Codename Spring (2 page)

“What is that?”

“A frequency jammer. I don’t think this area is bugged but I learned long ago that there is no such thing as too paranoid.” Saroji slipped the jammer back into her pocket and searched Jocelyn’s gaze. “You understand how all this works?”

“I understand everyone will think I’m moonlighting as a call girl, but I also know Winter didn’t have sex with anyone during our mission. She used a brainwave modifier to create false memories.”

Saroji nodded, her gaze darkening further as she stared into Jocelyn’s eyes. “The succubus allows Autumn’s agents to avoid the physical act but don’t fool yourself into believing they’re unaffected by the experience. The false memories are vivid and lingering. You’ll know what you’re feeling isn’t real but that won’t make the sensations any less intense.”

Jocelyn brushed the leaves off a stone bench and sat. “Are you trying to talk me out of contacting Autumn?”

“Not necessarily. I just want you to understand exactly what you’re volunteering to do.” Saroji was completely committed to the Resistance. No one could doubt her loyalty or dedication. Ra’jen, Saroji’s half brother, had started the movement. And Autumn was Ra’jen’s mate. So why was Saroji hesitating to involve her best friend?

“Do you doubt my ability to—”

“Absolutely not.” Saroji sat beside her and smiled. “If you really want to do this you’ll be amazing. Autumn was thrilled with your last mission and hinted that she would like to use you again. I was the one who told her you wouldn’t be interested.”

“Shouldn’t that have been my choice?” Autumn had needed a doctor for the last mission, which was why Saroji had reluctantly suggested Jocelyn. But most missions called for feminine wiles and the ability to adapt to any situation. “Why are you being so negative? Is the succubus unreliable or incredibly hard to operate?”

Shaking her head, Saroji released a humorous laugh. “You’re a surgeon. I’m pretty sure you can handle a brainwave modifier.” She shifted toward Jocelyn. “Before you make your final decision I want you to experience what I’m talking about.”

Saroji reached for Jocelyn’s hand but she snatched it away. “Right now?”

“We’ve only been gone a few minutes.” Saroji shrugged. “They’ll set off your audiocom if there’s an emergency.”

After checking their surroundings to make sure they were alone, Jocelyn slipped her hand into Saroji’s and whispered, “You can do this without the device, can’t you?”

Saroji nodded. “The succubus was originally a training device. Pryett mentors used them to assist their apprentices as they learned to control their abilities. If I used one on you, it would be excruciating.”

“But you have access to one, don’t you? I’d like to make sure my brain chemistry is compatible with the succubus before I head off on a mission.”

“Do you honestly think we’ll just throw you to the wolves like that? If Autumn approves your request—which I’m sure she will—I’ll give you one of the devices so you can become comfortable with its operation and capabilities. You won’t be assigned your first mission until we all feel you’re ready.”

On some level Jocelyn knew she was being ridiculous but the questions just kept pouring out. “How do the agents establish a mental link with their targets? I won’t be able to tell them to sit down and close their eyes.”

“No, but you can rub against him and distract him with a slow, passionate kiss. Then run your fingers through his hair as you press the succubus into place.”

Jocelyn nodded, thinking back to her mission with Winter. “We used a sedative mist the other night. That seems safer to me.”

“It’s easier to build upon genuine memories than to overwrite events you don’t want the client to remember. What Winter did takes practice and control. You’ll need to start off simple.”

“All right.” Jocelyn took a deep breath as a shiver of apprehension raced down her spine. So many things could go wrong during the course of a mission. Maybe she should stick with what she knew and leave the spying for those better qualified for these adventures.

“Close your eyes and try to relax.”

Reality shifted in an instant, like a poorly edited entertainment sim. One moment she sat beside Saroji and the next she was alone, lying back across the bench with one hand between her thighs. Her pants were bunched around her knees and the stone felt cold against her bare ass cheeks.

She gasped and wiggled, meaning to move her hand and yank up her pants. But lust rolled through her body, hot and intoxicating. It had been so long since she indulged her sexual nature, so long since she reveled in physical release. Unwilling to share her body with numerous men, she’d chosen to project a detached and unapproachable air. Her icy reserve discouraged even the most persistent male, yet left her feeling empty and alone.

Her pussy was soft and wet and oh so needful. She groaned and closed her eyes, carefully circling her clit. Sensations gathered beneath her fingers, tight and tingly. Directed by the motion of her caress, the pleasure curled in upon itself, drawing her deeper into the vision.

Unable to resist the temptation, she pushed two fingers inside her passage and began a slow, steady motion. She shifted her legs farther apart, frustrated by the restriction of her pants. It wasn’t enough. The teasing fullness only made her ache for a long, thick cock driving into her, filling and—

“Now this is unacceptable.”

The deep, male voice made her yelp. Her eyes flew open and her hand stilled between her thighs. “Oh my God.” Her face flamed and her nipples tingled as humiliation washed over her entire body. “Go away!”

Before she could guess his intention he had her arms pinned above her head, wrists securely clasped in one long-fingered hand, leaving his other hand free to roam. His features were strong and masculine, handsome by human standards. But his skin’s rich copper sheen hinted at an origin other than Earth.

She licked her lips and focused on his eyes. “This isn’t what I want. Please let go.”

A slow, challenging smile parted his sensual lips. “I’m lightheaded from the scent of your arousal. Are you going to pretend you don’t need to come?”

“I thought I was alone!”

Without releasing her wrists, he worked her pants below her knees then maneuvered the material under the edge of the stone bench. The position spread her legs to either side of the bench and secured her with her disheveled clothing. She was his prisoner, helpless and brazenly displayed. And undeniably ready for anything he chose to give her.

“That’s better.” His gaze swept over her exposed flesh before returning to her eyes. “Now we can take our time. Unless you really don’t want me to touch you.”

How could she deny her need when the proof of her desire was still slick on her inner thighs? “I don’t fuck strangers.” Her mind clung to the fact but her body appeared to be in control at the moment. She wanted him to ignore her protests, hoped he’d shove into her roughly and fuck her hard enough to make her see stars.

His gaze bore into hers. The irises gleamed like golden topaz, dramatically ringed in black. Beautiful and alien. He must be a member of the Protectorate, one of the enemy’s enforcers. The hint of a beard shadowed his jaw and drew her attention back to his mouth. Those full, beautifully arched lips would appear effeminate on a less masculine face.

“Your pussy is begging for my cock, but I see fear in your eyes.” He knelt beside the bench near her waist so he had access to her entire body. His thumb swept across her cheek then his hand descended along her torso, skimming over her breast before settling on her hip. He leaned down, face hovering over her mound as he inhaled slowly. “Your scent doesn’t lie.” Parting her folds with his tongue, he easily located her clit and flicked the sensitive nub. She cried out and wiggled, unsure if she was trying to avoid his touch or encourage his brazen behavior. With slow, teasing circles and sudden flicks, he awakened her smoldering arousal. Her hips bucked, unable to hide the intensity of her response.

He raised his head and looked at her face. “Are you still unsure? Shall I help you make up your mind?” He guided her hands to the top of the bench and curved her fingers over the edge. “Do not let go.”

There was a silent command in his tone but he didn’t spell out the consequence if she disobeyed. Her fingers tightened against the stone as he casually unbuttoned her blouse, baring her body to the cool breeze and his ravenous gaze.

In reality she’d been wearing a bra but the garment was absent in the vision. The inconsistency burst through the sensual web Saroji was effortlessly weaving.
This isn’t real!
Each of Jocelyn’s senses was engaged and yet she knew it wasn’t real.

The only reason you’re aware of that fact is because I need you to understand the difference.
Saroji pushed the thought into Jocelyn’s sluggish mind.
Your targets will not be able to distinguish the world you create from the world in which they live.

Before Jocelyn could respond to the clarification, the vision resumed. Still on his knees beside her, the stranger caressed one of her breasts with his fingers while he sucked the other. His lips pulled with slow persistency, sending heat spiraling deep into her belly.

His other hand drifted downward, skimming over her abdomen, across her hip and onto her thigh. Her pussy clenched and her clit twitched, dragging a needful moan from the back of her throat. None of her lovers had been this demanding, this controlling. Was she only enjoying his subtle aggression because someone else was controlling the fantasy, or did Saroji sense something hidden deep in Jocelyn’s nature that she’d never allowed herself to admit?

The stranger released her nipple and dragged his teeth across the lower curve of her breast. “I won’t force you. That’s not my way, but I need to be inside you.” As if to prove his point, he stood and unfastened his pants, loosening the material over his massive erection without actually revealing his cock. “If you don’t want this, tell me now. Once I’m inside you I won’t be able to stop.” His gaze stabbed into her, hot and demanding.

She opened her mouth, meaning to refuse, to end the titillating fantasy. But the words died on her tongue and her hips began to rock, drawing his attention back to her pussy.

With a primal growl, he knelt at the end of the bench and buried his face between her thighs. His mouth opened over her slit and his tongue penetrated her folds. Each stroke fueled her fires and burned away her resistance. She pushed up against his lips, willing his tongue to her aching clit.

After only a few blissful moments, he raised his head from between her thighs. “I want to feast on your cream and fuck you with my tongue, but my cock isn’t going to wait.”

He yanked off her shoes and freed her legs from her tangled pants. Then he stood and draped her legs over his forearms. She had no idea when he’d freed his cock, but the hot, blunt head pressed against her opening. And he paused.

“Say it,” he urged, his tone part command and part snarl. “Admit you want me as badly as I want you.”

She trembled beneath him, aching for the promised fullness, yet feeling conflicted and sad. This was a fantasy, an artificial reality created by a skillful Pryett. She closed her eyes against the lure of his handsome features and the consuming intensity of his hungry eyes.

“Saroji, that’s enough,” she whispered without opening her eyes. “Lesson learned. Let me go.” As smoothly as she had entered the vision, Jocelyn emerged. She sat again on the bench beside her friend, clothing restored, cool breeze caressing her flushed face.

Saroji squeezed her hand then released her fingers. “If you’re on assignment, you won’t be able to stop. You’ll have to let him fuck you any way he wants.”

Jocelyn opened her eyes and released a shuddering breath. “But I’ll know it’s not real, right? I’ll control the images.”

“Yes, you’ll control the images, and on some level you’ll understand that it’s not actually happening. But did that make it feel any less real?”

Shifting her gaze away from her friend’s assessing stare, Jocelyn forced herself to be brutally honest. “It felt no different than reality. I expected it to be more like a dream.”

“You can learn to shield yourself from the sensations, to mute them, but it takes time and practice to develop that much control.”

Jocelyn nodded and turned back to Saroji. “Then I’d better get started.”

Saroji laughed as she pushed to her feet. “I didn’t think I could scare you away but I felt obligated to try.”

Jocelyn stood as well, unable to rid her mind of a pair of piercing topaz eyes. “Who is he? One of your brother’s soldiers?”

“I honestly don’t know,” Saroji admitted. “I’ve been dreaming about him for weeks, but I haven’t sensed who he is or what I’m supposed to do with his image.”

Jocelyn ignored the persistent ache still pulsing through her body as they headed across the courtyard. “What made you use his image on me?”

“I’m not sure.” A secretive smile bowed Saroji’s lips. Then she added, “It just felt right at the time.”

Chapter Two

Jocelyn looked from Autumn to Saroji and back, trying hard not to panic. This was what she’d wanted, what she’d spent the past few weeks training for with obsessive focus. “Why me?”

When Autumn arrived at the clinic twenty minutes earlier, Jocelyn hadn’t thought too much about it. Saroji led their visitor into her office then emerged a few minutes later and motioned for Jocelyn to join them. The clinic was frequently swept for surveillance devices so it was unlikely they were in any danger of being overheard. Even so, each woman was careful not to say anything that could incriminate the Resistance.

“You expressed an interest in augmenting your income, and I have a customer who is interested in a pleasure ambassador who is not part of the regular rotation.” Autumn shrugged. “It’s as simple as that.”

Codename assignments were never simple. Their complexity and danger were part of what appealed to Jocelyn. She pressed her hand against her chest, trying to steady her racing heart. “How soon does your customer want his ambassador, and how long would I be away from the clinic?”

“The contract is for three days and he’s requested immediate delivery.”

Her pulse leaped and she struggled to keep her expression calm. “I would need to leave immediately?” She knew this was something she wanted to do but she hadn’t had as much time to master the succubus as she’d hoped.

“I brought everything you’ll need with me, so you can get ready in the skimmer.” Autumn glanced at Saroji, obviously concerned by Jocelyn’s hesitation.

“Jocelyn,” Saroji began, “you’re uniquely qualified for this situation. We’d both hoped to give you more time, but this customer could prove to be extremely valuable.”

“I need to make sure I’m covered before—”

“I’ll rearrange the clinic’s schedule,” Saroji assured her. “Go. Autumn will explain the details en route.”

By the time she reached Autumn’s skimmer, Jocelyn’s stomach was tied in knots. She hadn’t been this anxious when she’d gone undercover with Winter. Perhaps that was the problem. She’d be flying solo now. “Where are we going?”

Autumn set the skimmer in motion and jammed communications before she replied. “To the Pentagon.”

“I thought the Pentagon was deserted.”

“That’s what the Protectorate wants everyone to think. Certain sections are still very much in use.”

“You said customer. There is only one?”

Autumn laughed. “Are you disappointed?”

“No. One is quite enough for my first solo mission.”

“I agree.” Autumn paused for a reassuring smile. “You’re going to be fine. If Saroji didn’t think you were ready she would have let me know.”

Jocelyn had no reply for that, so she just nodded and returned Autumn’s smile.

“Your codename is Spring, and we’re hoping this contract is being arranged on behalf of Evard Keenan.”

Evard Keenan, the famed chemist, seemed more myth than man. No one had ever been able to produce a verifiable image of him, and yet the stories about him continued to spread. Some believed he was the only hope of survival for the captive human race, while others thought he was the actual leader of the Gathosians. It was a documented fact that he “anchored” Inwatta—one of the sector leaders—yet few believed he did so willingly. Jocelyn wasn’t sure what to believe. She knew he worked closely with the Gathosians but she had no idea where his loyalties lay.

“Has he ever summoned an ambassador before?”

“No, and that’s part of the reason why this is so exciting.” Autumn made a quick adjustment to the skimmer before she went on. “I’m the third madam who has attempted to fulfill the contract. The first two ambassadors were rejected before they even saw the customer.”

Too anxious to sit still, Jocelyn scooted to the edge of her seat, crossing then uncrossing her legs. “Why were they rejected?”

“I don’t know. According to Bella, her girl was subjected to a routine rather like a police lineup. Then she was given a small percentage of the promised fee and returned to the embassy. No explanation, no apology.”

Jocelyn’s hopes plummeted. “If the best of the best can’t turn him on, what makes you think he’ll accept me?”

“The contract has no physical specifications. The only requirement is that the woman be willing and not be ‘part of the general rotation’.”

“If he doesn’t want a professional, why is he contacting embassies?”

Autumn’s brow arched as she swiveled her chair around and faced Jocelyn. “What alternative is there on Earth? Thanks to the Gathosians, we’re either passed from worker to worker or we’re paid to pleasure the Protectorate. Either way we’re basically whores.”

Jocelyn knew Autumn was right. Every female on Earth had lost command over her body the day the Gathosians launched their first assault. Human males had been relegated to slave labor, and the few females who had survived the pandemic were faced with a life of degradation and sexual servitude. The Gathosians had no intention of occupying Earth so they didn’t care how poorly they treated the inhabitants. Once mineral resources were fully excavated, they would move on to the next mineral-rich planet.

Freedom from the highly addictive compound offered the only glimmer of hope in an otherwise dismal situation. Rumor had it that Evard Keenan knew enough about Gathosian chemistry to formulate a cure for the addiction. Was it possible they had finally located the faceless phantom?

Refusing to give in to the intoxicating rush of optimism, Jocelyn focused on the first obstacle. “You’re hoping my inexperience will work to our advantage.”

“Exactly.” Autumn motioned to a zippered bag on the floor to Jocelyn’s right. “I brought everything you’ll need for a three-day stay. You can change while I explain what we’re hoping to accomplish.”

Jocelyn unzipped the bag and rummaged through the assortment of clothing and…sex paraphernalia. Dildos, vibrators, a butt plug, lubricant, wrist cuffs and a coil of red velvet cord, even a wicked little flogger. “He’ll expect me to have all of this?” Her mouth went dry while moisture gathered between her thighs. Self-imposed isolation had left her with a rich and varied fantasy life, but only in her fantasies had she experienced anything so wild.

Autumn laughed. “That’s a fairly tame travel bag for an ambassador. We have to be prepared for anything. The fact that he wants you for several days indicates an interest in exploration.”

With her heartbeat thudding in her ears, Jocelyn continued digging through the contents of the bag. “Where’s the succubus?”

“They’ll search your bag and scan you for weapons at the very least. We had to be creative.” Autumn held up a pendant with one hand and displayed a ring with the other. Intricate filigree surrounded each device, creating a bold yet exotic beauty. “None of the metals used in weaponry are present in the succubus, so it shouldn’t set off munitions scanners.”

“Which half is which?”

“The pendant is the master. It goes on you. The top of the ring will detach once it’s pressed against Evard’s temple.” She handed the jewelry to Jocelyn, eyes narrowed and wary. “With a three-day commitment, you’ll have to use the succubus more than once. Have you practiced with anyone but Saroji?”

“Of course.”

“How were your transitions? Were you able to instigate a session without your target remembering it afterward?”

“I’ve done very well. Saroji says I’m a natural.”

Autumn accepted the claim with a nod, her expression suddenly grave. “Evard isn’t human. You’ll need to be stealthy and extremely careful.”

“If he realizes I’m screwing with his head instead of his body, I’m a dead woman. I get it.” Selecting the least revealing of the three outfits, Jocelyn began her transformation. “What do I do if the shit hits the fan? Do I have any sort of backup?”

“Ra’jen and I struggled with this part the most. Neither of us wants to abandon you to the fates.”

“Meaning?”

Autumn sighed, her frustration obvious. “Ra’jen can’t have a strike team waiting in the wings. There is no justifiable reason for him to know anything about this.”

Jocelyn swallowed hard, glancing away from Autumn’s troubled expression. “I’m on my own?”

“Not entirely. I’m going to attach a false cap to one of your back teeth. If everything falls apart and you need out, all you’ll have to do is bite down hard enough to break the seal.”

“And what will be released?”

“Neotrexaphane and bartillium. Combined, they—”

“I know what happens when they combine.” She’d become so violently ill there would be no option but to rush her to the medical complex or let her die.

* * * * *

“I’m tired of your games, Evard,” Inwatta snapped. “If you don’t like this one, our deal is off!”

Evard glared at the glowing, undulating mass that hovered beside him. The first ambassador had been an overblown floozy but he’d rejected the second out of spite. “I made myself clear from the beginning. I don’t want a practiced whore.” But he needed test subjects if he hoped to finalize his formula, so these games couldn’t go on indefinitely.

“Yet all the females in the genetics lab are too young and immature, so how am I supposed to find a female suitable…”

If her tirade continued Evard didn’t hear a word. The door opened, admitting the latest ambassador into the interrogation room. A mirrored film prevented the woman from seeing him while allowing him to view her. She moved with far less confidence than the others, almost as if she weren’t entirely sure she wanted to be here. The vulnerability caught his attention, made him look closer.

Though her waist was cinched and her breasts lifted by an embroidered white bustier, her curves remained gentle, natural. Her shoulders were bare but long white gloves adorned her slender arms. A simple black skirt hugged her hips, displaying the lacy tops of her black stockings.

He activated the intercom and said, “Turn around.”

Her green eyes widened but she obeyed. The bustier’s laces were gold, like the embroidery. He wanted to find out if her ivory skin was as soft as it looked and cup her tight round ass as he thrust between those shapely thighs. His cock stirred, lengthening and hardening as sexual images filled his mind.

“She’s different than the others,” Inwatta murmured, “less garish.”

The word “garish” drew his gaze to the ambassador’s blood-red hair. “Are you wearing a wig or has your hair color been altered?”

She slowly licked her lips, not the teasing gesture of a practiced flirt but the nervous reaction of someone uncomfortable in their situation. “It’s a wig. Would you prefer I take it off?”

“Yes.” Her hands trembled and her features tensed as she quickly removed the wig. Her natural hair was a lovely chestnut brown. “Much better. Now take it down.”

As she pulled the pins from her hair and arranged the silken waves across her shoulders, recognition slammed into him. What the fuck was Jocelyn Grier doing… She was trying to contact him! Though the female doctor had yet to be confirmed as a member of the Resistance, she was surrounded by those topping the Gathosians’ list of suspects.

Did Inwatta realize this was a trap? It was unlikely or she never would have allowed things to progress this far.

Pouring energy into his mental shields, he meticulously schooled his expression. He needed to speak at length with this woman without Inwatta being aware of their conversation. The Resistance had cleverly found a way to reach out to him. Now he had to find a way to exchange information.

“You’re hiding from me.” Inwatta pushed against his shields. “Does she please you that much? Are you afraid I’ll be jealous?”

Thankful for the workable explanation, he focused on Jocelyn and shrugged. “I might find her appealing. It’s hard to tell under all that paint.”

Inwatta’s cruel laughter echoed all around him and her illumination intensified. “Finally! If I have her scrubbed from head to toe, will you fuck her for me? Will you fuck her while I am—”

“Two days.” He turned on her, blasting her mind with his anger. “You promised me two days alone with her.
Completely
alone.”

A long pause followed as her illumination swelled and spun. He held his breath, pushing back against her subtle probing. She could force her way into his mind, had done so often enough to leave no doubt of her abilities. Even knowing the vulnerability of his position, it was too late to change his strategy.

“Fine!” Pain slashed through his mind, illustrating her annoyance with the compromise. “Play with your human for two days. Break her in gently if you must. Then we’ll play with her together.” He started for the door but she swirled past him and blocked the exit. “She must be searched and scanned. She will be brought to you once I determine she is no danger to either of us.”

* * * * *

Damp and shivering, Jocelyn stood in the middle of a modest bedroom stunned and infuriated. She had been stripped—her jewelry confiscated—and shoved into a shower. Two cold-eyed guards had watched every move she made, ensuring she scrubbed every millimeter of her face and body. Her bag had been gone when she stepped out of the shower and wrapped herself in the waiting towel. One of the guards told her to brush her teeth and comb her hair with the supplies he provided. Then they’d led her to this room and locked her inside.