Smiley

  “It’s the drug.” Smiley adjusted his stance and straightened. He didn’t step away though, keeping her on the stool, his body blocking her from the others.

  She pressed her face against his chest. He smelled incredible. She lifted her chin and when her lips brushed across hot skin at the top of his tank top, the urge to lick him gripped her. She resisted but she bet he’d taste good too. What the hell am I thinking? What is wrong with me? She felt panic rising. “Smiley!” He needed to help her or get her to a hospital.

  He cleared his throat. “Leave us alone.”

  “No.” Justice sounded closer. “You’re both going to Homeland.”

  “We’re both suffering. I won’t lose control. Clear the room and give us privacy.”

  “That’s not happening. It’s what whoever planned this wants,” Justice stated, his voice grim. “I’m sure they believed you’d kill her. You were dosed inside a bar full of humans. You would have snapped if you hadn’t figured out what was going on and we got to you in time to prevent a tragedy.”

  Smiley reached between them and curled his hands over hers. “Let go, Vanni.”

  She didn’t want to and shook her head. He stepped away and gently pried her fingers off the thin material. She missed the security his body provided and whimpered, staring into his eyes. He surprised her by crouching down to put them at face level.

  “Vanni, do you know what the breeding drug does?”

  “It doesn’t sound good.”

  “Enough,” the tall, ponytailed New Species ordered. “We’ll question her at Homeland.”

  Smiley ignored him. “It’s a drug Mercile Industry invented to force Species into an overriding desire to have sex. We heard they were trying to create a human version and it smells as though you took it. You’re sweating the scent out through your pores.”

  Distracted by the pain she suffered, Vanni had to fight to keep up with what he was saying. “Like GHB?” She’d heard of date-rape drugs. “I thought that just made someone pass out.”

  “Smiley,” Justice interrupted, “you said she’s the one who dosed you.”

  “She said she didn’t.”

  “You believe her?”

  “I don’t know but I’m certain, if she did, whoever gave her the drug didn’t tell her what it would do. Either way, she should have options and know what she faces. She should decide.”

  Justice North cursed softly. “Do it.”

  Smiley took a deep breath and explained, “You’re not going to pass out. The pain will grow worse, at best guess. With Species it’s excruciating and can cause us to go insane. The only relief is not fighting the drug.”

  “I still don’t understand.” She whimpered as the throbbing between her legs intensified. It felt as if her clit were being pinched. It wasn’t pleasant.

  “You can either agree to have sex with me to make the pain stop or you can suffer. It’s that simple.”

  She was horrified and it must have shown in her expression because he frowned.

  “You’ve made your choice. We’ll restrain you so you don’t attack anyone or hurt yourself. Just hang on, Vanni. They’ll get us to Homeland as quickly as possible and to our doctors. They’ll help you.” He stood, releasing her, and addressed Justice North.

  “Let’s go. You’ll want to restrain me too as a precaution but I’m handling the drug well so far.”

  “The SUVs just pulled up to the exit,” one of the NSO security men stated. “They’re waiting. Let’s move out.”

  Smiley backed away and two of the human NSO-uniformed men surged forward and gripped Vanni by her upper arms. They weren’t rough but they pulled her to her feet. The second she put weight on her legs she cried out. Her knees gave way and she would have collapsed on the floor if they hadn’t been holding her. Sharp stabbing pain stung her from head to foot.

  “Move! Let her go.” Smiley was there suddenly, shoving the men aside and scooping her into his arms.

  Vanni clung to him. Some of the pain eased and she breathed in his wonderful scent. She buried her face against his warm throat. He sat, putting her ass on his lap, and stroked her back.

  “Focus on my voice. I’m right here. I have you,” he rasped against her ear.

  “Smiley,” Justice North urged. “Hand her to Brass. He’ll carry her out to the SUV.”

  “Vanni, we need to go. You need medical attention and that can’t happen here.”

  She lifted her head and stared up at Smiley. “Don’t leave me.” She was terrified of strangers taking her anywhere.

  “I can’t ride with you because I’m drugged too. It’s best if they separate us.”

  The ponytailed guy drew her attention as he stepped closer and held out his arms. “Give her to me.”

  She let go of Smiley and was passed over to the big New Species. The stabbing pain to her stomach returned and she cried out. He turned with her, walking toward the back of the bar. She writhed in his arms, clutching his protective vest. They passed through a door that was held open by NSO Security. Cold air touched her when they stepped outside.

  “Stop!” Vanni couldn’t take the pain. “Take me back.”

  He halted and looked at her. It was dim in the alley but a few lights helped her see. He was a handsome man, albeit scary looking.

  “We’ll get you to Homeland as fast as possible. There will be a helicopter on standby if you worsen on the way. We can pull off and have them land nearby then transfer you for transport. We just have to get out of the city first.”

  “I can’t take this.” Tears filled her eyes. “Was Smiley telling me the truth?”

  “You reek of a breeding drug.”

  “Is there a way to counteract it?”

  “No. You’ll have to ride it out or once you’re in Medical they can attempt to help you. We can’t risk giving you other drugs until then. Species have died that way in the past. Their hearts stopped beating. You’ll want to be with our doctors so they can save you.”

  The seriousness of the situation hit home. “Am I going to die?”

  He frowned. “I don’t know. This might be a different version of the drug we heard was being tested. It smells the same but your reactions are milder than what we felt.”

  “Mild? I feel as though I’m being ripped to shreds from the inside out.” She panted. “This has got to be worse than labor.”

  “You’re not screaming and going into convulsions. That’s what happens when Species fight the drug by refusing to share sex.”

  “Sex really does stop the pain? Are you serious?”

  “The drug is designed to create uncontrollable sexual urges so sex overrides the pain sensors from what we understand. Most of us have no memory of what happens after being dosed when the pain becomes too strong.”

  “Move,” someone behind them ordered. “Let’s get them on the road.”

  Brass carried her to the closest black SUV and one of the NSO guards opened the door. Brass addressed him. “Get the soft restraints. She needs to be bound so she doesn’t hurt herself. One of you will need to sit in the back with her to keep her from slamming her head into the glass if she gets that urge.”

  That was the last straw for Vanni. How much more pain did he think she was going to suffer if trying to bash her head into a window was a real concern? “Just hit me. Knock me out.”

  Brass frowned.

  She sucked in a deep breath and yelled to get her point across. She meant it. “HIT ME!”

  He bent and set her on her unsteady feet. “I’m afraid I’ll damage you.”

  “I’m already in agony, damn it. Just do it.” She lifted her chin and closed her eyes, hoping it wouldn’t hurt too much.

  The punch never came. Strong arms wrapped around her waist and her back pressed against the side of the SUV. A big firm body pinned her there. She opened her eyes and was stunned to realize Smiley had her.

  “No one is going to hit you. It could break bones. You’re too fragile. You can take the pain.”

  Tears
spilled down her cheeks. “I can’t.”

  “Smiley,” Brass urged, “I’ll be careful.”

  “Bullshit. You can’t guarantee you won’t break her jaw.” Smiley’s face bore an angry expression and he suddenly lifted her off her feet, putting her at his face level. “I swore no one would hurt you and I keep my word. I’m going to kiss you. It will distract you from the pain.”

  Vanni forgot how to breathe when he leaned in and lowered his gaze to her mouth. She could have turned away but didn’t. She’d like to have blamed it on the drug, the pain, but had to admit she wanted him to. It seemed more than likely that she’d die and she’d been attracted to him since they met. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the first light brush of his soft lips touching hers.

  He pressed tighter against her and released her hip to tangle his fingers in her hair as he deepened the kiss. He tasted of cherry—probably what had flavored his soda. The pain faded to be replaced by need. She wanted Smiley more than she’d ever wanted any man. Her breasts ached and the desire to rub against him, feel him inside her became so intense she moaned from the need.

  “Let her go,” a deep voice demanded. “Smiley!”

  Smiley broke the kiss and turned away to shoot a fierce look at Brass. “You’re not hitting her.” Smiley faced her again. It was too dark in the alleyway to really see his eyes. “Let me take care of you. I can keep away the pain with pleasure.”

  “It’s a bad idea.” Brass lowered his voice. “Don’t forget that she might be the one who dosed your drink.”

  Smiley held her gaze. “It doesn’t matter. I can’t stand to see her suffer, knowing the pain she’ll face.”

  He freed his hand from her hair and gripped her hips, rubbing against her. The feel of his stiff cock trapped inside his jeans brushing against her excruciatingly swollen clit was heavenly. Raw pleasure had her closing her eyes again and moaning louder. Part of her was horrified that there were people around them, strangers, but it did take away the pain. She clutched at Smiley as if he were a lifeline. He’d become one. She spread her legs and wrapped them around his hips, locking herself to him.

  “Secure the perimeter,” Smiley demanded. “Give us privacy.”

  “Fuck,” the angry-sounding Brass muttered. “You heard him. Lock this area down and give them space. Eyes elsewhere.” He paused. “At least get her inside the building, Smiley.”

  She barely heard the words as Smiley continued to rock his hips, thrusting against her in a slow rhythm that made thinking impossible. Her clit was so sensitive she couldn’t focus on anything else but that firm rhythm of his sex against hers. It was the most powerful awareness of a man she’d ever experienced.

  His hands left her hips and slid to her ass, cupping both cheeks and grinding their bodies together more effectively. Vanni buried her face against his neck and opened her mouth, desperate to taste any part of him since he’d stopped kissing her. She licked him just under his ear then latched on to his earlobe, lightly sucking it.

  He shuddered against her and made a sexy sound. His mouth found her throat and he brushed kisses there. “Vanni.”

  Her name on his lips made her burn up inside. It might be just another hot flash but she didn’t care. She couldn’t get close enough to Smiley with their clothes on. She needed to feel his skin and she ached to have him inside her. An image flashed in her mind—what it would feel like if they were naked and he fucked her—sending her into orgasm.

  Vanni released his ear and pressed her lips against his throat, crying out. Her entire body shook from the force of it. Ecstasy tore her away from any sense of reality while she rode out the mother of all climaxes.

  Smiley stilled his hips, his breathing harsh. “I’m here. I’ve still got you.”

  She slowly became aware of their surroundings again. The night air chilled her skin. Her skirt was hiked up and bunched between her thighs and his jeans. His cock was hard and pressed firmly against her pussy through the layers of clothing. She hadn’t come in her underwear since she was a teenager messing around with her first boyfriend, too afraid to have sex for fear of it hurting when she lost her virginity.

  “Oh god,” she whispered.

  His big hands gentled the firm hold he had on her ass and he inched away a little, unpinning her from between him and the SUV. She opened her eyes and glanced around. Four men stood about thirty feet away in the dark alley, in front of the vehicle. Their backs were turned and they seemed to be guarding the entrance from the street. A car passed but didn’t slow.

  She turned her head. The door to the hotel had been closed and a black-clad guard blocked it. She looked toward the back of the vehicle and saw more guards posted down the alley. They were faced away too, but seemed to be there to make sure no one stumbled across her and Smiley.

  “Vanni?”

  Embarrassment was a horrible thing but she had to meet his gaze. The look of concern on his handsome face only made it worse. “Put me down.”

  She lowered her legs along the outside of his when he did as she requested. Her knees shook, threatening to buckle under her weight when she stood. Smiley released her and she retreated, letting him go. The tremors grew worse and she leaned against the side of the SUV to stay upright on her own.

  “Are you still in pain?”

  She couldn’t speak but shook her head. She’d just dry-humped him in an alley behind a bar. Her parents would be appalled at her wanton behavior and so would anyone who knew her. Smiley wasn’t to blame. She’d practically begged him to help her and he had.

  “It’s not over.”

  “What?” She must not have heard him correctly.

  “It can last for hours.”

  “No. That—”

  “It’s a short reprieve that some of us feel after finding release but within minutes the symptoms return.”

  “No.” She didn’t want to believe that.

  He took a few steps back. “Brass?”

  The New Species turned around and rushed closer from his position at the front of the SUV. Smiley met him halfway.

  “Make sure they bag our drinks. I didn’t drink all of mine. Maybe we can find fingerprints on the glass that will prove her innocent. One of the hotel guests might have put the drug in some of the empty glasses and just waited for them to be used.”

  “It’s already done.” Brass kept his voice low. “We’re taking everything to Homeland to test. We need to get out of here. The reporters want to know what happened to cause us to lock down the bar and they are interviewing the humans who were inside at the time. Justice is refusing to answer their questions until we’re under way but they might obtain security feeds. They don’t record sound but they do have video. It’s only a matter of time before they realize she’s missing.”

  Vanni’s eyes widened when wetness seeped down her thighs. It had to be because she’d just come but it was a lot. Her nipples beaded until it was painful and a sharp, stabbing sensation jolted her vagina and spread upward to her rib cage. She gasped and doubled over.

  “Vanni!” Smiley was at her side an instant later, one hand gripping her shoulder and one on her hip.

  She couldn’t breathe. Agony tore through her center and the only thing keeping her from hitting the pavement was Smiley’s hold on her. Her heart beat so rapidly she wondered if she’d have a heart attack. Pain stabbed her chest. She lifted her head and was blinded by tears as she tried to stare into his eyes. He had to be aware of her distress.

  “Let me help you.”

  She nodded. She’d do anything, try anything, to make it stop. He shifted his hold and forced her upright. It helped as she sucked in a lungful of air before the tears seeped down her cheeks. He released her hip and wiped them away with his thumb.

  “I’m right here. I’ll do whatever you need.”

  She needed him to make the pain go away. Kissing him and his touch turned the pain into pleasure. It was almost instinct to fist his shirt and yank him closer. The sound of ripping material was shocking. He was tall
er but she used her other hand to grab a handful of his black hair, pulling it to get his mouth down to hers. Her lips met his when he tilted his head and she was the one to kiss him frantically.

  The agony faded into sexual need. She didn’t care about anything except trying to climb his tall frame. He helped by hooking an arm around her waist and lifting her off her feet. Loud moans tore from her when she wrapped her legs around his waist once more. She was the one who started to move, grinding her pussy against the front of his pants.

  He tore his mouth away and turned his head. “Slow down,” he panted.

  “No.” She focused on his exposed throat and latched her open mouth on it, licking and nipping at him.

  “Fuck.” His voice deepened.

  She wanted to, badly. It meant releasing either his hair or his shirt though. She let go of his shirt and reached down, trying to work her fingers between their stomachs to locate the snap of his jeans. He bowed his back enough to give her room to do it and she clawed at the front of his pants. He suddenly turned and she was trapped between his body and the SUV again. He pinned her there and reached up with his free hand to untangle her fingers from his hair.

  “Slow down,” he demanded.

  She pulled away from his throat and struggled in his grasp. He let go and she gripped his jaw, turning his face enough to kiss him again. Her tongue delved into his mouth and she moaned.

  “We have someone on the hotel roof!” a man yelled. “This is Shane. Send someone up there now!”

  Vanni ignored the warning. She gripped Smiley’s hips with her thighs and writhed against the bulge in his pants, moving up and down against him. It felt really good on her clit but she wanted more.

  “Smiley!” one of the men yelled. “Get her under cover.”

  Smiley pulled her away from the SUV, holding her tightly against his body with her arms and legs wrapped around him. He took a few steps and turned, getting them both inside the SUV. She ended up straddling his lap with his ass perched on the edge of the seat to give her legs room so they weren’t crushed between it and him. Someone slammed the door, sealing them inside.