The Bond That Consumes Us (6 page)

“So how long has it been since you’ve been home?”

“Close to fifteen cycles.”

Fallon stopped suddenly and spun to face him. Somehow he managed to avoid running into her.

“You haven’t been home in fifteen
years
?” Shock accented her voice as it echoed loud in the hall. “Don’t you have family?”

Her face was so close to his, her mouth only inches away. All he needed to do was dip his head a little and he’d be able to suck her bottom lip into his mouth.

“I have no family,” he spoke the words and pushed away the emotion and lust.

“I’ve only been away from Earth for three years and I can’t wait to get home.”

That crucial piece of information was what he needed to snap him from his fantasy.

They were from different places, had different needs. Nothing could come from this unexpected infatuation on his part. It would be best if he pushed these feelings away and concentrated on the task at hand.

After all, there was a killer on the loose.

“How far is med bay?”

He shifted his gaze from Fallon, focusing instead on the transportation tube doors at the end of the corridor. He could feel her gaze on his neck and hear her soft sigh as she resumed her journey forward.

“Up three levels. This tube will get us there the fastest.”

“Thank you.”

The corridors were full this morning despite the ship still being in lockdown.

Despite the danger, apparently Captain Zane saw no problem with letting people enjoy the facilities. As they walked they passed groups of men and women laughing and dancing, running between the shops and various recreation facilities. It was a shame he’d been the one assigned to this case because he was the last person to take advantage of it. Perhaps Sean would enjoy himself.

They’d just missed the tube car and were forced to wait for the next one. Taber stood silently, his eyes fixed on a spot straight forward. Fallon shuffled her feet from side to side, hummed a tune for a moment, before turning her head to look around the corridor. At least five men turned to stare at her as they passed by, a few even making some comments loud enough for her to hear—which she was apparently unaware were directed at her. It didn’t take an expert in security to recognize the fact she was oblivious to elements in her surrounding and the power of her own beauty. She’d be an easy target for even a slightly experienced killer.

“I don’t want you to be alone.”

34

“Pardon me?” She turned to face him, clearly startled.

From the corner of his eye, he could see she was standing there, her hands on her hips.

“Fallon, there is a murderer on this ship. It’s not safe for a single female to be walking around alone.” Especially one who was barely aware of the world around her.

“That’s pretty archaic thinking. I’m more than capable of looking after myself.”

A soft ding and the tube doors silently opened. Fallon marched inside, turning to face Taber as she crossed her arms over her chest.

“Coming? Or are you going to protect the hallway?”

Her jaw was clenched tight, the muscles in her neck tense as she glared at him. Her anger fueled his lust, and he couldn’t stop his cock from springing back to life. Keeping his gaze locked on hers so she wouldn’t notice the growing bulge in his pants, he stepped inside the tube and turned so he stood behind her, his back to the wall.

They rode up one level in silence, Taber needing every second to try and get his raging desire under control. The tube compartment stopped, the doors opened and a crowd of five young humans pushed their way inside, laughing loudly.

Somehow the distraction of the group did little to take his mind off Fallon and only served to annoy him further. The group seemed oblivious to their presence. He didn’t have time to react when the women stumbled against their male companions, sending their bodies crashing backwards.

Fallon was shoved back against him, her back pressed against his stomach and chest, her ass coming in contact with his erect cock. He heard her gasp despite the noise of the partiers and felt her about to move away. His hand grasped her hip, holding her in place, keeping the contact between them that he’d been longing for.

His cock grew painfully larger now that his body was rubbing against hers. She didn’t struggle but instead pressed even harder against him as one of the males turned and looked her over intently. When the young man’s gaze landed on Taber, he paled and turned back around to the front.

The young group got off on the level before med bay, leaving them alone once more in the silence. Fallon tried to pull away again, but he held her still, not willing to give up the unexpected intimacy.

“Computer, hold,” Fallon’s voice shook as she said the words.

“What are you doing?” he said softly.

“I was about to ask you the same thing.”

Lowering his mouth to her ear, he made sure to inhale her scent deep into his lungs before he spoke.

“I was keeping you safe.”

Reaching back with her hand, Fallon ran her fingers over his thigh, making his cock twitch. She gasped, letting her head fall back against his chest.

35

“I thought Briel males didn’t sleep around. Don’t you need to find your mate?”

Taber didn’t want to think about Calantha at that moment. Closing his eyes, he focused on the scents and sounds of the present. Focused on Fallon.

“There is only one woman I am interested in at the moment.”

Unable to stop himself, Taber pressed a gentle kiss against her temple. On a sigh, Fallon reached up with her free hand and slid her fingers around the back of his neck.

He could see her hard nipples poking up at him from beneath her tight shirt. Sliding his hand from her hip, up over her stomach, Taber lightly brushed the tips of her nipples through the soft material.

“Oh fuck,” she moaned as she ground her ass against his cock.

“Fallon.”

She shivered in his arms, and he wished he could read her mind to learn what it was she wanted him to do next to her. Going blind, he sucked her earlobe into his mouth, teasing the soft flesh with his tongue.

“Do you like that?” he whispered.

“God, yes.”

“Do you want me to touch you?”

“Yes.”

“Where?”

“Anywhere.”

With both hands he cupped her breasts and squeezed until her moans filled the tube car. Her breasts filled his hands, the weight and size of them promised him many hours of pleasant feasting.

“I want to suck these until you scream my name.”

“Yes.”

“Say my name, Fallon.”

“Taber.”

“Louder.”

“Taber!”

His hips thrust forward against her ass as he rolled her nipples between his fingers.

He let his face fall to her shoulder and ran his tongue along the side of her neck.

“I can smell you. How much you want me,” he spoke against her skin, licking after each word.

She shivered, her nails curling into his neck, the sharp pain mixing with a powerful wave of pleasure. “I want you to fuck me.”

A growl escaped his chest and he pinched her nipples even harder.

“You’ll soon learn I’m the one who gives the orders.”

36

A sudden loud buzz filled the tube, causing Fallon to squeal and jump away from him. The crackle of the communicator filled the tube.

“Is there a problem? The tube car is halted.”

Fallon’s heavy panting told him she was in no condition to talk.

“This is Taber, security chief from the Eurus colony. There is no problem.”

Or at least there wasn’t until this
harkatch
interrupted.

“The computer indicates Fallon Reist is there with you.”

“Hey Tony, I’m here.”

“You okay?”

There was something about the way the young security guard asked the question that didn’t sit right with Taber. He looked to Fallon, her face flushed with passion, her erect nipples still poking hard beneath her shirt. Some of her hair had escaped the ponytail and framed her cheek. He wanted to touch it, feel its softness but knew he couldn’t,
shouldn’t
go near her.

“I’m fine,” she let out a little laugh. “I was filling Taber in before we got to med bay.

The explanation was taking longer than the ride.”

“Okay. I’m going to start you up again.”

As if on cue, the tube began to move ahead with a gentle jerk.

“Thanks, Tony.”

Walking over to the communicator, Fallon tapped the pad, ending the conversation.

“Fallon—”

“Don’t. Please don’t say anything.”

The muscles in his neck and shoulders tightened before he laced his hands behind his back, opened his legs and stared straight ahead. He could see her fixing her hair and for a moment the long strands of her hair hung loose around her shoulders, down to her waist. The length of it beckoned him to reach out and bury his hands and face in it.

No. She’s not yours.

“Taber, I—”

The door to the tube whooshed open and he walked silently outside and waited for her to join him. The animal that drove his lust screamed deep inside his body, desperately trying to claw its way to the surface. He clamped down on it hard, willing his raging cock to go down.

Focus—he needed to focus on the job. Catch this killer and get the
renen
, the killer off this ship.

“Med bay is this way, correct?”

He didn’t turn to face her until he knew she was walking in the direction he’d indicated. If she looked at him with those gray-green eyes he wouldn’t be able to do the job he’d been asked to do. He’d pick her up, throw her over his shoulder and find the closest spot where’d he’d be able to fuck her.

37

What was wrong with him?

Thankfully, the walk from the tube to med bay wasn’t that far. When they entered, Sean was standing beside a short man dressed in a long white coat, the doctor. When his friend looked up, his gaze went from Fallon to Taber, causing Sean to frown.

“Problem?” Sean asked.

Not one I care to discuss with you.
“Have you determined the cause of death?”

Taber hoped Sean wouldn’t question him further, at least not until he was able to control himself better. He didn’t want to be responsible for injuring Sean.

“Hi, Doc. This is Taber, from Eurus.”

“Fallon my dear.” The older man grinned as she walked over and gave him a light hug. “You haven’t been to see me in quite some time. Aren’t you due for your physical?”

“Anxious to poke me, Doc?”

Taber felt his chest tighten as he balled his fists behind his back.
Patience, relax
. She wasn’t his and he had no right to be acting this way. They would have their little conversation and get to the matter at hand. This was the way of the humans and Fallon was no different.

Except she was.

“Not at all. But I’d hate to have you removed from the ship for missing a physical.

But I don’t think our friends here want to hear about this.”

“Thank you, Doc.” Sean nodded. “What can you tell us?”

“Not much more than I knew last night, unfortunately. Nate was killed by a single laser blast to the heart.” Doc moved around the table, rolling Nate’s lifeless body onto his side. “See here? The wound on the back is black, the skin collapsing inward.”

“He was shot from behind,” Taber said, his voice its normal even treble.

Fallon wrapped her hands around her waist, staring at Nate. “Oh god.”

“He wouldn’t have felt a thing, Ms. Reist.” Sean moved beside Doc. “Anything else?”

“It looks like someone had gone through his pockets. I couldn’t find anything in his clothing, but that doesn’t mean there wasn’t anything there. I also noticed something odd about the color of his skin.”

Sean raised an eyebrow. “What?”

“He had a tan.”

“How is that odd?” Sean said, frowning.

“Because,” Taber said, taking a step forward. “He’s been on a ship in the middle of space for the past several years.”

“And he never used the tanning beds,” Fallon added, keeping her gaze off Taber.

“I think it may be related to the cause of death. I’m running an analysis through the computer but it will take several hours, possibly longer to complete.”

38

“Thank you, Doctor. Please inform us when you have the results,” Taber nodded and began to leave.

“Where are you going?” Sean called, walking over to him. Once he reached Taber’s side, he looked at Fallon and lowered his voice to a whisper. “Are you okay? You’re tense, even for you.”

“There isn’t a problem. I’ll be in my quarters. You should take some time to explore the ship. If they feel you are enjoying the amenities rather than investigating the murder, there is a chance we will draw the killer out, possibly attack us instead.”