"You have no idea of the things I want to do to you."

"Do it," she dared, stepping into his body in a purely aggressive move.

His nostrils flared as he gave her a considering look and Joni knew she'd gained his attention.

Kyele stiffened, knowing he'd made a tactical error but unsure how.

"You want me," Joni declared.

Kyele wanted to deny her statement but there was such relief in her words, he couldn't refute the claim. He fisted the material of the overlarge shirt on her diminutive frame and yanked her into his chest. His other hand slid down her back to cup her covered ass, then her plump folds.

The damp heat of her through the thin material tortured him. He nudged it up and out of the way, reaching his goal. Hot and welcoming. His lips curled. He should be strong enough to resist but he was done with that. "I do want you."

He'd tried hard to stay away. Fear she'd shy from his darker nature governed his behavior and yet here she stood. Challenging him to take what he wanted.

So Kyele did.

Holding Joni tight, he reluctantly withdrew his fingers from her slick channel and banded an arm about her waist. He released the shirt to bury his fingers in her hair, pulling her head back. Her mouth fell open on a gasp, but not in fright. Excitement glittered from the golden orbs and Kyele ached to give her what she'd been begging for.

"Are you sure about this, Joni?" He needed to be certain she wanted this as much as he did.

She licked her lips and nodded. "Yes."

Need slammed into him. He ripped the shirt from her body. She moaned, neck tipped back in complete submission. Trust. Joni trusted him not to hurt her. Holding the back of her head steady, Kyele lowered his mouth and kissed the thumping pulse at her throat. He smoothed his other hand over her hip, continuing until he reached the wet core of her from behind. His fingers probed past her rounded butt cheeks to her entrance. Tight. Deliciously tight and it set his cock to throbbing as he thought about how she'd feel.

"You asked for this and now there's no turning back." He muttered the words as he dragged his lips along her collarbone.

Goosebumps popped along her shoulder. Joni's lids narrowed to slits and already her breath escaped in pants. The sight caused his fingers to tremble.

As if she sensed him wavering, Joni reached up and wrapped her small hand around his wrist. "I know you won't hurt me."

There were many ways to hurt a person. Physical, mental and emotional. At some point Kyele had experienced it all and given it back in return.

Joni released his wrist and both hands came to rest on his bare shoulders. "Trust me not to hurt you."

Her words acted as a catalyst. To keep from revealing how strongly she moved him by asking for such implicit faith, he lifted her by her hips and tossed her to his bed. Her body bounced, breasts bobbing and legs splayed as she landed.

Catching his gaze, her mouth curved up. Kyele shoved his pants down and joined her. Joni stayed on her back, eyes watching his every move. She raised her arms above her head and clasped her wrists together. Heat exploded in his groin and his cock thumped against the bed sheets as he climbed between her legs.

Joni bent her knees and planted her feet. "I'm yours, Kyele."

Again she touched him with nothing more than her erotic whisper, voicing his deepest needs and desires. If only it could be true. Kyele grabbed her thighs roughly and spread them wider. She jerked at the hard touch then relaxed. With his eyes locked on hers, he lowered his head and licked her slit.

Joni tensed, but her arms stayed above her head as her torso twisted.

"Don't move," he growled, knowing if she grabbed his hair or made a sudden motion toward his face, he could potentially forget how much this female meant to him. He wouldn't allow himself to hurt Joni.

"I won't," she promised then closed her eyes and leaned her head back on the pillow.

Kyele debated what he was about to do. He searched for remorse but he was hard and ached. His heart pounded in his chest and bringing Joni to release was all he could think about.

Planting his face in her moist treasure, he tongued her with renewed vigor. Her hips arched up but his hold on her legs kept Joni exactly where he wanted her. Kyele mouthed her swollen bud, tasting her sweetness.

"Kyele!" She yelled his name. Then the sound cut off abruptly.

Without lifting his head from what he was doing, he raised his gaze to see she'd thrown an arm over her eyes and had a fist pressed to her mouth. He groaned and fluttered his tongue over her center, alternating the light touches with rougher strokes. Her musky scent filled his nostrils and she flowed rich and creamy in his mouth.

Unable to stop, he rocked his hips into the bedding to soothe his driving need. Her thighs trembled and her muffled moans grew louder. Kyele knew she was close. The clenching of the legs he held aloft and her broken cries signaled the nearing of her climax. He eased off, allowing her a moment to catch her breath.

"Ky. Ky, don't stop."

His head came up abruptly and he almost lost the grip on her thighs. "What did you call me?"

"Ky, please." Her head tossed on the pillow, tendrils of flame against the white cloth.

No one had ever cared enough to shorten his name. Not even the papan who'd fostered him. Only Joni would do such and not realize the impact of her actions. He tugged one leg to rest over his shoulder, freeing his hand to do what he planned.

Kyele returned to pleasuring her with his mouth, sucking on her pink flesh. As soon as he felt the tell tale vibrations, he plowed his fingers in her spasming core with a determination to see her through her climax. Her hips arched up from the bed as she screamed. He stayed relentless and stroked her until her other leg broke from his hold to wrap around his neck.

Kyele buried his face in her heated center and tasted pleasure, relief and all of his dreams combined. This woman. She was what he wanted but didn't deserve to have. Fingers sliding and tongue caressing, Kyele worked Joni until she finished coming with a full body shudder, both legs locked around him.

He rose above her, breaking the hold and crawled up her body. He didn't stop until his arms bracketed her head as she lay panting, lost to the moment. A full reddened flush stained her face and upper chest. Beautiful. Never had another female been as beautiful to him. In this moment, Kyele knew he would do anything for Joni. Anything she asked.

Joni's lids fluttered open. Her mouth parted twice before she got out what she wanted to say. "More."

Kyele snarled and flipped her to her belly. He pulled her hips up, placing them flush, his chest to her back. He held his aching shaft and prodded her dripping entrance without giving her time to adjust. As he eased inside, the flesh quivered and clamped, protesting his efforts. Her release had made her tighter.

"Let me in." His teeth clenched as he shoved forward.

Joni moaned, the sound one of pleasure as she dropped her weight to her elbows and pressed back. Kyele pulled out, teasing her entrance with the thickened crest of his manhood.

"Yes, yes, Kyele."

Throwing back his head, Kyele kept an arm about Joni's waist and palmed her throat. He eased her up to her knees and braced her weight against his chest. She leaned her head into him, neck up and the gesture sent his pulse into overdrive. He caressed the line of her elongated throat with his thumb, the vibration of her heartbeat connecting them. Joni rocked on his lap as her inner muscles gave and he slid deep, fully seated.

Like a velvet sheath, she enclosed his length, hot and vicelike. Her arousal leaked down her thighs, sticking to him as well. Kyele ran his nose along the side of her shoulder, up her throat and paused at her ear. "Do you still doubt that I want you?"

Her warm walls clenched around him as she bit her bottom lip and struggled to move in his hold. He flexed his fingers over the slim column of her neck while his other hand slid down the flat planes of her torso, then lower, and palmed the heart of her. He pressed down against her wetness. "Do you, Joni?"

"N-no."

"Good." Kyele pulled out and thrust back, slickening his path until her body welcomed him fully by allowing his strokes without resistance. The erotic push and glide drove him higher. "Because I swear on my honor as a Jutak that I will never want another the way I want you."

"Pleeeeassee." The sensual moan humming from the back of her throat undid Kyele.

"Fuck." He dropped them to all fours again, his arms caging hers as he continued to grind into her. Her back arched and rolled as her hips snapped against his. He kept his eyes open, wanting to memorize every second of this moment.

"So close. Feels good." Joni's voice faded to a mumble as her head hung low, spilling the red length of her hair about his bed.

Too much to take in. The wet slap of their bodies moving together, the smooth line of her back and the bunch of her hips as she welcomed and matched his pumps. Kyele braced his weight on one hand and pulled her hair to the side to see her face better. Joni glanced at him over her shoulder and he almost lost his rhythm.

Glazed, gold eyes stared back at him, her full lips parted as she breathed in short pants. Her cheeks were red and the stain ran down her neck where he caught sight of her swaying breasts topped with swollen nipples. In order to last, Kyele jerked his gaze toward the ceiling. The bland structure brought back his balance.

"More, more," Joni chanted, her backward pumps becoming erratic.

Kyele sped up his pace. Each driving thrust pushed her to the edge. Pushed her fast and hard toward release. He kept his hand at her hip to hold her steady for the lust rising from his core. He locked his jaw and risked a glance down. Her face strained as she rocked with him and then it hit.

Joni screamed and arched up to her knees. Kyele caught her, his arms going under her own to hold her tight as the pressure built below. He cupped the bouncing globes of her breasts and bit her nape. "Again. Give it to me again, little Earthling. I want it all."

Slumped in his arms, Joni sucked air into her lungs. Her body trembled against Kyele. "I can't. Too much."

She extended an arm behind her and looped it around Kyele's bowed head as he nuzzled her inner wrist. His hair was dampened with sweat and still he continued to move. To pump in and out in a slow dance that lit another fire in her loins making a liar of her.

"What do you need to make it happen?" he growled in a raspy voice while his fingers tweaked her nipples.

Oh, God. Joni shivered. She should have known once the gates opened they couldn't be closed. He slowed further and parted his thighs so her weight rested further on the thick intrusion abrading her internal muscles.

"No more," Joni gasped. She said the words but already her body readied itself for another explosion.

"I want it. Need it," he practically begged, breath warm on her skin.

Joni shook her head, loins pulsing but unable to state what would help her returning desire. Embarrassment burned her cheeks.

"Tell me, Joni," came the guttural demand. "What do you need, tesa?"

She didn't think she could give him what he wanted. The insistent demand in his gaze promised she would. Warmth suffused her face but her hand drifted down her torso. Jittery fingers brushed the damp curls between her legs. Kyele leaned over her shoulder to see what she did and Joni froze. Heat filled eyes stared back.

"Do it," he dared in a low throaty tone. "Show me."

Joni slid her fingers lower and choked back a cry at the first questing touch. Wetness soaked her hand. Another stroke and her head dropped forward as she moaned. If not for his grip she would have fallen forward. Never had Joni been this aroused before.

"You're beautiful," he murmured. "So beautiful. Keep going. Give me everything you have."

His open mouth danced across the back of her neck. Licking. Tasting. Leaving a tingling sensation behind. Her fingers rubbed faster, his voice providing the impetus for her frantic motions.

"Yes, take me deep. You feel good, tesa. Unbelievable."

Goosebumps dotted her shoulder. Joni clenched her teeth as Kyele thrust against her. His shaft slid in and out, burning a path each time he hit her sensitive nerves. Her fingers bumped his length, adding to the building pressure. Only the power of Kyele's hold kept her on her knees when she wanted to collapse on the bedding. She was close. Wet and dripping. Her fingers slipped along her bud.

"Don't stop, Kyele." She'd beg. Plead. Anything as long as he never stopped.

His lips brushed her ear and Joni convulsed. The sensuous act was opposite what she'd expected from the dangerous soldier. "You feel so good. I've dreamed of you. Dreamed of touching you all over."

She sucked in a sharp breath, her senses scattered as she writhed on his lap. "I'm...I'm close to coming."

"I've got you, Joni. Let go." His pace picked up and the familiar words, the reassurance, triggered her release.

Pleasure crashed into her in waves. Joni screamed, neck arched back and Kyele groaned behind her, his release jetting inside of her. Joni slumped forward with a muted cry. Kyele kept his arm around her waist and gently lowered them both to the bed. Her head hit the soft sheets as she panted.

There were no words to describe what they'd shared. He got up and turned off the sensors, plunging the room into darkness. The bed shifted from his weight as he climbed back in. Her eyes drifted closed.

"Don't leave me."

He didn't answer but his arms slid around her and eased them close. Joni never had anyone to hold her while she slept. Most people probably assumed her too tough for snuggling but she'd always imagined it. Dreamed about how nice it would be to let someone else be strong for her.

"Rest, tesa. I've got you." Lips brushed her temple.

Joni's lips curved up in the corner. "You always say that."

Were her words slurred? Sleep crept on her but not before she heard him say, "I've always got you."

Joni smiled at the perfect response that was so Kyele. "Thank you."

His arm tightened. "I should thank you, Joni."

"We can thank each other."

He snorted a laugh, stirring the hair at her nape. Joni continued to smile as she succumbed to sleep.

Kyele released the breath he'd been holding as Joni nodded off. Strands of red snagged on his chin. Liquid fire like the woman herself. He smoothed the hair from her face, drawn as always to the beauty of her. Inner and outer. There was no one like Joni and she was his. He'd kill anyone who tried to take her from him.

"I am not good for you, Joni," he whispered, kissing her lightly so as not to disturb her much needed sleep. "But no one else is either."

Chapter 19.

Hours later, Kyele, body too keyed to truly sleep continued to rest behind Joni. He'd considered relocating to the sofa in his living area but he'd been unable to separate from her. Having her safe in his arms meant more than preserving the barrier between them.

The light musk of passion lingered in the air and his cock stirred. If she hadn't been through such an ordeal tonight the hunger in him would have demanded to be satisfied. Instead he allowed her touch and scent to soothe his inner beast which clamored for more.

When he thought of the earlier events of tonight, he tensed. As soon as she woke they'd talk. The attack on the facility and the assassins sent to her home were worrying. Anything she could think of would help when he reported to Torkel in the morning. The Unit Leader would want every detail. Hopefully it would give them a place to start to eliminate the threat to her safety.

Joni whined, drawing Kyele's gaze. Her brows pinched tight and her body went rigid. He leaned up on his forearm. She jerked in his embrace moments before her arm swung backward and her leg shot out almost unmanning him. Kyele rolled Joni onto her back and cupped her jaw.

"Joni." He shook her shoulder slightly. "Joni."

A tear tracked down her cheek, breaking his heart. Nightmares. Her lips moved but he couldn't make out the words. Kyele gentled his touch and began caressing her tangled hair. He smoothed out the knots, allowed his fingers to graze her scalp. He kept up the rhythmic motion as he had in the past when she slept fitfully. Joni sat up abruptly, a scream lodged in her throat.