Zealot (9 page)

Fine. So he wanted to lead. No, he
needed
to be in control. And right now she was aching so baldy, she didn’t care. She’d assert her independence in other ways as soon as he put out the fire. Drawing her legs up against his sides, she opened herself without restricting his movements. It was maddening yet wildly exciting to surrender so completely. He gave her just enough to make her desperate for more.

Understanding his game, she stopped struggling and concentrated on the sensual slide of his tongue and the featherlight brush of his fingers. For a long time, he just kissed her as tension coiled around them, drawing them closer, building the heat higher and higher. She flowed with him rather than struggling against him and he rewarded her with deeper kisses and more intimate touches.

Finally his hips rolled, creating a circular motion that sent sensation zinging through her abdomen. She closed her fingers around his hands, holding him as firmly as he was holding her. He rocked against her, sliding his shaft across her clit with just enough pressure to make her tremble and moan. She remained still and surrendered, accepting what he gave without complaint or objection.

The rhythm of his hips gradually sped, his mouth never leaving hers. It was much too easy to imagine what it would feel like if he pushed inside her, filling her completely with each long stroke. The repeated impact of their pelvises forced the pleasure high, closer to release.

Suddenly, he let go of her hands and grasped her hips. Then he ground against her, rubbing back and forth until she cried out, helpless to resist his body’s command. She came in shuddering spasms, her eyes tightly shut, fists clenching above her head.

He kissed her one last time then rolled away and headed for the bathroom. She lay sprawled on his bed, dazed and tingling. What in the world just happened? She’d never allowed a lover to control her like that. But then she’d never had a lover who commanded her body so effortlessly. She’d been so attuned to him—no, they’d been so attuned to each other that the rest seemed to flow naturally.

Recovering enough to realize the danger in what she’d just allowed, she arranged her body more modestly and drew the sheet up to her shoulders. She couldn’t let him realize how staggering she’d found this experience. There was no way she’d hand him such a powerful weapon.

The bathroom door slid open and he crawled back into bed.

“Feel better?” She forced playfulness into her tone as she rolled onto her side, facing away from him.

He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her back into the heat of his big body. “Much. Will you be able to sleep now?”

“I think so. I’m about to find out.” She snuggled against him and covered his arm with hers, but she stared into the darkness, her mind reeling. She did not want a mate, not even one as attractive as Zilor. She’d come here to help Chandar and that was all she intended to do. He’d promised that sharing his bed was only for one night. She had to hold him to that promise, then avoid him like the plague. If they were never alone together, maybe there was still some hope that she could escape this adventure with her independence intact.

* * * * *

Indigo’s scent drew Zilor from sleep the following morning. He inhaled deeply and spread the aroma through his system like a healing balm. She pressed against his side, her arm resting on his chest. One of her legs draped over his and the heat of her sex seared his thigh. The need to claim her had nearly overwhelmed him last night. If she hadn’t surrendered so sweetly, he might not have been able to pull away. He’d given them both the release they needed, but his pleasure had been sharp and shallow, far from satisfying. Already his body stirred, hardening, encouraging him to pick up where they’d left off the night before.

He carefully eased her arm off his chest and disentangled their legs. She murmured something in her sleep and pulled his pillow to her chest. Propping himself up with one arm, he paused to look at her. With her colorful hair in wild disarray, her features appeared sweet and innocent. She was sassy, even brash at times, but he sensed vulnerability beneath her carefree façade. She used boldness to push people away. It was a strategy, a defense mechanism. He just wasn’t sure why she felt the need to protect herself. But he intended to find out.

Careful not to disturb her, he crawled off the side of the bed and went into the utility room. Bandar had warned him that the mating pull was ruthless. Once engaged, the instinct wouldn’t let go until he’d claimed his mate or she’d bonded with someone else. His hands clenched. Just the thought of anyone else touching her was intolerable. She might be genetically compatible with seventy-three males, but Zilor was going to do everything in his power to make sure he was the one she selected.

With that goal squarely in mind, he showered, shaved, and dressed in a fresh uniform. She was still sound asleep when he stepped into the main room, so he slipped from the cabin before asking, “Computer, what’s the current location of Commander Tarr?”

“Commander Tarr is in his office. Shall I schedule a meeting for you?”

“Ask him if he has time right now for a quick update.”

“Stand by.”

Relatively certain of his reception, Zilor ignored the computer’s command and headed for the nearest utility ladder. The command deck was one level up, so it was faster to climb the ladder than backtrack to the elevators.

“Commander Tarr has approved the visit and is expecting you.”

“Thanks.”

“You’re welcome, Zilor.”

The ship’s operational computer wasn’t technically sentient, but it was hard to be rude when the exchanges were always so polite. Kotto’s office was across the hall from the conference room and could be accessed from either the hallway or directly from the command center. Zilor approached from the hallway and the door slid open as he arrived.

Kotto looked up from his holodisplay and motioned Zilor toward the chairs in front of his desk. “Did you have any better luck the second time around?”

Rather than sit, Zilor stood behind one of the chairs and rested his hands on top of the back. “You have a new employee currently asleep in my cabin. Indigo signed the contract and has been marked by a potential mate. All she needs now is a cabin assignment.”

Kotto pressed back into his chair and folded his hands against his flat belly. “Judging from the smug satisfaction on your face, I don’t need to ask who marked her. Did she have other matches, and if so, have they been notified?”

Shifting his weight from one foot to the other, Zilor tried not to reveal how uncomfortable he found the topic. He was Indigo’s mate. That was all that mattered. “I’m not sure that would be wise.”

“I thought we agreed that notifications would be issued routinely from now on. Marking her quickly was unavoidable, but that doesn’t negate the new procedures. We went through this with Raina. Every female must be allowed as many options as possible.”

“She has seventy-three possible matches. Can you imagine seventy of us all vying for the attention of the same female?”

Kotto scooted to the edge of his chair and shifted his hands to the desktop. “Sounds like the perfect time to give Sental’s program a trial run.” When Raina ended up with more than one potential match, the violent clash forced the officers to brainstorm possible ways of avoiding similar conflicts. Sental, the resident computer expert, had agreed to write a program that would analyze personality traits and lifestyle choices then prioritize the matches accordingly. Bandar had told Zilor about the meeting shortly after his arrival. Many of the details had yet to be developed, but a basic framework had been established at the meeting. Every warrior interested in being considered for a mate had been issued a basic questioner and within hours the answers came flooding in. Now all they had to do was find an equal amount of willing females.

Despite Zilor’s staunch opposition to anything that might compromise his success, he nodded. “If her matches can be prioritized and then notified a few at a time, it should keep the situation from erupting.”

“I agree and hopefully Sental will be able to help.” Kotto shook his head, his expression unreadable. “Did you see the entire list of her matches?”

Zilor’s nod was even stiffer this time. He’d wondered when someone would get around to the specifics.

“How many of the names were familiar?” Kotto asked.

“Many, one disturbingly so.”

Kotto groaned and rubbed his eyes. “Not Raylon again?”

“No. Someone even worse, at least from my perspective.” The conversation was obviously going to take longer than he’d originally intended, so he moved around to the front of the chair and sat down. When Dr. Irron heard about this he was likely to double check the findings, which meant he’d see the names.

“Who could be worse than Raylon?” Kotto quipped. “Raylon is the most single-minded son of a bitch I’ve ever known.”

“Then you haven’t spent much time with my brother,” Zilor grumbled.

“Bandar is bonded. There’s no reason…shit, you mean Garin.” He shook his head, looking suitably horrified. “You’re right. The general is even worse than Raylon.”

“I don’t want to tell him,” Zilor admitted as he lifted one ankle to the opposite knee. “I sure as Creation don’t want to tell her. How can I hope to compete with Garin?”

“Wait a minute. Garin isn’t battle born. Why was his profile even considered?”

Zilor shrugged. “Didn’t they build the database around military records? Sental must not have purged the elite officers. Or did they decide to include the officers? Technically, they’re part of the rebellion. I suppose they have just as much right to compete for mates as we do.”

“And marriages between human hybrids and any of the males involved in the rebellion strengthens our alliance with Earth. We’re building a bridge into the future. This isn’t just about accessing our magic.”

“Do we have an alliance with Earth?” Zilor raked his hair with both hands then stretched out his shoulders. “Have the negotiations begun?

Kotto shook his head. “This is still a recon mission until General Nox tells us otherwise.”

“That’s what I thought, but I’ve been focused on Danvier for the past few days. Thought I might have missed something.”

“Not unless I missed it too.”

“This is the sort of thing I’d usually ask Garin about.” Zilor shook his head, unable to hide his frustration. “If I ask him now, he’s bound to wonder who the officer was.”

“Hell of a quandary.” Kotto pushed back from the desk so he could cross his legs.

“And that’s not where it ends. Her blood test flagged another anomaly as well.”

“Do I even want to know?”

“Probably not.” Zilor released his breath in a slow, even sigh. “Vinton wasn’t lying. She’s a Tandori. She doesn’t just belong to Tandori Tribe. She’s a descendant of the Tandori bloodline.”

Kotto’s brows drew together as he pondered the implications. “What made you cross-reference her genetic profile with the Tandoris?”

“Just a hunch. Vinton’s interest in Indigo seemed personal to me.”

“This makes her even more attractive as a mate.” Kotto uncrossed his legs and leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees. “If you’re going to win this one, my friend, you’ve got your work cut out for you.”

“I’m aware,” Zilor grumbled, but he refused to give in to the pressure. Overwhelming odds made any situation more challenging and he thrived on challenge. He would win Indigo as his mate, even if he had to best seventy-two other males in the process.

After a tense pause, Kotto changed the subject. “How is Danvier coping with Chandar’s condition?”

“As well as can be expected.” He lowered his foot to the floor. “He’s devastated and blames himself for her misery.”

Kotto shook his head, but compassion warmed his gaze “None of it was his fault. The guild elders made damn sure no one realized she was still alive.”

“I think deep down he knows that, but the only thing that’s going to help him is if we find a way to help her.”

“Which brings us back to my new employee.” Kotto folded his hands on the desktop, suddenly all business again. “There’s a small complex slightly separate from the housing villages. It’s called the Pavilion. The restoration team just finished with it. I’d like both the unmated females moved there as soon as possible. Having separate bedrooms should be better for Raylon and Chandar.”

“If she’ll let him get that far away from her.”

“We have to try,” Kotto stressed. “This isn’t fair to Raylon.”

“I agree and I’m sure he does too.”

“He’s been remarkably patient with his unwanted guest. And I’m the last person to give Raylon praise.” Kotto waved away the topic. “Indigo needs vaccinations and com-bots before you turn her loose in Lunar 9, so stop by the infirmary before you leave the ship.”

“I’ll take care of it.” Zilor had no intention of turning her loose anywhere, but he didn’t point that out to the commander. Until he received specific orders from General Nox, he was assigning himself to be Indigo’s private security. “I need to ask Raina for a favor. Do you know what she has planned for the day?”

“I think she’s still in our cabin. What do you need from her?”

It was a natural question, at least for a newly mated Rodyte male. “Indigo was pretty sure someone was watching her house last night, so she had to leave without preparation. I’d like Raina to go pack some clothes and toiletries, whatever Indigo will need for her stay on Lunar 9.”