Dominated By Desire (22 page)

He watched as each of the team went to check on Fridon and Heather.

The doctor approached him just before landing. “I’d like to keep her for observation.”

“No.”

“Sir.”

“Doctor, someone is trying to kill her and your medical area isn’t secure enough. I’m going to do my best to keep her safe while she heals. Download all your data to my family doctor and he will care for her.”

“Yes, sir.” The doctor didn’t seem happy but he didn’t argue with Storm anymore.

Storm had the men secure the transport while he went to help his mate.

He knelt down by the bed. “Ready to go?”

Her eyes opened as she gave him a lopsided smile. “Yes.” He wanted to pick her up in his arms but knew she would stop him. She would want to walk on her own. He’d be the same way. He offered her his hand.“You understand.” She took his hand and got to her feet. She was a bit unsteady but grateful he wasn’t going to humiliate her in front of everyone.

“I have been in your shoes before and know how hard you worked to gain the respect of these people. Something as simple as my carrying you would destroy all that work in seconds. I know they would never question me, but they would question and wonder if you got special treatment because of who you are. You are a soldier and still in uniform.” He made sure she could move on her own before backing off. “However, one wobble and your feet are off the ground. I don’t take anyone’s health lightly.”

“Agreed.” She took a few steps away from the bed. “What was in that sedative? I feel a little rubbery.”

“You want the whole list?” he offered her his hand, which she shook off. “I need to prove I can do this on my own. I don’t want people questioning my ability on another mission.”

“What makes you think there will be another mission for you?” He helped her down the gangplank when she needed it and onto the tarmac. “I have never been so scared.”

“You? Imagine how I felt.” She stopped moving when she saw the rest of the team standing there waiting for the transport. The doctor accompanied Fridon out of the ship. The team stood at attention on either side of the walkway, giving him a salute as the doctor moved his bed through. She waited until they had passed through and expected them to break up but they didn’t.

“Your turn, Lieutenant.”

“Me? Why?”

“You saved his life today. That earns you a place of honor.”

“I did nothing out of the ordinary.”

“It could have been any one of them and you would have done the same thing.” He urged her forward. “Go.”

She didn’t want all this attention. She had been fighting back the tears threatening to spill since she knew she was safe. This would just force the waterworks to start. Holding her head high, she walked between them, trying her damndest to not make eye contact with anyone. That would be all it would take.

There at the end of the lineup was Fridon. She felt the first tear fall.

Storm called everyone to attention as he dismissed them.

Once she saluted Storm for being relieved of duty she walked up to the bed Fridon lay in and took his hand. “I am so sorry.”

“This isn’t your fault.” He squeezed her hand. “If you hadn’t been there I wouldn’t be here.”

“That damn thing was after me.” She wiped one eye. After a few more tears slipped down her cheek she was able to regain control of her emotions.

“But saw you as a threat. None of this would have happened if I hadn’t gone on that mission.”

“You got the intruder, didn’t you?”

“He wasn’t going to hurt anyone else.” The satisfaction she felt in ripping off the head was something she had never felt before.

“And more than likely it would have come after you sooner or later.”

“Probably and I see where you’re going with this, better to have it happen on a mission instead of the middle of the city. Doesn’t make me feel any better.”

“Imagine how I feel.” Storm’s voice came from behind her. “This shouldn’t have happened at all.”

“Who is after your mate, sir?”

“We don’t know.” Storm didn’t say anything else. He looked at her, concern etched on his face.

“Anyone heard anything?” She knew he didn’t want to get anyone involved until he knew who he could trust but she did trust these people.

They were her team and had put their life on the line to save hers.

“Heather.” That was all he said.

“Eyes and ears, sir. We don’t have that. These people walk amongst the rest of the students and soldiers. They would hear something a lot faster than you or I would.” She hoped he wouldn’t get upset by her cornering him like this. “Let them in. We need their help.”

She got the glare she had only seen aimed at other people and she waited for the anger to follow.

“You do realize the more people involved the more can get hurt.” His voice was flat.

“Sir, they don’t have to be involved to get hurt. Today’s mission proved that.” She made sure she kept this as professional as possible. If she made it personal and he was made to look weak he might never forgive her.

“If we involve your team you will follow my rules, not some hair brained scheme someone might come up with.” He looked at every one of them. “We will do this by the book.”

“Of course.” She might regret that later but she knew he only had her best interests at heart. “All I ask is you don’t pull me from the team to protect me.”

He watched her, silent. As the silence stretched she wasn’t sure if she could stand the wait. “Agreed.” The single word sent joy through her heart.

“Thank you, sir.”

“We will meet in the morning. I’ll send coordinates to each of you later.” He grabbed Heather by the hand and started walking.

He didn’t say a word, but she could feel his anger. She was surprised he didn’t pick her up and throw her over his shoulder when she stood up to him like that. Then again, he was probably trying to be mindful of her ribs, they still had a few hours to go before they would be completely healed.

“Storm. Please.” She found it hard to breathe as she tried to keep up with his long gate.

He stopped, and turned his angry glare on her before he scooped her up and carried her the rest of the way. She knew better than to fight him. What she worried about now was what would happen once they were alone.

The moment they passed through the main doors of the house he deposited her on the ground, wrapped his arms around her and pressed his lips to hers. She felt his hunger in the gentle sweep of his tongue through her mouth. The way it searched her mouth for hers, begging it to dance with his. Her blood started to move faster. Her heart beat a quicker tempo. Time seemed to stop as they kissed. Storm continued the kiss for a long time, she found herself breathing hard when it ended. She wanted more.

“My heart.”

She was waiting for the anger and frustration to come out but it was all he said before he realized other people were standing around, including the family doctor and his mother. As she went off with the doctor she heard Storm shout at his mother. “I hope the council is happy about that little leak, they could have gotten her killed.”

That wasn’t a conversation she wanted to hear more of so she was glad to be heading into another area.

“I heard you broke the medical scanner.”

“Not on purpose, doctor.” She sat on the table he pointed to. “I just had a little mishap.”

“So I see. A dislocated shoulder, two broken ribs and three bruised ones isn’t little to me.” He eased her uniform to one side so he could check the device on her ribs. “What happened?”

“Got the raw end of a fall.” She tried to make light of it.

“You and your mate will be the end of me yet. The scrapes he used to get into.” The doctor shook his head. “Your shoulder is repaired, but the ribs are going to take a little longer. I’d like you to stay here tonight. Make sure nothing goes wrong.”

“What can go wrong with a few broken ribs? I’ve done worse and never had to spend the night in the medcenter.”

“You fell how many feet?” He resealed her suit. “There is no evidence of a concussion but I have had stranger things happen over the years. I have learned to not always trust my equipment.”

“Storm won’t be happy.”

“He normally isn’t too happy with me so I’m not going to be too upset about it.” He gestured to a small room toward the back of the area. “You’ll be comfortable back there and your mate can join you. As long as he behaves.”

“Who behaves?” asked Storm.

She didn’t hear him come into the room. Lately she had been sensing his presence long before she actually saw him, but not this time. Must have been the medication.

“You. She is to stay here to rest. Let her body heal.”

“And what makes you think I won’t let that happen?” He tried to put on an innocent act but she saw right through it.

“I am your doctor.”

“As long as she is one hundred percent healed. I have plans for her.” At least his humor was back. Yelling at his mother must have done some good for him.

“Good. Then you’ll behave yourself.” He looked at Heather. “You know where to go. Bring him with you or he’ll be in my hair all night long.” She grinned as she took Storm’s hand. “I do believe your wonderful charm doesn’t work on the doctor.”

“He’s known me too long. He brought me into this world.”

“That explains so much.” She climbed into the bed. “It also explains why he gave us such a small bed. There is no room for you.”

“There is if I want to be your mattress.” He winked at her. “But the bed would then pick up both our readings and drive him crazy.”

“Something I think you’d enjoy doing.” She shifted and sucked in her breath then she felt a slight pain in her side. Storm just about jumped on her with worry. She had to touch his arm to stop him. “Shouldn’t have done that.”He touched her face. “You okay?”

“Fine.” She pressed her check into his hand. “It doesn’t hurt that bad.

Just need to move the right way.”

The doctor popped his head into the room. “Rest or I’ll separate you two.”“Yes, doctor.” She lay down on the bed and closed her eyes. “So did you have a good talk with your mom?”

“Yes, why?”

“Your whole attitude changed since we got home.” She yawned and snuggled against the pillows. “I thought you were angry at me earlier.”

“Why would you think that?”

“You...gave me...that look.” And she nodded off.

Storm moved the moment she drifted off. “There is no reason for you to keep her.”

“Her readings are changing again.” He pulled up the image of her DNA strand. “And I’m not quite sure how to read it anymore.”

“What do you mean?” Storm stared at the screen.

“The information is no longer loading for me. The program might be deciphering the information but I’m not getting any new data. It’s like it doesn’t want me to know what she is. Something is blocking me from being able to finish the strand.” He turned the screen off. “Have you noticed anything out of the ordinary between the two of you?”

“Like what?”

“I don’t know.” The doctor scratched his head. “Something you don’t have with anyone else. I know you’ve been trained to keep everything to yourselves for her protection but I have been here with you all your life. I need you to trust I have both of your best interest at heart.” Storm remained silent. What could he tell the doctor? Then Storm suddenly looked at the room she slept in. He felt her distress. Ignoring the doctor he hurried into the room.

Heather was caught in a dream. He watched as she moved in the bed, like she had her hands tied. She screamed his name and shot up into a sitting position. He was beside her, pulling her into his arms in seconds.

He held her shaking form, trying to calm her down. “Heather, it’s okay.

You’re safe.”

“Storm?” Her hands touched his face. “Oh, thank God. It was horrible.

It was a trap. He used me to lure you in and, and he killed you.”

“It was only a dream.”

She was panicky as she continued. “It seemed so real. The whole place was dark, like I was in a cave or something. He had me secured to a big metal bed. He wanted something from me but he never told me what it was.

His first goal was to make sure you wouldn’t be able to stop him. He didn’t want any interference and he knew you would be coming to save me.”

“Who?”

“I don’t know.” She looked up at him with a tear streaked face. “I never saw his face. But he knew things about us.” She grabbed his arms to make him look at her. “About me.”

She wasn’t acting like it was a dream. She was too lucid. Her fear real.

“Tell me what you saw and heard.”

“I was strapped to a table. My hands tied above my head.” She paused as she tried to maintain control. Tears streamed down her face.

Storm placed his hand on her heart. He could feel the fast erratic pace.

“Relax. I’m here with you now.”

She nodded gulping for air. “I have never been so frightened. I was in an old building. There were cobwebs and skittering sounds like it housed animals that had suddenly been disturbed. Lights hung over the bed so I couldn’t see as well as I wished. There was someone else but I couldn’t see who it was.”

“He hated you so much, Storm, you can’t go after him.” She grabbed his shirt. “Promise me you won’t let him get the upper hand.”

“You are my heart and I will never do anything that would put you in danger.” That seemed to mollify her. She leaned into him, wanting to hear his heart beat steadily as she shook off the last of the dream.

The doctor signaled to him and Storm tried to leave Heather’s side for a moment but she wouldn’t have anything to do with it. He had to wait for her to relax enough to doze off again so he could find out what the doctor wanted.

“She was a bit frantic after that dream.”

“The dream seemed real to her.” Storm wasn’t sure what he was getting at. “Are you sure it was a dream?” The doctor held up his hand before Strom could argue with him. “Let me tell you what I noticed this evening.

You were aware that she was caught in something that frightened her long before she made a sound. You were there at her side before she woke up.

Then she described something that was a lot more detailed than most dreams.