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  Her cheeks flamed as she returned her gaze back to her plate. Was it her imagination or had there been a glint of something hot and elemental in Reve’s eyes as he’d gazed down on her?

  "We breed the capirs, as you probably learned on the way here," he said, as cool and controlled as ever. "They are the only source of the didigens needed in our diet. The case is fashioned out of kelp; highly digestible, and very good for you."

  "Oh." She peered at the cake. "I wouldn’t have dreamed of eating something containing kelp back home. I have to admit your cooks make this highly edible. I was thinking. Just how did I get my nutrition while I was in a trance on the spacecraft coming here?" Melanie tried to ignore his intense scrutiny as she nibbled on the cake. Tried, and failed. His eyes seemed to bore holes in her, to see her every thought and feeling.

  "Through injections," he said. "Periodically the robots force-fed you, and extracted the waste from your body, of course."

  Melanie felt extremely hot. The way he was looking at her was odd, as if he knew every one of her deepest secrets. No matter how she tried, she couldn’t seem to keep her eyes from returning to his body. Although still intimidating, she now found him enthralling--every limb and muscle somehow familiar.

  Without a single doubt she knew he had filled her dreams, brought her fantasies to life. His very sensuous mouth curved in a way that sent shivers of awareness to the tips of her toes and caused them to curl in her boots. Had it been a dream? Or some sort of weird hypnotic state he’d put her in so he could have his way with her?

  The idea would not go away. The lover of her dream had not kissed her once on the mouth. Oh, his devilish tongue had explored, tasted, and discovered every other inch of her, but not once had it gone anywhere near her face, or more explicitly, her mouth. He hadn’t kissed her.

  If some aspects of her lovemaking with Chris had not transported her to heaven, his kisses had always thrilled her. Yes, if she had been dreaming of Chris she would, most definitely, not have left out his kisses.

  "Kiss?" he questioned softly, making her jump and making her jerk her head up to meet his gaze full on.

  Melanie gaped at him. "I …I beg your pardon?" she spluttered.

  "No, it is I who must beg your pardon, Mel-aanie," he said, his voice as smooth as melted chocolate. "I have the power to now read your mind clearly. I have no wish to intrude." He shrugged those immense shoulders as he sat opposite her. With a reflexive gesture she pressed her knees together.

  A half smile curved his lips. "You will gain your revenge soon enough by being able to access my thoughts. When your mind is better acclimatized to our ways, of course. I cannot help it. The word kiss is uppermost in your thoughts. This intrigues me." Leaning slightly towards her, he put his hands on his knees and stared hard at her as if getting a string of thoughts straight out of her head. Which doubtless he was. She groaned. "I have a replica of what it means by connecting it with your thought waves, but cannot imagine why you should be so curious about what my mouth would feel like on yours."

  "Oh my!" Melanie put the glass and half finished pie down and pressed her palms to her cheeks. They felt as if she’d been sitting out in the sun for an hour. She moaned. "I wish you couldn’t do that!"

  His shoulders lifted again, minutely. "I apologize. But it’s inescapable. Now tell me, what is a kiss? And in what way does it come into the everyday pattern of your lives on Earth?" Obviously he wasn’t the least bit apologetic, or he wouldn’t keep on at the subject.

  Good grief. Melanie took a deep breath. "I can’t discuss this topic." Standing abruptly she went to the bench and got rid of her plate and glass and then pressing her hands on the shiny surface, she faced him. His brows were lifted haughtily.

  "Then I will simply delve into your mind and find the answer."

  "No!" Arrogant swine. She backed away when he got up, advancing on her.

  "No? You seem to forget I am in command of this vessel. My word is law." There was no arguing. He had the bearing of a man in full command. "You realize with the touch of a finger I could render you comatose. Then I could extract any amount of information from your brain and you would be unable to inhibit me."

  Melanie shuddered, still backing up. Slowly she made her way around the outer edges of the chamber as he advanced, inexorably. Filled with sudden terror, she looked from side to side and bit her lip. Was he about to change into a vampire or something as horrid? Perhaps she was about the learn what he truly looked like.

  "Do not mutilate your mouth so. I would like to try this kissing, to experience the strange effect it seems to have on your sensory perceivers." He took hold of one of her hands and Melanie froze although his touch was gentle.

  "You’re frightening me," she cried, and his features softened.

  "No, I’m not, I’m merely making you nervous. There is a great difference."

  "Believe me, mister, I’m terrified," she insisted, shaking like a jelly on a plate.

  "Come, demonstrate this kissing then, and you will be free," he ordered, giving her a slow, lethally potent smile.

  Melanie stared at the devastating grin.

  "You thought I could not do this small thing with my lips. This smile, hmm?" he added, and she felt like screaming.

  "Oh my God! Am I not to have one single thought to call my own?"

  He shrugged. "Unfortunately no."

  She tried to free herself, but he obviously did not intend to release her. His hold was like a velvet manacle as he deliberately brought her into contact with his powerful body until she felt every part of him, from knees to chest. With an explicitly sensual movement he undulated his lower half.

  Melanie sucked her bottom lip in again, and instantly his mouth pressed on hers, stilling the movement of her tongue and teeth. In stunned surprise she let out a soft squeal.

  Raising his head a fraction, with one brow quirked, he peered down his nose at her. "It seems the only way I can stop you chewing on your mouth is by covering it with mine. So, now what happens?"

  "Nothing happens. We just let our mouths touch, that’s it," she lied, squirming and then wishing she hadn’t when she felt the hardening of his body, felt the strength of his arousal pressed against her.

  "You lie," he murmured, covering her slightly parted lips again. "Teach me."

  Melanie had no defense against the whispered plea. Sweet heavens, his mouth was like the most delicious wine. Tasted like honey and chocolate, nectar and champagne. The taste, feel, scent of him filled her, intoxicated her. Then his tongue, sensuously teasing, erotically playful, met hers.

  She groaned and then pressed herself harder against him and exulted in his instant response. With slow, mind-blowing caresses, his tongue stroked across hers, explored each warm corner and secret part of her mouth until she was a trembling mass of acquiescent womanhood. Never in her entire life had she felt so wanton, so ready to be molded to someone’s will.

  "Reve," she murmured dreamily when his mouth lifted, so they could drag in needed air.

  "I am here," he said softly before sealing their mouths again.

  Oh what that tongue of his did to her. It’s slightly rough, yet exquisitely seductive surface, seemed to send shivers darting to every nerve ending, until she was a shivering mindless receptacle. His to do with as he desired. He sucked in her bottom lip, nibbled and then explored again. Never, if she lived for an eternity, would she experience such exquisite torture. Her mind went to mush. There was just the feel of him, the taste. Reve became the center of her universe.

  To her shock, then dismay, Melanie quivered to a stunning orgasm in his arms.

  Still wrapped in the sensual spell he had woven about her, her body still pulsing in waves of erotic pleasure, it took a moment for her to realize he had released her and was gently lowering her onto the couch. Through the haze still surrounding her, he looked about as stunned as she felt. She had a smidgen of satisfaction. She hadn’t been the only one knocked for six.

  "So." Uttering the one word, he pa
ced away a bit, then came back to stand over her and with his hands pushed the long copper hair back from his face, which was wreathed in sweat.

  "So." Melanie shrugged. Trying for a show of composure, she failed completely. "There, now you know."

  "Indeed I do, Mel-aanie." He paced about again. "And is this form of invoking the senses to full perception indulged on Earth freely?" He returned to tower above her.

  "Good grief. Where did you learn all those long words? Not from my brain." Her embarrassment at the way she had allowed him to take over her body, to render her mindless, was engulfing her. Never had she felt so humiliated. She’d actually…actually… Even in her mind she couldn’t bring herself to openly admit what she’d done...what had happened to her.

  "Why are you nervous again?" he drawled

  She could throw something at him. His grin said he read her intent clearly.

  "You did not enjoy what happened to you?" There was a glint of a predator on the hunt in his eyes again. "I enjoyed it immensely. This is one of your planet’s diversions we will indulge in often. I have never…"

  Melanie jumped up and, vaguely registering his chest felt like a sheet of steel, prodded him in the chest with her finger. "That’s what you think, mister."

  "Back to calling me this sarcastic name again. You are strange, Earth woman." He scowled darkly, the grin disappearing in an instant.

  "Not as strange as some," she mumbled.

  "No matter how you try to camouflage it, you found a pleasurable release while we did this kissing."

  Melanie groaned, her hand to her head as she swallowed. He had ignored her remark and it didn’t help that she could still taste him on her tongue.

  "And even while I did not reach a climax of my own," he said. "I have to admit I found great pleasure in you reaching your exquisite pinnacle."

  "Shut up!" Melanie marched about, waving her arms, pushing back her hair she suddenly found a nuisance. "On Earth we do not dissect every sexual experience as if it’s a matter to be talked about over the dinner table. My God, you are embarrassing me. Do you know what the word means?" Her voice climbed higher with each sentence.

  "Do not raise your voice. It hurts my ears," he said quietly, and she stared at him in astonishment.

  "It does?"

  "Yes. And I know exactly what that word means. We will have to kiss often. Then you will grow so accustomed to your reaction you will not get embarrassed by it at all."

  Melanie groaned a very unladylike sound and one of his brows lifted again.

  "Come" He extended his hand. "I have ordered a landing craft to be made ready for us. We will go to Amaryllis, and I will introduce you to my parents." Pointedly Melanie ignored his hand.

  "Your parents?" With a shake of her head, she placed her hands on her hips.

  "Do not look so surprised. We give birth much the same as you do on your planet, and are not hatched from eggs." He wore a small indulgent smile.

  "You don’t say."

  "I do say." This alien was beginning to sound remarkably like an Earthman. It was awesome how quickly he had picked up on her speech patterns.

  After the panel slid back, he placed his warm palm at her back and ushered her through the door. He said not a word as they walked side by side along the corridor.

  Melanie had been wrong. What a fool to assume him incapable of seducing her while she had her wits about her. With one kiss he had rendered her completely witless, putty in his hands. A quivering wanton, a prey to passions previously un-conceived.

  A pang of dismay clutched at her insides; Chris had never made her feel this way. Even though she had thought herself deeply in love with him, he’d never managed to take her to such heights of ecstasy. It hit her forcibly. Beside this overpowering male at her side, Chris had been a mere shadow of a man.

  Poor Chris. Never to have experienced the rush of all-encompassing passion she’d shared with Reve. Oh, he’d been attentive; she couldn’t deny it. Despite being a tender lover, he’d never seemed to realize she’d been unfulfilled. Had he really cared about her true feelings? A man who loved a woman deeply should surely have questioned, at least at the beginning of their relationship, if she’d felt satisfied. Now she came to think about it, not once had he asked if she’d reached a climax. Reve hadn’t needed to ask; he knew.

  "Do not go into panic mode," he said softly at her side.

  His touch on her arm jolted her out of her reverie. They were entering an elevator.

  "Oh," she gasped, looking about. God, she hoped he hadn’t been reading her thoughts. His expression gave nothing away. But then it never did.

  "Here, hold onto me," he said, as the doors closed, trapping them in the small space. "Perhaps I can instill you with some of my confidence." He pressed her hand onto his arm and enclosed her fingers with his own, while he watched her face, perhaps for signs of panic. "Never in all of my four megnums have I known one of these to malfunction." No doubt, he could read the rapid tattoo her heart was beating out. "You will have to get accustomed to being enclosed. The shuttle is smaller than the craft which brought you here."

  "Oh God!" Melanie nodded. "You’re forty?" She asked the question to distract herself from the feel of his warm solid arm beneath her fingers more than anything else. A tremor raced through her as he tightened his fingers over hers. With him holding her, she had to admit the fears did recede.

  "Yes, I am almost to full maturity." His chuckle gave a false impression of youthfulness.

  Was this something he’d picked up from her? He hadn’t cracked a smile at first meeting. Could he be trying to lull her into a false sense of security?

  His enigmatic glance told her he knew just what was going through her mind. But he chose to ignore it apparently, for he went on, "As you know we all live longer here than you do on Earth. Our life expectancy is about ten megnums. A hundred of your years."

  "Why can’t we just transfer from the ship to the smaller craft? Or straight to your planet?" Irena had just zapped her up. "Then I wouldn’t have to go through this, would I?"

  He gave her a reproving glance. "Only in rare emergencies do we zap ourselves around." Amusement was clear in his tone.

  Melanie glared at him. Yes, he knew every word rattling around in her brain.

  "I have a good idea how to take your mind off the terror of traveling in enclosed spaces," he drawled, gazing at her unblinkingly.

  Melanie refused to rise to the bait.

  As the doors slid open he ushered her out, his hand once more searing through the cloth on her back. They walked along a wide, hanger-type building. The small landing crafts used for travel back and forth to the home planet were lined up along the sides. The robots worked diligently refueling and servicing some of them. One or two Amaryllisans called a greeting to Reve and gave Melanie curious looks. Reve did not introduce her to anyone.

  "Do they all know about how I came to be here?" she asked as they reached the end of the building and Reve nodded to a robot standing by a commuter vessel with its door open.

  Reve led her up a slope and inside the capsule. When she stood undecided by the door, he guided her gently onto a sloping couch. "They do now. It is common knowledge how Irena sent you back in her craft. They are curious to learn all about Earth and its inhabitants. Another squadron is going soon; armed with the knowledge they cannot dally long." He spoke with what seemed to be cautious indifference.

  "Soon?" Her face lit up at this news, she knew it did. "So, I can go with them, can I?"

  He glowered at her as he took the other couch beside her, stretching his long frame out with the graceful ease she had come to admire. "You are in a great hurry to go back to face the…what was it you called them? The thugs, and mobsters?"

  In truth Melanie was in no hurry to return to Earth. Not now. That thought brought her up short. No way in the world could she stay here forever. This man may set her alight with his kisses and send her reeling in her dreams, but he was an alien.

  Ignoring his probing
gaze she said, "Of course I wish to go home." She wagged her finger in front of him. "Don’t forget Irena pledged your help. She said you would willingly return with me. To see those evil men brought to justice."

  "I will keep the pledge, fear not." His scowl was fierce. "But I will keep it in my own time."

  "Don’t leave it too long. Months have gone by already and by the time we get back to earth, lord above knows how much time will have passed. How many others would have been killed while these people carry on with their evil trade?" She shuddered at the thought.

  "You are setting down rules again, Mel-aanie. Do not push me too far--or you will know the full extent of my wrath."

  Melanie gasped in dismay. All humor had fled, the lover who brought her to rapture was gone. He was back to being the autocratic and dictatorial commander. She clasped her hands together and stared ahead. Only a fool would forget he was a cold, probably heartless freak. Likely he was a robot too. Tears clogged her throat.

  A very soft whining sound indicated they were airborne, and the tears remained locked inside her as her knuckles went white when she clenched her fingers.

  "Relax, Mel-aanie, there is nothing to fear."

  His soft touch on her knee and the real concern in his tone helped her to obey, helped her to quell the insane desire to bawl like a baby.

  "We will be docking sooner that it takes you to think about all the dangers involved."

  Relaxing with a sigh, she gave him a sidelong look.

  His stern countenance had softened minimally. "Enjoy your stay on Amaryllis and think of all the memories you will be able to take back to your home planet."

  Melanie nodded dismally. Memories of a man who kissed like a god. Who looked like Adonis, and knew more about pleasing a woman than the average man on Earth learned in a lifespan.

  Of course he was right about his planet. She would be a fool not to see as much as she could while here. After all, it was the trip of a lifetime. She gave a small laugh. "Trouble is, I won’t be able to share my experiences with anyone back on Earth."