey.

“Let me up,” she said, pushing against his shoulders. He
didn’t budge except for his fingers digging into her sides. Her heart stammered
as adrenaline rushed through her veins. “I said to get off me!”

His weight settled against her, further trapping her. The
swell of his erection nestled dauntingly against her lower abdomen. This wasn’t
the man she’d known years ago. He would’ve never held her down. He would never
have made her feel uncomfortable or scared.

Nausea turned her stomach as his words from nine years prior
echoed in her mind.
My needs must be met by a woman, not a girl.
He
hadn’t meant to hurt or humiliate her. She understood that now.

Dear Ayasha, he wasn’t capable of doing something so
cruel. He’d simply told her the truth. He’d feared hurting her.

“Gabriel,” she said once more, stroking his cheek with
trembling fingertips. “Please, let me go.”

He shuddered and blinked as if trying to discern her plea.
His lips folded into a grim line as his teeth gnashed together. He struggled,
evidently trying to submit to her request. Every taut line of his body told her
plainly he fought to control some great demanding force inside.

She knew he’d been sick and according to Nolan, acted
irrationally sometimes. Would this have happened nine years ago? Would he have
reached a point where turning back would have been impossible?

Nolan grasped Gabriel’s shoulder. “You’re scaring
shae-shondah
,
friend.”

Gabriel glared at him, his expression changing to anger.
“She’s mine.”

“She belongs to no man. You know that.”

Gabriel released her before shoving off the blanket to
stand. “She offered herself. I’ve accepted. You know your place. You’re
overstepping boundaries.”

Nolan stood, his hands bunched into fists, the muscles in
his arms rippling against his shirt sleeves. “
Shae-shondah
,” he said,
“do you want Gabriel? If so, take off the rest of your clothes.”

She could feel the blood leave her face.

“It’s all right, healer. I suspected as much. Please, go to
the back chamber and wait for me there.”

Nolan and Gabriel stared at each other with predatory
expressions. What would happen if she left? What had she done? She slowly stood
while quickly slipping on her discarded clothes. “This is my fault. I never
meant—I mean, I certainly didn’t know…”

“There’s no need to explain. Just as you have little
knowledge of a hunter’s sex drive, we have limited knowledge of how much a
woman like you might want from someone like Gabriel.”

The blood that’d left her face a moment prior returned in
full force to burn her cheeks.

“Please, healer, leave us now.”

Her soft leather boots remained stuck in place, indecision
freezing her muscles. She wanted to fix what she’d messed up. From the look on
the faces of the men, they’d come to blows.

“I won’t leave. If the two of you fight, I’ll make sure to
come between you. Is that what you want? You’d likely kill me.”

The deadly staring match continued.

A spark of fire ignited in her belly. “Dear, Ayasha, they’ve
gone deaf and dumb,” she said, raising her palms to the ceiling. “Should I bludgeon
them back to sanity?”

Nolan was the first to glance in her direction, pronounced
wrinkles creasing the corners of his eyes. He raised a single eyebrow,
appearing to question her mood.

She huffed and folded her arms across her stomach. “Gabriel
Ryker, look at me!” His gaze slowly turned in her direction. She swallowed. By
the stars, what was wrong with him?

Annoyance quickly turned into concern. She asked, “Are you
ill again?”

“No.” He stared and stared, unblinking, unflinching,
unmoving.

The hairs on her arms bristled in warning. She took a step
backward. Finally, he blinked. He no longer gazed into her eyes. An assessing,
sweeping glance stroked the entire length of her body. Fierce heat scorched her
skin before frigid cold caused chill bumps to rise. He’d just visually
undressed her and caressed every centimeter of her flesh.

Words formed in her throat to scold him for looking at her
in such a way. Not even a squeak emerged from her lips. If she moved or
twitched, he’d pounce. She couldn’t quite discern what he’d do after catching
her though. Hunger and intent remained etched in every facet of his pained
expression. All that intensity was focused on her.

“
Shae-shondah
, leave us now so Gabriel can gain his
composure.”

She licked the dryness from her lips and turned. Her boots
wouldn’t budge.

“Sadie,” Gabriel said in a deep lulling tone.

Heat warmed her belly, stroking her insides to life with the
mere mention of her name. He’d never sounded so sensual.

“Bitty healer.” He whispered against her ear and she jumped,
not realizing he’d come so close. His hands trembled as his palms swept up her
arms, finally resting gently on her shoulders. “You want me. And I’ve wanted
you since you last offered yourself.”

Her spine stiffened. “You made it very clear you didn’t want
me then.”

“You’re wrong. I’ve wanted you for years.”

Tears welled in her eyes. “You said you wanted a woman, not
a girl.”

“At the time, you were forbidden to me. Not only because of
your age. I don’t recall my exact words, but what I’d meant to say was that I
could only have sex with women provided by the Governance.”

“They arrange your…uh…”

“Sexual partners? Yes. As they do most other things in our
lives.”

She turned to face him. His palms rested against her neck as
his thumbs gently stroked her jaw. She couldn’t help but notice each small
detail of his face. How handsome. “And how does that work? You’ve no say in the
matter?”

His expression softened. “I’ve never complained. It’s a gift
to receive a willing woman.”

“I’m still not sure I understand. On the day of your birth
each year, is there some predetermined meeting place where some man-grabber is
sent to service you?” Her blood nearly boiled with the thought of him and
another woman sharing intimacies.

Nolan stroked her hair and she jumped before realizing he’d
once again snuck up behind her. “Sweet,
shae-shondah
, it’s nothing like
what you’re probably imagining. There are women whose preference is to be with
our kind. They’re respectable. They provide a service to the Governance and
receive compensation.”

“Your kind! You’re simply men!” She could feel heat rise up
her throat. “An interlude for sex with someone you don’t know doesn’t sound
very reputable. And the exchange of coins for sex leads me back to my original
assumption. Man-grabbers!”

Gabriel gently placed the pad of his thumb over her lips.
“No money exchanges hands. And there’s no predetermined date for when we’re
gifted with a woman. Our handler gauges when we need the release sex provides
and simply supplies the woman. It’s no different than him knowing which
assignment should be our next.”

She pulled away slightly so she could speak. “And what of
payment? Nolan said the women are compensated. Get the story straight. Either
they’re paid or they’re not.”

“They receive something other than money but they
are
compensated.” He tilted his head to the side, looking as though trying to gauge
whether or not she understood. Finally, he said, “Sexually.”

Well, she certainly hadn’t expected that. Yes, she’d been
told intimacies between males and females could be deeply satisfying. She,
however, hadn’t much experience to draw on.

“You seem confused.”

Dear Ayasha, how could he still read her so well?

“How many men have you been with, Sadie?”

She tried pulling away. She couldn’t escape when sandwiched
between two hunters. She didn’t look at Gabriel. “What does that have to do
with anything?”

She stole a glance and found him looking above her head,
silently relaying something to Nolan with his expression. She too could read
the subtle signs hunters displayed. They’d agreed on something. He stroked her
jaw once more before removing his hands and taking a step back. Nolan also
released her.