Alien Redemption [Clans of Kalquor 06] Read Free Page B

wasn’t aware you’d been intimate with one of us. Were you coerced? We’re not allowed—”
    Oh for heaven’s sake. Rachel leaned forward and put her hand to his mouth to shut him up.
    His breath was warm on her palm, and the thought of how his mouth had felt on hers made her insides clench. He watched her face and waited. She took her handheld back from him and sat back down. Typed another message.
    I was very much the seducer, my rescuer’s first woman. You asked what I wanted in exchange for a word. I will tell you exactly.
    She watched him read it, and when he looked up at her questioningly, she opened her mouth.
    It’s not English. The words are Kalquorian. Say them.
    “Imdiko Conyod.” A strengthless croak that came from her straining throat.
    He heard it nonetheless, and his large, beautiful eyes shut with feeling. She couldn’t tell if it was because he was disgusted with her answer or enthralled because he’d cured her inability to speak.
    Handheld again, because she only knew a few words of his language. If you don’t want me too, say so. It will hurt, but I can take it. I’ve lived through worse.
    He read it. Then Conyod lifted his gaze to hers. She braced herself.
    “I do want you.”
    The entire world stopped in that instant. I didn’t hear that right. My wishful thinking made me hear something I wanted to. There is no way this man could care for me beyond doing his job.
    But he was nodding slowly, his shoulders lifting as if a huge weight had been released. “I have almost from the moment you got here. From the second I laid eyes on your beautiful face and saw the strength behind the agony in your eyes — and now, hearing my name come from your lips—”
    Conyod stopped, as if overcome. His hands covered his face, but not before Rachel saw the mix of despair, hope, and longing on his expression.
    He sat that way for a few seconds, and she let him. She had no clue what to say or what to do. She simply waited for him. All the while, her thoughts yammered , He wants me! He wants me!
    But something was wrong with the situation, something beyond the sacred doctor-patient issue. When Conyod emerged from behind his hands, his words bore that out.
    He looked at Rachel and gave her the saddest, most heartrending smile she’d ever seen.
    “You are the only good thing I’ve known for a long time. But Ray-Ray, things are complicated right now with my clan. This … I need to think about this.”
    He’d said clan , but not a word about a Matara. Rachel couldn’t help but allow a flicker of hope.
    It was obvious Conyod wasn’t going to let himself be overcome by desire at this time, but Rachel could live with that. She would settle for a token of affection.
    I’m sorry if I came on too strong, but I have very intense feelings for you. I know it’s not proper, but I really, really need you hold me.
    As soon as he’d finished reading that, she added, “ Krewet? ” Please?
    Conyod looked at her, his expression that of a man who felt as lost and frightened as a child alone in the woods. He took a deep breath and held his arms out to her.
    Rachel went to him, sitting in the cradle of his crossed legs. His arms curled around her, surrounding her in warmth and protection. Rachel burrowed her face against his chest and sighed. His cheek pressed against the short cap of curls on top of her head and rubbed back and forth against the softness.
    Rachel sighed again. She almost felt safe. She thought she could shelter in Conyod’s arms forever.

    * * * *
Dramok Erybet fumed, though he kept his expression still as he walked down the well-lit hallway of the hospital’s Matara psychiatric wing. Damn Conyod. Of all the times for his Imdiko to work late, he had to pick this evening. Which led to another thought: was Conyod being difficult on purpose? Just to get back at Erybet for his silence, a silence he was under orders to keep?
    The clan’s Nobek strode silently at Erybet’s side, his soft-soled feet making