Going Cold Read online

  Harina asked, “How old were you when you got your first knife, Harikoth?”

  He smiled. “I was four. It was a blunt blade, and I used it to get fruit out of trees.”

  Hesker looked at him. “Cutting?”

  “Throwing.”

  Harina smiled. “I had to help make so much pie and fruit butter that season.”

  Valat smiled. “I needed a lot of practice.”

  Hesker nodded and kept eating. Her mind flitted to her practice with family, and she pushed it away. Someone should have heard her screaming.

  She reached for the last piece of frittata and finished her meal. The past should be left behind.

  Chapter Ten

  “You aren’t going to stay the night?” Harina asked plaintively.

  Valat shook his head. “No. We need to be on our way.”

  “But, I hardly see you.” The whine got on Hesker’s nerves.

  Hesker walked up to Valat. “I think I can fly the skimmer to the shuttle. You can stay here, and you can join us later.”

  He grabbed her around the waist. “No, I am not going to leave you. My pledge was to remain at your side, and I shall do it.”

  She stared up at him and frowned. “Pledge or not, you can teleport and skip the time in the skimmer and shuttle. Can’t you?”

  He smiled. “I can, but I am not going to.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because I would be thinking about you, and the visit wouldn’t be good after that.”

  Harina opened her mouth, but Thokoth-Kadar put his arm around her, and it closed with a snap.

  Hesker was not sure what had passed between them, but he was beaming when he shook her hand in farewell. “If the heirs can find a gem like you in the universe, they will have my support when the time comes.”

  Harina sighed and reached out, embracing her awkwardly before leaning back. She muttered, “He was lucky to find you.”

  “Thank you. It was a pleasure to meet you and to find out why he doesn’t get wild-eyed at my comments and actions.” She didn’t think she could have assaulted any other guy’s mother and have had him do nothing.

  Thokoth-Kadar smiled. “It takes a certain amount of nerve to be around a woman who enjoys killing, but I manage it, and it seems Harikoth can do the same.”

  She blinked in surprise. “Oh, I don’t enjoy killing; I am just good at it.”

  He inclined his head. “I stand corrected.”

  “It is a distinction I will maintain.”

  “Good. It was a pleasure meeting you, Hesker. Take care of my son. He likes to worry about taking care of others, but he needs someone to watch out for him.”

  She stared, and Valat said, “I am right here, Dad.”

  Valat let her go and hugged his father, and far more passed between them than the simple contact.

  Hesker was bundled into the skimmer, and as they rose up, he waved to his parents. It was such a charming gesture for such a peculiar family. She would remember that moment. It was sweet.

  The shuttle crew was happy to have them back. Even the locals of Kadar were rather creepy.

  They settled the skimmer in place, and the crew locked it down.

  Hesker walked to her seat and buckled in to wait.

  Valat sat next to her. “You did exceedingly well. The soon-to-be empress is also very sneaky. I was not expecting bonding cuffs.”

  Hesker looked at the band on her arm. “Mine is fine, and you can obviously shift and teleport with yours.”

  “Yes, so that is a thing. I did not mean to bind to you so casually.”

  “Should we have dressed up formally? I could have managed that.”

  “All your clothing is on the ship.”

  “Oh. Right.” She sighed. “I am sorry it wasn’t the moment you dreamed of.”

  He chuckled, reached over to unsnap her harness, and pulled her into his lap. She paused and waited for something to happen, but he just held her contentedly.

  The shuttle lifted off and powered back toward the ship. Hesker leaned into him and let herself relax.

  She was cuddled for four hours and may or may not have napped.

  “The next world is Krin’s. His family has grown up there, and he has a few siblings and cousins.” Valat was sitting across from her.

  “Which world is it?” She was mid-lunch. He had finally shown her how to find food that was suitable for her without side effects.

  “Reuval, home to the Adru-Skari. Krin comes from a family of merchants.” He smiled. “Don’t let any of the locals scratch you. With certain species, it creates a hormonal bond. I believe that Krin’s mother was one of them.”

  “You believe.”

  He chuckled. “Altokrin’s mother is Melia-tah, married to General Dornin-tah, and they are welcoming him in for a visit and allowing us to spend an overnight visit in their home.”

  “Okay. So...”

  “Melia-tah is a Terran. She used to be Melia Geller, and she was a customs official at Makuada Station. Now, she manages imports for Adru-Skari.”

  “Ah. Nice. So, who are we meeting with?”

  “The Reuval council. They are basically a democracy, but as everyone belongs to a variety of clans, the representation falls along family lines.”

  She sipped at her tea. “So, any oligarchs?”

  “Many, but they are kept in check by the more respectable families.”

  “Anything else I should know?” Hesker smiled.

  “Yes, if any males come toward you asking if you are vrasku, let me know, and I will deal with them.”

  “What is vrasku?”

  “It means genetically compatible. Adru-Skari with off-world mates use donor eggs and extracted DNA to make children.”

  “Like Krin?”

  “Indeed. He has eight siblings. His parents were very enthusiastic about the process.”

  The Adru-Skari half-breed in question walked into the dining area. He got his tray, and Valat smiled at him. “Krin, do you have any advice for Hesker?”

  Krin paused and asked, “May I join you?”

  Hesker gestured to the empty chair. “Please, have a seat.”

  Krin sat and smiled. “I am rather excited to be going home. Having gotten my mother’s detection talent got me here, and she is rather curious as to what I do for a living.”

  Valat chuckled. “Mine didn’t want me leaving to begin with, but she has gotten used to the idea. Now, she is getting used to the idea of Hesker.”

  Hesker chuckled. “Yeah, well, she takes some getting used to herself.”

  Krin paused. “You met Harina of Kadar?”

  Valat chuckled. “She stabbed Harina of Kadar. Justifiably so, but it still caught my mother by surprise. She is not used to others fighting back.”

  Hesker snorted. “She’s a bit of a bully, but I believe we understand each other now.”

  Krin stared at her as if she had another head. He spluttered, “There isn’t anyone like that on Reuval. We will land, you will meet with the council, and then, we are invited to an overnight stay at my clan compound. There may or may not be a party. Knowing my family, there will be. So, bring a change of clothing, and just a warning, the fashions for the females tend to run a little on the minimal fabric side. The Adru-Skari elite tend to do a lot of body mods and like to show them off.”

  She looked to Valat, “Do I have something for that?”

  He smiled. “You do.”

  “Nice.”

  Krin paused, “Dame Hesker, you do know that Commander Valat is second-in-command of this vessel, right?”

  She smiled slightly at Valat. “Is that so?”

  He inclined his head. “It is.”

  “Good for you.” She nodded. She tucked her hair behind one ear, and he sighed and reached out to stop her.

  “It is necessary to complete the balance. Leave the lock forward.”

  Krin looked at their wrists, and his eyes got huge.
He choked. “You two are mated?”

  She looked at the band on her arm. “Oh. This. Yeah. It won’t come off. I really tried, but I am not allowed weapons yet, so I couldn’t cut it off.”

  Valat frowned and turned her arm over, showing the small scratches that she had left behind. He lifted her wrist to his lips and exhaled across her skin. The pink marks faded, and he pressed a kiss to her wrist. “The band stays on. You will get used to it.”

  She sighed. “Fine. I don’t see what purpose it serves.”

  Krin was still stunned. “It says that you are the bride of one of the Kadar.”

  She looked at the cuff and shrugged. “Oh.”

  Valat chuckled. “It does not impact her at the moment, so there is no reason to concern herself.”

  She finished her lunch and sipped at her tea. “I will concern myself when you are in rut.”

  Krin froze, and Valat blinked in surprise.

  “Who told you about that?”

  “When Thokoth ransacked my mind, I got a lot of information on the Kadar. I also know that he did a thorough exam of you, and he guessed that you have less than two weeks before you start showing symptoms.” She cocked her head. “Does it hurt?”

  Valat was shocked. It showed in his expression. He turned to Krin. “Please, excuse us. We need to have a private conversation.”

  She was surprised when he got up and stood next to the table. She got up, and he waved her to precede him. They walked down the hall, and he led her to the practice room.

  When they were inside, he triggered the lock and looked at her closely. “Are you taunting me?”

  Hesker thought about it. Everyone seemed terrified of his rut and what he would do inside the ship. She wasn’t worried. She had complete confidence that he wouldn’t do anything to endanger her. She decided to answer him. “Yes.”

  He reared back in surprise. “Why?”

  “Because there is a new experience on offer, and you are withholding it until you are out of control. That does not sound like a fair scenario to me.”

  Valat frowned. “I thought to ease you into the idea.”

  “I get the idea. I was chosen specifically for you. I was altered with Kadar genes for you. I am allowed to defend myself from people who irritate me as I see fit, so I have what I want in life. I get to see the stars now and am reasonably content with my surroundings, so I am not a danger to anyone.”

  He closed in on her. “So, you are not averse to contact with me?”

  Hesker shook her head. “I just told you that.”

  “No, you just told me that you were missing a new experience, not that you wanted me.”

  She stared at him, and she reached out to touch his neck, feeling the throb of his pulse under her thumb. “I am fairly certain that I want you, but I haven’t had you, so I don’t know what I am asking for.”

  He smiled. “I enjoy your honesty.”

  “Will you kiss me then? The last time, everything went dark.” She smiled.

  Valat nodded. “I believe that is a good beginning, but things may go dark again.”

  She nodded and watched as he leaned in, and his lips brushed against hers.

  “You are going to go cross-eyed.”

  She chuckled and went up on her toes to kiss him again. He smiled and wrapped his arms around her, flicking his tongue against her lips until she parted them. His tongue slid inside, and her eyes widened in surprise.

  She felt a shiver run through her, and she pressed closer to him. Hesker mimicked him, and their kiss continued until her pulse was throbbing in all new places as she let the heat run through her.

  His hand on her backside was pressing her against him. The ridge under his clothing had her attention. She shivered again and wanted to continue the kiss, but Valat raised his head, his chest heaving with effort.

  “How far would you like me to go?” He stroked her cheek.

  She blinked. “What are my options?”

  “I could coax you to orgasm or thrust myself inside you, or we could stop here.”

  Hesker asked, “Do you have commander stuff to do?”

  He smiled. “Nothing on my roster is more important than you.”

  “So, is here a bad place?”

  “It is certainly neutral.”

  “Then, would you slide into me? I must confess, I have been confused as to what makes folks contort their expressions.”

  He smiled. “They do that when their bodies take over and their logical minds do not enter the equation.”

  “What if I don’t enjoy it?” She bit her lip.

  “Then, I will need to work harder to find what you enjoy. You respond to a kiss, so that is encouraging.”

  “Princess Hydrangea warned me that I might go into heat.”

  He smiled. “You might, and I look forward to it, but it isn’t today. I believe that I can compromise.”

  He stroked his hand down her thigh and gathered her skirt in one hand, lifting it to her waist, and then, he slid his hand between her thighs.

  “What are you doing?” She whispered it. It seemed like she should be quiet so he didn’t change his mind.

  He moved his hand, and his fingers moved against her sex. He murmured, “I will explain it later. If you figure it out as we go, let me know.”

  Her panties grew damp as he stroked her. Her hands clenched on his shoulders, and her eyes widened with surprise.

  Her body was feeling, and the gentle caress of his fingers gave it input that she wasn’t familiar with. This wasn’t an aggressive grope, this was a gentle tease, and she hadn’t had anyone touch her with this kind of care before. She certainly hadn’t had anyone touch her that wasn’t trying to get something from her, including her life.

  When his fingers slipped under the edge of her panties, she gasped. Valat moved his digits slowly through the moisture and eased a finger inside her.

  Hesker’s eyes went wide, and she squeaked. She hadn’t heard that particular tone out of her throat before.

  She kept her gaze at the pulse in his throat. The heavy throb let her know that she wasn’t the only one who was feeling something at this moment.

  He moved his finger inside her, and she gasped, clutching at him.

  He muttered, “I think we should get you off your feet before you fall down or climb through me.”

  He eased his finger out of her and lifted her up with an arm around her waist. He walked with her to the education area and set her on the desk. Valat parted her thighs and stepped between them, leaning her back as he kissed her.

  She caught herself on her hands, and he flipped her skirt out of the way again. She was sliding her tongue alongside his, and when his finger slid into her again this time, he moved a second along with it. His thumb pressed on her clit, and she mewled as her body got tense and clenched around his digits.

  He stroked his fingers in and out of her with excruciating slowness. He might have been going slowly, but her body rioted, and she felt something stretch and snap inside her. She felt intensely hot, shaking, and exhilarated at the same time. His fingers moved slowly inside her, and the pulse deep within went off again.

  She moaned and pulled her lips from his, gasping as her body continued to move without her authorization. She pressed her head to his shoulder, and he slowly eased his hand away from her.

  “You haven’t ever...” He murmured against her temple.

  She shook her head. “It wasn’t allowed, and then, when you don’t, you don’t need to.”

  “If you don’t know what you are missing, you don’t miss it.”

  She nodded. “Yeah. Like that.”

  He lifted her head and kissed her softly. “I am going to ensure that you will miss it.”

  She swallowed and met his serious but soft gaze. “Why?”

  “Because you are for me. I am for you.” He smiled. “Across the universe, we were meant to be together, and now we are.”

  “Do I g
et a say in this?”

  He smiled and pressed his forehead to hers. “You did. I can touch you, and you can touch me. You would not have made that offer if you were unsure.”

  She felt a blush creeping over her. She had made her choice when her heart had tried to reach out and do something new. Something normal. Something social. She looked at him shyly and knew that he had seen the darkness in her soul, and he hadn’t run. He had come back for more. A man like that was worth hanging on to.

  Chapter Eleven

  Hesker got a dance lesson from Valat, and he moved closer than he had in previous dances.

  “Are you sure that this is how the Adru-Skari dance?” She murmured as he moved behind her and cupped her breasts.

  “Perhaps I am confusing them with the W’lyn.” He chuckled. “They have an annual festival where dancing is featured and lovers are chosen.”

  “Really?” She leaned her head to the side as he nibbled and licked at her neck. “Are we going to W’lyn?”

  “We are. I am hoping that we are in time for the festival. I would love to watch you dance.”

  “You are watching me dance right now. That is a mirror over there.” She pointed to the mirror as they swayed then pulled his hands down to her waist.

  He chuckled and spun her around to face him. “I would love to watch you dance on your own and simply enjoy yourself.”

  “I don’t know what that looks like or feels like.”

  “Then, you need to learn.”

  She narrowed her eyes at him. “You aren’t going to race me somewhere, are you?”

  He chuckled. “No, but if I did, I would win.”

  “You cheat.”

  “Precisely. There is nothing I won’t do to have you in my arms and see you laugh and enjoy yourself. I have seen enough death. You make me want to live my life.”

  Hesker blinked and thought about how she felt when she was around him. “I trust you, Valat.”

  He stroked her cheek. “And I will not betray that trust.”

  She smiled and cupped his jaw. “I know you won’t.”