Lost In Emotion

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Praise for the writing of Melissa Schroeder

Voices Carry

I found myself literally glued to every page of this futuristic romance, enthralled by the very engaging characters and an interesting and quick paced plot.Shana is quite a believable character, her reactions are what you would expect from any intelligent woman under her circumstances…Voices Carryis a wonderful addition to my library and Ms. Schroeder's name now belongs in my authorautobuy list.

--MireyaOrsini ,Just Erotic Romance Reviews

Voices Carryis one book where the hot rating definitely applies. The central characters come close to

spontaneous combustion whenever they come near each other. Melissa Schroeder weaves an interesting plot and gives the reader a good dose of raw sex…if you like to live precariously…Voices Carryis just your ticket into danger.

-- Jennifer Ray,Road to Romance

Voices Carryis an exceptionally well-written story. Melissa Schroeder has created a whole new world that begs to have more stories set in it…Shana and Marcus sizzle with passion. I highly recommendVoices Carry and hope that there will be a sequel or two.

-- Nicole,Romance Junkies

Ms. Schroeder has written a sizzling science fiction tale of espionage, telepathy, romance, and hot and heavy sex.Voices Carry is a twelve out of ten, I couldn’t put it down until I found out who the enemy was, and how Marcus would react toShana’s secret. Ms. Schroeder is quickly making her way onto my list of favorite authors, readVoices Carry and see why…

--Ansley ,Fallen Angel Reviews

Voices Carryis now available from Loose Id.

LOST IN EMOTION

Melissa Schroeder

www.loose-id.com

Warning

This e-book contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language and may be considered offensive to some readers. Loose Id e-books are for sale to adults ONLY, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.

*****

This book is rated:

For explicit sexual content and graphic language.

Lost in Emotion

Melissa Schroeder

This e-book is a work of fiction. While reference might be made to actual historical events or existing locations, the names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Published by

Loose Id LLC

1802 N Carson Street, Suite 212-29

Carson City NV 89701-1215

www.loose-id.com

Copyright © November 2004 by Melissa Schroeder

All rights reserved. This copy is intended for the purchaser of this e-book ONLY. No part of this e-book may be reproduced or shared in any form, including, but not limited to printing, photocopying, faxing, or emailing without prior written permission from Loose Id LLC.

ISBN 1-59632-045-1

Available in Adobe PDF, HTML, MobiPocket, and MS Reader

Printed in the United States of America

Editor: Linda Kusiolek

Cover Artist: Bryan Keller

Publisher’s Note

Don’t miss David’s sister’s adventure in the stunning standalone prequel,Voices Carry .

Chapter One

Cold, mind-numbing fear slithered down David’s spine. For a moment, he couldn’t move as the emotion washed over him, through him. He swallowed the panic rising in his system as he glanced around the barroom. Damn, who was it? He hadn’t had a transfer of emotion like this in years, but it shot through his system like a lightning bolt.

So many people, but only one emotion came through. Fear, stark as a winter’s night, tightened his stomach. When he brought his glass to his mouth, he noticed the blue liquid rippling. He set it down without taking a drink and glanced around the room again.

Smoky haze from the incense cigarettes that the locals ofRilah preferred filled the air, making it hard to see into every crevice and corner. David didn’t like it. Something sinister was at work in the room. An agent for the Counter-Terrorism unit of the Federation of Nations, he was a target if anyone suspected his quest. He would be dead in less than one heartbeat if the wrong people knew he was searching for their missing spy.

He studied the occupants lounging around and on the various couches and chairs throughout the seedy bar. Coming here tonight had been his last attempt at finding the elusive Genoa.

“Want another, pal?” theRilahlian bartender asked. David looked up, trying to determine if the feeling of fear had emitted from the seven-foot-tall being. Nothing but impatience showed in theRilahlian’s bluish-green eyes.

“Naw, think I’ve had enough for the night.”

Before he could move on to the next customer, the bartender glanced over David’s shoulder and cussed inRilahlian .

The sound of raised voices and breaking glass erupted behind him. David looked over his shoulder and saw a crowd of men surrounding a table at one of the booths. The sight of green-tinged hair sent David’s senses intohyperspeed .Gorgons . And probably warriors, judging by their black, fitted suits and the lasers holstered at their sides.

Gorgons, although now at peace with the Federation, had planned several attacks on Earth and abroad. Roguemercs still roamed, looking for work, and these fit the bill. Their deception was made easy by the fact that they looked more human than any other species in the galaxies.

Fear lashed out at him again, and he knew instantly whoever was in the booth was the source. He stood up and headed in the direction of the commotion. As he drew within about ten feet, one of the warriors shifted and David got a glimpse of the booth’s occupants. Another warrior, dressed in black and bigger than the others, sat on one side of the table, his hand around the wrist of a woman. David shifted his focus to her. A smile curved her lips, her pale green eyes sparkled with defiance. Heat swept through him, warming his blood and twisting his stomach. It was the same damn reaction as when he’d seen the picture of her six months ago.

Damn. Genoa.

*****

Genoa tried to calm her heart and the panic threatening to choke her as she wiggled her arm and stared atDeras . Damn, damn, damn. She’d been so close to getting away clean tonight. The info Marcus Carlyle needed was burning a hole in her transmitter, and after sending it, Genoa planned on disappearing for a good long while. She’d made too many enemies lately, and had been on her way to disappearing whenDeras had shown up.

Asshole. If she had her blade, she’d cut out his heart and feed it to him on a platter. The idiot just didn’t know when to let go. Genoa smiled, hiding her irritation and her fear.

“Listen,Deras , I’m not yours to keep. We had a good time; now it’s over.”

His frown deepened and true anger darkened his green eyes. “No one tellsDeras when it is over. I decide. And you are in no position to argue withDeras .”

She really hated when he referred to himself in the third person. He sounded mentally challenged. Just the memory of his hands on her skin made her stomach turn. What she didn’t do for the Federation … They owed her big. The only thing saving them was that she hadn’t been forced to screw the monster.

His fingers tightened around her wrist and her fingers began to tingle.

“See,Deras is not happy. MaybeDeras sell you.”

MaybeDeras is a jackass. Real fear coiled in her stomach. She fought not to show it. He would do it,

sell her for a sex slave. Being half human, half Gorgon would make her irresistible to someweirdos . She knew she would bring a pretty penny on the market. Before she could open her mouth to placate him, another man stepped forward, pushing a couple of the Gorgons out of his way. He stood several inches shorter than most of them, but Genoa instantly knew they wouldn’t try to screw with this one.Deras gestured with his head and the rest of the warriors backed away.

He wore his light-brown hair shoulder length, shaggy and unkempt. Dominant cheekbones and a beard gave him a lean, hungry look, but the thing that held her captivated was his sharp, tawny eyes. He glanced atDeras , then at the grip the Gorgon had on her wrist, and finally settled his concentration on her. For no apparent reason, her heart turned over and then increased in speed.

“Is there a problem here, babe?” he asked, his accent purely pegging him from Earth.

“Just a small disagreement. I wanted to leave;Deras objected.”

Her finely tuned senses picked up on the scent of male aggression, some from the Gorgons, but primarily from the new arrival. And, unlike so many times before, the whiff of male hormones warmed her blood.

Derasstudied the man, and his grip on her wrist slackened enough for her to slip her hand out of his reach. Before she could slide out of the booth and make her escape,Deras grabbed her by the hair, pulling her back against him, and held a laser pistol to her head. Activity around the bar came to a standstill. The band’s out-of-tune music dissolved as deadly silence filtered through the room.

“Yaknow --Deras , is it? I really don’t like anyone manhandling my woman.”

“She’s not your woman. You don’t even know her name,”Deras spat out.

The newcomer’s sharp eyes studied her face, then looked straight into hers. Heat spread up her neck and into her face. Without breaking eye contact, he said, “Genoa.”

The sound of her name in his earthly accent should’ve repulsed her. Instead, a warm wave of arousal slid through her. She felt her nipples tighten.

And just how the hell did he know her name?

Before she could process that thought, another popped into her mind.Deras had to be wondering the same thing, and his feeble mind couldn’t handle detaining her and thinking at the same time. She rammed her elbow into his ribs. His grip slackened. The human reached across the table, grabbed her hand, and yanked her past the stunned warriors who had just caught on to what was happening.

She stumbled, almost falling flat on her face, but gained her balance within seconds and followed him to the door. She had little choice, since he still had her wrist in a death grip. The angry shouts of the Gorgons sounded behind them as he weaved his way through the crowd of stunned onlookers. A moment later, they were outside; the heavy, polluted air ofRilah City almost made her choke as she followed him, keeping pace with his long strides. He turned right at the corner and headed straight for the Intergalactic Port Station.

She dug in her heels and almost stumbled when he continued running. When he finally realized she wasn’t following, he turned around and glared.

“Princess, I don’t have time to dick around. I don’t mind beating the shit out of your buddy,Deras , but I really don’t feel up to taking on his entourage.”

“Listen up, space ranger, I appreciate your help back there, but really, I have other plans tonight.”

He stepped closer, blotting out the brilliant green streetlight. He loomed over her, and she realized he was much bigger that she had first thought. Broad-shouldered, lean and muscular, every inch of him was revealed by themicrofiber of his black flight suit. He placed his hands on either side of her head, against the brick wall behind her, and leaned closer. The masculine scent of him surrounded her. Aggression and something else, something close to arousal, emanated from him. Her own body responded in kind. Her heart flip-flopped, her skin heated, and liquid wet the lips of her sex.

“I’ve been looking for you for a long time.” His voice vibrated along her nerve endings. “Six months going from region to region, and every time I got close, you slipped away. I’m not in the mood to discuss the situation. You are going to park you cute little ass in my craft and shut the hell up.”

For a second, she was speechless. Men didn’t talk to her like that; or, at least, they didn’t do it more than once. She bit back the anger rising in her throat. More than anything, she wanted to punch the bastard for trying to use his physical strength against her.

“What’s your name? And what the hell do you mean that you’ve been looking for me for six months?”

“David Adams. Marcus Carlyle sent me looking for you when you didn’t answer his transmissions this last December. He thought you were dead.”

“Bullshit. He wouldn’t have sent you looking for me if he really thought I was dead. Carlyle is a politician at heart. He wouldn’t waste the money.”

His lips twitched and she relaxed slightly. He knew Marcus if he could find humor in that.

“All right. Everyone else said you were dead. Marcus didn’t believe them. He sent me to look for you and bring you home.”

“Home? Earth?” She snorted. “I don’t call Earth my home.”

She’d rather screwDeras than go back to Earth.Deras’s image rose in her mind. Okay, not that, but she still wasn’t going.

“I don’t have time to debate this with you. I’m taking you back to Earth. You are coming. If not, I will give you back toDeras and his friends.”

Irritation crawled through her.Dammit , he had her. Even now, Genoa knew they were drawing closer. She could smell their scent. She’d figure something out, but for now, he was her alternative. Her breasts grazed his chest as she shifted from one foot to the other. She knew he could probably feel her hardened nipples through the sheer fabric of her blouse.

The annoyance shining in his eyes shifted to something altogether different. They darkened to burnished

gold as he leaned an inch closer. The predatory gleam caused every ounce of moisture to dry up in her mouth. For the life of her, she couldn’t stop thinking about reaching out and running her hand through his hair. Arousal tugged at her belly. His excitement drifted between them, sharpening hers. Before she could react, he grabbed her arm and started dragging her toward the station again.

This time, Genoa followed him as she tried to sort through the emotions swirling in her.A human . Although half human, she had nothing but disdain for the race who had sent her mother running from her family, from her home. For now, she would let space ranger Adams here get her ass off the planet; then she’d figure a way out of his custody.

They entered the station and he headed for the biggest private vehicle in the bay. Figures he’d have to have the biggest. They all had to compensate. She snorted and David shot her a mean look over his shoulder. Without a word, he punched in his security code, the ramp descended, and he tugged her behind him as he ascended into the craft. The moment they entered the cockpit, he shoved her into the navigator’s chair. She landed with an “oomph.”

“Buckle up, princess.”

Without giving her so much as a glance, he began his preparations for departure. Silently, she called him every horrible, loathing name she knew. At the same time, her eyes kept drifting to his ass, well defined by the clinging fabric of his flight suit. Oh, Lord, there had to be something wrong with her. Every nerve ending in her body tingled with anticipation. For her kidnapper. She was sick. No. Correct that. She was sickand horny. It had to be the only explanation.

He settled in his captain’s chair and received clearance from the tower. As he started up the engines, a commotion sounded outside the craft. Raised voices, lasers being shot.

“You will desist in departure and leave the aircraft,” the computer-generated tower voice announced. Her heart dropped to her knees. Oh, seven suns. She couldn’t go back.

She glanced over at her savior-slash-kidnapper, but he didn’t stop the preparations.

“Hold on to your seat, this is going to be onehelluva bumpy departure.”

He flipped a few more switches and the engines roared, drowning out the sounds of the Gorgons who had come to stop them. The craft elevated, then surged forward, twisting to the left as he just cleared the closing port doors. Silence descended as he pushed the buttons that sent the craft into warp speed.

Without looking up from his task, he said, “Stop shooting daggers at me. I saved your ass fromDeras , and you know it. Sit back and enjoy the ride.”

She crossed her arms over her breasts because, God help her, she wished he were referring to a different type of ride. She sighed. Somehow, she had to get out of this situation, transmit her info to Carlyle, and disappear for the next millennium. She glanced over at her captor.

She watched his face for some hint of his feelings, but he ignored her, concentrating on his task, instead. All that focus, all the virility. Genoa sighed. She would love to know what it was like to have all that concentration centered on her. To know what it was like to have a man want her, need her. There had only been one, but both of them had been too emotionally damaged to make a go of it.

Arousal tugged at her stomach again. She knew she was close to her mating season. That had to be the reason her body heated each time he drew near. Desire so strong that it left her speechless blazed through her. She shifted in her seat, trying to ease the ache between her legs. His hands tightened on the steering wheel. She had to get away from the man. Unfortunately, something told her escape wouldn’t be that easy.

Chapter Two

Damn, this really was turning out to be a shit assignment. If Marcus wasn’t his brother-in-law, David would never have taken the job. First those six months he spent chasing after the wench, and now this.

Every emotion she felt, from her fear to her arousal -- and anything in between -- he felt. From the moment he crowded her against the wall outside, his dick had been harder than steel. He’d been unable to fight the rising desire emitting from her. With the way the material of his flight suit clung to his skin, there was no hiding his arousal, so he’d kept his back to her while preparing to leave. That hadn’t helped a bit, because her heated feelings had kicked it up a few notches, and he’d felt every one of them.

David’s hands shook as he reached to flip a switch on the control board. He cursed when he realized he’d hit the wrong one. He turned it off and flipped the right one. It had to be the lack of blood in his brain. Every ounce of it had drained and headed straight for his cock as Genoa’s emotions washed over him, through him. His blood hummed with her arousal, and his.

He glanced over at her as she stared out the front portal. Her looks alone were a problem. Long, dark red hair, some hanging loose, some in dreadlocks. All of it well past her waist. The sheer fabric of her shirt and pants left little to the imagination. It should, since it was loose-fitting. But every time she moved, it caressed another curve of her anatomy.

He swallowed. He’d thought a woman who spied on some of the most dangerous scum of the universe would dress the part. No. Not her. She wore near-transparent clothing and ballet slippers.

And her skin. Smooth, pale ivory. He wanted to trail his fingers along the curve of her jaw, just to see it was as soft as it appeared.

David sighed, and she turned her head to look at him, her eyes roving over him as if she were judging him. Then, her gaze caught his. The moment he looked into her pale green eyes, all thought vanished. It just wasn’t possible to think when she looked directly at him. The unusual color was enough of a distraction, but they turned up at the corners and were surrounded by a thick set of black lashes.

He swallowed again and broke eye contact. The problem was, his gaze traveled down her body. It was a long trip. She stood only a couple inches shorter than he did. She was slim and lean but with curves enough to interest any hot-blooded male. Including her buddy,Deras .

Just thinking the man’s name angered him. So his voice was a little more forceful than he intended. “What the hell was going on back there with those Gorgons?”

She raised one sculpted eyebrow, apparently not happy with his tone.

“I was on my way back to my place. I had some info for Marcus, and I was going to transmit it and get the helloutta here.Deras caught me and dragged me into that bar.”

“How do you know him?”

She blinked and hesitated, just enough to raise his hackles.

“You know I’m here for Marcus, so you can tell me.”

“I only answer to Marcus.” Her voice sounded as if she expected no argument. He ignored that and steamed right ahead.

“Princess, whatever you tell Marcus, he’ll tell me.”

She crossed her arms beneath her breasts and narrowed her eyes. “David, is it? I have no reason to believe you. I’ve arrived at the ripe old age of twenty-five because I don’t trust anyone. If my own mother was here, I’d question her motives, so you can drop the space-ranger-in-charge routine and get me to Marcus Carlyle.” Irritation threaded her words.

For a second, he didn’t react. He just couldn’t. He was used to giving orders and people jumping. Having a cool drink of water like Genoa tell himno just didn’t seem to register for a few moments. Agitation tingled along his skin, along with a fair share of arousal.

Damn. It wasn’t only his irritation, but hers. And the arousal. Shit, he’d never felt anything so damn strong in his life. He felt the heat of her desire as if she were skimming her fingers down his chest. What the hell was going on with him?

“I thought you were against going to Earth?”

She crossed her arms. “I don’t want to go to Earth. I hate that place. But if that’s my only option, then that’s what I’ll do.”

What she had couldn’t be any more important than what David was privy to as Marcus’s right hand. “If you hate the place, why not give me the info, then I’ll tell Marcus?”

She shook her head. Her long tresses spilled over her shoulder and across her chest. He had a vision of the same curls against the smooth ivory skin of her breasts, her nipples peeking through the stands. The hum of arousal he had been fighting was turning into a freaking chorus, singing through his blood. He felt hers, too, just under the hostility she emitted. He shifted in his seat, trying to ease the ache in his balls. Drawing in a deep breath, he concentrated on what she was saying.

“You can drop me off onLangilia . I can transmit the information.” She shifted in her seat to look out the port view.

He thought of the planet -- desolate desert on one side, frigid ice caps on the other. The extreme temperatures kept the population to a minimum. His gaze traveled down her long body and then back up again. She wasn’t one for roughing it.

“Marcus didn’t mention you were from there.” He hadn’t even stopped there on his way through the sector.

She turned to look at him. Damn if the defiant tilt of her chin and her mocking smile didn’t turn him on more. “I didn’t say Iwas from there.”

Even her smart-assed tone lit a fire in his blood.

“Well, you can forget it. Marcus wants you in the flesh. I don’t plan on disappointing him.”

She laughed, her eyes sparkling with her amusement. “Take it from me -- you’re cute, but you’re not Marcus’s type.”

“What?”

“Marcus is into women. Human women, at that.” She touched the top of her blouse, slipping her fingers through the sheer purple fabric. He curled his fingers into his palm to keep from joining her. Then, her words registered.

“You think I’m interested in Marcus?”

Her lips curved into an evil smile as a wave of fear intermingled with something that felt almost like panic washed over him. “I just figured you were so intent on making him happy ...”

Her voice trailed off as he stood. His anger and pride matched the anxiety she was letting off. Never in his life had he been accused of being interested in men. David saw it for what it was. She was trying to put him in his place, build a wall between them. It didn’t matter. He’d passed reason the moment he’d seen her in the club.

He grabbed her arm and pulled her up. Even in her ridiculous little slippers, she stood almost eye to eye with him. She blinked once. The color of her eyes deepened. He dropped his gaze to her mouth and almost groaned aloud when her tongue licked herpouty lower lip. Every thought cleared out of his mind, except one. He had to have a taste.

David yanked her closer, enjoying the surprise in her eyes and the angry flush in her face. Anticipation, annoyance, and a dash of fear lashed from her to him. Her body fell against his, and he wrapped one arm around her waist. Before she could protest, he took hold of her chin, bent his head, and touched his lips to hers.

At first, she didn’t respond. He could almost feel her quivering, standing on the edge of surrender. He pressed closer, tracing the seam of her lips with his tongue. Her soft curves molded to his body, the hardened tips of her nipples against his chest. His hands slid down to cup her ass and pull her tighter against his groin. One more second of resistance, then her mouth opened and he dove inside.

The first thing David thought of was wild strawberries. His favorite fruit. She was sweet and tart and just like the taste of them when you picked them off the stem. He’d never sampled anything so innocent and sinful at the same time. Possessiveness lanced through him. The need to conquer, to have this woman for his own, caused him to deepen the kiss. Genoa moaned. Her tongue tangled with his, and he was lost.

He could no longer control any of his emotions or hers. They swept through him, racing through his blood. He dug his fingers into her rounded cheeks, rubbing his erection against hermons . She wrapped her legs around his waist and pressed closer, joining in his rhythm. Oh, God. He could feel her damp heat through their clothing. He wanted to drag her down on the floor and rip through those layers of clothing and sink his cock into her.

David pulled back from her. Her legs were still around his waist, her eyes half closed and filled with unrelieved desire. He knew, right then, he couldn’t stop. He knew what she wanted, what she needed. He could feel it thrumming in him, striking a familiar cord.

In two steps, he made it to the conference couch. They tumbled onto it, without much ceremony. The next instant, his lips were on hers, tasting, devouring, loving every minute of it. Her arousal took a swift turn upward, biting through him, edging him so close to coming in his pants, he was almost embarrassed. Almost, because it just felt so damn good. Being on the edge of a free fall into ecstasy was one of his favorite feelings. And this woman was pushing all the right buttons, from her smart-ass mouth, to her defiance, to the overwhelming maelstrom of emotions rolling off her.

David broke from her mouth, and trailed kisses down her neck. As he nipped and licked her skin, he reveled in the feel of it, soft and sweet. Her unique scent rose and mixed with her emotions, sending every available drop of blood to his dick. He ground his groin against hers. She moaned in response. The sound sent another wave of need through him. He grabbed hold of the top of her blouse and pulled it down, revealing the most beautiful pair of breasts he’d ever seen. Ivory skin, small, but bottom-heavy, and tipped with rosy nipples. Every bit of moisture in his mouth dried up, as he watched them pucker tighter.

A sense of apprehension mixed with a heady dose of desire spun through him, weaving a seductive web he was helpless to avoid. His balls twisted, thinking about seeing the rest of her skin laid bare. It took every ounce of willpower he had not to rip the damn fabric from her body. He continued rubbing his cock against her as he brushed his fingers first over one hardened nipple, then the other. She shifted beneath him, matching his rhythm.

He bent his head and grazed the tip with his teeth. She shivered and sighed in reaction. That one little sign of want had him taking the nipple into his mouth, circling it with his tongue and sucking. Her thrusts picked up rhythm as she bucked beneath him. He wanted her to come, to lose all control. David was sure it would be beyond anything he’d ever felt before.

A second later, he moved toward her other breast, nipping at the sensitive skin between them. Her fingers speared through his hair, then tangled in the strands. He took the other nipple in his mouth the moment she murmured his name. Her moans increased along with the waves of desire that flowed from

her to him. Her feelings were so strong, they rippled along his skin and tingled down his spine. Primal urgings pushed all sane thoughts to the side. He needed to be inside her hot, moist sheath, or he would go insane.

A bright light flashed and the ship shuddered. He raised his head, lifted himself to his hands, and looked out the portal.

In the distance, the tubular Gorgon ship was closing in on them fast. It fired another shot, barely missing them. He looked down at Genoa. Her eyes were still closed, and,dammit , he still felt the heat of her. His entire body pulsed with unrelieved sexual pressure, and there would be nothing for it. That first shot was a warming. They were in for a battle.

Chapter Three

Genoa’s entire body shook. Never, in all her days, even during mating season, had she felt such an overwhelming need to mate. She wanted nothing more than for him to rip her clothes from her body and devour her. Another rain of light and another shudder. Damn. She had never had a reaction like this to a male, especially a full human, before.

Every inch of her skin tingled from his touch. She drew in a deep breath and reveled in his passion. The scent of his arousal, so clean, so male, filled her senses and spurred her own desire. She wanted him on some primal level she didn’t understand. But want him, she did. Her nipples were puckered, begging for his touch. She shifted her legs and felt the dampness between the lips guarding her vagina. The thought of having his shaft buried deep inside her when she came sent a ripple of pleasure rolling through her.

She reached for him, but he moved out of reach and stood, leaving her eye level with his groin. His cock was hard to hide in his tight suit. She licked her lips and reached out, but he caught her hand in a death grip.

“What?”

“I don’t have time for games, princess. We got some serious trouble.” He nodded toward the side portal window.

She turned, then gasped when she saw the Gorgon ship bearing down on them. All the wonderful warmth thrumming through her dissolved. Panic clenched her stomach. HadDeras found out her game? Did he know the secret that she knew? If he did, he would turn her over to the authorities in an instant. Her heart dropped to her stomach. Cool air washed across her breasts and she realized her blouse was still pulled down. Embarrassed, she hastily pulled it up.

David stood and walked toward the front of the ship without giving her a backward glance.

“Derasmust be very determined to have you.” He didn’t turn around. “And from that kiss, I can surely tell you just might be worth it.”

Fear ofDeras and what he would do to her vanished in the blink of an eye. Anger boiled. “Just what the hell does that mean?”

He kept his eyes on his task, his fingers pushing buttons and flipping switches. “Just that he’s going to a lot of trouble for a bit of tail. You must have been pretty good.”

“Really?Ya think?” She crossed her arms beneath her breasts. Otherwise, she would have reached out and strangled the bastard. “Actually, not that it’s any of your business, but I never slept withDeras . I do a lot of things for the Federation, but prostituting myself isn’t one of them.”

The rigid set of his shoulders relaxed, but he didn’t say anything. The ship shook as another blast grazed the side. She hurried to the front of the ship and then sat and strapped herself into her seat.

“Anything I can do?”

“No.”

His voice was abrupt, as if irritated with her.

“Listen, it isn’t my fault you’re trying to outrun Gorgons. You’re the idiot who insisted on taking me to Earth.”

“I’m not mad because of that.”

“Really?” She settled back in her chair and crossed her arms. Partially because she was irritated with him, but mostly because her hands were shaking. Her fear was real and for good reason. The information she had would be worth killing an insignificant spy. “You could’ve fooled me.”

He sighed and ran his hand through his hair. “Listen, not only are they shooting at my ship, apparently after my cargo,” he flicked a glance in her direction, “but I’m frustrated as hell and can’t think beyond throwing you on the floor, ripping off your clothes, and sinking my cock into you. So I think you could give me a break here.”

His crude words should have angered her, or at least irritated her. Instead, a heat curled in her stomach and then slid down to her sex. She shifted to ease the pressure, but it seemed to heighten her arousal. He chuckled.

“I’m in the same predicament, so we’ll outrun these assholes and discuss various ways of relieving tension afterward.”

She snorted, but he smiled, just a slight curving of his lips. A second later, all lightheartedness drained from his face as he concentrated on his task. Again, she was struck by that concentration, wondering what it would feel like to have it on her. All of that intensity zeroed in on her would be overwhelming.Was overwhelming. The scent of him was still on her skin.

She sighed and braced herself for a fight. She was sure the Gorgons knew what she possessed. The man who wanted the information hidden would pay good money to see her dead. Gorgons wouldn’t think twice about killing her and David Adams. Somehow, she had to separate herself from him for his own safety.

*****

David flipped the last few switches that would throw them intohyperspeed . He knew the Gorgon ship was a piece of shit. They hadn’t had much money, or they wouldn’t have hired out asmercs . Still, restlessness crawled up his spine. And he knew why. For the first time since running into Genoa, David

could block her feelings. Part of him was relieved; another part of him felt lost. For the last hour or so, her emotions had tangled with his, and although thrown into a whirlwind, David had gotten used to it. In fact, he had enjoyed using his gift for the first time. Paranormals had not been accepted on Earth since Ripley Johnson had tried to overthrow the Federation years ago. His group of paranormals had angered and frightenednormal people. The Federation’s restrictions that had resulted from Ripley Johnson’s failed coup made it crucial to hide any paranormal abilities.

But with Genoa, he hadn’t had a choice. Her emotions were stronger than anything he’d ever experienced. David wasn’t sure if he was comfortable with that little tidbit of information.Shana , his sister, had heard the thoughts of her boss, Marcus, and ended up married to him. That pattern wasn’t for him. Marriage wasn’t in the game plan. He didn’t want to raise another child who would have to hide his abilities for fear of death or internment.

And what the hell was he thinking about marriage for, anyway? He’d only met the woman an hour ago, and he was already thinking in absurd circles. Ithad to be the months of chasing the elusive Genoa. Those eyes in that picture had haunted him while he hunted for her.

He glanced in her direction and noticed her hands clutching the arms of her chair.

“Chill out, princess. I won’t let the big, bad Gorgons get you.”

She nodded, but her grip didn’t ease one bit. A little irritated by her lack of faith, he punched the last button. The ship shook, then accelerated intohyperspeed . Genoa looked out the portal view, and David followed the direction of her gaze. He had gained some distance, but not enough.

He concentrated on his task. As they shot ahead, the Gorgon ship followed, just closely enough to make him uncomfortable. They were still within shooting distance, and they were a warship. David’s cruiser didn’t stand a chance in a firefight.

“SimeanAsteroid Field ahead,” announced the ship’s computer.

“Shit,” David said.

“What?”

“We might have a few problems.”

“That’s an understatement.”

He shifted the craft to the right, avoiding another hit. “Well, the asteroid field might help. Their ship is bigger, harder to maneuver. But it’s a bitch to fly through.”

And the warship was gaining on them. Not a good sign. The first of the asteroids came into view, and David braced himself. Despite his efforts, a sense of unease, almost panic, washed over him. “I can do this. Don’t worry about it.”

His confident tone must have helped, because the worry ceased emitting from her. Knowing that his total concentration was needed, he focused on the upcoming asteroids, ignoring the threatening Gorgons. Their ship was too big to make it through the field. If they followed, it would be suicide. Either way, he came out on top. He just had to make it through to the other side.

First, he needed to slow down.Hyperspeed wasn’t an option. Flipping a few switches, the craft slowed.

“What the hell are you doing?”

“I need to slow down to go through the asteroids.”

“Shouldn’t we just go around?”

“No. They can’t make it through, so I think it would beneficial for us to try.”

“Try?”

He sighed. She was starting to irritate the hell out of him. He knew she was worried, butgeez , couldn’t she give a guy a break?

“Tryto make it through without getting hit.” He couldn’t help the irritation in his voice. The woman questioned everything he did.

“Do you mean to tell me, you don’t know if you can make it through the field?”

“I don’t know for sure, but I do know that if you don’t shut the hell up and let me do my job, we’re going to die.”

Wave after wave of hostility slapped out from her, but he ignored them. He’d deal with it when they got out of the mess they were in.

David pulled the craft to the right, missing an asteroid, but a laser shot grazed his right wingtip, causing the cruiser to shudder. Smoke billowed out of the side engine, but he kept his concentration on missing the large, gray masses of rock. They could survive damage to an engine. They would be galactic toast if they hit an asteroid.

As he swerved to miss another one, an explosion sounded in the distance. Bright white light shone from behind them, and David knew the Gorgons had been dumb enough, reckless enough, to try making it through the field.

He maneuvered around the last few rocks, and breathed a sigh of relief. A quick assessment of his instrument panel told him they would have to stop for repairs.

Now that the danger had passed for the moment, he retracted the mental wall he’d used to block out Genoa’s emotions. Why it worked now, and not earlier, he had no idea. But it had and it saved their asses. He looked at her. Her arms were crossed beneath her breasts. Just that one thought, and he was flung back into vortex. Her fear had subsided, but it had been replaced by a fair amount of anger mixed with desire, confusing him, arousing him. Just the thought of her arousal brought back the memories of where they had been before the Gorgons interrupted them. His dick went rock hard at the memory of her

desire rushing through him, entwining with his own. Damn, he had to get the woman out of his system. And he knew just how to do that.

“We’ve got to stop for some repairs. We won’t make it back to Earth with this damage.”

Her green eyes snapped fire, and narrowed. “How long?”

“A few hours, a day at most. We’ll stop onLangilia .” Something flicked across her face, in her emotions. Before he could define it, it dissolved. “And, while we’re there, we’ll have a talk.”

“Talk? We have nothing to talk about. I’ll send my info from there. I know there’s a secure line I can use. After that, we won’t have anything to do with each other.”

His own anger rose. The damn woman thought she could ignore what had gone on between them. That fact sent his temper racing. “First off,as I said before , I have a feeling that Marcus wants to see you in the flesh.” She bristled at his tone, her fury lapping at his senses. “Second, I want to know just what the hell is going on between you and the Gorgons. And last but not least, if you think I am going to be satisfied with a bit of dry humping, princess, you have another think coming. Once I get you on your back again, neither of us is coming up for air for at least a week.”

Chapter Four

For a second or two, Genoa didn’t respond. Her mouth opened and closed twice. David couldn’t help but be pleased. The woman never shut the hell up, and he was glad he finally put her in her place. Well, not exactly the place he’d planned. What he would like would be those full, ripe lips wrapped around his cock. He was almost dizzy with the image of her on her knees in front of him, using that smart mouth to suck him dry.

Her eyes narrowed as she regained her wits. He decided to nip her argument in the bud.

“We don’t have time for discussing the finer points of what I plan to do to your body. Or have you do to mine. I need to land this puppy onLangilia . Then we’ll discuss everything.”

She crossed her arms beneath her breasts. Anger rolled off her, surrounded him, and fueled his arousal. That red-headed temper of hers blazed through him, acting as one of the most powerful aphrodisiacs he’d ever encountered. Beneath the irritation, a current of lust flowed. The fact that she was as hot as he was had his dick standing at attention.

Without another word, he readied the ship for landing. He had to concentrate on getting them safely on the ground, and then he would turn his attention to getting Genoa on her back beneath him.

*****

As David talked to the engineer -- or, rather, fought with the engineer -- who was supposed to fix the craft, Genoa tried to rein in her temper. The man knew exactly what to say to get her anger going. And damned if that didn’t turn her on. She was sick. Not only was she attracted to ahuman , but,dammit , he was constantly irritating her. The fact that it aroused her aggravated her even more.

She walked away from the price haggling, away from the disturbing presence of David Adams. She drew in a breath and almost choked on the hot, thick air of theLangilia deserts. This side of the planet was not one of her favorites, but then, she really didn’t likeLangilia . Hot as hell on one side and frigid on the other. She shivered as a bead of sweat rolled between her breasts.

They still ached. Oh, Lord, just thinking about his hands on her breasts had her nipples drawing into hard points. What the hell was going on with her? She knew she was in her mating season, but it was different for her than it was for other Gorgons, since she was half human. Gorgon females only felt the desire to mate two times a year to ensure the survival of their species. Genoa, with her half-human nature, wasn’t like that. She enjoyed sex all year long. Only during those two three-month periods did desire threaten to overwhelm her good sense. But the scent of him, those male hormones, the aggression, the sexuality ... she just couldn’t resist it. It was like a feast, and she’d only had an appetizer.

What would it be like to have the full course?

She glanced back at David. Never in all her twenty-five years had she been attracted to a human. The race that had almost killed her mother, drove her from her home, and made her a refugee on a strange planet. David appealed to her on some primal level she didn’t understand.

Since his own attention was taken up haggling, she studied him more closely. Tall, lean, sculpted like an Adonis, David was any woman’s wet dream come true. From his long brown hair to his beautiful ass -Hell, she’d be happy to stare into his tawny eyes. Sick, she was sick.

Looking at temptation too long was going to screw with her mind. She’d start wanting things she knew she could never have. Turning away, she wandered toward the end of the shop, working out her next move. She’d look up Drake and see if he could put her up for a little while. If the Federation didn’t know about him -- and David would have stopped there, looking for her, if they had -- it was a pretty good bet that old Uncle Ripley and his merry band of misfits wouldn’t know, either.

The scent of him rose up, aggressive male with a dash of sexual desire flowing through it. She turned to find him standing within inches of her. His lips were in an unhappy line, his hair was a bit tangled, as if he’d been running his hands through it.

“We’re stuck.” David let loose a sigh that was filled with aggravation. “They can’t get to it until tomorrow. At the earliest. We’ll have to find a place to stay for at least one night. Do you know of anywhere?”

His eyes studied her as if he could see deep down inside of her. As if he could hear her thoughts, know what she was feeling.

“No.”

His gaze searched hers. “But you said I could just drop you off here. I figured you knew the area.”

“I don’t know the area. I ... I have a friend who lives on the Frigid Side.”

“A friend?”

His voice sharpened. The scent of male aggression and possessiveness washed over her. Damn her traitorous body. Her nipples tightened, and a wave of damp heat curled in her stomach, then slid down to her sex.

“DrakeConners is an old friend of mine, and if he lived on this side, I wouldn’t hesitate to have him put us up for the night. But he’s over the mountains.”

David grunted. It was about the only reaction he could give. Dealing with her feelings of agitation, along with his own, made it difficult to speak. That, and he still couldn’t believe his own emotions rolling through him.

White hot anger ... no, jealousy ... surged through him. What right did he have to be jealous of a man he didn’t know? Why the strange reaction? He knew the answer, but he didn’t want to admit it. Because of the way she said the bastard’s name. Her voice had softened and warmth from her had filled his gut. Whoever the guy was, David knew they had been intimate. His primal reaction to that fact really surprised him. He didn’t go for women who jumped from bed to bed, but not one of his past lovers had been a virgin.

A woman’s past had never bothered him until now.

“What is this Drake to you?”

She crossed her arms. “He’s a friend.”

That was all she was going to give him? No way. “A friend? As in, a ‘he is my friend and can put me up’ kind of friend, or ‘I just had sex last week with him’ kind of friend?”

Her anger and his intertwined and heated his blood. Even knowing she had every right to be angry with his questions didn’t matter. He couldn’t stop the thrum of possessiveness banging its way through his body.

“Drake is a scientist. He is a friend, a good friend. One I know I can trust. But, other than that, it isn’t any of your business.”

He damn sure is my business if you think I’m letting him lay a hand on you. David wanted so badly to shout out his ownership, to let the world know that he would be the only one touching her. But he knew from that stubborn tilt of her chin that she’d never go for that. Knew that underneath the want, there was a need so primal, so instinctive, that he just wanted to rip her clothes off and sink his cock into her tight, warm pussy. These feelings were all too new for him to handle.

All of his police training had been thrown out the window. His concentration should be on securing a location, watching their backs. Instead, his mind kept contemplating how Genoa would look wearing nothing but that mean frown.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” The tone in her voice matched the pulses of impatience she shot at him. “We need to find a place to stay, Adams.”

She spun around and marched to the bay door exit.Dammit . His attraction to her, and hers to him, was making him act like a jackass. He jogged to catch up to her. With those long legs, she ate up a lot of ground.

He grabbed her by the elbow and she came around swinging. He stopped her fist with his hand.

“Hey, I’m on your side here.”

She snorted. “I thought you were someone else.”

Even if she did, she still probably wouldn’t have regretted clipping him. Equal parts of agitation and arousal swept through him. Funny, he knew they were her feelings, but at the same time, his body responded. Not that he hadn’t been running around half-cocked since he rescued her in the bar, but this was different. Her emotions shimmered within him, striking a cord.

“Let’s get one thing straight. Marcus wants you in his office ASAP. Since we have to wait for the ship, we need to find a place to grab a bite to eat and a few hours’ sleep.”

“Can’t we just wait here?”

“In case you didn’t notice, there isn’t much around here, and I need food. Preferably meat, and not the usual rat they serve around this place.” He jerked his thumb in the direction of one of the traveling food crafts.Langilians had a preference for small rodents, much like Earth’s sewer dwellers. David could almost eat them if he was starving.

Almost.

She sighed. “Okay, but I get my own bed, space ranger. Iain’t sharing a pillow with you.”

He followed her out, not correcting her assumptions. Although a fair amount of arousal emitted from her, David sensed something close to panic streaming from Genoa. She was keeping something from him, he was sure of it. Something that was scaring the hell out of her.

Now, if he could keep his hands off her long enough to figure it out, he’d at least have some self-respect.

The sway of her hips caught his attention. A flash of the taste of her in his mouth, and all the blood drained from his head to his dick.Oh, yeah, off to a good start, Adams .

*****

Genoa shielded her eyes from the glare of theLangilian southern sun. The white light burned her eyes, causing her pulsing headache to worsen. She didn’t need to turn around to know that David had followed. Her body responded to him immediately. The hot air had intensified his scent. One whiff of his

pure male aggression, and her blood heated, pooling between her legs. She shifted from one foot to the other, trying to relieve the pressure. But the friction of her silk panties, damp with arousal, heightened her senses.

“We can rent a hover cycle.”

He had leaned over her shoulder, his breath warm against her ear. She shivered as a bead of sweat rolled down between her breasts. Trying to separate herself from the confusion of her attraction, she nodded and stepped away from him.

“Come on.” His voice was a low growl, but she ignored it. If he were pissed at her, or aggravated about their situation, he might stay away from her. The further away he stayed, the better chance she had of resisting him until he dropped her in Marcus’s lap.

David strode past her, and she followed slowly, looking at the terrain of the unfamiliar planet. The stark desert surrounding the space station reminded her of the pictures she’d seen of Arizona. Coral sand shimmered in bright sunlight. Cacti littered the area, several of them blooming pink flowers. A few yards away, a small furry animal scampered about. She smiled and stopped to watch it hop around.

“Keep moving, princess.”

She shot him a dirty look over her shoulder. “Although a Neanderthal like you might not understand, I like little furry animals.”

“Okay. But just so you know, that little cute rodent has fangs that will not only dig into that ivory skin of yours, but the venom is particularly nasty. It’s a slow death. First it will attack your sight, then move on to your nervous system. By the time it moves through your entire body, you’ll be begging to die.”

She swallowed and watched the animal look up at her. It blinked its bright blue eyes. A moment before she was going to turn around and complain about David teasing her, the animal inched closer and bared a very sharp pair of fangs. She spun around and hurried after David, ignoring his smug laughter.

“Maybe someday you’ll learn to take my advice.” He held the door to the rental shop open for her.

The inside of the shop was dim compared to outside. For a moment, both Genoa and David hesitated, allowing for their eyes to adjust.

“Vat tovoo want?”

Behind the counter stood a tall creature with pink skin, almost the same shade as the sand outside. She’d heard of SouthernLangilians . They resembled lizards, with their scaly skin and their clawed feet. This one was actually dressed, but Genoa knew that many of them didn’t bother. They were cold-blooded creatures, not able to adapt to any other weather extreme but the desert. His tongue flicked in and out, trying to pick up their scent.

“We want to rent a hover cycle to ride intoFineria . Should be back tomorrow,” David said, stepping around her and pushing her behind him.

“Voohave coin?”

TheLangilian asked the question of David, but he kept eyeing Genoa. A chill swept over her, knowing by the calculating look in his teal eyes that he thought she might be on the table for payment.Langilians were into the slave trade. And, if he sensed her unique parentage, she knew he was probably counting the money he’d make off her.

“Yes, I do. And if you’re going to fucking talk to me, you better meet my eye.”

His attention finally left her and went to David. They haggled over the price for a few minutes, but David talked him down. After paying theLangilian and gathering the key card, David ushered her out of the shop.

The chill that had swept through her body melted as soon as David’s hand came in contact with the small of her back.

“We should be able to find us a room inFineria . It’s pretty big.”

“Aroom. I think I remember saying I wanted my own room.” Even if the idea of curling next to his body sent a wave of warmth through her. Damn. She needed to fight the attraction she had for this full-breed. He was dangerous with a capital D. Her own reaction scared her. Humans, full-breeds especially, usually turned her off. Well, except for Drake. He didn’t count, because he had as many scars as she did.

David studied the key card for a moment, then walked up the aisle between two rows of dilapidated hover cycles. When he reached number forty-nine, he picked up the helmets, handing her one. “No. Even if I trusted you, which I don’t, I need to be there in case your buddies show up.”

She gripped the helmet, her fingers wrapping around the face guard so tightly, her hand ached. “I can handle my own safety, thank you.”

He slammed the helmet down on his head and turned to face her. His tawny eyes studied her. His lips were set in a grim line. “Like back at the bar?”

“That was --”

“What? Just a misunderstanding? You would have talked yourself out of it? Think again.Deras wanted more than just you. It must be the precious information that you have for Marcus. But, as I said before, Marcus wants you, in the flesh. And I’ve told you before, and I will tell you again and again until you learn -- I am in charge.” The last bit was said from behind clenched teeth. “Now, put your fucking helmet on and shut the hell up. We need to get toFineria before dark and hunker down. Not only am I worried about some of the nocturnal creatures in this desert area; I also have a feeling Gorgons aren’t that far behind us.”

She hated that authoritative, macho-man-in-charge attitude. Really, there was no reason for her heart to beat so hard and her blood to boil. She despised alpha males. “We lost them.”

He looked at the helmet still in her hands, and then at her head. She sighed and shoved it on.

“Honey, Gorgons always travel in pairs. You can bet there’s another group of them on your tail. And not

only will they be pissed about losing you, but they might take it personally that I killed their buddy. I don’t want to be around when they show up.”

Chapter Five

David whizzed around a cab moving at a snail’s pace, trying to fight the worry gnawing at his gut. Genoa’s anxiety wormed through his system, combining with his, making it hard to concentrate. Of course, having every inch of her plastered against him wasn’t helping, either.

The cycle they had was a piece of shit, moaning and shuddering each time he gunned the engine. And when the craft shook, Genoa’s breasts jiggled against his back. He knew what they looked like, smooth and pert, and the taste ...

He shifted, the pressure in his cock almost to the point where he might embarrass himself. Her nipples rubbed against his back again and he groaned.

“What’s wrong?” She had to yell the question over the sound of the motor.

“Nothing.”

Nothing that a few days in bed wouldn’t cure. He’d been light in blood to the brain since seeing her for the first time. Now that he’d had a taste of her, he couldn’t fight the sexual pull she had on him. He thanked God she had no idea of what she did to him. Knowing her, she’d use it against him, drive him crazy, and probably use the knowledge to escape.

He pulled into another lane. The craft shuddered again, her breasts pressed harder. Her panic was subsiding, and a flash of arousal hummed between them. Shit. His dick strained against the confines of his suit, the stretchy fabric rubbing against it. Her arousal and his, added to the friction, were going to drive him insane.

He noticed a hotel ahead with a vacancy sign. Weaving in and out of traffic, he took a hard right and parked in front of the entrance. A room, a bed, and a lock on the door were just what he needed right now. He yanked out the cycle’s key card while he waited for Genoa to dismount. She was already opening the door before he had his ass off the bike.

“Genoa,” he growled.

She turned, her eyebrow raised, her eyes narrowed. “What?”

“Wait for me. You never know what you’ll run into on this planet. It’s a portal stop for every damn piece of scum in three galaxies.”

Her gaze traveled first down the length of him, then back up. “Yeah, I can see that.”

“Smart-ass.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her behind him as he entered the hotel.

“Better than a dumb one.”

He refused to rise to her bait as he continued to pull her toward the desk. The sharp look of the male Denizen working the counter sent a flush of warmth to David’s face. With the exception of light-blue skin and four eyes, creatures from the Denizen sector resembled humans. But their senses were three hundred times more acute than humans.

“We need a room.”

The clerk nodded, apparently agreeing. Lord knows the feelings rolling off Genoa were blasting him with a myriad of emotions. Fear, irritation, and at the moment, the strongest was arousal.

The clerk slid a key card toward David, and smiled. “Twenty coins.”

David slammed down the money, grabbed the key, and headed to their room. A slap of agitation hit him so hard he almost chuckled, but he wasn’t going to let her win this argument. He found their room in no time and unlocked it. “Stick close behind me. I want to make sure we don’t have any guests we don’t know about.”

“Other than the irritating one with two legs in front of me?”

He chuckled. He couldn’t help himself. The woman had enough sass to need a good spanking. The image of Genoa draped across his legs, her bare bottom at his mercy, had him biting back a wave of painful arousal.

He entered the room, Genoa all but plastered against his back. The room was small and utilitarian, but that was fine by David. Less footage to protect. All he needed was the bed. And what a bed. It was big enough to accommodateLangilians , and some of their race could top eight feet. His dick twitched at the thought of his plans for that bed.

After checking a bathroom that sported one of the biggest tubs he’d ever seen, he returned to the bedroom. Genoa stood by the one small, round window, the red hotel sign flashing against her skin. While other feelings -- fear, arousal -- shimmered in the background, the one coming clearest to him was loneliness. Of having nowhere to turn, no one to trust. It was so strong he had to swallow the pain filling his heart and closing his throat. What was she hiding from him? She still didn’t trust him or she would know she wasn’t alone. And, even though he knew she’d been trained to question everyone’s motives, it angered him she didn’t trust him. Completely irrational. And about par for his behavior since meeting her.

“Get away from the window.”

“Why?”

“Why? Jesus, do you not know how noticeable you are? On this planet, especially. Human women don’t venture here, and I can almost guarantee that they are not almost six-foot-tall redheads with bodies to die for.”

For the first time, her face flushed. It had to be one of the most seductive things he’d ever seen.

Knowing she kissed like a wet dream, paired with that show of modesty, fueled his hunger.

“You’re just saying that to get me into bed,” she said, but still moved away from the window, closer to him. Closer to the bed.

“No. It’s the reason I want you in bed.”

“David ...”

“But, first, we need to get a few things straight.”

She struck what had to be her favorite pose when irritated, crossing her arms beneath her breasts and tapping her foot on the floor. “A few things?”

“I’m in charge. I know you may be a first-rate spy, but I have a background in police enforcement.”

“I would have never guessed.”

“I just want you to listen to me, listen to my orders, so I can get us both out of here alive.”

She snorted.

“And you’ll go to see Marcus. I don’t want him bothered with this problem, because what bothers him, bothersShana . And I don’t want her bothered.”

“Shana?”

Was that a hint of jealousy he heard in her voice? “My sister married Marcus a few months ago.”

Her eyes widened and her arms dropped to her sides. “You’reShana Adams’s brother?”

“Why do you find that so hard to believe?”

She shrugged. “I’ve seen her name on a few things. Some requests, things like that. I sent her a few reports.”

“The last of which said that you were on to something big.”

Another jolt of fear lanced out at him. “Don’t worry about it. We get that ton of junk you call a ship fixed, and you can deliver me to Marcus with a fucking red bow on my head.”

He bit back a chuckle. Genoa’s emotions were riding a thin line between outright panic and arousal. Before she could argue, he stepped closer and drew her into his arms. He knew the alarm racing through her could push her over the edge of reason. Whatever she had on the Gorgons, whatever she had for Marcus, must be pretty important. The moment his arms wrapped around her, she stiffened. He tried to ignore his own emotions of want, of downright need to have this woman beside him, beneath him. As he rubbed her back with one of his hands, her muscles slowly relaxed. A moment later, he wanted to shout with triumph because she slid her arms around his waist and pressed closer.

Every sweet curve of her body was plastered against him. From those long legs he’d like wrapped around his waist, to her wet, hot sex, to her firm breasts, her nipples hard with want. His blood raced, his heart beat against his chest. Her fear receded as her desire swept through both of them. He closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath. The scent of her, arousal entwined with pure Genoa, wrapped around his senses. She nuzzled his neck, her breath hot against his skin.

Her passion ran along his nerve endings, pushing him further toward the edge. Genoa was something you didn’t bite into and swallow in one gulp. She was a woman to savor. David wanted to spend hours getting to know every curve, every inch of her body. She was making it hard for him to remember that as her tongue traced a path up his neck, past his jaw to his mouth.

The moment her tongue touched his lips, he opened them, allowing her invasion. Just like before, her sweet, wild taste burst through him. Her excitement spurred his. She slid her hands up his chest, over his shoulders, and then speared her fingers through his hair. She moaned as he deepened the kiss, tangling his tongue with hers. The sound, so wanton, so free, fed into his soul. A fire to own, to posses the curves he knew she hid beneath her clothing, blazed through him. His dick pulsed with need. He wanted to be inside her, sinking into her wet, hot pussy.

He walked her backward until the backs of her knees hit the mattress. She tumbled down and he covered her. Every blessed inch of her pressed against him. His balls drew tight as her sweet scent filled his senses. He had to feel her skin next to his, taste it.

Resting his weight on one hand, he grabbed the edge of her shirt with the other and yanked it over her head. He threw it on the floor behind him while her hands tugged at the zipper of his uniform top. She slid it down, then pushed the top off him. He tossed it aside and pushed her back down. A sigh of pure pleasure escaped her lips as he cupped her breast and grazed his thumb over her puckered nipple. Soft, smooth, ivory breasts with nipples the color of rosebuds. He bent his head and touched the tip of one with his tongue. Taking the turgid peak into his mouth, he pinched the other between his fingers.

A wave of heat smacked him right in the chest and slid down to his cock. He felt a drop of pre-cum wet the head.Jesus . He swallowed. His own emotions were enough to scare the hell out of him, and then hers twisted through him. Nothing had ever felt like this. Fear, excitement, wariness, and arousal filled him. They tangled with his feelings, coursing through his veins, calling the primal beast that lay beneath the surface.

David’s pulse pounded. He knew at that moment, he had to be inside her when she came. Anticipation skidded along his skin at the thought of her feelings rushing through him as he pumped himself into her. He couldn’t get past the taste of her, the scent of her. She moved against him and he almost came then and there. David pulled away, then stood, his hands shaking as he grabbed her pants and yanked them off her.

He was transfixed by the sight before him. He’d never seen a body so perfectly made for him. Lean, but soft in all the right places.

“David.” Her voice was demanding, and a shade of embarrassment colored it.

Glancing up, he bit back a chuckle. Her face was so red, it almost matched her hair.

“Genoa, I have to take my time. You’re a work of art. And deserve attention.” He skimmed his fingers across her nipple, smiling when she shivered. Without stopping the descent of his hand, he continued. “All this ivory skin and that red hair ...”

Her stomach muscles contracted and her belly ring jiggled. He hesitated when he reached the dark red hair at the juncture of her thighs. Her anticipation skated along his skin and curled into his stomach. Heat emanated from her, the smell of her arousal growing stronger by the minute. He brushed her curls and drew in a deep breath when he found them wet. Passion dashed with apprehension soon followed, adding to the need coursing through his veins. Knowing he couldn’t wait a second longer, he brushed his fingers against hermons , then dipped them between the lips of her sex.

She released a moan from deep in her throat as he added another finger and massaged her clit. Wet and hot, her pussy clamped his fingers each time he pushed them back inside of her. An urge to taste, to savor her, had him on his knees.

As he continued to move his fingers in and out, he buried his head between her legs. The moment he licked her lips, the taste of her -- sweet, spicy, forbidden -- exploded in his mouth. Her legs moved restlessly against his face. Tension tightened in his gut as she edged closer to completion. He could feel the excitement growing within her. God, the woman was beyond anything he had ever experienced. He pressed harder on her clit as he drew his fingers from her pussy and replaced them with his tongue. Fuck, she was tasty. He licked her, then sucked on her clit and repeated the action over and over. Mindlessly, she began moaning his name, and an instant later, she convulsed as she screamed through her orgasm. As her feelings washed over him, he almost came in his pants.

He stood, her sated desire still humming through him. Genoa lay, still shuddering from her release, her hair a tangle of curls and dreadlocks, her skin flushed with heated passion.

Now -- it had to be now. He ripped open the front of his pants. His erection sprang free. Never in his life had he been this hard, but never in his life had he experienced the feelings of his mate.

“David.” His name came out in a gasp as he covered her once again. He lifted her legs to his shoulders. She watched him and licked her lips. Groaning her name, he thrust his cock into her in one swift move.

Lord, she felt good. Those muscles that had clenched against his fingers only moments ago, clamped his dick like a vise. He groaned, pulling out and then shoving back inside her slick channel. His balls drew

tighter as her arousal built, spiraling through him. He didn’t know where her feelings stopped and his started. They melted together as his blood rushed toward his cock.

Not able to stand it, he pulled her legs from his shoulders, then spread them wider. He rested his weight on his hands and then increased the speed and intensity of his thrusts. Genoa was close to coming again, and he wanted her out of her mind. But as he pushed her, his own control snapped, and he slammed into her, spilling his seed. She came at the same time, her feelings running through him as natural as the blood in his veins.

He collapsed on top of her, kissing her neck. Knowing he weighed a ton, he shifted his weight, pulling out of her with regret. He didn’t want to leave her body, but he knew she was uncomfortable. She sighed, and he looked down at her. Feelings of sated desire, of complete and utter fulfillment, emanated from Genoa. Her eyes were closed, but her lips curved into a satisfied smile.

“I take it you’re happy?” he asked. Her smiled widened.

“I would have to say the answer to that is yes.”

The husky edge in her voice sank into his bones. He wanted to build all that passion again. Hell, he was getting hard again. But, as he moved to take a hardened nipple into his mouth, he noticed lights flashing outside the window.

He lifted himself up to hands and cursed when he saw a land cruiser parked on the street. Several Gorgon warriors spilled out of the passenger hatch.

“What’s wrong?”

He looked down at the woman. Damn he could still taste her on his lips. This was something more than just a little info for Marcus, and he needed to know it if he was going to save their lives. He stood and buttoned his pants, then grabbed up his jacket.

“We got company, princess. Once I get us out of here, and save your ass again, you’re going to tell me just what the hell you have that they want so badly. Or, I will drop your ass in the middle of the desert

and not look back.”

Chapter Six

Genoa inhaled David’s scent -- all male arousal with a hint of possessiveness -- and sighed. Clean and pure, it sent her head spinning every time she took a breath. She lay on the bed, the heat of their lovemaking still warming her skin as David ranted about Gorgons who just drove up. Sighing, she sat up and looked around for her clothes. He was going to ruin a wonderful moment. She wanted to savor it. But with Gorgons out for her blood and a lover who didn’t look very happy with her at the moment, sometimes a girl just didn’t get any breaks.

“I mean it, Genoa. I save your ass this time, you owe me. I want to know just what they’re after.”

She slipped on her top and then pulled on her pants. “Okay. Fine.”

Refusing to look at him, she searched for her shoes.

“Don’t get that look. I mean it.”

When she didn’t say anything as she settled on the bed and pulled on her shoes, he exhaled. “Genoa, know right now, games like that don’t set well with me.”

She looked up at him. He was fully dressed. His unbuttoned jacket was the only sign of their lovemaking. How had he changed so quickly from the lover she knew into the space cadet she hated? And why did she yearn to skim her fingers against his cheek?

“I’m not playing games. I never do, David. I meant what I said.”

His gaze bore into hers for a second, then he nodded. He gathered his weapons. “We have to get going. I don’t know what the hell we’re going to do about a place to stay, but we need to find some kind of shelter. Nights on either side of this planet can be especially brutal.”

She stood and followed him to the door. “I already told you. I have a ... friend who lives on the other side. Not sure exactly where.”

David’s head whipped around. “Afriend ? LikeDeras is a friend?” His sarcasm was back in full force.

“No. Like a ‘before I started working for the Federation’ kind of friend. Drake is a scientist studying something, I have no idea what. He’s part of that research lab they have up there in theQuathent Sector. He’d be a good choice for shelter. You didn’t detect him, and I am sure the Gorgons don’t know him, either.”

Raised voices sounded down the hall. David opened the door and leaned out. He turned to her, held his finger to his mouth, and grabbed her hand. After they slipped through the door, he pushed her in front of him, down the hallway in the opposite direction of the entrance to the hotel. He kept turning his head to watch for anyone following them as she led them down first one hallway and then the next. It took four turns before she found an exit.

Sliding in front of her, he opened the door, stuck his head out, and motioned for her to follow. The aquamarine moonlight cast an eerie glow on the street. The hot, dry air had cooled considerably while they’d been occupied in the hotel, and she shivered. She drew in a deep breath, trying to detect Gorgons nearby. The only thing she picked up was various rodent creatures on the prowl. David showed no reaction to the cold blast of air, of course, and dragged her down the street to the corner of the building.

Unbelievably, they found their hover cycle parked where he left it. He handed her a helmet and donned his. Moments later, as he started the cycle, shouts and laser fire erupted inside the hotel. He revved the engine and they shot forward.

Genoa tightened her hands around his midsection to keep from falling off. A couple of Gorgons who apparently were supposed to be on lookout, were caught unawares as David and Genoa sped past them. The shouts increased in volume, and the sound of engines starting sent a wave of nausea through her.

David accelerated, speeding past other vehicles, swerving around pedestrians who had the right of way. The material of her blouse fluttered behind them as she hugged David tighter. His body heat seeped into her, warming her to her bones.

“Link your fingers and hold on tight, princess. I have to lose these assholes if we’re going to make it out

of here.”

She did as he instructed. He veered between two hover vehicles, barely missing them by centimeters Stifling a scream, she closed her eyes and swallowed. If the Gorgons didn’t catch them, David was sure to kill them in the process of escaping.

*****

David maneuvered around another slow-moving cab, thinking that when he woke up that morning, he would never have thought it would end up this badly. Damn his brother-in-law for sending him on the quest for Genoa. Marcus could have sent anyone, but no, David had insisted on doing the job. He wished they’d sent Fredrickson.

No, strike that. The thought of the younger man touching Genoa sent anger racing through him. He could do without the pain of the six-month search and her fear coursing through him now. He told her he would keep her safe, hadn’t he? What else was worrying her?

Someone opened the door of a parked cab, and David swerved to miss it. Genoa screamed in his ear. Loud. He tried his best to ignore the panic settling in his gut. As the Gorgon laser fire blasted around him, he had to keep his cool, but Genoa kept screwing with his concentration. The woman was a whirlwind of emotions, and he didn’t know how much more he would be able to take.

The Gorgons were losing ground. If he did some fast thinking, he could leave them behind for good. He had to get them somewhere for the night, some out-of-the-way place to think and plan. They couldn’t go back to the ship, and they wouldn’t make it to herfriend’s place. He tightened his hands on the handlebars and tried to cage the jealous beast rising to irritate him once more.

He saw a sharp corner and knew he could make it, but the craft the Gorgons were in would have to slow down to turn. Accelerating, he took the turn and immediately found a narrow alley. Speeding down the alley, ignoring Genoa’s fear, he hoped he could find another turn and completely lose the bastards.

His prayers were answered when he found another alley and continued heading west, out of the city. A few minutes later, he looked behind them and felt certain they had lost their friends. He slowed the cycle but continued his trek out of the city and into the wilderness of theLangilia night.

Genoa’s fear was beginning to fade and anger soon replaced it. Before she could complain, he decided to clear a few things up.

“Listen. I am going to find us a place to hunker down. It will be the safest thing to do.”

She shifted behind him. The irritation inching down his spine wasn’t his; it was hers. It seemed after making love, he’d lost the ability to block her emotions. That thought brought back the memories of her taste, of sinking into her hot, wet core. He groaned as his dick hardened. It didn’t help having her pressed against his back, her nipples hard. What the hell was going on? He couldn’t help but feel a connection to her, something he’d never felt before. The sooner he got them back to Earth, the sooner he could talk toShana and find out just what the hell was going on.

*****

David drove for what felt like hours. His ass was sore. He was fairly certain he’d operated without any blood in his brain for the last hour.

There had been no sign of the Gorgons since they lost them within the city. He was tired, horny, and irritated by the fact he had to spend at least some time getting information from Genoa before he could take her back to bed.

The cycle’s notification system told him there was a motel up ahead, so he followed the directions. When he pulled into the lot, he wanted to curse. Rundown, from the sagging roof to the characters hanging around the door, it looked like home to some of the worst scum. But, they couldn’t drive all night. They both needed rest.

He parked the cycle next to a truck. Genoa dismounted, and he followed. She pulled off her helmet and

shook out her hair. Damn, he wanted her again.

“Well, looks like you pick top-rate lodgings, captain.”

He grunted, but ignored the comment. They didn’t have a choice. Grabbing her with one hand and pulling off his helmet with the other, he walked toward the inn. He didn’t like the looks Genoa received from some of the males, human and otherwise, hanging around outside. They stepped through the door and both of them paused to take in their surroundings. Dark and dank, the scent ofdekerfiti , a drug illegal in most places, drifted through the room. Off to the right, a loud throng filled with what looked to be bounty hunters, cutthroats, and prostitutes of all sexes and species crowded around the bar area. Orange lights flashed to the beat of the band as bodies danced to the pulsing rhythm.

There was a hint of fear from Genoa. Not much, because the main thing he felt from her was irritation. And there was a healthy dose of what felt like jealousy. He tried not to smile as Genoa shot a half-nakedSiminwea whore, who was giving David the eye, a dirty look. TheSiminwea were a cat-like species, and she purred when he smiled at her. Genoa’s anger rose, causing him to chuckle. Before she could scratch the woman’s eyes out, David decided to get them a room.

He approached the innkeeper, secured them a room, and once again dragged her down another hall to another bedroom. As they walked, the sounds of heavy panting seeped from the rooms they passed. A few males approached him, intent on buying her from him. This sector apparently had no slavery laws. The way he’d been hauling her around probably made them think she was his to barter. Some well-placed glares, and they all backed off.

Once inside, Genoa watched David stalk around the room and then check the bathroom. She sighed, trying to ignore the frisson of worry plaguing her. The Gorgons, her uncle, even the cutthroats and miscreants down the hall didn’t bother her. The caged tiger pacing in the room scared the shit out of her. Her senses reeled from the sight of his male aggression. It had always been a turn-off for her. She hated alphas. They drove her up the wall with their damn orders. Her father was a good example. And Drake -- he was an alpha, too. Barking orders, assuming control, thinking they owned the whole freaking universe.

Just like David’s order after they’d made love. He wanted answers and he was far too perceptive for her to fool. She didn’t know how he seemed to gauge what she was thinking, or what she wanted in bed, but he knew. And, if that wasn’t enough, when he looked at her with those lion’s eyes, she lost her train of thought.

As he looked out the window, she allowed her eyes to travel the length of his body. She couldn’t help but remember the feel of his hands, his mouth on her skin. She shivered as the memories washed over her. He turned abruptly and gave her a long look.

“Stop looking like you want to eat me alive.”

There was no seductive purr in his voice. It was hard and demanding. And,dammit , a rush of heat swept through her. What the hell was wrong with her?

He moved to sit on the bed, then turned and sat in the chair. “So, you want to tell me what the hell you have on the Gorgons, what little piece of information they’re so determined to get?”

She shifted from foot to foot, then began to pace the room. “I came across some information about who funded their New Year’s Eve attack.”

“Who?” His voice was guttural, and angry. Tension and almost murderous rage replaced his normal male aggressive scent. Too late she remembered the rumor that his sister,Shana , had been involved in stopping the attack and had also been a target of their agent on Earth.

Drawing in a deep breath, she tried to gather her courage and meet his gaze. “Ripley Johnson.”

His eyes widened. “You’re lying. He’s dead.”

“No, he isn’t. He financed that attack and he’s planning another.”

He shook his head. She nodded.

“How do you expect me to believe you? Jesus, woman, he would have to be --”

“Close to ninety years old. I know. But he’s alive and planning another attack against the Federation, against Marcus especially. And I have the proof.”

Chapter Seven

If it hadn’t been such damn bad information, Genoa would have laughed at the expression on David’s face. From the anger in his eyes and the downright ugly frown, she knew he was pissed.

“Proof? What kind of proof do you have?” His words dripped with sarcasm and disbelief.

She blinked, amazed that she felt tears gather in her eyes. Refusing to show any weakness in front of him, she forged ahead. “I have a series of transmissions from him toFeross ,Deras’s pack leader.”

“How can you prove that this is him? Maybe it’s someone just using his name.”

She pretended his cold disbelief in her abilities didn’t hurt.

“I thought of that, David. Don’t you think I did?”

He looked away, apparently not willing to answer. “What did you find?”

“Ripley survived the last battle with the Federation. He’s been living in theRicinec Sector, on the outer edges of nowhere. He makes direct statements that only Ripley would know about that last battle.”

He met her gaze. “And how do you know them?”

She swallowed, pushing aside the panic turning her stomach. She couldn’t tell him the whole truth. “I hacked into some of the classified files at the Counter-Terrorism Department.”

He shot out of the chair and crowded her against the wall. “You hacked into their computers.”

“What was I supposed to do?” She stepped around him. “My supervisor ignored all of my reports. He had access to that information, but he refused to check it out.”

Hard, steel-like fingers surrounded her upper arm. He stepped behind her. “Who was your supervisor?”

She shivered, not from fear, but from the heat coursing through her. His breath was hot on her skin, the very heat of his body warmed her back.

“John Marrow.”

Immediately, he turned her around. “Marrow?”

“Yes. I sent all my reports to him, and now you know why nothing got to Marcus, or has gotten to him.”

She wiggled her arm, freed herself, and stepped away from him. Thinking straight with him so close to her was impossible.

“If he was ignoring you, why not go straight to Marcus?”

“I didn’t know Marcus wasn’t getting the reports. And by the time I figured it out, Marrow had alerted Johnson. I had to disappear.”

His sigh was filled with aggravation and tension. “So, that’s why I’ve been chasing you for months?” She

nodded. “You want to tell me what you have?”

She shook her head. “No.” He opened his mouth to argue, but she stopped him. “David, having two people with the information will do nothing. And truthfully, you know the important stuff. Ripley Johnson has disappeared, presumably to regroup for another attack. The real danger is to Marcus. From the transmissions, Ripley hates the Carlyle family with a passion that’s just not healthy.”

He turned and strode away to look out the portal. “When is this supposed to take place?”

“Not sure. But, I know he will not stop until he makes the Federation, and Marcus, pay. From his messages, he’s really gone off the deep end.”

“Ripley Johnson.” He said the name like a curse. “He should be rotting in a corner of hell.”

She agreed. But the smell of his anger was fading, and something she hadn’t smelled before drifted toward her. Panic. Panic from David? To ease his worries, she went to him and placed a hand on his shoulder, hoping it would help a little. He’d almost lost his sister last time.

“It’s okay, David. We’ll make it back in time.”

He turned to face her. The scent of his alarm receded. Pure male arousal filled her senses.

“Now that we have that mess out of the way, princess ...”

Immediately, her body responded to his husky voice. He bent his head, his arms snaking around her waist, drawing her closer. The hard ridge of his erection rested against her stomach. His lips captured hers in forceful kiss. The intensity of it stole her breath. Her eyes closed as she allowed herself to dissolve into the feeling of being taken.

In her limited experience with males, Genoa had normally been the aggressor. Okay, there had only been one, but she had been the one who initiated their sexual relationship. She’d controlled the length of

the relationship. With David, she loved just knowing that he was there. She took comfort in his presence.

In less than twenty-four hours, she’d grown attached to him. And no matter how many times she told herself it was the situation, the danger they were facing that drew her to him as if she were the moth and he the flame, she knew that wasn’t it. Deep down inside of her, where her deepest fears lay, the thought that he was more than just another bed mate, another lover, flamed bright.

It scared the hell out of her.

His hands slid up her body, brushing over her hardened nipples, to cup her face. “Shhh, baby, there’s no reason to worry.”

Something broke inside of her at the tenderness of his voice, the gentle concern she saw when she opened her eyes. He was a lean, hungry predator, but there was a softness to him when he touched her that shook her foundations. His hands traveled back down her body to cup her ass. Without closing his eyes, he rubbed his cock against her. Liquid heat dampened the lips of her sex.

She slid her arms over his shoulders, then tangled her fingers in his hair. Applying just enough pressure with her hand, she brought his lips back to hers. She opened her mouth immediately, taking his tongue into her mouth, sucking on it. Slowly, he backed to the bed without breaking the kiss. Once he reached it, he fell back and pulled Genoa with him. She landed on top of him with an “oomph.”

She lifted herself, resting her weight on her hands, and moved against him. A thrilling sense of power shifted through her as his eyes closed in obvious ecstasy. She bent her head and kissed his jaw, licking and nipping at the sensitive skin below his beard.

She wanted to feel his skin. Within moments, she was tugging off his jacket and splaying her hands over his well-muscled chest. She twirled her fingers around his nipples. He sucked in his breath and she laughed, delighted by the sound, by the power. Her lips replaced her fingers as she kissed a path down his chest to his stomach until she reached the top of his pants. Slowly, sensuously, she skimmed the top of his waistband, allowing the tips of her fingers to dip inside, grazing the head of his shaft. It was wet with pre-cum. She lifted her fingers to her tongue and licked. She hummed as she tasted it. His eyes darkened with promises of retribution.

“Genoa.” Half reprimand, half plea.

The sound of his voice, husky with desire, tingled along her skin. As she pulled her pants off, another burst of heat thrummed through her, gathering in her stomach and then sliding to her pussy at the heated look in his eyes.

“Now, David --”

She popped one button.

“-- I think --”

Pop.

“-- you need to learn --”

Pop.

“-- how to control yourself.”

Pop.

“If you’re good, I just might reward you.”

Pop.

He groaned as the last button was released and his cock was freed. She trailed one finger from the base to the head. Oh, God, his shaft was hard and hot. She licked her lips when she saw the drop of liquid

wetting the head.

He growled. She shifted her attention to his face. His jaw was clenched, his nostrils flared, and his eyes blazed.

“Really, I thought space rangers had more power over their reactions.”

“I never said I minded losing control, Genoa. But if you keep teasing me, you’re going to end up getting yourself in trouble.”

“Hmmm.” She shivered at his dark tone. Running her hand down his dick to caress his balls, she thought of the taste of him, of what it would be like to have him come in her mouth. Wanting a different angle, she climbed next to him on the bed, gave him a quick kiss, then turned to situate herself where she wanted to be.

As she nipped at the head of his shaft, his hand skimmed up the inside of her thigh. A moment later, his fingers brushed her curls. As his fingers stroked, she took his cock between her lips. His legs shifted restlessly on the bed as she took almost the entire length of him in her mouth. Sliding the hard, hot length of him in and out, she hummed as his fingers slipped in between the lips of her sex.

The scent of him was unlike anything she’d experienced. Strong, masculine, possessive, but there was an underlying scent of something she couldn’t define. Some emotion she couldn’t grasp, especially coming from David, a man who hid his emotions from most everyone, she was sure.

She continued sucking, taking him deeper and deeper into her mouth. He added another finger while his thumb caressed her clit. She moved against him. Each time she pushed back against his hand, his dick slid out of her mouth, then back in as she pulled away. Tension gathered in her stomach as her rush of emotion spiraled through her.

“That’s it, baby. Come for me.” His voice dark, guttural, pushed her over the edge.

She broke free, her body convulsing as she came. All the while she hummed, licking and sucking his dick. As her orgasm waned, he lifted her leg over him. Next, his hands grasped her ass as he buried his

face between her legs.

Lord, she didn’t know how much more she could take. His tongue traced the lips of her sex, then delved inside. He squeezed her cheeks as he continued to lick, suck. The delicious pressure began to build within her again. He took her hardened clit between his teeth. That one little action sent her spiraling out of control as she came again.

Her own orgasm had her sucking harder, pulling his orgasm from him. He groaned her name as he came, his hot seed spurting into her mouth as she lapped and sucked. She didn’t stop until his body relaxed.

After settling next to him on the bed, he kissed the top of her head. The action was so tender, she had to swallow the lump in her throat. What the hell was wrong with her? She never let messy emotions screw with her concentration or a job. But with David, well, she’d grown too dependant too fast. She couldn’t fight the feelings that threatened to swamp her. Her fear of being discovered battled with her need, her want to tell David everything about her past.

What would he do if he found out that not only was she half Gorgon, a species he despised for their traitorous ways, but the great-niece of the man whose actions almost killedShana ?

Chapter Eight

David stroked his hand down Genoa’s back as she slept. Her head rested on his chest, close to his heart. As he listened to the noise of the off-tune music from the bar, his senses were alert for any noise that didn’t belong. Anything out of the ordinary. He knew they were still in danger. This assignment had turned into something different altogether.

He glanced down at Genoa’s face. Gently, he pushed back a few stray rebellious curls and noticed his hand still shook. His own emotions had been stripped down, and were still raw and primitive. Added to the tumultuous sensations he felt while making love to Genoa, he was a mess. The tidal wave of emotion had left him wary of his own feelings.

He sighed. He’d known her less than a full day and she had suddenly become important. Why?

Part of the answer lay in the day Marcus had handed her file to him. He’d opened it, looked at thepic of her, all that red hair, green eyes, and damn smirk, and his blood had heated. There was something so damn intriguing about the woman. He knew now it had more to do with their connection on the emotional

plane than it did with her looks. Although, God couldn’t have made a woman more right for him. Long legs, rounded hips, tiny waist, and small, pert breasts that tasted of strawberries.

As usual, his body reacted. His cock tented the sheet that covered them. He’d laugh if it didn’t hurt so much. The emotional toll of making love to Genoa was almost not worth the feeling of completeness, of rightness. And that was just damn scary. He knew that the only personShana had felt that connection with was Marcus. Look how that ended. In love, married with a baby on the way, and happier than he’d ever seen her.

What really worried him was this connection he felt. Genoa was a woman he still couldn’t trust completely. Oh, she’d given him part of the info she had for Marcus, but damn it, she was still hiding something. He knew it as well as he knew the way she moaned his name when she came.

Her husky chuckle broke through his thoughts. “Well, I see a space ranger can rise to the occasion.”

She rested her chin on his chest as she slid her hand down and encircled his erection.

“Hmm.”

“Is that all you have to say?” The humor in her voice, teasing, light, not a hint of her usual sarcasm, warmed his blood. Clean, pure woman.

“What more can I say with no blood in my brain?”

Her pale green eyes twinkled as she smiled up at him. “Well, I do have a cure for that.”

She slipped her leg over and straddled him. Warm desire shimmered through him and he swallowed. Nothing had ever affected him like her emotions. During his childhood, David had had problems with blocking other people’s feelings. Still, he’d never had them mesh with his own emotions. It had gotten to the point where it was hard to tell where hers stopped and his started.

“Now.” She moved her hips. “I’m thinking that I might have underestimated you. You certainly do know how to rise to the occasion. ”

She lifted herself and slowly, almost painfully, lowered herself onto his shaft. Her heat wrapped around his cock, her muscles clamping tight, pulling him deeper into her core.

Riding him, driving him crazy, she threw her head back, arching her spine, and offering him a magnificent view of her breasts. At that moment, power like he’d never felt from another person, slammed through him. Her confidence fed into his arousal. He didn’t like wimpy women, and Genoa was far from that. But, at the same time, that self- assuredness was tinged with a vulnerability so sweet, he want to stop her, hold her, tell her he’d take care of her.

The only thing he could manage at the moment was to reach up and cup her breast, grazing her nipple with his thumb. She moaned. The sound of it mingled with her emotions as they spiraled through him pushing him closer to the edge. He didn’t want that even as his body begged him to complete, to shove his cock deep inside her, and come. He needed to draw it out, heighten her pleasure, try to convey what her desire did to him.

He came up off the bed and took one turgid peak into his mouth. Her fingers speared through his hair, holding him closer. He sucked on one nipple, then pinched the other. Her rhythm increased; her moans grew. Each time she rose, her muscles clung tighter, pulling him closer to brink. His mind, his body, his very soul were centered on her.

A wave of fulfillment swept through him as her body convulsed, drawing his cock deeper within her. Before he lost control, he rolled them over and rose to his knees. He spread her legs wider, thrusting deeper. The tremors from her first orgasm had barely subsided when she tensed again; another rush of tension exploded within him as she came, screaming his name, her nails digging into his skin. The sound of her voice saying his name, the torrent of her emotions streaming through him, pushed him past the pinnacle. One last thrust and he came, filling her with his seed, reveling in the feel of coming inside of her.

After releasing her legs, he collapsed on top of her. She kissed his shoulder, neck, and then his jaw.

“You smell good, Genoa.”

She laughed and he felt the vibrations along his dick. “I don’t know how. Running all over the damn

place, being attacked by an apparentnympho .”

With considerable effort, he rose up and rested his weight on his forearms. God, she was beautiful. Her skin was so soft, her eyes the shade of aSummerian sun, her hair a sinner’s dream.

She licked her lips and his cock hardened, just from that one little gesture. Her eyes widened as he pushed deeper into her. She was still wet with her arousal and his cum. As soon as the thought popped into his mind, he realized he hadn’t even asked about birth control.

“Have you had your contraception shots?”

Swift and almost painfully, sadness rolled from her. He could see it in her eyes, in the frown on her face, and feel it deep into his bones. As fast as it appeared, it vanished, and she smiled, although not a real smile.

“You don’t have to worry about it. It’s taken care of.”

“Well, then, how about I take care of you?”

She laughed and then moaned when he lifted himself to his hands and pushed deeper. “I think I can agree with that course of action.”

*****

Genoa allowed the shower to ease the ache in her muscles. Muscles she apparently hadn’t used in awhile. Between being on the run and David’s lovemaking, she’d pushed her body to the limit. She couldn’t stop the smile or the familiar wave of tingles that swept through her body when she thought of him.

She hadn’t felt this close to anyone. Not even Drake, her best friend, ex-lover, and all-around great guy. Drake had been wounded by a love affair that had gone wrong and hadn’t wanted strings. What started as a one-night stand had moved on to a friendship that still lingered. Other than her parents, Drake was the one person she could trust. The one person who knew that she would never conceive, that she would never be accepted by either of the races that mixed her blood. She could tell Drake anything.

A frown pulled on her lips as guilt turned her stomach. The fact was, she was keeping her familial relations and her heritage hidden from David. There had been so many times the night before, when she’d wanted to tell him. She wanted to confess that the reason she was on the run was due to a great-uncle so bent on revenge, he didn’t care who he destroyed in his quest. That, although she displayed all the characteristics of Gorgon reproductive systems, from her heightened sense of smell or her over-the-top libido during mating seasons, she would never have a child, human or otherwise. But she didn’t.

Fear held her back. Fear of his hatred. Fear of losing him.

Her breath caught in her throat and her heart almost stopped beating.Dammit , he wasn’t supposed to become important. He was the means to an end. Defiantly, she pushed the tender feelings aside and wiped away the few stray tears that had escaped. Drawing in a deep breath, she quickly rinsed her hair. Once done, she stepped out of the shower and was in the process of drying herself when David walked in the bathroom.

His face broke into a huge grin when he saw the state of her undress. “Well, if I’d known you were waiting for me in this condition, I’d have been faster.”

She snorted. “Don’t even think about it. It’s bad enough that I have to ride that damn cycle.”

He chuckled. She threw the towel in his face and marched out the door, her head held high. Before she could slip past him, he grabbed her upper arm and pulled her back. He gave her a loud, smacking kiss, and released her arm.

“We don’t have the time, sweetheart. Getting out of here and to your friend’s place is the most important thing.” She hurried into the bedroom and threw on her dress and donned her shoes. “Do you think he can get us a transport?”

“Drake can do just about anything. Loads of money and connections up the ass.”

He grunted and stalked through the room. Anger drifted toward her, mixed with a tiny flash of jealousy. David? It had to be, but of what?

“You ready?” His voice had lost the teasing quality, and he’d gone all space ranger on her again.

“David.” He didn’t turn around from gathering up his things. “David.”

“What?”

“If you have a problem with going to Drake, we can go somewhere else.”

“No, it’s fine.”

The scent of anger grew, jealousy fading. “I haven’t been involved with Drake for years. We really are just good friends.”

The tension in his shoulders eased, but his tone didn’t change. Without looking at her, he strode to the door. “I wasn’t worried about that.”

As he cracked the door and checked the hallway, her gaze took in the warrior in uniform again. Dang if he didn’t look good enough to eat. The material molded to every muscle, and she knew what they looked like without the covering. She shivered and pushed aside the memories. This was a short-term deal and, men didn’t like those messy emotions. Hell, she didn’t like them.

He turned and motioned with his head. Silently, she padded to the door behind him, following out the door. The scum that had filled the bar the night before had all disappeared except a few of the creatures passed out from overindulging. They lay scattered on tables and the floor.

The moment they made it outside without incident, she sighed, but ended up bumping into a wall of muscle. She peeked around David to see what had stopped him, and swallowed.

Holy mother of Jupiter. Before them stood aSerenti . The male creature stood over seven feet tall, his chest wide and muscular, guns in all four of his hands, and his serpent- like tongue slithering in and out of his mouth.

“Adamssth. Nice tosssee you again.Seemssth you havesssomething I want,” he said as one of his guns took aim at David’s chest.

Chapter Nine

David rolled his shoulders as he eyedWendewin , scumbag of the century. Shit. He wasn’t ready to tangle with the jackass. Facing down a bounty hunter who was known for not only catching his man, but abusing him, wasn’t something David wanted to do on a good day. Having Genoa’s fear and revulsion rushing through him didn’t help settle his nerves.

“What the fuck do you want,Wendewin ? Last time I saw you, you were getting the crap beat out of you by some Federation agents.”

His orange eyes flickered with anger. “Asthyou canssee , my luckhasth changed. I want the woman,Adamssth .”

His lisp grew more pronounced with his anger.

“No can do. Marcus Carlyle wants to talk to her.”

“But there is a pretty price on that pretty head.”

Rage twisted into the fear Genoa emitted. He could almost feel the tension in her muscles.Wendewin’s attention was caught by Genoa peeking around him. David knew this was his one chance to take theSerenti out. He grabbed the knife he had holstered to his thigh and threw it underhand, connecting to

the asshole’s abdomen.Wendewin screeched, the sound of his pained cry vibrating the port windows on the hotel.

Wendewincollapsed, gasping for breath. Without another look at the dying creature, David grabbed Genoa’s hand and ran toward their cycle.

“Who the hell was that?” she asked as she shoved on her helmet.

“Bounty hunter.”

He put on his own helmet, then jumped on the cycle and turned it on. She sat behind him, sliding her arms around his midsection.

“What did he want with us?”

“Not us, honey. He wanted you. Which means we have to get the hell out of Dodge. Someone put a price on your head.”

He just hoped he could get her back to Marcus in one piece. If he didn’t, Marcus would kill him. And, God help him, he would never be able to forgive himself.

As they hightailed it out of the city, David tried to forget the utter rage and jealousy he’d had to fight when Genoa mentioned Drake.Dammit , he’d never gotten hung up over a woman before, especially about any of her former lovers. Hell, her current lovers didn’t bother him usually. But the thought that the man they were going to meet had touched Genoa ...

Shit. And now they had bounty hunters after them.Wendewin only took high-priced jobs, so Johnson must have a bundle of money to waste. He didn’t need this. What he needed was to deposit her sweet ass in Marcus’s office and leave.

The fact that the idea turned his stomach irritated him even more.

*****

Several hours later, David parked his cycle in front of a house built into the side of a mountain. He waited for Genoa to get off the bike and then followed her. She held the parka he’d bought her at some run-down secondhand store tighter. The wind whipped around the few locks of her hair that had escaped the hood. The jacket itself was about three sizes too big, but it was the only thing he could find. He’d known the higher elevations would be cold as a witch’s tit.

“So,Conners lives in a mountain?”

She laughed, the sound of it shimmering along his nerve endings. A rush of heat headed straight to his groin. The joy he felt coursing through him aroused and angered him. Was she happy because of Drake? And just why the hell did he care?

“I guess. Knowing Drake, the damn thing is filled with high-priced gadgets, but we’ll be lucky if he has food.”

“You know, for a woman in your situation, Genoa, you shouldn’t be trading secrets about your savior.”

David turned and found a tall, forbidding man, his face hidden in the shadows of his hood. Before David could react, Genoa let out a whoop and climbed the stairs to the landing whereConners stood. She jumped into the other man’s arms, which closed around her and lifted off her feet. David gritted his teeth as his green-eyed monster did battle with her happiness.

He stalked up the stairs, trying not show he was pissed. “Territorial” was one word no one would have ever applied to him, especially when it came to his love life. But,dammit , the woman was twisting him in knots, and he didn’t like it one bit.

“You act as if you knew we were coming,” she said toConners .

He pulled off his hood and gave David his first unobstructed view of the man. Sharp blue eyes surveyed him from behind antique glasses. No one wore glasses anymore, but Genoa had said he was eccentric. A mop of unruly, unkempt hair lay about his shoulders. He was gangly, but not skinny. David could recognize the muscular build beneath the clothes. And he still had his arm around Genoa’s waist.

David shot him a dirty look, and the smirk on the bastard’s face irritated him even more.

“DrakeConners , science freak, this is David Adams, space ranger.” Irritation threaded Genoa’s voice.

“Why don’t you two come inside? We’re in for some nasty weather.”

David glanced around at the red snow-like drifts and raised an eyebrow.

“Believe me, Adams, it gets worse than this.”

Connerscorralled Genoa through the door, his hand on the small of her back. Irritation morphed into outright possessive rage.Dammit . He could handle this. It was only another assignment, and just another woman.

As he swallowed back a growl, he heard Genoa say, “Oh, Drake, you remembered my love of wood-burning fireplaces.”

David slammed the door shut and stalked after them.

*****

Genoa’s nerves were frayed, her temper sorely tested. She shoved Drake’s hand away from her and narrowed her eyes. David would be in there at any moment, so she didn’t say anything. She knew from the mischievous light in his eyes, he was trying to cause trouble. He’d done it each time they’d run into each other in the past few years. It was his jackass way of trying to protect her.

“So,Conners , how did you know we were coming?” David asked as he walked down the steps of the sunken living area. Drake loved white, and almost the whole house was a blank sheet. As David prowled closer, she was struck by the contrast of his black uniform against the white background. She was pissed as hell at him, but her heart tripped as her body heated from the possessive scent.

“I’ve heard some rumors.”

She glanced at Drake. He’d seemed ready for them, the fire burning, and the scent of roasted chicken filling the room.

“What kind of rumors?” David asked. She returned her attention to him. He crossed his arms over his chest and his eyes narrowed. He had the look of a lion concentrating on his prey.

“Some calls have gone out. I went intoGragalia for supplies today and the word was out about a Federation agent with a beautiful redhead. I knew the description. And knowing Genoa all these years, I figured it was her. It sounded like something she would be messed up in.”

David snorted. “Yeah, well, I’ve known her for less than two days and I can understand that.”

This was really too much. “Hey, I told you to just drop me off.”

He ignored her. It irritated her to no end. “Is that chicken I smell?”

Drake nodded, a smile curling his lips. “Well, what could pass as chicken out here. Should be done soon.”

“You got a place for us to clean up?”

“Yeah, I have a couple of guest bedrooms,” Drake said as he headed down the hall.

“We only need one.” David’s voice was so sharp it could have cut glass.

Drake chuckled but didn’t say another word. She followed him out of the room. David immediately fell in behind her, his hand on the small of her back. She knew from his scent his territorial feelings were getting out of hand. Being the independent woman she was, she should be pissed. But, truth be known, a rush of liquid heat curled in her stomach, then flooded her pussy. Her skin tingled with anticipation.

“Illuminate.” Drake stepped aside. She walked past him and avoided eye contact. She felt his curious gaze and was thankful when he didn’t say anything. David followed. She sensed his pause, probably trying to stare Drake down, but it wouldn’t work. Although a science geek, Drake could probably fight David on an equal footing.

She bent to take her shoes off. The door clicked shut quietly.

“I’m not in the mood to argue, David. I just want to clean up, eat, and pass out.”

The moment she straightened, his arms snaked around her waist. “I wasn’t thinking about arguing.” He pulled her tight against him. There was no mistaking his long, hard cock as it prodded her bottom. His hands slid up to cup her breasts. He grazed a thumb over each nipple.

He nuzzled her neck, then nipped her earlobe. When he spoke, his breath was hot against her skin.

“Although, the thought of making you scream did come to mind.”

Chapter Ten

David’s body hummed, anticipating sinking into Genoa’s hot, wet pussy. Her nipples were hard against his thumbs as he continued to rub them, slowly. She drew in a shuddering breath. He knew just what she was feeling. The arousal coursing through him was not only his own. There was a difference. Her desire was sharp but sweet, just so damn sweet. It warmed him slowly, twisting through his blood and reaching into his soul.

His passion was much more primitive. Down deep in the recesses of his male psyche, it roared to life. This was more than just lust. When he’d seen the intimate looks between Genoa andConners , a primal beast had been awakened. Dark desire so potent it demolished any clear thinking. He wanted to claim her, remind the woman that she only had this with him.

He nipped at her ear again, and smiled when she shivered. “Now, why would you think that I wanted to argue?”

She swallowed then licked her lips. “I couldsm -- um ... tell you were angry.”

“Hmm, I guess I was, a little.” He skimmed his hands down to her hips and pulled her tighter against him. She moaned as he began to rub his cock against her ass. Damn. His balls ached at the thought of bending her over and shoving into her tight pussy from behind.

He kissed her neck as he pulled off her pants with a quick little jerk. Next, he slid his hands up her body, taking her top along with them. Before she could lower her arms, David pulled them behind her head and rested one on each of his shoulders. Without her arms in the way, he had a full view of her torso. She leaned her head against his chest as he skimmed the backs of his fingers along her skin, just brushing the sides of her breasts. When he reached her stomach, he flattened one hand to brace her and then slid the other down to her sex.

The moment he slipped a finger inside her, David was ready to come. Her arousal spiked, blasting through him like an electric spark. She was wet and hot, her cream wetting his fingers. He continued thrusting with his fingers and massaged her clit with his thumb. She rubbed her sweet ass against his erection.

“David, now.”

“No, no, no. princess. At my pace.”

She groaned and he chuckled, and bent his head to kiss her neck. He added another finger as she speared hers through his hair. He continued the same rhythm. Her moans increased in volume. A slice of fear wound through him as he pushed her close to the edge. His fingers were drenched with her cream as the panic she felt subsided and heat flashed. David could feel her body react, as she shattered. Her inner muscles tightened on his fingers, drawing him deeper inside her. His body trembled from her release and his own need for completion.

She rode his hand, releasing his hair and placing her hands on top of his and applying more pressure to her sex. As her tremors eased, he slowly pulled his fingers out and led her to the bed. Bending her at the waist, he placed each of her hands on the mattress, and then stepped behind her. Her hair lay across her back in a tangle of curls and dreadlocks.

Undoing his buttons, he took his dick in hand. He ran his hand over one full ass cheek and then the other. She turned, her hair sliding off her back with the motion.

Catching her gaze, he stroked his cock, starting at the base, up to the tip, and then back down again. She licked her lips and he felt of drop of pre-cum dribble out. He stepped closer, pushing her feet further apart. Placing one hand on the small of her back, he grazed the head of his dick against her slit.

She rested her weight on her forearms and placed her head on the bed. He could feel her arousal shifting and growing, twining with his own, spurring him on. With one hard thrust, he entered her. He groaned as her muscles clamped down hard on his dick. For a moment, all he did was stand there and enjoy the feel of her warm, damp heat surrounding his cock.

“Oh, God, Genoa, your pussy feels good.”

She moaned again, the words unintelligible as she joined in the mating, matching his rhythm.

“That’s it, baby.”

As he pulled out and then sank balls deep again, heat spiraled through him. He dug his fingers into the

soft skin at her hips. His own feelings and hers entwined as he continued his thrusts; he had no idea where her emotions started and his ended. A moment later, she came again and he followed, her spasms milking his orgasm from him.

They collapsed on the bed. A short while later, he realized he was lying fully on her. He dragged her to the top of the bed and then sank into the comfortable mattress as she snuggled closer.

Each time they made love, her emotions deepened. He had no idea if it was her feelings that were shifting, growing into something more than just good, healthy lust, or if it was his feelings for her that were changing, deepening. As he drifted off to sleep, he thought of the panic during their lovemaking. There was something she was afraid of, something she wanted to hide from him that had nothing to do with her job and everything to do with her heart. Or so he hoped.

At this point, he didn’t care which it was. And that was enough to scare the hell out of him.

*****

Genoa snuck out of the room in search of food. And to escape the emotions swirling through her at the moment. There was something not right when she made love to David. There was a lot of rightness, but something she couldn’t face lay between them.

She wandered past the living area and followed the scent of food. She walked through a large arching doorway and found Drake sitting at a metal-and-glass dining table. He was reading a book, but she must have made a sound, because he looked up.

Concern darkened his eyes as she walked toward him. “Hungry?”

She nodded. He rose and went to the food storage. He pulled out some cold “chicken” and motioned her to sit.

“You need to talk?” She shook her head and watched him retrieve a plate. As he filled the plate, he didn’t let the subject go. “You know that I stay out of your affairs.”

“As do I for you.”

He smiled. “Agreed. Problem is, kid, I think you’re in this too deep.”

She shrugged, not wanting to face those feelings.

“Have you told him?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“He hates Gorgons. How do you think he would feel if he found out not only was he banging a Gorgon, but one with royal blood, as well?”

“Please, tell me that you’re at least on booster shots now.”

“Why? There’s no chance for children.”

He sighed, disgust evident when he next spoke. “Sorry, but I disagree. Just because some damn Gorgon quack told you that you would never have children --”

“He was right. No, don’t argue with me on this. I know you and you’ll try to fix it.”

He placed the food in front of her and then kissed her head.

“I hope you know what you’re doing.”

She hoped she did, too. Because in the end, she was really worried that not only was she risking her life, but also her heart.

*****

The next morning dawned as dreary as the day before, but Drake had the ship ready for them to leave as soon as they ate breakfast. Within a couple of hours, they were on their way back to Earth. In fact, David was a little worried about how easily they got away. No bounty hunters, no Gorgons. It just didn’t set well.

A few hours later, he was docking the ship and all three of them headed to Marcus’s office. Something was inching up his spine, and he realized that Genoa was emitting something close to panic the closer they got to Marcus’s office.

“David Adams, authorize.”

The door slid open. He sister was sitting on the edge of the desk, Marcus’s hand on her knee. Her eyes, so like his own, lit with happiness. She hopped down off the desk and rushed forward, ignoring her husband’s curse.

She practically jumped into his arms.

“I missed you,” she said. She kissed his cheek and released him. Marcus stalked over to her side.

“Stop running around. A woman in your condition shouldn’t be taking undue risks.”

She shot Marcus a look that would have withered a lesser man. He crossed his arms and stared her down.

“Oh, all right.” She sighed and her gaze traveled to Genoa.

“Shana, I’d like you to met Genoa. Genoa, this is my sister,Shana Adams.”

“ShanaAdams Carlyle, if you don’t mind,” his brother-in-law growled.

“So nice to meet you, Genoa,”Shana said. She looked from Marcus to Genoa and then back at him with one brow raised. “I know you know my husband.”

“Genoa, what have you got.”

“Nice to see you again, too, Marcus,” Genoa said in her usual acerbic tongue.

He sighed. “Fine. Hello. What do you have?”

She hesitated and that same damn panic slapped out at him. He could feel something close to terror rushing through her.

“I found out that Ripley Johnson is still alive.”

Marcus’s face turned to stone. “Go on.”

“Well, he’s working with some of the outlaw factions of the Gorgon government to overthrow the Federation.”

“He’d be too old,”Shana said.

“It’s him. I know it. I have the proof.” She licked her lips and looked at him. “I know because my mother is Ripley Johnson’s niece.”

Chapter Eleven

Betrayal tightened his gut. David was sure he would throw up. The hurt he saw in her eyes, felt running through him, spurred his anger.

“You’re related to that bastard?” She flinched at his harsh tone. He shoved aside the instinct to comfort her.

“David,”Shana said. He glanced at her and ignored the worry he saw in her eyes. He scowled at her, then turned back to Genoa, who now hadConners standing behind her, his hand on her shoulder. David bit back the urge to rip the bastard’s arm out of its socket.

Genoa brushed her hair out of her face. David couldn’t help but notice her hand shaking. He hardened his resolve.

“Does he know about you?” Marcus asked. The tone in his voice made David think he’d known about Genoa all along. But, his expression was void of any emotion. David knew better than to try and figure out what his brother-in-law was thinking.

“I’m not sure.” She shrugged. “The information I had would be enough to come after me, but there’s always that chance.”

“How long have you known?” he asked.

Her gaze met David’s. Stark pain colored it. Damn if his protective instincts didn’t kick in. He took a step in her direction and then stopped himself. She was the enemy.

“I found out when I was doing some background. My parents never told me.”

“I can imagine your father would want to keep it a secret,” Marcus said. “Even if he’s not --”

“No. And I’m going to talk to them about it after I get the hell out of here.”

“Hmmm,” was all Marcus said. “You have what I need?”

“I stored it in the Federation system.”

Before she could show him, the door buzzed, heralding an arrival. The screen opened from the ceiling and revealed a diminutive woman, dressed in an investigator’s uniform.

“Agent Ashford, Mr. Carlyle. I have a report for you.”

“Authorize.”

A sudden tension filled the room, butShana and Marcus didn’t seem to notice. David realized the anxiety slicing through him was from Genoa. The fact it was still occurring irritated the living hell out of him. He pushed those feelings aside, and dealt with the issue at hand.

The woman walked into the room, her stride purposeful until she caught sight ofConners . She faltered, and her eyes widened then narrowed, but she continued forward.

“Sir, security has been breeched. Gorgons have taken over the weapons depot, and their direction seems to be toward the Pentagon.”

“Dammit. Why are you in here telling me? The phone systems ...”

“No. They have control of those now. It isn’t that big a stronghold, but we can’t guarantee security on the phones. Mr.Delingham sent me to you.”

“Okay. David, you in?”

David nodded, but before he could answer,Conners chimed in. “Count me in, too.”

Agent Ashford’s back stiffened, but she didn’t say anything. She turned on her heel and headed for the door. Marcus grabbedShana by the waist and kissed her thoroughly.

“Gentlemen?”

Genoa watched David, her eyes concerned, her nervous energy humming through him. The fact she was worried about him warmed him, but he would never let her know. Not when the wound was so painful.

“Don’t worry, princess. I’ll make sure to give your regards to Uncle Ripley.”

Her face lost all color, and for a moment, he thought she might do something. Yell, scream, cry. Instead, she turned toConners . “Be safe, Drake.”

He kissed her cheek and shot David a look of hatred. David followed Drake out the door without looking back. Because he knew if he’d waited a moment longer, he’d have been begging forgiveness from a woman he should hate.

*****

Genoa allowed the anger and hurt to wash through her. She’d known he would take it this way. Truth was, it was her fault. She knew that; she could live with that decision. She’d have to. It didn’t change the fact that her heart had been torn to shreds, or that at the moment, she realized losing David would tear her in two

She sniffed, trying not to cry in front of his sister. Lord only knew what the woman already thought of her.

“I’ve always thought a good smack in the head is best when dealing with my brother.”

She glanced atShana . A kind smile curved her lips.

“I’d need a piece of steel to make a difference.”

Shanalaughed and walked forward. She took Genoa’s hands in hers. Her eyes were lit with warm approval. “Oh, I knew I’d like you from your reports. Come, sit.”

Uncertainty filled her as the woman pulled her toward a couple of chairs. She motioned for Genoa to sit, and then took the other chair. Genoa wondered if the woman had mental problems. Didn’tShana realize she’d betrayed David?

“Don’t worry about it.”

“What?”

“You didn’t betray him. Oh, he thinks so at the moment, but he’ll get over it.” She relaxed in the chair, crossed one leg over her knee.

“How did you --”

She pursed her lips and shook her head. “I’m sorry. I forget about that sometimes. With the pregnancy, I think my powers are increasing in strength, and I can’t stop the thoughts.”

“Thoughts?” She sounded like an imbecile, but she wasn’t sureShana Adams was sane.

“Make sure to add the Carlyle there. Marcus gets upset.” The sarcastic tone made Genoa think this small woman could more than handle the head of the Counter-Terrorism Department. “I’m sure David forgot to tell you, but I am a telepath. Not many people know, but since we are about to be family --”

“Family? I don’t know where you got that idea.”

“Oh, from the look on David’s face when that Mr.Conners kissed you, I figured a wedding was on tap.”

“First of all, I don’t think space ranger Adams wants anything to do with me now. And secondly, what the hell do you mean David should have told me about your telepathic skills? Correct me if I’m wrong, but I thoughtparas were still herded up for the labs.”

“I’m sure you have some issues to work through, but as much as you two obviously love each other, you’ll end up together.”

Genoa shook her head trying to fight the feelings those words evoked. She wasn’t in love with David.

He hated her, she’d known him less than a week, and every time he smiled she melted. Oh, shit.Shana continued to talk as Genoa tried to push aside the notion of being in love with David.

“And for the other, some of us are better at hiding than others. I mean, David has never gotten caught.”

“David?”

“With his empathic skills, he’d be a gold mind to those bastards.”

“Empathic skills?”

Before she could answer, the door slid open. Genoa turned, expecting to see Marcus Carlyle standing there and was surprised to see a rather short, thin man on the threshold. He was dressed in robes, as if in some kind of religious order, his red hair cropped close to his scalp, and his pale green eyes shone with something that made Genoa uncomfortable.

“Well, Genoa, you’ve been a naughty girl. But then, your mother was never very well behaved, either.”

His lips twisted into a cruel smile as fear rushed through her. He threw his arms open wide. “Now, aren’t you going to give your Great-uncle Ripley a hug and a kiss?”

Revulsion turned her stomach and the scent of fear surrounded her. She glanced atShana , who touched her stomach. Genoa remembered her comment about being pregnant. She would do anything she could to save the woman.

“Uncle? No one told me I had an uncle.”

“Well, you do, Genoa, and I am here to collect you.” His unstable gaze drifted toShana , then lighted with interest.Shana’s fear became so pronounced, it made Genoa ill.

“I won’t go anywhere unless you take me alone.”

He laughed with no humor and pulled a laser weapon from inside his robe. “That’s all I want, my darling niece. I want nothing to do with the woman.”

Considering Johnson’s hatred of Marcus, Genoa was relieved that he apparently knew nothing of Marcus’s relationship withShana . She felt some tugging on her brain and decided to shut down all thoughts. She didn’t know what skills he had. It was probably suicide, but she didn’t want anything to happen toShana .

“Then I’ll go with you, no arguments.”

He motioned for Genoa to leave; she sensedShana about to do something to stop them, but Genoa shook her head. She stepped into the hallway and started down the corridor when something hit her from behind. Sharp, bright pain exploded in her head and she fell to the floor.

Ripley leaned down. “Now, this will make it a whole lot easier.”

He laughed and she opened her mouth to say something, anything, to save herself. But her mouth wouldn’t work and her world faded to black.

Chapter Twelve

David twisted the arm of another damn Gorgon and shoved him into the wall. The warrior’s head smacked against the cement and he crumpled into a heap on the floor.

Something brushed his shoulder and David turned around, his fist ready to hit, when he sawConners frowning at him.

“It’s over, Adams.”

Drake had lost his glasses some time ago; his face was bloodied and bruised, his clothes torn. David searched for Marcus and saw him striding toward the two of them, a look of complete satisfaction on his face.

“Bastards. I don’t know what the hell is going on with them. Why they decided to attack without the proper backup, I don’t understand. But it was damn satisfying.”

David smiled, thinking that he couldn’t wait to tell Genoa ...

Shit.

“Sir, there has been another development.”

Agent Ashford looked almost as bad as the three of them. She sported a cut lip, and her hand was bandaged.

“What is it this time?” Marcus asked.

Ashford opened her mouth to speak, but was interrupted by a voice he knew only too well.

“Marcus, you’re a mess.”Shana stepped over the scattered Gorgon bodies to get to her husband. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her.

“What the hell are you doing here?”

“Ripley showed up.” Marcus stiffened, as did David. “He has Genoa.”

The bottom fell out of David’s stomach as fear so deep it almost unmanned him spread through his veins. “How the hell did that happen?”

The tears in his sister’s eyes spurred his worry. He took in her appearance, and other than her distress, nothing seemed out of order.

“He waltzed into the headquarters building. I think Genoa knew that Ripley would target me if he knew I was your wife. She deflected his interest and willingly went with him. But I know that once they were in the hallway, there was some scuffling. I don’t know what happened after that.”

Marcus’s pager went off and he turned it on. As he listened, his cold expression turned more distant.

“He’s got her. I have directions. We’ll have to sneak in. I’ll go in to distract him; you get her out.”

“Absolutely not,”Shana almost yelled. “You are not going in there with that psycho.”

“He’s not insane,” David said.

“You didn’t see him. There is something in his expression, something that just scared the shit out me, David. I don’t know what he has planned for her, but I would say the sooner you get there, the better. I just hope he hasn’t done any harm yet.” The tone in her voice had terror coiling in his stomach. She thought he’d done something already. Oh, God. He’d never be able to handle it if anything had happened to Genoa. He was still pissed as hell, but the idea that she was in pain, that he would never see her again, froze his blood.

“I have to go, sweetheart. He asked for me. We’ll be safe,” Marcus said.

Shanalooked like she wanted to argue, but she knew better than anyone, David supposed, that arguing with Marcus was a futile effort. Her shoulders slumped and she nodded. Marcus pulled her close and whispered in her ear. David walked away from the couple, uncomfortable watching the intimate moment between them. Especially while his mind raced and his heart hurt. He shoved the feelings aside, worried they would hinder the mission. He had to save Genoa before he could figure out what to do with her.

*****

Genoa watched her uncle pace the confines of the small chamber where he held her while he ranted about his overthrow of the Federation, of how he had an army ofparas ready for the task -- and thought she hadn’t missed much by skipping the family reunions.

Some noise from above drew his attention and he left her, tied up, in a dank prison with no way to escape. She could hear him muttering as he walked up the stairs. The door slammed shut. Her head still throbbed from the blow he’d delivered. If she moved her head too fast, sharp shards of pain exploded in her brain. She closed her eyes and rested against the wall with a sigh.

She started when the door crashed open. Slowly, she opened her eyes, blinking at the bright light streaming from the doorway. Disbelief held her silent.

“Well, you know, I thought you might be trying to figure out how to get out of here, being the super spy that you are.”

David strode down the stairs, his uniform a mess, a bruise forming just below his eye.

“Come on, Genoa. Let’s go.”

“I can’t. My head’s still spinning and he has my hands tied.”

He studied her with concern as he drew closer and then cursed. “What the hell happened?”

“Ripley hit me from behind.”

He leaned close to untie her hands. The scent of him, basic human male, whipped through her. Her body reacted immediately, her blood heating, her skin tingling, her heart breaking.

“Not very smart.”

“I just wanted him away fromShana . I was afraid he’d figure out who she was.”

David freed her hands and then looked at her. His gaze traveled over her face, his eyes filled with warmth. She wanted to caress his cheek, draw him closer, and press her lips to his, so she concentrated on rubbing her wrists.

He cleared his throat. “Marcus is creating a diversion. We need to get the hell out of here.”

She agreed. As they hurried up the stairs, the sounds of laser fire and yelling grew louder. When they reached the top, David peeked out then motioned her to follow. She did, and then was brought up short when he cursed. She looked over his shoulder and found Marcus standing there, a grim expression on his face and blood streaming down his arm.

She stepped around David and hurried to Marcus, worried he needed help.

“I’m okay,Pri -- Genoa. But Johnson fucking got away.”

She waved away his announcement as she studied the wound. Finding it to be nothing but a flesh wound, she said, “Shanais going to be upset.”

He smiled. “Probably.”

“Shit, she’s going to kill me,” David said.

Marcus laughed. “Let’s get out of here. I need to talk all this over withShana , and they’ll be interrogating some Gorgons we picked up.”

As they headed to the entrance, she didn’t look at David. She felt his gaze roving over her, and he had to help her walk when a wave of dizziness swept over her. When his arm wrapped around her waist, she leaned into him, savoring the warmth of his body, the spicy scent of his skin, knowing that this would be the last time. That the man she’d fallen in love with already thought her disgusting because of her uncle. He would surely be appalled if he found out about her parents.

*****

“Your father wanted you to stay.”

Genoa glanced at Drake and smiled. “My father has learned he doesn’t always get what he wants.”

He sighed. “When I talked to him, he was worried that you hadn’t had time to recuperate.”

She watched the crew captain board the ship. Another hour and she would be heading to her parents’ domain in exile.

“I should go with you.”

She glanced at him. “No. You have things to sort out here on Earth.”

“There’s nothing here for me. My work is back home.”

“Drake, lie to yourself, but not to me. You need to be here.”

He grunted but said nothing as they watched more people board. “So, this thing with Adams ...”

“None of your business.”

Silence reigned and she looked at him. His jaw was clenched, his lips turned down in a frown. Scents of protectiveness wafted toward her.

“I mean it. Stay out of it, Drake. I’m a big girl and I can handle my own life.”

He didn’t do anything for a moment, then nodded. She looked around, hoping to see her lethal lion stalking through the crowd and sighed when she realized she had been secretly hoping he would show up.David . Just thinking his name hurt. Each time she’d thought of him in the last three days, the pain would surface, slicing through her, tearing her apart, and she would start to cry. She sniffed and felt Drake tense beside her. Drake was a marshmallow when it came to tears.

“Time for me to board. Do what you have to do. There are things here that you must complete before you move on.”

His steely blue eyes studied her for a moment, the stark pain of his loss shimmered in the air around them.

“Tell your father I couldn’t stop you.”

“I don’t have to tell him. He knows his little girl.”

As she walked up the steps to the ship, a wash of new pain spiraled through her. She swallowed and kept walking. There was nothing for her on Earth.

*****

Five days after the attack, David was ready to scream.Shana had gone maternal on him and was flying around Marcus and him like Florence Nightingale with an attitude. While Marcus was lapping it up, David wanted to wrap his fingers around her neck and throttle her.

They were sitting in the library ofShana and Marcus’s apartment while she worked on the computer. She’d not allowed either one of them out of the house in a few days.

To make things worse, his sister had to keep bringing up Genoa and her worries about her health. And if they would ever see her again. Fat chance of that. She’d resigned from the department, saying that she needed to be at home with her parents. Like a woman like Genoa would sit at home. No doubt it would be less than a week before she would be out causing problems. Lord knows how many sticky situations she would get herself into. And who the hell would she turn to for help?

“One of the things was that she was always very thorough. What are we going to do without her, Marcus?”

Determined to ignoreShana , David let his mind drift back to the day he’d learned of Genoa’s duplicity. There was something she’d been holding back. He’d known it all along, but he’d been convinced it had to do with the job. Not her personal life. Of all people to be related to. Ripley Johnson -- who still had not been seen again. From what Genoa had told them, he was spiraling out of control. Both he and Marcus hoped Johnson had gone over the edge and would never be seen again. But David knew better than to expect that. One of the things Marcus had voiced was his concern that Ripley would target Genoa now that he knew who she was.

“You don’t understand,Shana . With her family, things are complicated.”

David settled into a chair and grunted. Complicated. Damn fine word for Genoa. The woman was a problem from the wordgo . She had a smart-assed mouth, an attitude that just drove him nuts, and the sweetest kiss in the world. If he weren’t in love with her, he would surely hate her.

He blinked. Love? No, not love. People didn’t fall in love in a matter of days. They hardly knew each other. She’d lied to him, made a fool of him, and the thought of living without her turned his heart to ice.

David thought about his reactions, the fact that he’d rediscovered his abilities through her after years of suppressing them, that every time he made her smile, he felt like he was the ruler of the universe. That just thinking her name sent a rush of blood to his cock.

Hell, he was in love with her.

And she was convinced he hated her.

Fuck.

“Well, I do say that there is something to be said about royalty. She holds herself so regally.”

“Shana. She walks like everyone else. No biggie. And her father is no longer the ruler. He’s in exile, although he’s working behind the scenes. You know he had to give up the throne for her mother.”

The conversation finally penetrated his thoughts. “What the hell are you two talking about?”

Shanalooked at him as if he’d grown another head. “Where have you been? We’re talking about Genoa.”

“You mentioned royalty.”

Marcus chuckled. “Genoa’s father was next in line for the throne. But, marrying a human, having human children, the Gorgons wouldn’t allow that. He’s been the source of most of our information about their threat. He wants to kickAtalas out and get someone else in there. He’s worried their race will be destroyed.”

“Genoa’s Gorgon?”

Shanaplaced her hand on his forehead and frowned. “Are you sure you’re all right? We’ve been talking about this for the last ten minutes.”

David waited for the pain of betrayal to hit again … and it never came. He should be incensed that the woman lied by omission, again.Dammit . Nothing but acceptance for who and what she was filled him.

Without saying anything, he popped up from the couch and strode to his room.

“David? David, what the hell are you doing?”

Marcus laughed out loud. “I have a feeling I know just what he’s going to do. Don’t take any prisoners, David.”

“Oh, no, I have one in mind.” And he wasn’t accepting no for an answer.

Chapter Thirteen

David followed the servant down a quartz-lined hallway. For some reason, he felt as if he were going to meet his Maker on judgment day. His palms were sweating, his heart beating hard, and his mouth was dry. He followed the servant into a room fashioned into an office.

The white hairs on the servant’s head were tinged with green. A sure sign he was a Gorgon, but hell, this was the home of one.

“Sir, a Mr. David Adams is here to see you.”

David didn’t see him at first. The room was filled with shadows, and it wasn’t until one of them moved that he realized who the servant was talking to.

“That will be all,Bercani ,” said a gravelly male voice.

The servant bowed then left them alone.

“I understand you are here about Genoa.”

“Yes, sir. I’ve come to get her.”

Silence. Okay. Maybe he shouldn’t have spoken of her as if he owned her. But, Lord help him, he wanted to. He wanted to own her body, her heart, her soul.

Her father stepped out of the shadows, his arms crossed over his chest. He was a large man, having at least thirty pounds on David but standing about the same height. His hair resembled Genoa’s -- long and filled with dreadlocks, but black peppered with gray, the ends tinged with green. His eyes were dark, forbidden, accusing.

“You made her cry.”

Another slice of guilt coiled in his gut. David had driven himself crazy with thoughts of what he had said to her, done to her, how he had made her feel.

“I know. Can’t help it. I screwed up. But all men do, or so my sister says.”

His lip curved slightly. “Yes, so my wife says. But, you caused her pain, and I must now cause you pain.”

He stepped toward David, who readied himself for a fight.

“Dagadas, stop that this instant,” a forbidding female voice said.

David turned in direction of the voice and was stunned. A tall, lean woman, somewhere in her early to mid-fifties, glided in the room. She wore her long red hair piled on top of her head, and she studied him with pale green eyes.

“I will not allow this. My baby is in enough pain as it is. I don’t want her to know that either of you even thought of fighting.”

“But --”Dagadas said, but she wasn’t ready for arguing.

“But nothing. She’s been crying all day, and I am not in the mood to tell her that the two men who mean the most to her in the world are beating the hell out of each other.”

David chuckled. She shot him a look that would have wilted a lesser man.

“You think her pain is funny, young man?”

“No, ma’am. I was just thinking how much she resembles you.”

Her father let loose a chuckle. “He has you there.”

“Shut up. Now, she’s up in her room, third floor, second door on the right. She doesn’t know you’re here, or she would be mad. Go make it better.”

“Beatrice --”

“Oh, please,Dagadas , let it go. If she doesn’t want him, I’ll let you kick the shit out of him.”

“Thank you, ma’am.” David strode to the door. He went up two flights of stairs, his heart beating double-time. When he reached her door, he hesitated. Should he knock? Should he just go in?

As he stood there trying to decide, a wave of sadness slapped him and sank into his heart. The pain of it almost made his knees buckle. He swallowed, trying to control the wealth of emotions battering his body. Pain, anger, and sadness so deep it cut him to the core, flowed through him. Without another thought, David opened the door and walked through. She was sitting on her bed, her face covered with tears, her pain surrounding her, surrounding him.

He cleared his throat and she looked up. Her face was blotchy, her green eyes rimmed with red. She was a mess and she looked wonderful.

She narrowed her eyes.

“Hey, princess, how’s it going?”

*****

Genoa couldn’t believe the asshole had the nerve to show up. And looking like that. Dressed in his flight uniform, the material molded to every inch of him.Dammit , why did her heartbeat quicken at the sight of him, her blood heat to boiling? Oh, yeah, she was an idiot.

“What the hell are you doing here?”

“I think we have a few things to discuss, Genoa.”

His deep voice sent a rush of tingles along her nerve endings. “No, I think we’re done discussing things.”

David stepped forward, his tawny gaze raking over her as if taking stock of her condition.

“No, I don’t think we are. Why didn’t you tell me you were half Gorgon?”

She swallowed. How like a man to want to pour salt in the wound. “Why do you care?”

He drew closer and she felt her body ignite just from his presence. “I want to know.”

“You have to ask?” Sitting on the bed was not an option. Not with that hungry look darkening his eyes. She jumped off the bed, but before she could escape, he grabbed her wrist. A flash of heat shot up her arm and spread through her body from that one contact.

“Not so fast.”

“I’ll tell my father.”

“I just had a talk with him.”

She snorted. But her nerves were jumping. He was pulling her back to the bed. God help her, arousal pulsed through her. He sat down, then drew her in between his legs.

“Now, tell me why you didn’t tell me.” The tone of his voice suggested that he didn’t want an argument.

What the hell. She’d tell him the truth and watch him run. “I was afraid to tell you.”

“Why? Afraid I’d turn you in.”

“No.”

“Genoa.”

All the pain of the last few days rushed to the surface. Tears gathered in her eyes, but she tried her best to blink them away. How could he be so cruel to her? Making her suffer the pain of losing him all over again.

“I was afraid you’d hate me. I just couldn’t stand it.Dammit , what the hell was I supposed to do? I’m in love with a jackass who thinks less of me because I have a loon for an uncle and my father is a Gorgon. Fine, feel better now?” She twisted free of him and started to back away. “Just get out. I can’t take anymore.”

She shouted the last bit and he quirked an eyebrow. “You want to repeat that?”

“I can’t take anymore.”

“That’s not what I was talking about. The part about loving me.”

“I didn’t say that.” But then she thought about her tirade and realized shehad said it.Holy hell .

Without another word, she dashed past the bed to the door, but David caught up to her before she made it out. He picked her up by the waist and carried her to the bed. He dropped her and then covered her body with his.

This was so not fair. Every loving inch of his body was pressed against hers. His warmth seeped into her, melting her resistance. Possessiveness, arousal, and something she couldn’t define scented the air.

“You can’t take it back. Because I love you.”

She shook her head and he nodded. She fought the hope burning in her chest. He rested his weight on his forearms and looked down at her.

“You can’t love me. I’m Ripley’s niece and a Gorgon.”

“And the woman who makes my knees weak and my dick hard. Just making you smile makes my day. I love your delicious body and that smart mouth of yours.”

“You hurt me.”

His eyes lost some of their twinkle and his mouth pulled down in a frown. “I know, baby.” He bent his head and nipped at her lips. “But, honey, I was an ass. Do me a favor and marry me. Make me pay for the rest of our lives.”

Her heart leapt with joy. But she tried to push it aside. She couldn’t handle the hurt if he should turn away from her again. “How do I know you aren’t disgusted with me?”

He pressed his hardened cock against her sex. Instantly, the heat that had been thrumming through her slid down to her pussy.

“I’ll even live here. If you want to be close to your family, I can live here.”

“You want to live on Earth.”

He shrugged. “Well, yeah, but if you want to stay here ...”

“You’d do that for me?”

He gazed into her eyes and, without breaking eye contact, he said, “I’d move to the outer reaches of hell just to have you by my side, in my bed, and in my heart and soul.”

Happiness filled her and she smiled. He answered in kind, his lips curling into a devilish smile. “Say yes.”

He nipped at her lips, then kissed a path along her jaw. His hand cupped her breast, caressing the sensitive flesh beneath the fabric of her dress. Her nipples tightened, her blood heated, her whole body hummed with arousal.

“Say yes, you’ll marry me.”

His voice was dark with passion and he rubbed his cock against her again. Her nerves tightened, liquid flooded her sex.

“On one condition.” She could barely get the words out.

“Anything.”

“We move to Earth.”

He looked at her, disbelief leaving his mouth opened. “Why?”

“You can’t stay away fromShana and your folks. I know better. And your work is there.”

He paused then smiled. “You got it, princess.”

That said, David slid down onto the floor and pulled her legs over his shoulders. He pushed up her skirt and leaned forward. His hand pushed her legs further apart.

His breath heated her core. A moment later, his mouth was on her, licking her, lapping at her juices. The tension that had been building in her body spiraled out of control. As he took her clit in his mouth, he added a couple of fingers. The whole while he talked, muffled sounds that she couldn’t make out, but the guttural tone pushed her further.

Just as the tension increased, he was pulling away. Before she could focus on what was happening, he was on top her again, and entered her in one quick thrust. Oh,lordy . The whole long, thick length of him filled her. As he pulled out and sank back in, he groaned and captured her lips in a kiss so violent with need, she shivered. She tasted herself on his lips as he continued his strokes. She was crazy with desire, wanted nothing more than to have him scream her name and pour his seed into her. He reached down between their bodies and pressed against the tiny bundle of nerves. She shattered into a million pieces.

“Oh, yeah, Genoa. Baby, you’re so sweet.” David thrust once, twice more and then groaned as he came, his seed spurting, filling her pussy. He collapsed on top of her, and she wrapped her arms around him.

Nothing had ever felt this good, this complete.

They both drowsed for second. Or minutes … neither of them knew for sure.

“Sorry. I must weigh a ton.”

He rolled away and pulled her on top of him.

“I have one stipulation of my own, princess.”

She looked up and smiled when she saw the mischievous look in his eyes. “And what’s that?”

“No more spying. No more negotiating with terrorists or messing with the bad guys. If I’m sitting behind a desk, then you are, too.”

She opened her mouth to argue and he stopped her by kissing her long and deep. A few moments later, he was bending her over the bed, and she forgot her argument altogether.

Melissa Schroeder

Melissa Schroeder was born at an Army hospital to an Air Force family. She's been a little screwy ever

since. When she was almost five, her father was assigned to Germany. Over the next four and a half years, her parents dragged Melissa and her sister from castle to castle, and museum to museum all over Western Europe. She saw the house where Anne Frank lived, visited the Berlin Wall, and saw the Eiffel Tower at night. Her love of history was born and flourished through their many travels. And, although she loved the travel, she swore she would never marry a man in the military (see info. below for a good laugh).

Melissa has always loved to read. She is convinced the love was developed because her mother read to her even before Melissa knew what she was saying. In the seventh grade, Melissa read To Kill a Mockingbird . This book convinced her she wanted to be a writer. It wasn't until she was in college working on her double degree in history and English, though, and enrolled in creative writing with Professor JamesHoggard , where she began to explore her writing. It was there she discovered she had a gift for comedic writing but refused to accept that she wasn't the next James Joyce. She blindly ignored the fact that she was a woman, not Irish, and basically a happy person. She slaved away, ignoring the comments from her instructor who told her she was good at comedy, trying to write full of angst. She didn't fully explore comedy until she began writing romance several years ago.

She cites Jayne AnnKrentz , Lori Foster, Susan Andersen , Rachel Gibson , Stephanie Laurens , Julia Quinn , and JenniferCrusie as influences in her romance writing.

Melissa has been married happily for many years to a man who, after they were married, decided to enter the AF. Since she was already in love with him, she decided to put up with the military. They have two daughters, an adopted dog daughter, and live wherever the military sticks them. Which, Melissa is sure, is somewhere with hot summers, and lots of bugs you would normally see on The Animal Discovery channel…

Now that she has signed her first e-book contract, she has two dreams: to sign one of her single titles to a print contract and to live somewhere the bugs die.

You can find Melissa Schroeder on the web at http://authormelissaschroeder.com/.

*****

Read on for a tantalizing glimpse of the stunning standalone prequel toLost in Emotion

Voices Carry

by Melissa Schroeder

Available Now from Loose Id

Voices Carry

He must have sensed her studying him. He turned to face her, his green eyes dark and serious. She shivered as a wave of hunger swept through her. How could a man who irritated the hell out of her, make her want to jump his bones with just a look? She cleared her throat. "How much do the department heads know?"

"They know there has been a small breach. No one, except the spy, knows how much knowledge has been gathered."

Her mind jumped from person to person and then skidded to a halt as a good-looking, blue-eyed blond came to mind. "You suspect Mr. Marrow?"

"No, I don't. He definitely has access, but John isn't a good liar. There's a reason he's been divorced three times. He can be, shall I say, indiscreet when involved with a woman."

A smiled tipped his lips, and the now familiar zing warmed her blood. She must have given her thoughts away, because his smile faded and his eyes heated.

He cleared his throat. "What I need from you is some overtime, working on some of the transmissions, analyzing data. If we can figure out who wants the information and has the credits to pay for it, we'll be able to catch the spy."

She nodded but said nothing. The air in the room turned warmer, the spicy scent of him filled the air.

"I want to apologize for what happened earlier," he said, his voice a shade warmer.

Flashes of his thoughts sparked through her mind, through her body. The image of his hands -- dark, tanned hands against her ivory skin, while he spread her legs and bent his head to lick her clit -- sent a wave of wet heat to just that spot. Oh, Lord.

"It's OK. David tends to be a little overprotective."

"He's older?"

He expected her to hold a conversation while he was thinking about doing those things to her? Jesus, she could barely breathe.

"No, I am, but there's less than a year between us."

Her voice was deeper than her usual tone. His eyes darkened and the images flickered. So many different ideas, she couldn't grasp onto one. Hot, wet skin. His voice and hers. Every nerve ending in her body shimmered and tightened. Her blood heated and pulsed between her legs. Her head spun from the barrage of images flashing through her mind.

Something in the way she looked at him must have alerted him to her arousal. A look of pure, unadulterated lust darkened his eyes, and without a word, he rose from his chair and walked around his desk. He stood in front of her, and her gaze was drawn to his raging erection. He took her hand, and pulled her out of the seat. They stood inches apart, his body heat warming her breasts. He placed a hand on the small of her back and eased her closer. His cock pressed into her waist, and she dampened in response.

"Do you know the main reason why I didn't want to hire you?" he whispered against her ear. She shivered. "I spent the whole interview fantasizing about you, thinking about what you would taste like here." He touched her mouth with his callused index finger. "And here." His finger glided over her erect nipple, past her belly button, and finally he pressed his palm against her clit. "And especially here."

Her muscles tightened in anticipation, but he kept his touch feather-light. Slowly, his finger brushed over her clit and then pressed slightly against it. She moaned in frustration. He chuckled. She shuddered as the deep, rich sound sank into her bones, warming her from the inside out.

"Marcus, this isn't a good idea." But even she heard the surrender in her voice. He pressed harder against her clit, and she moved to increase the pressure.

"I've never known you to be quite so impatient, Ms. Adams."

Dark and seductive, his voice was a heated whisper across her skin. He moved his hand from between her legs and cupped her face. The scent of her arousal rose from his fingers. Gaining courage, she willed herself to meet his eyes. They burned with fiery passion, so intense it jolted her senses and seized control of her thoughts.

Sizzling images and sounds bombarded her mind. The lushness of the visions -- their tangled bodies; hot, slippery, messy sex; silk sheets -- washed over her. He bent his head, keeping his eyes open as he pressed his lips against hers. Never in her life had her gift overpowered her like this. While he nipped at her lower lip, his gaze dared her to break contact, to refuse this intimacy. His hands slid down, brushed the sides of her breasts with the lightest touch, then moved to cup her rear end. Her sex throbbed with need so great she whimpered when he pressed her closer, allowing her to feel his long, thick cock.

While he continued the sensuous assault on her body, the images of his fantasies, of his wants and desires, flooded her mind, constantly keeping her off balance. His thoughts continued to overpower her own. Each one more intense than the last, increasing with his arousal.

His tongue darted out, licking at her lips. Without a thought, she opened her mouth to him. The pictures in her mind darkened, growing more vivid as his tongue swept past her lips and into her mouth. Her eyes slid closed in surrender as he took complete possession of her mouth and her mind.

And we think you’ll love

The Ninth Wave

By Adrian J. Matthews

Available Now from Loose Id

The Ninth Wave

Craig shook his head, his face flushed. “Gods! You irritating woman! You had me worried there for a moment.”

“I'm a woman; it's my civic duty to throw men a curve ball now and then; it keeps you alert. Look, forget all that. We're here, together, now. It was karma that we should meet.” She gestured to the picture. “We'll go to NewMadurai together one day. I'd like you to meet the rest of my family.”

“I'd like that, too,” he said, and kissed her gently on the cheek. “We will go, once everything is settled here.”

“It'll take years to make Orpheus viable.” She nestled against him.

“It will. But we have plenty of time.”

Cassie wrapped her arms around his neck.

“We do,” she whispered, and kissed him deeply. Their lips parted, tongues meeting in moist intimacy, dancing asalamandrine dance over and around each other. Cassie nibbled Craig's lips and flicked his teeth, lightning-quick, with her tongue as she drew back.

“Oh ho!” She chuckled as she squirmed onto his lap. “What's this I feel? It's nice to be appreciated!”

“A corpse would get a boner, the way you kiss!” he said with a groan. “I don't know how I'mgonna last until those drones are launched.”

“I'm afraid we're both going to need some self-control, lover,” she said with a grin, taking his hand and closing it about her breast. Her nipple was hard and aching against his palm. “The thought of that lovely meat of yours just a layer of clothing beneath my tight littlePindoo butt is making me wetter than that bloody sea out there. We've got work to do now, but I'll go easy on you later,” she said with a purr. His eyebrows rose and she giggled. “You don't believe me? I mean it; we'll skip theTantra tonight.”

Craig made a show of wiping his brow with relief and she laughed. Standing, she took his hand and pulled him to his feet.

“Come on,” she said. “The sooner we finish out there, the sooner we can begin in here …”

*****

They left the comfort of the ATV and readied the drones, working with easy and professional camaraderie. Green lights winked across the display panels, showing all was well with the sophisticated robots.

“I'm glad they're working okay!” Craig said, closing the hatches over the panels. He patted the machine. “These cost us plenty. I wouldn't want to be the one to report a bad apple to the Council.”

“They wouldn't shoot you if you did. Even they know there's no such thing as perfection. You worry too much. Come on, let's get the ramp down.” She glanced over her shoulder at the clouds rolling slowly over the horizon. “I want to be inside before that weather hits.”

The prefabricated launch ramp took mere minutes to assemble. Its latticework rail extended and slipped into the gelid water, the servomotors whining faintly under the load. Cassie took advantage of her waterproof suit and walked into the sea a little way. She checked the ramp, ensuring no underwater rocks would impede the drones' progress. The pressure of the water pressed the suit against her legs in a strangely sensuous way. She suppressed a giggle and waded deeper, until the water rose up to her waist.

“Don't go too far in, babe,” Craig said.

“I won't,” she replied, savoring the living feel of the pressure against her crotch as the slow current surged around her. Resting her hand on the rail for balance against the slight undertow, she looked out over the sea.

“Funny how the swell has kept the water clear,” she said thoughtfully. “In these temperatures, I'd have

thought it would still freeze over.”

“It's the kind of thing these babies are here to look at, remember?” he replied. “It might lead to something the colony can use.”

“Yeah.” She walked up onto dry land, glancing back at the dark water. “I hope so.”

The sun was already beginning to dip toward the horizon, the shortOrphean day of 18 hours another oddity for an Earth-born to get used to. The first drone hummed softly on the cradle.

“Fire one.” Craig touched the button and the robot slipped down the ramp into the water with barely a ripple.

Cassie had already set the second drone up on the crane by the time the cradle retracted. Within two minutes, the second drone had left the scene. Cassie and Craig stared at the water, then up at the gathering storm looming black and ominous over the rocky hills of the peninsula.

“Wannacash that rain-check?” she asked, nudging him in the ribs with her elbow.

“I thought you'd never ask!” He grinned.

*****

Darkness came quickly, borne on the rising wind and the first slashing drops of rain.

Snug inside the ATV, Cassie peeled the thin fabric of the body sheath off Craig's body like a gossamer cocoon. His exposed skin was hot and pliant beneath her hands as she caressed his firm, muscular torso, tracing a path with her fingertips around each rosy pink, hair-rimmed nipple. She ran her hands across his chest, and he trembled as he held her, his cock rising hard against her belly.

Craig's breath was loud in her ear as he held her close, his fingers searching for her body sheath closures, his usually deft touch clumsy in his eagerness. She held him tightly in her arms, feeling their hearts beating hard, united in rising lust. The top of her suit came loose, peeled away from her arms and breasts. Under his urging, she lay back on the bunk, her butt on the edge, arms flung wide as Craig tugged at the legs of her suit. He finally pulled the sheath from her feet and flung it aside.

Cold air ran electric fingers over her hot flesh. Craig's eyes burned with fervid desire as he parted her thighs and stepped closer. Reaching out, he ran a finger over her cheeks to her lips, her throat, and down to her breasts. She moaned softly as his hands cupped each orb. He squeezed them hard, pinching her nipples as he bowed his head and laid gentle kisses on her belly.

Dark, sleet-laden clouds roiled over the hills to the west, the darkness seeping from the turbulent sky to merge with the basaltic hills until earth and heavens seemed one. Deep within the mass, lightning flickered, the huge energies remaining hidden behind lobes of tumultuous vapor…

Craig ran his lips and tongue over her belly, laying a moist trail down, down to her pussy as his hands slid up and down her flanks with long, slow strokes. She felt his hot breath playing over her labia and sighed with contentment, her eyes hooded, unseeing.

The storm front grew four great wings of dark cloud. Moving with preternatural speed, they reached around an area of sky directly above the ATV until they met and merged with a shocking blast of lightning, enclosing the ATV in an amphitheater of relative calm. As the clouds merged, they thickened, until the small area of calm became swallowed by night…

*****

What people are saying about the writing of Adrian J. Matthews

The Ninth Wave

Creative characters and evocative language makeThe Ninth Wave a "must read."

-- Denise Dietz, author ofFifty Cents for Your Soul (Loose Id)

The Ninth Waveis a must read for lovers of futuristic/science fiction. Adrian Matthews is a master at creating a very believable high-tech world, filled with original, memorable characters. I really enjoyed this book!

-- Jill Noelle, author ofMine (Loose Id)

Exciting blend of science fantasy, erotica and paranormal phenomena.

--DariaKarpova , author ofLoose Diamonds (Loose Id)

An amazing tale set on a distant planet of ice and lightning storms.The Ninth Wave has everything: incredible characters, legends and myths, new worlds…and a tender love story. I loved the writing, and the story grabbed me from the very first line. The love scene in the storm absolutely blew me away -- it was so hot it sizzled! I'm looking forward to more stories by this very gifted writer!

-- Samantha Winston, author ofIce Man (Loose Id)

Deftly blending “Neo-Hinduism” with futuristic fun, A. J. Mathews’ debut offering at Loose Id is tightly paced and suspenseful. The characters are well drawn and believable, the plot unique and entertaining. I foundThe Ninth Wave thoroughly enjoyable.

-- CyndiFriberg , author ofOntarian Chronicles 1: Taken by the Storm (coming soon from Loose Id)