Read Halt for Free Online Page B

could have become far more violent than he was. People could have been seriously damaged and so could he. Getting your rocks off isn’t worth living beings being damaged because a child is terrified.”
    Quell nodded, “You were very good with him.”
    “Thank you. I am trying to compose my first report, but I am unsure if I use that new name or not.”
    Over his shoulder, Quell said, “All correspondence leaving the Guardian base is done under pseudonym.”
    She shrugged, picked up a data pad and started to make notes. It would make the final report go faster if she had her thoughts arranged.
     
    Five minutes after arriving back at the base, Quell had her report and she was on her way to the pool. There was time to get a swim in before dinner.
    “Darn it!” She hadn’t been the only one with that thought. Silver was doing an impressive front stroke back and forth through the pool.
    He surfaced and wiped the water from his eyes. “Come on in. Test my resistance.”
    She could see his body, blurred under the water, and memories of it torn and bleeding made her pause for a moment. Shrugging, she tried to act casual as she removed her uniform, but it came off with some trouble. It would take practice to get it on and off with dexterity.
    Before she could change her mind, she jumped into the water and began to swim. Seconds later, Silver took up his own rhythm next to her. They swam in tandem for an hour until she called a halt and held onto the side of the pool.
    Arkenor drifted up to her, and he pinned her against the tile. “You are in amazing shape, Rikkat.”
    She blushed as his unrestricted erection brushed against her thigh. “Fitness has never been my problem.”
    He pressed his lips to her shoulder, “I have always admired your body.”
    “I have noticed yours as well.” She felt his smile against her skin, and she shivered.
    He placed his hands on her hips and lifted her to sit on the edge of the pool. With a wet surge, he flattened his hands next to her on the tile and he lifted himself out of the water.
    Tazzy cupped his jaw and kissed him again, her nipples tightening in the open air. He rose against her until his chest pressed to her breasts and the blue and silver waves of his hair swung around them in a concealing curtain.
    She broke the kiss and looked up at his glowing blue eyes. “Why me? I am damaged, scarred. You are still as lovely as you were.”
    He feathered kisses along her forehead, nose and cheeks. “You are more than you were. Stronger and a survivor. That is the headiest aphrodisiac that I could have wished for. I wanted you before, I need you now.”
    She opened her mouth to reply and a bot came in waving its arms and chirping wildly.
    Blushing, she looped her arms around his neck. “And that is the call to dinner.”
    He groaned. “We were just getting somewhere.”
    “It will keep. I am not going anywhere and you have roots here.” She idly trailed a hand down to stroke his root, and he closed his eyes tightly as her hand skimmed over him.
    The bot chirped again, and she released him. “Time to go. For some reason, I have worked up an appetite.”
    He sighed and slipped back into the water. “I am beginning to remember why we didn’t get anywhere two years ago.”
    She reached out with her foot and pushed him back. “Cheeky.”
    Tazzy got to her feet and one of the larger bots held out a robe from her rooms. “So, you have been rifling through my things. Well done.”
    Arkenor left the pool in a sheet of water and wrapped a towel around his waist. “Just because Quell isn’t physically compatible, doesn’t mean he doesn’t want to try.”
    She towelled off and slipped the robe on. “That is a chilling thought.”
    “Don’t worry, I will keep you warm.” He wrapped his arm around her waist and pressed a kiss to her neck.
    The bots held up a Decolian skirt for him, and he tucked it around his hips, covering himself from navel to toes in rippling silk. His hair dried