Alcandian Quest -- Mary Wine

     Dylan let his eyes slip over her.  She was rich with curves and he found it delightful.  Her breasts would actually fill his hands with their weight.  Her hair was some shade between red and brown and she had it held back in a braid that only reached to her middle back.  Once she was his, he'd forbid her to ever cut that beautiful mane again.

     Jessica Somerton was every inch the modern woman.  She had a good job, paid her own mortgage and could stare down any other technical writer in her office.

     So what if she was a virgin?  It was her body and her choice.  Dylan's black eyes were lit with admiration.  He let those sharp probes slip down her body with the slowness of molasses.  When he got back to her face, Jessica felt her cheeks burning under the scrutiny.

     His lips curled back into a smile.  There was nothing friendly about the expression.  It was pure arrogance.  Jessica crossed her arms over her chest as a need to shield herself crossed her mind.  It was really rather annoying the way Dylan made her emotions jump.

     "Do not be frightened."

     "I'm not."

     She wasn't and Jessica ordered herself to believe that.  Nervous and frightened were two vastly different things.

     "Ahh…then your body is trembling from arousal?"

     "What?"  He'd stepped closer with his words, making her shift backwards.  The countertop hit her back, making her face his rather overpowering body.

     "Your limbs quiver, while that garment you wear displays the hardened shape of your nipples.  Either you are frightened or aroused."

     Dylan knew it was desire that stroked her body.  His own was heating with need as he caught the delicate scent of her.  Her eyes flashed at him and a grin itched to break free but her emotions balanced between fear and desire, making him frown instead.  It was a grave insult to his control that any female would fear him.  Dylan stepped closer as he tempered his anger.  This woman had not been reared to respect a warrior's code.  He would have to teach her to trust his control.  Gentling her was going to be his pleasure, just as soon as he claimed her.

     "Your desire pleases me greatly."

     "Just hold it right there, buddy."

     "Dylan."

     His voice was sharp with authority.  Jessica felt her temper rise in the face of his demand.  She eagerly grasped at her anger as she tried to dismiss the tingle racing down her spine.  A corner of his mouth twitched up in response before his hand cupped her chin.

     With the counter digging into her back, Jessica was trapped.  But she was fascinated as well.  His eyes sank into hers a second before he leaned forward to capture her mouth.  It wasn't a hard kiss.  Instead he gently traced her mouth before settling his lips on top of hers.  His tongue traced the seam of her lips as he encouraged them to open and allow him access.

     Her blood seemed to race through her veins as he took a taste from her mouth.  His kiss was deep and warm, making her groan as heat exploded in her belly.  She could actually smell his body.  The hard masculine scent of a male.  Her breasts lifted in response as her nipples tightened even further, the sensitive nubs complaining bitterly about the fabric covering them and separating them from the warm male skin just inches from her fingertips.

     Dylan suddenly pulled their mouths apart.  Desire blazed from his eyes and Jessica considered climbing up onto the counter top just to escape the overwhelming strength of the emotion.  His eyes inspected every millimeter of her body before a smug smile lifted his mouth.

     "You tremble with desire, Darmasha, and that pleases me greatly."

     "Get away from me."  Jessica made her voice even.  Her body was screaming with ten different emotions but she needed space to sort the signals into logical comprehension.  Her demand made him drop his lips into a frown once again.

     "Your fear is insulting.  I am a warrior.  Warriors do not harm females."

     "I am not scared of you!"  But the word "warrior" made her body respond with even greater need.  The walls of her passage felt so empty as she felt the smooth slide of fluid down their surface.

     "Yes, you are, and that is an insult to my control, yet do I understand you mean no harm because you are ignorant."

     "You've got some nerve, I'm just as smart as you are!"

     Dylan considered the flush that stained her cheeks and grunted.  Trust from a female was earned, not given.  It was one of the greatest gifts that any warrior could receive.  Dylan stepped back and watched her chest lift with a deep breath.  Her eyes immediately roamed the length of his body making him grin with pleasure.

     "Jessica, will you date with me?"

     He hesitated over the words almost like he was speaking in a foreign language.  Jessica shifted down the length of the counter as she tried to widen the gap between their bodies.  His eyes watched her as he appeared to make some decision.

     "You will remember that I asked you, Jessica."

     "I didn't answer you."

     That smug grin appeared on the man's face again.  "You are retreating."

     "I am not!"

     His lips curled back to show her an even row of teeth.  He took one step with his long legs and Jessica felt her body jump away from the threat his body seemed to pose to hers.  One black eyebrow raised in response. Jessica could have strangled her emotion-laden body.

     "You accept my company?  Will meet with me?  I would greatly enjoy getting to know you better."

     "Nothing personal but I just broke up with my boyfriend and I don't think it's a good idea.  Besides, my kitchen isn't exactly the spot to be asking me out."

     He grunted in response.  Dylan made sure the harsh sound was the only one that escaped his mouth.  She objected to the location because it gave her control over him.  He felt the amusement building up behind his locked jaw.  He didn't intend to play courting games like the weak human males who inhabited this planet.  He would close in on the female of his choice and gentle her.  Dylan indulged himself in a slow look over the woman in front of him.  Heat blazed across his skin as he felt his staff stiffen with intention.  But he didn't have the superior position here.

     The man considered her from his sharp eyes a second before he turned and left.  Jessica lifted a hand to her lips and traced the tender skin.  She could still feel that kiss.  It had to be one of the most intimate kisses she'd ever received.  Heat was still flowing through her veins as her belly tightened into a knot of tension.

     It was way too early in the morning for this!

Available from Ellora's Cave in April 2005