Laura Jo Phillips (14 page)

“Marrazo?”

“It’s a water planet,” Ellicia explained.  “The people there are descended from creatures that greatly resemble our Great White Sharks.  My team had to go there a year ago to investigate a murder and theft, and I had to pretend the whole time that I wasn’t on the verge of a panic attack from all the water.”

“I think it’s amazing that you were able to conquer your fear enough to even step foot on a water planet,” Harlan said.  “That took a lot of courage.”

“Not courage,” Ellicia argued.  “Desperation.  We believed that the individual responsible for the Marrazo Queen’s murder was the same person who had kidnapped my sister, thinking it was me.  I would have done just about anything to track him down before he had a chance to get his filthy hands on one of us again.”

“You don’t like taking credit for anything, do you?” Harlan asked.

“I work with a team,” Ellicia replied.  “Either we all get credit for what we do, or none of us get any.  That’s just the way it is.  That’s the way it should be.”

“I don’t see how your team gets credit for your personal bravery, but I won’t argue with you about it.”

Ellicia rolled her eyes.  “You just did,” she pointed out.

“Only a little,” Harlan admitted with another grin.  Ellicia was beginning to like those grins far more than she thought was sensible.

“You ready to go?” Harlan asked as Ellicia took a last sip of her drink and set the empty cup back on the table.

“Yes, I think so,” Ellicia said.  “Its getting late and we have an early day tomorrow.

Ellicia watched Harlan as he paid the bill and thanked the waiter.  He was always so polite and gentlemanly, no matter who he was talking to.  She’d seen a few scowls on his face, but she’d never seen him lose his temper.  At the same time, she knew he was a very dangerous man.  She’d watched his sparring sessions with some of the other agents over the past couple of weeks.  Nobody had ever landed a single hit on him in hand to hand combat yet.  The betting pool on who would be the first to do so was getting huge.  Somehow, she didn’t think anyone would be winning it anytime soon.

A little while later Harlan parked his ground-car in front of her building.  “Let me walk you up,” he offered.

Ellicia’s automatic response was to say no, but she bit it back in time.  She wanted to spend another few moments with this man, and though she didn’t think she’d admit that to anyone else, she admitted it to herself.

“That would be nice,” Ellicia said.  It came out sounding a little nervous and a little stiff, but at least she’d gotten it out.

Harlan nearly leapt out of the ground-car and hurried around to open her door for her.  Ellicia couldn’t remember anyone ever doing such a thing for her in her life and it felt strange.  She wasn’t really sure she liked it.  “Just shut up and go with it for once,” she told herself firmly.

She stepped out of the car and waited for Harlan to close her door before leading the way into her building.  She placed her hand on the door scanner and reached for the handle when the lock clicked open.  Harlan took it from her and held it open, following behind her as she led the way to the elevator.

“Nice building,” Harlan commented as they got into the elevator and Ellicia pressed the button for her floor.

“Yes, I like it,” Ellicia replied.  “We grew up on the other end of town, my sister and I.  It’s a nice enough building in a nice neighborhood, but it’s old and very basic.  Once Lariah was old enough to be on her own, I moved here and she stayed in the family home.  I wanted to know what it felt like to have all the extra goodies, and my job pays enough that I could afford to find out.”

“Do you ever miss your old neighborhood?” Harlan asked.

“Sometimes,” Ellicia admitted.  “I miss hearing the kids playing outside, the neighborhood intrigues, the feeling of safety that comes with living in a place where you’re surrounded by people you know.  But I’m not home that much, and this building has fantastic security.”

“Does your sister like living there?” Harlan asked.

“Yes, she did,” Ellicia replied with a smile.  “I invited her to come live with me more than once, but she liked the old place. I don’t know why, but it always seemed to suit her more than it did me.”  Ellicia shook her head as the elevator doors opened and she stepped out into the hall.  “Now, Lari lives on Jasan.  She’s married to the Royal Princes and is expecting triplets any day now.”

“From a residential neighborhood to a palace?” Harlan asked.  “Sounds like quite a change.”

“I know, but she doesn’t live in a palace.  She lives on a ranch.  I’m not positive what that is, but I know that Lariah is happy, and that’s all that matters to me.”  Ellicia put her hand on the door scanner and waited for the lock to disengage before turning to face Harlan.

“Thank you for dinner,” she said.  “I had a good time.”

“You’re welcome, Ellicia,” Harlan said.

“Um, would you like to come in?” Ellicia asked uncertainly, pretending that she didn’t know her face was turning red with embarrassment. 

Harlan stepped a little closer to her so that she had to tilt her head back to look up at him.  “I would love to come in,” he said softly.  “But I think now is not the right time.  Would you let me kiss you instead?”

Ellicia’s face heated even more, but she didn’t look away from the intensity in Harlan’s amber eyes.  She knew that if she tried to speak, she’d sound like a frog, so she nodded instead.

Harlan’s eyes flared as he slowly lowered his mouth to hers.  He rubbed his lips gently back and forth across hers, causing little shivers to race up and down her spine.  When his tongue reached out to trace her lips, she thought her knees were going to give out completely and land her in a puddle right there in the middle of the hall. 

Harlan’s hands came down on her shoulders and tugged her a bit closer against his body.  She willingly moved closer, then lost all thought as his mouth opened over hers and he slipped his hot tongue into her mouth. 

Ellicia had been kissed before, though admittedly it had been a very long time.  But she had never in her life been kissed like this.  Nor had she ever had such intense sensations running through her body.  She hadn’t known it was even possible to feel this way. 

Harlan deepened the kiss, losing himself in the warm sweetness of Ellicia’s taste and scent, his arms pulling her even closer against him.  When he finally broke the kiss, he threw his head back, gasping for air.  And control.  He wanted nothing more, and never wanted anything more than he wanted to take this woman inside and bar the door behind them. 

But now was not the right time.  He knew it.  He wasn’t sure why, but he had learned to follow his instincts and right now they were telling him to stop.  He loosened his arms and reluctantly took a step back before allowing himself to look down into Ellicia’s face.  His body tightened almost painfully at the expression of passion on her face, and the heat in her wide blue eyes.  He felt her body trembling with need in his arms and that almost pushed him over the edge.  He forced himself to release her, dropping his hands to his sides as he took another step back.

He was trying so hard to control himself that he almost missed the expression of hurt and embarrassment in her eyes. 

“I want you, Ellicia,” he said, his voice deep with his own arousal.  “I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anyone or anything in my life.  But this is not the right time.  I don’t know why, but something is telling me we need to wait just a bit longer.”

The hurt fled, much to Harlan’s relief, and she smiled.  “I think I’d better go inside now before we both decide to ignore those little voices in our heads.”

“You too, huh?” Harlan asked.

“Yes,” Ellicia replied as she reached for the door knob and opened the door to her apartment.  “Goodnight, Harlan.”

“Goodnight, Angel,” Harlan said.

Ellicia closed the door gently, then leaned against it.  “Angel,” she whispered to herself.  “I like that.” 

Chapter
19

Xantara, Xaqana-Ti’s Hive

Xaqana-Ti listened to the message from Stalnek Winicke several times while curled up in her private lair.  She was quite pleased with Stalnek’s response to her offer of assistance in removing the Brethren from Earth.  She realized he had not exactly agreed to the evacuation, but she was confident that he would.  She had exaggerated a few facts, that was certainly true, but if it became necessary she had the means to make the facts suit her exaggerations.

She turned her mind to the other matter Stalnek addressed in his message, running through possible responses, and their possible outcomes.  She had spent weeks toying with various plans and ideas for achieving her main objectives, examining, discarding, twisting and turning.  It was an exercise she enjoyed for the most part, but she was beginning to worry that time would become an issue.  She would not be pleased if, after years of planning, her ultimate goal failed due to poor timing.  She had put too much into this, and had risked far more than anyone would ever know.

Now, with this message from Stalnek, a solution had finally presented itself.  She just had to decide the best way to play it.

She took her time, working out possible approaches and consequences before deciding how to proceed.  When she was sure she had thought of everything, she pulled her control board out of its niche and recorded her response.  She played it back, listening critically, made a few changes and recorded again.  Only when she was completely satisfied with every word and every nuance did she hit the Send button.  Smiling inwardly she put her control board away and closed her eyes.  She was very satisfied with herself.  Perhaps too much so.  She would have to remain in solitude for awhile so that no hint of her satisfaction showed on her face or demeanor. 

***

Deep Space, Stalnek’s Yacht

“Sir, we have an incoming message addressed to you,” the pilot announced over the comm speakers in Stalnek’s private quarters.

“About damn time,” Stalnek grumbled as he stood up and crossed the room to the vid terminal on the desk.  He hit the button to accept the message and waited for it to begin.

“Hello Stalnek,” Xaqana-Ti’s high voice said from the speakers.  “I have received your message, and I thank you for your quick response.  I assure you that a ship is en route to Earth at this time with orders to stand ready once it arrives.

“Concerning the other matter, I am very disturbed by your findings at the compound on Li-Hach-Cor, though I cannot say that I am completely surprised.”

Stalnek grunted in surprise at that.  He reached out to bump the volume up a little.

“William’s
berezi
was delivered, as promised and, according to my Leg Leader, he was pleased with her.  Unfortunately, shortly after delivery my ship was attacked and destroyed by a Jasani war vessel.”

Stalnek tensed.  If the Jasani war vessel was that close to Li-Hach-Cor when it hit the Xanti ship, would it have also attacked the compound?

 “My opinion is that the Jasani probably have something to do with your son’s disappearance.  I have no additional facts to support that, but I believe it to be likely.”

“If you decide to go to Jasan and search for William, I would be pleased to assist you,” Xaqana-Ti offered.  “I have a personal score to settle with the Jasani myself.  However, if I do this, it must be an agreement between you and me, personally.  Not between the Brethren and the Xanti.

“Let me know if you would like my assistance, Stalnek.  Either way, you have my deepest sympathy and concern for your son, William.”

Stalnek listened for a few seconds to the silence at the end of the message, then reached out and hit a button to replay it.   After listening to it several times he turned it off and began pacing. 

The idea of setting foot on Jasan made his fins lift and his skin tingle.  But William was important.  Not only to him personally as his son, but also to the Brethren as a whole. 

Well, there was nothing for it.  If there was any chance that William was alive, Stalnek had to do whatever he could to get him back.  The problem was that he had very little information on Jasan, or Jasani space. 

The women they routinely abducted on their return from Jasan provided the Brethren with information about the everyday lives of the Jasani, but nothing at all of a political or military nature.  After all, what would a bubble-headed Candy Bride know about Cutter Patrol routes or sensor frequency allocations?  If he was going into Jasani space, he would need a lot more information than he had. 

Stalnek went back to the vid terminal and recorded a message to Xaqana-Ti accepting her offer of help.  Once that was finished and he’d sent the message, he opened his comm link to the bridge.