The Siren's Call (Fantasy, Science Fiction, Romance) (FORCED TO SERVE) (20 page)

“Two years we have waited?” he asked, moving against her, his erection hard against the energy cord area of her body.

He could feel her vibrations calling him to come inside. Her mouth found his throat, and her tongue licked a path from his chest to just under his chin. Then she repeated the process again, the rough palms of her injured hands moving over his hips, rubbing off the healing salve he had applied. He would have to remember to put more on her palms later.

He wanted her completely well. He wanted her whole. He also wanted her so fiercely he didn’t know how he had put this off so long already.

“Gwen,” he called, moaning as her hand closed around the length of him and stroked once—then twice.

“No,” he yelled out, sensing what was next.

He caught the hand driving him mad and pulled it above her head while she did no more than laugh. Then he sought and found the other hand as well and brought it up—just in case.

“I do not wish this to end in an unsatisfactory manner for you.”

Instead of being shocked by his declaration, Gwen giggled again. He had no choice but to stop her laughter with his mouth.

When her ankles wrapped around his calves, waiting longer became impossible. He slid inside her slowly while vibration after vibration racked them both. Their mouths couldn’t stay fused. He had to let go of her wrists because their arms had to hold each other to keep them from falling apart because of the intense vibrations.

He stroked inside her only a few times before the largest vibration of all hit. She screamed and arched her body under his. It took all his remaining strength to stay inside her as her climax shook his physical form and raised them both from the bed. Her strength thrilled him and had him running possessive hands over what he had just made his in a very basic way.

Then when Gwen’s body relaxed to the bed once more, to his greater surprise she buried her face in his neck and wept as if he had hurt her badly. Which is what he would have thought was the problem had it not been for the throbbing relief he felt in her cord and his as he very carefully kept their bodies connected and their mating cords matched.

“I love you,” she said, sniffling and trying not to cry. “I’ve always loved you. I know you don’t truly know me anymore, but at least you trust me. Now I’m more thankful than I ever imagined I would be that you sent me that damn mating cord. I take back all the names I called you over those four days.”

“You called me names?” he asked, hoping to distract her enough that she would cease her uncontrolled weeping. It disturbed him greatly. Warriors were not supposed to weep. Not even mated ones.

“Yes. I wept. I cried. I called you lots of vile names,” Gwen said, trying for a laugh as she sniffed.

“Tell me one,” he ordered, bracing himself.

“Controlling Siren bastard,” Gwen said without hesitating.

Keeping them connected, he rolled them to their sides to look into her face more clearly. He actually liked the sound of that name on her tongue but was afraid to say so.

“Indeed—that is a vile name,” he said instead, sensing Gwen would prefer he was offended.

“I also frequently referred to you as a huge pile of Klageldon dung,” she said, smiling.

“What is that? It sounds like some type of animal? Why do you suppose I can remember basic information but not specifics?” he asked.

“Aren’t you offended to be called
dung
?” she asked, admiring the calm yet condescending gaze he returned to her. Zade was in there—definitely, unquestionably in there. “It’s really bad to be called that. Tomorrow I’ll show you how to look it up on your desk unit. You’ll be truly mad at me then.”

“Doubtful. Nothing you could call me would compare to ‘fool.’ Any male refusing to share your bed for two years had a serious problem with good judgment,” he said softly.

Gwen sighed and closed her eyes. “It wasn’t that simple. And no matter how nice it is to get a complete do-over with you, I’m still going to help you get your memories back. That doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy your humility and new open-mindedness about me in the meantime. Plus, we are definitely going to work on your endurance during bonding.”

“Why? Did I displease you in some manner?” he asked, shocked at her lie—because that’s what it was. He was sure of it. Was brevity a problem for her species?

The only answer he got from her to his serious questions was a rippling, loud laugh that he was compelled to cut off with his mouth.

Chapter 14

The next morning Gwen had to pry herself loose from the male who had used her for a pillow during the part of the sleep cycle where they actually slept. He had woken her every few hours for bonding. She was almost tempted to beg a stimulant from Medical.

The last time he’d woken her, Zade had demanded she turn the lights off completely so they wouldn’t forget again. Then he’d silenced her laughing complaints by massaging both the inside and the outside of her at the same time, completely ending her concerns about his endurance problems. After he’d finally got tired again, she’d slept a drugged-like sleep until moments ago.

Bonding with Zade had been both worse and better than she’d even imagined after all this time. Gwen decided it was a good thing she’d avoided intercourse with Sirens if they were all like him. Zade had basically wiped away her memories of how good other men had been the first time he’d slid slowly inside her and sent that initial series of subsequent climaxes rippling through her at light speed. Even without remembering his vow, he had more than fulfilled his promise to be her best experience. Her body still vibrated with pleasure this morning, and her mating cord throbbed with enough energy for her to be constantly aware of their energy connection.

Leaving him sleeping while she found her way to the bridge was not going to be easy this morning. She wanted to stay, badly wanted to stay. In fact, leaving Zade at all from now on was going to require all her self-discipline if their intimacy was going to be like this all the time. She was extremely grateful this morning for her Thelorian side that pulled on her to remember her duty.

Gwen scooted to the edge of the bed where she could better study the male who filled it totally with his massive body. His hair was starting to grow out again now that it wasn’t being routinely cut. The short style all the slaves wore had fortuitously been a style she favored naturally, which had helped her disguise, but short hair did not do Zade’s Siren appearance justice. Having hair to his shoulders suited Zade better. The longer hairstyle went with those damn flowing tunics and loose casual pants he preferred.

After all she had learned about his body last night, now she understood why he always wore such loose clothing. Zade was packing around a lot more than was probably comfortable stowed away in the restraints of a standard officer’s uniform on a regular basis. His uniforms were probably custom-made.

Pushing slowly to her feet, Gwen was surprised that intimate parts of her were no worse for last night’s activities. Instead, she winced at the abrasion of the fabric rug against the soles of her feet, which still hurt badly from running over dirt and stones without protection. Padding softly to her clothing chest, she rifled through it to find some clean socks, happy when she pulled two clean ones out, even though they didn’t match. She hadn’t had enough time to attend to sanitizing her soiled clothing. Tomorrow it might come down to taking advantage of the commander’s right to ask the bursar to do it for her.

She winced her way from the clothes chest to the desk chair and sat, glad to take the pressure off her damaged feet.

“Put some more healing salve on before you dress. The ointment is right there on the desk beside you. I meant to do it for you last night but kept getting distracted,” Dorian said, sighing as he looked at her.

His female was delightfully responsive. Each time he saw her, he wanted more of her. After all the many privileges she granted him during the night, he would like nothing more this morning than to increase the look of contentment on her face.

“Good morning,” Gwen said softly, picking up the ointment and applying it gently. “I was trying not to wake you. More rest would be good for you.”

“Perhaps—but I would like to go with you to find food. I ate with Sarinnea yesterday, but my body is reminding me that was some time ago,” he said with a smile.

Gwen nodded. “Sure—since you’re awake that makes sense. I have to go to work afterwards. Well actually, I don’t know what my duty is today, but I imagine Synar is going to want to talk about the next mission. He will have received the orders by now.”

“This ship must return to the planet the Ambassador mentioned that disturbed you,” Dorian supplied.

“Yes—that’s right,” Gwen agreed, slipping on one sock before moving her attention to the other side. “I think your memory is much better than you think.”

“What do…” he stopped, then scooted up in the bed. “What did I used to do during the day while you went to the bridge?”

Gwen was slipping on the other sock when she paused. He was going to either need a babysitter or something to keep him occupied while she worked.

“You used to take turns running the bridge. You’re actually the next highest-ranking officer, but your memory loss will prevent you from performing your duties. You were also the spiritual counselor. Do you know what that is?”

When he shook his head and looked distressed, she decided not to tell him any more. Maybe if Zade just looked around and got comfortable, everything would be more likely to return on its own, without the painful headaches that her explanations prompted.

“Don’t worry about it today. Chiang and I can handle the bridge while you focus on recovering. Let’s find someone to keep you company while I’m busy,” Gwen said gently as she hobbled to the wall com and pressed the green button. “Connect me to Sarinnea of Rylen.”

Gwen leaned against the wall to take the pressure off one foot. Then shortly she shifted to the other. Looked like she was going to
have
to go to Medical if she intended to function at a level even close to normal.

“This is Sarinnea. How may I assist you, Commander?” she asked, her voice raspy with sleep.

“Oh damn it. Sorry if I woke you. Zade—I mean—Dorian and I are heading to our morning meal. Would you have time to accompany your son on a tour of the Liberator later? Jordon could join you. I can have one of the ensigns escort the group since I know you didn’t really get to learn it all yourself,” Gwen finished, the last words coming out as a squeak when she felt familiar male arms around her waist and clever hands exploring her still mostly naked body.

“Let me talk to Jordon. I kept him with me last sleep cycle. One moment, please,” Sarinnea requested.

The moan of arousal was hard to hold in, but Gwen mostly managed, glaring over her shoulder as she let go of the button.

“I’m talking to your freaking mother, Zade. Let go of me, you sex fiend,” she hissed. “Didn’t you get enough last night?”

“Evidently not,” he answered, forcing himself to put a little distance between them, but that only offered him the same view that had prompted him to walk across the floor to her in the first place. “I find your hips very alluring. Perhaps you should make a habit of dressing before I wake up if you do not wish me to be stimulated by the sight of your unclothed body.”

Gwen turned and fisted one sore hand on her hips, silently cursing him when it hurt. “I know you’re not blaming your lack of control on me because then I’d have to kick your disrespectful Siren ass.”

His deep laugh sounded strange to his ears, but it felt very satisfying to do.

“How contrary I feel in your presence, and how fortunate I can decipher your strange reprimand by seeing the images in your head. I think I might like you to try doing what you imagine just to see what might happen. Though you fight most fiercely, you are currently wounded. Plus, I have learned your other weaknesses, which I might be able to use,” he bragged.

He closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them to laugh at her again.

“Yes. In searching inside myself, I find I would use my intimate knowledge against you without guilt. Of course, you would be compensated by the pleasure of our joining. Perhaps we can do the ‘ass kicking’ when you are more healed.”

The com link opened again and had the effect of snipping the fuse on her temper just before it exploded. Gwen glared and slapped the com to talk. “Yes?”

“Commander? Jordon and are getting dressed now. We’ll meet you at your morning meal if that is acceptable,” Sarinnea said, her tension at hearing Gwen’s angry tone evident to them all.

Gwen pressed and held the com button while her glare remained on Zade. “If I let your son live long enough to eat this morning, we’d be happy for you both to join us. And, Sarinnea—you don’t have to call me commander all the time. Given our family connection, you can just call me Gwen. See you at the meal.”

There was a long silence and then a surprised thanks.

When Gwen let go and turned back, Dorian stepped into her again, pressing evidence of his interest against the front of her this time. His hands were instantly busy in the back, soothing her muscles and massaging her hips, making her wish they could stay in the room. This time she had no choice but to let out the moan of arousal even though it sparked irritating male laughter in him again.