Page 18 of Seduction

She stifled a laugh. Apparently the pheromones didn’t have the same effect on Symon as they did on her.

“That odor makes me want to go home and douse myself with cologne,” the minister added. “How soon can we get rid of him?”

“He’s just awakened. He’ll need time for his body to adjust to the new organs. Time for me to monitor them and make sure they’ve melded. His muscles have been weakened by inactivity. He needs to be in peak physical condition before we send him back through the portal. With his massive blood loss, his injuries, the first trip nearly killed him. It wouldn’t do for us to ship him off and have the welcoming committee on the other side greet a corpse.”

The minister looked horrified. “No, no, no. You’re right. We can’t let that happen. We’re still establishing diplomatic ties with Gadolinium. They sent him to us believing we could save his life. If we don’t, it could destroy the fragile relationship we’re building between our worlds.”

He waved a hand in the air, studied a screen that appeared. “How long do you think it will take for you to get him ready to travel?”

“Two moons – months. I’m sorry. I’ve been speaking Gadolinian almost exclusively since he awoke.”

“Two months? Well, if that’s what it must be…” Symon made a few notes in the air and swiped the screen away. “I’ll inform their king. No doubt his people will want to arrange some sort of ceremony when he returns. I have no idea what these savages consider proper etiquette to welcome a hero. Slaughter a helpless animal, perhaps, and disrobe en masse while they burn it and then consume its flesh.”

He gave her a searching look. “Have you suffered any – how can I put this delicately – ill effects from your proximity to him?”

She looked him straight in the eye and lied. “None whatsoever, Minister. I’ve been careful to minimize physical contact as much as possible while treating him, and I’ve taken the precaution of self-monitoring my hormone levels on a daily basis. I’ve also forbidden my staff to have any contact with him to avoid the risk of anyone else being adversely affected.”

“Excellent, Doctor. Excellent. I will inform the Federation that this matter is being dealt with expeditiously in your capable hands. In fact, I will recommend to the ministry that you be given a leave of absence from your duties as director so you can devote your full attention to hastening his recovery.”

He leaned forward and lowered his voice. “This is all hush-hush for now, and I’ll deny I ever said it, but I’ve heard rumors of a promotion in the works for you as soon as the Viking is safely back on his planet. Possibly even some sort of intergalactic recognition. The ministry is aware that the procedures you used to save his life were based on your groundbreaking technological advances. You took a huge risk, Doctor Reston. And it paid off. The alien would not be alive today if not for your courage and innovation.

“What’s more important,” he went on, “your efforts have been instrumental in swaying his ruler to sign the treaty with the Interstellar Federation.”

Selena bowed. “I am humbled by your praise, minister. It is not only my duty, it is my privilege to serve the Federation with whatever skills and knowledge I possess.” She managed to refrain from pointing out that Haldor may have come from another planet, but far from being an alien, he was as human as Symon himself.

Symon’s narrow mouth twisted into what looked for all the world like a smile. “Until next week, Doctor.”

Selena nodded pleasantly and backed into Haldor’s room. She shut the door and leaned against it, trembling.

In two steps, he was by her side. “Did that little weasel harm you? I’ll snap his bony spine in half.”

“No, I’m all right. He just…he asked in a roundabout way if I’d had any – contact with you. I had to lie to him.”

“And the lie sits heavy on your heart.”

She glanced up at him, surprised. Once again, the Viking had shown her how wrong her perceptions had been of his culture. This off-worlder Earthers considered a barbarian showed more empathy, more depth of feeling, than any man she’d met in the Federation’s high council.

“Yes, it does. I’ve never thought of myself as being capable of deceit.”

“You aren’t. Not deep down inside. If you were, the lie wouldn’t trouble you. You’ve done something you consider wrong. To confess that wrong would cause harm to another. So, you must do wrong again and lie about it. Living with that lie is a burden. But not as great a burden as clearing your conscience and living with the knowledge that in doing so you’ve done an even greater wrong to someone else.”

She nodded slowly. “Yes. I need to find a way to live with myself, accept that I’ve done wrong.”

He shrugged. “Or perhaps you need to use that heart of yours to examine what you’ve been taught – and then decide for yourself what is right and what is wrong.”

Chapter Ten

Haldor’s own heart ached for Selena, seeing her in such pain. What cruel Norn ruled the fates of Earthers, condemning them to a life without passion? Although, if that pale, puny runt who’d come to see him was typical of the males on this planet, it wasn’t surprising she’d never fucked. Who’d want to, with him?

Yesterday, they’d had a conversation about both worlds thinking their ways were the only right ways. On this matter, though, he was sure of his. Earthers might have strange machines to rekindle the spark of life in dying bodies. But he’d rather be dead on Gadolinium than live without the blood-heating, heart-pounding, cock-pulsing thrill of taking a naked woman in his arms and fucking her until they both exploded.

Thank the gods, he was no longer a randy young buck, desperate to ram his stiff prick into the nearest sweet slit he sniffed on the night air. Though he was determined to have her, he could bide his time with the doctor. Use sweet seduction to lay the groundwork for their inevitable mating.

She stood by the door. Head bowed, shoulders slumped.

“Now that your lord has departed, can we begin?”

She straightened up, her eyes sparking fire. “He’s not my lord.”

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