Taken By Storm (6 page)

He suspected her levity covered discomfort or fear.

He hadn’t earned her trust as she had yet to earn his.

This was bound to be a strained partnership for some time to come.

“How close do you need to be?” she asked again.

“I just need to see it. If I have never been to a location, I must compile visual coordinates.”

“Well, then we can probably avoid the resorts.

There’s a scenic overlook where I can park long enough for you to transport yourself. Can you do it from inside the car or will you need to get out?” He didn’t comment. She wouldn’t like his answer and he didn’t relish another argument. She pulled the vehicle into the midst of other vehicles on a wider roadway. If he made her promise to wait until he returned, she’d drive off in the conveyance one instant after his form disappeared. He wasn’t a fool.

They hadn’t gone far when she pulled the conveyance onto a wide space at the roadside.

Crystals of frozen moisture danced on currents of air.

Tal watched their lazy descent while she rearranged the levers yet again. Ah, the crystals accumulated to form the mounds of white.

“It’s called snow,” she said.

“It’s beautiful,” he admitted.

She made a noncommittal sound and leaned forward toward the transparent plate in front of them.

“That group of points is called Maroon Bells. The sharper one, more by itself is Pyramid Peak. The image you put in my head looked more like Pyramid Peak to me.”

“I agree. Please turn off the conveyance. Let’s make the final determination from out there.”

She searched his face with obvious suspicion but she did as he asked. He remembered to open the door instead of shifting his shape through it. She lifted her hood, casting her features in shadow, and joined him in front of the vehicle. As she repeated the explanation, gesturing with her glove-covered hand, he suddenly turned and wrapped her firmly in his arms.

Charlotte arched away from Tal, shoving against his chest with all her strength. The low rumble surrounding her rapidly escalated to a deafening roar.

She covered her ears with her hands and screamed every obscenity she knew directly into his face.

A kaleidoscope of colors twirled and streaked, pulling them through the fabric of space. Charlotte felt his arms slip and then she was falling. She panicked, grasping at air as she frantically searched for him. The colors blinded her, their intensity nauseating.

Don’t leave me! Tal…

Stinging bits of snow pelted Charlotte’s face as she stumbled out of the transport conduit. She cried out, pulled her hood forward and retreated into the protection of her coat.

In a quick, smooth series of movements, Tal released his borrowed shape and formed a thick cloak large enough to wrap around them both. She encircled his torso with her arms and pressed her cold face into the hollow of his throat. His hair covered her exposed skin, protecting her everywhere the cloak did not. Violent shivers shook her and she moved closer, molding herself more tightly to his heat.

She felt him shudder and fidget, and then he began to speak rapidly in his musical native language. Why did she need to be here for this? He didn’t trust her enough to leave her alone and she didn’t blame him.

If fate presented another opportunity, she’d most likely run.

Tal continued to talk.

She clutched his back, trying to keep her teeth from chattering. His chest expanded sharply and he rose to his feet. Pulling her tightly against his chest, he stepped back into the vortex. She cried out. Even knowing what to expect, the spinning sensation disconcerted her.

When they emerged next to the car, he crawled into the backseat, cradling her in his arms. Head spinning, stomach tight, she waited for the vertigo to abate.

His fingers brushed her forehead. Soothing warmth penetrated her skin. She sighed and let her head loll against his shoulder. “What was that about?” Her cheek rested against warm, smooth skin.

He had shifted away the cloak and wore the long, open vest again. “Was it really necessary for you to take me…never mind. Why was it so important that you go there?”

“One of my companions, Vee, is ill. We communicated briefly in your dwelling but then we lost contact. Trey’s ship sustained damage when Joon attempted to collapse the vortex. Trey was able to transmit a signal but only to a specific location and only strong enough to reach the top of that mountain peak. He should be able to send down assistance soon.”

“What sort of assistance?” The warm cradle of his arms was way too comfortable. She should get up and sit beside him at least.

“Two members of Trey’s crew can pass as Earthlings. That was one of the reasons he chose them for this mission.”

“They’re shape-shifters?”

“No. Their skin tone and hair color are acceptable variations of those found on Earth. Vee is a shape-shifter, but as I said, he is too weak to…” She heard the worry in his tone and pushed away from his chest so she could see his face. “Can you help Vee?”

“Vee’s illness has to do with energy. The malady I suffered when you first found me is the same ailment afflicting Vee.”

“Can’t anyone on the ship give Vee energy?”

“They’ve done what they can. Apprehending Joon must take priority over Vee’s weakness. Now it’s even more important that I capture Joon quickly.” Was this Vee Tal’s lover? She couldn’t remember if anything Tal said indicated Vee’s gender. Charlotte’s chest tightened and she returned her head to his shoulder. “Do you need to join your body with Vee’s?”

Tal chuckled. “Vee is my mentor. He is ancient and he is male. I am not attracted to other men. There are many ways of transferring energy. Sexual release is just one of them.”

She sat up again and glared at him. “Why didn’t you explain that to me last night?”

“It is the
only
way that does not require some skill on the part of the donor.” He paused. “Was it really so traumatic? I know I gave you pleasure.” Her hand trembled as she tucked a lock of tousled hair behind her ear. How could she hope to make him understand? She might find him fascinating and exciting and undeniably attractive, but he terrified her too.

“It wouldn’t matter if you came from another city instead of another planet, I don’t know you,” she whispered. “That sort of intimacy is generally shared with someone you know very well and care about.”

“All Earthlings abide by this restrictive standard?” She squirmed in his lap, obviously uncomfortable with the topic. “No. But I do.”

“I’m grateful you allowed me to touch you. I don’t take your sacrifice lightly.”

If there had been any hint of mockery in his tone or expression, she might have slapped him, but she heard only gratitude. “Will it be necessary for you to…touch me again?” A heated tingle crept along her spine. She was such a hypocrite.

The corner of his mouth twitched. “That depends on how long it takes me to find Joon.”

“How do you intend to look?” she asked, more than ready for a new subject. “Where do you start?” His stormy gazed captivated Charlotte. Her pulse leaped and his spicy scent filled her head.

“Has no man ever touched you as I touched you?” Apparently, he found the other topic more interesting.

“Only one. My husband.” She focused on the pain, forcing away her body’s ready response to his nearness.

He immediately pushed her off his lap and onto the seat beside him. “I was told…even
you
told me you have no mate.” His tone snapped with accusation.

She relaxed a little, relieved by his reaction. “I no longer have a mate. My husband died last year.”

“I’m sorry. I know well the pain of losing a loved one.” Slowly, he extended his hand and splayed it against her chest, over her heart. He shuddered and gasped. “The pain is still strong. You loved this man deeply. Or was the loss more devastating than just a mate?”

“You can feel my pain?” The thought of sharing the burden, of knowing that someone understood the bone-deep ache, the ever-present desolation, made her tremble.

“Tell me.”

She wanted to shove him away, but she needed to tell him more. “They died in a car accident a year ago last night.”

“They? Your mate and who else?”

“Stephen, our son.” Tears clogged her throat, choking her. Grief squeezed her chest like the ruthless fist of a giant. “They were my whole world,” she whispered.

He slipped his hand inside her coat and somehow found bare skin. She automatically grabbed his wrist but he pressed his palm directly over her heart.

The rest came rushing out. “Victor’s family didn’t want us together. He was too old for me, he was…he was too good for me, but he loved me. He loved me.

And I was a good wife. I made him happy. We made each other happy.”

Tal pulled her against him, sandwiching his hand between their bodies.

“Release it to me,” he coaxed. “Turn loose of your pain and I will disperse it.”

Was it possible?

She let go of his wrist and wrapped her arms around his back, pressing herself against him. His intoxicating scent enveloped her and his hair brushed softly against her cheek.

“Let go. Let me help you.”

Squeezing her eyes shut, Charlotte concentrated on the ravaged emptiness deep within her being. She pictured it, separating it from the rest of her soul.

Then she cast it toward Tal with a nervous laugh.

He whispered softly, words she couldn’t understand, didn’t need to understand. His hair surrounded her, stroking her gently, soothing her.

Prickly sensations shot through her chest, concentrating beneath his palm. Charlotte moved restlessly. What was he doing? She hadn’t expected a physical reaction for emotional pain.

“Tal,” she whispered, trying to push him away.

“Relax. We’re almost there.”

His hand moved in a circular motion and he bent his head nearer to her chest. He said one phrase over and over, like an incantation or a mantra. Light radiated from his hand, sending warmth spiraling through her body.

Sweet, soothing heat pervaded her entire being and she sagged against his chest. Her head dropped back and she felt…peaceful.

She snuggled into his embrace, letting the last of her tension flow out of her tingling body. He brushed her hair away from her face and she rubbed her cheek against his fingers, smiling sleepily. She was completely relaxed for the first time in months. His smoke-colored eyes swirled and he returned her smile.

He is so beautiful
. She didn’t speak the words out loud and prayed he couldn’t read them in her mind.

“Thank you,” she whispered, and closed her eyes.

Tal looked down at the woman curled against his chest and shook his head. He didn’t know how to operate the vehicle. He had no choice but to rouse her. But she looked so peaceful.

So beautiful.

How could he find an Earthling beautiful?

His wandering gaze focused on her lips. He knew their texture, their soft resilience as his mouth moved over and against them. He wanted to taste them again, to kiss her until they were both breathless and needy.

Closing his eyes, he tried to push away the inappropriate desire, but his mind wouldn’t cooperate with his will. He saw himself lowering the device securing the front of her coat. He pictured his hand shifting into a blade, slitting her sweater and the straps binding her breasts. He would capture her startled gasp with his open mouth and lay her back across the seat.

Would she struggle or would she welcome his embrace? She had responded without hesitation during the energy transfer. The image wavered. The cramped confines of her vehicle wouldn’t suffice for what he wanted for them. He needed room to stretch and arch and thrust.

It was hopeless.

He hadn’t allowed himself to join their bodies during the energy exchange. He trembled with the need to sink into her feminine heat, to watch her surrender to the passion carefully banked within her being.

If he woke her gently, caressed and kissed—

Now was not the time!

His tardy conscious finally barged into his fantasy.

He focused his befuddled mind on Vee and Joon. He had no time to seduce a stranger. Regardless of how tempting he found her.

“Charlotte.” He brushed her cheek with the back of his fingers. “You must awaken. I can’t operate this conveyance.” She stroked her hand across his chest and squeezed his shoulder. Tal groaned. “Charlotte, please wake up.”

Her thick lashes fluttered before her eyes opened.

Tal wanted to touch them with his tongue. He wanted to touch all sorts of places with his tongue.

“You are more effective than…” Her words trailed away as she noticed his hair. “Why is your hair all flighty? Static electricity?”

“Something like that.” He pictured her naked on her sleeping station with his “flighty” hair caressing her entire body. “Are you awake enough to operate the vehicle?”

Apparently fascinated, she tugged off the covering and raised her hand. His hair curled around it, sliding between her fingers in a silken caress. Tal shivered.

Impatiently, he took the entire misbehaving length and tossed it over his shoulders. Finally, he was able to command it into a coil.

“You can’t control it when you’re—distracted, can you?” she asked, her smile warm and inviting.

“Obviously, you are awake enough for our departure.” He shifted into the front seat, not bothering with the door.

Charlotte laughed. He was seriously turned-on.

What had he been doing while she snoozed? Her coat was still zipped. Her bra still fastened. Surely, he hadn’t gotten…like that just looking at her face. Her features were pretty on a good day, ordinary without makeup. She had nice eyes and a curvy figure. What had gotten him all revved up?

She opened the driver’s door and slipped in behind the wheel. His posture was tense, his expression positively arctic. Uncertainty tingled down her spine.

He’d located his friends and there was nothing she could do to help him find Joon.

Unless she really was Joon’s target.

Yeah, right. Aliens traveled here from another planet
looking for you.
With a frustrated sigh, she started the car. “What now?”