Intensity Read online

  The spike of pain stopped and Orell cursed as he lifted her off her feet, carrying her down the beach and up the private path to her guesthouse.

  Minya opened the door and he swept past her, lifting her effortlessly up the stairs to her room. As he laid her on the bed, he caressed the implants on her forehead and neck. "I am sorry. The specialist is on her way."

  As he left her, the pain faded again and Minya took control of her. "Ah, Madam, you need more rest. Let me run another bath for you."

  "No. No more bathing. I just want to sleep." She rolled to her side and cuddled the pillow under her head.

  With Minya gone to do whatever it was that personal maids did while the guest was sleeping, Raine went over everything that she had learned that night.

  There was a dragon on Yosh and he had designs on her future, she had a price on her head and she was being hunted for her mind, her implants were trying to kill her or at least give her a migraine and the dragon who wanted her future had a kiss that could melt stone. All in all, it was a little much to take.

  Raine curled up in a ball, the slick fabric of her gown skidding her across the bedding. After a few minutes of trying to settle, she stripped the gown off, kicked off her sandals and crawled between the sheets with nothing on but the jewels and hairpins.

  Her dreams fought her control every step of the way, but when she woke from a restless night, she knew one thing--her dreams about dragons had taken a severely heated turn.

  She stumbled free of the bed and grimaced at the slickness of her thighs as she made her way to the lav. It took her ten minutes to pull all of the pins and braids out of her hair, but after a quick shower and a rapid scrub of her teeth, she felt ready to face the day.

  Minya was waiting with a change of clothing for her and a polite smile on her face. "Madam, you had the worst night's sleep I have ever witnessed. You are expected in the salon in ten minutes for a rejuvenating massage."

  "Seriously, after everything I learned yesterday, I don't think that a massage is the solution to my problems." She slid into the miniscule top and micro skirt, frowning at herself in the mirror.

  "Madam, get out that door and to the salon. Your breakfast will be ready after your massage. Now go."

  Minya's military posture was evident. There was no arguing with her, so Raine didn't even try. She slipped on her sandals and pattered down the halls, the metallic skirt swaying against her ass. She felt completely naked beneath her skirt and when the breeze stroked her, she realized that she was. What was it about this place that left underwear out of the wardrobe?

  The receptionist at the salon got to her feet and quickly escorted her to a treatment room with a quick smile and a nervous gesture.

  Raine removed her clothing and jewels, covering herself with a sheet. She lay down on the bed, face up, and waited.

  She didn't wait long. A woman with only two arms and dark rainbow hair came in. "Hello, Raine. My name is Fixer and I am the specialist."

  Raine knew the name and lay still as the most talented woman in the Sector Guard pressed her fingers to the implants and as she stroked them, the pain and static faded away leaving music in its place.

  Chapter Five

  Fixer worked on each implant individually, making polite conversation as she did so. "Relay speaks very highly of you."

  "She has been a good resource while I set up the stations. She also speaks highly of you." The touch on her skin was cool and soothing with a slight tingle. The music in her mind was subtle now. "Are my implants causing me to have audio hallucinations?"

  Fixer gave her an upside down smile. "No. That isn't what you are hearing. You know what that is, don't you?"

  Raine sighed. "It's Orell. He has been trying to make contact with me since I got into this part of space. From what I have read, it is a Drai courtship ritual."

  Fixer smoothed her fingers down and across Raine's forehead in an endless pattern of trickling energy. "It is. The Drai prove compatibility by touching their mate's mind. That is their biggest proof of a solid match, their mate hearing their call."

  A tension that she didn't realize she was holding onto released and Raine smiled at the pain-free moment. It was her first since the implants had been placed.

  "The implants act in Terrans like a low-grade infection. Your body can tolerate them for a time and then they begin to increase your sensitivity to everything. After a while, you start becoming one with the systems you work on and if steps aren't taken, you lock yourself in with the data."

  "How many of us have you fixed?"

  "Seven. Some have been Guardsmen, some not. There. You are done. The implants are made of a neutral material and are now sub-dermal with a valve that will allow you to jack in when you need it." Fixer smiled.

  "That was…way too easy."

  "Thanks. It's what I strive for. Now, get dressed so that we can get some breakfast. I am starving."

  Fixer's smile was infectious and soon, Raine was dressed and they made their way to the dining hall.

  Orell was sitting next to a male Selna in a uniform that matched Fixer's. The rest of the dining room was completely empty.

  "That is my partner, Shade." Fixer explained the male Selna with the wave of her hand.

  "Pleased to meet you, Shade."

  The Guardsman stood and approached her, taking one of her hands and bowing low over it. "It is enchanting to meet you, Agent Burke."

  "Thank you, Shade. I don't mean to be rude, but I was looking forward to breakfast." She smiled kindly at Shade and his mouth opened slightly in shock.

  Fixer grinned and moved to seat herself. Shade immediately abandoned Raine and assisted his mate to a seat.

  Orell held a chair out for Raine and she couldn't help but notice that it was as far from the handsome Shade as he could manage.

  The moment that they were seated, servants brought out hot tea, caf, iced water with citrus and a selection of breads and jams. To Raine's amusement, the food was placed in front of Fixer and she had to make do with her caf and water.

  "Fixer requires food to make up for her loss of energy while using her talent. Your meal is on the way." Orell lifted one of her hands to his lips and pressed a kiss on her knuckles.

  The music in her mind took on a sensual note and she blinked at the heat that spiralled from her hand and straight to her core.

  She didn't jerk her hand back and that in and of itself told her that she wasn't afraid of his advances. As a human amongst races that she had never imagined could be real, she had never found one that called to her in a way that was beyond mere curiosity. Something inside her recognized him and that little frisson of enthusiasm was going to be her downfall. A teeny, tiny little cheerleader in her mind hopped up and down the moment that he looked her way.

  When he placed her hand back on the table, she fought to keep her face straight, but knew she failed when Fixer shot her a knowing look.

  The music in her mind was a seductive cadence so enthralling that she almost missed Shade's comment.

  "So, a shit-storm is about to hit Yosh. Do you need any help?"

  She perked up and looked around the table at her dining companions, sighing in relief as food was slid in front of her.

  "We are prepared for the Baku. Thank you, Fixer, for setting up the control centre."

  Fixer raised one hand in acknowledgement and kept eating.

  Raine had to ask, "Control centre?"

  Orell inclined his head. "I will show you after breakfast. One of the initial installations to Yosh was a defence system, but without a control centre, they were simply underground weapons that could be manually fired if needed. Fixer assisted with that now that we are guarding one of the relay stations."

  She nodded. Her eagerness to see what he was referring to was probably evident in the speed at which she ate. A delicate round of burps emanated from her as she sat and waited for everyone else to finish.

  The music in her mind went from sensual to soothing, calming her from the insi
de out as she fidgeted.

  When Fixer and Shade said their goodbyes, she smiled warmly and thanked Fixer sincerely.

  The Guardsmen left and she was standing in the middle of the reception area with Orell. She turned on him the moment that the other couple left. "Where is the control centre?"

  He grinned down at her enthusiasm. "We are standing on it. Request it again, but ask to access it this time."

  "Access Control Centre." She jumped and was caught in Orell's arms as a chair and console rose from the floor.

  "It is keyed to your voice and your implants have been taken into account. Feel free to examine the layout, but you only have one hour before we need to speak about a more personal matter." His tone was implacable, but his expression was indulgent. "Now, go and play."

  She chuckled and made a beeline for the control seat, plugging the jacks into her ports the moment that she found them. Raine settled into the chair and let her mind run through the system checks and finally into the weapon stations themselves.

  She whistled low and long. "Three hundred weapons?"

  "I wanted to be prepared for anything."

  She counted and did checks on the weapon stations. "Two hundred fifty are still operational, the other fifty require hefty repair."

  She could see him, though her eyes overlaid the display on his features. He was sitting across from her, beyond the control station. His entering notes into a data pad and handing it off to Tvoro reinforced his casual attitude. Apparently, even with few if any guests, there was still administration to be carried out.

  "Oh." She found the satellites that measured the local system for unusual activity. With just a little bit of tweaking, she managed to work her way into the relay station. "Wow."

  A cleared throat tried to get her attention and when she refused to stop playing, a power reduction pulled her back to the control centre. She rubbed her eyes and glared up at Orell, "Spoilsport."

  "I gave you three hours. Now it is time for our little discussion." He helped her uncouple her implants, then lifted her to her feet.

  Returning to her body always gave her a rush of sensation and having even the minimal contact with him was enough to start a pulse in her core. Flustered, she tried to pull her hands from his, but he tugged her to him and with her body flush against his, she had an interest, but it was not in his discussion.

  "Come with me. What we have to discuss is not for the staff to hear." He tucked her hand on his arm and they walked out into the afternoon light.

  "How long was I in there? I remember getting up just after dawn or so." She looked up at the sun and blinked in surprise.

  "Fixer had you in her clutches for three hours, our lunch took two hours and then you locked down into the control centre for three hours. You have had a busy day." His tone was light, but the music in her mind was sober.

  She chuckled and he swung her into his arms, the impact of their bodies shocking her out of her amusement. He lifted her up, his arms wrapping around her as he brought his lips to hers. This kiss was all about possession and not about convincing her to give in.

  Music swelled in her mind and she wrapped her legs around his hips for balance as she threaded her fingers into his hair for a better grip. The music took on a rhythm that she matched with her hips, rocking her clit against him until she gasped and stiffened in his arms.

  She felt wind rush all around her and it wasn't until she pulled free of his intoxicating kiss that she noticed that they were airborne.

  Chapter Six

  Raine was conflicted. On one hand, she was aroused and eager. On the other hand, she was in the grip of a winged man and flying out over open water. She couldn't decide which emotional spike to ride through the storm of choices.

  The sting of saltwater coasted along her limbs and contrasted with the heat of Orell's hands gripping her ass and thighs.

  She trailed kisses along his jaw and down the thick cord of his neck. He groaned when she started to use her teeth.

  "Raine, if you want to stay out of the water, stop doing that." His voice was a heavy growl.

  She lifted her head and felt the throbbing in her lips. Stopping was the last thing that she wanted to do. He felt amazing, felt great and tasted better. There was no way she wanted to stop, but she did.

  The moment that she lifted her lips from his, they gained altitude until she could see the castle that had haunted her dreams since childhood. Green spires and crystal walls rose out of the sea on a platform that kept it just above the surface of the water.

  She smiled as they circled the towers before entering one of the high and open windows. His wings beat the air and he slowly lowered her to the cool expanse of a bed that took up half the tower room.

  She leaned back on her elbows and stared up at him as he shuddered and flexed his wings as he struggled for control.

  Her mind told her that she should be terrified. He was twelve inches taller than her tallest boyfriend back on Earth and that had to lead to any number of distortions of proportion.

  "Now, for our discussion." He removed his shirt and crawled onto the bed, keeping his body above hers while he met her gaze with his aqua eyes. She watched his head get closer to her breasts and with his teeth, he tugged the closure of her top.

  Two fasteners she didn't know were there, hidden in the embroidery, gave way under the sharp nips. Raine held her breath as he grazed her skin with his teeth, leaving trails of sensation behind. Tracks of heart-pounding fire followed each nip, lick and swirl of his tongue.

  When her blouse was open and nothing but her skin parted them, she gasped at the roar of wet heat that swirled through her to concentrate between her thighs.

  He took his time, working his way over every inch of her flesh, leaving individual flames running through her.

  She tried to thread her fingers through his hair, but he grabbed her hands and pinned them next to her head with a growl. "I talk, you listen."

  She listened with every press of his lips to her flesh. Every tug on her nipples and when the heat of his breath teased the lips between her thighs. She listened with every inch of her being.

  His tongue parted her, causing her body to arch between her heels and shoulders. As the dexterous, wet heat slid in flickering circles on her clit, she let her breath out on a high-keening wail.

  "Welcome to the conversation." His chuckle ran through her and he surged up along her body, grinning down at her.

  She was twisting, frantic. To be so close to release and then to have him pull away was beyond what she had been expecting. "I thought I was to listen."

  "That was to your body, not to you."

  He moved off her with a sudden flare of his wings and in the bright light streaming through the windows, she saw him in all his glory.

  He paused for a moment, flexing his wings and letting her get a good look at what she was getting into or what would soon be getting in to her.

  He was long, longer than her hand and if he wasn't thicker than her wrist, he didn't miss it by much. She bit her lip and contemplated escape until she remembered that she had been altered for this. None of the women who were mated to Drai had run screaming to the Alliance, so she had to trust that the doctors knew what they were doing and that Orell wouldn't cause her any permanent damage.

  When he saw whatever he was looking for in her eyes, he came toward her and repositioned himself over her. He wove his fingers through hers, lifting them to press kisses to the knuckles before returning them to their gentle imprisonment beside her head.

  He worked down her body once again. This time, he used his teeth to remove her miniscule skirt instead of going under it. There was a tearing sound and she was bare to the soft exhalations, the tugs of his teeth and the tireless efforts of his tongue.

  With every wet slide, she held her breath and exhaled on a moan. He parted her with his tongue and delved inside in a slow and insidious rhythm that had her back on the brink of release with only a few strokes.

  To Raine's su
rprise, Orell was making noises of enjoyment and it seemed that he was never going to stop until he pulled away from her with a groan and slid up her body, fitting the flaring head of his cock to her.

  His grip on her hands gave him leverage as he started to surge into her with his hips propelling him into her in minute increments. He held her in place and as the pressure inside her built until she thought she was going to shatter before she took one more millimetre of him, he began to retreat.

  When he came back into her, she didn't know if it was her slickness or his, but it went easier and she was able to open her eyes to meet his heated aqua gaze. Once her eyes were open, he started to thrust in earnest, taking her beyond what she had previously seen as the pinnacle of her arousal until she feared the impact of her orgasm. It would surely blow her to pieces.

  Sweat trailed down his spine, coated his chest and he balanced his form with huge, open wings that bathed them both in twilight.

  "Harder, please." Her words escaped on a sigh. A whisper of sound.

  He obliged, lifting her and draping her legs over his shoulders, pounding into her with a ferocity and intensity that shook her limbs in a release that started and built with every thrust.

  Her voice shook her ears and continued as he rocked and slid inside her in a sudden rush, his eyes glowed and he stared into her eyes as he roared his own satisfaction to their conversation.

  She felt him caress her, inside and out. Body and mind were touched and caressed by him and she was crossed between shivering and twitching in satisfaction.

  He rolled off her when she most wanted his weight against her but pulled her into his arms as he settled on his side. "That was a charming conversation. We should discuss things more often."

  She looked at him, sated and smug. "You didn't mention the subject matter of our conversation. That was remiss of you. We might have to start again at another time."

  He grinned, exposing those long, sharp teeth that could and probably were used in mating. "We can, but I have to ask you something."

  "What is that?"