He looked taken aback by her frankness. 'Besides that,' he said dryly when he'd recovered.

She blinked at him. 'I gave a full report.'

'I'm not asking about that. I want to know what your impression of the man uh ril, Commander Anka l'Kartay is.'

Sybil's lips tightened. 'If you've read the report, you should know we were only at their base camp a couple of days. I don't know him except in the biblical sense.'

'You were there long enough for him to seduce you,' he countered sardonically.

'Yes, about five seconds after I got a really good look at him and it took me hours after that to convince him to take me into his bed!'

'You're d.a.m.ned defensive about him.'

'I'm defensive about your line of questioning. Maybe if I understood why why you'd brought this up-again-I wouldn't be so defensive.' you'd brought this up-again-I wouldn't be so defensive.'

'Alright. Good enough. I brought it up because his name keeps popping up-enough that we're beginning to wonder just how powerful a force he is in the Sumpturian political arena.'

Sybil gaped at him. 'He's a military man. I wasn't aware that he had anything at all to do with politics. What do you mean his name keeps popping up?'

'We haven't made a lot of headway in breaking their language down, but we don't need to in so far as names go. So, unless there's another Commander l'Kartay, this one seems to be on a lot of minds.'

Uneasiness filled Sybil, not the least because he'd come under the government's scrutiny. 'Well,' she said after a moment, 'we don't actually know that there isn't, you know.'

Meachum wasn't the only one that gave her a look of patent disbelief. Powell, Rains, and Kushbu all looked at her as if she'd grown horns and a forked tail. In all honesty, she didn't believe it either, but she knew it was was possible. possible.

'What I mean is, we don't even know that l'Kartay is a name as we know them. It could mean anything and there could be any number of Sumpturians with that t.i.tle, if it was a t.i.tle. It might be a place name, you know.'

'I think the law of averages would rule out the possibility of there being two Commander Anka l'Kartays.'

'Oh.' Sybil struggled with the dismay that comment caused her for a few moments. 'Well, we don't know in what context that they've mentioned him, do we?'

'No, we don't. But we're interested in finding out,' he said pointedly.

Sybil had a very bad feeling that someone had seen him entering her quarters the night before, but she wasn't about to volunteer the information. 'I'm willing to try to figure it out if you'll just let me study the vids you're talking about.'

'They haven't been released to us yet. All I'm trying to get at this point is a handle on him.'

Sybil nodded, struggling to gather her wits about her. 'It was clear that the men and women under him held a great deal of respect for him,' she said after a moment's thought.

'Rils and rilous,' he corrected her. 'We feel that it's important to get a grasp of their language.'

So they could spy on them more easily? Irritation flickered through her. 'The soldiers under his command.'

Meachum turned to the others, lifting a brow questioningly. 'Do you all agree on that a.s.sessment?'

Powell frowned, considering it. 'Yes. I'd have to agree with her.'

Kushbu and Rains also agreed.

It was the first time they'd all agreed on anything and Sybil almost wished they hadn't given the speculation in Meachum's eyes. 'So you're saying they wouldn't hesitate to follow him whatever he might ask of them?'

Sybil turned cold. 'That's a leap,' she said through stiff lips.

Powell shrugged. 'I don't know. I wouldn't rule out the possibility that he's some sort of hero to them. It would be hard to say considering how little we know about them.'

Sybil wished she'd been close enough to stomp his foot and break it.

Kushbu agreed with him. Holly Rains, thankfully, didn't simply fall in with the others. 'I don't know much about the military, quite honestly. Aren't they supposed to follow whatever orders their commander gives them?'

'Unless they're treasonous.'

Holly gaped at him. 'Well! I didn't get that impression at all if you're saying he's some sort of budding dictator! He's a very kind and well mannered man, from what I could tell uh ril.'

Sybil could've kissed the woman! 'I agree with that. Under the circ.u.mstances, considering he could well have viewed us as a threat to Sumpturian security, he was extremely gracious.'

Meachum didn't seem the least bit happy at that a.s.sessment. The b.a.s.t.a.r.d! He should've been relieved. Instead, he wanted wanted to think the worst! He shrugged after a moment. 'Maybe too gracious? He could also be a master at manipulation. He would've known as soon as they'd examined the craft that it was a scientific expedition. There were no weapons on board.' to think the worst! He shrugged after a moment. 'Maybe too gracious? He could also be a master at manipulation. He would've known as soon as they'd examined the craft that it was a scientific expedition. There were no weapons on board.'

'There were plenty of cameras, though,' Sybil pointed out dryly, 'which could just as easily have led to the conclusion that we were there to spy.'

'And maybe it did?' said the devil's advocate. 'His *gracious' behavior might have been nothing more than a smoke screen to create that impression to get you to lower your guard.'

Honestly! As if everybody in the world-universe-was as paranoid as the American government! 'And maybe we shouldn't judge them by ourselves?' she suggested tightly. 'As you keep pointing out, they're rils, not men. We don't know how they think. It doesn't seem to me that they're in a position where they'd need to worry about how we feel about them.'

'It doesn't, does it?'

Sybil wanted to demand to know what the h.e.l.l he meant by that, but she didn't need to.

The government was beginning to wonder why the Sumpturian's had been willing to form a treaty and they weren't convinced it was graciousness on their part.

Wasn't it just just like them to decide n.o.body would offer such a thing merely to have peace? That they must be worried, or fearful? It made her blood run cold just thinking what they might try if they thought the Sumpturians were vulnerable in any way. like them to decide n.o.body would offer such a thing merely to have peace? That they must be worried, or fearful? It made her blood run cold just thinking what they might try if they thought the Sumpturians were vulnerable in any way.

If possible, Sybil had a worse headache that evening as she headed back to her quarters. Instead of popping more painkillers, she decided to try to take a catnap. Her mind was so active she thought at first she wouldn't be able to, especially when she could smell the mingling of her scent and Anka's on her linens. Eventually, though, the broken rest she'd had the night before caught up with her. She woke to discover she'd slept nearly two hours and the headache wasn't gone. Maybe she just needed food? She hadn't eaten much the night before or at lunch.

The temptation to order another tray was strong. Reluctantly, she discarded the idea. The moment she'd thought of food the hope had instantly arisen that Anka might come back, but it was that very thing that drove her from her quarters to dine in the mess with everyone else. She shouldn't be be there if he did decide to come back! there if he did decide to come back!

She had a bad feeling that Meachum suspected something and it wouldn't be good for either of them to be caught together. Not that she was particularly worried about herself. The Sumpturian enclave was restricted to the conference center, though, even if they did have diplomatic immunity. Anka wasn't supposed to be inside the military complex at all and there was no telling what sort of flap it would cause if he was found there.

Despite her objective in using food as a curative, she found that it only succeeded in dulling the pain a little more. It was tension headache, she decided, not a hunger headache. When she left the mess hall, she headed to the gym for a workout, reminding herself that she was behind in her routine anyway. It took work, and a lot of it, to counteract the effects of micro gravity despite the efforts to create simulated gravity. Without the centrifugal force the rotators created and the workout they got from the magnetic fields, the moon base would've been completely impossible, but even with them anyone stationed for a long period had to work out regularly.

Thankfully, the work out took care the tension. Feeling pleasantly tired, Sybil headed back to her quarters and a hot bath. She was sitting in the middle of her bed combing the tangles from her hair when a strange phenomena in the center of her quarters caught her attention. Her heart skipped several beats as the particles solidified, fear and joy instantly at war.

'Anka!'

He grinned at her expression. 'My apologies. There are patrols in the corridor or I would've had better manners than to enter without permission.'

Sybil sprang from her bed and rushed toward him, gripping his arms a little frantically. 'This is bad! This is really bad! You shouldn't be here!'

He lifted his brows at her but gathered her into his arms, nuzzling her neck. 'Does that mean I'm not welcome, my nodia nodia?'

Sybil clutched at him. 'Of course it doesn't! I mean!'

He chuckled. Leaning away, he stroked her cheek lightly. 'Yes or no, nodia nodia?'

Sybil felt a thrill race through her at the reminder of that night, the first night he'd asked her that. She struggled with the warmth it produced, wrestled with her desire to have him stay and her concern for him. 'This is a restricted area. You aren't supposed to be here.'

He studied her for a moment. 'Then come back to my place with me.'

The temptation was so overwhelming she wanted to jump on it. She bit her lip, thinking about it. 'I'll be considered AWOL if they try to summon me for any reason and I'm not here. And that could cause trouble, too, especially if they figure out I'm with you.'

He studied her face. 'You're very worried about this?'

Sybil sighed. 'I'm worried about you.' She hesitated. 'You're here now, though. Stay a while.'

Anka led her to the bed and drew her down with him. 'Tell me what you're so worried about,' he murmured once he'd arranged her against his length.

Wariness flickered through her. 'I told you. Don't pretend you don't know that this is a restricted area. I know you have them on your own base.'

He shifted far enough away to study her face. 'I wouldn't insult your intelligence, nodia nodia.' He released a harsh breath. 'I shouldn't have come.'

Sybil wrestled with the thoughts that had been circling her mind ever since the conversation with Meachum earlier. She didn't think they would've taken root and created uncertainty if she hadn't already been struggling with doubts of her own, but she realized she simply didn't want to face the possibility that Anka was trying to use her. 'I wanted you to come, hoped you would. I know you'll be leaving soon and' She paused, swallowing with an effort against the emotions clogging her throat. 'I just don't want to create problems for you.'

'That's all of it?'

'It's enough.'

'It isn't enough to keep me away. Tell me it will cause problems for you. Tell me you don't want me and I'll go and I won't come back.'

Sybil looked into his eyes mournfully, feeling her own fill with tears. She knew what she should say if she truly cared about him. 'I don't want you here. I want you to go.'

His gaze flickered over her face. 'Liar,' he murmured. Surging toward her, he pushed her onto her back and covered her mouth with his, kissing her deeply. The glide of his tongue over hers was sheer delight. His taste and scent invaded her like a strong intoxicant, making her dizzy, warm, and completely malleable.

Sybil struggled inwardly, but it was a losing battle. She didn't want him to go. She was too selfish to do the right thing and send him away. All that kept drumming in her mind as she luxuriated in the feel of his mouth on hers was that she only had a little time to be with him and she couldn't bear to give it up. 'You'll be careful when you come?' she asked breathlessly when he broke the kiss.

'I'm a cautious ril ril, nodia nodia. I'm always careful,' he murmured carelessly.

'I mean it, Anka!' she said as he nibbled a trail kisses along her face and down her neck.

'I am deadly serious also,' he murmured, plucking at the nipple he found with his lips.

'That feels good.'

He smiled against her breast. 'Does it?'

'Mmmm.'

He moved to the twin peak. 'And this?'

'Mmmhmm.'

He sucked it briefly and lifted his head. 'Where else do you like kisses?'

Sybil opened her eyes with an effort and lifted a hand to touch his mouth. 'I like this mouth. I like your kisses. You can kiss me anywhere you want to.'

His eyes gleamed. Rolling off of her, he pulled his boots off and then his suit. A wicked grin curled his lips when he climbed onto the bunk again and grasped her ankle. Sybil eyed him with misgiving. Jerking her foot off the bed, he caught her big toe between his teeth and raked them along the tender pad.

Sybil jerked all over and let out a shriek of laughter before she could stop herself. She clamped a hand over her mouth, trying to stifle the urge to laugh hysterically as he systematically nibbled each toe, but she was laughing so hard by the time he got to the pinky tears were streaming from her eyes. 'Anka! You madman! Stop it!' she hissed at him in a whisper.

'You said anywhere, nodia nodia,' he reminded her, grabbing her other foot. She tried to wrest it away from him, but his grip was unbreakable. Instead of raking the toes with his teeth, however, he sucked them one by one and Sybil felt the urge to laugh die. Her belly shimmied.

He sent her a knowing look. 'Where else are you sensitive, I wonder?' he said musingly.

Sybil swallowed convulsively.

He tilted his head. 'You won't talk? I guess I'll have to discover it on my own.'

She gasped as he began nibbling kisses along her calf to her knee. 'Don't torture me,' she murmured playfully.

He sent her a heavy lidded look. 'Too late to beg for mercy now.'

She wasn't sure she wanted to, or could as he pa.s.sed her knee and began to nibble along her inner thigh. It was was torture. It made her belly clench so hard it cramped, but it also sent out electrifying currents of heat. Her back came up off the bed when he reached the apex of her thigh and sucked on the soft patch of flesh at the very top. She grabbed his head between her hands. He caught her wrists, forcing her hands down until he'd clamped them on either side of her hips. She tried to clamp her legs together but discovered he'd effectively blocked that avenue of escape with his body. torture. It made her belly clench so hard it cramped, but it also sent out electrifying currents of heat. Her back came up off the bed when he reached the apex of her thigh and sucked on the soft patch of flesh at the very top. She grabbed his head between her hands. He caught her wrists, forcing her hands down until he'd clamped them on either side of her hips. She tried to clamp her legs together but discovered he'd effectively blocked that avenue of escape with his body.

'Anka?'

'Shhh,' he murmured, leaning down to suck the same spot on the opposite thigh. 'Relax, nodia nodia.'

Relax? With his With his head head between her legs? between her legs?

She would've jackknifed upright again when he moved to the cleft between her legs if she could have. She discovered she couldn't. For several moments after he'd begun to drag his tongue along her cleft from her s.e.x to her c.l.i.t she couldn't decide whether she wanted to escape or not. The moment he caught her c.l.i.t between his lips and sucked at it, however, she lost any ability to think. She nearly pa.s.sed out at the jolt that went through her and the wave upon wave of shocks that followed it with each tug of his mouth.

She gasped, panted, struggling to catch her breath, but his mouth and the sensations pouring through her had her entire focus. She felt her body heating toward explosion, felt the tension she recognized begin to build and it still caught her completely off guard when she climaxed, dragging a sharp cry from her. He continued to tease the exquisitely sensitive nub until she thought she would black out and finally lifted his head.

She groaned piteously when he lowered his head to kiss her lower belly and began a tortuous a.s.sault upward, writhing beneath his touch as if he was branding her with fire. It was was tortuous, and yet she couldn't bring herself to beg him to stop, as certain as she was that she couldn't bear it if he touched her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. tortuous, and yet she couldn't bring herself to beg him to stop, as certain as she was that she couldn't bear it if he touched her b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

She knew knew that was his goal. that was his goal.

He caught her arms again when she folded them over b.r.e.a.s.t.s, suckling her b.r.e.a.s.t.s one that the time with a leisurely relish that forced the breath from her lungs.

'Anka!' she gasped finally. 'I can't stand anymore! Please!'

He released the nipple he'd been torturing, studied her face a long moment and surged upward, wedging the head of his c.o.c.k in her opening. She was far more interested in ending the torment than anything else at that point, but the muscles of her s.e.x had been clenching with such hard spasms they seemed to have permanently clenched together. Penetration was torture in itself, for both of them. He was shaking all over by the time he'd managed to enter her completely.

She came almost as soon as he began to move, groaning, shuddering. He slowed, waited until she'd stopped convulsing and began to move faster, changing the rhythm and the depth until she began to climb again. Dread filled her along with antic.i.p.ation, but no amount of reluctance was enough to stop the climb toward another peak. She was pretty sure she blacked out momentarily when it hit her.