Stress Relief

Andi bit back a gasp as he sliced a single neat furrow in his own flesh, neatly bisecting the wolf’s head tattoo above his right pec. As a thick trickle of blood began to flow down his muscular chest, he inserted the sharp tip of the knife and flicked his wrist. Something small and silver flew out of the wound and landed on the bland cream colored carpet at their feet. To Andi, it looked like a bloody dime but when she looked closer, she saw that it was square instead of round and there was some kind of intricate tracing on its surface.

  “What is it?” she asked, eyeing the strange object warily.

  “The implant connected to the indicator back at your office. This way when I go, no one can track me.”

  “Oh.” It made sense suddenly and Andi was filled with a strange mixture of relief that he was neither suicidal nor homicidal and regret that he was leaving just when she had found him. To her embarrassment, she found that her eyes were wet again.

  “Hey, what’s with the waterworks, sweetheart? Why are you crying now?” Matt put down the knife again and cupped her chin.

  Andi shook her head and pulled away. With a quick, jerky motion she wiped the tears from her eyes. “I guess…I guess it’s just that I’m going to miss you. I’ve thought about leaving too but I know I can’t. They—the Agency—has eyes and ears everywhere and I don’t have the skill to get away from them. It’s like living inside some kind of Orwellian novel and you can never leave, never go away and have any kind of a normal life ever again.”

  “Well, I don’t know about having a normal life, but we’re sure as hell leaving tonight.” Matt had grabbed a swatch of fabric—it looked like a plain white t-shirt—and absently pressed it against the wound he had made on his chest.

  Andi looked at him, uncertain if she had heard him correctly. “We? You mean…you mean you’re taking me with you?”

  “You didn’t really think I’d leave you behind, did you?” He grinned at her, his blue eyes flashing. “Not after I finally got to know you…if you wanna call it that.”

  Andi blushed but found herself smiling too. “I guess we can call it that. But I hope we’ll get to know each other a lot better in the future.”

  “You can count on it.” He leaned in and gave her another swift kiss. “Look, it won’t be a normal life, like I said. We’ll be on the run but we’ll be together and I know I can keep them from finding us.”

  “That sounds wonderful,” Andi said fervently. “But…but are you sure I won’t just slow you down?”

  “Hell, no, sweetheart. Don’t worry about that.” He barked a short laugh. “I’ll use their own training against them. We’ll just fade into the woodwork, never to be seen again. Probably end up down in Rio or somewhere like that. So what do you say, will you come?”

  Andi thought of it—a real life. Traveling the world instead being stuck in the dark, cramped apartment controlling agents and girls and slowly dying inside because she couldn’t ever have any kind of personal relationship again. Not if she wanted the person she had it with to survive, that was. And spending her life with Matt—a man who looked like the most frightening killer on the outside but was capable of patience and tenderness she’d never known before on the inside.

  “Yes,” she said, smiling at him. “Yes, absolutely, let’s go.”

  “All right then, it’s getting late and we only have…” He looked at a black clock hanging on the plain white wall of the apartment. “Five hours to get a head start. So you’d better get dressed.” His pale blue eyes scanned briefly over her body, and he gave her a slow, lazy smile. “Unless you want to cut that to four hours.”

  Andi felt a warm, sexual flush starting between her bare breasts. In all the excitement with the knife and his offer to take her with him, she had completely overlooked the fact that they were both naked. “No, that’s all right,” she said, reaching for the red silk shirt and black leather mini skirt which had long been discarded. “I think we’d better get moving. But maybe I can get a rain check for later. You know, being on the run might be kind of hectic. So by the time we get wherever we’re going tonight, you might need some stress relief again.”

  Matt laughed. “Absolutely, sweetheart. That’s exactly what I’m gonna need.” Then he pulled her close suddenly and gave her a long, demanding kiss. “I meant what I said, you know. I do love you, Andi, even though we hardly know each other. I’ve been thinking about you for years, wanting to get to know you, to get to love you in person instead of from a distance. I’m glad you came tonight instead of sending one of the girls.”

  “Me too.” Impulsively, Andi kissed him back. “Now let’s get out of here. We have our whole life ahead of us and I want to start living it.”

  End

  Read on for the first chapter of Exiled, book 7 of Evangeline's Brides of the Kindred series.

  Chapter One

  “I can’t wear this! Not out in public where everyone can see me!” Lissa stared down at herself in horror. The gown her new friend Kat had squeezed her into was the complete opposite of the flowing white priestess robes she was used to wearing. It was a rich royal purple and the material was stiff and binding. But it wasn’t the cut or color of the gown that Lissa objected to—it was the fact that it was completely obscene.

  “Lissa—” Kat began in a reasonable tone of voice but Lissa shook her head.

  “Just look at me, Kat! I…I’m exposed.” She pointed down to the stiff molded cups of the gown that cupped her breasts in a tight embrace. The problem was, the gown only cupped the bottoms of them, leaving her nipples bare except for two tiny pieces of pale gold lace that fanned out of the tops of the cups to act as flimsy shields. They covered her—barely—as long as she stood perfectly straight and didn’t shift around too much. But what if I need to move quickly? What if I drop something and need to pick it up? Lissa was sure if that happened, she would fall out of the dress completely, baring herself to anyone watching.

  “You’re fine as long as you don’t bend down,” Kat said, obviously having the same thought. “Just stand up straight and don’t wiggle.”

  “But…but what about the bottom part?” Lissa motioned to the lower half of the gown. The skin tight bodice hugged her waist and hips and flowed out behind her in an elaborate, shimmering, crystal encrusted train. It was the place where the bodice split, a few inches below her belly button, that worried Lissa. The dress showed her crotch in a most provocative manner.

  “I know it’s kind of…revealing,” Kat said, frowning. “But you do have decorative panties to go with it.”

  Decorative was a good word to describe them, Lissa thought, because they really weren’t very practical at all. A tiny triangle of gold lace that matched her nipple shields barely covered the small thatch of blond curls at the apex of her sex. The back of the panties was a string—just one little gold string that ran up the back of her behind. Lissa had never worn undergarments like this before—Kat had called it a “thong.” Lissa called it perverted.

  “Please, Kat,” she begged. “I just can’t. It’s not just that I’m ashamed to be seen in public like this. It’s…it’s that Saber will see me too.” She could barely force her kinsman’s name from her dry throat but she made herself do it anyway. He was the real reason she didn’t want to appear in this obscene get up. Lissa was naturally modest and shy but his was the only opinion she really cared about. And if he saw her looking like this…What will he think of me? Lissa asked herself and was too afraid to contemplate the answer.

  She and Saber were of the same clan—the Sun Clan of the Touch Kindred—and she had been adopted into his family after her parents had died. There was no blood tie between them but according to the strict laws of her people, the two circumstances made Saber her older brother twice over and as such, completely off limits.

  Despite this taboo, Lissa had allowed an illicit love to grow between them—a love she had subsequently ended. But to her lasting shame, she still had feelings for the tall warrior with the hazel eyes. He had comforted her after the death of her famil
y and defended her from the bullies at the school they both attended as children. He had also saved her life when she was wandering in the dessert, dying of dehydration. With so much history between them, how could she not still feel something for him? How could she not care what he thought?

  A look of compassion and understanding filled Kat’s blue eyes. “I get it doll, and I’m really sorry,” she said softly, breaking into Lissa’s ragged thoughts. “But this is how they dress on Yonnie Six. In fact, this is one of the more modest designs—believe me, I searched through all of them. Those Yonnie girls aren’t afraid to show a little skin.”

  “A little skin?” Lissa looked down at herself again. “Are you telling me there are worse gowns than this in the cube you packed for me?”

  Kat cleared her throat and looked uncomfortable. “Just a few. Mostly the ones for more formal occasions like court balls and banquets. It’s a good thing the Mother Ship has a clothing pattern replicator—I never would have been able to sew them all myself.”

  “But I can’t be seen like this,” Lissa protested, frowning.

  Kat frowned. “You have to be, Lissa. You have to fit in or your mission is going to flop the minute you step foot out of the shuttle. How do you expect to recover the ancient scrolls that tell how to defeat the Hoard if you don’t blend in with the rest of the Yonnites?”

  “But—”

  “You look gorgeous,” Kat said firmly. “And don’t just take my word for it.” She turned toward the door, smiling. “Hi Saber. How do you like your new outfit?”

  Her heart in her throat, Lissa whirled around before she could stop herself. She found herself face to face with her kinsman.

  “Hello, Lissa,” he said quietly.

  “Saber. I didn’t know you were here. I…I didn’t want you to see me like this.” She crossed her arms over her nearly bare breasts protectively and took a step back.

  “You’re beautiful, as always,” he replied, his deep voice husky with emotion. “But I won’t look if you don’t wish me to.” Resolutely, he kept his changeable hazel eyes, flecked with gold and green, fixed firmly on her face.

  “Thank you.” Lissa dropped her own jade green eyes and found that she couldn’t show him the same courtesy he had given her. Though she tried not to look, her gaze wandered up and down the length of his large, muscular body. He was tall—over six foot six as all Kindred were—and his skin was a deep, natural tan. She couldn’t help noticing that his chest was bare, revealing shoulders twice as broad as her own and rippling abdominals. Tight black trousers made of some stiff, shiny material clung to his lean hips and long legs. Lissa tried not to look at the crotch where an impressive bulge pressed hard against the fastening of the skin tight trousers. Instead, her eyes skipped upward to his throat and her breath caught in her chest.

  “Saber,” she whispered, forgetting about her own state of dress—or undress—in her worry. “What…what is that?” Her hand darted up to touch the thick black collar fastened around his corded neck. Dangling from it was a long leather strip with a loop at the end.

  “It’s a leash,” Kat said matter-of-factly, stepping forward.

  “A leash?” Lissa looked at her, horrified. “But…you can’t expect Saber to wear something like that. He’s not an animal or a pet for the Goddess’s sake!”

  “No, he’s lower than that—he’s your body-slave,” Kat said. “And you’d better get used to treating him like one or you’re going to blow your cover before you even get your foot in the door at Yonnie Six.”

  Lissa opened her mouth to protest but Saber cut her off.

  “She’s right, Lissa,” he said quietly. “Males on Yonnie Six are considered little better than domestic beasts. They exist only to protect and serve their mistresses.”

  “And you’re willing for me to treat you like that? Like a slave? Like a pet?” Lissa demanded. Saber was a Kindred warrior—a proud male who was next in line to be the leader of their people. And she…she was just an orphaned girl with no family who had been exiled from her home world for the sin of caring for him. How could he humble himself to act like her slave?

  Saber frowned, as though guessing her thoughts. “I’m willing to do whatever it takes to keep you safe,” he rumbled. “If that means wearing these clothes and calling you ‘mistress’, I’ll do it without hesitation.”

  Kat nodded approvingly. “See? Saber gets it. This isn’t some game you’re playing here, Lissa—both your lives depend on it. So you act the part—really inhabit it.”

  “Says the girl who spent all of one summer at acting camp.” The new voice came from Olivia, who was moving ponderously because of her advanced state of pregnancy. Behind her was Sophia, her twin sister who Lissa knew was also pregnant. She wasn’t nearly as far along in her pregnancy as her sister but she was still showing quite prominently—possibly because she was carrying twins.

  “Sorry to sneak up on you,” Sophia said apologetically. “But we’re both out of peanut butter and I was hoping you might have some, Kat.”

  Kat sighed. “Ah, the things I give up for my pregnant friends. Sure, help yourselves, raid the kitchen. I have a couple of jars in the cupboard.” She nodded at the food prep area of her suite but to Lissa’s discomfort, the two sisters didn’t immediately follow their friend’s prompt.

  “So, is this one of the gowns you’re going to wear on Yonnie Six?” Olivia asked with obvious interest. “It’s gaudy but gorgeous—looks great on you.”

  “Thank you.” Lissa still had her arms clutched protectively over her breasts. “Kat had it made up for me from some sketches she found while researching the Yonnite culture.”

  “Yes, Kat’s good about that. She’ll plan your wedding, host your baby shower, even manage your undercover infiltration of an alien culture. Anything but plan her own joining ceremony.” She raised an eyebrow at Kat. “Isn’t that right, hon?”

  Kat frowned. “Very funny. With everyone around here popping up pregnant and Lauren and Xairn getting married, I haven’t had time to work on my own stuff. So don’t say another word, Liv—I’m not doing anything else until I’m sure that Lissa here is ready to go.”

  “Well, she looks ready for anything in that gown,” Sophia said, smiling. She looked at Lissa. “Do you like it?”

  “It’s…not exactly what I’m used to,” Lissa said, not wanting to hurt Kat’s feelings by telling the truth—that she was absolutely mortified to be wearing the revealing gown.

  “Well, at least it’s not alive.” Sophia patted her arm consolingly. “The tharp I had to wear when I went to Tranq Prime gave me fits. Of course, we get along just fine now but I wanted to strangle the darn thing at the time.”

  “Oh.” Lissa crossed her arms tighter over her partially bared breasts. Sophia had a point—things could be worse. “I guess I didn’t think about that,” she admitted.

  “It’s not something you usually have to think about,” Olivia pointed out. “Unless you’re determined to wear a creepy living fur blanket as a dress. In which case whatever problems you have are on you.” She stroked the crystal encrusted material admiringly. “That really shows off your figure—wish I could fit into something like it. I’m beginning to feel like I’ll never have a waist again.”

  “You will again once the baby comes, doll,” Kat told her friend consolingly.

  “Well, until then at least I can eat as much peanut butter as I want.” Olivia turned toward the food prep area and caught sight of Saber who had been standing silently in the corner of the room. “Wow—didn’t see you there, sorry.” She looked him up and down and gave a low whistle. “Is this from Yonnie Six too?”

  “Of course. You think he dresses up as a sex slave for the fun of it?” Kat demanded.

  Olivia shrugged. “He might—how do I know? Saber is the first Touch Kindred I’ve ever met.” She smiled at him. “And you’re a really nice guy too—despite all the weird rumors we heard.”

  Saber nodded gravely. “Thank you. I’m doing my best to represent my
people without giving offense.”

  “Honey, you couldn’t give offense to anybody in that getup.” Olivia grinned at him and then looked at Kat. “I want something like that for Baird.”

  “I wouldn’t mind getting Sylvan into something like it too.” Sophia smiled. “And I thought the Tranq Prime traditional outfit was hot.”

  “No fur boots but the tight leather pants more than makes up for that,” Olivia commented and laughed. “Sorry, Saber, we don’t mean to be looking at you like you’re a side of beef. We really only came for the peanut butter. C’mon, Sophie.” She tugged at her sister’s arm and they both disappeared into the food prep area.

  “Those two…” Kat shook her head affectionately before turning back to Lissa. “Now listen, hon, the gown looks great on you but it’s not going to do the whole job. If you want to carry this off, you have to act the part.”

  Lissa frowned. “You said that before but I really don’t understand. What part do you want me to act?”

  “God, I wish I had some time to show you around South Tampa and give you some real life examples but it’s too late for that now.” Kat sighed. “Basically you have to ditch the shy and humble priestess routine and become a rich, tyrannical bitch mistress from hell.”

  Lissa put a hand to her cheek. “But…I can’t do that. I can’t be that person. And I don’t want to go out in public wearing these clothes. And I can’t treat Saber like a…like he’s nothing more than an animal. Like a slave.” Her voice almost broke on the last word and she could barely force it out. When she’d volunteered for this mission, she had never imagined it would involve such personal degradation, or worse, such abject humiliation for the male she cared for most in the universe.

  Saber stepped forward. “Lissa,” he said in a low voice. “Amalla—”

  But hearing the sweet, forbidden term of endearment was more than Lissa could bear.

  “Forgive me,” she whispered. Turning, she ran past Kat into the sleeping chamber where she had left her clothing and buried her face in the pillows.