Free Fantasy Warrior by Jaylee Davis

awareness. However, his hot body remained along with the strength of his embrace. She felt safe, cradled in a warm cocoon. It was strange. She relaxed, hoping her fantasy would come back full force. In the meantime, she listened to the voices. The words were clear and understandable.
    Two men were talking. She couldn’t help but eavesdrop on their unusual conversation. The subject intrigued her. One of them had found a mate. The other one seemed happy for him, or so it sounded. They were taking this woman to their ship—a spaceship. How she knew that piece of information eluded her at that moment. There was some discussion about a mission, which she didn’t understand. One man assured the other there would be no interruptions once they arrived at a landing bay. For an odd reason, Pam felt comforted by his words. Why should she care one way or the other? She wasn’t an astronaut.
    Something nagged at the back of her mind. The idea that things weren’t all they seemed gnawed at her. Had she forgot something? Did she need to wake up and go to work? That must be it. Her father’s campaign was in full swing and going great. She needed to hurry or she’d be late. Her family depended on her. She had to meet them for a press conference. Trapped in a dream state, Pam tried to force her eyelids open.
    The effort brought on a new alertness. She became intimately aware of a pair of strong arms surrounding her. Warmth seeped into her. Hot skin pressed against her so tight she felt it through her clothing. The silliest of ideas popped into her mind. Did she get drunk and end up sleeping with some stranger? Was he a tall, musclebound, dark stranger with long, black hair and metallic eyes?
    Remembrance of all that had happened crashed into her, and she awoke. Her eyelids lifted, revealing familiar but alien surroundings. A man she recognized stared down at her. His lips lifted in a tentative smile while his expression remained guarded. Unable to help herself, she smiled back. Then she remembered what had happened right before she passed out.
    “You…drugged…me.” Her words came out stilted, and her mouth felt as dry as desert sand.
    “The sedative was necessary. I’m sorry you were frightened. Please believe me, Sandra. I’ll never hurt you.”
    His hold tightened. He seemed concerned, and his apology sounded so very sincere. She really liked hearing the part about how he’d never hurt her. His words calmed her more than she wanted to admit. In fact… What the hell?
    “I understand you!” Pam tried to jerk away, but her body was too lethargic—drugged. A peacefulness she didn’t want permeated her mind. “How is it possible?”
    “A translator implant behind your ear.” She must have looked frightened out of her mind, because he rushed on to explain. “We all have them. It’s a quick painless procedure, completely harmless.”
    “You put some alien thing in my head?” Her question came out as an accusation. She wanted to touch the areas behind her ears, but her arms wouldn’t follow her mind’s commands.
    Another man’s deep voice intruded on their exchange. “I did the procedure. Kord held you still.”
    “You aren’t helping, Thoren.” Kord snapped at him.
    “Let me go! I don’t want to be here with you. I have to find my friends and go home. Now!” She struggled in his arms, succeeding only in twitching hers and her legs.
    Kord shook his head. A look of intense sadness crossed his face. She’d hurt his feelings. In turn, she felt horrible. An urge to ease his unhappiness overcame her. Intuitively, she knew all it would take was for her to reach up and slide her palm across his smooth, masculine cheek. If only her body would respond to her commands, she could coax a smile back to his handsome face. In fact, she could look at him forever.
    “If you mean to find the male and female who came into the bar with you, then you won’t find them. I saw the Krell capture them.”
    Pam tore her gaze from Kord