Alcandian Soul by Mary Wine

inside her mind once again. She was too practical to just toss out any possibility of believing in the fact that the warrior could touch her mind. It felt too real. “Excuse me, Dyne, but get out of my head. Please.”
    The huge warrior actually offered her a half bow but a satisfied smile turned his lips. “You will learn to enjoy the feeling.”
    That actually frightened her. It was the sort of fear that was half excitement. The way you felt when you were going to attempt a daredevil stunt. Half your body was quivering with a rush of excitement while the logical part of your brain was warning you that you just might be dead before it was over. Spending the night pressed between the two hard, ultra-male bodies just might kill her, but it would be one hell of a ride.
    “I would enjoy privacy to get dressed.”
    In response, both warriors simply turned and faced the blue curtain. Their wide backs faced her. Their literal obedience made her temper simmer. Her eyes shot to Cole’s back as she detected a slight tremor in his torso. The brute was amused by his game.
    “Nice try, Somerton, but you know exactly what I meant.”
    Cole grabbed her gauntlet before it hit the floor. He turned and moved across the floor with amazing speed. She’d somehow gained a false sense of security, thinking he was at arm’s length. Two seconds after tossing his surname at his back, she was pressed against his frame once again. This time, when their eyes meet, she stared at him, anticipating the blue electric light. It shot through his eyes like lightning in a storm bank, hypnotic in its ability to strike her world without warning or any control.
    Yeah, that’s exactly what lightning was.
    Leaning down, Cole actually sniffed her skin next to her ear. His hands tightened slightly around her arms as his chest shook with a rumble. Oh, it was faint but she still caught the growl that rose from his throat. The sound shot down her spine and sent her clit into a tempo that terrified her with its sudden and acute appearance.
    “Let loose.” Her best enlisted Army woman voice flung that command at Cole. His fingers were loosening even as his eyes narrowed with annoyance. Her feet touched the tile and she sighed with relief right before Cole braced his hand on the wall behind her. His scent filled her nose as she frantically tried to clamp down on her own excitement. Heat was surging through her, making her skin ultrasensitive. Just a little touch would feel so good. She shivered as she anticipated Cole stroking her.
    “Deny you see it, Cassandra.” Cole’s voice was low but that didn’t hide the dangerous note in it. “Give me a reason to prove it to you.”
    There was no mistaking exactly what “it” was. The need to drop her toga and just be free flowed through her mind. Cole slowly pushed into her thoughts as she raised her eyes and stared into his once again. The temptation to double-check was too much. She watched the blue electricity with fascination this time, actually enjoying the hard reality. Sometimes it was a relief to know that your mind wasn’t playing tricks on you.
    But that didn’t change her reason for being mad at him. Raging hormones and all, she was not going to let sexual hunger transform her into a doormat for any male.
    “That wasn’t what made me mad and you know it, Somerton.” Cole’s cheek twitched as she very precisely pronounced his surname, making sure to hit all the syllables. “You understood what I meant when I asked for privacy. Maybe Dyne didn’t but you’re human. Playing stupid just makes you into another piece of brass that’s intent on dicking around with me.”
    Cole pulled a deep breath into his lungs. Cassandra’s scent flooded his brain as he clamped his attention around her words. She was being blunt and he deserved the kick in the pants. Calling him “brass” was harsh. The nickname for an officer was Cassandra’s way of telling him they would never be able to work their differences