But here in the microbe cooled apartment of the alien resort, body heat didn’t seem to count at all. It never accumulated like it did back home, no matter how tightly she wrapped the covers around herself. In fact, Charlotte thought she could feel it being sucked out of her by the fabric that was supposed to be keeping her warm. It was miserable.
Should take a hot shower, she told herself, remembering the puff of steam that had escaped the bathroom when Stavros came out. It would help bring up my core temperature.
But she couldn’t bear the thought of getting undressed and stepping into water, no matter how hot it was. And then, even if she could muster the courage to do that, there would be that inevitable moment when she had to step out of the heat and into the bitter, biting cold again. No—it was unthinkable.
“Just…unthinkable,” Charlie whispered and yawned. Despite the extreme cold or maybe because of it, she was finally feeling sleepy. Closing her eyes, she let herself drift off, still shivering as sleep finally claimed her.
* * * * *
Stavros tossed and turned on the bare bed for hours, angry with Charlotte and angry with himself. How dare she accuse him of pouting, of all things? And how dare she act as if what she had done during their evening class was of no consequence? “It’s no big deal,” she had said. Stav had wanted to tell her that it most certainly was a big deal. She had touched him in places that no female ought to touch a Cursed One. She had dishonored them both and she had the temerity to act as though it meant nothing.
Maybe you should tell her that then, instead of freezing her out, whispered a practical little voice in his brain. How can she know what is taboo on your home world when she comes from a completely different planet?
I tried to tell her—tried to let her know she shouldn’t touch my mark, he argued back. But she just went ahead anyway. She—
A high, frightened scream interrupted his thoughts. At once, every bit of anger he’d been feeling towards Charlotte was wiped away by an overwhelming wave of concern and protectiveness that crashed over him.
“Charlotte?” He was off the bed and into the small living area in an instant. He found her huddled into a tiny ball on the couch, her eyes squeezed tightly shut. Tears were leaking down her cheeks and her lush mouth was drawn into a trembling line of terror.
“Charlotte?” Stavros said again. “Charlie?” He put a hand on her arm and she jerked upright at once, her eyes suddenly wide open.
“Don’t let it, Missy,” she gasped, her voice choked with fright. “Don’t let that two headed thing get me! Please! I know we shouldn’t of watched that movie—Mamma said not to. I’m sorry but please don’t let it get me!”
Stav didn’t know who Missy was but it didn’t matter. Clearly Charlotte was having a nightmare—possibly brought on by the sight of the Joined One that had frightened her so much earlier.
“Charlie,” he said sharply, when she tried to get off the couch. “Stop it and come here—you’re all right. Everything is all right.”
“Wh-who…wh-what?” Her teeth were chattering and as he took her in his arms, Stav realized her skin was cold as ice. A stab of shame hit him right in the gut.
It’s my fault she’s cold and frightened and alone out here. We were supposed to keep each other warm but I turned my back on her. All because I was angry at her for committing an impropriety she didn’t even know about or understand.
“Come on,” he said, gathering her into his arms along with the blankets and sheets which were twisted around her. “Let’s go get you warm.”
But it was easier said than done. Though he held her close to his body in the center of the bed, her shivering wouldn’t stop and her chilly skin didn’t seem to thaw.
She’s chilled to the bone, he realized at last. Those Goddess-damned Hossans weren’t kidding when they said she could freeze to death if we didn’t stick together—she’s nearly frozen now!
Deciding that holding her wasn’t enough, he gathered her up again and took her into the fresher. There was a bathing tub with a shower attachment at the top. Stavros was tempted to put her in the shower but he didn’t think it would do any good. She needed to be submerged in the warm water to bring her body back to anything resembling a normal temperate. He turned on the tub and then sat and held her cradled against him as it filled.
Charlotte had become very sluggish now which worried him. And when he was able to provoke a response from her, she was delirious—either out of her head with cold or still gripped in the nightmare that she seemed unable to wake from.
She cried—the tears wetting her cheeks—and called for “Missy” over and over. Stav wondered who Missy was—an old lover? But it sounded like a female name. Was it someone who had once been dear to her then? Someone she had lost or left behind on Earth?
He wished he knew.
When the tub was filled with water, he placed her gently into it, fur gown and all. He didn’t want to upset her by trying to pull the too-tight gown off—what would she think if she came to her senses and found him stripping her naked? Nothing good, Stavros was sure.
He tried not to look at her body as she floated in the tub, the white fur gown now completely translucent. But the outlines of her full breasts and hips and the innocent slit of her pussy drew his eyes even though he didn’t want them too.
You don’t deserve to look at her, he told himself angrily. Not after the way you let her nearly freeze to death! You’re supposed to be protecting her—not abandoning her to the elements!
Still, the tight pink tips of her nipples, pushing against the see-through fabric made his fangs ache and his cock feel hot and heavy in the white sleep trousers he wore.
He tried to distract himself by running more water and holding her head gently above the lapping waves.
“Charlotte,” he murmured. “I’m sorry…so sorry. Please come back to me…”
Chapter Eighteen
The nightmare of the two-headed monster had finally turned into something more pleasant. She was rocking on a warm sea, floating above the waves as her hair swayed in the currents and a strong hand supported her.
Charlie thought about telling the owner of the hand that she was fine—that she was an excellent swimmer and didn’t need help. But she found she liked the feeling of being held and supported. It was…nice and so unexpected. She’d never had anyone she could depend on for support—not since Missy left. And she had the feeling that whoever was supporting her really cared—at least, if the gentleness of their touch was any indication.
The warm waves lapping in her ears obscured most other sounds. But after a little while, she became aware of a low, masculine voice murmuring something.
“Charlotte,” the voice said. “I’m so sorry—please come back to me. Please, Charlotte…”
Charlotte? Nobody calls me that, she wanted to tell him. Everybody calls me Charlie except…
Except Stavros—the big Kindred who was her partner on this mission.
Charlie’s eyes flew open and she saw him kneeling over her, a look of concern and remorse on his face.
“Stavros? What’s going on?”
She struggled to rise but she was being weighted down by something wet and heavy. Looking down the length of her own body, she realized it was the furry nightgown which was now both completely waterlogged and totally see-through.
“Oh, my God!” Feeling incredibly vulnerable, she tried to cover herself with her hands. “Why do you have me naked in the bath?”
“It was the only way to raise your core temperature,” he said quickly. “And you are not naked—you still have your sleeping gown on.”
“Which is now completely see-through,” she pointed out. “I might as well be naked.”
“Well, you’re going to have to be in a minute,” he rumbled grimly. “At least until we can get you something else to wear. You can’t keep that damn thing on with the temperature so low in here—you’ll freeze to death. And you’ve already attempted that once tonight.”
&nbs
p; “I…nearly froze?” His words sent a shiver down her back.
Stavros nodded. “If you hadn’t had a nightmare and started screaming, I never would have checked on you until morning. By then…” He swallowed hard, his voice coming out low and rough. “By then it would’ve been too late.”
“Well, I feel much better now.” She tried to sit up again and this time she actually managed it. The minute she did, she started to shiver. Even with the hot water running, the air in the bathroom was incredibly cold.
“Wait, you can’t do that until I get a towel ready. And you’d better get out of that wet gown too.”
“A-all r-r-right.” Her teeth were chattering which made it hard to talk.
“I’ll help you.” He made a move towards her but she drew back.
“I’m f-fine—I can d-do it myself. D-don’t look.”
Charlie knew it was a ridiculous request—he’d already seen everything there was to see through the damn gown. But she couldn’t help it—she felt vulnerable when she was naked and she was well aware that she probably wasn’t looking her best right now.
Without comment, Stavros considerately turned away while she stood shakily, stepped out of the tub, and began to pull off with the wet gown. But the heavy, soaked material clung to her stubbornly and refused to be peeled off, no matter how hard she tried. Every time she got part of it up, it slithered back down again—it was almost like the damn thing was alive and didn’t want to leave her alone!
At last Charlie stood there, trembling with fatigue, the icy, wet gown still clinging to her. Her heart was pounding and her legs were shaking and she was so cold she was miserable.
“Charlotte?” He was still turned away from her but the big Kindred’s voice carried just fine in the small bathroom. “Do you need some help?”
“I…” She didn’t want to admit it but she didn’t know what else to do. “It’s l-like this d-damn thing is a-alive,” she said, her teeth still chattering. “D-doesn’t want to let g-go of me.”
“Possibly it’s some kind of a tharp.” Stavros sounded thoughtful.
“What’s a—”
“I can feel your fatigue and weariness and you must be getting cold again. Will you please let me help you?”
Charlie sighed, defeated. “A-all right,” she whispered. “But hurry, ok-kay? I’m really c-cold.”
“I know. We’ll get this done quickly,” he promised, turning around. Reaching down, he grasped the sopping hem of the gown and pulled upward, trying to pull it up and over her head.
The gown fought him. It tightened around her body until Charlie gasped for breath and pounded him frantically on the shoulder.
“C-can’t…squeezing…me,” she managed to gasp out.
“Seven Hells,” he growled and dropped the hem. At once it loosened its grip on her—but not by much.
“Th-this is r-ridiculous.” Charlie looked down at the waterlogged gown. It was so cold she was certain ice crystals would start forming in the wet fur at any moment. “F-freaking furry boa constrictor,” she muttered resentfully. “C-crazy.” It reminded her of the strange, shrinking panties she’d had on in the weird dream she’d had aboard the Mother Ship. Not that she wanted to remember that—especially not right now.
Stavros was standing back, his hands on his hips and his eyes narrowed as though considering the problem. At last he looked at Charlie.
“Do you trust me?”
“Um…w-why?” She wasn’t certain she liked the look in his eyes.
“I think I can get this thing off you but I don’t want to startle you. And I don’t want to say too much out loud as I am not certain if it is sentient or not.”
“Oh, you don’t want to spill the beans in c-case my f-furry friend can understand w-what we s-say?”
He nodded. “So I need you to trust me.”
Charlie looked down at herself. What choice did she have? She was stuck in the icy , soaking wet gown and she was getting colder by the minute. She had to get it off before it either froze or squeezed her to death. Reluctantly, she nodded.
“Ok-kay. Do it,”
“Thank you.” Without giving any further explanation, Stavros stepped close to her and lowered his face to the neckline of the dress, which happened to be right between her breasts.
Charlie felt his hot breath against her sensitive flesh and was about to protest when she saw a flash of his fangs. What the hell—is he biting through the damn thing? Apparently so because the dress began to squeeze her again, as if protesting the rough treatment.
“Stavros,” she gasped. “Stav! It’s—”
“Don’t worry.” He gripped the top of the dress, curing his long fingers in the constricting material and gave a violent yank.
There was a low ripping sound and the fur dress parted right down the middle, gaping open to show her breasts and thighs and pussy. Charlie barely had time to gasp before he was behind her, grasping the back of the fur gown and pulling it sharply off her shoulders, like an overenthusiastic butler.
She gave a little cry when the thing was finally off and sank to her knees on the cold metal floor.
“Here.” Stav threw the ruined gown into the corner where it landed in a sodden heap. He gripped Charlie’s shoulders and propelled her upward, getting her back into the bathtub. Then he turned on the shower and pushed her into the hot water that came gushing out.
“Ahh…” Charlie lifted her face to the warmth. Finally her teeth stopped chattering as she began to thaw. It felt so good to be warm again!
Then the water turned to ice.
“Oh—aigh!” she gasped, backing away quickly. “Cut it off! It’s freezing!”
Stavros stuck in a hand to see and frowned.
“What in the Seven Hells?” he muttered, fiddling with the temperature gauge. But they had apparently used up their supply of hot water—and long before Charlie had gotten warm through again.
The big Kindred shut off the water and held out a towel to her instead.
“Come out,” he ordered. “We can’t let you stay wet—not now that there’s no more hot water.”
Charlie hopped out of the tub and allowed him to wrap her in the large white towel. But though it dried her off, it didn’t warm her a bit. Soon her teeth were chattering again.
Stavros was frowning at her, a worried expression on his face.
“Come on,” he said at last, taking her by the hand.
“W-where are we g-going?” Charlie demanded, hanging back.
“To the bed. To warm you up.”
“What? N-no!” she protested, dragging her feet.
He threw her a swift glance over his shoulder.
“If you’re concerned that I will try and take advantage of you in your unclothed state, please don’t worry. “I swear by the Goddess that I have only your health and safety in mind.”
“N-no, it’s not that,” Charlie protested. “It’s the f-fact that the d-damn bed’s a bl-block of ice!”
It was true. As cold as she already was, she didn’t think she could face getting between those icy sheets and lying on that morgue slab of a mattress. It was too much.
“Don’t worry,” Stavros rumbled, pulling her onward. “You won’t be lying on the bed—you’ll be lying on me.”
Before she could protest, he had spread up the bed with a rapid jerk of the sheets and blankets. Then he climbed between the sheets and lay on his back. “Come on.” He beckoned to her. “And leave the wet towels—they’ll just make you colder.
“I—” Charlie didn’t know what to say. Should she crawl naked into bed with a man she barely knew, a man who was her partner in a serious sting operation? No, you sure as hell shouldn’t! whispered a little voice in her head. “I d-don’t want t-to,” she said at last.
He raised an eyebrow at her. “You’d rather freeze to death?”
“N-no but—”
“Then this is the only option.” He raised himself on one elbow. “Unless you’d like to drink some of my blood?”
“What?” Charlie wasn’t sure she’d heard him correctly. “D-drink your what?”
He sighed impatiently. “I’ll explain it if you’ll come here.” His voice dropped to a low, pleading tone. “Please, Charlotte—I promise not to do anything improper. But I do not wish to see you freeze to death and this is the only way I can warm you up.”
“I just…don’t kn-now.”
“If you’re worried about me seeing you unclothed, we can fix that. Lights dim,” he rumbled. Immediately the room, which had been at least minimally lit before, was plunged into semi-darkness.
Charlie still hesitated. But the damp towels around her body were rapidly becoming as icy and clinging as the gown had been and her skin was covered in goose bumps. Did she want to do this? No. Did she need to? Unfortunately, yes, she told herself. Don’t think about it—just do it. As fast as you can.
Stavros was still holding the covers open for her invitingly, a waiting expression on his face. Taking a deep breath, Charlie dropped the towels and scrambled into bed with him as fast as she could.
“Good,” Stavros rumbled. “Now come here.”
Before she could squeak out a protest, he lifted her up as though she weighed no more than a rag doll and deposed her face down on top of him so that they were chest to chest.
“Um…” Charlie squirmed uncomfortably, aware that her bare breasts were pressed against his broad chest.
“Please don’t do that.” Stavros’s deep voice sounded strained. “This is difficult enough as it is.”
“You think it’s difficult for you—” Charlie began and then she became aware of a long, hard ridge pressing against her lower belly. Oh… Abruptly she stopped squirming around and tried to lay still.
“That’s better,” he rumbled and put his arms around her. “Now try to relax. You should warm up soon.”