"I did."

She still could hear the words haunt her. You do not exist any more. She clenched her jaw. She had to determine what these bombarding images were! "Storm. My name is Jasmine Storm."

"Jasmine Storm? Interesting. Sounds like a troma add."

Storm arched her eyebrow. "It suits me. 'Cartell,' is it not a word about monopolizing business?"

"It is." He set his jaw into a firm line. "Although I don't feel like I'm any kind of monopoly."

"You currently monopolize my time."

A smirk passed over Cartell's face and he opened his mouth to speak, but stopped himself.

They reached a bay of lifts and Storm keyed for it to open.

Cartell smiled at her, and something in his grin made her heart thud even harder in her chest. She studied his eyes, hoping to find an answer of why she experienced such strong physical responses. His eyes filled with heat and he stared at her with his lips parted, as though he was about to speak, but he didn't say anything. A sensual wave washed over her; his lips were so enticing.

"Do you always stare at females with your mouth open?" she asked, trying to keep her focus on her job for Perry. His stare inspired her to wet her own lips as heat flooded her again.

They both entered the lift, and she pressed a panel above the standard switches.

"Do you always study people?" Cartell asked, watching her with hooded eyes.

Storm looked away as the security panel in the lift opened. Shoving her data card into it, the lift accessed her clearance and proceeded to Perry's domicile.

"I choose to study humanoid behavior to better understand it." Which was true. In most cases. In this one, however, she liked looking at Cartell. His appearance alone pleased her senses.

Cartell flinched at the speed of the lift. "You say that like you're not humanoid."

"I am not."

Cartell touched her left fingertips. His fingers ran a gentle caress over the tips. Storm felt fire pool in her body at the contact and her breath hitched. "You feel humanoid enough to me."

Storm jerked away from his contact. This was not acceptable! "I am not humanoid." She stepped away from him. "I am a cyborg." She expected him to cower, to jerk, or to widen his eyes in shock.

He did none of those things.

He tossed his head back and laughed. "Sure you are."

Storm grabbed Cartell by the throat and lifted him up off the ground. "Believe what you choose." Cartell struggled to free the grip on his neck, pounding her arm. His hands clanked against the metal under her coat sleeve. He bent his knees, slamming his feet into her chest.

She let go, taking a step back. He landed with a thud against the far wall. Curled up on the floor, he stared up at her. The same strange look of curiosity passed over his face as in the Cratic Casino.

Storm started to sub--vocalize for security and he shot forward.

"Don't," he said, nose to nose with her. Her heart pounded in her chest. His very scent seemed burned on her consciousness.

Then he kissed her.

The touch of his lips to hers felt like fire. She should have shoved him away. Though she did not love Billingsly, she honored their monogamous relationship. At least she always had.

That was before, though.

She leaned into Cartell. His hands touched her face and she put her arms on his sides, pulling him into her. The heat from his body sent a shiver of desire through her, unlike anything she had ever experienced before. His mouth opened enough to taste her, and she reciprocated. One of his hands slid behind her head, pulling her tighter into the kiss.

So this is what kissing should feel like.

She ran her hand up his shoulders and into his hair, the texture of the strands feeling like woven satin in her hands. His hips ground into hers and she shifted her legs to allow as much body contact as possible.

They both groaned as the lift slowed.

Storm jerked away from him, pulling out of his embrace. Her chest panted and dizziness overtook her because of what this man, this stranger, Devin Cartell, did.

"Met laka su kree somatra," she muttered, shaking her head. Her pulse raced, her body trembled. It was the most amazing thing she had ever felt! She licked her lips.

Cartell touched her arm, stepping closer to her again. "What did you say?"

"Nothing," she replied. Storm shoved him away from her. His face filled with confusion, anger and frustration.

Cartell grabbed her left arm and pulled her back into him. She braced her arms against his chest, to push herself away, but she couldn't. She wanted more. More contact, more kissing, more...

Storm leaned into Cartell, closing her eyes.