Brenda pulled herself up to a sitting position, pushing him into a similar one. "And that was……?"

"Just the beginning of the pleasure we can make together, my angel." He trailed his index finger across her upper, and then her lower lip. Placing the finger back in his own mouth, he tasted it slowly, never breaking eye-contact with her. "Wouldn’t you like to find out what it feels like to go beyond what you just experienced?"

When he smiled at her sexily, Brenda’s face took on the look of an approaching storm cloud as she slapped his hand away from her face when he moved to touch her lips again. "You must *never* do that again," she spat, trying to pull herself together. "Do you understand?"

Jax looked truly puzzled. "Why not?"

Brenda sat completely up and began readjusting her gown, trying desperately to wipe passion’s blush from her face. "Because…..because…..we are supposed to be on a journey here, and that leaves no time for…..and besides, I ……well……"

Jax tipped her face up to look into his eyes, which still sparkled with violet fireworks of unfulfilled pleasure. "You enjoyed it, didn’t you?"

Brenda found breathing difficult as she gazed into those eyes. When she began to notice the faint scent of zilliang spice once more, she knew she had to stop him or he would continue her "education." "Yes, I enjoyed it," she stammered. She quickly caught herself. "I mean, I *suppose* I enjoyed it. It’s just that you just caught me off guard, and I was too sleepy to stop you from letting me make a fool of myself." She rose to her feet as Jax continued to stare at her in amusement. "I told you back at the dungeon that I wasn’t interested in pleasure, and I meant it. All that interests me is getting to the Tunnel point and then we can part ways."

Jax rose also and pulled her back to him, holding her loosely in his embrace. "You were drowsy before?" Brenda nodded wordlessly. "Then perhaps we should try it again, so that you can be fully awake to appreciate the pleasure to its fullest."

Brenda pulled away. "NO!" She spun away and reached down to grab her cloak, throwing it over her arm. She began to stomp off, following a faint path away from the ravneau.

"Zira!"

Brenda stopped and turned to give Jax a withering look over her shoulder. "What!!??"

"Where are you going?" Jax stood there lazily, hooking his thumbs into the waistband of his black leather breeches, causing them to ride even lower on his hips.

"Isn’t that *obvious*? I’m *going* to the Tunnel point!" Brenda turned to leave again.

"Zira!" She didn’t even favor him with a spoken reply this time. "I believe the Tunnel point is……that way," Jax said, pointing in the opposite direction.

Brenda stopped for a moment and looked around. He was right, confound him. Why did the obstinate, infuriating, sexy, irresistible man have to be right all the time? She walked back the way she came, passing him in a huff. "I knew that the whole time," she muttered as she passed him. "I was just testing you."

Jax fell in beside and a little behind her. "Of course you were, angel."

Her chin stuck out a little further. "Of course."

They walked in silence for a few minutes until Jax spoke, causing her to jump. "Angel, are you going to remain angry with me for the entire journey?"

Brenda kept walking. "It depends."

Jax smiled to himself. He knew she had just experienced the beginnings of unparalleled pleasure in his arms, but she was afraid to truly let herself surrender to it. But he also knew that in time, she could be brought around. "It depends on what?"

Brenda slowed her pace a little. "It depends……on how truly, abjectly sorry you are for deceiving me….." She stopped, but refused to look him in the eye. "……and how generous I wish to be in forgiving you."

Jax caught her by the arm and suddenly pulled her back to him, her body flush against his. As he slipped his arms around her, he leaned down to whisper in her ear, "Brenda, will you please forgive this Familiar his horrid behavior earlier?" His breath ruffled the hair at the nape of her neck, and his lips grazed the skin on the side of her neck ever so softly. He rubbed his lips up and down the side of her neck, flicking it with his tongue occasionally. When he nipped at the spot behind her ear, she gasped aloud.

Brenda grabbed his shoulders to keep from reeling under the sensual haze this man wore like a second skin. She closed her eyes briefly, considering giving in to finding out what was beyond the pleasure she had just experienced, but then remembered that they were in danger from Corinthon’s men. "Well," she said, saying the words very slowly since she was finding coherent speech difficult when he was making a meal of her neck, "...since you told me once that .......Familiars cannot tell a lie….." She pulled away a little to look into his eyes. "…..and since you seem so ...... sincere…….yes, I forgive you."

Jax had to smile at the success of his duplicity. In actuality, he hadn’t "lied." Jax felt that he *had* exhibited "horrid behavior" because he had failed to bring her to complete pleasure and finish what was started in Corinthon’s dungeon. It was not *his* fault that Brenda interpreted "horrid behavior" to mean something different.. "Thank you, zira Brenda. It is no wonder your people love you so much. You are truly…….selfless."

Brenda watched the corners of his eyes crinkle in delight, and although she wasn’t exactly sure how, she somehow knew she had been had. As Jax reached down to take her hand, Brenda reached into her cloak and took out an empty hydrale pod. Waiting for just the right moment, she pulled free of his grasp, threw the pod at his head, and then ran on ahead of him, giggling like a child.

Jax stopped to rub his head for a moment, shook his head at her suddenly whimsical nature, and then gave chase. As they went into the foothills beyond the ravneau, Brenda’s laughter drifted on the wind like the song of fairies.

*~*~*~*

The next three days passed in a pleasant blur. Jax led Brenda with an unerring sense of direction, which he assured her was another one of his Familiar talents. They avoided the larger towns and kept to the side roads as they got nearer to the town where the Tunnel point was located.

Jax made sure that they always had a supply of fresh water and food. He managed to catch some fish in the streams that were plentiful on Charporta, and Brenda was amazed as she watched him prepare the fish over an open fire. He knew exactly what berries were edible and which were poison.

The first night after they crossed the ravneau, Brenda was tiring when they reached a large field of tall grass. "Can we rest soon, Jax?" she asked, still not having recuperated from her lack of sleep for several nights.

Jax gave her a gaze that was warm and compassionate. "I will make us a bed together, zira," he replied. He led her far into the tall grass and found a place that was protected from possible rain beneath some taller overhanging shrubs. He gathered leaves and some extra grass and began to build layer upon layer. When he had accumulated a thickness of layers to form a mattress of sorts, he extended his hand to her.

"Come, lay down with me, Brenda." She was too tired to object and she let him settle her into the soft bed. He spooned her body with his, cradling her head on his right shoulder and throwing his left arm over her protectively. "Sleep, angel," he crooned to her, and she soon found herself drifting off into a peaceful, restful slumber in his embrace.

She came awake the next morning slowly, finding that Jax had moved in his sleep. He was still on his right side, asleep behind her, but he had snuggled his head into the soft space between her shoulder and her neck, throwing his left leg over her two legs. His left arm had curled all the way around her so that he had practically enfolded her -- curling up to her in a very feline manner.

"Jax," she whispered, prodding his arm gently. He moved only slightly, clutching her more tightly in his embrace and nuzzling his head deeper into her neck. Brenda thought he was probably still asleep -- he certainly deserved to catch up on his rest after the grueling trip across the ravneau -- until she felt his lips moving delicately against her neck. She began to suspect that he was dreaming until the fingers of his left hand began to trace patterns on her midriff. When they drifted downwards and she felt his teeth graze her neck, she realized he was far from asleep.

Brenda was about to push him away when she realized that he was binding her in his spell again. His sexual scent filled her senses as he began to place kisses behind her left ear, moving down to nibble on her earlobe. Jax pulled her more tightly into his embrace as his tongue began to trace a path down her neck. Brenda felt a stirring deep inside of her and her legs moved restlessly against Jax’s. Memories of the pleasure she had felt in his arms began to flood her mind. But then the loud cry of a flarnix broke the early morning silence and she rolled Jax to his back and off her.

When she looked into his eyes, they were sparkling with both passion and merriment. "Good morning, zira," he said in that melodic tone that made her bones melt. He pushed the hair back off her face. "Shall we make it an even better morning?"

Brenda tried to control her breathing. "Yes....... I mean, No! I mean, Yes!" she exclaimed loudly, struggling to sit up. "I mean that we should get an early start and be on our way. We’re very close to the Tunnel entrance, I think."

"Really? *That* is how you were thinking of making it an excellent morning?" Jax sat up and helped Brenda brush leaves and grass from her arms as she turned to kneel and face him. His fingers lingered a little too long on her breasts, brushing away the bits of straw, and she gasped.

"Of course I did! What else would I have been thinking of?" she asked innocently.

Jax trailed his finger up and down her arm lazily. "I was thinking that perhaps you were remembering the pleasure you experienced yesterday morning when I ....... woke you," he smiled mischievously.

Brenda tried to keep from blushing. Why did the man have to know her so well? "No! I definitely wasn’t thinking of that," she declared, trying to avoid looking into his eyes.

He placed his finger on her chin to turn her face to him. "You’re lying again, angel. Why do you insist that you aren’t interested in pleasure when your body tells me the opposite?"

"My body? How does my body tell you that?" Brenda shifted uncomfortably on her knees and Jax pulled himself up to sit up straight.

"Your ears."

Brenda gasped. "My ears? My EARS tell you that I am interested in pleasure?"

Jax nodded confidently, pushing her hair behind her left ear with his right finger. "Every time you think of the pleasure you experienced in my arms, the tops of your ears turn pink." He tilted his head to the side. "See – they’re still a little pink, even now."

Brenda quickly flipped her hair back to cover her ears. "They are not."

Jax’s eyes crinkled at the corners in laughter. "Lie to yourself if it makes you feel better, Brenda, but they turn pink just the same." He inched himself closer to her, suddenly grabbing her around the waist and shifting his weight so that he flipped her to the ground on her back next to him.

"I need to taste your lips, zira. I need to drink from them as much as I need the water that keeps this body alive." Before she could object, Jax lowered his mouth to hers and began to leisurely explore her lips. Brenda’s hands fluttered for a moment before wrapping around his neck to pull him closer. As she felt the pressure of his chest on her breasts, she moaned a little and her mouth opened to his searching tongue. One of her hands strayed up to the short hairs at the nape of his neck. When she gently fingered its softness, Jax inhaled sharply and growled his pleasure. But then when he broke the kiss and pulled back, Brenda’s eyes shot open in surprise. She was even more surprised when he took one finger and pushed her hair aside. "See -- I told you. A very dark shade of pink."

As Brenda saw his triumphant smile, she pushed him backwards, catching him off-guard. Jax lay sprawled on the ground on his back, laughing with delight, as she got up angrily. "You are insufferable, Familiar!" She brushed the grass and leaves off her gown. "Insufferable and infuriating and arrogant......"

Jax jumped to his feet. "........and hungry, for more than you, I’m afraid, Brenda." He extended his hand in companionship. "Shall we find our breakfast?"

Brenda sighed. "......and hungry." She put her hand in his. "Lead on, Jax."

*~*~*~*

Three days later, Jax and Brenda crouched behind some bushes near the outskirts of Hundeer. They watched as two of Corinthon’s men lounged lazily near the mouth of the Tunnel, laughing and talking as though nothing were amiss.

"Do you think it’s a trick? That they’re just trying to lull us into thinking that they don’t know about your escape?" Brenda whispered.

Jax shook his head. "I would sense it if they were trying to trap us. I think that perhaps Corinthon needs to work on his communication system before he attempts to rule the empire." He shook his head in derision at the ineptness of his former captor.

"Maybe your senses are still partially dulled....." Brenda suggested. "I mean, you said yourself that no Familiar had ever before experienced the drug that Corinthon had given you. How can you be sure that its effects are completely worn off?"

Jax smiled and traced his finger down the side of Brenda’s face, causing her to gasp softly. "I am certain, angel. Corinthon’s drug no longer affects any of my senses." He rubbed his finger over her lips again and again with the lightest of touches. "I am back to full strength in *all* of my......wondrous abilities......should you care to put me to the test."

Brenda shivered at Jax’s touch and tried to remain rational in the face of his overwhelming sensuality. "Jax, I’m serious!"

"So am I, zira," Jax replied with a smile. "Familiars are *always* serious about their pleasure.....and the pleasure we can bring to our partners." Jax continued to caress her lips softly, and as Brenda’s eyes fluttered shut, Jax chuckled low and pushed her hair back. "And I can see by the color of your ears that you are serious about it, too!"

Brenda’s eyes shot open and she slapped his hand away, resentful of his teasing. "Jax, we could be facing death here! Will you stop thinking about pleasure ......."

Jax put his finger to her lips. "A Familiar never stops thinking about pleasure, Brenda, but foolishness is also not part of our nature." He looked towards the guards again, but then pulled her down and turned her to face him. "One more thing, angel. *We* will not be facing death. *I* am willing to face death to make sure that you safely go through the Tunnel to the next planet."

Brenda gasped softly at his words. "Jax, no! I could never watch you sacrifice your life just so that I could survive!" She swallowed hard. "If it comes to a choice, *I* should be the one to die so that you can go warn your people about Corinthon’s drug!"

"Listen to me carefully, Brenda," Jax said, tracing his finger across her forehead. "If it comes to a choice between us and I don’t live to see another sunrise in your arms, you must go on. YOU can warn my people of the drug. YOU can continue the journey to my home planet of Meer’an."

"But, Jax......"

He put his finger against her lips. "I’ll always be with you, Brenda. Even if this body doesn’t survive to be with you on the journey, my spirit will accompany you and help you find your way to Meer’an. Do you understand?"

Brenda shook her head, laying it against his hand affectionately. "Not really, but I have a feeling that there are many things about you that I have much more to learn about."

They looked deeply into each other’s eyes, and this time Brenda didn’t try to look away as Jax’s pulled her within the aquamarine depths of his. He rubbed her cheek, and then laughed softly. When she gave him a puzzled look, he pushed her hair aside. "A very charming shade of rose, zira," he quipped, and she pushed his hand away with a snort.

As he pulled her to her feet, Brenda grabbed Jax’s arm. "But Jax," she whispered as they moved away from the protection of the bushes, "won’t somebody notice us?" She glanced up and down his form. "I mean, a half-clad Familiar travelling with a Charportan is not a usual sight."

Jax smiled and put his arm around her waist possessively. "Then we shall just have to project the image of two lovers, travelling together to explore the many wonderful worlds in this Empire, won’t we?" At Brenda’s shocked look, Jax continued. "After all, it is well-known that we Familiars yearn for adventure and the companionship of a beautiful woman. Who’s to say that I didn’t come to Charporta to find myself a charming Torengi who is also in search of new worlds?" He leaned down to whisper for her ears only, "And to find new worlds of pleasure in my arms?"

Brenda gasped at his words, but by that time they had reached the outskirts of the tiny marketplace that had sprung up around the Tunnel point. The actual entrance to the Tunnel itself looked like nothing more than the entrance to a large cave. Two of Corinthon’s men lounged on some rocks next to the entrance. Some wise Charportans had set up booths and stalls near the entrance, trying to persuade those arriving and departing of the necessity of their goods.

As Jax and Brenda tried to politely decline the seller’s offer of a new set of earrings for her, she braved a glance in the direction of the opening of the Tunnel. Corinthon’s men were very distracted by an attractive seller of scarves close to them. It was a good thing that that particular tradeswoman had chosen that spot, because there weren’t many other things to keep them from noticing the Familiar and his Torengi fellow-traveller.

Jax realized their good fortune at the same time as Brenda. Since this wasn’t the main Tunnel point on Charporta (the main one being in Harsty), it was not used by as many travelers. Its proximity to the ravneau also probably discouraged many from using this Tunnel point. Jax remembered a steady stream of travelers when he first came through the Tunnel opening in Harsty, and a large market with tradesmen hawking their wares. Compared to Harsty, this Tunnel point was deserted.

Had it not been for the lust of Corinthon’s men for the scarf-seller, they might have questioned Jax and Brenda. But since they were involved in haggling with her over the price of more than scarves, Familiar and Torengi passed through the archway of blinking lights and entered the Tunnel point with no problem.

Brenda heaved a sigh of relief, but Jax was strangely silent. As they had passed through the opening, he had felt something, but he wasn’t sure what. There had been a few travelers going in the opposite direction, and he had the distinct impression that one of them had taken notice of him.

If Jax had turned around, he would have seen a short, runt-like creature with a long snout and whiskers observing him carefully. The Brancar had noticed the scent of the Familiar immediately on passing him. It watched with tiny, beady eyes as the Familiar stopped in his tracks.

"What is it, Jax?" Brenda asked fearfully. "Have we been noticed by Corinthon’s men?"

Jax took a moment before answering her. "No, zira. I just had the momentary feeling that I was being watched by another traveler." He glanced around cautiously and then smiled at her. "But I was wrong."

Brenda smiled in relief, but to be truthful, she was feeling her own sense of trepidation. They had reached the Tunnel point. Jax had kept his twin promises to her, "taking" her in the dungeon and bringing her safely to the Tunnel point. The deal was finished. Brenda felt an unexplainable sadness invade her soul at the thought of having to say good-bye to her Familiar. He had saved her life so many times in the past few days and in so many ways. She had come to depend on him and trust him to know how to find water and food. She had come to expect him to provide them with a comfortable, safe place to lay their heads at night to sleep. When she felt her ears beginning to turn pink, she realized that she had come to want to remain with the Familiar for other reasons, too.

But before Brenda could voice any of these concerns, Jax took the initiative. As they continued walking farther into the Tunnel, Jax spoke to her seriously. "You know, Brenda, this isn’t the main Tunnel point on this planet. It’s likely that the world where we’ll emerge isn’t an Imperial planet either."

"Yes……" Brenda held her breath hopefully.

Jax’s arm fell from her waist and Brenda was shocked when she felt naked without it. "It could be some barren wasteland, or an uncivilized, lawless world." Jax narrowed his eyes. "This next world is only a stepping stone, really – just a means to get from another more civilized planet to Charporta."

"What’s your point, Jax?"

Jax put his hand on her arm to stop her slowing pace. "It goes against my Familiar nature not to warn you of the possible dangers on the next planet." He took a deep breath. "I would recommend that we stay close together until I am certain that the new world poses no threat to you."

Brenda rejoiced inwardly but tried to appear as through she were considering the proposition thoughtfully. "That sounds like it is probably a good idea, Jax." She looked into his eyes, and then realized that he knew her thoughts. "How *close* together do you recommend we stay?"

Jax’s eyes twinkled with happiness. He pushed her hair back from her ear. "Not as close as your ears tell me you would like to be, angel," he teased. As she executed the foot-stomping-dance he had come to expect, he grabbed her arms. "Just stay within my arms as we emerge from the Tunnel on the other side for a while. Wait until my senses can tell me if we are truly safe."

Brenda smiled at him through her petulance. "I think I can manage that."

So the Familiar and the Torengi wound their arms around each other and entered the deepest part of the Tunnel, which led them to the interplanetary travel system that was known as the Matrix.

*~*~*~*

Brenda’s eyes were shut as they finally emerged from the Tunnel. All of Jax’s senses were on alert as he took stock of the new world they had entered.

The vista was one of uninterrupted barrenness. Much of the land was rocky, and not much vegetation grew along a faint pathway. Although there were no hostile aliens to fend off, the silence made Jax uneasy.

"Jax….." Brenda’s words were faint.

"I’m here, angel," Jax replied, not really looking at her. "I don’t sense anything life-threatening so far, but I would advise that you stay close to me until I can make a full assessment."

"Close to you…..yes…..that’s good," Brenda said weakly, and Jax finally turned to look at her.

"Zira?" Jax pushed the hood of her cloak onto Brenda’s shoulders, and he caught her under the arms as her legs buckled under her. Her face was pale and her breathing shallow.

"Jax?" Brenda repeated. "I don’t feel…….I’m……so dizzy," Brenda muttered as she clutched his arm, her eyes fluttering shut.

"Zira?" Jax said again, more forcefully this time. "You *have* traveled the Matrix before, haven’t you?"

Jax supported her weight with his right arm as he brought his left hand up to caress her face. "Haven’t been through the Tunnel," she replied softly. "Not since I was a baby."

"You should have told me, angel," Jax said with a grimace. "I could have made you a potion before we left Charporta that would lessen the vertigo you suffer now."

"Now you tell me," Brenda muttered. She made a valiant effort to open her eyes once more. "Jax……if you need to leave me……I’ll understand…..our deal is completed…….."

As she passed into unconsciousness and sagged into his arms, Jax scooped her up with a shake of his head. "Leave you?" He smiled and began walking. "No, my zira…..our deal is FAR from finished."

To be continued…….

Author’s Note: Although I try to change as much as I can from the original when I do an adaptation, I couldn’t think of anything quite as charming as Brenda’s ears turning pink whenever she felt physical attraction to her Familiar. I have also used the same term as the original novel for the inter-planetary travel system – the Matrix.