by Chandra Ryan
“They’ve got stealth tech. Let’s knock on the heavens and see who answers, shall we?”
“Aye, Captain.” The burst of electromagnetic energy swept through the void of space until it collided with the vessels. There were twin pings on his radar but the ships recovered too quickly for him to gain any other information. Flipping his view screen on, he was immediately dismayed to see static instead of the vastness of space. Next time he was going to have to be more careful about which wires he pulled while sabotaging a ship.
Another blast rocked the vessel, forcing him to grab hold of his station in order to prevent being thrown to the floor.
Communicator static pierced the eerie post-attack silence but this time it wasn’t the captain. “Long-range communications array has been taken out, Captain.”
“Divert power from communications to reinforce the shields, McNeal. Sans, prime both torpedo bays and set the cannons to max. Let’s hit ‘em hard.”
The distinct whine of weapons charging filled the cabin and began to settle his post-jump nerves.
“Fire when ready, Sans.”
His finger paused above the switch that would start the firing sequence. He nodded and said a silent prayer to any god that might be listening. Then he fired. “It’s gonna get bright out there. Might wanna dim your view screen, Captain.”
There was a hollow thud under him as the weapons were discharged simultaneously. Hit ‘em hard. She’d given the order and he’d thrown everything he could at them. He’d even thrown some starburst beacons into the attack. They wouldn’t hurt the other vessels but the flare beacons would leave anyone looking at a view screen temporarily blinded. And since the bursts were usually used to signal a crippled ship, there was no way for their attackers to expect them.
But the other ships had launched another attack of their own. The Hawk rocked and shuddered around him as it was hit hard somewhere in the aft section.
“Jump drive was hit, Captain.” The mechanic’s voice sounded strained over the communications device. “One more hit like that and we’ll be stranded here.”
With no way to call for backup, it’d be a death sentence.
“Copy that,” the captain said, her voice still sounding as calm as it had with the preflight checks. “All hands brace for jump. We’re getting outta here.”
There wasn’t time for him to mentally ready himself for the jump but he was able to grab on to his console to steady himself before time froze around him. That probably saved him from a bloody nose, as he caught himself just before smacking his face into his station when they broke through to normal space.
“This is your captain.”
Adam nearly smiled at the formality of the opening communications statement. He hadn’t been on board for even a full shift and judging from the communications slang and her preference for practicality over procedure, he guessed she didn’t do formality very often.
“We are currently one hour from the planet Ontesys. Once there, we will dock and begin repairs. But before we land I need a completed conflict debriefing report from each of you.”
Her voice was tight, as if it was taking every ounce of her control to get the words out. He didn’t blame her. He’d be pissed if someone took a couple of shots at his ship too. But as it was, he only felt relief. More time had been added to the clock.
Pulling the appropriate forms up on his console, he began to fill them out as he considered tactical advantages to their place of refuge. He had expected her to head back toward the inner realms during the attack but Ontesys was so far out that the government’s influence was superficial at best. The planet had once been a thriving vacation spot but with the ever-increasing cost of fuel for the jump drives, few tourists could afford to venture this far out. And without the tourists, the planet had quickly become the shady hub of gambling and prostitution that it was today.
Though, when he thought it through, it did sound like her kind of place.
He snorted to himself as he dutifully filled out his report. It was repetitive bureaucracy bullshit made worse by the knowledge that by the time the powers-that-be read it, they’d know he was a mole working for the Coalition—if they ever actually read it at all. The only upside to the paperwork he could find was that it did make the hour go by faster.
By the time they docked, his report had been filled out, double-checked for errors or inconsistencies and filed in the ship’s hard drive. It wasn’t exactly rewarding but it was done. And more importantly, his cover would be safe for a little while longer.
“The repairs to the long-range array are going to take three hours,” the captain said as the small crew gathered on the metal grate of the dock. “Feel free to look around the town, but this isn’t shore leave. I come back and find anyone drunk or incarcerated, I’ll have your ass.”
Adam froze for a moment, knowing this could be his chance. He couldn’t imagine a time when she’d be more alone and vulnerable to attack. “Captain?”
“Yes, Sans?”
“Where will you be, sir?”
“Wherever the hell I want to be.” Her tone was clipped and her posture rigid. She didn’t like to be questioned, that much was obvious. He’d have to tread lightly.
“Protocol dictates the top security officer accompany the captain whenever she leaves the ship while on duty,” he recited, forcing his voice and demeanor to stay meek. She couldn’t see this as a power play. There were loopholes she could use to get around the regulation if she wanted to badly enough but they were inconvenient, not to mention more time-consuming. If he played this right, she’d let him tag along just to save time and paperwork.
“And since you are my entire security team…” She glared at him as she braced her hands on her hips in defiance.
“Then I’m required to accompany you, sir.”
She threw a look at Aimes but at his shrug she relented. “Fine, but you’d better keep up. You fall behind and I won’t think twice about leaving you here.” She stomped off toward the rack of government-issued gliders. “Stupid-ass government regulations.”
He’d never been a boastful man. Taking wins and losses as they came was the only way to live in the harsh outer realms. Granted, he’d seen more losses than wins as of late. But he was still breathing and most days that was enough of a win to outlast any of the losses life dealt. There was something about this woman though, maybe it was the way she fought him, that made him want to celebrate this win in particular.
But he’d have to stay with her if he had any hope of relishing the victory. She’d already taken the pins out of her hair and had shaken it loose to put on a helmet. Slipping his helmet on, he straddled the glider next to hers and slid his military ID through the security scanner.
“You gonna tell me where we’re going?” He didn’t expect her to but she was already backing out and he needed to buy himself a second to get his glider started.
“Nope. Meant what I said. You can’t keep up, I leave you behind.”
The machine roared to life between his legs and he nodded. “Fair enough.” Not that she heard him. She was already gone. He slapped the visor of his helmet down and took off after her.
The chase wove through some of the oldest parts of town. Weaving and ducking through streets and alleys, she made crazy hairpin turns that he was certain were done in an attempt to shake him. But he stayed on her tail.
And what a tail it was. There was something about a woman on a bike. Her powerful thighs gripping its metal body tightly, nudging it to do her will.
A sudden turn and a near-fall had him cursing the wayward thought as he forced his attention to the cityscape they were speeding through. Each alleyway, crossroad and blind corner had to be studied for its tactical advantages. He needed to find the perfect spot to make his move on the way back to the ship. This excursion was his best shot and there weren’t going to be any second chances with this mission. There was no leeway for screwups or surprises. Everything had to be perfect.
Which was why,
as they made their way out of the city and into the surrounding forest, he began to rethink the practicality of the urban setting. She was faster, smaller and could maneuver on the sleek vehicle. With all the escape routes the urban-scape made available to her, it’d be difficult for him to overtake her.
He ducked under a low-hanging branch and the sudden jostle caused the bike to veer to the right. For one brief moment he had visions of smashing into a tree skirt through his mind but using brute strength to correct the skid, he was able to bring the vehicle back under control. They were touchy machines designed to run over level surfaces like concrete and asphalt, not dirt. And that was the break he was waiting for.
He’d make his move in the forest, where his strength and the less-than-ideal road conditions would give him the advantage over her dexterity. Now he just had to bide his time and wait. He nodded to himself as confidence spread through his gut. He would win this round.
It only took a few more minutes of riding for them to reach their destination. But even the brief ride had made his calf and thigh muscles burn. He didn’t spend much time riding these days. It was worth the discomfort, though, to watch her pull off her helmet and shake her shoulder-length black hair. She was untamed beauty wrapped up in duty and honor. And that looked a whole lot like temptation from where he was standing.
“You sure you’re up to this?” She walked to the door and knocked twice before turning to face him again. “I mean, if you’re uncomfortable you could wait outside while I take care of things.”
“I can’t provide adequate security if there’s a wall between us. Besides, I doubt there’s anything you could do that would make me uncomfortable.”
She shrugged and turned toward the door. “If you say so.”
He was ready for a number of possibilities, but the door sliding open to reveal a tall, gracefully handsome man who immediately folded the captain into his arms in a passionate embrace wasn’t one of them.
Adam stared at the couple as they kissed, unable to look away from the naked emotion exchanged in the greeting. Granted, he hadn’t known her for long but nothing about her had even hinted at her being in a relationship. Especially given the nature of their introduction.
When the two broke apart, the man took a moment to look Adam over but then his attention focused on the captain again.
“Renee, it’s been much too long.”
“Does that mean I’m not invited in?” she asked. The breathless quality of her voice made Adam’s pulse pick up a little but he did his best to ignore the obvious sexual tension in the air around him.
“It could never be that long.” The man smiled sincerely at her and then looked over at Adam again. “And your friend, does he wish to come in too?”
Her laugh was husky as she looked over her shoulder at Adam. “He does. But he’s just going to be,” she winked at him before continuing, “watching.”
The man stared at Adam a second longer, his gaze tracing the scar that ran down his cheek. But then he stepped out of the doorway to allow them entrance. “Shame,” he said softly.
Adam’s stomach clenched with tension as he followed her into the warmly lit parlor. Sure, she wasn’t exactly a by-the-book captain but he hadn’t seen this coming.
“Michael Dallen,” the man said, holding his hand out to Adam.
“Adam Sans.” He took Michael’s hand. He wasn’t surprised to find the skin smooth under his. Whatever this man did, he’d never been a soldier.
“Sans, that’s a common inner realm surname, isn’t it?” Michael’s gaze swept the scar on Adam’s face again as he asked the question.
Adam’s whole body tensed as a red flag of caution waved in his mind. Michael’s gaze was too attentive for the lazy tone of his voice. It was a tone Adam readily recognized. He used it himself to put people at ease from time to time. And he found he didn’t like it being used on him. “It is.”
“Unusual scar for such a common name.”
“Unusual professions bring about unusual scars,” Adam answered quickly.
“That they do.” His curiosity seemingly satisfied, Michael turned his attention back to the captain. “Would you like some wine or are we starting with business this visit?”
Her smile warmed as she sat on one of the large couches. “Pleasure always comes first with me.”
Michael laughed as he poured two glasses of wine. “As well it should.”
Adam was surprised when Michael handed the second glass to him. But it became apparent that the man had other things to keep his mouth busy as he grabbed the captain and began to kiss his way down her neck.
“Please, sit—relax, Mr. Sans,” Michael said between kisses. “We’re going to be here for a while.”
Grateful for the invitation, Adam sank into an overstuffed chair. He’d expected to feel uncomfortable by the scene in front of him. But as the other man cupped the captain’s ass and pulled her closer to his body, Adam felt nothing but aroused.
That is, he felt aroused until he began to feel drowsy.
Drowsy? That didn’t make sense.
He took another sip of the wine and the sleepy sensation spread throughout his body like the warmth of the sun on a summer day.
“You drugged my wine,” he accused the room in general.
“You can kick my ass for it when you wake up,” Michael said, suddenly appearing at his side to take the glass away from him.
He should care more, but the world was already fading around him. “Deal.”
The blackness that surrounded him this time had nothing to do with space or jumps but it was every bit as cold and unsettling.
Chapter Three
Renee watched Michael carefully as he put the other man’s wineglass down before walking back toward the couch. She trusted him more than most but even he wasn’t above suspicion—especially after drugging one of her crew. Putting her glass of wine on the coffee table in front of her, she placed her hand over her sidearm as she asked, “Was that absolutely necessary?”
“I’m a business before pleasure kind of guy. And I didn’t want him listening in.”
She relaxed a little at his explanation but still kept her hand resting lightly over the hilt of her weapon—just in case. “And here I thought maybe you were the jealous type,” she teased.
“Please, you know there’s nothing I’d enjoy more than sharing you.”
It was true. His family had been practicing tri-relationships even before the financial devastation of the last recession that had made the arrangement more of a mainstream trend. Having three incomes kept a family afloat without having to resort to the more shady employment opportunities that were popping up all over the planet. But for his family it was more than an economic convenience, it was a tradition. A tradition he certainly showed no objection to.
“But that would make this…” he gestured from himself to her before continuing, “too ‘official’ for you.”
She grimaced at the truth in his words. Though she didn’t object to the idea of being involved in a ménage, especially with the two very handsome men currently in the room, she couldn’t let Michael think there was a chance for them to have any more than they already had. They were friends who had sex. Nothing more. But she wasn’t sure he shared her evaluation of their relationship. So this was the way it had to be. No ménage equaled no commitments.
Just because she saw things realistically, though, didn’t mean she was heartless. Their relationship was dear enough to her that she’d never been able to indulge in a ménage with another. As crazy as the sentiment was, she refused to give anyone else what she denied him. But it’d hurt less to rip her own tongue out than to destroy Michael’s pride by telling him that this was all they’d ever be, so she kept the admission to herself. “I swear, Michael, you’re the only guy I’ve ever known with complaints about having me all to himself.”
“But that’s the thing, I don’t.” He sat next to her on the couch and pushed a lock of her hair out of her face. “I’m okay wi
th that, though. Our arrangement works.”
She heard the silent “for now” much too loudly for her own comfort. But with his logic solid and his manner nonthreatening, she took her hand off her weapon and gave in to her desire to relax. They did have a good arrangement but what she’d always liked best about it was how comfortable she felt in his presence. “Okay, business-first kind of guy. I did have something I wanted to talk to you about.” Needing to feel the warmth of his skin, she trailed one finger down his neck and undid the first button on his shirt.
He followed her progress as she undid the second button but didn’t make a move to stop her. “You’re going to have to talk fast if you keep that up.”
“I can talk fast,” she insisted as she found his third button.
“With as little as he drank, it’d be a good idea regardless.” He unzipped her flak jacket and slipped it off as she continued taking off his shirt one button at a time. “He could wake up at any moment.”
The thought of Sans waking sent a streak of erotic energy through her blood. She wondered briefly if she’d feel the same excitement if Aimes had been the one to accompany her. Something told her she’d only feel annoyed if it were her navigator sleeping in the chair though. “I was attacked by two Coalition ships after I came out of jump today.”
He undid the first button on her shirt with the ease of practice. “How soon after the jump?”
“There’s no way they followed me.” She eased his shirt over his strong shoulders, letting it fall behind him on the couch. “They were waiting.” Leaning forward, she ran her tongue down the side of his neck, stopping to nibble his collarbone before continuing, “And that wasn’t even the strangest thing.”
He unbuttoned her second button before saying, “Do tell.”
“They had stealth tech.”
He stopped undressing her abruptly. “Are you certain?”
“They weren’t on my radar. That can only mean stealth.” Running her hand over his firm abs, she shivered with desire. Michael didn’t have the scars that Sans wore but she knew him too well to think that meant he lived a life of comfort. Michael’s scars were buried deep, just as hers were. It was one of the things that drew her to him.