Redemption, p.2
Redemption, page 2
“Is that right?” his brother asked. He exchanged an amused look with Kaje, and Jarek knew neither would drop the subject.
“Is Mother coming?” he asked before they could question him further about Zola.
“No. She said something came up at the temple, but she sends her congratulations,” he said.
“Tell her thank you for us,” Kaje replied.
“Of course,” Roarr said, turning back to Jarek with a guileless expression that put his guard up. “We can see Zola safely to her rooms. There’s no need for you to stay.”
His gut clenched at the suggestion. It took several moments to reign in his first instinct—to punch his brother—and then his second—grab Zola and run. Roarr simply waited him out, arms crossed over his chest, an expectant look on his face.
“Have you finally lost your mind, brother?” Jarek asked.
Roarr grinned. “Have you found yours? Or were you planning on letting her get away from you?”
“I’m giving her time to recover from the trauma she’s been through,” he said severely, hoping Roarr would shut up.
He hadn’t counted on Kareena rejoining them. She slipped into her mate’s embrace. “I think your time is running out,” she said softly.
She sounded worried. He turned to look at Zola again, wondering if she was planning to take off sooner rather than later.
“You think she’s going to try to leave?”
Kareena tilted her head and looked at him as if he was an experiment gone wrong. “If she wants to leave, she’ll find a way.”
“You think we can’t keep one woman from fleeing the Keep and rushing right back into danger?”
“I think you’d be a fool to try.”
He shouldn’t be surprised she was challenging him so openly. Delroi females didn’t speak so boldly, so bluntly in mixed company. Of course, she wasn’t Delroi so she refused to follow the usual rules. She was also a priestess of the goddess and the clan chief’s mate, which just made it worse. This is what he had to look forward to? No. Zola would be worse. Much harder to control. She would rebel against his need to protect her constantly. And to protect her, he’d need allies, namely her friends.
“She can’t continue with this obsession, sister,” he said softly, unsure how to get her on his side. “To leave the Keep would be courting death. She’s done her part. After what she and Parker did in the Green Zone they’ve probably given up.”
Kareena arched her eyebrows and then, shaking her head, laughed. “I seriously doubt that, Jarek. The operation that rescued us also killed a lot of Tel’s membership, but not all of it. And don’t forget, Zola was one of theirs. She betrayed them then escaped. They don’t take slights…lightly. One day, sooner rather than later, they will come after her. Again.”
“You seem very certain of that.” And her sureness made him cold. He was briefed on most things concerning the clan in case Roarr was incapacitated, so he knew Tel had managed to get several agents on planet. He hadn’t believed they could get past the Keep’s security though. He refused to lose Zola to these people.
“I fought them my whole life and I wasn’t even one of them. They’re fanatics. Almost like a cult. Betrayal won’t go unpunished.”
Fuck. He didn’t like the sound of that.
“But maybe she’ll decide to stay with her mother tomorrow. From what I hear, they could take on an army together,” Kareena continued. Then she shrugged. “Hell, Xan could insist on taking over her protection couldn’t he?”
Her words didn’t make any damned sense and filled him with dread. “What are you talking about?”
“The trip tomorrow? To the Bana stronghold? You didn’t know Zola and Parker were going?”
He glared at his brother. “No, I didn’t know.”
Thank the gods Roarr had already asked him to go along and he wouldn’t have to spend the night clearing the next day’s schedule. But he should have been told. He might have to claim his mate before she was ready. In any other clan, that wouldn’t be a problem, but in the Clan of the Keep der’lans were not bound until they gave an indication they agreed.
Zola had just run out of time.
***
The evening stretched longer than she’d expected. Zola watched as Parker got the small stylized tattoo on her the side of her neck, and then the party started. All of Kaje’s brother’s were there, a couple of warriors she didn’t know, Kareena, Roarr, and of course, Jarek. After the tattooing, the food and booze came out. Thank the goddess. Though in retrospect she probably had a glass or two more gazzi than she should have. She definitely had a nice buzz going on. Surely that explained why she let Jarek take her hand, lead her through the Keep, and straight to his rooms. Because hadn’t she been all noble and self-sacrificing and shit and decided she couldn’t have him?
Before she could really focus on that thought, he pulled her inside and kissed her. No, that was too tame a description. He inhaled her, consumed her. Took her over. And she was all for going along for the ride. The hell with caution and self-preservation. Who needed it? She wanted to indulge just once. Just tonight.
He turned her back to the door and lifted her so his cock pressed against the juncture between her thighs. It was a tease and she wanted more. She wrapped her legs around his hips and tried to get closer. When that didn’t work, she pulled his shirt free and slid her hands up his back. His skin was smooth, the muscles under her fingertips hard. She scratched him and then dragged his shirt up. He broke the kiss to yank it off, then hers. She wore no bra and her breathing was ragging. His gaze caught on her nipples, heated when he noticed the bars piercing them. He stared down at her with such need in his eyes she thought she’d combust on the spot.
“We’ll have to switch these to something pretty,” he murmured, as he lowered his head to lick his tongue over one nipple.
His tongue swirled over her and the piercing. Her nipple was already hard but that sweet rasp sent sensation straight to her cunt. She was amazed that even through her pants and his, he couldn’t feel her wetness. When he sucked her into his mouth, closing his teeth around the hard point, she damn near came. She cried out his name and tunneled her fingers in his hair, trying to hold him closer while she ground her hips against him.
Suddenly, she was close to coming, faster than she’d ever experienced. She dragged her sex over his cock, pressing as close as she could get. When he released her nipple, she freaking whimpered. She needed to come. Needed him. So badly she ached with it. He latched onto her other nipple while his free hand struggled with the button on her pants, then her zipper. Then, oh goddess, his hand was on her bare skin, spreading her folds to find her clit. His touch wasn’t gentle. It was rough, as commanding as his voice.
“Come, sweetheart. Come now,” he whispered against her skin.
She didn’t even attempt to hold back. She needed this too much. It had been so long since she’d been touched with real desire. Since she’d felt it. The release was powerful, starting in her womb and spreading out in exquisite electric sparks that left her craving more. He held her for a long time, but when he pulled back it wasn’t to strip her and fuck her the way she wanted. Rough and hard and half the night.
No, there was regret on his face. Just fucking great. She hurried to do up her pants and bent to grab her shirt. After she pulled it on, he spoke.
“Don’t go.” His voice was gruff. Yearning. She felt a moment of relief, hope even. “We need to talk.”
Damn. She hoped he wasn’t calling a permanent halt, but that sounded too serious. He took her hand and led her to the couch.
“You’re going to see your mother tomorrow?”
She should have guessed he’d hear about that. “Yeah.” He was silent so long she prodded him. “What about it?”
“You know you’re mine, right? My der’lan.”
Her response was immediate and harsh. “No fucking way.”
He grabbed her before she could move away and pulled her so she straddled his lap. His cock rubbed against her pussy and she groaned. She forgot all about getting away, but he didn’t rush to fulfill any of her fantasies of a hot and naked Jarek Idis.
“We need to talk about this,” he said.
“I don’t want to be anyone’s possession.”
“It’s not like that, sweetheart.”
“How can you say that with a straight face? You’re talking about forging a link that cannot be undone. I may not be from this planet but I have seen bonds like that before. And I’ve been here long enough to know that in this clan you can’t force it on me.”
For minute he looked angry then it morphed to something she couldn’t define. It made her nervous.
“I’ll make a deal with you, Zola. You give me two weeks. Move into my rooms. Spend time with me. If you still don’t want this in two weeks, I’ll let you go.”
She almost laughed but she could see he was serious. “You really think you could?”
“I don’t know,” he answered. At least she heard honesty in his voice. “But if you run now, I’ll do what’s necessary and the hell with tradition.”
Kareena was wrong. He was a total asshat.
“You’re threatening me,” she said coldly.
He arched his eyebrows. “I’m negotiating. I want you here with me. In my quarters, in my bed. When I’m not working, neither are you. You need to get to know me to accept the bond? Fine. Let’s do it.”
He stunned her speechless.
“We want each other. Why not enjoy the time we have?” He shrugged. “You’re so determined to leave. It’s an opportunity, I for one, don’t want to miss.”
She rolled her eyes. “Where are you getting this from? I never said I want to leave. But I do need to take care of Tel. They’re coming after me. They’re my problem.”
She tried to slide off his lap but he gripped her hips, held her still. His eyes were stormy, angry and worried. “The one time you left the Keep they tried to kill you.”
“And you’ve seen what Parker and I did to them,” she said softly. She didn’t tell him she’d been leaving the Keep on a regular basis. He’d just freak out. Instead she focused on what he did know.
She and Parker hadn’t planned their actions. They’d been visiting the goddess temple in the Green Zone when rebels, including two Tel agents, surrounded them. Eventually they would have got reinforcements, but when Parker thought Kaje had been killed she’d lost her damned mind and walked right into the middle of the firefight. Zola had done the unthinkable and stepped out with her. They’d joined minds and while Parker used her telepathy against the rebel minds, Zola had deflected and turned their weapons fire back on them.
“I have nightmares about what you two did,” Jarek snapped. It wasn’t fear of her but for her that she saw in his eyes. “There wasn’t a damned thing I could do to protect you. You have any idea what that’s like for a Delroi warrior, sweetheart?”
She didn’t like the expression on his face. Hard and domineering. Like he’d made a decision for her.
“You’re a healer.” It was the only response she could think of that wouldn’t immediately start a fight.
This time he smiled. Slow and sexy and maybe a little bit mean. “I was born into a warrior clan, baby, the younger brother of a chief. I will always be a warrior first.”
Damn. She was so screwed. Because she found that declaration hot. His nostrils flared and his pupils dilated. “You like that.”
Well, she didn’t want a man that was a pushover, did she? What the hell was she thinking? And how the fuck did he know what she was thinking?
“You said you aren’t a telepath,” she said suspiciously.
“No. I’m a healer. A real healer, not just someone who’s trained in medicine.”
Her confusion must have shown.
“My gift is a little bit of everything else, I suppose you’d say. I sense, see changes in the body. Injuries. Illnesses. I can heal with my mind.”
Wow. She’d heard of this gift on Earth, but never met anyone who had it.
“I always see you with the usual instruments.” Something else occurred to her and made her suspicious. “Have you used this gift on me?”
Would that explain the almost visceral need she felt when she was around him? He had the grace to look guilty at least.
“It has its limits,” he said. “And I only used it the first couple of times I saw you. You needed the extra boost. You healed faster and easier, admit it.”
He had her there. Still, she felt betrayed. He had a psychic power she’d had no idea of and had used it on her without her knowledge or permission. This time when she tried to move and he held on, she used her own power to free herself. She underestimated his strength though, and she didn’t get far. He caught her in two feet, yanked her close, and fell down to the couch on top of her. She should have fought, should have got the hell out of there as fast as she fucking could, but the feel of him, strong and heavy and aroused pressed against her, shut off her thinking brain cells. What remained working just wanted him naked and inside her. She groaned and the sorry bastard grinned.
“If you’d stopped long enough to talk to me, you’d know about this already, Zola.”
She glared at him. That wasn’t fair. “Excuse me? You haven’t exactly been mister friendly.”
He gave her one of those lusty soulful looks every now and then, but he rarely spoke to her. Never sought her out. It took a few seconds to realize she actually felt insulted.
“You weren’t ready,” he said softly, regretfully. “You still aren’t.”
Now, that hurt for some reason. She shoved at his shoulders but the stubborn man didn’t budge. She glowered.
“If that’s what you think then what’s with the ultimatum?”
For the first time, he looked uncertain.
“What?” she demanded when he didn’t say anything.
“You’re leaving the Keep tomorrow to see your mother and her mate.”
Sometimes it was like talking a whole other language with these aliens. “So?”
“Xan Bana is your only male relative on Delroi. I’ve known him my whole life. He’s a good man, but he’s old fashioned even by our standards,” he joked, but he was making her nervous.
“First, he’s not my relative. My mother may have hooked up with him, but the only reason I’m going to see her is to try to get information out of her. Second, so what?”
He shook his head. “You aren’t on Earth, der’lan. You are unclaimed and he can demand we surrender you to him.”
“That’s insane.”
She couldn’t believe something so ridiculous had come out of his mouth. Was that her mother’s plan? To recapture Zola herself using Delroi’s stupid archaic rules? Amazingly, after all she’d been through, the thought sent a pang of hurt and grief through her heart.
“Baby, I’m sorry,” Jarek said, cupping her face and pressing a soft kiss to her lips. “There’s a way around that danger, but not if you walk in there denying I’m your mate.”
She wasn’t sure if that statement made her want to rage or hyperventilate. What happened to a two week trial? Asshole. He’d known when they walked in he was going to try to force this on her. She bucked against him, trying to get free, but as long as she didn’t use her power, he easily held her still. There was a part of her that wasn’t ready to leave.
“Zola. It doesn’t have to be officially done. You just have to not deny it. This is the Keep after all and you’re a priestess. You get a little latitude.”
She struggled a minute before his words sunk in. “Why has no one else brought this up?”
He stroked his fingers down her face to gently wrap his hand around her neck. It was controlling, erotic. And oddly comforting. His eyes were gentle when they met hers.
“I doubt it even occurred to Roarr or Kaje. Like I said, we’ve known Xan all our lives. I wouldn’t have worried about it either, but I know how suspicious you are of your mother.”
“You’ve all said you’re sure he was never in with the rebels.”
“That’s true.” He shrugged. “But he’s newly mated. I have no idea what she’s like or what she’s told him.”
He leaned his forehead against hers and was silent a long moment. “I need you back here with me tomorrow night, sweetheart. I need to know you’re safe. That you’re at my side.”
“I can’t keep hiding from them. Don’t put me on the defensive with these people, Jarek. I’m good but I’m not infallible.”
His big body shuddered against hers and she swore she felt his fear like it was her own, even though she wasn’t an empath.
“I’m the senior healer here,” he said softly. “And most of my time is taken by that. But I do still train and I still go on patrols sometimes. Are you telling me you wouldn’t worry?”
Oh damn. She hadn’t seen that coming and she was surprised how much it bothered her. She hadn’t really thought of him as safe, but she’d thought he was safe. Obviously she’d missed a few things since her arrival in the Keep. She could also clearly see that this was a part of who he was. If she wanted to be a part of his life, even for a short while, she knew she had to accept it.
“I would worry,” she conceded. “But I’d trust that you know your own capabilities.”
His laugh was more a weary sigh. “I should have expected that.”
He didn’t give her a chance to reply. He kissed her. Slow and deep. Commanding, domineering. He took complete control and it worried her a little bit that she liked it. She was panting when he let her up for air. Then he stood, pulling her to her feet and stepping back a few feet. What the hell? He was breathing hard, skin drawn tight over his face, and she could clearly see the outline of his erection. Yet he moved away.
“You need to make a decision, der’lan,” he said. “Do we get our two weeks? And if you say yes, you should know that tomorrow, when we see Xan? I will make him aware you are my mate.”
“If I decide not to do this at the end of two weeks? What about Xan then?”
He shook his head. “You’re still mine. I’ll protect you as well as I can.”
