Slade

  “Do you think we’ll be found by your people tomorrow?”

  Slade hesitated. “I don’t know, Doc.”

  “I have a first name, you know. It’s Trisha. Would it kill you to use it?”

  Silence. “It wouldn’t kill me.”

  Trisha took a deep breath. She’d had a hellish day, didn’t feel well, her body ached, and hunger clawed at her belly. Her frustration level rose. “But you won’t use it, will you? Why do you go out of your way to try to annoy me? What did I ever do to you?”

  Long minutes of silence passed. Trisha shook her head, guessing he wasn’t going to answer. A hand touched her arm and she jumped, startled. She hadn’t expected that at all.

  “Let’s lie down. We should sleep a few hours while we can.”

  “What if they find us? Should we take shifts sleeping while one of us keeps guard?”

  “No. We’re downwind from them. I’d smell them if they were near enough to us for them to reach us that soon. I’m going to lie down next to you. You can use me for a pillow, Doc. You need my body heat to stay warm.”

  “No thanks.”

  She heard him either snort or chuckle but wasn’t sure which. “It’s getting pretty cold and the ground is hard, Doc. When you get tired of both you can curl up to me. Good night.”

  His hand left Trisha and he stretched out next to her because his body settled against part of her thigh. Her vision adjusted somewhat until she could nearly make out his shape on the ground. The wind blew colder as time passed. Trisha settled down, moving a few inches away from Slade. She turned on her side and used her arm as a pillow. Hunger and exhaustion nagged at her. As she lay there another problem arose.

  “Slade?”

  “What?”

  “I have to use the bathroom.”

  He sighed. “Fine.” He sat up. “Give me your hand and I’ll lead you somewhere farther downwind.”

  “Why?”

  He hesitated. “I don’t want to smell urine. I really don’t want to be downwind if you have to do more than that.”

  “Oh.” She blushed. She’d never thought of that.

  He gently pulled Trisha to her feet and she followed him. He walked about twenty feet before stopping. “You can go right here. I’ll go about fifteen feet away. I may as well go while you’re at it.”

  “How do I know you won’t watch?”

  He suddenly laughed. “I’m perverse but that doesn’t do it for me, Doc. I’ll be back real soon so hurry.”

  It had been fifteen years since Trisha had been camping. She unfastened her slacks and dropped her pants. Being blind didn’t help. She prayed that Slade really wasn’t somewhere he could see her. She heard something faintly and smiled. She envied him being a man at that moment. She quickly finished up and righted her clothes. She stepped a few feet forward and waited.

  “Hope you don’t wipe with your hand,” he snorted softly. “Tell me now if you did and I don’t take that one.”

  “I didn’t.” Trisha sighed. “You are just sick. Did anyone ever tell you that? Who would do that?”

  He laughed. “I don’t know but I wanted to make sure.” He clasped her hand in his and led her back to their resting spot. “Good night, Doc.”

  “Stop calling me that. It’s Trisha. Why won’t you say my name? What did I ever do to you to make you not like me so much?”

  Silence.

  Anger gripped her. “I’ll keep talking if you don’t answer me. I thought you wanted to get some sleep.”

  “You wouldn’t dare. I saved your life by carrying you for miles on my back today.”

  “I totally would. Tell me what I did to deserve you not even saying my name. I want an answer. You have no idea how annoying it is. I’m going to start calling you 215 if you don’t knock it off or at least explain to me why you feel the need to make me mad.”

  A growl tore through the silence of the night. Trisha instantly knew she’d gone too far. She had known it the second the words passed her lips but it was too late to take it back. She’d read somewhere that all the New Species absolutely hated being called by their file numbers. She hadn’t meant to really insult him. She’d only thought it would annoy him the way he did her by calling her anything but her name.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.” Her voice softened. “I just want to know why you refuse to say my name.”

  Pain lanced through Slade at the reminder of his past. Anger quickly followed. Is that how she viewed him every time she looked at him? As a victim? As the half-wild creature he’d been when he’d awoken inside the hospital room assuming she’d just been new enough to the testing facility to be foolish enough to remove his restraints? Usually, given an opportunity, he would have instantly killed a human male but she’d been female.

  He’d never kill a female. He’d grabbed her instead. Even half out of it, he hadn’t wanted to harm her. Once he had her body pinned under his, her scent had filled his nose, and he’d peered into those incredible eyes, her pouty lips, and his body had roared to life. He’d wanted her more than any woman he’d ever touched.

  He’d wanted to keep her for as long as possible. Enjoy every inch of her and make her burn with the passion he felt. He would have gone days without food or water just to know her body. To possess something so wonderful and forbidden. Any punishment would have been worth the cost of pleasuring them both until they couldn’t move. Then and only then, he’d have released her from his arms. The memory of the time they shared could have lasted him for years when his mind threatened to break from the pain and agony he suffered on a regular basis.

  Of course it hadn’t gone the way he’d planned. He’d been in for a shock when more humans rushed into the room to pin him down, his reflexes slowed by the drugs in his system, and he’d awoken to discover his world changed forever. He no longer was locked inside his cell, no longer chained to a wall, and the scents around him assured him that nothing was familiar. They kept him restrained but he understood why it had been necessary. He wouldn’t have attacked them but he would have tried to flee.

  Four females in uniforms had leaned against the wall of the hospital room to inform him he’d been rescued, his people freed, and they’d slowly explained he needed to calm down. They’d shown him videos on a little machine of more of his people, taped footage of the rescue, and sworn no harm would befall him. It had taken time for it to sink in that they were telling him the truth. The shock had staggered him. The females meant no harm, they didn’t work for Mercile, and that life no longer existed.

  He’d been transferred from the hospital to a remote motel in the desert with dozens of his people. All female military officers had been assigned to protect them at the secured location. Humans had quickly assessed that New Species males wouldn’t attack human females and had used that as a way to assure they didn’t feel threatened. It had worked. The females hadn’t even carried guns except for the ones who patrolled the perimeters to keep humans away.

  The U.S. Government had promised them a place of their own, where their people could live safely from the press and from other humans who viewed them as a threat. They’d read books, watched television, and talked to humans who answered all their questions. The months spent in the desert waiting for such a place to finish construction had calmed them, assured them that they had human rights, and his new life had begun at Homeland. He’d gone from being a test subject to a man. The Doc obviously didn’t agree. To her, he’d always be 215.

  It hurt. All he’d wanted was to have her view him as a sexual male, her equal, and he’d messed that up for good by insulting her by not recognizing her when he met her again. She obviously didn’t have forgiveness in her heart. The pain turned to anger quickly. Damn her. If any male deserves some leeway, it is me.

  The memory of touching her, tasting her skin, and the scent of her arousal flashed. She might not think of him as a man but her body could be persuaded otherwise. Lust and desire gripped him hard. Maybe she just needed to be taught withou
t her mind mucking up the truth. He moved before he could talk himself out of the crazy idea.

  Two hands suddenly grabbed Trisha by her shoulders. Slade took her to the ground, flat on her back, and suddenly ended up on top of her. Trisha struggled but she couldn’t get him off her. He pinned her down with his body. She opened her mouth but his hand clamped over it.

  “Are you going to scream and tell those murderers where we are? Sound can carry a long way.”

  She had planned on yelling at him. She shook her head against his palm. The hand instantly released her. Trisha pushed at Slade.

  “Get off me right now,” she hissed.

  “Do you want to know why I won’t say your name, Trisha?” He spoke softly to her, almost whispered.

  She swallowed, surprised that he’d finally uttered her name. “Why?”

  “It gets under your skin the way you get under mine all the time. I think it’s only fair if I annoy you as much as you do me.”

  “How do I annoy you? You’re the one who’s always got some smartass remark to say and who constantly makes some sexually rude comment.”

  “You’re the one I want to fuck so bad you make me ache.” He growled at her. “That’s more annoying than me shooting my mouth off, Doc. Trust me. I don’t make you so hard that you worry about busting out of your pants. You do that to me.”

  His words left her speechless. She’d never expected that answer from him in a million years. Out of all the things he could have said, those things wouldn’t have even made her list.

  With his traumatic history she could see him hating anyone in the medical profession. She also thought he might think her a snob because people always accused her of being standoffish. She didn’t mean to be but she just didn’t know how to relate to people.

  “Nothing to say now, Doc?”

  She didn’t know what to say.

  Slade growled. “You’re one cold bitch. I wonder sometimes if you ever heat up.” He paused. “Do you ever warm up even a little?”

  “I’m not cold.”

  “Really? You fool me all the time.”

  “That’s not fair of you to even say. You don’t really know me. We’ve barely spoken unless it’s to insult each other or say something rude.”

  “Ummm.” He shifted. “Warm up for me, Doc.”

  Trisha gasped when Slade arched his stomach away from her body. His hand slid between them and fisted her shirt. She tried to grab it but Slade moved faster. He yanked the material all the way up her body to her neck and pushed away her frantic hands. His finger hooked the edge of her bra cup and gave it a yank. Trisha’s breast was freed to the chilly air that hit her skin.

  “Nice,” Slade growled before his mouth lowered.

  Trisha pushed frantically at Slade’s broad chest until his mouth closed over her hardened nipple. She gasped at the shocking feel of hot lips and wet, rough tongue when Slade gently sucked the tip of her breast into his mouth. He growled, causing vibrations. Trisha froze, ceasing her struggles. It was an erotic feeling, something she’d never experienced before, and then Slade suckled on her with hard tugs.

  Trisha’s stomach quivered and she couldn’t stop the moan that came from her parted lips. The sensation of what he did to her felt amazing. She arched her chest upward against his face to give him better access and at the same time realized she wasn’t pushing at his chest anymore. Her fingers clutched the material of his NSO uniform to keep him close instead.

  Slade sucked harder and his teeth rubbed against her sensitive nipple. Trisha moaned louder. She found his hair and dug her fingers around his scalp, holding his head in place. Her heart raced and she knew her body responded in a shocking manor when desire nearly burned her alive.

  Slade’s other hand shoved at her thigh when he lifted his body off her enough to put a little space between them. He pushed against it to spread her thighs wider. She gasped as his hand cupped between her spread legs under him. He pressed his thumb against the center of her slacks and rubbed firmly right over her clit. She reacted instantly as the sensation tore through her body.

  “Yes,” she moaned.

  Slade froze, his entire body stiffening over hers. His hand tore away from her sex at the same instant he released her breast with his mouth. Cold air hit her bare, wet nipple as he jerked away from her. Trisha’s eyes flew open and she tried to see him in the dark but he was just a dark shadow above her.

  “You do warm up,” he rasped so softly she almost didn’t hear him.

  “Slade?” Her voice came out shaky and breathless.

  He uttered a vicious curse and rolled away from Trisha. His shadowy form stood. She pushed upward, wincing at the sudden pain that tore through her shoulder. She stared in shock at his fading outline as he backed away from her. She barely remembered her bared breast and reached down to fix her bra. She shoved down her shirt to cover it.

  “I’ll be back,” he stated harshly. “I’m going to make sure no one is near us.”

  “But…”

  Trisha closed her mouth. She trembled and her body ached. That son of a bitch. Anger poured through her. He’d purposely turned her on and stormed away, leaving her to deal with the rejection. That’s exactly what it had been. She’d practically begged him to take her. She may not have said the words but her body had done the talking for her.

  “Bastard,” she cursed.

  Trisha lay back down. Her body tingled in all the wrong places. Her breasts felt unbelievably heavy and the one he’d touched had become so oversensitive that her bra cup against it nearly hurt. She clenched her teeth. She’d change her underwear if she had a spare set since hers were soaked from sexual desire. She turned on her side and drew her knees up to huddle in a tight ball.

  That bastard! she silently screamed. He’d turned her on just see if he could.

  She attempted to find a comfortable position on the hard, cold ground. She should have gone through her clothes that had been spread out around the crashed SUV to find a long-sleeved shirt but it had been warm during the day. She shivered and huddled tighter. Forever seemed to pass and Slade didn’t return.

  Eventually fear set in. Has he just abandoned me here? Has something happened to him? Did those men find him? Tears welled in her eyes but she fought them back, blinking rapidly to accomplish it. With my luck he’ll come back in time to find me crying.

  He hated tears. She had seen him react to Bart’s pain and she had a pretty good idea that most New Species didn’t have a lot of patience with weakness. They’d had very harsh lives and it had been instilled in them over the many years of captivity they’d endured that weaknesses were bad. She’d bet her life Slade didn’t ever cry.

  Chapter Five

  Slade watched the camp grimly. The humans were closer than he wished but far enough away to assure him they wouldn’t catch them quickly. He’d keep moving throughout the night but Trisha wasn’t New Species. She’d need to rest with her weaker human body.

  She hadn’t complained but he’d noticed her fatigue. He had to admit to feeling a certain amount of pride at how well she’d taken the stress of the situation. Humans weren’t very tough but she’d been brave. It made him want her more.

  His cock finally softened enough for him to move without pain. His teeth clenched. He’d nearly taken her body on the dirt. He’d have become the animal she probably believed him to be when he fucked her like one on the ground.

  The taste of her sweet kiss and the feel of her plush curves against his body had driven him to near insanity. She deserved more than a quick coupling on the ground. He may be part animal but she wasn’t. Human females expected certain things from males. A soft bed, a romantic setting and maybe candles. He’d be damned before he allowed his instincts and desire to drive him to do something else he’d regret.

  He needed to stay in control until they were safe. Once they returned to Homeland, he’d seduce Trisha in a bed, inside a home, in a secure location where danger didn’t lurk. He’d take his time, strip her slowly, and
explore every inch of her until her need grew as strong as his. Then he’d make love to her. Gently, do his best to pretend he could be more human than he actually was, for her sake.

  He sniffed the air, the smell of smoke nearly making him sneeze, and slowly withdrew from the area. He’d left Trisha longer than he’d intended to. He’d had to make certain he had his desire under control before he touched her again. Otherwise all his good intentions would be forgotten.

  He’d been an ass when her body had curled against his. Restraint wasn’t his strongest asset but he’d try for her. She deserved a male who could respect her human needs. Those being a bed to have sex in and to have it at the appropriate time.

  They’d have to leave before the sun rose. Trisha being in danger wasn’t acceptable to him. Justice would have teams searching for them by now. The humans may have to wait until the sun rose to mount a rescue mission but New Species were already tracking them. He knew that as well as he knew the tempting feminine scent he followed right back to Trisha.

  He spotted her huddled form on the ground, a snarl rose in his throat that he had to force down to muffle, not enjoying how cold she appeared. He’d left her for too long. Was there anything he could do right when it came to her? It seemed not. His stride quickened in his need to warm her and make certain she survived the night.

  Calm down, he ordered his body. Act natural so you don’t frighten her.

  Something rustled, sounding similar to crunching leaves being shifted. Trisha tensed but didn’t move as she listened. She only heard the wind in the trees above her. Her fear spiked when she saw something move close to her. It was big, man-sized, and drawing near.