Lawked Flame (20 page)

The craving for his Kee was embedded in his
cellular make-up. His cock stiffened in salute of her recuperation.
With a predator’s gaze, he watched as she sipped from her straw and
patted her succulent lips dry. The membrane beneath the surface of
his skin thinned in preparation to bind them together.

His chest expanded, taking in the aroma of
the steak on his plate which had long lost its appeal in the
presence of his true desire. Tingles rippled beneath his skin. He
had gone too many days without his Kee. The desperate need to
thrust his steel rod in her warm chamber crippled him with its
intensity.

She looked up at him with
a start, her eyes wide and skin flushing to a nice dusky
color.
Her mouth opened and then snapped shut before she
spoke. “You know that discussion we had earlier? The one about me
telling you when you did something that bothered me. Remember
that?”

Need rode him hard, he had no desire for
conversation. His brow rose in question as he became fascinated by
her moving lips.

Eyes narrowing, she waved her hand in front
of his face. He caught the serious glint in her eyes and waited for
her to speak. “It’s not cool to sit here watching me eat while your
food gets cold. I feel self-conscious, especially with other people
in the room.”

Blinking, he offered her a brief smile as he
pulled himself from the brink of what had to be
orgasmic-deprived-madness. How could he have forgotten there were
others here to serve them if necessary? With a thought, he sent
everyone out except Clotho. There was a specific job she needed to
do as soon as Alayna finished her meal.

Five days
.

Those two words rolled unfettered through
his mind. Things had changed for them both during that time. Now,
he was still unsure how to handle the well-spring of emotions
pouring through him, but he could not allow them to continue
simmering without an outlet.

The inner pressure to solidify the bond with
his Kee had been stretched to the breaking point. Moreover, he had
been unprepared for the sheer agony that slashed through him each
time he'd left her alone in the room for more than a few
minutes.

The past few days were filled with awkward
moments, most notable when he growled at anyone who stepped near
her door. Business had been conducted telepathically or not at all.
This uncontrollable need to have her alone, protecting and
nurturing her was so alien to the way his people operated, he
wondered if the poisonous virus had altered him in some way. During
a lucid moment, he had thought to ask Clotho, but changed his mind.
Somehow it felt like a betrayal of trust to his Kee.

“Khayden? Are you okay?” Alayna asked, once
again pulling him back from his turbulent thoughts.

“Five days,” he said in a low tone,
rubbing his mouth. His eyes met hers.

Her face scrunched in confusion. “Huh?” No
doubt wondering what he was referring to.

“You have been here five days. There is much
you need to be aware of, many things have happened.” He tempered
his tone as her eyes widened.

Her eyebrow rose and a
small naughty smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.
She
pushed her empty plate aside. “Like what?”

Her voice held a hint of a challenge,
telling him she was ready to take on whatever he threw at her.
Thinking of Lorenzo and the most recent Geleet attack on him, he
hoped she was right.

He pushed his untouched plate aside as well
and stood. A spurt of pleasure shot through him at the flare of
lust in her eyes as she ogled him. Her eyes stayed a few seconds
longer on his crotch, which made it throb in appreciation.

Clearing his throat as he pushed aside the
lust-filled thoughts bombarding him, he stepped back from the table
and pointed to the silent Gramier. “That is why I have asked Clotho
to join us. She will explain who we are and what it means to be a
Kee. She was my instructor in my youth and has an excellent way
with words.” He waved Clotho forward without taking his eyes off
Alayna.

“Master Khayden, Master Alayna.”

Alayna’s eyes widened at the proper use of
their titles. Once again his irritation spiked against Clotho. He
feared by using their titles she was giving his Kee too much too
soon. But, they had lost five days. He remained silent, although he
growled his displeasure through their telepathic bond.

“What…what did you call me?” Alayna choked,
her hand flying to her throat.

Clotho straightened, glanced at him, and
returned her gaze to Alayna. Somehow, he got the feeling she was
displeased with him. Did she expect him to explain titles while his
Kee was sick?

“Master Kee. Khayden is the Master Lawke of
our people. You are his Kee. His equal. Therefore, your title is
Master Kee or if you prefer, Mistress Kee.”

Silence met Clotho’s explanation for a brief
moment. Khayden wanted to chuckle at the surprised, yet pleased,
glint that surfaced in his Kee’s eyes when she heard the phrase,
“his equal.” Although he had little knowledge of human mating
habits, in his world it was all about balance. A Lawke had little
power without his Kee and vice-versa. It made sense that they stood
on equal footing, everyone had a place. His Kee was as important to
his future and his people’s as he was. He would make sure she
understood her value.

Alayna placed her elbows on the table, her
chin resting on her clasped hands as she zeroed in on the older
woman. “What exactly is a Master Kee, apart from the bit about
unlocking Khayden’s power? What does that title mean to me? Most
importantly, what choices do I have in the matter?”

The tension returned to his shoulders at her
last question. Wary, he turned his back on the discussion. Although
it was critical she understood the new dangers threatening her, he
worried he had not been granted enough time to burrow beneath her
defenses. Those accursed Geleets had managed to steal the time that
was critical to the releasing of his full powers. By now, he should
have been completely unlocked.

Half-listening as Clotho explained their
battle against the Geleets on both their planets, and his people’s
fight to save Earth, he moved closer to the balcony, distancing
himself in preparation…of what? Her ultimate rejection of him?

She had been so excited to share his power
of handling fire. Pride ran rampant through him at her
determination to control the flame and then the flame’s acceptance
of her as his Kee. There was so much more to her than she realized,
yet he feared she would balk at the cost of reaching her full
potential.

The hum of the discussion between Clotho and
Alayna continued in the background as he stepped outside to the
balcony, looking around. He missed Lawkmeria. For a moment,
excitement raced through him at the thought of their return, they
were much closer now. Once he was completely unlocked, they could
return in full strength and retake their home.

Although he had been young by his people’s
standards, he still remembered the unadulterated beauty of the
place—the green seas, the mahogany mountains, and the bright pink
sun. The temperature remained constant. Food was in abundant
supply, which supported thousands of his kind.

Unfortunately, the assets of Lawkmeria are
what made it a target for marauders like the Geleet. His fist
clenched and unclenched by his side as he stared unseeing ahead.
Shaking off the morbid thoughts of home, he refocused on what
needed to be done now that Alayna was awake.

Inhaling deeply, the fragrance of the Frejyn
plant filled his nostrils. Pleased, he reopened communications and
sent greetings to his fellow Lawkmerians who walked along the
cobbled streets. The dimness in the Harven had vanished. The
brightness and freshness reminded him of their early days when they
were strong, with fervent hope in their hearts of a quick return to
their home planet. The years had eroded much. Many wondered if they
would ever see the day he unlocked and returned them to power.

Alayna’s pregnancy had unlocked the other
Kees. Two days ago, a report reached him that several Kees were
pregnant, even though it was in the human manner; he was pleased.
Especially when there had been no births since they came to Earth.
That night there had been rejoicing in the streets.

Therein lay another problem. He had no idea
how she would feel when she learned of her pregnancy. Now that
their bond was stronger, a layer of guilt choked him, marring his
happiness. He should have told her of that high probability before
they'd had sex.

“Whaaaat?” The shout from his Kee drew his
attention.

Frowning, he turned and walked back into the
room at Alayna’s raised voice. If the steely-eyed glare she sent
him was a barometer of her feelings, he was in trouble. “What is
wrong?” He asked a wad of dread rolled in his stomach.

Her hands were balled tight on the table as
she spoke through pinched lips. “There is no form of birth control
for me with you. Did you know that?”

“Yes.” He answered truthfully, surprised by
her formidable scowl. What was going on?

Clotho interrupted the escalating storm.
“But you said you could not have children, why do you feel that
way?”

Shocked at that disclosure, he waited for
her explanation. Since his seed grew within the shelter of her
abdomen, he knew someone had given her erroneous information. The
thought grieved and angered him. Her face reddened and she turned
away from him, angering him further. She still did not understand
her past meant nothing to him. He was her future.

She pushed back in the chair, her arm thrown
carelessly over the back. Her casual posture belied the tension
roiling off her. He could smell her anxiety and it puzzled him.

Finally she threw her head up, gave him a
what-the-hell look, and turned to Clotho. “The doctors said we
should keep trying…well, since he – my ex – could have kids, and we
tried everything. But I could never get pregnant.”

His heart lurched at the subtle strands of
pain in her voice. But that did not stop the bubble of joy from
rising in his heart. He was pleased they were more alike than she
realized.

Leaning forward, her voice earnest, Clotho
spoke. “It is as I told you. A Lawke can only impregnate his Kee.
Perhaps the same works for the Kee. He is the only one who can
impregnate you.”

Snorting, Alayna sent him a fiery gaze,
similar to the one she had given him the last time they were
together. “If that were the case, I’d be pregnant already.”

No one spoke. Guilt ravaged him as he
shifted on his feet and released her gaze. Now was the perfect time
to tell her. Straightening, he opened his mouth to tell her of her
impending motherhood when she stood and he lost his train of
thought.

Alayna walked over to him. He had been on
the brink of combustion since she'd handled his flame. The
directness of her gaze stroked his overheated and malnourished
libido. The touch of her palm on his arm sent shafts of desire to
his cock. It twitched as her sweet scent invaded his nostrils. He
moistened his dry lips, afraid to
disrupt the
euphoria that skittered across every surface of his body.
His chest burned with longing to kiss her, touch her.

She drew back and punched him in the
stomach. “Ow,” she yelled as she shook her hand and moved back a
step or two. He barely felt the blow, but her flip of emotions
ignited a firestorm in him. Whether she realized it or not, in her
agitated state, she released another more potent layer to her
scent. This one tasted sharp and spicy as it infiltrated the
charged atmosphere. The irregular thumping in his upper body
signaled the time for civilized conversation was over.

The feisty beauty glowered at him. “Why
didn’t you tell me about the deal with Nature’s Mother. Nature’s
Mother…ha! She’s Mother Nature, a fairy-tale figure in our minds.
But somehow she had something to do with me being able to
understand languages alien even to aliens and see lizards who
clothe themselves in human skin. Do you have any idea how I felt? I
thought I had lost my mind!” She yelled as she drew a circle beside
her head. “You could’ve explained all of that to me.”

He tamped down the viciousness of his need
as understanding flooded him. His Kee stood on the edge of a
full-fledged panic attack. Modulating his tone, he took the route
of reason. “When?”

Her jaw
went lax,
clearly not expecting the question. She stepped back and looked up
at him. “What?”

“When could I have explained those things?
In the dream state? I tried and you did not believe me, remember?
Or when you were catatonic the past five days?” Mentally, he lashed
his arms to his side to keep from reaching out to her. Once she was
in his arms, she would be in his bed. The urge to taste her and
push inside her tight warmth overwhelmed him.

Sweat bathed his neck and forehead, yet
failed to cool him down. Realizing he was about to snatch and
ravish her, he tapped into some of his new energy and demanded his
body to calm down until his Kee was prepared for him. Hopefully
that would be soon, or he might very well lose control.

For a moment, she stared up at him,
searching for something. “So you need me to unlock your powers to
help save Earth from these lizard guys who poison the air and
water.”

As his Kee, she deserved his total honesty.
He clasped his balled fist into his hand to still the small tremors
wracking his frame. “That is not the main reason. While it is true
I need my powers unlocked to destroy the Geleet here and at home,
the main reason is to unlock my people so I no longer feed off
their energy. As long as I am bound, so are they. Once they are
unlocked, they can live better and prepare to return to
Lawkmeria.”

She turned away quickly, but not before he
saw the flash of sadness in her eyes. “How do I unlock him?” she
asked Clotho.