"What is wrong, Joni?" Kyele's voice changed in an instant. "Did you have another nightmare?"

A lump lodged in her throat. Sincere Kyele was as hot as dangerous Kyele. "No. Yes. I mean...I did."

"Did you mean to contact Sylvie?"

Joni pulled the comm unit from her face and took a deep breath. Of course he'd think that. She'd never asked Kyele for anything before yet he'd always been there when she needed him. She pressed the communicator back to her ear. "I know we have this thing between us-"

"Thing?" Was that humor?

How often did she see Kyele amused? Never came the immediate answer.

Glass shattered in the outer room coinciding with a fierce roll of thunder. Joni jumped and clamped her hand over her mouth to muffle her scream before she could speak again. Her eyes stayed on the thin frame of the door. Little protection against whoever was on the other side. "Oh, God. Kyele, someone's in my place. I-I need you to be the baddest bad ass and get here now."

"Get out." Whisper soft, the harsh command snapped her spine straight nonetheless.

"Ky-"

"Get out, Joni or you won't like my reaction if something happens to you."

Definitely no signs of humor now. Liquid heat filled her veins to replace the terror. The anger he directed her way gave her strength. "In case you forgot, I'm on the seventeenth floor but I'm open to suggestions."

How she found the energy to be sarcastic in this situation Joni would never know.

"The vent. Above your bed, remove the grate."

Her head tipped up. The large slotted square was exactly where he said. How had he known?

"Stand on your bed and pull up. Close the grate behind you and start making your way through the shaft to the main part of the building."

Joni judged the distance. It was doable. Except. "I'll have to get off the communicator."

"Yes." No lies. No buttering her up with false platitudes.

The thought of breaking her connection to him stole Joni's breath and spots danced in front of her vision as she lost her momentary surge of bravado. Her hold on the knives tightened. She licked her lips and made her decision. "Hurry."

"Don't you know, Joni?" She heard the arrogance in his question. "I was on my way the moment you called."

His words claimed another piece of her and Joni faltered. She'd known. God, she'd known the moment she called him that he'd come. Her eyes burned and her heart tripped, missing several beats before resuming its pattern. She wanted to say something but this wasn't the time.

"Go, Joni!" All tenderness gone.

She ended the call and climbed on her bed. The snaps around the corner of the grate easily slid back with a brush of her fingers. Joni pushed her knives in first, wincing at the rustling sound from her hall. Her intruder drew closer. What if he wasn't alone?

Using the buoyancy of her mattress, Joni jumped. Her legs twisted in the air as she gripped tight to the edge then hauled her body through the cubed opening, scraping her belly. She fit. The narrow space allowed for little adjustment as she smoothed the grate back in place. The latches were on the outside so she could only hope they held.

Her fingers scrambled to feel for her knives in the dark but they skidded sideways. Lightening lit her room in an eerie shade of white violet accompanied by a crack of thunder. In horror, she watched as her only source of protection fell through the horizontal slits of the frate to land harmlessly on her bed below.

The floorboard outside her door creaked sending the drum-like beat of her heart soaring. No time to retrieve her talismans. Joni scooted backward and bumped her head on the low ceiling. She paused but she sensed no sign the person below heard. Since her bedroom ended against a main wall, Joni turned in the opposite direction, hoping the shaft would lead her out at some point if she continued this way.

A virulent curse rose through the walls as her bedroom door slammed open all the way. Dread raced through her pores but Joni continued her retreat one slow inch at a time, praying all the while Kyele got here in time.

Kyele shifted the hover car to hover mode and sped through the wet-slick vacant streets once the wheels retracted. The upgrades on the Jutak vehicle allowed him to go faster than legal as he whipped through the night, his throat locked tight. Rain splattered on the windshield, blurring his vision. A simple flick of one of the multitude of switches on the dash activated the sensors to keep it clear.

Joni needed him. Someone had invaded her home while she slept. What if he hadn't returned from his mission an hour ago? A shudder rocked his body at the thought and the hover car wavered as his grip slipped. He righted the vehicle and pushed it faster. The moment Joni called, Kyele heard the nervous waver she couldn't hide. He would have made his way to her regardless, because he knew what the nightmares did to her.

Unlike Sylvie, Joni refused to share all of the details surrounding her experience with the Marenians and her imprisonment. Sometimes Kyele was glad of this. Otherwise he'd have left a trail of dead bodies in his wake.

He slowed and parked down the street from Joni's building, leaping from the vehicle before the hover car came to a complete stop. Rain drenched his clothes the moment he stepped out, his boots slogging across the flooded stones of the walkway. The attendants in the lobby tried to stop him as he barged through the front doors.

"Jutak," he barked, not slowing his pace.

No one gave chase or tried to stop him. It probably helped that he still wore his uniform. Joni's call had come as soon as 'd settled in his room preparing to take a shower to clean the grime of his last mission from his body. To think she'd almost missed him.

Kyele raced up the electronic stairway cursing the idea to have the females live on one of the higher floors. How much time had passed? Had Joni managed to escape undetected? Half-way up, Kyele threw out the idea to conserve his strength and misted. He flew up the remaining distance like the ill winds of the storm outside, coming to an abrupt halt in his physical form at the front door to Joni's apartment.

And her open door.

Panting, he slid along the wall beside the entrance and narrowed his focus. He could see nothing in the darkened interior. Back pressed against the wall, Kyele listened but no sounds emitted from inside. He relaxed his clenched fists and withdrew his laser blaster in one hand and his knife in the other.

Calming the rapid beat of his heart, he kicked the door all the way open. "Jutak warrior!"

The automatic lights should have come on but darkness encompassed Joni's space. Nerves took flight in his stomach. Someone had gone through the effort of disabling her light sensors. Why? With terror governing his actions, Kyele didn't bother to check her place as well as he would have, heading directly for the back. In her bedroom, he came up short. The mussed bed was a clear sign of the nightmare she'd mentioned.

Remorse at not being there to ease her fear threatened to overcome him. Kyele glanced up and a chill rolled down his spine at the displaced grate in the ceiling.

Options flowed through his mind until he came to one choice. If the person who broke in followed her, then Joni was being pursued through the vents. Kyele holstered his laser and climbed on her bed. His nostrils flared as the scent of the fragrance she wore wafted from the linen.

Ignoring the unexpected surge of arousal, he stretched up to grasp the edge when the blow to his mid-section almost dropped him to his knees. His ribs took the brunt of the punch and Kyele stumbled back. The give in the mattress had him struggling for balance when the second hit landed.

Pain radiated down his side but Kyele managed to jump backward, landing hard on the floor beside the bed. His shoulder took the brunt of the fall. The attacker leaped from the corner but Kyele rolled and dodged away.

"Stinking Jutaks," a voice snarled.

Kyele launched to his feet to face his opponent. A brief flash of lightning revealed the man rushing him from the right. In one hand, the Chamele waved a spiral knife. The twisting, sharp tip blades burned when it pierced flesh.

As soon as the Chamele came close enough, Kyele used his knife to slash out in a smooth arc, blade up. Blood sprayed, dotting his soaked uniform. The Chamele fell backward, dropping to the floor in a sprawl. He was dead before he hit. Kyele straightened and agony tore through him from what he surmised to be cracked ribs. Blocking the pain, he climbed back on Joni's bed and reached up toward the opening in the ceiling.

Chapter 15.

Up or down. Joni shuffled to a stop when the shaft veered up on the left with a sloping slant then down to her right. She needed to make a choice. Fear hammered at her stretched nerves. For a moment she slumped and her fingers curled against the thin metal beneath her. Why was this happening?

Survivor instincts kicked in and Joni shook off the negative thoughts. She'd worry about the answers later. Blowing out a shaky breath, she turned right and scuffled forward. Unfortunately, crawling through the ventilation tunnels brought back bad memories and she once again stopped to steel her nerves.

Her actions allowed her to hear the small sound. The scuffle and scrape of cloth against the metal of the shaft came again. Fear coursed through her mind. Joni's pace increased as she hurried forward, no longer making any effort to disguise the sounds of her escape.

Maneuvering in the tight corridor was difficult. Her arms trembled as the person behind her drew closer. The narrow space and pressing darkness sent her pulse racing. Her breath shortened and her skin grew clammy. Another moment in the smothering shaft and Joni knew she'd scream, giving away her location.

A warm palm gripped her ankle. "Breathe."

The husky, familiar voice brought tears to her eyes. Joni collapsed onto her knees and elbows with a cry. Tight, muscled arms circled her from behind as much as the shaft allowed. Damp heat pressed against her back. Only one person's touch could still her fear so easily.

"Kyele," Joni managed, unable to speak through the tight knot in her throat.

"Are you alone?" His warm breath stirred the tiny hairs at her nape, leaving pebbled flesh behind.

"Yes."

He eased back and nudged her forward. "Keep going."

Shaking in relief, she continued crawling. Further along, they reached another grate similar to the one in her bedroom. Kyele tapped her ankle as soon as she crossed it and Joni stopped. She bumped against the sides of the vent as she turned back in his direction. Below them brown flecked tiles glistened. No one ventured the halls this time of night. Kyele ripped the covering clear off its latches and tossed it aside. It fell to the floor with a loud clatter. Then he slid through the opening, landing silently on bent legs.

As soon as he stood, his head tipped back to face her. "I'm going to help you down."

Joni didn't hesitate and leaned over as she asked, "Did you catch the intruder?"

"Yes. Hurry." He extended his arms, impatience marring his features.

Putting her feet first, Joni lowered herself through. Kyele palmed her thighs then higher until he gripped her hips. Secure in his rough hold, Joni relaxed as he drew her along. She let out a breath, her legs shaking.

"I've got you," he whispered by her ear.

Joni expected him to set her down immediately. Instead, his arms slid around her waist, drawing her in close for a brief moment. The solid beat of Kyele's heart comforted her in ways she hadn't expected. Standing like this after the nightmare and the break-in was exactly what she needed. The intimate embrace reassured more than his words ever could.

Her hands flattened against the small of his back, her cheek pressed tight to his wet shirt. Wet? She jerked away, taking in his condition. His shirt was plastered to his front, his black hair carelessly brushed back in wet grooves, and water tipped his lashes. She'd forgotten about the rain. "You're soaked."

He stepped back and didn't say anything. Joni glanced up and caught his eyes on her legs and the short length of the nightie she wore. The scar on his cheek flexed, a muscle in his jaw tightening but his green eyes burned with a fierce light. "Let's go."

"Kyele?" Her tone turned tentative.

Joni She stared at him. His heart stuttered because it wasn't a simple stare. The look in her eyes couldn't be denied. The message in her gaze said he was all that mattered in her world and Kyele had never had anyone look at him that way. Not even Faan.

She hesitated then threw herself back into his arms. Kyele staggered back on one foot as her weight slammed into him with unexpected force.

"Thank you for coming." Her muffled words whispered against his shirt.

The simple praise reached deep inside of him. Kyele lowered his head to rest it on the soft silk of her hair. "I will always be here for you, Joni."

It was a vow he'd never break.

At his words she sobbed and the sound devastated him. Her nails dug into him so tight he knew he'd have the slight imprints on his back in the morning. Crying wasn't something he'd ever witnessed Joni doing. She was strong, brash and confident. Tonight must have truly frightened her. Anger flattened his lips at the thought.

"I was s-scared."

"I know." Kyele ran his hands up and down her back to soothe, long, broad strokes from waist to nape over and over again. He never let emotions get the best of him, but Joni held his heart in her soft Earth hands. The trembling slowed as he lifted the weight of her hair to entangle it about his fist. Desire rose and his shaft hardened with an ache that had him clenching his jaw on a groan. His arm at her waist clamped tight as he dragged in a ragged breath and pulled her impossibly close.

This. This was why he'd rushed over; the very air he breathed trapped in his lungs. For this female who fit in his arms as if there was no better place for her to be. He inhaled, taking in Joni's familiar scent as it teased his senses.

"I've got you," he murmured again and his throat swelled with need.

He was hers.

She was his.

Someone he couldn't have. His arms crushed her to him, the folds of her sleep gown sliding against his hands. Delicate, silken fabric he could rip. He wanted to feel her. Skin to skin. The urge to do so pounded at his temple with an insistent beat.

His fingers rested above the rounded curve of her ass. If he lowered it the smallest fraction he could cup and squeeze to his delight. Her soft body said she wouldn't protest.

Joni's cries dwindled and she let out a broken hiccup. Such a little sound but it gutted him further and acted as a reminder. They needed to leave. Until he figured out who was behind breaking into her place as well as the earlier attack on the females, it wasn't safe to stand about. But his chest tightened at having to let her go.

Kyele forced himself to release his grip. Joni's fingers clenched on the material of his shirt when he pulled back, but using utmost care, Kyele carefully loosened each finger. They stood close enough their fronts brushed. She tipped her head up, gaze questioning. His thumb traced her bottom lip and her tongue darted out, the tip tasting him.

Sensations flooded his veins and unable to hold back his relief any longer, Kyele kissed her. A hungry demand for her surrender. He pulled her tight and spun them, using the wall to brace her weight. When she curved one thigh around his hips, he groaned and pumped against her.

"Kyele," she moaned his name into his mouth as his tongue slid along hers.

He hitched her higher, plush form cradling his throbbing erection and ignored the twinge from his ribs. Her hips rolled as she sought to get closer, both legs wrapped around his waist. Kyele pulled back and Joni followed, biting his lip in retaliation. Kyele growled and slammed her hands to the wall by her head. Her breath quickened.

"You are temptation itself," he muttered before his mouth plundered the depths of her glistening lips.

Joni rocked against him, her heels kicking his thrusting hips. It was too much. He could drown in her softness, the warmth of her body. Desperation drove him to rotate against her center as pleasure curled up his spine. Another groan and Kyele broke away with a gasp, their breath mingling.

When he lifted his head, her lids fluttered, revealing a slim line of gold. Loose strands of red caressed her pinkened cheeks. She swayed toward him and Kyele gritted his teeth to keep from leaning forward for a deeper savoring.

He tried to lower her slight weight to the floor but her heels dug in. Fear glimmered in her eyes and she shook her head. The gesture shredded his heart. He kissed the side of her mouth to whisper, "Release me. Please."

It was the second time he'd used the word with Joni, but he needed her strength to break away and a will of iron.

Her legs slid down and he lowered her to until she had her footing. His grip on her wrists eased and Kyele dragged air into his chest and moved back another step. "I am taking you to the Jutak facility."

Joni fingered the chain about her neck. Worry tightened her features but she didn't argue. "Do you know what's going on?"

He clasped his hand with hers, giving himself the small connection. He didn't like Joni frightened and wished he could kill the Chamele all over again. "The male I found in your bedroom is dead. I'm unsure if another worked with him, which is why we must leave."

Kyele tugged her in the direction of the electric stairway. He didn't like being as exposed as they were. Thunder sounded outside as if to underscore his point. Without his attention fully on Joni, he once again pulled on his training as a Jutak warrior. Getting her behind secure walls became a priority.

At the main entrance on the lower level, he risked a glance at her, dismayed at the sight of her bare feet. Rain still pounded the ground outside the glass door. She'd be drenched in no time. Nothing they could do about it since he had no intentions of returning to her place without his team with him.

"Are you ready? I have the hover-car waiting a little further down." He was grateful for the foresight which kept him from parking in front of her building. Something about this brazen attack didn't feel right.