The Perfect Creation

Chapter Three

Rafe was so out of his element here it wasn’t funny. Needing to gather as much information from his kidnapper as possible, he’d done his best to ferret answers. Her name was Erin. She had an unnatural ability to enthrall males with a latent sexuality he found fascinating, as well as a beauty that captivated. She had strength and quickness in dangerous quantities, and a logical mindset to meet her objectives, no matter the obstacle.

Unfortunately for her, Rafe considered himself to be a huge obstacle. Erin needed his help to take down Blue Rim, and he knew for a fact Sernal had been investigating that very company, because he’d assigned the task to Gar. The reason behind this kidnapping was beginning to take shape, or at least, it had before she’d lifted him off his ass, as if he weighed no more than a feather, and stripped him to his knees.

Damn. The woman seemed to really want his help, but could he let her—“Oh, shit. ” He stared incredulously at her small yet strong hand wrapped around his cock. The feel of her soft palm around him aroused him unbearably, and his Xema senses warned him she possessed a dangerous quantity of pheromones adding to her allure. Not that her looks needed much help.

She distracted him by pulling on his shaft, pumping him up and down, slower then faster, and he concentrated all of his attention on holding back, when he wanted so very badly to come all over her. Control, Rafe, where’s your precious control? Gritting his teeth, he tried to dampen his arousal, and the effort made him sweat.

She wasn’t a typical beauty, in any way. Though she possessed a slender build and all the right curves in all the right places, her colouring was too foreign to be anything but stunning. That tan skin that now glittered with gold flecks. Those ripe lips and alien eyes, the colours swirling, as if expressing her emotions. Such a dark purple around the lighter blue, magnifying the pinpoint of heat in that golden pupil. Erin had an uncanny strength, but her touch right now… Rafe wondered if she might have been manipulated by Eyran scientists to bestow sexual pleasure at its finest. He could readily believe it as he watched her handling him.

“You like this.” She nodded and continued to jerk him off. “Very much.”

“Yeah.” Rafe tried to stem the arousal pooling in his blood, to maintain some command over his body. But being tied up and helpless under her touch aroused him even more. And that scent of hers wrapped around his brain as tightly as her fist around his cock. “So you’re going to prove yourself invaluable with your body, hmm?” he said thickly, willing himself to hold back.

She stilled and cocked her head. “You aren’t responding as I’d thought.” What the hell more did she want? He was ready to blow as it was.

Erin shook her head. “You’re still too aware.”

“Aware of wh— blessed Flor, ” he moaned, as she enveloped him with her mouth.

She caressed him with her tongue and took him all the way to the back of her throat.

“Oh, yeah. That’s it. Suck it, baby, swallow me.” Rafe could do nothing more than listen to his body as he fucked her incredible mouth. Jolts of electricity shot through him, and he could feel his energy seeking that elusive plain that every Xema sought: wainu—a state of utter peace on a spiritual plateau that only a perfect union might create. And it looked, amazingly, as if the union of his shaft and just her mouth would take him there.

She moaned around him, taking him deeper, her movements so attuned to his needs it was as if they’d known each other forever as opposed to having just met. Rafe lost himself to the splendour of her scent and touch, his orgasm thundering all too near.

He shouted his bliss as he came in her mouth, his climax explosive. The heat of her mouth sucked him deeper, pushing him to give her everything inside of him. The climax took him by surprise, as much as he’d expected it. Because with the physical release, he also experienced a spiritual catharsis, a remedy to the constant restlessness plaguing him. Wainu.

She’d taken him to wainu.

Erin, Flor grant her, swallowed all of his seed before she released him and put his clothes once again to rights. Rafe could only sit there, staring at her in a daze as his spirit dwelled in the perfection of the moment. Erin seemed content to wait.

Moments later, Rafe took a deep breath. “That was…how did you…”

“You liked it.” She smiled, pleased, and Rafe noted the flush staining her cheeks, her heavy breathing just now settling down.

“Yeah, you could say that.” He took another deep breath, wondering what the hell to do now. He’d violated Sernal’s strict policy against fraternization between peacekeepers and the criminal class. He still needed to know more about Blue Rim and Erin’s part in the labs.

And hell, if what she said were true, then prison ships were illegally selling their human cargo as slaves to science. An unlawful, not to mention immoral, dealing. Sernal would definitely want that stopped.

Yet it was Erin herself that gave him pause. Rafe wanted her, badly. Aside from this mission, aside from her problems, he wanted to sink deep into the intriguing female and cement the connection he could all but feel as he wavered on wainu’s edge. He’d had plenty of sex before, but not every orgasm could take him to utter bliss, and especially not from contact with a virtual stranger. One touch of Erin’s mouth, in this damned uncomfortable vehicle, while tied up, and he’d shot his load like a pubescent youth. Yet for all that, he’d seen ecstasy made real.

The responsible side of Rafe told him to take the case and use Erin’s information, and only Erin’s information. But the male, the Xema within, demanded he heed his instincts to challenge the female and gauge her innate worth. That he see what lay beneath the surface of her beauty to find the heat within in a test as old as the Xema line. Shit. Though he knew he had to help her, he only hoped he could get to the point where he could focus on the case and not her delectable body.

“Okay, I’ll help you.”

Her grin widened. “My body for a techie, your ammunitions and a ship to take us there?”

Hell, yes, his body shouted. But his damned conscience just had to intervene. No, Rafe.

She’s desperate. Your job is to help people, not to take advantage of them. Then again, he wasn’t Rafe right now. He was Cheltam. “There are conditions.” Her grin faltered. “I don’t ever go into a situation without knowing the facts. I want details, Erin. I want to know everything you know about Blue Rim. And I want to know what rotten peacemakers are laying in bed with the lab. Those guys will be the first to go,” he said roughly, his aversion to corrupt lawmen both in keeping with Cheltam’s image and adhering to his own principles.

“Agreed. And in return, I shall pleasure you whenever you like.” He narrowed his gaze, curious at the innocence in her gaze that contradicted the skill she’d just shown with both her hand and mouth. His interest in the woman was growing in leaps and bounds.

“So long as you’re willing. I’m not a rapist.”

She studied him curiously. “How very odd for a criminal of your calibre. Morals, Cheltam?” Her lips quirked.

“You have a problem with that?” He hoped he wasn’t giving anything away, but even when he played Cheltam, Rafe treated females with respect. They adored him; they didn’t fear him. He couldn’t help that notion of chivalry when it came to the fairer sex.

Protectiveness had been bred into his bones.

Erin shook her head. “I don’t think rape would ever be necessary with you. The rumours are that you’ve never begged for female companionship, but rather your women beg for you.”

Rafe grinned. “You going to beg, baby?”

“I’m not one of your women. And my name is not ‘baby’.” He lost his grin, needing to remind her, and himself, who was in charge, no matter his current state. “You want my help, you’re whatever I say you are. Now get rid of the cuffs.” Her hands moved and she grimaced, shoving them behind her back. “I’ll take them off, just as soon as we seal the deal.”

A typical Mardu custom, one even thieves and smugglers observed, and one he couldn’t argue. The woman had done her homework.

Glancing at him, she sighed. “I supposed a handshake won’t work.”

“A kiss.” Rafe steeled himself against a return of the lust he’d previously felt, but he refused to let this opportunity pass. For one thing, he needed to show her he was in charge.

And for another, it bothered him on a fundamental level that he’d received pleasure when she had not.

“Fine.” She leaned close, but he shook his head.

“No. Straddle me with your thighs, then kiss me. And do exactly as I say.”

“Just to seal the deal?”

“Do you want my help or not?” he asked coolly, and her resistance disappeared. Erin quickly straddled him, waiting. “Good girl. I like submissive.” The glare she flashed him made him chuckle. “Now slip one hand down your trousers.”

“What? ”

“You heard me. Do it.” His stare brooked no refusal. And though she looked confused, she almost eagerly put her hand down her pants. “Now kiss me, and as your lips touch mine, I want you to take one finger and stroke those lower lips, the ones hiding that wet core of yours.”

A rosy flush caused the sparkle in her cheeks to glow brighter. The rover surprised them both by coming to a complete stop, but Rafe continued, needing to make his point.

“But, we’re here and I—”

“I’m not going to tell you again. You want my help, you do it my way. Yes or no?” Erin swallowed, but lust soon consumed the confusion in her gaze. He felt her hand moving between them, saw the excitement she tried to hide, and nodded.

“Now kiss me, and when you do, I want you to rub that tight little nub between your legs.”

She audibly swallowed, licked her lips, and made him wish he had the strength to fuck her again right now. But the wainu had taken a chunk out of his already low energy reserves, and he needed time to refuel. Watching her take her pleasure would surely help.

Erin’s kiss, when it came, had a hesitancy he wouldn’t have expected. Her soft lips melted under his, allowing him all the control he thought he’d have to fight for. She gave no protest when his tongue slowly pierced her mouth. If anything, her fingers moved faster over her clit, and her tongue shyly met his as she offered a small moan.

Rafe explored her mouth thoroughly, addicted to her honeyed taste that was like nothing he’d ever sensed before. The scent, flavour and feel of her taunted him as he fought the restraints at his back. He had half a mind to call upon his inner strength, but knew exposing his Xema abilities wasn’t necessary, not now. Though he felt like he’d die if he couldn’t touch her, he made do with her mouth.

After kissing her until he could no longer breathe, he pulled away to trail his mouth down her neck. Kissing her delicious skin up and down, he returned to the shell of her ear and whispered his commands while alternately teasing her sensitive lobe.

“So sexy,” he murmured and pressed his teeth against her soft flesh. Pleased at her shiver, he continued. “How does it feel, touching yourself against me?”

“Good,” she breathed, shuddering when he shoved his tongue in her ear, deliberately simulating what he wanted to do with his cock.

“Imagine me touching you, preparing you for a good fucking.” Rafe blew in her ear and she moaned again. “Now thrust you finger deep, all the way inside you.” He felt her shift.

“Ride your hand, baby. Fuck yourself and pretend it’s me. Because it will be, very soon.”

Arousal built as she rocked against him, and Rafe felt the pitch of her desire nearing its end. “Now rub that clit hard, Erin. Get yourself all wet. And come…right now.” He bit her ear lobe, pleased when her body tensed and she cried out against him.

Breathing hard, she fitted her head next to his, their cheeks touching.

Rafe’s hard-on returned with a vengeance, surprising him with the suddenness of his arousal. But it was the improbable affection crowding his lust that worried him. Not only was the sensation unwelcome, it was also puzzling. Erin didn’t appear to be from Mardu, so the natural chemistry couldn’t be explained by planetary impulse. And though he’d before been the recipient of sexual pheromones, namely at the hands of several professionally skilled pleasurers, he’d never felt such tenderness for a partner.

“I had no idea,” she murmured and pulled back to stare at him with an incredulous look in her eyes. She blushed and withdrew her hand from between them, refastening her trousers.

“Give me your finger,” Rafe growled, needing more.

She immediately complied and sucked in a breath when he took her finger deep into his mouth. Like a drug, her taste packed a wallop, and Rafe had to force himself to let go.

“The deal’s sealed,” he rasped, content when she nodded shakily and removed his cuffs without another word. She slid off his lap and sat quietly next to him in the driver’s seat, her gaze focused on her hands, and more specifically on her fingers.

He turned to face her, massaging his wrists. To his satisfaction, she didn’t tense or look wary when he touched her shoulder, but met his gaze straight on. “Now let’s talk about you and who told you to come looking for me.”

She blinked up into his smile, but instead of smiling back, she frowned. Rafe wanted to groan. No doubt about it, this case was going to suck, and unfortunately, not in a good way.

Erin didn’t know what to think, say or feel. She’d come so far from the obedient drone Canunn had initially created. Yet a few sexually charged minutes with Cheltam and she’d turned into a quivering mass of “Yes, Sir.” She clenched her jaw, unnerved and angry that a criminal of Cheltam’s class had gotten to her. And after giving her mindless pleasure.

Who would have thought she could gain such incredible bliss from her own fingers?

Sure, she’d touched herself before, curious, but the pleasant hum of release had been nothing like what she’d just experienced. Unlike Anin’s descriptions of Synster’s frenzied copulation, Cheltam’s movements had been smooth, his commands purely carnal and surprisingly centred on her gratification.

Staring at the face that puzzled her, she wondered at the man so infamous for taking on System law and winning. What motivated a man like him? Obviously sex, but what else?

And why was his intense scrutiny making her womb tighten with need yet again?

“So what’s the plan?” he asked, his voice deep with satisfaction. “This close to the Eron Forest, I’m assuming you want to hide out in the wild?”

“Actually, I had planned to trek past the forest and the Fields of Flor to the Anate Jungle.”

He said nothing, just stared at her. “What then?”

“I thought I’d give you enough time to, ah, think the matter over. And once you agreed to help me, we’d find a fifth class cruiser outfitted with munitions, have your techie steal the files I need, then blast Blue Rim into nothingness. End of story.”

“Not quite.” He smiled, but his grin didn’t hold any humour. “You’re a pretty popular woman right now with the law, I take it?” She frowned, and he hurriedly continued. “You’d have to be to think up a plan this insane. Look, Erin, totally leaving Tekar puts me at a disadvantage. Most of my contacts are up north and in the east. Granted, I know a lot of people not limited to just this planet, but venturing into the jungle makes no sense.”

“It makes perfect sense if you want to remain free,” she mumbled, not happy with this turn of events. Already he was trying to take over. “Look, I need you to get me equipment.

And I’m paying you to do so.” She stared at his groin in reminder, but he didn’t so much as flinch. “Now follow my lead.”

“I don’t think so, precious.”

“Precious?” She flushed, remembering what she’d said to persuade him to help her. I’ll offer you something so rare and precious you’ll be begging to give me anything I need. Now she felt not only irritated, but foolish as well.

“I can hide us until we need to leave. I have contacts with several peacekeepers I trust, not to mention a few luxury suites to stay in until we have everything you want.” He grimaced at the forest around them. “I’m not one for roughing it.”

“Why am I not surprised?” She clearly recalled his house in Tekar. “The thing is, I don’t entirely trust you.”

“Smart girl.”

“Exactly. Out here, it’s a lot easier to spot an incoming threat, as opposed to relaxing in a luxury suite where you’ll set me up to get my ass carted right back to Eyra. I don’t think so.”

Cheltam frowned. “But Erin—”

“No.” Without missing a beat, she pulled a flat disc from a hidden trouser pocket and aimed at him. “With this I can slice you open from top to bottom. The laser is Eyran in design. Deadly.” Just like me. “Now get out of the rover and do what I tell you.”

“Erin, you’re making a mistake.”

“Well, it won’t be the first. Now we’re going to get some supplies, and then we’re disappearing into the forest for a while. We move when I say move, then stop when I say stop. And Cheltam? I’ve had it with your attempts to tell me what to do. We made a deal, and you will stick to it.”

His nostrils flared and his eyes seemed to glow, a preternatural shine of golden fire blazing in the depths of his gaze. For the life of her, Erin didn’t understand why his anger excited her.

“You threatening me, Erin?” He leaned closer, his stare unswerving. Faster than she could blink, he disarmed her.

Astonished at his speed but not wanting to show it, she pulled him close and glared at him, deliberately pulling the collar of his shirt tight around his neck, making it hard for him to breathe. “No, I’m not threatening you, Cheltam. I’m promising you. Keep screwing with me and I won’t put a hole in you with a laser, but with my bare hand.” He didn’t blink, almost daring her to choke him. But Erin needed him willing and walking on his own. She especially didn’t want to call undue attention to them from the provincial inhabitants this far away from the cities, where anyone unusual stood out. So as much as she didn’t want to, she let him go.

Cheltam, however, scooted even closer, clouded rage darkening his gaze. “Killing me won’t get you what you want.” He yanked her hard into him, and to her surprise, the rock solid feel of his chest under her palms made her want to forego their escape and return to the sexual play she couldn’t forget. “We sealed the deal and on that my word is good,” he emphasised, glaring at her.

“I know your word is good.” Cheltam’s reputation was legendary when it came to finishing the job. The hard part lay in convincing the criminal to take the job. “But I’m in charge, so get it through that thick skull to follow my lead. I’ll tell you everything you want to know once we’re away from this vehicle. Trust me, we need to move. It never takes them long to find me, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re on their way here right now.” She pulled back, and to her surprise, he let her go. Yet his predatory gaze followed every movement she made.

“You can have this back later.” He showed her the slim laser and pocketed it. “But Erin, we need to talk about this plan of yours, after we get out of here. No doubt someone’s been watching us since we pulled up, and the Mardu out here love to tell tales.”

“They’ll have nothing to tell about me.” She quickly donned the jacket she’d brought with her, but couldn’t find her hat so kept her head bared.

“You said it never takes long for ‘them’ to find you. Who’s ‘them’?” he grumbled as they both exited the vehicle. A glance around showed them to be the only visitors to the out-of-the-way market tower, but Erin kept her voice low so as not to be overheard when she answered.

She reached back in to grab the small bag she’d thrown together before escaping his house and joined him in front of the rover, facing what looked like a huge tree, but was in fact a trading tower, the last one before they entered the Eron Forest.

“I’m talking about the scientists at Blue Rim. They’ve got connections the System over.

Technology you can’t begin to imagine.” Like that implanted tracking device that had been an absolute bitch to find and destroy. Erin rubbed her side, aggravated at how careless she’d been not to have realised they would have tracked her in the first place. Talk about stupidly naive.

“I look forward to hearing more, after we hike into the Flor-forgotten forest.” He glared at her, and then at the surrounding woods. With a loud sigh, he grabbed the bag from her hands, hefted it over his shoulder, and walked towards the trading tower. “Might want to put those glasses back on.”

She hurriedly did so and followed him, irritated that for all her threats, he still managed to do what he wanted. And dammit, she couldn’t very well knock him on his ass and maintain a low profile. Her senses were on alert, anticipating Blue Rim security or peacemakers at any moment.

Unfortunately, she wasn’t disappointed. The minute they entered the small market, danger surrounded them.