Part 6 (1/2)

He tried to lure her into a cunning trap. Instead, she captured one of the vital pieces he had failed to protect. With it out of circulation, she a.s.sumed the game would end soon. It did not. Her crafty opponent took the matching one from her. She looked at him and nodded her respect.

”You're a big distraction, woman, but I'm trying hard to concentrate.” He wanted her to forget the frightening experiences she had endured. He wanted her to smile and to relax. He needed to savor her company. He needed to see her, smell her, hear her, taste her, feel her.

Jana became edgy from his engulfing stare and seductive mood. She yearned to escape this disquieting atmosphere, this intimidating creature. To accomplish her goal, she let him win.

He threw back his head and filled the room with mocking laughter. ”I never suspected you of being a cheater, Jana of Earth.”

”What do you mean? I lost.”

”I know, on purpose and unfairly. Your thoughts are elsewhere. Or is it that I offer too much distraction for my nervous wife? Besides, we forgot to make our wagers. It's early. We must play another game, a serious one.”

Jana's astonished gaze locked with his challenging and taunting one. She struggled to control the tremors which swept over her body, as his words nearly matched those spoken by Varian months ago. ”I've been very busy today, Ryker. I'm too weary to think clearly.”

”Where are your sporting instincts, Jana of Earth? How can you refuse such a challenge? Don't you have a secret desire?”

A feeling of dej vu flooded her dazed mind, but it wasn't happening for the first time. Didn't he realize ... Go for proof if you dare, J. G. Months ago, those statements from Varian had enticed a fantasy which evoked her shocking wager. They were almost verbatim. Did twins truly have the capability of reading each other's thoughts, of having the same feelings, of knowing what the other was doing? Yet, Varian and Ryker weren't true twins, no matter how much they looked alike. Go for it, J. G. Play out his little game. That fated night in his quarters was burned indelibly into her brain. She repeated herself, too. ”A secret desire? That's quite tempting. What if you win? I have nothing of value to offer you, so what prize can you claim? The only thing I have is this bracelet you gave me.” She added for the new occasion, ”Considering its meaning, surely you don't want it returned.”

”Having you as my wife is the best prize a man could win,” he replied. ”I'll think of something.”

Jana watched his gaze fill with mystery and amus.e.m.e.nt. ”All right. Shall we shake hands on it to seal our bargain? It's an Earth custom.” She wondered if his hand had stretched across the table and grasped her extended one before she had finished her sentence explaining the gesture.

The contact sent sparks of excitement through both of them. Their eyes melded. Their knees rubbed together. Their breathing quickened.

She asked in a near breathless voice, ”Tell me, Ryker, what will you do if my prize is painful to honor? What if I have expensive tastes? Or dangerous ones? Are you certain you'll allow me to collect my wager?”

”I am a wealthy man, Jana. I can afford to indulge you. As for being painful, I do hope you aren't considering a brutal beating for revenge.”

Once more, matching words! Was he giving her clues to his real ident.i.ty? On purpose? Was he testing to see if she would challenge him on his claim to be his half brother? Was he leading up to a confession and revelation? Or was it cruel coincidence? ”For revenge? For what offense?”

”For my vile behavior upon your arrival here. I am sorry.”

”I know you are. Don't you think I saw how you changed after Canissia left? I concluded it was only an act to dupe her. You did tell me you have to live up to your nefarious reputation to maintain power in the Tri-Galaxy. You see, I'm a very understanding, forgiving woman. If you do me wrong with valid motivation, then explain and apologize, I'll accept. Besides,” she returned to the past talk again, ”I have no intention of marring that handsome face. I warn you, sir: I will try my best to win this next time. I give you a last chance to back down.”

”Never. I've lured you into my trap and I won't free you.”

The second game began with slowness and caution. Time pa.s.sed without notice. Pieces were lost and won. Suspense mounted. The room's size seemed to shrink even more. The game traveled at a snail's pace as final moves were chosen and played. It looked headed for a stalemate.

Varian observed her concentration and determination. As before, he wondered what reward she would demand. Should he, again, risk losing the game to make that discovery? Would she dare ask for the same glorious and soul-binding prize? Could she be that reckless, that vindictive?

Jana watched him as he a.n.a.lyzed the board and pondered his next move. Would he ... Her heart fluttered wildly. Are you my deceitful love? Where Varian's eyes were like precious sapphires, this man's were like priceless emeralds. They glittered with mystery, enticement, and vitality. His sensual smile, whenever he glanced up and sent one to her, caused her heart to pound. A flaxen lock fell casually over his left temple. She stared at the stubborn section. Despite a little variety in his hairstyle, that defiance was a noticeable trait of Varian's, not Ryker's, hair. At four inches over six feet, they were the same height and of the same build.

Varian became apprehensive under her keen stare. He realized she was being a.s.sailed by doubts and suspicions again; they were as heavy in the air as the floral aromas were becoming. He had been stupid to play this game tonight. He had become so drugged by her that his wits were dulled and his tongue loosened. Time was pa.s.sing as slowly as the summer sun around Rigel, capital planet of his star system, around which his Altair orbited. With ease and skill, she had woven a web of love around his heart and life. Only for a while and surely for tonight, he must cut those silky strands and free himself from her heady allure. It was safer for his mission if he remained distant. It was his duty to make Jana once more a p.a.w.n in his battle for victory, but his heart fiercely resisted that cruelty. He had better end this madness before his false mask burned away beneath the fires of desire burning brightly in her eyes. He cursed the events that made such a deed necessary.

Varian captured her piece that terminated the game in a stalemate. ”I hate to do that, Jana of Earth, but I must.”

”I would have done the same.”

”Perhaps our next game will end differently.”

”Perhaps.” You hesitated far too long making your decision for a draw.

”Does it trouble you that Varian and I favor each other so much?”

”I haven't thought about it. Different hair and eye colors take away some of the resemblance.”

”So you don't get us confused?”

”How could I? Your personality and character are so unlike his. So is your voice, and there are other things ...”

”This scar?” he hinted and rubbed his jawline.

”Not really. I hardly notice it anymore. You do look younger.”

”By four months. I don't remind you of him when you look at me?”

”No, Ryker, you don't. The longer I'm around you and the better I get to know you, the more you two differ.”

”But any hint of resemblance interferes with you forgetting him.”

”How does one forget somebody who had such an enormous impact on her life? He changed the course of my destiny. He almost destroyed me. Nothing can justify such cruelty. You make everything better for me. I never knew or thought about you two being kin or resembling until I saw-”

”Saw what?” he probed, leaning back in his chair.

She faked an embarra.s.sed look as she answered. ”Thought I saw your pictures overlaid and colorings matched while I was delirious.”

”You did see such a demonstration, but from me, here in this room before you became ill. When you resisted what I was telling you, I proved my story. Come with me and watch.”

In confusion and trepidation, she followed him to the other side of the room. He talked into what she thought was a music speaker.

”Doors open.”

Jana stared as a panel slid aside to reveal a forty-inch cathode-ray tube.

He gave verbal commands to the computer, pausing between each one. ”Screen on. Display images of Varian Saar and Ryker Triloni. Delete scar on right jawline of Ryker. Overlay. Match eye, hair, and skin coloring of Ryker to Varian.” He waited long enough for her to study the picture, then completed his point. ”Separate images. Correct physical traits on each. See, Jana of Earth; that's what you viewed and recall.”

Jana looked at the monitor with astonishment. To the left was Ryker Triloni, as he appeared at their first meeting and in this room tonight. To the right was Commander Varian Saar in his dress uniform of dark wine with a gold sunburst over his left chest: Star Fleet insignia. His eyes were cornflower blue, his hair as dark and s.h.i.+ny as polished jet, his skin deeply tanned, and his teeth, revealed by a broad and s.e.xy smile, white as snow. It was the image and expression of a man who felt he was invincible and savored that rank. His gaze shouted of power and pa.s.sion. No doubt he could make the heavens tremble with the force of his iron will.

Her eyes s.h.i.+fted to the image of Ryker Triloni, Prince of Androas. How could he not be handsome and just as potent when he so closely matched the other magnificent creature? The blond hair and green eyes were actually flattering to his skin color and strong features. His chiseled jawline bespoke strength of character and body. Unaware of her action, she reached out her hand toward the screen to trace the scar Varian had created long ago. The instant her fingers made contact with the monitor, she heard crackles and felt little shocks tingle her fingertips. ”Ouch!” she squealed, and jerked her hand away. She rubbed the tingling digits with the palm of the same hand. ”Look but don't touch,” she joked with a laugh.

Varian didn't join in because he was miffed that it was Ryker's image that enticed her touch. ”Screen off. Doors close,” he said in a crisp tone.

Then turned to her. ”It's late. You should go to bed. I have a few things to check on in my lab. I'll see you in the morning.”

Jana couldn't respond before he stalked from the room. He was playing a game of cat-and-mouse with her! He captured her, toyed with her, and released her to run free to be snared again by his sharp claws. Would he repeat his game over and over until she was worn down or he tired of it and ... What? And who was this alien predator?

Jana tossed and turned for what seemed like hours. She had not heard the man return to his adjoining room, as the slide wasn't open. Even if he was Varian in disguise, he was using her again as he had so many times in the past. If he loved her, he couldn't behave in this cruel way. She berated herself for acting like a fool. Why did she persist in trying to make Ryker into Varian? Persist in trying to make a clue out of anything and everything he said and did? Hadn't the blond alien proven over and over he was the Androasian prince, matchless chemist, skilled researcher? Couldn't she get it through her thick skull he wasn't Varian? If she continued along this self-destructive path, she would turn Ryker against her. That was insane, for her safety and survival depended upon his goodwill.