Lindsey pulled at her hands. “It’s okay. They’re trying to help. Who hurt you?”

  “Tragooms.” She cringed for a moment as Bacoj rubbed a nasty cut with a damp cloth that smelled antiseptic. When she realized he was cleaning the wound, she relaxed. “That feels much better. There must be anesthetic in it.”

  “Stop pain, no infection.” He smiled at her, and she returned it shakily. It helped he was so handsome, Lindsey thought. She put down the twinge of jealousy.

  The woman grabbed Bacoj’s wrist, her expression drawing down in desperation. “You have to save us. The Tragooms have the rest pinned down in our camp. There are children!”

  Bacoj scowled. At first Lindsey thought he might be angry that he was expected to rescue a bunch of helpless Earthers, but his muttered, “Hate Tragooms. Want all dead,” told her different.

  “How many?” Japohn asked. His dark face was eager, and he caressed his knife handle. At least the blade was safely sheathed.

  “I don’t know. Half a dozen maybe?” Tears flowed down her cheeks as she struggled to sit up. Lindsey and Tara helped her. “They come in three or four times a day to take someone away. We can’t stop them.” She clutched at Bacoj as he rummaged in the medical kit. “Please, I’ll do anything if you’ll help us.”

  He gently pulled her hands from his arms and pulled a metallic cylinder with a plunger on one end from the case. Lindsey watched as he opened the other end of the tube and dropped a purple tablet the size of a horse pill inside. The sound of fizzing emitted from the tube before he sealed it shut again.

  “What’s that?” Lindsey asked.

  “Calm for her. Help her to speak clear, tell information for Tragooms.”

  He pressed the flat end of the tube against the woman’s neck and depressed the plunger before she could react. She jumped in surprise.

  Vax patted her shoulder. “You feel better moment. Medicine.”

  “Oh. Okay.” She looked at Tara and Aaron questioningly and they smiled encouragingly.

  “It’s okay. The Kalquorians are very good and will help.” Tara spoke with quiet confidence.

  Lindsey whispered in Bacoj’s ear. “If you wanted her to feel better, why didn’t you just bite her?”

  One corner of his mouth lifted. He gave her a long look before leaning close to whisper back. “Bite enemy to harm or lover to enjoy. No bite female but Lindsey.”

  “Oh.”

  Over his shoulder, Lindsey saw Vax grin at her with a short nod. Had he heard their exchange? She glanced up at Japohn. He too regarded her with amusement.

  Super hearing to go with the rest of their super powers. These boys just keep amazing me.

  Bacoj’s words ran through her thoughts again, and she warmed to realize the men didn’t want the intimacy of biting another female. Only her.

  “Oh,” she said again, her voice soft with happy surprise.

  Chapter Eight

  Bacoj’s stomach roiled as he watched Japohn prepare for battle. The Nobek strapped on black body armor before attaching an assortment of knives to his belt. No percussion blaster. Bacoj clenched his fists. Stupid, bloodthirsty Nobek.

  No, Japohn wasn’t stupid. Thick-skulled and stubborn, but not stupid. Still, the foolhardiness of his actions was going to leave the clan without a Nobek. Even a former bounty hunter of Japohn’s prodigious fighting skills got unlucky once in awhile. This might be one of those times. Especially since the idiot was obviously planning on hand-to-hand combat.

  “I don’t want you going after those gurlucks alone.” At least Bacoj kept his voice steady. One didn’t waver with a Nobek, especially one as willful as this one.

  Vax stood in the corner, watching them silently. He wouldn’t speak against Japohn, though Bacoj knew he disapproved of their clanmate’s actions. Vax had let him know soon after they clanned Japohn it was up to Bacoj to claim his leadership over the Nobek.

  “Japohn won’t respect you unless you stand up to him on your own. Until you do that, having me gang up on him with you will only diminish you in his eyes.”

  Bacoj knew Vax was right. But what would happen if the young Dramok asserted his authority and Japohn refused to listen? Worse still, what if the Nobek did accept his leadership and things went terribly wrong? Especially in a situation like this one, in which so many lives hung in the balance?

  “I’m going with you,” Bacoj told him, reaching in for his own body armor, suspended among formsuits in their shared closet.

  Japohn shook his head, frowning. “You have to stay here where I know you’re safe. I’m used to working alone, and I can hit them before they know I’m even there.” He patted Bacoj’s shoulder, his tone condescending enough to set the Dramok’s teeth on edge. “It’s not the first time I’ve fought half a dozen Tragooms.”

  “It would be safer to sneak the Earthers out. We can’t afford to lose you, Japohn. Even your bloodlust can’t hide that from you.”

  The Nobek refused to address his concerns. “You won’t lose me. I’ll do a sweep of the perimeter to make sure everyone here is safe before I go. I’ll leave in about ten minutes, so be ready to receive fifteen refugees pretty quick.”

  With that, Japohn walked out of the sleeping room, leaving Bacoj seething impotently. He heard the Nobek mutter something to someone in the main cabin. Bacoj learned which of the Earthers had stepped into the shuttle when Lindsey’s voice rose in disbelief.

  “Where do you think you’re going?” she asked. There was no answer.

  “You need to stand up to him before he gets himself killed,” Vax growled.

  Before Bacoj could respond, Lindsey stormed in. “What the hell is Japohn doing?”

  Bacoj ran his hands through his hair. He was getting a headache. “Japohn being Nobek.”

  Lindsey stamped her little foot in frustration. If Bacoj hadn’t been so furious, he’d have found the gesture of temper adorable. “He’s not taking on those Tragooms alone. You have to stop him, Bacoj.”

  Sure. While he was performing miracles, he’d wind back time and save Earth too. “He no listen me.”

  She came close to him, her slight body at once arousing his interest. The woman was an addictive creature. Last night had left no doubt in his mind he wanted to clan her.

  “Make him listen to you.” Lindsey rose up on her tiptoes and pressed her soft lips to his. In an instant Bacoj’s arms were around her, molding her hard against his very interested body. Fury at Japohn fed his ardor. It was never a good idea to arouse an angry Kalquorian. Only the greatest control kept him from ripping her clothes off and taking her with ruthless need.

  Lindsey broke the kiss with effort. Her hands trembled against his chest and her scent wafted to his nostrils. Her eyes lowered, her submissive instincts coming to the fore in his demanding embrace. His manhood turned to iron in response to her softening body. A growl leaked from deep in his throat.

  With obvious effort she asked, “Do you have any ideas on how we can rescue the rest of those people?”

  It took a moment for his brain to register the question. Right. He had a problem on his hands, a problem that left no time for lovemaking no matter how desperate he felt for her. Bacoj gently pushed Lindsey away from him, putting space between their clamoring bodies.

  “Idea. Yes. I think good idea.”

  Her chin raised and her gaze rose to meet his. “Then stop Japohn. Don’t let him do anything stupid.”

  His little Earther was strong when sex wasn’t involved, an equal to him. Bacoj was relieved. He admired her spirit and didn’t want that part of her lost just because she enjoyed handing over the reins during intimacy. It made her sensual surrender that much sweeter.

  He gave himself a mental shake. Concentrate on the problem at hand. Stop thinking about sex, you fool.

  “Japohn hard to stop.”

  “But you can do it. You’re the Dramok. He’s supposed to listen to you, right?”

  Bacoj sighed, glanced at Vax. The Imdiko raised his eyebrows, his thoughts obvious. Go ahead, Bacoj. Are you our Dramok or not?

  Damn them both. If it was that easy, didn’t they realize he’d do it?

  Steeling his voice to appear patient with Lindsey, Bacoj said, “Japohn know more. More experience.”

  “Would he have chosen you for a Dramok if he didn’t believe in you?”

  Her statement startled him. He’d never considered Japohn might actually want him to take control.

  Vax grinned at Bacoj’s stunned expression. “Lindsey correct.” In Kalquorian he said, “Japohn pursued us. He campaigned to be our Nobek. He must have seen you as a worthy Dramok to do so.”

  Bacoj rolled the idea around in his head. Nobeks were by nature fierce protectors of their clans, quick to advise their Dramoks, but even quicker to carry out orders. The members of the warrior breed were dedicated to a fault, their trust in the clan’s leadership unshakeable.

  But even if Japohn took Bacoj’s orders to heart, there was still the matter of gross inexperience. “What if idea bad?” Bacoj worried.

  Lindsey shrugged. “Run it by all of us. We’ll discuss it, find any weaknesses and keep Japohn from getting his Nobek hide handed to him.”

  Vax nodded in approval. “Nobek, Imdiko and Matara advise. Dramok decide and lead.”

  Bacoj felt a thrill when he heard Vax mention Matara. His clanmate was considering Lindsey a part of their clan already.

  But to make Lindsey ours, I need to be a real leader. She can’t be the Matara to a weak Dramok.

  Bacoj drew himself up. “I am Dramok,” he asserted, more for his own benefit than theirs. He gently pushed Lindsey aside, her smile giving him the courage to walk out to confront Japohn.

  * * * *

  Lindsey felt a rush of warmth seeing the resolute strength on Bacoj’s dark face as he left. For heaven’s sake, was she going to melt into a puddle of goo every time the aliens displayed assertiveness? Just seeing the forceful expressions the men sometimes wore was enough to make her feel shaky inside.

  I am such a freak.

  She glanced at Vax and flushed to see the calculating look he gave her despite his sweet smile. In some ways she thought he might be as dangerous as Japohn. Not in a physical sense, but his easygoing Imdiko nature masked a will of steel when he was aroused sexually. Since she had a bad habit of turning to jello in the presence of such mastery, he made her nervous. And excited. Especially when he stared hungrily at her body like it was one of the tasty meals he prepared.

  Like he was doing now.

  Swallowing hard and trying to contain the butterflies that had been set loose in her belly, Lindsey asked, “Should you go with Bacoj to give him some support?”

  He shook his head, his eyes keeping her imprisoned with his stare. “I go, make Bacoj weak to Japohn.”

  “Will Japohn listen?” Good, steady voice. No hint of the hormones rampaging through her.

  But Vax moved towards her, and her anxiety level rose along with her libido. Even though he was the smallest of the clan, he still towered over Lindsey. He stood before her, his mere presence making her feel small. Vulnerable. Helpless. She looked down, unable to meet the intensity of his purple cat’s eyes.

  Vax stroked her cheek, his low voice a reassuring rumble. “Japohn listen if Bacoj be Dramok. No worry.”

  His warm touch drifted down her face, trailing fingertips down her throat and over the part of her chest that her vee neck tee shirt left exposed. Lindsey’s nipples tightened to poke brazenly at the thin fabric of her bra. No doubt Vax could feel her heart thundering within her breast.

  “How’s the arm?” she asked, desperate to distract him. Her voice was definitely unsteady this time. She wanted to move away, but her legs refused to budge. It was as if he held her in a thrall.

  “Small pain. No keep from pleasure Lindsey.” Vax stopped touching her long enough to punch a button on the wall panel. The sleeping room’s door shut and made a buzzing sound to indicate it locked.

  “Um, is this a good time for that? I mean, we’ve got a situation here—” her voice failed when Vax lifted her chin so she had to look in his dark eyes.

  “Little time. I pleasure you fast.”

  “Vax…” She finally found the strength to take a wobbling step back. The hold he had on her chin tightened, and he pulled her close to him once more. There was no compromise in his expression.

  “What?”

  His frown made her heart skip. The memory of Japohn’s spankings last night shivered from her brain down to her sex. Even one-armed, Lindsey had no doubt Vax could deliver punishment of his own. She dropped her gaze in submission.

  “Yes, Imdiko.”

  “Clothes off.”

  She hesitated, and he growled. She hurriedly stripped.

  Her mother and father were busy keeping the refugee Dee Dee company, soothing the battered woman’s nerves while she ate an emergency ration pouch. But sooner or later Lindsey’s absence would be noted, and one of them would come looking for her. What then?

  A quick glance up at Vax’s uncompromising face let Lindsey know the threat of discovery was the least of her worries. He meant to have her, and there was nothing she could do about it. The realization made her want him more than ever.

  * * * *

  The morning had turned muggy. Bacoj had no trouble following his Nobek’s musky scent in the thick air despite the verdant odor of vegetation. He jogged through the stinging plants Aaron had identified as sawgrass to catch up to his clanmate.

  Japohn heard him coming of course and left his check on the perimeter field to meet Bacoj. The hulking Kalquorian missed little, finely tuned to his surroundings no matter how alien they might be. Bounty hunting had made him a very resourceful and dangerous man.

  As Japohn stalked towards him, his heavy brow creased, Bacoj reminded himself, He chose me for his Dramok. And Japohn would never suffer a weak leader.

  I want Lindsey for my Matara. She won’t suffer a weak leader either.

  “Bacoj, what’s wrong?” Japohn looked towards the campsite half a mile away, no doubt expecting to hear the worst. Tension sang in his body as he waited for the word to dash back and save the day for the battered group.

  Bacoj held a hand up to indicate all was well. “You need to return to camp so we can discuss our best plan to rescue those Earthers.”

  Japohn frowned harder than ever, but it was confusion and not anger that creased his brow. “But we already decided I would hit the Tragooms –”

  Bacoj interrupted him, speaking with certainty he didn’t feel. “No, Japohn. I took your idea under consideration, but I have another option we as a group will discuss. One that won’t put my Nobek under such direct threat.”

  He turned and started back to the campsite. Don’t give him a chance to argue. Just act like his obedience is guaranteed. “Come, clanmate. I need your expertise to fine-tune my plan.”

  There was silence behind him as he walked away, and it took monumental effort to not look back. Bacoj wondered if Japohn would ignore his summons and go after the Tragooms on his own after all.

  After two seconds that felt like an eternity, the Nobek spoke. “Yes, my Dramok.”

  Bacoj’s shoulders relaxed and he drew a relieved breath as Japohn caught up to walk easily at his side.

  * * * *

  Lindsey lay on the bed, her hands behind her knees, holding her legs up and open for Vax’s agonizing attentions. The Imdiko grinned to hear her whimpers as he teased her engorged labia with his fingers. She was so wet and tender, every brush making her tremble with need. He wished he had time to bury his swollen cocks in her warmth, but his clanmates would be returning soon to discuss strategy. He’d have to be content with a brief session of mastery over the lovely Earther.

  He inserted a finger into her folds, enjoying the sight of his dark flesh disappearing into the rosy pinks of her sex. Lindsey groaned and arched at the penetration. Her clitoris jutted at him, begging to be kissed. In a few moments, the wicked little nub would get its wish. But for now, he concentrated on invading the sweet clutching warmth of the petite woman’s hearth.

  In and out his finger slid, making Lindsey toss her head from side to side in rapture. She bit her lips in an effort to keep quiet as he’d commanded, but tiny cries escaped nonetheless. Vax ached to take her hard and fast, and he promised himself at the first opportunity he would. The little Earther was so giving when it came to lovemaking, so incredibly right for the alpha mentality of Kalquorian males. He wondered at the clan’s luck in finding her.

  We have to clan her. Bacoj and Japohn must be thinking the same thing.