He started and she realized that she'd caught him completely off guard by her verbal change of direction. She surprised other people all the time, why was it not the same with him? One more puzzle, she sighed, and concentrated on her rumpled appearance. Her eyes were dilated, her lips, red and slightly swollen and her hair looked like it barely survived a close encounter with a wind tunnel. Her cheeks flushed a rosy pink. Everyone would take one look and know what she and her cat man had been up to. How embarra.s.sing! As she came out of the bathroom, she noticed Zorroc regarding her carefully as if she'd become a complicated matrix he couldn't solve. Could it be he wasn't as confident as he pretended; because if there was one thing she excelled at, it was putting people at ease and making them feel accepted and comfortable. She didn't want him unsure when she held the power to ease him. Smiling brightly, she grabbed his arm; propelled him toward the panel and proceeded to babble all the way to the transhift pad.

Angel and Dee had obviously arrived well before she and Zorroc because while Angel stared fixedly at Carpov, locked in suspended animation, Dee was advancing on Prolinc, screeching as she went. "How dare you malign me you over-grown, over-bearing, over-egoed, autocratic, furry fathead."

Accompanying each adjective with a firm poke of her finger to his chest. Prolinc had frozen into statue mode with no expression at all showing on his chiseled features.

Time to act. "Well, hi everyone, I see we're all getting to know one another. Communicating with new friends is always so invigorating, don't you agree, Angel? And being polite and respectful are important, as well, when you are a guest in someone else's s.p.a.ce ship and about to be transported home, huh Dee," she annunciated loudly toward her friend. Dee blinked twice then looked down at her finger, still planted solidly in Prolinc's chest, and paled. She slowly raised her head to look into his eyes and gingerly lowered her hand, never breaking eye contact.

What did she think he was going to do, bite her? Hiss at her? Cat glanced at Zorroc to see what he made of the situation and found him block still, as well. Could it be a common Gattonian trait, this popsicle inpersonation? She couldn't figure out if the point involved calming their prey into complacency by not making any sudden moves or a fear that they'd explode into action if they moved one tiny muscle. Then she peered into Zorroc's eyes to discover that it was taking all his considerable control to keep from laughing. Dee stepped back carefully, and asked if everyone was ready to leave, still not taking her gaze from Prolinc's.

"Well, I'm ready, that's for sure." Cat replied, ready to get her friends to safety. Zorroc fastened his eyes on her and she recognized his intentions before he opened his mouth. When he did, she cut him off exclaiming, "Oh, look at the time, I can't come with you guys, after all, Zorroc and I have a hot date this evening, don't we, sweetums." She beamed in a fake manner managing to both hug and push her friends toward the trans-pad.

"We will accompany you down." Prolinc told them; the first words out of his mouth since Cat arrived five minutes before. She waved as Angel in Carpov's arms and a subdued Dee in Prolinc's, disappeared.

"I've known that woman for more than eighteen years and I have never seen her lose control in such a personal, in your face manner. I wonder what he did to her." She tilted her head up and looked quizzically at Zorroc.

"Prolinc can be overbearing from time to time," Zorroc admitted, eyes dancing. "Over bearing, furry fathead," he quoted, "I thought he would split in two. None of our people would address him so; he is much feared and respected. I have not witnessed anything so amusing in a great while." He began to chuckle. "And I have rarely seen him at such a loss, I think earth females will be very good for Prolinc, you can be very entertaining creatures. Now come, little Cat, I must feed you. When I touched you this afternoon, I noticed you need more weight. You have not been caring for yourself as you should," he remonstrated. Cat groaned, talk about overbearing, furry, fathead.

The week pa.s.sed quickly for Cat. She transported down to her job in the mornings, to make final arrangements for the Sci-fi Convention, then spent a few hours at Habi-Cat doing paperwork and playing with her charges. After that, she visited her aunts and scooped up more clothes, then met Zorroc. The aunts concerned her. They'd always been somewhat on the nosy side, interested in her movements and lack of love life. Now she spent each night away from home, clothes for the next day in hand, never returning them, and what was their reaction? Not a peep, not a squeak, not a question.

They babbled on just like normal, glad to see her when she came home, and waved goodbye merrily when she left. Maybe her alien friends had some sort of mind-muddle capability; maybe her aunts didn't even realize she wasn't there at night. If Zorroc had done something further to confuse their already less than crisp minds she'd...she'd...well she'd think of something.

She'd specify her family and friends off limits to the Gattonians or all agreements were off. Thinking of agreements made her think of the nights. She sighed. He held her each night, wrapping her in a coc.o.o.n of languid sensuality that stayed with her through the day. He touched her everywhere, controlling her every response, playing her and making her aware of her body for the first time, and then drifted off to sleep leaving her restless and unfulfilled. She happened to know lovemaking entailed more than that. This was the twenty-first century and Angel had done a graphic job of explaining things to her. So, why did he stop? Had he changed his mind about her now that she was no longer a challenge? Maybe, she'd become no more than a toy, and as with all cats, they played hard, devoting it their full attention, then walked away, bored, knowing it would be there when they decided to play again. How did you extricate yourself from a situation that you, yourself, instigated? He probably feared she'd make a scene and cry all over his uniform again. Men hated it when women cried. Maybe that's what changed his mind, after he'd had a chance to think about it. She exhaled a frustrated breath; when it came to the man woman thing, hopeless didn't even begin to cover her inept.i.tude. Well, she'd see Angel and Dee at Grumpy's the following evening; maybe they could shed some light on the incomprehensible male psyche.

She was mind-blasting him, he snarled verbally, leaning against a wall a half a block away, waiting for her to notice him. Who could follow her female logic? He knew she had some, he could read it at times, but then her reasoning would take a hard right and lose reality faster than a rodent fleeing a tornika, leaving in its wake the most convoluted scatterbrained muddle he never wanted to mind read. He had discovered she had never been held or touched, even as a child. What could her parents, Rowan and Nancia, have been thinking to leave their child abandoned and needy; every animal needed nurturing, no matter the species. When he saw them next, they would not be at all pleased to see him.

She obviously had misunderstood his motives for not yet taking her. She needed to learn that to fully appreciate lovemaking, she had to be more attuned to her body, and attuned to his as well. Lovemaking required two equal partners, each responsible for the other's pleasure. He could not have her swooning whenever she approached climax; she would never experience the best part. He had taught her how to be touched; tonight he would show her how to touch him. He had exhausted his self control almost beyond endurance in the last few days, and it would only become worse from here on out. He grunted; she did not even appreciate his sacrifice. Someday he would torture her beyond endurance and then she would understand and be grateful for his selflessness. Imagining how he would accomplish this made his already too tight jeans even tighter. He groaned again and went to claim his disordered little flame.

Zorroc looked very uncomfortable as he gingerly moved toward her. He'd been injured, she realized, rushing up to support him. "What's happened, where are you hurt, where is a good bodyguard when you need one? Don't worry, I can protect you, I'm very handy at martial arts," she prattled as she whipped her head around in all directions looking for danger or a.s.sistance. She would be prepared for both.

"It is nothing, sweet one, but let us go quickly, I must shed these earth torture vessels," he extruded through clenched teeth. "We are prepared, Prolinc, transhift quickly." A soft chuckle sounded in his head.

She awoke on their platmat feeling rested and relaxed but noting Zorroc's absence like a tangible thing. She now sensed whenever he was near, though she didn't know exactly when it had started. She supposed their lessons had sensitized her to his presence, somehow. Then she recalled with a heart-thud, he'd been hurt earlier that evening, where would he be? The Med-center, she decided, as she shot off the mat, bee-lined to the clothes cove, rushed to the bathroom to freshen up, and then barreled toward the exit panel.

"What is she doing?" Prolinc asked, as they lounged in the COM room watching in fascination as Cat bounded off the platmat and started charging around the room bouncing off surfaces as fast as any pinball. The two had been conferring on the days ahead after Zorroc had placed Cat on their mat following transhift.

"I cannot tell," Zorroc replied lazily, "she has short-circuited again; I cannot read her when that happens."

"Does she always dart around so quickly, how do you keep her still long enough to have her?" He glanced sideways with a large feline grin to see if he had hit his mark.

"Let me out of here this instant!" the COM shrieked, startling both males from their seats. "I still say she is mind-blasted, we had better let her out before she hurts herself, " Prolinc muttered as he opened her panel.

"I will retrieve her, " Zorroc announced unnecessarily, already moving down the hall. She collided with him almost immediately and started spouting a barrage of unintelligible sounds at the sight of him, burrowing into him and hugging him so tight it felt like she was trying to crawl inside of him. He figured out why in the next instant. Since he could not mind-read her, he had to rely on her garbled cacophony. Ah, he had it; she woke up worried about him, she thought he had been injured and panicked when she found him missing. He decided he liked this side of his little pinball and began crooning that he had not been hurt; his pants had merely become snug; she had misunderstood. He lifted her and carried her back to their quarters, looking forward to what was to come; he just hoped his rod did not get so hard it snapped off.

She still felt disembodied and disoriented when she arrived at Grumpy's the usual time. Her lesson with Zorroc the night before had aligned things in to much better perspective and she could barely wait for the next one. She glanced up and saw Dee and Angel, both early, with drinks in hand, staring at her with undisguised concern. What now? Time to crash back to reality, but it had been heaven while it lasted. "This is unprecedented, ladies, what gives..." Her voice trailed off, as she got closer. Something dreadful had occurred, had she just stumbled onto her own demise?

Angel addressed the bartender. "A round of doubles Todd, but bring them to the corner table over there," motioning to a table in the back, "we need privacy. Move." This last directed at Cat.

"We have several issues to discuss so let's get to it," Dee began. "Why you?" Two pair of eyes pinned her with grim purpose.

Cat looked back, puzzled, who had kidnapped her best friends and replaced them with the interrogation team from The Matrix, and what were they talking about? Cat glanced around uneasily.

"Why you?" Dee repeated. "Out of all the people on this vast planet, why choose you? We love you and think you're special, but what do the Gattonians want with you?" she probed taking a large pull of her Margarita.

Suddenly, Cat felt sick to her stomach; they had an undeniable point. Why hadn't she been asking herself that same question? She'd already had numerous talks with herself wondering at Zorroc's interest. Why hadn't she taken it one step further and questioned the Gattonian motive, as well; sucker punched, by her naivete and lack of awareness. What an unqualified twit. Angel and Dee looked at her with love-laced pity and a pinch of wariness but those wouldn't help her now. "Okay, I'll bite, why me?" she returned and waited.

"Let's logic it out, but before we can do that we need more information; explain the circ.u.mstances precipitating your initial contact with Zorroc, " Angel proposed coolly perusing the area for stray cat men.

Cat thought back and tried to organize her thoughts, not an easy thing to do when her entire reality had exploded in her face, once again. "H-he was standing about two feet from the rear b.u.mper of my car, as still as a statue, I remember because I thought not even a hair on his head moved. I realize now that he was totally focused on me.

"Remember how Prolinc remained absolutely still while you poked away at his chest?" she glanced at Dee and took a sip of her Margarita that had just arrived. Dee nodded and motioned her to continue. "Well, when I saw Prolinc, it reminded me of Zorroc that first night and I recalled thinking it must be a Gattonian thing inherent in their nature; something they do, either not to lose control of themselves or because they don't want to startle their prey." The three looked at each other uncomfortably.

"But you have an excellent point, why me? I am an unwanted child with no real place in the world; I'm not rich, not famous, not a scientist or doctor, not much of anything. So, maybe it was just a fluke and I happened to be in the right place at the right time, or maybe the wrong place come to think of it." Angel and Dee both shook their heads.

"Could they be after your parents, and thought kidnapping you would be a good way to secure them?" Angel prodded, continuing to scan the room. Cat shook her head. "That makes no sense. If they were interested in getting to my parents through me, why not lock me in a room and send a COM? These guys are totally focused on this mission. I believe them about their women. I've overheard them numerous times planning for the conference tomorrow down to the finest detail. Trust me, they are serious. Maybe Zorroc's just hot for my body," she quipped trying to lighten the mood. They merely stared at her. "All right the part about the body is a stretch."

Dee's head snapped up, her gaze boring into Cat's. "When have you been around them? You've been at work everyday, I know because we've talked to your aunts and they a.s.sured us you were just working hard and would call us when you got a moment or connect with us today."

Oh, spit.

"Well, I've been going to work then home to visit with the aunts, and after picking up some things, reporting back to the ship. In the mornings, they simply transport me back to work. It's worked pretty smoothly, actually." Surveying the room, she noticed how quiet it had become. She glanced nonchalantly at her friends, and then jerked her head back for a closer look. They were absolutely still, d.a.m.n if they didn't look just like cat men.

Dee blinked. "You've been spending the night up there every night; why would you want to do that? He's not forcing you is he, has he threatened you in any way?" She fired a look at Angel and finished. "We are going to neuter that 'tom' if he's laid a hand on you; tell us you're not sleeping with him."

This definitely called for a strong come back if she wanted to save Zorroc's private parts, she smiled secretly, and they certainly deserved saving. "Back off. I'm a twenty-six year old woman, perfectly capable of choosing whom I sleep with, but as it happens, we haven't done that; he's just giving me lessons."

"What's he teaching you, the violin?" Angel mused, this was getting interesting, she'd been doing a lot of day dreaming about Carpov, maybe she could get him to give her lessons, surely she had something left to learn.

"What have you told the aunts, certainly they would want to know where you disappear to every evening? Do they know you're popping off to a s.p.a.ce ship to do the dirty with an Egyptian Cat G.o.d every night?" Dee spurted, getting more worried, scared, and confused by the moment. Her intuition wailed like a siren for her to grab her friends and run as far as they could get, but an opposing force told her time had all ready expired; they were doomed. A thick blanket of dread settled around Dee and she knew the truth. Her sixth sense rarely misled her. She also intuited the Gattonians closing in fast. She had to try. "We need to leave here now, if we don't, none of us will have a prayer of escape, you know I'm seldom wrong when I get one of these feelings, now move."

Cat jumped up like she'd been whoopee-cushioned, "You two go ahead; he'l find me no matter where I go. It will be much safer for you if we don't see each other again. I'm not sure he'd let you go a second time. I just wanted a chance to say goodbye and that I love you and will miss you, now go while you can. And stay away from the conference this weekend." She shoved her friends toward the back exit like the hounds of h.e.l.l pursued them.

The Gattonians came in the front entrance as she reentered from the back. She walked calmly to her table, acting as if she had visited the restroom. Todd eyed the five suspiciously. When she sat down, they flanked her on all sides; Zorroc spoke first, of course. "Where are your friends, Catarina, we came to join you for a drink."

How could he purr and talk at the same time, she pondered idly.

"They had a pressing engagement and had to run. You'll see them at the conference tomorrow."

He gave her a knowing look that said you're lying. How did he do that, she sighed, "I knew you'd arrive soon and want to collect me."

"And what do you want, Catarina?" he purred again, beginning to make her very nervous.

"I want some very specific answers to some very interesting questions, so I suggest we blow this Margaritaville, big guys." With that, she stood up, grabbed her purse, and moved toward the exit. Todd called her name, willing to intervene if she asked. She just waved.

G.o.d save testosterone.

Chapter Five.

She awoke with the scent and heat of him surrounding her and, once again, knew a deep subliminal connection. It felt undeniably right; could she be so far off in her feelings? Was he actually a diabolical body s.n.a.t.c.her with a plot to kidnap women then use them for food on the way back to his home planet? No, no way she would love someone like that. She froze, connection and love were not the same. You had to trust someone before you could love them, and no way did she trust him. Well, she may not love him but she sure loved touching him.

The convention began that afternoon. She was glad she'd be too busy to think for the next few days. Her gaze rested on her sleeping tiger, and ran her hand softly over him tracing his hard planes, ridges and bulges. A glorious, magnificent beast. What could he possibly want with her...and did she want really want to know? Instead of the truth setting her free it might destroy the tentative hope, and other unnamed feelings blooming inside her. Her unsettled gaze noted the way his inky lashes trapped a few of his amber long strands. Why kidnap an unremarkable marketing rep from a mall parking lot outside a small bar on the edge of Nashville? How could someone from outer s.p.a.ce even find Nashville and why would they want to? You'd think they'd pick a large city on either coast. New York or San Francisco. So many questions with no answers. She was riding on pure instinct in trusting him as far as she did when he, no doubt, had the power to annihilate her and probably her planet.

She wasn't concerned he'd hurt her physically but she was beginning to fear for her heart. He possessed a complex mind, an aura that exuded great inner turmoil revealing a man who took his responsibilities seriously, and steadfast heart-a heart that could be trusted and depended upon. She needed to grill him on his motives for choosing her but gazing at her watch, knew the moment would have to wait.

Cat eased from his from his side and watched the slow rise and fall of his chest and his relaxed almost boyish expression. She'd give anything to be able to scan his thoughts for a glimpse into the inner workings of his being.

"Maybe next life," a voice echoed in her head. * * * * "What a crush, you've done it again, Cat, congratulations. I guess this means another bonus." Her boss, Greg, sent her a broad smile, clearly pleased. He moved on, shmoozing the crowd and shaking hands. It's what he seemed to do best, and he should be pleased; they would turn a very substantial profit considering the attendance. Zorroc, due to arrive at any moment, would be pleased, as well, she thought. Many young attractive women prowled the area looking for their very own alien. "Purr" sounded softly behind her ear as arms reached around to draw her to him. She snuggled into him comfortably, becoming more accustomed to his touch. What started out foreign and awkward, only the week before, now made her feel safe and connected. She turned to face him, putting her small hand in his. "Have your people arrived?" she asked quietly.

"They will start mingling with the crowd in your next half hour. All is ready." He faltered. "I have not thanked you for all you have done for us. We would have prevailed eventually, but you have made an immeasurable difference in timing and the quality of the women. I am in your debt." He nodded his head in cat fashion. He'd never thanked her before; she was touched.

"I require no debt, I would always help you if within my power to do so," she responded, trying to emulate his more formal speech pattern. He must have noticed because his eyes emitted a strong amber pulse. Yep, he was a happy s.p.a.ce-hopper. He left her staring after him, not quite knowing what had hit her.

Seven hours later, her face hurt from smiling, her head and feet pounded with staccato precision, and her back throbbed. The day had produced record-breaking crowds and two remaining days of endless torture loomed ahead. She longed for a quiet corner in which to hide. With waning patience and growing malaise, she'd looked on as Zorroc left the main auditorium with one beautiful woman after another-probably sampling them personally for suitability purposes. He couldn't have had many interactions with earth females previously; maybe he'd meet someone he preferred over her. She'd probably just been an appetizer to prepare him for the main course. Then she considered the bright side; did she really want to go to another planet as a baby-making machine?

* * * * "How much of the operation is she familiar with? It will be difficult to hide what we are doing from her, especially you, my friend," Prolinc queried, trying to read behind Zorroc's still countenance.

They had planned to approach willing females, first to determine marital and family status then measure their willingness and controllability. They targeted females who lived alone with no close family members and were s.e.xually active, so their absence would not be noted for some time. Women accustomed to disappearing for days at a time, enjoying a new partner.

They tested their plan that morning and it had succeeded beyond their wildest hope. Easier than shooting fish in a barrel. Gattonians subliminally shouted 'wet dream' to earth females. Like lures in a crowded sea of starving fish, they could not wait to be caught. It had taken no effort. They had more trouble fighting them off than catching them. Prolinc had not initially planned to collect females on the first day, but several insisted on accompanying them as they took their leave. A total of twenty-three, now slumbered peacefully in their ship's hold, not to be awakened until they left earth's atmosphere and their final plans solidified. Zorroc checked the time and smiled, they still had more than an hour before closing.

"Cat believes what I have told her." Zorroc shrugged. "We will meet willing females and invite them to a private a.s.sembly that researches UFO sightings. We, supposedly, have information all but proving their existence and will share our findings at the meeting. She believes we will then make our needs known, and enlist those who are willing. Cat scheduled it for Sunday at the conclusion of the convention. The center will still be available for our use."

"What will she believe when you keep disappearing with one beautiful earth female after another for the next two days. I have been watching her watch you and her usual sparkle is fading," Prolinc stated. Could Zorroc's understanding of females be so lacking, or was he simply accustomed to controlling everyone around him and did not expect to be questioned? Prolinc wondered just how long it would take Cat to become angry enough to separate his ego from his head. He found himself looking forward to the coming days.

Though half Gattonian, Catarina's emotions overruled her logic, as her loyalty swayed her common sense. She would never question or betray him; her heart and mind shined clear as crystal. This, however, made him question his own actions and what could be perceived as betrayals against her. If she attempted to do the same as he, he would never forgive her; never relent. He might even damage her given further provocation. He shook his head not liking where his mind-shift led. She would understand and accept the choices he made, she must; she belonged to him. He would bind her to him so tightly that nothing he could do would rent her from his side. He had no doubt of her weakness for him. It would conquer her misgivings and allay any rebellious thoughts or actions. Satisfied with his logic, he growled warningly at Prolinc and went to collect his mate. Only to be interrupted once again.

"Hi, stranger. Where did you find the costume, it's positively, divinely sinful," the woman purred while stroking Zorroc's chest and arms. Though the day had proved gruelingly long, he gave her a very male, knowing smirk, signaling his willingness to follow her tail.

"I am part of the Gattonian a.s.sembly; some of our people are speaking at the convention this weekend. You should attend; it will be quite...fascinating. Are you here alone, it does not seem possible a man would let you run loose."

"Umm, I prefer to play the field, and enjoy what life delivers. How about you, are you unenc.u.mbered?" She began, rubbing her private parts against his. Zorroc smiled his feline smile; letting her draw her own conclusions when suddenly the atmosphere changed.

"Excuse me," Cat challenged.

Zorroc's eyes pinned hers and demanded, "What do you want."

"A word," she fired back, lightening shooting from her emerald depths.

After observing him pickup one woman after another for the last ten hours, "tom cat" had taken on a whole new meaning, mainly ill.u.s.trating that her 'tom' couldn't wait to get laid by any slightly in-heat-female available. He obviously cared more about a.s.sembling his harem than securing women for his planet; ready, and willing to repopulate it single d.i.c.kedly. Her patience snapped. The time had come to state her position and ascertain his.

His hand brushed the cheek of his latest find, as he whispered to the witch. "Do not move from this spot, I will not be long." His eyes promised hot things to come; then he turned to Cat with murder in them. He followed her to an empty meeting room.

"What are you doing, beginning a new career as a male prost.i.tute available to any halfway attractive sleezette?" Cat accused, her eyes shooting enough fire to supply h.e.l.l for a year. Every part of her vibrated with rage and betrayal. So furious, Zorroc could not read her feelings; he did however have ears, and knew his cream verged close to scalding. He had a choice to make, placate her and recapture her good will or begin the process of teaching her, her place. He chose the later.

His glare, boring into hers, was colder than she would've believed possible; derision and disgust fought each other for supremacy. She felt like her soul had frozen. Her time with him had clearly come to an end.

"Do not question me! I will save my race by whatever means required and no small, inconsequential, s.e.xually suppressed earth female will get in my way."

That about summed it up. She was out of there. With her commitment to the Gattonians fulfilled, she was taking her shattered heart; no, her shattered ego; and disappearing like so much used trash.

Zorroc wondered if he had perhaps overdone her latest lesson, he could have used more tact, she had, after all, worked hard on their behalf. However, she should never have questioned him; what had she been thinking? Perhaps she was just tired, he conceded. h.e.l.l, they were all tired. He would fix it later when he finished with this overly eager female. Confident everything would be fine with his out-of-joint mate, he once again a.s.sumed the role of available male. "What is your name sweet one?" he inquired, as he approached, noticing she had not moved from the spot he had left her. Zorroc smiled, pleased, that she had followed his direction without question, unlike his own Catarina.

"My name is Sandra," she responded. "Can we go somewhere more private?" she wheedled with a practiced insipid pout. She would do very well, Zorroc observed, and led her out of the building.

Cat went home to collect the rest of her belongings in preparation to leave town; she'd tell the aunts only that she'd be in touch and not to worry. Everything appeared quiet as she let herself into the house. Everything had disappeared-her aunts, her kittens, the furniture, everything. She ran up to her room and checked her closet and found it empty, as well. What could have happened? When she visited yesterday, all seemed normal.

She sped to Dees; the three would leave for Angel's cabin immediately. She pounded on the door for three minutes before realizing no one was home and proceeded to Angels convinced the two were together. But as before, everything was still. She fetched the extra key kept under the porch and let herself in. The place stood empty, deserted. My G.o.d, she realized with dawning horror, the Gattonians had stolen them. She sank to the floor unable to control her grief, her guilt, and the crowning devastation. She'd trusted him and he'd betrayed her with a ruthlessness she could barely conceive .

Zorroc found her huddled in the middle of Angel's front room holding a key. He had searched for hours, castigating himself for bungling their last confrontation. He had gone too far.

"Prolinc," he mind-thought, "I have located her; have Carpov ready to a.s.sist." He gently lifted her boneless form and they melted away.

Things moved quickly as Zorroc arrived on the trans-pad. Med staff transported Cat straight to the Med-center for treatment, while Zorroc resided in a self-imposed h.e.l.l; he would never forget how she looked when he found her. She had shrunken into herself looking profoundly alone. He knew her upbringing had made her vulnerable; for all her resilient outer sh.e.l.l, she remained fragile and he had shattered her with his lack of sensitivity and careless arrogance. What must she have thought when she discovered that everyone she loved had been taken from her, along with his own commitment and regard?

Cat had sensed Zorroc's presence at Angel's but lacked the strength for another battle, so said nothing. When they arrived on the ship, she could have told them she was fine but decided against expending the effort, not when she'd been expending so much just to keep herself from flying apart. She wondered idly why he'd visited Angel's.

"Catarina is in shock. I have given her something to make her sleep, after which she will be fine," Carpov informed Zorroc softly. "Angel and Dee are on their way to her so there is plenty of time for you to rest because to be honest, you look worse than she." Zorroc's state of mind concerned him more than Cat's for the moment. He had not moved for hours, would not speak to anyone; would not say what had occurred to put his pinball in her current stagnant state.

Zorroc, determined to repair some of the damage his careless words had set into motion, grimly proceeded to the Med-center. As the panel slid open, two sets of accusing eyes glared at him with suppressed outrage. He came in and touched his beautiful, still Catarina, gently smoothing her hair from her face. She looked peaceful, sweet, and innocent. What had he been thinking to treat her so carelessly? He had told her he would take care of her, protect her, and he had failed-just as he had failed to protect his people. What kind of a leader did that make him?

Just then, she looked up and smiled sleepily at him. "You look so stern, come to bed and hold me, I'm cold."

Everyone in the room froze; Carpov had just entered and stood staring purposely at Angel. Cat sensed the room was populated and looked around, her eyes widened as she took in the occupants. She couldn't fathom why everyone sat in their chamber staring at her. Had she grown a few inches overnight, had her hair gone straight? She glanced beseechingly at Zorroc, begging for an answer.

"Leave us, I will take care of her." Angel and Dee gave him identical looks of skepticism but did not challenge him. Carpov shrugged uncertainly, glancing first at his patient then at Zorroc and strode after Angel.

"What do you remember, flame?" he asked while softly kissing her brow and eyelids. He wanted to a.s.sess the damage in an un.o.btrusive manner. As her gaze drifted up to meet his, he held it in an effort to divine the truth. He still could not read her; her mind remained static.

"Why did you call me that and what are my friends doing here on the ship, did I get sick?" she inquired with detached curiosity.

"Flame is what my crew named you when you first came aboard because of the color of your hair and the way you move. They have been very concerned; you have slept for some time. What is the last thing you remember?" Slowly her eyes focused on his and became hard. Obviously, she had remembered a great deal.

"What do you want with my friends and family; you have your harem, you don't need us. I will not be one in a long line of willing sleezettes, Zorroc; the only way you'll have me is by rape, and I'd think that you're huge, arrogant male ego would keep you from that course." She sat up and leaned forward continuing her tirade. "You have countless others at your disposal, why bother with one small, inconsequential, repressed virgin?" she hissed, throwing his words back at him. "You can and have done better, as I witnessed first hand."

He flinched as his words. .h.i.t their mark. He had not enjoyed luring unsuspecting females into a situation they may not survive and had taken his frustration out on Catarina without realizing what exactly he had said or how it would be interpreted. She looked around for the first time to discover she was in the Med-center and bounced off the mat, determined to find her friends and family and exit this nightmare any way possible. Zorroc, however, had different plans.

"I know how it must have appeared. We do what we deem necessary in order to ensure the continuance of our race." His full considerable concentration centered on her. "Our people, when they lifemate, are monogamous; that is what has occurred with us, though the ceremony has not yet taken place. The women that I lured from the conference; nothing happened. I was not with them s.e.xually." He pushed his hair straight back gripping the back of his head with both hands, his face a study of hard shadows and plains as his eyes continued to bore into hers, "I think you must know this in your heart and maybe are just afraid of the inevitable." He stared at her with purpose and began advancing on her. Cat began subtly backing away, not wanting it to look like a retreat.

"I am not afraid of you, because there is no inevitable for us. Let my friends and my aunts go; they are not a part of this. I have said I'l go with you and I will; but if you don't release the others, you will never have my trust again and I'll strike at you in any way I can," she threatened, hands on her small hips, her eyes riveted to his.

"Carpov wants Angel, and Prolinc, Dee, when he is not considering throttling her," he admitted haltingly, "and your aunts are not your aunts, but my aunts. Female Gattonians sent to evaluate your suitability as my mate and to look after you until I could claim you," he finished with determined, unvarnished honesty.