Darkness

  She shook her head. “You know I can’t.”

  “Are you ready? How tough are you, sweetheart?”

  She lifted her chin. He hadn’t gotten the name from her before and he wouldn’t do it now. It was a kind of extremely sexy game between them actually, in a twisted way. She accepted that surprising insight and didn’t struggle. She wanted him to continue.

  He adjusted the speed of the vibrator to something slower and touched it against her clit. She jerked, the sensation instant and intense. Pleasure radiated upward and she closed her eyes.

  He rubbed it against her clit and she moaned. His arm tightened, holding her in place. She tried to grab hold of him, only to be reminded that her arms were restrained. She wanted to touch him. He upped the speed and she moaned louder. The orgasm hit fast and hard. She threw her head back and opened her eyes, staring into his as her body rode through the force of it.

  He pulled the vibrator away and she relaxed, breathing hard. The look on his face told her he was affected. He had that hungry, sexy look she’d seen before. She looked down, noticing that his cock was hard.

  “Are you going to fuck me now?” She hoped he would.

  “Not yet.”

  She lifted her gaze to his.

  He flipped on the vibrator. “We’re only beginning.”

  He pressed it against her already-sensitive clit. She cried out and tried to twist away but he held her still, forcing her to feel. It was too much but she couldn’t tell him since nothing intelligible came out of her mouth. He increased the speed and she knew hell. It hurt so good, though, and she came a second time. Darkness turned off the vibrator. He leaned in, pressed his chest against hers and his lips brushed her ear as she tried to catch her breath.

  “Imagine an hour of this,” he growled. “Fuck, you smell good. I could eat you. You’re dripping wet, sweetheart. That’s why I chose the vibrator though. This is about breaking you, not me. One taste and I’d be lost.” A light thud sounded. She guessed it was the vibrator. His fingers played with her clit then rubbed down the seam of her sex. “I want in.”

  “I want you in.”

  “Tell me the name.”

  “I can’t.” She wished she could but her pride wouldn’t allow her to cave that easily. It had become a battle of wills.

  One of his fingers slowly breached her pussy and she moaned. He slid it in then almost withdrew it. He hesitated before pressing back in deep.

  “My dick is so much bigger. Remember how we fit together?”

  Her vaginal muscles clenched around his digit. He made that purring sound she found sexy. He moved his finger again, fucking her with it. She spread her legs wider to give him better access.

  “Do you want me?”

  She nodded.

  “Damn.” He withdrew his finger. “It’s hell torturing you. I don’t know which one of us is hurting more.”

  She stared into his eyes.

  He hesitated and pulled his arm away. “Just give me the damn name, Kat.”

  “You know I’ve given you as much as I can.”

  “So we keep going?”

  “I’m having fun. I like this a lot.”

  He grinned. “I’ll remember.”

  “Want to torture me some more?” She grinned. Kat suspected he’d initiated the confrontation because he enjoyed the verbal sparring as much as being in complete control of their encounters. His need for answers was his job but his need for this was his pleasure. Still, she was glad when he removed the chair restraints.

  Darkness freed her ankles first, then her upper arms. He stood and gripped her arm, helping her stand. Her knees trembled a little and the wetness down her thighs was proof that he was really good at making her come hard, twice in a row. “Now my wrists.” She turned to let him free them.

  “I didn’t say we were done.”

  She looked over her shoulder at him. “What does that mean?”

  “It means I’m glad I have a higher bed than the ones in your cottage. It’s the perfect height.” He bent and picked up the vibrator.

  She watched him walk to the bed and grab a pillow. He dropped it on the edge of the mattress and placed the vibrator on it with the rounded tip almost falling off. He turned the vibrator on, reached out and grabbed her arm.

  She almost fell when he jerked her forward. She stumbled and then found herself bent over the bed. He grabbed her hips and yanked her down, putting her on her knees.

  “What are you doing?”

  One of his hands slid between her belly and the bed. He lifted her off her knees until most of her weight rested along his arm. He grabbed the pillow with his free hand and slid it under her, adjusted it and then lowered her. She gasped. The vibrator ended up right against her clit. The plush padding of the thick pillow kept the plastic handle from digging in to her stomach. She fisted her hands behind her back.

  “I don’t know if I can take this! I’m too sensitive.”

  “You’re going to enjoy it a hell of a lot, sweetheart.”

  She nodded, sealing her lips. Oversensitive or not, she was willing to try it. Darkness had a way of making her want to push boundaries and try new things.

  He shoved her thighs open, keeping her knees from touching the floor with his body pressed against her ass. One hand opened up on her butt as he leaned back a little, putting space between them. It kept her in place.

  “You said I could fuck you. I’m going to.”

  She moaned when the thick head of his cock pressed against the entrance of her pussy. He entered her slowly, gripping her hips. He held her still while he started to move, thrusting deep.

  The vibrations against her clit combined with being fucked made Kat unable to think. She wanted to claw something but her hands were still locked behind the small of her back. She found the carpet with her toes and tried to use that traction to shove upward to get away from the vibrator. Darkness wouldn’t allow it, his firm hands on her hips pinned her in place.

  “Oh god,” she moaned.

  Darkness was in heaven and hell. Kat moaned louder and he fought the urge to come. He’d already been excited, watching her face while she climaxed twice. Now that she was under him, he was inside her and it was almost too much. She was wet and hot. Her internal muscles clenched tighter and he knew she was going to come again. He gritted his teeth, remembering too late that he hadn’t put on a condom.

  He wanted to shoot his seed inside her. Just thinking about it had his balls screaming for release. Kat cried out and her vaginal walls started to convulse around his cock. He shoved her forward enough to get her off the vibrator and stilled. His dick was steel-hard, ached, but he held back his own release. He took deep breaths, listening to Kat’s breathing as she recovered. He withdrew from her body.

  He grabbed the vibrator and turned it off, tossing it on the floor. He fisted his dick and rubbed it against the crack of her ass. He came hard. His semen coated her ass and lower back, even getting on her hands. He closed his eyes, shaking a little from the power of his release.

  It would have felt better if I hadn’t pulled out. He bit back a growl. It pissed him off. He knew better than to touch her without a condom. It would be a nightmare if he got Kat pregnant. She was someone he could never trust. She was FBI and while he could force her to stay at Homeland until she gave birth, afterward she’d have the choice to leave, alone. A Species child would never be safe in her world. Would she abandon a child for her freedom? Would she tell the world they were able to have children? He didn’t know and never wanted to find out. It would put all the Species offspring at risk and that would be entirely his fault.

  “Damn,” she whispered. “Are you trying to kill me?”

  Regret came next. “Was I too rough?”

  She chuckled. “Nope. That was just way over the top. I think I lost brain cells.”

  He would have hated to have accidentally hurt her, regardless of knowing she wasn’t who she claimed. He admired Kat. Most females would probably have protested his treatmen
t. She seemed not to mind him needing to control the sex.

  “I still can’t tell you his name. What’s next? May I have a few minutes first? I’m really sensitive.”

  He backed off and helped her get to her feet. “Let’s shower.”

  She turned, showing the cuffs. “Can these come off yet? It’s hard to wash your back otherwise.”

  He walked to his dresser and withdrew a knife. She didn’t flinch when he approached and he saw no fear. He cut the cuffs. She grinned and rubbed her wrists. He turned and threw the plastic strip on the dresser.

  “Follow me.”

  “I’m going to have to borrow something to wear to get home. I’m not doing the streak-back-to-my-place thing. I’ve seen your surveillance feeds. They film everything at Homeland. Do New Species have funniest-security-video shows? I don’t want to be part of that footage.”

  He couldn’t help but smile. He really liked Kat. It was a grim reminder, though, that he liked her a little too much. He paused at the bathroom door. “You shower first.”

  He didn’t miss her reaction. Disappointment. She was easy to read when her guard was down.

  “I thought we were going to do this together too.”

  He shook his head. “It’s too personal.”

  He’d hurt her. He saw the flicker of pain in her eyes before she hid it. “Right. As if what we just did wasn’t.” She walked past him. “Whatever.”

  She flipped on the light and turned, gripping the door. “I guess I’ll shut this. It would probably be too personal to watch me shower unless you think I’m going to steal your soap or towels.”

  He stepped back. “Go ahead.”

  Anger twisted her lips. “You really are a bastard.”

  She slammed the door. He was tempted to open it, to say something, but he stood there instead. Kat would leave Homeland soon and he didn’t want to miss her. It was better if their time was limited to just sex. He wouldn’t eat meals with her, share intimate grooming tasks with her or allow her to sleep in his bed.

  He walked over to the chair and carried it back to the spare bedroom. The sound of water in the bathroom taunted him. He could be in there with her but instead he cleaned up the room, getting rid of all evidence of what they’d shared. Except her scent. It filled his room. It lingered as strongly as his memories of touching Kat.

  The shower shut off and he put on a pair of sweatpants, not wanting to be naked in her presence. She exited the bathroom wearing a towel, her skin flushed from the warm water and her hair caught up in another towel that was wrapped loosely around her head. She looked adorable and he hated noticing.

  “Do you have a robe?”

  He hesitated. “I need that name, Kat.”

  “We’ve been over this.”

  “You tell me or I’ll have officers come pick you up in twenty minutes. That means packing your suitcase and leaving Homeland. You won’t be allowed back.”

  She stared into his eyes and he watched the color drain from her face. “You mean that?”

  “I do.”

  Her chin lifted and her shoulders straightened. “You don’t want to try to torture it out of me anymore?” She tilted her head toward the bed. “Round two might make me break.”

  She was baiting him to seduce her again and he wanted to. “Only if you give me the name.”

  A blush rose to her cheeks. “So now you’re withholding sex for information?”

  “Think of it as a reward. I won’t ever touch you again if you don’t tell me, Kat. That’s how it’s going to be. You know how good the sex is between us and won’t risk losing that. I’ve been studying you.”

  “What does that mean?”

  He hesitated. “There are cameras inside your cottage. I’ve been watching your every move since you arrived at Homeland. It’s time to stop avoiding my questions. You don’t like your boss and you have already betrayed his trust. Give me the name, Kat. Otherwise you will be escorted beyond our gates.”

  Her expression shut down. “I’ll go pack.” She tried to step around him to leave the bedroom.

  He grabbed hold of her upper arm. “That’s it? You’ll just leave?”

  He almost wished she hadn’t looked up at him—pure pain showed in her eyes.

  “You had me under surveillance as though I’m some criminal. I get what that means. I’m your assignment. I’m tired of this game, Darkness. I thought there was something between us but it was all chess moves to you. You win.”

  She jerked hard and he let her go. He hesitated then followed her down the hallway. “Kat?”

  She stopped and turned. “What now? Do you want your towels?” She tore the one off her head and threw it at him. It hit him in the chest. “Don’t ever say I took anything from you. God forbid you give anything to anyone.”

  “I warned you that I wasn’t mate material.”

  “You did. I just thought you had issues. Instead you’re ice cold inside.”

  “What does that mean?” He didn’t understand.

  “You’re an excellent judge of people. You were trained to be. Was I that easy to read? Did you enjoy watching me when I wasn’t aware of it? Did you profile me?”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Bullshit. Do I scream ‘lonely’ to you? I thought you wanted me because you were attracted to me. Instead this was just some mind game to you. No one can shut it down that fast if it’s real. It wasn’t though, was it? You played me.”

  He shook his head.

  “Right. Spare me the token denial. I was just a job, right? Seduce the lonely chick and use sex to get her to open up to you. Great job. You did it. Now you can fry my ass for being stupid enough to fall for it. Go for it.” She spun and stormed toward the slider. “Don’t forget to add that phone call to your report. It’ll end my career. Thanks for screwing me over in every way possible.”

  He moved before he thought, grabbed Kat around her waist and jerked her off her feet. He held her against his chest and refused to let her go when she struggled. He grunted when she elbowed him in the side and slammed her heel into his calf. Her head came back and nearly caught him in the jaw. Only his lightning-quick reflexes prevented the hit. He spun and stomped toward the couch. He twisted her in his arms and fell, landing on the cushions with her under him.

  She threw a punch that bounced off his cheekbone. It hurt but he snagged her wrist and shoved it above her head. She tried to slam her other palm into his throat but he managed to capture it before she could make contact. He used his weight to pin her tightly under him until they were nose to nose.

  “Shut up,” he snarled.

  “Fuck you.”

  She was breathing rapidly and her towel had come loose, revealing one breast. He lifted off her a little and stared at it. “You think I don’t really want you?”

  “Stop it. Game over.”

  He growled and glared into her eyes. She was furious too. “I didn’t seduce you because anyone asked me to.”

  “Ah. You did that on your own. I’d pat you on the back but you are too strong.” She tried to break his hold on her wrists but he just squeezed a little tighter. She stopped and he eased his hold enough not to hurt her.

  “Calm down, Kat.”

  “Get the hell off me.”

  “I don’t want you to leave believing I lied to you.”

  “We’re dressed…well, I have a towel on at least. It’s what we do, remember?”

  “I could fix that.”

  “Don’t you dare. I’m done being screwed by you.” She glanced around the living room. “Are there cameras in here? Is your security team watching?”

  She really believed he’d only bedded her to gain an advantage. He lowered his face and buried it against her wet hair. She smelled like him after using his shampoo and conditioner. It turned him on but he refused to give in to desire. She’d made it clear she didn’t want sex any longer.

  “No, Kat,” he rasped. “It’s just you and me here. No one is watching. Pretend n
o clothing is between us.”

  “Let’s not. Get off me.”

  “I never wanted to get this close to a female again but I couldn’t resist you. The smart thing was to never touch you at all.”

  “Whatever. I have packing to do, remember?”

  She refused to listen. He should just leave it at that but he couldn’t. Kat didn’t deserve to hurt the way he’d seen in his bedroom. He’d been used before and it still hurt. He didn’t want her to go through life believing he’d done the same to her. She’d given him her trust when she’d warned him about those agents. He wasn’t certain why she’d done it but it couldn’t be beneficial to her in any way. She’d said trust went both ways. He couldn’t tell her NSO secrets but he could share one of his own with her. It would at least make them somewhat even.

  “You asked about the female I mentioned while you were in interrogation and how I had to pretend you were someone else. Do you remember?”

  She took a few breaths. “Yes.”

  “Darwin Havings was her boss. She told me he forced her to work for him and she was only there because she wasn’t given a choice. They used her family as leverage. She was brought in because someone thought sex would be a good incentive to make us easier to control. She later admitted that her job was to teach me how to seduce females into obtaining information. She said she was a prostitute with the experience to train me to be a skilled lover but that was supposed to be kept secret.”

  Kat grew lax under him and he released her wrists, lifting up enough to see her face. She stared up at him, frowning. It beat the anger and hurt he’d seen before. He shifted his weight but kept her under him.

  “They brought her in every few days to spend time with me and we would plot how to escape with my brothers.” He swallowed. “I thought I could save them and her.”

  Kat lowered her hands and curled them around his shoulders. She didn’t fight or hit him so he decided to tell her the rest of it.

  “I believed she really loved me. I trusted her without question. We talked about everything. I told her about what they were making us do and all my fears. I found out afterward that nothing she said was truthful. She betrayed me from the start and it cost my brothers their lives.”