Kneus: A Terraneu Novel (Book Four) Read online

  “I have been experiencing nightmares. They stared after the attack on Antilles. It is usually the same theme: Kniam, Knollig, Knaleg and I are running from some peril. Sometimes we are on Earth, sometimes we are here on Terraneu. There is always a feeling of imminent danger during the nightmare and when I am close to discovering the origins of the problem the landscape shifts. Then I feel cold...no not just cold, I feel icy. There is no light, all around me is complete blackness. Then I hear the warning words Catherine said the mystery soldier gave. “We are coming.” Once Kneus started talking it poured out of him like venom being drawn from a wound. “The voice is so evil I get chills, the hatred and anger pour over me until I feel like I am drowning in it.” Kneus paused to run his hands through his hair and Gwen could see they shook slightly. “When I am able to wake up, I am covered in sweat and feel like I have been tossing and turning all night long and my muscles ache.”

  Gwen was in shock. Knowing something was wrong is not the same as hearing all the details. She tried to gain her composure and quickly asked, “How often do you have the nightmares?” She tried to make her voice sound clinical, Kneus needed her to be professional and helpful, not weepy and pathetic.

  He paused in thought for a second, “At first they were every few days. They have increased in frequency over the past weeks and now they are almost every night.”

  “You say the nightmares started after the attack on Antilles?” Gwen was almost hopeful when she asked, “I know that we have been working hard on finding answers in the archives. Is it possible that stress is causing your...” she didn’t finish because he was already shaking his head.

  “No. I don’t think it is stress that is causing the nightmares.” Kneus insisted. “I have been through much more stressful situations than this.”

  Gwen sat for as second in thought then she told Kneus, “There is only one thing I can think of to help you. We have to start with a complete medical exam.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Kneus couldn’t believe how talking with Gwen about the nightmares had lifted such a huge weight off his shoulders. He didn’t know why he felt comfortable with his decision to confide in her, but it just felt right somehow. She was a medical professional and had an analytical mind like he did. He knew that if anyone could put reason into the chaos he had fallen into it would be Gwen.

  “We will run a medical diagnostic on you first to rule out anything physically wrong with your body.” Gwen made to leave the technology dome for the medical dome.

  “Right now?” Kneus hadn’t expected them to start on his issues immediately.

  “There is no time like the present! We need to get some answers for you, and besides we are getting nowhere fast on the archives.” She smiled at him and his whole body responded. His heart jumped, his palms sweat and his stomach rolled almost as if he was going to be sick. If this was how it felt to be attracted to someone then he wondered at the allure. Then he remembered his dream from last night. He felt again Gwen’s soft lips on his, her hands in his hair with her fingernails digging lightly into his skin. He could feel all the pleasure coming back, until he recalled his hands around her neck. It was like a bucket of cold water on his growing excitement.

  He realized with a start that she was waiting for him at the door. He hurried over to where she stood. “Thank you for helping me Gwen.” He smiled tightly and rushed inside the medical dome. “Where were you thinking we should start?” He asked to break the silence.

  “We need to run a full medical scan.” Gwen moved beside him at the console, “I will need to know how much sun you have been getting. And how much water you are drinking.” She leaned around him and grabbed a medical gown from a drawer. “You need to put this on.” Without waiting for him to acknowledge her request Gwen moved on.

  He glanced at the medical gown in his hands, making a note to himself to ask the fabricators to start making them fully closed in the back! He chanced a look over his shoulder and saw that Gwen was waiting for him by the medical unit. They had made curtains around the medical beds for privacy, but the medical units were still in the open. He knew it would be faster to use the larger unit instead of asking to use the portable one. Not to mention Gwen was waiting patiently for him to get undressed. He didn’t want her to think he was uncooperative. With a sigh he started to get his vest, pants and boots off. When he bent to take off his boots he thought he heard a sound from behind him, but when he looked back Gwen was busy inputting information into the console. Finishing disrobing he hurriedly put on the medical gown. He was surprised again when Gwen handed him another one.

  “I always hand out two of them.” She smiled warmly at him, “Most people don’t wish to have their backsides hanging out and bare for everyone to see.”

  “Thank you Gwen.” He smiled gratefully and happily took the second gown. Turning so that it was backward and his backside was indeed covered up.

  Walking to the medical unit he said, “Okay. Let’s figure this nightmare thing out.” Climbing gingerly into the unit he waited for Gwen to close him inside. The machine did its thing, whirling and clicking as it scanned and documented his physical state. When it was complete he climbed out and went to put his clothes back on.

  “Hold on please.” Gwen stopped him, “I need you to climb onto the medical bed.” She waved her hand for him to sit down.

  “What?” Kneus looked longingly at his clothes, “Why?”

  “I need to examine you.” Gwen said in all seriousness. “Just because you have superior technology doesn’t mean a hands on exam isn’t going to find something your machine may overlook.” She patted the bed with her hand and his eyes flew to her fingers. His mind flew back to the dream and her damn fingers in his pants. “We have a few minutes until the machine will have its results. This won’t hurt a bit.” She was smiling widely now, her face beaming with humor. He knew exactly what she was thinking. He was acting like a big coward, afraid to have her examine him. She didn’t know about the dream he had or she might not be smiling so much or standing so close he thought sourly.

  Determined to stop acting like a skittish sorrem he marched to the medical bed and placing two hands on the bed he hoisted himself to sit on the edge. His long legs almost reached the floor and surprisingly Gwen’s head made it to chest level. He hadn’t realized she was that tall. The other females were constantly complaining about the medical beds. Then he remembered that they had added lifts to the beds when Gwen touched the button and the bed lowered until they were almost eye-to-eye.

  “There, that’s better.” Gwen moved between his knees to gently grab his head. “Have you been feeling any other symptoms along with the nightmares? Headaches? Visual disturbances?” She bit her lip in concentration and he immediately thought of when he had suckled her lip in his dream.

  “No.” His voice sounded throaty to his ears and he hoped she didn’t notice. “No headaches, no visual issues. Everything is fine except for the nightmares.” He tried to look away but she stopped him.

  “Okay track my finger please.” He looked straight at her to see her finger moving back and forth across his vision. So he did as she asked turning his head back and forth.

  “Just your eyes Kneus.” Gwen laughed and grabbed his head to hold it steady. The sides of his face flushed with heat at her touch. The very pores of his skin seemed to open up trying to take in the heat from her hands. She let go of his head and repeated her test. “Okay, everything is good.” Her fingers returned to his head and she felt and massaged her way around his scalp. “No bumps, no damage of any kind I can feel.” She murmured to herself. Kneus closed his eyes enjoying the feel of her touch. Just because it was clinical for her didn’t mean it didn’t feel good to him!

  “How about sun and water?” Gwen stopped her exam of his head to ask. While waiting for his answer she moved her hands to his shoulders and continued pressing and prodding.

  “I am in the sun for one, maybe two hours a day.” Kneus admitted, “I have been drinking ab
out two to three glasses of water a day when I can.”

  “Lift your arms please.” She asked and he raised his arms out to his sides. “Hmmm.” She pressed her fingers into his armpits and he jumped, laughing at the touch. “Sorry, you are ticklish...I didn’t know.” Gwen apologized.

  “I didn’t either.” Kneus smiled, “No one has ever touched me under there.”

  Their eyes met and Kneus could swear you could almost see the unspoken communication going on between them. Like a vibrant string it thrummed with energy between them.

  Kneus watched Gwen swallow hard and then she licked her lips, “Yes. Well you know that you need a lot more sun than that. I am going to insist on at least four to six hours outside.” She moved her hands to his abs and his muscles jumped. “Also. You need to triple your intake of water. You are severely dehydrated and I’m surprised you haven’t had worse side effects than nightmares.” She stopped in thought and her fingers just fluttered along his abs. He was sure that she wasn’t even aware that she was doing it.

  “Uh. Gwen.” His voice sounded a bit throaty and he was sure she couldn’t miss it.

  “Yes?” Her eyes flew up to meet his. How could he have missed how beautiful she was? Her thick hair curling around her shoulders and down her back. Her warm purple-brown eyes full of intelligence and compassion. Her full lips that caught his attention when smiling or pursed in concentration, it didn’t matter their pink fullness called to him. Her tall frame with its generous curves that he found perfect.

  Not saying anything he looked down his chest to watch her fingers playing along his abs, then back to her.

  Chapter Twelve

  Gwen was struggling to keep the exam professional. The thought of Kneus before her in that medical gown, with nothing on underneath, her equilibrium was shot. She had started off watching him take off his clothes and had to turn away when he got to his pants. She hadn’t wanted to disgrace herself by jumping across the room and taking a huge bite of his muscled ass! (Don’t judge, she would have kissed it better!)

  Now after finding nothing wrong with him, and a whole lot that was just right, she couldn’t keep her mind on Kneus the patient...it was all over Kneus the man. He was radiating heat like a mini-sun, his eyes were flashing purple smoke and his body was just muscled perfection!

  She had accidentally tickled him, and then moved to examine his ribs and abs.

  ““Uh. Gwen.” His voice sounded thick and throaty.

  Deep in thought she almost jumped when he spoke, “Yes?” Her eyes flew up to meet his. How could she ever forget how beautiful he was? His smokey eyes, his sooty black eyelashes and full ‘pillow’ lips. His eyes flashed down his body then back to meet her gaze. She followed where he was looking, saw her fingers still playing absently with his abs and gasped.

  “Kneus. I’m so sorry. I didn’t even realize I was doing that.” She went to pull her hand away and was startled when it was suddenly pressed flat against his stomach. Her eyes flew to his face and she only had time to register that his eyes were now sparking purple flames.

  “Gwen.” Kneus groaned her name just before he pulled her fully against him, her hand trapped between them. Then before she could say anything his mouth crushed against hers.

  Gwen stood immobile against Kneus’ chest, her eyes wide in shock. He was kissing her and he was good at it! She let her eyes flutter closed and gave herself up to the embrace. When his lips parted, she followed his lead and allowed her tongue to spar with his. Whatever she had imagined kissing Kneus would be like was nothing compared to the reality of it. His lips were hot against hers and she could feel every inch of his skin pressed against her, the material of the medical gown was nothing compared to his heat. His arms were around her one pressed against her shoulders, the other her waist. She was cocooned in his warmth and had no room for thought. One hand was free and those fingers were tangled in his hair, enjoying the feel of the silken strands. The other hand that was trapped against his abs felt the jumping and bunching of those muscles. When she got the chance her fingers moved further down his stomach, coming into contact with his arousal. Her mind snapped awake at the knowledge that he had broken through the sexual block, then she went right back into hazy with passion when her fingers made it under his medical gown.

  Professional ethics be damned, this wasn’t Earth and she didn’t have to answer to anybody but her own conscience, and that was screaming at her to go for it! She wrapped her fingers around his steely shaft, her fingers barely making contact with each other. She wasn’t a small woman, and though feminine, her hands were not petite. For his girth to match her hand size meant he was a well-endowed man. Gwen groaned against his mouth and their passion flared higher. Kneus answered her with a rasping groan of his own when she squeezed him harder.

  Her excitement was so high she was hearing a ringing in her ears. Then it dawned on her that it wasn’t desire causing her ears to ring. The computer was beeping to let them know the medical results had just been posted. Well it could just wait. Only Kneus had stilled in her arms and with a sigh she opened her eyes and saw that he had opened his too. She noticed with satisfaction that his hair was disheveled, his lips even more plump from her suckling them and his eyes were a fiery purple. She imagined she looked much the same. His fingers had been fisted in her hair, and her lips were probably just as “bee stung” as his appeared.

  Gwen released her hold on him and took a shaky step back. With sexual tension arcing between them she was the first to clear her throat, “Uh. The computer...” she swallowed and tried again. “I think your results are in.” Gwen put shaky hands to her head and tried to smooth her appearance. Her palms were sweaty and that was nothing to the moist ache between her legs. She was going to have to get to her dome and take a cold shower.

  Kneus put his finger against her lip. “I should not have kissed you Gwen. I don’t think it was fair.” He moved off the medical bed, and grabbing up his clothes walked to the computer. “Our emotions are high from the twins’ birth, and the fact that I confided in you about the nightmares. I don’t think either of us are acting rationally right now.” He pushed a few buttons and the computer stopped beeping, and then sat in a chair facing the computer.

  Gwen had stayed quiet long enough, she wasn’t about to let Kneus talk around this encounter. “Desiring someone isn’t supposed to be rational Kneus.” Gwen moved to read the results on the computer console. “It is exactly as I thought. You are dehydrated and your cell count is low. There is also some minor energy reading from your brain, but that could be explained by your thoughts during the scan.” Gwen sat in the chair next to him, and turned his chair so he would have to face her.

  “We are going to talk about what happened just now between us.” She placed both her hands on his knees, “I am not expecting you to apply for a dome in New Haven and declare mate status because of one kiss.” Holding his gaze was hard but she forced herself to do it. “I think it is safe to say that you know I am attracted to you, I have been for a long time and it has nothing to do with the “emotion” of the twin’s births or you confiding in me.”

  His shocked look didn’t help her confidence in continuing, but she charged ahead anyway. “I think it is also safe to say that you are attracted to me, for whatever reason you want to put on it. I will wait for you to come to terms with your feelings, and it is up to you to make the next move. I won’t pressure you into any relationship, physical or otherwise that you aren’t ready for or don’t want.”

  Gwen stood up and pushed her chair back in. “I promised I would stop in to see the new sacath and check in on Mairi.” Gwen strode to the door. “Get the sun that I have prescribed, and the water. We will work on the nightmares if they keep occurring after you work on getting more of those two things.” Gwen smiled weakly then hurried to leave before she made more of a fool of herself. “Think about what I said.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Kneus sat there for a long while after Gwen had left. He hadn’t meant t
o kiss her. The desire to hold her in his arms was so strong he couldn’t fight it. Nightmares and consequence be damned he had just wanted to feel her lips against his. Sighing loudly he moved away from the console and left the technology dome. He agreed with Gwen that he needed to get more sun and water if he was ever going to get better. With that thought in mind he started back to his dome. Saying hello and talking with friends he passed along the way it took a while but he finally made it home. Taking the reader from his bedside, and a huge glass of water from his bathroom he went out onto his balcony to relax.

  “Desiring someone isn’t supposed to be rational.” Gwen had said. He supposed that made sense. His brother Kniam wanted Amber from the moment he saw her, against all rational thought. His brother’s Knaleg and Knollig also were not rational in their choice of mates either. Were there no grounds for the attraction? If he thought on the reasons he desired Gwen he supposed there was sense to it. She was intelligent, compassionate, funny, loyal, honest...the list just went on and on. So maybe he had been fighting an attraction to her all along, and he was using the birth of the twins to try to avoid entanglements with her?

  How could he explain the violence of the nightmares then? If subconsciously he wanted a relationship with Gwen, why had he been choking her in the dream?

  Realizing this wasn’t relaxing him Kneus put his thoughts aside for the time being. He grabbed his reader and started at the point in the book he had left off. He read until his eyes started to cross, and then decided to take a break. He glanced at his now empty glass and smiled to himself. He had refilled it twice while reading, so Gwen would be happy that he had met his water quota for the day.