A Warrior s Desire - By Pamela Palmer Page 0,26

completely Tarrys could be controlled.

And, dammit, that was the last thing they needed.

A yell of frustration lodged in his throat.

If he set her down, she'd run straight into the arms of the enemy.

As he ran, his legs eating up the path with hard, fast strides, a dismal thought occurred to him.

"Can I trust what you say or does he control your words, too?" "He can't control my mind like he can a human's.

A true human's.

And he can only control my speech if he thinks to do it.

He didn't this time.

His only thought was for my body."

At her words, a vision of her standing naked flashed in his mind - her perfect form, her breasts high and full, her waist slender, her hips gently flared.

Even her legs had appeared long and shapely simply because she was so perfectly proportioned, as if he'd specially ordered a leggy brunette, size small.

"Are they following?" he asked.

"Yes.

But your speed is faster."

But for how long? Especially with a squirming woman on his shoulder.

Hell, they knew he was human.

All they had to do was follow him, secure in the knowledge he'd eventually wear himself out.

And if he didn't wear himself out, Tarrys would do it for him.

Controlled by the Esri, she'd be fighting him every step of the way.

He'd always liked a challenge, but enough was enough, dammit.

Tarrys's struggles continued, though her movements, the way she was rocking her hips against his shoulder, felt less like struggling and more like... The scent of her arousal filled his nostrils, hardening him on the spot.

"Eaglet."

As if he didn't have enough distractions without adding a raging hard-on to the list.

"I can't help it."

Her voice sounded on the verge of tears.

"Through his touch, he ordered me naked and ready for his penetration.

My body is desperate for his mating."

Hell.

"How long does it last?" "Until he's finished with me."

"He's not going to finish," he growled.

Charlie ran full bore up the steep, rocky ridge, his mind whirring, searching for options.

The problem was, he didn't dare kill them.

Because the moment he did, he'd acquire an Esrian death mark which was apparently the equivalent of a homing beacon.

According to Kade, all Esri would not only know immediately what he'd done and to whom, but they'd know where he was.

At all times.

And feel duty bound to come after him and end his life, thank you very much.

So, no, killing these douche bags wasn't exactly at the top of his list of smart moves at the moment.

The problem was, that list was looking damned empty.

The only thing he knew for sure was that he had to keep ahead of the Esri chasing them.

Beyond that was anyone's guess.

Less than a mile later, exhaustion started to nip at his heels.

Discomfort had turned to pain a while back, but he'd long ago learned to ignore the pair of them.

His body was strong.

He knew what it was capable of.

At least he knew what it was capable of in his own world.

Never before had he hit such a wall of exhaustion that he'd literally been unable to move another step.

Even sick as a dog.

Yet he'd done just that earlier today, which told him this was no ordinary illness.

It must have something to do with this place.

If he hit that wall, now, with two Esri hot on their heels... Real fear twisted in his gut.

If his body turned traitor on him again, it was all over, for both of them.

Unfortunately, that scenario was all too likely.

"Tarrys...I need some alternatives.

Anything.

I can't outrun them forever."

Her desperate rocking stopped, like a moment's hush in the middle of a windstorm.

An unnatural stillness.

Her body went tense as a bowstring.

"Charlie...you must release me."

The frenzied movements resumed on a deep shudder.

"You must let me go back to them."

"No."

"It's the only way.

You'll tire too quickly carrying me like this.

And I'll be able to stall them."

"Right.

While they rape you."

"It won't be rape...not like you think of it.

He's made me need his penetration.

He'll ease my suffering."

"I'm not letting you go."

She was his partner now.

And no SEAL left his partner behind.

Period.

Besides, sweet Jesus, he couldn't let them have her.

But minute by minute, her slight weight grew heavier.

He was running out of time.
Chapter 9

"Charlie! I know this place."

The thread of excitement in Tarrys's voice had Charlie's hopes leaping.

"There's an abandoned crystal mine not far from here.

The crystals are known to interfere with magic and may help hide us, at least for a little while."

"Thank God."

Maybe, maybe, they finally had a chance.

How many times had a chance been all he'd needed to turn certain defeat into