Pursued Read online

  “They’re xenox fodder,” Merrick growled, his eyes still flashing. “The bottom of the fucking food chain. And you nearly died for one of them. Why didn’t you let the one you were holding go when I told you to?”

  Elise looked at him in disbelief. “And let that monster have it? Watch it get mauled and eaten before my eyes?”

  “Better than getting mauled and eaten yourself,” he snarled. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

  “What’s wrong with me? What’s wrong with you?” Elise took a step forward and poked him hard in the chest. “If you think I would ever give up a helpless, defenseless creature to a filthy predator like that then you don’t know me, Merrick.”

  “I know you ought to be dead right now.” He glared down at her. “And me right along with you. And all for a fucking animal.”

  “You’re the animal.” Elise lifted her chin and returned his glare. “Expecting me to abandon that poor little thing. I’ve spent my life—based my whole career—on protecting the weak from the strong. If you could hear some of the stories I hear in court—those innocent children and what was done to them—”

  “Don’t you mean what was done to you?” he asked, his voice suddenly soft.

  Elise still felt as though he had slapped her. “What do you mean? What are you talking about?” She took a step back but Merrick followed her.

  “I’m talking about the real reason you won’t let yourself get close to me. And it’s not that stupid fiancé of yours or the fact that the bond between us is fake. It’s something that happened in your past. Something somebody did to you.”

  The door of the vault creaked dangerously. “No,” Elise shook her head. “No…no.”

  “Yes.” Merrick advanced on her steadily as she continued to back away. His deep voice was coaxing and there was no more anger in his eyes, only longing. “Yes, baby. If you could just face it, just tell me—I promise no matter what it is, I won’t run. I’ll stay with you, help you get over it.”

  “There’s nothing to get over,” Elise said in a shaking voice, trying to convince herself as well as Merrick. “Nothing to tell. So just…just leave me alone.”

  “I can help you,” he insisted. “Just let me try. You’re not the only one with shit in their past, you know. I had a pretty fucked up childhood myself. If you’ll just—”

  “I said, no!” Elise nearly screamed at him. She felt fragile inside, like a crystal goblet with cracks running all through it. All it would take was one careless tap on the side of the goblet to shatter it all, to let everything it had been holding in for so long come gushing out in a painful flood. She stumbled backward and landed on her ass in the small purple stream. The water splashed up around her, drenching her, mingling with the hot, salty tears on her cheeks.

  Finally, Merrick backed off. “Okay. All right.” He held up both hands in a “don’t shoot” gesture. “Just know that I’m here when you want to talk. C’mon, let’s get you out of there.” He offered her a hand up but Elise ignored it and struggled out of the narrow streambed on her own.

  “I’m fine. I don’t need your help.”

  Merrick’s hand dropped to his side and his eyes narrowed. “So I see. Well, I guess we’d better move on. We might still make the Deep Blue by nightfall if we don’t have any other adventures.”

  “Fine.” Elise tried to wring the water out of her clothes and still retain her dignity. “Did you find the trail?”

  “Yeah. It’s up ahead.” He gave her an inscrutable look. “Follow me close and don’t stray away again.”

  “I only strayed the first time because you left me,” Elise pointed out acidly.

  “I only left you because…” Merrick shook his head. “Never mind. Just come on.” He turned and disappeared into the dense blue-gray vegetation.

  Elise plunged in after him, feeling miserable. I never got to tell him how I feel, she thought, watching his broad back as they moved rapidly through the jungle. And now I guess I never will.

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Lauren arranged herself on the bed in her best seductive pose—lying on her side to make some tempting cleavage. She was wearing the collar Xairn had given her as the final mark of his dominance over her and the sexy harem girl outfit in see-through crimson silk that she’d used to seduce him on the night they finally bonded. She just hoped it would work the same magic again—it seemed like weeks since he’d touched her though she knew it really hadn’t been that long. But her new hormones were kicking in, making her want him even more than she had before. No, not just want—need. She needed Xairn, and not just because she continued to eat the bonding fruit Kat kept her supplied with. But lately it seemed like he didn’t want anything to do with her.

  She sighed. Who knew being pregnant could make you so damn horny? Was that even normal? Was it a Kindred thing? Those were some of the questions she wanted to ask her cousin, Olivia. As a nurse, and a fellow pregnant lady, she was sure Liv would have all the answers. But somehow Lauren just couldn’t find the time to talk to her alone and she was a little shy about mentioning her burgeoning sexual appetite in front of Sophie and Kat—neither one of whom was pregnant. At least not yet. Sophie was trying as hard as she could, although Kat declared she could wait awhile—a long while—before she boarded the baby train.

  Looking down at her still-flat belly, Lauren wondered how much longer she’d be able to wear her other normal clothes. How long until she felt the baby kick?

  Well, it’ll probably be awhile yet, she told herself. Hopefully enough time to get things worked out with Xairn.

  As though thinking of him had called him to her, she heard the front door of their suite open and excited barking as Little One, their half-grown puppy, greeted Xairn ecstatically. Having a puppy aboard a space ship had been a real challenge, but Little One was proving to be a very intelligent girl and Xairn had trained her in no time. Also, there were areas of the ship for other Earth girls who had brought their dogs. Luckily, Lauren and Xairn’s suite was located close to one of them so having Little One aboard had turned out to be much easier than expected.

  Easier than getting Xairn to notice me, anyway, Lauren thought with a small sigh. She didn’t know what her man’s problem was, but she sure as hell wished he’d get over it!

  Getting tired of waiting for Xairn to come back and find her, she went quietly to the door of their bedroom and peered out into the living area of the suite. Xairn was there, kneeling on one knee and stroking Little One’s long, soft ears while she wagged her tail so hard it looked like it might come off.

  “Good girl,” he murmured, a smile lighting his red-on-black eyes which Lauren had once found so frightening. “You’re such a good girl, Little One.”

  The puppy wiggled ecstatically at his soft words of praise and licked his hand. She was sweet enough to Lauren but it was clear who the real center of her universe was. Xairn had found her after her mother had been hit by a car and had rescued the helpless little creature even though he was in a very dark place in his life at the time. Little One had loved him to distraction, right from the start.

  As always when she looked at her man, Lauren felt a surge of pride and affection. Xairn had been through so much—a horrible childhood, an abusive father, the loss of his mother and his entire culture—and yet he was still here. Still standing strong. Going through life by his side was the answer to all Lauren’s hopes and dreams and she promised herself again that they would get properly married before the baby was born.

  “Ahem.” She cleared her throat delicately, hoping to get his attention.

  Xairn looked up, an affectionate smile still on his face. But when he saw Lauren, it faded. “Oh…hello.” He stood at once, brushing the dog hair off his black flight pants and cleared his throat.

  “Hello yourself,” Lauren purred. Up until now she’d been half hidden behind the door but now she came out into the open, displaying the naughty crimson harem-girl outfit. “How was your day, dear?” she asked, arching one eyebrow and cock