Chapter 4

CHAPTER FOUR

Q 'tar's little female looked adorably confused and he bit back a smile, even though her decision meant he would have to adjust his plans. Again. The alarms on her house and the surveillance devices he had set up throughout the town would be useless if they left.

"Although I do not believe leaving is the wisest course of action," he added.

"It's better than sitting here waiting for him to send someone else to get me. Or to come himself."

Her voice shook on the last word and he couldn't resist the impulse to pull her gently into his arms. She hesitated, then she sighed and leaned into him. Better.

"And you can't come with me," she said, her voice muffled against his chest. "I need to move quickly and quietly. To disappear. You're too big. People will remember you."

He wanted to tell her that he'd been evading capture since he was a child, but this was not the place for such a conversation. Her concern that he would be remembered was valid, but unfortunately the device which altered his appearance could not make him any smaller.

"Do you not believe I can defend you?" he asked.

"I believe you would try," she said slowly as she looked up at him, dark eyes shadowed. "But you don't know how ruthless he can be. I don't want anyone in this town getting hurt because of me."

She had a point. He'd hoped to avoid civilian casualties, but it was always a possibility. He ran through his list of contingency options and made a quick decision.

"Very well. May I propose an alternative?"

"You can propose," she said, and then the pretty pink washed over her cheeks again.

"I have a cabin in the mountains north of town. It is very primitive, but it would provide shelter while we consider our options and decide on a more permanent plan. There is no one around who could be hurt."

Unless they stepped into one of his traps. The thought made him uneasy but before he could reconsider, she was already nodding.

"It would be nice to have some time to plan. But if you're from France, Q'tar, why do you have a cabin in the North Carolina mountains?"

Why did she always sound so skeptical when she mentioned France? He'd been assured that humans considered separate countries as different as separate planets.

"A previous… employer purchased it for me, as an incentive," he said truthfully. He just did not mention that the employer was the Behran government and that they had offered it to entice him out of retirement.

"A job perk, huh? It must have been a good job," she said dryly.

"No, it wasn't." His voice was harsh enough to make her jump and he forced himself to soften his tone. "But it was one for which I was well suited."

"What did you do-" she began, then shook her head. "It doesn't matter right now. I should go pack."

"No. I will tend to your wrist and then you will go to sleep."

She looked down at her wrist as if it belonged to a stranger, but she didn't resist when he urged her gently back into her chair and took the small medical kit out of his utility belt.

"Is that going to hurt?" she asked nervously when he pulled out a hypospray.

"I would never hurt you. Give me your wrist. Please."

She studied him with those big brown eyes then silently held out her hand, her trust pleasing him.

"Good girl."

He carefully placed her small wrist in his palm as he used the hypospray, nodding with satisfaction when she sighed with relief.

"That feels much better already."

Her pulse fluttered as he stroked his thumb across the already fading bruise. Resisting the impulse to continue holding her wrist, he helped her back to her feet but this time she didn't shrink away and he didn't step back. Their bodies were so close he could feel her warmth, her sweet scent filling his head.

"Now you will go to bed," he ordered, trying not to imagine that soft little body nestled amongst the pillows with which she'd covered her bed.

"But-"

"We will leave at first light. The hike to the cabin will take several hours." At least it would for her. "You need to be rested."

"Hike?" she asked doubtfully. "I don't have a lot of experience in the woods."

"I do. Now go to bed."

He could tell that she wanted to argue, but she finally sighed, her body softening against him.

"I suppose you're right. Although I'm not sure I'll be able to sleep."

The shadows were back in her eyes and he couldn't resist putting his arms around her, gently stroking her back.

"You do not need to be afraid, m'shka. I promise you that you will come to no harm in my care."

"You called me that before - m'shka. What does it mean?"

My sweetness. The endearment had slipped out unintentionally, but he had no desire to take it back. He also had no intention of telling her something so revealing.

"You need your rest. We will speak in the morning," he said firmly, ignoring the question.

She gave him an adorably exasperated look and he couldn't help smiling and hugging her. She shook her head again, but then she smiled back as her small hand patted his chest.

"I meant what I said before. Thank you."

Taking him completely by surprise, she reached up and put her arms around his neck, tugging his head towards her as she rose on her toes. Impossibly soft lips brushed against his, sending an electric shock through his body. The blood rushed to his shaft so quickly he felt dizzy, instinctively pulling her closer to his now aching cock. She gasped against his mouth and then her tongue touched his and his world exploded in heat and color.

Before he even realized what was happening, the towel had fallen to the ground. He had her soft ass in his hands, her lace-covered breasts rubbing against his chest as he devoured the sweetest, softest lips he had ever tasted. He wanted more. He needed more-

"Wait!"

The frantic note in her voice penetrated his desire and he immediately released her, berating himself for his foolishness.

"I did not mean to frighten you," he said stiffly as he handed her the towel.

She blushed as she wrapped the towel around herself again, not looking at him, but she shook her head.

"You didn't. Not exactly. I'm not afraid of you," she added quickly. "But it's been a long time and it was bad before that and-"

"I understand. Go to bed, m'shka."

"I… All right. Good night, Q'tar."

He watched her walk into her bedroom and close the door, then groaned and adjusted his aching cock. In all his assignments, he'd never once let a female distract him from his mission. But this small human female had him behaving in ways that were not part of his plan.

Perhaps it is time for a new plan .