Текст книги "Smiley"

Автор книги: Laurann Dohner

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Текущая страница: 2 (всего у книги 22 страниц)

Chapter Two

“I want to go now.” Vanni was afraid and confused. They were talking about her as if she’d drugged both Smiley and herself. She tried to slide off the barstool to escape but Smiley prevented her from leaving when he grabbed her hips and pushed her back against the seat.

“Stay.”

His hands were warm where he held her and she noticed again how really good he smelled. She couldn’t believe she noticed that with everything going on but she did. “What’s happening to me?”

She stared into Smiley’s eyes, hoping he’d tell her. Some emotion flashed in them but she couldn’t identify it. He turned his head away but kept hold of her as he looked at Justice North.

“I don’t think they warned her what would happen. She’s scared. No one could act this well.”

“We need to get both of you out of here.” Justice withdrew a phone from his pocket. “I’ll order two SUVs to drive around the hotel and we’ll take you out a back door rather than asking the hotel for permission to use their heliport. It’s the least suspicious way. There are too many reporters on scene. Medical will be on standby when you reach Homeland. You’ll be taken in separate vehicles.”

“No.” Smiley shook his head. “The trip will take about two hours and she’ll attack the males if her symptoms worsen.”

“They can restrain her.” Justice turned and strode a few feet away to talk on the phone. He kept his voice low so she couldn’t hear what was said.

She looked around the room and was terrified to see the bar had been cleared of everyone except New Species and men wearing NSO uniforms. She counted over a dozen.

“Vanni?” She looked up at Smiley. “It’s going to get far worse. How much pain are you in?”

“A lot,” she admitted. Her stomach hurt and she was very aware of the area between her thighs. “What’s wrong with me? Is it poison?”

“Worse.” He bent down until their faces were close. “That drug you put in our drinks is a breeding drug.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about but I didn’t do it.”

“You sat next to me. You’re the only one I let down my guard around.”

“I didn’t do anything.”

His expression softened. “I want to believe you.” He glanced around then spoke to the guy with the ponytail. “Brass, she said she didn’t do it. Perhaps it was someone else.”

The male stepped forward and visually examined Vanni. “Where is your purse?” He patted her down, removing the hotel key card from her skirt pocket then frowned, staring at her. “Where is your identification?”

Vanni fought to form words. “I don’t have any. I left it in my room.”

Brass scowled. “That’s suspicious. Humans always carry certain things and she doesn’t have any of them. No purse. No driver’s license. Did any other hotel guests come near you, Smiley?”

“No. Just her and the bartender.”

“We cleared him, for now. All the humans who work here had thorough background checks. She appears to be the guilty one.”

“What’s going to happen to me? Are they going to call an ambulance?” Vanni’s unease was spiraling into fear.

“A human hospital can’t help us. We need to go to Homeland. That drug was invented for New Species. Our doctors have more knowledge than yours would.” Smiley leaned in closer, holding her gaze.

A hot flash struck and she groaned as her skin started to feel as if it were on fire. She released the lapels of the jacket and latched on to Smiley’s upper arms. A sharp stabbing sensation pierced her stomach and jolted lower to her vagina. She cried out and clung to Smiley. It felt as if someone was tearing her apart with a sword.

“Does anyone have a stun gun on them? We need to put her out.”

It alarmed Vanni when someone said that. They were going to hurt her? She whimpered and leaned forward, pressing her face against Smiley’s shoulder. He stepped closer and allowed it.

“No,” a voice responded. “One of us could punch her hard enough to knock her out.”

“No.” Smiley glowered. “No one is going to hit her.”

“It’s going to get worse,” another man with a deep voice responded. “It would be a kindness. She’s human. To give her a sedative with the breeding drug could send her into cardiac arrest.”

“She might die anyway,” someone else stated.

“The SUVs will be here soon.” Justice North was back. “They have to inspect them first to make sure they weren’t tampered with in the parking structure. How is she doing?”

“Not well.” Smiley released her hips and rubbed her back. “She’s in a lot of pain.”

“I bet she is. Back away, Smiley. I can smell her need from four feet away. Brass, do you think you could hit her and knock her unconscious without causing damage?”

“I don’t know. They are more fragile than our females.”

Ned, the medic, spoke. “I could place her in a choke hold until she loses consciousness. I know how to do it without causing permanent damage but she wouldn’t stay down long.”

“No one is going to hurt her.” Smiley sounded pissed.

“The alternative is restraining her and allowing her to be in agony until you reach Homeland.” Justice sighed. “Which would be crueler?”

Vanni released Smiley’s arms and clutched at his tank top. “Help me.” He’d been nice and had said he wouldn’t let anyone hurt her. She was scared, surrounded by strangers and she hurt worse than she could ever remember. Sweat poured off her and she shrugged, trying to rid herself of his jacket.

Smiley seemed to understand and removed it. It didn’t help. She was burning up and lightheaded. “I have a fever.”

“It’s the drug.” Smiley adjusted his stance and straightened. He didn’t step away though, keeping her on the stool, his body blocking her from the others.

She pressed her face against his chest. He smelled incredible. She lifted her chin and when her lips brushed across hot skin at the top of his tank top, the urge to lick him gripped her. She resisted but she bet he’d taste good too. What the hell am I thinking? What is wrong with me? She felt panic rising. “Smiley!” He needed to help her or get her to a hospital.

He cleared his throat. “Leave us alone.”

“No.” Justice sounded closer. “You’re both going to Homeland.”

“We’re both suffering. I won’t lose control. Clear the room and give us privacy.”

“That’s not happening. It’s what whoever planned this wants,” Justice stated, his voice grim. “I’m sure they believed you’d kill her. You were dosed inside a bar full of humans. You would have snapped if you hadn’t figured out what was going on and we got to you in time to prevent a tragedy.”

Smiley reached between them and curled his hands over hers. “Let go, Vanni.”

She didn’t want to and shook her head. He stepped away and gently pried her fingers off the thin material. She missed the security his body provided and whimpered, staring into his eyes. He surprised her by crouching down to put them at face level.

“Vanni, do you know what the breeding drug does?”

“It doesn’t sound good.”

“Enough,” the tall, ponytailed New Species ordered. “We’ll question her at Homeland.”

Smiley ignored him. “It’s a drug Mercile Industry invented to force Species into an overriding desire to have sex. We heard they were trying to create a human version and it smells as though you took it. You’re sweating the scent out through your pores.”

Distracted by the pain she suffered, Vanni had to fight to keep up with what he was saying. “Like GHB?” She’d heard of date-rape drugs. “I thought that just made someone pass out.”

“Smiley,” Justice interrupted, “you said she’s the one who dosed you.”

“She said she didn’t.”

“You believe her?”

“I don’t know but I’m certain, if she did, whoever gave her the drug didn’t tell her what it would do. Either way, she should have options and know what she faces. She should decide.”

Justice North cursed softly. “Do it.”

Smiley took a deep breath and explained, “You’re not going to pass out. The pain will grow worse, at best guess. With Species it’s excruciating and can cause us to go insane. The only relief is not fighting the drug.”

“I still don’t understand.” She whimpered as the throbbing between her legs intensified. It felt as if her clit were being pinched. It wasn’t pleasant.

“You can either agree to have sex with me to make the pain stop or you can suffer. It’s that simple.”

She was horrified and it must have shown in her expression because he frowned.

“You’ve made your choice. We’ll restrain you so you don’t attack anyone or hurt yourself. Just hang on, Vanni. They’ll get us to Homeland as quickly as possible and to our doctors. They’ll help you.” He stood, releasing her, and addressed Justice North.

“Let’s go. You’ll want to restrain me too as a precaution but I’m handling the drug well so far.”

“The SUVs just pulled up to the exit,” one of the NSO security men stated. “They’re waiting. Let’s move out.”

Smiley backed away and two of the human NSO-uniformed men surged forward and gripped Vanni by her upper arms. They weren’t rough but they pulled her to her feet. The second she put weight on her legs she cried out. Her knees gave way and she would have collapsed on the floor if they hadn’t been holding her. Sharp stabbing pain stung her from head to foot.

“Move! Let her go.” Smiley was there suddenly, shoving the men aside and scooping her into his arms.

Vanni clung to him. Some of the pain eased and she breathed in his wonderful scent. She buried her face against his warm throat. He sat, putting her ass on his lap, and stroked her back.

“Focus on my voice. I’m right here. I have you,” he rasped against her ear.

“Smiley,” Justice North urged. “Hand her to Brass. He’ll carry her out to the SUV.”

“Vanni, we need to go. You need medical attention and that can’t happen here.”

She lifted her head and stared up at Smiley. “Don’t leave me.” She was terrified of strangers taking her anywhere.

“I can’t ride with you because I’m drugged too. It’s best if they separate us.”

The ponytailed guy drew her attention as he stepped closer and held out his arms. “Give her to me.”

She let go of Smiley and was passed over to the big New Species. The stabbing pain to her stomach returned and she cried out. He turned with her, walking toward the back of the bar. She writhed in his arms, clutching his protective vest. They passed through a door that was held open by NSO Security. Cold air touched her when they stepped outside.

“Stop!” Vanni couldn’t take the pain. “Take me back.”

He halted and looked at her. It was dim in the alley but a few lights helped her see. He was a handsome man, albeit scary looking.

“We’ll get you to Homeland as fast as possible. There will be a helicopter on standby if you worsen on the way. We can pull off and have them land nearby then transfer you for transport. We just have to get out of the city first.”

“I can’t take this.” Tears filled her eyes. “Was Smiley telling me the truth?”

“You reek of a breeding drug.”

“Is there a way to counteract it?”

“No. You’ll have to ride it out or once you’re in Medical they can attempt to help you. We can’t risk giving you other drugs until then. Species have died that way in the past. Their hearts stopped beating. You’ll want to be with our doctors so they can save you.”

The seriousness of the situation hit home. “Am I going to die?”

He frowned. “I don’t know. This might be a different version of the drug we heard was being tested. It smells the same but your reactions are milder than what we felt.”

“Mild? I feel as though I’m being ripped to shreds from the inside out.” She panted. “This has got to be worse than labor.”

“You’re not screaming and going into convulsions. That’s what happens when Species fight the drug by refusing to share sex.”

“Sex really does stop the pain? Are you serious?”

“The drug is designed to create uncontrollable sexual urges so sex overrides the pain sensors from what we understand. Most of us have no memory of what happens after being dosed when the pain becomes too strong.”

“Move,” someone behind them ordered. “Let’s get them on the road.”

Brass carried her to the closest black SUV and one of the NSO guards opened the door. Brass addressed him. “Get the soft restraints. She needs to be bound so she doesn’t hurt herself. One of you will need to sit in the back with her to keep her from slamming her head into the glass if she gets that urge.”

That was the last straw for Vanni. How much more pain did he think she was going to suffer if trying to bash her head into a window was a real concern? “Just hit me. Knock me out.”

Brass frowned.

She sucked in a deep breath and yelled to get her point across. She meant it. “HIT ME!”

He bent and set her on her unsteady feet. “I’m afraid I’ll damage you.”

“I’m already in agony, damn it. Just do it.” She lifted her chin and closed her eyes, hoping it wouldn’t hurt too much.

The punch never came. Strong arms wrapped around her waist and her back pressed against the side of the SUV. A big firm body pinned her there. She opened her eyes and was stunned to realize Smiley had her.

“No one is going to hit you. It could break bones. You’re too fragile. You can take the pain.”

Tears spilled down her cheeks. “I can’t.”

“Smiley,” Brass urged, “I’ll be careful.”

“Bullshit. You can’t guarantee you won’t break her jaw.” Smiley’s face bore an angry expression and he suddenly lifted her off her feet, putting her at his face level. “I swore no one would hurt you and I keep my word. I’m going to kiss you. It will distract you from the pain.”

Vanni forgot how to breathe when he leaned in and lowered his gaze to her mouth. She could have turned away but didn’t. She’d like to have blamed it on the drug, the pain, but had to admit she wanted him to. It seemed more than likely that she’d die and she’d been attracted to him since they met. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the first light brush of his soft lips touching hers.

He pressed tighter against her and released her hip to tangle his fingers in her hair as he deepened the kiss. He tasted of cherry—probably what had flavored his soda. The pain faded to be replaced by need. She wanted Smiley more than she’d ever wanted any man. Her breasts ached and the desire to rub against him, feel him inside her became so intense she moaned from the need.

“Let her go,” a deep voice demanded. “Smiley!”

Smiley broke the kiss and turned away to shoot a fierce look at Brass. “You’re not hitting her.” Smiley faced her again. It was too dark in the alleyway to really see his eyes. “Let me take care of you. I can keep away the pain with pleasure.”

“It’s a bad idea.” Brass lowered his voice. “Don’t forget that she might be the one who dosed your drink.”

Smiley held her gaze. “It doesn’t matter. I can’t stand to see her suffer, knowing the pain she’ll face.”

He freed his hand from her hair and gripped her hips, rubbing against her. The feel of his stiff cock trapped inside his jeans brushing against her excruciatingly swollen clit was heavenly. Raw pleasure had her closing her eyes again and moaning louder. Part of her was horrified that there were people around them, strangers, but it did take away the pain. She clutched at Smiley as if he were a lifeline. He’d become one. She spread her legs and wrapped them around his hips, locking herself to him.

“Secure the perimeter,” Smiley demanded. “Give us privacy.”

“Fuck,” the angry-sounding Brass muttered. “You heard him. Lock this area down and give them space. Eyes elsewhere.” He paused. “At least get her inside the building, Smiley.”

She barely heard the words as Smiley continued to rock his hips, thrusting against her in a slow rhythm that made thinking impossible. Her clit was so sensitive she couldn’t focus on anything else but that firm rhythm of his sex against hers. It was the most powerful awareness of a man she’d ever experienced.

His hands left her hips and slid to her ass, cupping both cheeks and grinding their bodies together more effectively. Vanni buried her face against his neck and opened her mouth, desperate to taste any part of him since he’d stopped kissing her. She licked him just under his ear then latched on to his earlobe, lightly sucking it.

He shuddered against her and made a sexy sound. His mouth found her throat and he brushed kisses there. “Vanni.”

Her name on his lips made her burn up inside. It might be just another hot flash but she didn’t care. She couldn’t get close enough to Smiley with their clothes on. She needed to feel his skin and she ached to have him inside her. An image flashed in her mind—what it would feel like if they were naked and he fucked her—sending her into orgasm.

Vanni released his ear and pressed her lips against his throat, crying out. Her entire body shook from the force of it. Ecstasy tore her away from any sense of reality while she rode out the mother of all climaxes.

Smiley stilled his hips, his breathing harsh. “I’m here. I’ve still got you.”

She slowly became aware of their surroundings again. The night air chilled her skin. Her skirt was hiked up and bunched between her thighs and his jeans. His cock was hard and pressed firmly against her pussy through the layers of clothing. She hadn’t come in her underwear since she was a teenager messing around with her first boyfriend, too afraid to have sex for fear of it hurting when she lost her virginity.

“Oh god,” she whispered.

His big hands gentled the firm hold he had on her ass and he inched away a little, unpinning her from between him and the SUV. She opened her eyes and glanced around. Four men stood about thirty feet away in the dark alley, in front of the vehicle. Their backs were turned and they seemed to be guarding the entrance from the street. A car passed but didn’t slow.

She turned her head. The door to the hotel had been closed and a black-clad guard blocked it. She looked toward the back of the vehicle and saw more guards posted down the alley. They were faced away too, but seemed to be there to make sure no one stumbled across her and Smiley.

“Vanni?”

Embarrassment was a horrible thing but she had to meet his gaze. The look of concern on his handsome face only made it worse. “Put me down.”

She lowered her legs along the outside of his when he did as she requested. Her knees shook, threatening to buckle under her weight when she stood. Smiley released her and she retreated, letting him go. The tremors grew worse and she leaned against the side of the SUV to stay upright on her own.

“Are you still in pain?”

She couldn’t speak but shook her head. She’d just dry-humped him in an alley behind a bar. Her parents would be appalled at her wanton behavior and so would anyone who knew her. Smiley wasn’t to blame. She’d practically begged him to help her and he had.

“It’s not over.”

“What?” She must not have heard him correctly.

“It can last for hours.”

“No. That—”

“It’s a short reprieve that some of us feel after finding release but within minutes the symptoms return.”

“No.” She didn’t want to believe that.

He took a few steps back. “Brass?”

The New Species turned around and rushed closer from his position at the front of the SUV. Smiley met him halfway.

“Make sure they bag our drinks. I didn’t drink all of mine. Maybe we can find fingerprints on the glass that will prove her innocent. One of the hotel guests might have put the drug in some of the empty glasses and just waited for them to be used.”

“It’s already done.” Brass kept his voice low. “We’re taking everything to Homeland to test. We need to get out of here. The reporters want to know what happened to cause us to lock down the bar and they are interviewing the humans who were inside at the time. Justice is refusing to answer their questions until we’re under way but they might obtain security feeds. They don’t record sound but they do have video. It’s only a matter of time before they realize she’s missing.”

Vanni’s eyes widened when wetness seeped down her thighs. It had to be because she’d just come but it was a lot. Her nipples beaded until it was painful and a sharp, stabbing sensation jolted her vagina and spread upward to her rib cage. She gasped and doubled over.

“Vanni!” Smiley was at her side an instant later, one hand gripping her shoulder and one on her hip.

She couldn’t breathe. Agony tore through her center and the only thing keeping her from hitting the pavement was Smiley’s hold on her. Her heart beat so rapidly she wondered if she’d have a heart attack. Pain stabbed her chest. She lifted her head and was blinded by tears as she tried to stare into his eyes. He had to be aware of her distress.

“Let me help you.”

She nodded. She’d do anything, try anything, to make it stop. He shifted his hold and forced her upright. It helped as she sucked in a lungful of air before the tears seeped down her cheeks. He released her hip and wiped them away with his thumb.

“I’m right here. I’ll do whatever you need.”

She needed him to make the pain go away. Kissing him and his touch turned the pain into pleasure. It was almost instinct to fist his shirt and yank him closer. The sound of ripping material was shocking. He was taller but she used her other hand to grab a handful of his black hair, pulling it to get his mouth down to hers. Her lips met his when he tilted his head and she was the one to kiss him frantically.

The agony faded into sexual need. She didn’t care about anything except trying to climb his tall frame. He helped by hooking an arm around her waist and lifting her off her feet. Loud moans tore from her when she wrapped her legs around his waist once more. She was the one who started to move, grinding her pussy against the front of his pants.

He tore his mouth away and turned his head. “Slow down,” he panted.

“No.” She focused on his exposed throat and latched her open mouth on it, licking and nipping at him.

“Fuck.” His voice deepened.

She wanted to, badly. It meant releasing either his hair or his shirt though. She let go of his shirt and reached down, trying to work her fingers between their stomachs to locate the snap of his jeans. He bowed his back enough to give her room to do it and she clawed at the front of his pants. He suddenly turned and she was trapped between his body and the SUV again. He pinned her there and reached up with his free hand to untangle her fingers from his hair.

“Slow down,” he demanded.

She pulled away from his throat and struggled in his grasp. He let go and she gripped his jaw, turning his face enough to kiss him again. Her tongue delved into his mouth and she moaned.

“We have someone on the hotel roof!” a man yelled. “This is Shane. Send someone up there now!”

Vanni ignored the warning. She gripped Smiley’s hips with her thighs and writhed against the bulge in his pants, moving up and down against him. It felt really good on her clit but she wanted more.

“Smiley!” one of the men yelled. “Get her under cover.”

Smiley pulled her away from the SUV, holding her tightly against his body with her arms and legs wrapped around him. He took a few steps and turned, getting them both inside the SUV. She ended up straddling his lap with his ass perched on the edge of the seat to give her legs room so they weren’t crushed between it and him. Someone slammed the door, sealing them inside.

Vanni went for Smiley’s mouth. They were in the roomy backseat of the SUV and alone. The windows were tinted and she hoped no one could see in. He kissed her with enough passion to steal her breath. She wiggled on his lap, frantic to come again.

Smiley broke his mouth from hers, leaving both of them panting. “I’m rolling you. Spread your thighs.”

She didn’t want to let him go but he forced the issue when he gripped her hips and lifted her, turning at the same time. She fell back flat on the leather seat and he scooted all the way to the door, still holding her. One of her legs was trapped between his hips and the back of the seat. He jerked her closer, until her ass was against his side.

“Open up for me.”

It was a struggle to do as he asked when she wanted to lunge up and climb on his lap again. He let go of her hips and fisted her skirt, shoving it up to her stomach, and used his other hand to grip her inner thigh and push it toward the front compartment. It hit the passenger-side seat. He released it and she cried out when his fingers snagged the center of her underwear. One strong tug and they were torn away. His thumb rubbed over the wet seam of her pussy and upward, caressing her clit.

Vanni threw back her head at the teasing touch and arched her hips. “Yes.”

“I’m here. Trust me to take care of you.”

It felt too good and she thrashed on the seat, clawing at the leather above her head. She didn’t want to dig her nails into Smiley and hurt him. It was the only sane thought she had. It might cause him to stop playing with her throbbing clit. It was the center of her world at that moment, aching so much it seemed her heart had traveled down there and she was sure he could take her pulse.

His hand returned to her hip, shoving her down to keep her flat on the seat. Vanni closed her eyes. Every muscle in her body seemed to tense and then she cried out, coming hard. She sucked in air and would have screamed if Smiley hadn’t released her hip and bent forward, his hand clamping down over her mouth.

She opened her eyes, staring into his. They were barely discernible in the dim SUV. His face was just a shadow but she could make out the shape of his eyes. His thumb circled her clit, causing her to jerk as the climax continued to roll through her. She grabbed at his wrist, just needing to touch him.

He pulled his fingers from her clit and lifted his hand away from her mouth. “Sorry. There’s someone on the roof of the hotel and you looked about ready to scream. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

She lay spent, trying to catch her breath. Her legs were spread open and her skirt was bunched around her waist. Smiley lay half over her while her sprawled position took up most of the bench seat. She hoped he couldn’t see her face any better than she could see his. Heat rose to her cheeks. The desire to close her legs and shove her skirt down to cover her exposed pussy was strong but she couldn’t muster the strength to do it.

“I’m sorry I got aggressive.”

She winced. “Me too.”

“It’s the drug. Go ahead and pull my hair, tear my shirt and bite me all you want.”

It sank in that she’d done all those things as memory surfaced. She released his wrist and reached up, feeling the front of his tank top. It was torn open and she felt his warm skin.

“I’m so sorry.” She tried to see his neck where she’d been kissing him, wondering if she’d done more than lightly nip him, but couldn’t make it out. “I bit you?”

“You can’t hurt me, Vanni. It felt good.”

Her gaze lowered between them but the shiny ring on her left hand snagged her attention. Reality bitch-slapped her. “Oh my god, I’m engaged.”

The sound Smiley made was a growl and groan combined. “I saw the ring but hoped it was just jewelry.”

She closed her eyes. Carl would never forgive her for what she’d done with Smiley. He’d be furious and hurt. It wouldn’t matter why it had happened or that she hadn’t meant to fool around with someone else.