Feral Flaw Read online

  All the Crellons stopped moving where they were sprawled out on the floor.

  Were they dead? Three cheers for the humanoid tank.

  The warrior with the long hair disarmed the Crellon bodies, taking objects similar to the one that I held, then hunted around the control panel beyond the whirling smoke tendrils.

  My creaking cell door popped open.

  Does he know I'm here or my identity? Was he releasing me or capturing me to exchange for the bounty? In the end, nothing could be worse than being captive by Crellons.

  The man turned to me and walked lazily through the lingering haze he'd created.

  Step by casual step. All muscles.

  Something about him looked familiar. Maybe it was the way he walked. Or his mercenary-style black leather?

  "You're free, Darla."

  That deep patient almost threatening whisper of a voice sent chills down my spine. Like I thought I'd ever hear Goro speak again.

  Chapter Six

  Darla's heart hammered as she stared at the strangely improved Goro. He was unbelievably gorgeous, she noted. Wild. And he'd blown his way aboard to save me. Or to recapture me to return me to The Cause for trial as a traitor. He'd beaten the Crellons unconscious in the process. What do I do? Run? Or kiss him for saving me? How am I going to keep from throwing my arms around him?

  He strode to the cell's entrance and halted.

  And stared. He was so different now. So uninhibited with his long hair. Without his standard black jacket-like cape, in his leather vest and pants he was equally formidable. Rugged.

  My knees wobbled.

  Take care, Darla. He's trouble. There's a good half of the universe out there questioning your allegiance. But this beastly barbarian was much more than the neatly-suited commander. What else had changed? "Goro?"

  He nodded.

  Just once was all he chose to gift me. Enough to see those orange eyes from a different angle. The same smoldering eyes sparking with fire. Just whose cause had he come to rescue me for? Who could turn away from the sheen on his sweaty muscles and the fireworks in his eyes? What a barbarian on steroids.

  He could drag me anywhere by the hair.

  Why did take me now block every thought in my mind? Crazy Darla, think of something to save my ass. "So much time had passed. I figured I had been left to the Crellons. Especially after the rumor started."

  "Come out, Darla. We must leave now."

  What a temptation magnet. But this ship was so n-a-s-t-y. Entering the realm of STDs was far more risky than patiently awaiting death by starvation isolated in a lovely somewhat-sterile cell. And who knew how deadly extraterrestrial STDs were.

  His black eyebrows flat lined. "We won't be staying. I want to lock these fools up before we depart though. So, please clear the containment cell."

  He sounded so normal. But his unruly look would do me in. What else can I do? I've got to play along and wait for another window of opportunity. Be smart. Stay on my toes. I strode through the bars, careful not to touch anything, and stepped through a layer of crunching ship pieces covering the floor until I stood beside the hole where the door he blasted away once opened and closed.

  The sound of dragging bodies whispered how Goro stashed the Crellon lovers in their very own precious honeymoon cabin.

  Oh to bolt to my pod fighter and get the heck out of this crab-infested-venereal-disease nightmare. Wherever the spacecraft was. After waking up from the sleeping gas incident behind bars, leaving the containment area never proved wise. I have no idea where my pod fighter was.

  Goro did. He knew all about this universe. The man was my ticket back home. But what did he want? And why the change in hairstyles all of a sudden? Did he hit some crazy phase of life where men from his world sprout long locks?

  Oh to run my fingers through the symbol of his new phase of life. I almost turned to read clues in his facial expression. But then I'd have to struggle with my renewed attraction to him. Not good since I just needed to climb up through the deepest rungs of Hell to find my way back to Earth. Or some kind of normalcy.

  And nothing about Goro looked normal. He needed to just grab me by the ponytail. Drag me off. Take advantage of me. Goro now had the raw appearance of a man with no inhibitions. Thank the stars he grew up. And who didn't want a big tough guy ready to defend or pounce her? That's if he intended to pounce. I've got to play this game right. Whether Goro believes it or not, I still have my virginity bartering chip. And this hunk of a genius knew how to use a pod fighter.

  Brains, brawn, and sex appeal.

  What a hero.

  Look out, universe. I get a chance at him first. Okay, maybe a second chance. And he probably knows where my pod fighter is.

  A clank noted the cell door's lock was engaged.

  Goro's form halted beside her, in the doorframe.

  Correction, inside the blast-hole's edge of raw sharp metal. If Goro wasn't careful, he'd scratch up all those bulging arm muscles. Talk about a tragedy when all a girl wanted to do was rub her palms over all of that hot supple iron. Mold it into a new groaning moaning twisted mass of uncontrolled cooperative male.

  Oh the power of a few dirty movies. I was such an impressionable teen.

  "Let's take the pod fighters, Darla. Command yours to match my moves. I don't want to lose you again."

  Yeah. Yeah. Don't lose the emperor's dream babe. He still talked like a commander. Hopefully Conan wanted me as much as Voldon did. I followed Goro's shadow in the low level lighting.

  "How long has it been?" I asked.

  He headed through a narrow empty passageway toward a hatch. "Three earth months."

  An entire season? Geesh, talk about imprisonment. And now I've been saved by Conan. Or was I? Pay attention self. He didn't react thrilled to see me at all.

  Just what does he want with me?

  Goro led me into a docking bay where our pod fighters waited.

  He had said next to nothing. "Where are we going?"

  He shot me a curious glance.

  "Why are you rescuing me?"

  "You are my responsibility." He just waited, staring at me, the formidable killing machine.

  That stern jaw line. Those scrutinizing eyes. His wild hair. He just stood there.

  My knees quaked as my core melted.

  If this ain't one-hundred percent possession, what is? Responsibility rang a good solid motive to cough up though. But just what did responsibility refer to? Am I his responsibility to return to The Cause because I've been labeled a traitor?

  Buying into the packaging of a man that made me run into danger while my knees liquefied was nuts. But he was so off-the-scale gorgeous now. If he'd just insist on having sex. If he'd just take what he had claimed to desire all those years. If only he'd give me that one chance to exchange blood and attach my soul to his for eternity.

  Lord, I'm losing my mind. Now apparently wasn't the time for ifs or opening up a direct line to God to confess my flaws. I blinked, pushed the secret button on my pod fighter to open the hatch, and climbed into the welcoming isolation of my pod's cockpit.

  "Remember, follow me, Darla. I'm taking you back to earth."

  Why earth? That could be either good or bad. "Why?" I waited for any hint of answers to dance in his orange eyes.

  "There's no time to talk." He climbed into his cockpit and closed the hatch.

  Fine. I can follow him back to earth. It's not like he was begging to become soul mates any longer. Earth is the perfect place we can go our separate ways. At least going our separate ways meant I'd be alive.

  * * * *

  The Crellon ship's lighting faded almost instantly as Goro's cockpit sealed out the overhead docking bay illumination. Although Darla was safer than she'd been in months, for the moment, anything could happen in Quadrant Three, he thought. This quadrant offered little in free-thinking sanctuaries. We could fly under the radar for the most part. But bounty hunters would always be a problem. Pod fighters translated into were-assassins to Vo
ldon's operatives.

  Ironically, all of Voldon's plans work for him. No one lived as fortunate an existence as Voldon. His power stretched across the universe, invaded even the minutest molecule with the catastrophic freedom like that of unavoidable radiation. And everywhere the mad man's energy touched, someone assisted him.

  Who? Maybe, just maybe, Voldon's sex spy. Could I even blame her for taking up the charismatic emperor on one of his offers? People did all too often to protect other people. Loved ones. Nobles were the first to buckle. I just expected Darla to be stronger.

  Was she innocent or as guilty as Voldon? At least, she was safe for the moment. Until it came down to my honor and her betrayal. "Computer, take us to Ruvini." We'll spend one night there to spare our cramping legs the long journey to Quadrant Three's wormhole relay. Hopefully, Darla's pod fighter would follow mine. If Darla didn't, well that was proof she was a sex spy. And I'd just hunt her down and kill her.

  By the time we stepped onto Ruvini's sandy beach, the green waves consumed so much of the beach line that they had to retreat from the high tide among the caves in the rocky cliffs. The orange sunset bore through the large cavern's high ceiling and painted the shadows with a white opacity that even a torch couldn't burn away.

  Darla walked silently before me in my shadow cast where the sunlight bore into a cave. The light attempted to reveal something. Or at least point out the way she carried herself was the same as my were-mate crew members. She held her shoulders high with dignity. What did her self-assurance indicate?

  Had I made the biggest mistake The Cause could suffer bringing her aboard The Seeker? I fed her information about everyone aboard the ship, including were-assassins. She was most likely the leak I thought Sevra to be. Had I erred in judging Sevra guilty? Not likely. Since Darla's mind couldn't be read, Voldon would have required someone to work with Darla. Someone like Sevra. And Sevra's mate had been caught talking to Voldon while remote viewing. So the guilty were judged nonetheless.

  Adding guilt to the day's troubles was foolish though. Since when was life about ease? Sevra deserved her end in her suspicious behavior. Life was about choices. And the most harrowing of choices hovered steps away. Will she prove my reward or my torture? My command or my mate? Hopefully both led to honor.

  What would her body communicate now if she offered it? It's request for completion? Or would those curves lead me deeper into Voldon's intricate trap of enslavement? Zombification wasn't good. But would a person even realize he no longer thought for himself?

  Fear. I have to stop thinking about what might be and just deal with the moment. But fear has a way of infecting one's soul. And an exalted life was all about overcoming fear. Time to begin the test. "Let's sleep here."

  Darla twirled and bent her knees, descending into a sitting position with a scrutinizing gaze anchored on me. "Why are you taking me to earth?" The question burst from her as if she held her breath the entire forty-three hour trip in order to ensure she wouldn't forget to ask.

  Noting Voldon's crystal skull dilemma might not be in The Cause's favor until Darla's allegiance was clarified since Voldon wanted the skulls. "I'm taking you home."

  Her mask pinched into confusion. "Why?"

  Maybe sticking with duty was best. "I took you from earth. I'm returning you. No wrong will be left between us."

  Her jaw dropped. "You're kidding? After what we've been through? Dammit, Goro! I'm in love with you. And you're going to let Voldon's lies work against that? What about all that Destiny crap you espouse? I may not be as bright as you, but I can see through Voldon's game." She rose, assuming a checkmate stance, daring me to doubt her.

  Spoken like a master sex spy with her declaration of love. Or is my fear of self-preservation gnawing at my soul? And Blessed Devros knows fear kills a soul. Self-preservation is one of the most basic forms of fear. Subconscious. Involuntary. And Voldon would see me dead. As would irrational desires like lust. Until I discount sexual espionage, I'm better off lying to stay alive. Or I fail Destiny. "I told you I believe you." Although, lying is another aspect of fear. I stared her down, daring her to debate.

  She straightened her spine, her long legs stretching out her black leather pants to an incredible limit.

  Oh to have those legs latch tightly around me while I suckled at those buxom breasts like a babe. Just give me a few minutes. Just a few…

  She stretched one step toward me. And another. "I told you I love you, Goro. Doesn't that mean anything?" Her boots ground cave debris with her approach.

  The bits of tell-tale rock blanketing the pitted cave floor only forewarned a traitor lurked with their almost silent whisper.

  But Darla kept coming. The intruder. The infiltrator. The imposter.

  Those breasts edged toward me. And those memories from all those times I held those delightfully stimulating soft mounds hidden beneath her sleeveless leather shirt with both of my hands. Handfuls of treasure. Both always begged for my touch. Rather she did the way she leaned into my grasp. I should have taken what I needed from them long ago. Enjoyed what I could long before Voldon announced the child. I would have had plenty of time to enjoy mating back then. But therein lay the twist of Destiny where a man learned how he was deemed worthy through his reward. And my worthiness is apparently still under debate.

  She greedily snatched the last step before me, pausing those bulging breasts millimeters from my chest.

  How does a man turn away from what he's dreamed about for years? It's a pity lust and desire didn't rank up there with loyalty.

  "I've done everything you ever asked of me," she gently whispered.

  Mistake number one. "I never asked you to run from me on Vek." Who's the master manipulator now?

  She winced and looked away for a moment but locked her gaze back on mine. "I was afraid."

  Nobody can escape fear, it builds up like a tidal wave and smothers your sanity. Every Xquine child learned this early in life. But she stood before me, an earthling. "Life is about the choices we make."

  Her eyes squeezed shut. She minutely shook her head. "I know!" Her gaze anchored back on mine. "I made a mistake." She planted her palms firmly against my chest, enhancing that incredibly enthralling cleavage. "I realized back on that Crellon ship that I should never have left you."

  All my blood drained to my manhood.

  The enchantress. If she played the traitor, she would die. If I could manage to return her for justice before falling under Voldon's spell.

  My loin throbbed in Darla's defense.

  Why is it so difficult to leave one's inner beast in the pod fighter? Oh yes. Life would be too easy. I shifted my footing, trying to inconspicuously reposition my arousal, gazing into her brown eyes, searching the dark depths for something therein that would reveal her true purpose.

  "I'll be damned if you don't let me prove my love for you, Goro."

  Her hands slid up my chest as the roundness of her breasts pressed so deeply into me that they'd certainly burst from her shirt. Dare I move? I might lose my mind and all self control.

  Her fingers tickled across my jaw, pulling my lips down to hers.

  Where can a man run from such a beauty? But warriors don't run. Strength to think this through, to make the right decision this time, would be my salvation.

  Her warm soft lips fluttered as if whispering, teasing me from afar.

  What those lips would feel like against my skin.

  My manhood lunged.

  Accursed animal.

  She leaned forward, pressing her velvet lips against mine. The moist silk of her tongue pried my lips apart.

  My gut dove off into the unknown.

  Or was that my soul? Had she broken through my palisade so quickly? But what was wrong with letting go? Testing her for the greater good of humanity? If she proved innocent of espionage, I would have a mate. And who wouldn't welcome an intelligent caring woman into his bed as a soul mate? It wasn't as if I fed the beast that hungered within. I simply proved whether or not
I made the biggest mistake of my career by bringing an infiltrator among innocents fighting for The Cause. And there was only way to clear my name. The test. I rubbed my hands down her slim firm back and across the warm leather covering the tight curve of her ass.

  She threw her head back and gasped, running her palm across my chest. "Take off your shirt."

  Would Darla prove the blessed virgin promised to the last Xquine or the greatest weapon in sexual espionage? There was only one way to learn this truth. Duty. And I owed The Cause that much for bringing a potential traitor aboard The Seeker and into the fold. I ran both palms across her firm ass and squeezed those sweet buttocks.

  She clung to me, groaning. Waiting. Begging.

  And who could refuse the hungry a morsel? Whether the temptation lay in suicide or Destiny, I opened my mouth and devoured her demanding lips.

  Her anxious fingers wove into my hair, pulling, drawing me down to where we knelt upon the hard rock of Ruvini.

  For The Cause. I ran my hands down her leg and along her inner thigh until I could cup her mound in the palm of one hand.

  Therein lay my demise or reward. Regardless of the outcome, I was going to enjoy taking what I'd been waiting for. At long last. Even if it is my final conscious action. I pulled her crotch against my waist where I sat until her luscious breasts bulged in my face.

  Dare I milk truth from that bosom?

  She arched her tight body against my waist and wrapped her arms around my neck, attempting to draw me into her the way I had contemplated protecting her moments before.

  "I knew you loved me," she sighed. "Take off that accursed leather." Her hands toyed with my sanity by slithering away.

  She began pulling her shirt over her head.

  Undressing. What an idea. The way I sweated, I'd be slithering in my clothing soon enough.

  But to yank my shirt over my head meant I wouldn't see the unveiling of what I'd waited so long to see. How foolish. Just to cradle those promises of love and life, to milk light into my existence.