Mystic Flame (Beyond Ontariese 4) Read online

  His gaze moved boldly over her face and body, but it didn’t matter. She was beyond modesty or shame. She let her legs fall open and concentrated on the demanding thrust of his fingers. It felt wonderful and yet it reminded her of what she really wanted.

  He used his other hand to hold her open as he drew the flame slowly downward. Surely he wasn’t going to… Oh yes he was. The Mystic flame settled over her clit while his fingers continued to fill her. Each stroke was hard enough to jostle her breasts. She knew he was waiting for her to come again, but her body wasn’t cooperating. This was too strange. Though the flame felt amazing its very existence was distracting.

  “I don’t think I can come like this,” she whispered.

  “Really.” The challenge in his voice was unmistakable. He pushed his fingers deep then kept them there while he sped the motion of the flame. It felt hotter now and the spinning created sweet vibration. “You don’t get more until you come.”

  Her body must have heard the ultimatum. The tension gripping her belly snapped and she came in hard, slow spasms.

  While her body was still tingling, he draped her legs over his shoulders and covered her slit with his mouth. She had no idea what became of the flame, but his tongue eagerly pillaged her creamy folds. She felt ravaged and weak, yet…adored. He reveled his affection for her with every kiss, every tender stroke of his tongue. Though she thought she was utterly spent, desire flickered to life within her again.

  She relaxed and surrendered to his care, allowing his skill and selflessness to sweep her along. Their link vibrated then glowed within her mind and then sexual hunger and possessive longing blazed through her being. She was shocked by the force of his need because his touch was so gentle.

  Suddenly he lunged up along her body and buried his shaft deep inside her. She cried out as the abrupt fullness catapulted her precariously close to release.

  “Not yet,” he growled. “Look at me.” She blinked twice then looked into his eyes. “We come together this time. Understood?”

  “Yes, sir.” Her legs slipped off his shoulders and caught in the bend of his elbows.

  His excitement flowed into her mind as his gaze locked with hers. He pulled his hips back, drawing his cock all the way out before thrusting deep again.

  “May I touch you? Please. I need to touch you.” She squeezed him with her inner muscles as she waited for permission.

  “Touch me.” Though his voice sounded gravely, his gaze shone with warmth.

  She caressed his face and stroked down his neck as he moved over and into her. Her nipples grazed his chest, keeping the peaks tightly beaded. He shifted his angle, putting more pressure on her clit. She watched his eyes and savored each emotion as he pushed it into her mind.

  Knowing how much he wanted her fueled her arousal. Despite his burning urgency, he held back, stubbornly waiting for her excitement to catch up with his. She explored his torso, enjoying the hard contours of his arms. But his restraint frustrated her. She wanted him wild, utterly lost in passion.

  Rather than disrupt his rhythm with words, she found their link and pushed her desire into his mind. He groaned and drew his arms out from under her legs. His fingers grasped her hips and he began to move faster and harder, taking her the way she needed to be taken.

  His back arched and he threw his head back as his body demanded surrender. She pulled his excitement into her mind, thrilled by the frenzy she’d inspired. He pounded into her, harder than he’d ever taken her before. She grabbed the backs of her knees and held herself open, surrendered, submitted yet safe.

  He cried out, shuddering against her as release claimed them both. She wrapped her legs around his waist and clutched his back with her hands, soaring at his side.

  Dazed and breathless, she roused first, loosening her legs so they rested against his thighs and brushing the hair back from his face. “Are you okay?” She smiled. He was usually the one to ask the question.

  “Wow.”

  She chuckled. “I agree.”

  He rolled to his side, taking her with him. “That was amazing.”

  She nipped his chin. “Again, I agree.”

  They snuggled for a few minutes as their breathing gradually returned to normal. His hands slid up and down her back, but his touch was soothing rather than arousing. She felt their link deactivate. He didn’t dissolve the connection, but the line went dead. He was protecting her privacy, but it suddenly felt lonely without his vibrant presence in her mind.

  His expression grew distant and the rotation of his eyes sped. “What are you thinking about?”

  “I had ice cream the last time I visited Earth,” he mused, “but what is a ham-ber-ger?”

  Chapter Nine

  “You’ve never had a hamburger?” Dro Tar laughed, love and contentment making her eyes shine.

  “Don’t sound so surprised,” Evan chided. “You’ve spent considerably more time on Earth than the average Ontarian.”

  “Very true.” She smiled and wiggled away, propping herself up on her elbow. “None of my friends understand my fascination with Earth.”

  “I’ve wondered about it myself a time or two.” He returned her smile. “Explain it to me.”

  “Most Ontarians considered Earth primitive. Our technology is way better than theirs, at least along a linear timeline, so they dismiss humans as simple. Very few humans have any sort of Mystic abilities, so they must be inferior to Ontarians.”

  No one could have missed the sarcasm in her tone. “But that’s not how you see them?”

  “Humans are curious and ambitious. They’re dedicated to their families and show compassion whenever tragedy strikes. I don’t want to live in a world that has given up on happily ever after.”

  He shook his head, not wanting to upset her yet unable to silence his objections. “Did we visit the same planet? The humans I encountered were warlike and quick to anger.”

  “There is a dark side to any species. The Great Conflict is a good example of Ontarian ruthlessness.”

  The last thing he wanted was to debate the Great Conflict, but he wasn’t ready to change the subject. “What do you like best about Earth?”

  “Their pop cultures are good examples of their creativity. Ontarians have basically abandoned anything they consider frivolous. I think we can learn a lot from our human neighbors.”

  “Which brings us back to the beginning. What is a hamburger?” He carefully echoed her pronunciation.

  “It’s a flame-broiled piece of meat served between two… You have to experience it to understand.”

  He rolled off the side of the bed and held out his hand. “Then let’s clean up and go experience it together. If I’m going to be compared with something, I’d like to understand the analogy.”

  Her grin turned playful as she crawled off the bed. “Sex always makes me hungry, so I’m happy to be your guide. Besides, if I’m going to saddle myself with an arrogant Mystic, I might as well take advantage of the perks.”

  They showered together then returned to the bedroom to dress. Dro Tar pulled on a pair of low-slung jeans. Evan reached for his robes, but she shook her head. “If we’re sneaking away to Earth, you’re going to have to look the part.”

  “Do you still have the clothing you gave me in Las Vegas?”

  “I think so.” She swung the small suitcase onto the bed and rummaged through the messy contents. “Here we go.” She tossed him the jeans and dug out the only T-shirt he’d yet to wear.

  “What does this one say?” The smirks and sniggers of passersby were still clear in his memory.

  “Nothing too obnoxious.” She grinned and snatched a clean T-shirt off the shelf in her closet. “On second thought, they’re all pretty obnoxious, but yours is no worse than mine.”

  “We’re not leaving this room until you tell me what they say.”

  She shrugged and admitted, “Mine reads i comes before u.”

  He chuckled. “And mine?”

  “Nymphomaniac Treatment Center
is printed on the front and Staff on the back.”

  “Meaning it is my vocation to assist sexually aggressive females?”

  She laughed and shook her head. “Way to suck the life out of a joke.”

  He took the shirt from her and pulled it on. As she’d said it was not too obnoxious.

  They finished dressing in the living room then he flashed them to a large parking lot on the outskirts of Frontine where there was enough room to Summon the Storm. Frontine was the largest and most densely populated city on Ontariese, so they weren’t taking any chances.

  She stepped into his arms and formed a detailed image of their destination. She showed him the bar’s location within the city, the city’s location within the state, and finally the state’s location within the country.

  “Got it.”

  He drew energy into the middle of his chest and carefully visualized their destination. Six flashes of lightning struck simultaneously as the conduit parted the fabric of space. The violent burst of energy shook the ground and wind whipped all around them. He pulled her into the vortex and she held on for dear life. Evan closed his eyes against the spinning light, using his other senses to navigate. The rushing roar grew louder, making his ears ring. He could teleport short distances without hesitation, but interdimensional travel was still disorienting.

  Light dimmed and sound faded then his feet touched something solid. Dro Tar clung to him, obviously overwhelmed.

  “We’re there, love.” He eased her back. “At least, I think we are. Is this the right place?”

  She slowly opened her eyes and looked around. They were in a field across the street from the bar. A small neon sign glowed in the darkness, but the parking lot was nearly empty. “Did you do a straight across portal? Looks like I should have had you target our arrival for a few hours before this.”

  “The establishment is no longer open?” he sounded as disappointed as he felt. He’d been looking forward to sharing this with her.

  “Let’s find out.” She slipped her hand into his and they walked across the street. The front door of the nondescript building was open but a bartender and a young man stacking chairs on top of the tables appeared to be the only ones left. “Are you still open?” she called from the doorway.

  “For another eleven minutes,” the bartender told her with a smile. “What can I get you?”

  “We’re both starving. Any chance of a burger?”

  “Let me check?” He disappeared into the back then returned a short time later. “Burgers are a go, but you’ll have to settle for potato chips. Dave already turned off the fryer.”

  “Beggars can’t be choosers. We’ll take what we can get.”

  “Have a seat. I’ll be right over.”

  Dro Tar led Evan to one of the few tables that still had chairs around rather than on top of it. The nightclub wasn’t large, but it was arranged with a natural flow that maximized the limited space. They sat facing each other, but Evan reached across the table and took her hands. “How did you learn about this place?”

  “It was my third mission to Ear— I mean Denver.” She lowered her voice and switched to Ontarian. “We were chasing two really nasty smugglers. We knew they were guilty as sin, but couldn’t seem to catch them in the act. Watching them night and day had us trapped in a motel, surviving on pizza and takeout Chinese food. One night I couldn’t take it anymore and asked the pizza delivery man if there was a decent restaurant nearby. He suggested this bar, said they were known more for their grill than their wine selection.”

  “You miss it, don’t you?” It was an insight that shouldn’t have surprised him, but it did. She’d been a great field agent. Why wouldn’t she miss it? He did.

  “Risking my life for modest pay and no recognition?” She laughed then admitted, “Sometimes.”

  Rather than risk another foray into the unpleasant past, he asked, “What have you been doing since you left the military?”

  The bartender’s arrival postponed her answer. “Are you both having burgers? Dave can whip up anything you want as long as it doesn’t require a fryer or an oven.”

  “Two hamburgers and two beers then we’ll get out of your hair.” Dro Tar winked at the man. “It’s never wise to bite the hand that feeds you.”

  “This should just take a few minutes and as long as you don’t mind us cleaning up around you, you’re welcome to take your time and enjoy the food.”

  “Deal.” She flashed another friendly smile.

  “I’ll be right back with the beer.”

  Evan understood she was using charm to put the human at ease, but a dark possessive part of his nature wanted to drag her across the table and kiss her so the other male would know she was taken. The rational side, however, understood how far they’d come and wouldn’t do anything to compromise their progress. So, though it went against his aggressive instincts, he subdued his possessiveness and kept the conversation casual.

  “After the military?” he prompted.

  “Right. I bought a simulation studio.”

  “For training or entertainment?” Immersive simulations were used for a wide range of purposes.

  “Entertainment. Humans are fascinated with aliens, or at least their concept of aliens. So I figured Ontarians might enjoy a variety of adventures based on human concepts.”

  The bartender set down two mugs of beer and slipped away without interrupting.

  “Give me an example.” Evan took a sip of the cold beverage as he waited for her explanation.

  “Vampires. We were working on simulations involving vampires.”

  “Like the vidfile we watched tonight?”

  “Exactly. The customer could be one of the vampire hunters or be the actual vampire. Or if they wanted they could be the helpless victim seduced by a sexy blood sucker.”

  “Would all of these adventures feature vampires?”

  “We…I guess it’s I now.” She sighed, obviously thinking about the loss of her business partner. “I intended to do a soft launch with vampire sims to see if they appealed to Ontarians before I invested more time or money into the concept.”

  “I think the concept is intriguing, but I’d provide at least three different themes before I presented it to the public. Different ideas will appeal to different people. What are some of your other themes?”

  “I was going to work up some rock star scenarios. Be a rock star for a few hours or maybe a groupie.”

  He laughed and squeezed her hands. “I’m not familiar with either of those terms.”

  “A rock star is an extremely popular musician and a groupie is a fan who wants to have sex with members of the band.”

  “Are groupies compensated for their sexual favors?”

  It was her turn to laugh. “No. The sexual encounter is considered its own compensation.”

  “Humans have some very strange customs.”

  “You’re right. The rock star-groupie theme might be too abstract for Ontarians to relate to. Maybe professional athletics or the wild west.” She gazed off into the distance and he could almost see the ideas churning in her mind.

  The bartender delivered their food as Dro Tar drifted off into contemplative silence. Evan took advantage of her distraction to study the food. The hamburger was a large round piece of meat between two thick pieces of bread. Thin oblong disks had been mounded on one side of the hamburger and an assortment of what he presumed were vegetables stacked on the other.

  “The green sheet is called lettuce, the darker green disks are pickles, the red slice is a tomato, and on top you have part of an onion.” Dro Tar explained. “I’m not much for raw tomatoes and if you plan to kiss me in the next few hours forget the onion. But the lettuce and pickles add a nice crunch. And these,” she held up one of the yellow disks, “are potato chips.” She popped it into her mouth and chewed with obvious enjoyment. “Yummy.”

  He lifted the top piece of bread and found the inside smeared with a red substance.

  “Ketchup,” she suppli
ed, but the word meant nothing to him.

  Following her lead, he assembled his hamburger and carefully picked it up. The aroma was pleasant so he took a bite. Rich and lightly charred, the meat’s taste was as pleasant as its smell. He took a larger bite and liked it even more.

  “Well?”

  He cleared his mouth then said, “Yummy.”

  She laughed. “There’s hope for you yet.”

  The potato chips were crispy and salty, a nice contrast to the hamburger’s heaviness. They talked about other ideas she had for her sim-studio and time passed quickly. The bartender cleared their plates as they finished eating and offered them more beer. However, it was obvious the employees were anxious to close for the night.

  Taking pity on the humans, he waved to the bartender then escorted Dro Tar outside. The night was cool and clear. The stars seemed unusually bright without the clutter of Frontine’s many towers.

  “So what about you?” Dro Tar asked as they meandered through the field. “Will you finish training with a different mentor?”

  “Despite my many objections, Master Vee never officially rescinded my title. As far as the other Mystics are concerned my training is complete.”

  “Then will you take on an apprentice?”

  He turned her to face him and felt his chest tighten. Moonlight softened her features and shadowed her eyes. She looked more child than woman, innocent and trusting. “I’m still considering my choices, but my priorities have recently shifted.”

  Dro Tar fought back a smile through her curved lips. “And why is that?”

  “Oh there’s this exasperating woman that keeps barging into my life.”

  She laughed. “I didn’t barge into your life. I chased you down like a dog.”

  He yanked her into his arms and lifted her against his chest until only her toes remained on the ground. “As soon as we get back to your apartment I’m going to show you how a dog tames his mate.”

  Rather than object to the label Dro Tar countered, “I’d rather show you why sixty-nine is my favorite number.”