“I assume you heard the news.”
She was standing between his parted thighs and waiting for the digital download on his band to complete. It was hard to organize her thoughts with the heat of him pulling at her senses. “What news?”
“Medic Tao has cleared me for release. I leave tomorrow.”
This was how the connection was supposed to end. She was never meant to develop an interest in him. Never meant to soften in any way toward a soldier who wouldn’t even remember her.
“I think Caris mentioned it. Congratulations. I know it’s important for you to return to your Unit.” She released his wrist and keyed in the additional notes on her data pad.
“Yes.” Bane reached for one of her hands and clasped her fingers. “It is.”
Their hands highlighted their differences. Her skin was a shade darker, her hand appearing far more delicate next to his strong, thick fingers. Callused and rough to her soft and smooth.
There were no nail beds on his. No thin layer on top as most races with fingers had. It was an oddity she’d noticed the first time she’d touched his wrist to take his readings.
She tugged on her hand but he tightened his hold to pull her closer until his inner thighs surrounded her. The position had her snuggled in the v formed by his legs and the drying cloth slid up higher. Stars, any higher and she’d catch a glimpse of his shaft. Her heart pounded out a desperate beat and she wasn’t sure if she could look away.
Would he be hard and smooth there as well? Would she find pleasure with him?
It was sheer folly to consider half of the rampant thoughts going through her mind. She glanced nervously at the closed door. “What are you doing? Anyone could come in, Jutak Hardusho.”
“Bane,” he murmured, lifting her arm. He flipped her hand in his and ran his mouth over the underside of her wrist.
Weak. She was weak for not pulling away immediately.
“Say my name. You did before.” He nibbled on her fingers as he made the request.
Shocks popped and sizzled everywhere his mouth touched. How did he expect her to think? Her fingers curled but she didn’t move them away. Danger had never felt this good.
“Say it.” His teeth traced the line of her fingers one by one, up and down then trailed his tongue lower to nip at her wrist. She jumped and his eyes glanced up to meet hers. His lips didn’t lift away as he held her gaze and flicked his tongue in teasing strokes over her rapid pulse to ease the sting. “Tell me what I did wrong last time.”
He spoke against her skin and it was too much. Her mind was a quivering mess. “H-huh?”
Bane’s lips quirked before he drew her middle finger into the deep recesses of his mouth. Dharma jolted. Warmth, wetness. Then he sucked. Hard.
“Ooohh.” The moan broke free before she realized it and her knees wobbled. She reached up with her free hand and threaded it through his damp hair for balance.
His tongue curled around her finger before releasing it after a last teasing lick. With his hands on her hips, he scooted toward the edge of the bed, bringing their bodies in direct contact. His stare was unwavering. “I want to sex share with you. I want to spend my last night here with you in my arms. If you don’t want that, tell me.”
She licked her lips. She wanted that. Him. All of it. The degree to which she craved giving in to him shocked her. It had been a long time since she had considered exposing her vulnerability to another. One who could potentially hurt her without using a physical weapon.
“It isn’t appropriate,” was all she could think to say. Her hand continued its addictive stroking through his hair. Bane tilted his head and leaned into the touch. Her touch.
“Because I’m a patient? Medic Tao released me. I’m no longer under your care or anyone else here at CV-8.”
She rolled her eyes at his stubbornness. “It’s not that.”
His hands glided from her waist to the curve of her hips and back again, smoothing the fabric of her uniform against her skin. The friction stirred her in ways she didn’t expect. It had to be an absentminded touch since he never took his eyes from her face.
“Then why? The desire is there. Your eyes are lit with a burning fire as we speak. Your nipples are taunting me, daring me to lick them.” He leaned forward and she stiffened. Instead of putting his mouth on her nipples, he rested his head between her breasts. “Why, Dharma?”
She froze, her hand falling from his hair. Her body cried out in protest. Bane must have sensed the change in her. He locked his powerful legs about her as she struggled to get away.
She pressed her hands against his shoulders to shove him off but it was like trying to move a building. This was wrong. Everything was wrong.
Wrong.
Wrong.
Wrong.
He gripped her arms and gently shook them, frustration dominating his gaze. “Wrong? What do you mean? What’s wrong? Why is wanting me wrong?”
Had she spoken aloud? Irrational fear consumed her. Dharma shifted and slammed her knee into his inner thigh. Sucking in a sharp breath, he parted his legs. She jumped back and ran her trembling hand over her hair. Bane was on his feet and in front of her, blocking her escape to the door. She darted around him and raced toward it anyway.
Bane hooked an arm about her waist, pinning her back to his chest. Dharma fought and kicked. He didn’t relent, not by a flinch as her nails dug into the arms he wound around her.
Her chest tightened until she couldn’t breathe. Spots and flashing red globes floated in front of her vision. She twisted and jerked about, her legs kicking out. Her heart pounded out a driving rhythm. All she could think of was running, getting away before the darkness swallowed her whole.
Bane buried his face in the side of her neck. “Shhh. Deep breaths. It’s alright. I have you.”
Broken cries, whimpers and feeble sounds of distress filled the air. It took a moment for her to realize she was making the animal-like noises.
“I have you. Deep breaths, gariad.” His gentle murmurs pierced her cloud of terror.
Exhausted, she slumped, her head falling back on his chest and just listened.
“Feel my arms around you. Feel me.”
His arms were just below her breasts, enfolding her in a solid embrace. The drying cloth had been lost and the heat of his erection pressed against her back. He nuzzled the side of her throat, his words whisper soft as he ran his nose behind her ear. “That’s it. Slow and steady. I have you.”
No one had her. She was adrift. Dharma stared at the door. Right now, here, nothing could get to her. On the other side there was a price to pay.
“Danger,” she said in a quiet voice. There was danger out there. To him. To her.
Bane went solid behind her but kept up the soothing whispers. She focused on the words in hopes of calming the overwhelming knowledge she was on the cusp of failing. Death awaited those who failed.
“You are safe with me,” Bane murmured. “I have you. Did you know I wasn’t full Enotian?”
The shift and question was unexpected. Dharma didn’t say anything but her head moved from side to side.
“My maman is Ceraton. She taught me their ways.”
Dharma listened, his voice easing the warnings shrieking in her head.
“A male Ceraton risks much to sex share with a female. She is more deadly due to her larger size.”