Parallel Heat (26 page)

‘‘How? How can we see it?’’

He pressed another kiss against her belly, flicking his tongue against her skin playfully. ‘‘I’m a soul-gazer. I’ve always been able to see things I shouldn’t.’’

‘‘But you’re in my
dream
, Scott,’’ she insisted, running her hands through his hair again. She couldn’t help herself, couldn’t keep from touching him, and despite being almost nine months pregnant, she wanted him fiercely.

He sat up, both palms spread against her belly. ‘‘I love you. I’m warning you—that’s why I’m here with you now. Listen, you have to get through to me tomorrow. And to your people. Get them to listen, Hope. They
will
listen to you.’’

‘‘What do you mean, get through to you? You’re the one warning me.’’

He laughed. ‘‘Well, baby, it’s because my waking self doesn’t know about that other world. Only my subconscious mind does. And in time, you’re going to remember bits of it too.’’

‘‘They think I’m an alien. They pumped me full of some kind of sedative.’’

‘‘Same stuff they hit me with, but they’ll figure it out. You’ll be back on the case when you wake up,’’ he said, rising to his feet. ‘‘Listen to me—if the Antousians are massing at the Canadian border, and that’s what it sounds like, well, your government needs to understand they’re mounting a big attack. Bigger than any of the shorter, terrorist-style runs they’ve orchestrated before. They’re out for blood.’’

‘‘And your people aren’t?’’

Scott flashed a pensive smile at her. ‘‘No, Hope, we’re not,’’ he said. ‘‘We’re here to save you.’’

Chapter Eighteen

Jared took the steps down to his chambers two at a time. Since their failed training session with Marco, he’d been working all morning, analyzing surveillance information intended to help them free Scott. So far, they’d not made any real headway; his best friend was in a locked-down security area so highly secured they didn’t have a hope in hell of getting him out. At least not yet. He was determined they would figure a way to free his second in command.

At his door he hesitated, neatening his uniform and running his fingertips over his disheveled hair before entering. He’d promised to meet Kelsey here after lunch once she returned from his private library. She’d been immersing herself in Refarian culture, studying copies of ancient and modern texts with the aid of a handheld translator. A few of their books were already in English thanks to their longstanding tie with her world. She soaked everything up with wonderful fervor. Her endeavors typified everything he loved about his sweet human—her keen intelligence, curiosity, and determination. Her need to find purpose and understanding in the universe . . . and in him.

So he wasn’t surprised when he opened the door and found her lying back on their large bed, three books cocked open beside her and one balanced on her knees. He smiled, dropping his uniform jacket onto the bed. ‘‘What are you reading, love?’’ He popped open his body armor vest, breathing easier that way.

‘‘Well, mostly I’m trying to become proficient with your language,’’ she told him pragmatically, stacking the books neatly together. ‘‘I figure that way, I can start to learn more about the mitres and how it works. The more I know, the more I can help, Jared. I’ve spent a lot of time studying physics.’’

He nodded his approval. ‘‘That’s fabulous, Kelse. Whenever you’re ready, I’d like to introduce you to our science team. Given your’’—he hesitated, searching for words that wouldn’t frighten her—‘‘special relationship with the mitres, your scientific background means all the more.’’

She snorted. ‘‘Special relationship. That’s one way of putting it.’’

He settled on the side of the bed, searching her face. ‘‘Does it upset you? That we’ve been unsuccessful in removing the codes?’’

‘‘Not at all.’’ She shook her head adamantly, leaning closer toward him. ‘‘In fact, Jared—when I was in the mitres the other night, it felt right. I was energized. Electrified. I’m not sure the codes are supposed to be removed. Think about what the letter said—’’

‘‘The damned codes are coming out! There’s no discussion on this matter,’’ he shouted, bolting to his feet.

Kelsey’s fair face infused with color. ‘‘So says the king,’’ she hissed sarcastically, a resentful furrow creasing her brows.

He rolled his eyes. ‘‘Let’s not tread this territory again.’’

‘‘We obviously have to—so long as you keep issuing unilateral ultimatums, at least.’’

‘‘I
am
the king, Kelse! I’ve been king since I was ten years old—mark that! That’s the past twenty years of my life I’ve ruled the Refarian people.’’

‘‘But I’m not your people, Jareshk. I’m your wife. Your queen. This has to be an equal partnership.’’

Ah, this business of marriage was harder than ruling any kingdom. His spirited wife had a way of burrowing through all his defenses and usual habits. He drew in a breath. ‘‘I’ve never thought of you as anything less than equal.’’

‘‘You’re way too protective of me.’’

‘‘Can you blame me? I’m in a war against the most brutal of species. They’ve killed countless numbers of my people—many of whom I loved dearly. And you, precious wife, I love most of all. How can you fault me for wanting to protect you?’’ Unexpected tears prickled at his eyes. ‘‘I won’t have them harm you—not ever. And not least because I took you as my mate. I refuse it! So, yes, if I’ve my way about it, the mitres codes will be extracted from within you. I put them there—it’s my fault!’’

Kelsey climbed off the bed, opening her arms to him. ‘‘Come here, you big silly king,’’ she whispered, all traces of anger vanishing from her face. ‘‘You beautiful man, come here.’’

He wrapped his arms about her, willing the war to stay far from their world. Willing her to stay safe and protected, if not always in his arms, at least always in his camp. ‘‘I won’t let them harm you, love.’’

‘‘What makes you so sure they would?’’

He gritted his teeth together. ‘‘So long as you carry the mitres codes, you are the most vulnerable part of my entire rebellion.’’

Kelsey shivered in his arms. ‘‘We need to try again with Marco.’’

‘‘Agreed,’’ he said, slipping his fingers beneath her chin and tilting her face upward so he could kiss her.

In a slow, erotic dance, their tongues twined together, thrusting, tasting. Kelsey’s hands skimmed over his back, then lower and even lower still, caressing him playfully. Then she took her palm and gave him a forceful swat on the behind.

‘‘Hey!’’ He laughed, stepping backward.

‘‘Oh, come on. The king needs a good spanking every once in a while.’’ She giggled.

‘‘That’s it!’’ he cried and lunged for her, sending her scurrying toward the bed where he tackled her, pinning her beneath his body.

‘‘See, human, it is unwise to challenge a Refarian male in his chambers,’’ he said, tracing his tongue along her collarbone. He pushed back the opening of her shirt, finding more warm skin to lick and nibble.

Adjusting his elbows, he felt something hard beneath his arm. Absently, he withdrew what turned out to be a book, a Refarian one. ‘‘What’s this?’’ he asked, giving it a quick glance.

She plucked it from his hand, pinning him with one of her most seductive looks. ‘‘It’s called a love rites advisory,’’ she told him silkily. ‘‘There’s some really good stuff in here. Steamy, erotic, alien stuff.’’

Jared rolled off of her and onto his side so that they lay together on the bed. ‘‘Let me see.’’ He took the book from her, opening it to the page she had marked: He was surprised to find specific details about the mating rituals of Refarian royals.

He gulped, feeling his groin tighten as he read a particularly vivid passage about the D’Aravnian natural self—an erotic description that totally fit his own sexuality. The way his fire was stoked by touch and bed play; his need to share his core self with his mate. He pressed a hand to his temple, feeling a thin sheen of sweat form on his brow. All of a sudden he battled the profound urge to Change, to run his fire up and down Kelsey’s body, teasing her. Tantalizing her with all that he was. She’d only seen him a few times; perhaps that truly was the answer to their problem.

‘‘What are you thinking?’’ she asked in a rough voice, rolling onto her side so that they faced one another.

He stared at the book, blushing. ‘‘That perhaps we have yet more to learn about each other.’’

‘‘So the book’s right? About your natural self being linked to your cycles?’’

‘‘I-I honestly don’t know.’’ He swallowed hard, realizing that he’d begun to tremble slightly. His hands tightened around the book, snapping it shut. ‘‘The advisory seems to have’’—he paused, daring to look at her through his lashes—‘‘much information. This is good.’’

She leaned on her elbow, watching him. ‘‘Does it still embarrass you to talk about it? After everything we’ve shared?’’

He smiled faintly. ‘‘It is still odd, Kelsey, being so vulnerable with you about . . . my nature. What I am. I’ve never shared it with another being before you, not like this.’’

‘‘But I
love
all that you are! I love you, Jared. You know how much I love you, don’t you?’’

‘‘You’ve barely seen my fire. Barely at all,’’ he told her softly, staring at the ceiling. ‘‘You think you know, but . . . you have seen little of it.’’

‘‘Then show me again,’’ she urged, staring at him seriously. ‘‘Maybe it’s what we need—maybe it’s why we can’t seem to—’’

He cut her off, unable to discuss the terrible topic of his infertility yet again. ‘‘Please, Kelse,’’ he begged. ‘‘I can’t talk about this now.’’

But she would not be stopped, would not back down. ‘‘I won’t stop trying, Jareshk,’’ she told him seriously, falling back on the use of the name she’d first known him by, something she often did when they were intimate. ‘‘I have to believe you’re able—you came so close already!’’

He took both of her pale, freckled hands within his much darker ones. ‘‘We will always keep trying,’’ he promised her. He hadn’t forgotten the deep pain she’d expressed earlier in the day while working with Marco, her feelings about his cycles. Perhaps it had taken such deep bonding to bring the emotions out; no matter what, he had determined to cooperate and work to induce his cycles in whatever way he could. ‘‘For you, love, I would give you the universe. You know that.’’

She broke into one of her loveliest, widest smiles, and he felt his heart turn over in his chest. To make this woman happy, well, it was worth any risk—and conquering any fear about his very core nature.

‘‘We can make it happen,’’ she continued. ‘‘You just have to keep faith.’’

He smiled at her, but although he put on a brave face, inside his heart ached. What if he disappointed her? What if he were simply unable? It wasn’t a thought he could entertain. He would keep trying forever, until he was completely silver-headed and beyond his fertile season. Until then, until that outward sign of his maturity had overtaken him, there was always a possibility.

 
Jared hiked the path toward Base Ten, preferring to walk rather than taking the indoor network of tunnels and elevators that would lead him there much more easily. He needed to breathe; he and Kelsey had made love again—gods, he was still filled with lust just thinking about her fair-skinned body atop his, so aggressive and eager to have him. Still, despite how sated she’d left him, he was haunted by their earlier conversation and the thought of her poring over love rites advisories. He would do whatever she asked of him if it meant giving her a baby—and his people an heir to the throne. But she had wanted to see his core self and he hadn’t shown her.
What’s holding me back?
he wondered, increasing his pace.
She wants all of me—why do I hesitate?

He shoved both hands into his jacket pockets, and quickened his pace. There’d been sightings of Antousian stealth fighters along the Canadian border earlier in the morning; he’d need to launch his own ready fighters if their enemies were doing more than a simple recon mission. His advisors could reach him by comm at any point, but still, he wanted to be at the base, ready to talk tactics.

‘‘You’re walking, I see,’’ came his cousin’s voice from the woods beside him. He jerked his head in her direction, startled by her sudden appearance.

‘‘Ah, cousin, I did not see you.’’

‘‘It’s not such a great idea, you hiking to the base without an escort, you know,’’ she said, joining him on the path. ‘‘I should chastise you, actually. We’ve talked about always bringing a guard with you.’’ She dropped her voice lower. ‘‘Or Marco, for that matter. Or Sabrina. Your Madjin have returned to you, my lord. It’s time you began to call upon them.’’

‘‘Marco was unwell this morning,’’ he told her, adjusting his jacket, ‘‘but you make a valid point, cousin.’’

She inclined her head respectfully with a soft smile. It seemed she was no longer angry about his marriage; he was thankful because he relied on her too completely to be at odds with her for any length of time.

‘‘So what are you doing here on the trail?’’ he asked.

Her expression grew troubled. ‘‘I needed some air.’’

‘‘Interesting,’’ he observed, ‘‘so did I. Perhaps we should walk together.’’

She nodded formally, placing both hands behind her back. ‘‘Yes, cousin, I would like that very much.’’

They began the descent down the mountainside, and at times Jared had to smile at their easy formality with one another. It was a lifelong habit between the two of them, to fall into the speech patterns that harkened back to their royal youth—so different from the way he spoke with Kelsey or Scott or even Anika, whom he was slowly forgiving for her deceit about being part of the Madjin circle.

He made a mental note to summon Anika that evening, so that they might meet in private; he’d yet to speak to her alone since the revelations, preferring to keep a polite distance. But he hadn’t missed the troubled pain in her usually warm eyes. For years she had been one of his dearest friends; forgiving her for such long-term deception felt difficult, yet he understood that she had made her choices out of a desire to protect him.