Cursed: Brides of the Kindred 13 (13 page)

“Six?” she moaned, looking at him uncertainly.

“Do you need more pain?” he asked, doing it again. “I do not wish to hurt you but I will…up to a point. If that is what you need to feel forgiven, to feel that you have paid for your crimes, then I will give it to you.” He drew back and thrust in hard a third time, making her moan and jump in his arms.

“No,” she somehow managed to whisper, gripping his shoulders. “No, I don’t need more punishment. I just need you inside me, loving me. Making love to me and letting me know you care.”

“Good.” A look of relief crossed his strong features and his grip on her hips eased up considerably. “Good,
Lasai.
I don’t wish to hurt you. I only want to love you now—if you think you can let go and start loving yourself again.”

“I…I don’t know,” Mei-Li moaned softly as he began a slow, steady, much gentler rhythm inside her. “I don’t know if I can do that, but I’ll try. God, I swear I’ll try…”

She could feel the pleasure cresting inside her and she knew she was about to come. She wanted to close her eyes as the sensations rushed over her but somehow she couldn’t. Her gaze was locked with Six’s and as the orgasm took her, she couldn’t look away from the pleasure and pain in those steel gray depths, couldn’t break the intensity between them.

“
Lasai,”
he sent through their mental bond.
“Love you so much…need you so much…”

“
I need you too,”
she sent back.
“I’m so close, Six…but I can’t...quite…”

“
Maybe I can help.”
She felt the warm fingers of his metal-enhanced hand slip up to stroke her swollen folds, tracing the place where they were joined. Then the broad pad of his thumb found her throbbing clit and began to circle it again and again. At the same time a gentle vibration began, buzzing up from the thin silver metal of his enhancement and bathing the sensitive little bundle of nerves in tingling sensation.

Six’s magically vibrating fingers and the slow, deep thrust of his thick shaft inside her was suddenly too much.

“God!” Mei-Li moaned as she felt her inner muscles tighten, spasming around him, begging him to fill her with his seed.

Six responded to her wordless plea by allowing her orgasm to trigger his own. With a low groan, he crushed her to him and she felt the hot, wet rush of him spurting inside her, filling her in a way no human man had ever done.

As always she was filled with wonder even as she was overcome with pleasure. Making love with Six was like nothing she’d ever done before—the few human lovers she’d had couldn’t compare to him in either intensity or pleasure. And of course, the vibrating fingers were amazing.

“Six!” she gasped as he moaned, “
Lasai!”
at the same time. For an endless moment they strained together, trying to get even closer though it didn’t seem possible. Then, at last the pleasure began to ebb and Mei-Li collapsed against his shoulder panting, her heart pounding in her chest.

When she finally sat up, she was surprised to see tears glimmering in his steel gray eyes.

“Six?” she asked cautiously, wondering if their lovemaking had somehow set off another of the buried memories of his family. “Six, honey, are you okay?”

“I am well.” His deep voice sounded choked. “Are you?”

“Well…sure I am.” He was looking at her so anxiously she felt the need to reassure him. “I feel fine. A little sore but that’s okay.”

“And…will you…do you think you can ever forgive me for what I had to do? I hurt you. I did not want to but I did.”

“What, you mean for spanking me?” Mei-Li frowned. “I should be really mad about that you know—you treated me like a naughty child. Except…”

“Except what?” he asked, still looking at her anxiously.

“Except, well…it kind of made me feel better in a weird way.” Mei-Li shook her head. “I don’t know why that should be, though.”

“Because you’ve taken your punishment.” Six stroked her cheek, still looking at her face uncertainly, as though trying to read her expression. “You need never feel guilty or wrong again because you’ve been punished. Your pain has paid for your misdeeds. They are no longer your guilt to bear.”

“I guess I never thought of it like that…But it actually feels true. I don’t feel guilty anymore.” Mei-Li looked at him wonderingly. “How did you know that would work? Was it something you did on Z4?”

He shook his head. “There was little room for discipline there—offenders of any law were usually purged, not punished.”

“Then how…”

“A memory from my childhood,” he admitted. “Only the spanking part, however.” One corner of his mouth went up. “The other was because I could not resist the way your bare bottom looked as you writhed in my lap. Gods, you’re beautiful,
Lasai.
”

“So you did what you thought needed to be done. But afterwards you were afraid you’d hurt me too much and I would never forgive you?” Mei-Li raised an eyebrow at him.

He nodded. “Please say it is not so. I didn’t
want
to punish you, Mei-Li, but you left me little choice. I could see that the guilt would continue to eat away at you if something wasn’t done.”

“Well…just don’t do it again.” She shook a finger at him. “And you’re darn lucky it worked. Although, how or why I don’t know. I just know I feel
better.”

“That was all I wanted—for you to feel better.” Six gathered her close to his broad chest, putting his long arms around her and hugging her tight. “I am still so new to the world of emotions that seeing you upset or distraught is very difficult to me. It makes me feel desperate, like I would do anything—
anything—
to ease your burden.”

Mei-Li had to smile. “Anything, huh? Even spank me?”

“I knew I was taking a risk,” Six said seriously. “But I didn’t know what else to do—what else to try.”

“You could try a little more of this.” He was still semi-hard inside her and Mei-Li raised halfway off him and then let herself slide slowly back down, taking him deep inside again.

“Gods, you’re tight!” Six groaned and she felt his shaft twitch and then begin to thicken inside her.

“Mm-hmm.” Mei-Li grinned and kissed him, nibbling teasingly at his lush lower lip until he growled with pleasure. “Come on, Six—make love to me again. And this time let’s take it slow.
Very
slow.”

“It sounds like a whole new kind of punishment,” he rumbled. “One that may drive me mad before you are finished with me.”

“That’s the idea.” Mei-Li gave him a naughty smile. “Now come on, honey—let’s go.”

Chapter Ten

“…and that is why we need you to undertake this mission. The Dark Kindred have formed a barricade between the Mother Ship and Earth. Their intention is to take it over, strip it of natural resources, and enslave the inhabitants. Of course, we do not intend to let them do that, but they have superior numbers and very advanced weaponry on their side,” Commander Sylvan said.

At least, Charlie
thought
it was Commander Sylvan—the deep rumble of male voices was a little muted by the metal door between her and the Kindred Council meeting.

She was very well aware that she shouldn’t be here but she’d felt like she had to come. After all, if the Kindred had something sinister planned for Earth, she needed to find out what it was. Then maybe she could somehow warn someone in authority before it was too late.

That was what she told herself as she slipped out the door and trailed Stavros quietly through the busy medical station and down crowded metal corridors of the Mother Ship, anyway. But the truth was more complicated, though she didn’t want to acknowledge it, even to herself.

It was the way they had parted. She couldn’t stop seeing that look in his eyes—the look that said he was going to his doom. It was that, as much as any secret information she might gain, that had sent her sneaking after him, being careful to keep out of his sight until she saw him turn into what was clearly a special wing of the Mother Ship.

There was a guard posted outside the antechamber but luckily Stavros had thought to bring her purse when he abducted her. Most of its contents were useless—she’d already tried the cell phone with no results—but she still had her wallet and badge. She had marched up to the guard and displayed the badge which was a metal disk in the shape of the Earth with her name and serial number stamped on it.

“Agent Sayers with the EPB,” she’d said briskly, wishing she had a uniform or at least a blazer to wear in order to look more official. “I’m here as a consultant representing Earth’s interests in this meeting. Commander Sylvan is expecting me.”

Her official manner and the badge had worked wonders. The seven foot tall Kindred guard had meekly let her past and she had found herself in the small, bare antechamber, separated from the Council room by only a metal door. Settling in to listen, Charlie had learned some truly horrifying facts about the Dark Kindred and their plans for total domination of the Earth.

“How can we stop them if they have superior numbers and fire power?” Stavros asked. “The inhabitants of Earth can be somewhat stubborn and irritating at times but in working there I have come to love the planet as my own home. I will do anything I can to protect it and the people who live there.”

“That is what we hoped you would say,” Commander Sylvan replied. “We have the beginnings of a plan predicated on a prophesy given to us by the Goddess. Will you hear it?”

“Of course. Please proceed.”

“Very well:

“Cursed to find an early grave

Will be the one the Light to Save

The Pain of others he must feel

The wounds of others he can heal

To stop the evil he must find

The Heart of Love in J’lorgon’s Mind

To bring it to the void and cold

And cast it in, he must be bold.

For…”

There was a lingering pause on the other side of the door. Then Stavros said, “If he what?”

“Unfortunately, we do not know—the prophesy is incomplete although we have people working to find the rest of it.”

“It clearly seems to indicate someone of my situation, though.” Stavros sounded thoughtful. “Cursed to find an early grave and the pain of others he must feel—that clearly indicates a Sin Eater.”

An early grave? What do they mean by that?
Charlie frowned but the conversation in the other room was already moving on.

“We thought so too which was why we need you so urgently, Commander Stavros,” one of the other Council members said.

“But you need me to do what?” Stavros sounded perplexed. “What is the Heart of Love and where is J’lorgon’s Mind?”

“I’ll let Commander Lock answer that,” Sylvan said. “He has been researching the matter extensively and in fact, has only just returned from a fact-finding trip.”

Commander Lock?
Charlie felt a shock go through her.
That’s not the one who…no it can’t be.
Then a new voice began and she forced herself to listen.

“J’lorgon’s Mind is a place of healing and wisdom in the Crab Nebula founded by the great Syntharian healer, T’dai al J’Lorgon,” a new voice said. “It is a retreat of sorts—a place where those who are weary in body and soul can find refreshment and renewal.”

“And the Heart of Love?” Stavros asked.

“A priceless artifact at the center of the resort. The reports of what it actually is very greatly. Some say it is a sacred pink synthar-crystal carved with the runes for love and understanding.. Others say it is a rare pygmy
Manai
tree which blossoms only in the presence of true and unconditional love. Some say it is actually the preserved heart of T’dai al J’Lorgon himself which fills whomever stands near it with love and understanding towards all living beings.”

“So we’re not sure what it is?” Sylvan asked.

“I couldn’t find out for sure. But according to the prophesy, we need it—it’s the only way to defeat the Dark Kindred. And I did find out one thing—the one who claims the Heart of Love is the only one who can use it effectively. All the legends agree on that.”

“Naturally this priceless relic isn’t for sale,” Sylvan said dryly.

“Of course not—it’s closely guarded,” Lock admitted. “Though I dislike duplicity, I am afraid it will have to be taken. But not by force—the wards and security systems around the resort are much too complicated to make that a feasible option. No, it must be taken by subterfuge by someone working on the inside.”

“All right, that sounds simple enough,” Stavros rumbled. “I’ll pose as a weary pilgrim to this resort—this J’lorgon’s Mind. Then once I infiltrate it, I’ll find a way to get past the security and take the Heart of Love.”

“Unfortunately, it’s not quite as simple as that,” Lock said. “You see, J’lorgon’s Mind is a retreat for
couples.
You’ll need a female to go with you and pose as your mate. The two of you will pretend to be having problems and say that you need healing for your troubled relationship.”