Page 67 of Sublime Target
She didn’t mind at all.
And when she broke away, fearing she’d get caught up in his deliciously dark intensity for good, he let her go.
She looked up at him in disbelief and wonder, and his gaze was unexpectedly soft, molten pools of crimson fanned by his snow-white lashes.
At that moment, he was unexpectedly pure… and beautiful.
What… what did I just do?
“Jerik,” she rasped, struggling to form coherent words. “I… I’m going to need some time. Take me home now, please.”
She didn’t know what she was going to do.
But she’d enjoyed their kiss; there was no denying it.
It’s just that the Universe was spinning way out of her control, but then again, maybe things had always been this way, and she’d just never noticed before.
TWENTY-FOUR
Making good use of Tarsin and its supreme cloaking technology, Jerik took Clarissa back to the place on Earth where she lived. She didn’t want any fuss or ceremony. Just the fastest way home, in the most discreet manner.
They departed via the rooftop, leaving Cooper Garner, the rest of his mostly clueless staff, and the human mercs behind.
Mavrel had already walked out of the building to join Kainan somewhere in the streets. The human had arranged some sort of private transportation that would take them back to the Earth base in the desert.
Jerik had never been worried about Mavrel in the first place. The tech knew how to defend himself—both in combat and using cunning devices.
When Mavrel had reported back, he’d informed Jerik that all the human mercs in the room were currently unconscious.
Thus, their business in Garner Tower was concluded.
As for the tract of land he intended to secure, he wasn’t particularly concerned. He’d given Garner a chance to receive fair compensation, but in his arrogance, the human had spurned him.
Now, the land would be rendered worthless. They were in the process of acquiring all the territory surrounding Garner’s and securing the airspace. There would be no way to travel in and out without Darkstar’s permission.
“We’ve arrived, boss,” Rukan informed him through the comm.
The trip had taken a mere minute in the human measurement, and that was with Rukan flying slowly.
Jerik turned to Clarissa, who was seated next to the window. As she gazed outside, filtered sunlight danced across her features, making her appear luminous and more enchanting than ever.
She was still a little annoyed with him, but he didn’t mind at all because he’d secured a small victory.
That kiss.
She’d yielded to his demands, and he’d tasted her for the very first time.
She was every bit as sublime as he’d imagined. Soft, sweet, and more than a little wanting. He’d sensed her desire, and it had driven him mad.
And the Mating Fever had hit him again, hard. It took all his willpower to conceal the pain in his temples and the need to take her then and there.
He managed—only just—because he knew that giving in to his darkest desires would ruin everything.
The Manual had explicitly stated what could happen if he rushed things.
The harder you push, the more unwilling she’ll become.
After all the ground he’d gained, he was loath to lose his strategic advantage.