by Chandra Ryan
Sans arched an eyebrow and smiled as he asked, “Would you care to watch?”
“That does seem fair,” Michael said, his rich laughter filling the room as he rubbed her back.
She shook her head as she got off him as gracefully as the position would allow. “As soon as you’re assigned to somebody else’s ship, I’d love to. In the meantime…”
“I’m stuck in my cramped quarters, solving my own problems.”
“You seem like a resourceful enough man.” She turned around and bent over to kiss Michael, knowing her bare ass would be in full display for Sans. At the thought, she could already feel the heat of arousal as it started warming her blood once again. It wasn’t as fast or as demanding as it had been a moment ago but it was there. A warning to the danger of the game she was playing.
“I think I need to go freshen up,” she said, grabbing her uniform from the floor.
“You know where the washroom is. I’m sure I can keep our guest entertained while you’re gone.”
She paused for a moment, tempted to ask Michael to clarify, but then let it go. Regardless of his plans, Michael couldn’t become bonded to Sans in one afternoon. It was impossible.
Walking to the bathroom, she turned on the shower and stepped under its blissfully warm spray. A part of her was still warm and glowing from her orgasm but another part was worried about the decision she’d just made.
Even if Michael and Sans never saw each other again, she’d opened the door to the next level today. Would Michael let her close it or would he push for more?
Since they’d started their tenuous relationship, she’d heard a clock ticking in the back of her head—its rhythmic beat measuring the seconds of comfort they had left. But now its ticking was louder and faster.
Chapter Four
Adam stared at Michael for a moment after the captain disappeared down the hallway, wondering exactly what sort of entertainment Michael had in mind. True, he wouldn’t object to sharing the woman with him, but he’d never been with a man before. If ever there was one who tempted him, however, it was Michael. He seemed to radiate sensuality.
Michael stood and then threw away the condom before turning to face Adam again. “We had a deal,” the other man said, picking his pants up off the floor. “Or have you so soon forgotten?”
Apparently he had. It took him several seconds even after being reminded for Adam to figure out what Michael was talking about. “Oh. That’s right. I get to kick your ass now. It must have completely slipped my mind.”
Michael shook his head as he got dressed. “Really?”
“Sorry, I guess I’m not as pissed as I thought I’d be,” Adam answered with a shrug. Oh, he’d been angry when he’d first regained consciousness. But then he’d started listening to Michael and the captain’s conversation. Now he was curious. “I would like to know why you drugged my wine, though.”
“We had business to discuss that was of a sensitive nature.” Michael’s gaze swept over Adam’s scar.
Every survival instinct Adam had vibrated in warning at that stare. It quickly turned his earlier curiosity into caution. Michael knew something about Adam’s scar. Adam’s heart pounded in his ears and his stomach twisted nervously but he had to call Michael on it. He wouldn’t be able to defuse the situation until Michael laid his cards on the table. “You’ve been interested in my scar since I showed up on your doorstep.”
“It’s a very interesting scar.”
He hoped the brief smile he shot at Michael would appear casual. “Not exactly the descriptor I would give it, but I guess it works.”
“How long ago did you get it?” There was an edge to Michael’s voice that only added to the buzzing in Adam’s ears.
“Five years ago.” No point in lying to the man about when it happened. It’d only make his story harder to remember when Michael got around to asking about how it did. “Right after my twentieth birthday.”
Michael’s face clouded in thought and then he nodded to himself. “So Luca’s third moon?”
Adam’s heart seized painfully at the mention of his home. No one had ever guessed it correctly before. Some people knew where he’d grown up, of course. But only because he’d told them. They hadn’t guessed. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what—”
“I’ve seen that scar pattern before. Though never on anyone still alive. It’s from an H8 chemical burn off. The Coalition skirmishes with the government had just elevated five years ago so burn offs were still uncommon.” Michael’s gaze held his as he rattled off his proof, daring Adam to challenge him. “That year the government was only granted a single judgment to burn. Luca’s third moon.”
Adam would be impressed with the man’s skills of deduction if he didn’t have the sneaking suspicion they were in some sort of contest—one that he was losing. And then there was the pesky little matter of his life or at the very least his freedom being in Michael’s hands. If the other man shared his insight with the captain, he’d be in custody before the sun set. That is, if he survived being brought in. Coalition members rarely did.
Taking a steady breath, he forced himself to relax and pushed the dark thoughts to the back of his mind. All wasn’t lost—yet. The man had suspicions, sound ones, but Adam wouldn’t have survived this long if he hadn’t been good at coming up with answers on the fly.
“I wish the story of this scar was that exciting. It is an H8 burn, but it didn’t happen in a burn off. There was a spill at a worksite and I was showing off for a girl. You know how it is. We’d do just about anything to get them look at us like a hero, especially at that age.” He let the story die there with a shrug. “Long story short, I woke up three days later in the hospital covered in bandages with everyone telling me I should be thankful to be alive.” At least that last bit was the truth.
“Really? There was a spill? And why weren’t you in safety gear if you were working around such a dangerous chemical?”
If he hadn’t heard Michael was a journalist while pretending he was still drugged, Adam would’ve figured it out by the man’s questions. They were quick and smart but also had a slant of concern for public safety that a good journalist should have. And hearing it now gave Adam the perfect spin. “The plight of the working man, right? My boss would only buy the suits for the engineers. Guess the rest of us weren’t worth enough to him to justify the expense.” Now he had to offer him the happy ending—the silver lining that every fairy tale needed in order to be complete. “But because of what happened to me, that all changed. Public outcry can be pretty loud when they’ve got a picture to go with it.” He gestured to the scar with a flick of his wrist. “And after I was declared healed, I joined the military. Better job and better pay.”
Michael studied him for a moment before nodding. “I’m glad something positive came from what had to be a living hell for you. Sorry I brought it up.”
“No harm done.” Which was mostly true. It still hurt for him to think about the scar. Not because of the pain of the burn, though it had been worse than anything imaginable, but because it reminded him of what he’d lost that day. Everything.
“I just got excited for a moment, thinking there might’ve actually been a Luca 3 survivor. Could you imagine the story from his point of view?”
A dull ache filled Adam’s chest. “Even if there was, no one would want to listen.”
“I would listen. Any journalist worth his salt would.”
Adam snorted with disdain. He might have actually believed Michael if he hadn’t already tried going to the networks five years ago. Only two journalists had apparently been worth their salt by Michael’s definition. But even they’d turned on him when they’d faced pressure from their stations.
Though the press was still technically a free press, they were costly enterprises. And when the stations’ budgets relied heavily on subjectively awarded grants that the government doled out, the line between free and propaganda got a little fuzzy.
It wasn’t entirely their fault. Even Ada
m wasn’t so idealistic that he couldn’t see the reality of their situation. With the stations being accountable to their shareholders first and the citizens second, it wasn’t cost-efficient to report stories that made a major financier look bad—especially since their funding would go to a competitor if they did. He may be an engineer now but he’d been raised a businessman. He knew the harsh reality of economics.
“Not sure many would care to hear the story of a traitor. But what do I know?” Adam shrugged to deflect any of the residual bitterness that might have worked into his words.
“Traitor? Just because a person made Luca 3 his home doesn’t make him a traitor.”
It was an interesting sentiment but not one he trusted enough to comment on. Too much was at stake for him to allow curiosity to get the better of him. Besides, regardless of how Michael saw him, he was certain the captain wouldn’t see him as anything other than a traitor. And her opinion was the only one that mattered right now. “They were selling fuel to the Coalition. At least, that’s what the government says.” It was how the government had gotten a judge to sign off on the burn-off order. But it was a lie.
“That’s never set well with me. From everything I’ve heard about the Pallaras, they seemed loyal.”
And they were. Up until the day the government destroyed them. “Business is business. Isn’t that how the saying goes?”
“Maybe. Huh…” Michael looked up at him, his face pinched in concern.
Adam waited but after a moment of silence knew the man wasn’t going to say anything without a prompt. “What?”
“When Renee said she thought it was the Coalition who’d attacked the Hawk, I automatically dismissed it. One of the reasons being, well—no offense intended, that I’d assumed you were working with them.” Michael looked uncomfortable with the admission. “No offense. You just have that look. And they’d never attack a ship they had a mole on. But since you’ve cleared up that misunderstanding, I have to wonder if she was right.”
“You thought I was Coalition and you didn’t tell her?” It was beyond belief. Who was this man loyal to?
“I don’t go around making unfounded accusations,” he shot back. “And I don’t start witch hunts on a hunch. I fully planned on figuring out your allegiances before you left. If you were a threat, I would’ve told her.”
“Comforting.”
“You’re missing the point. The attack could’ve very well been Coalition after all.”
Adam had to fight the urge to shake his head in denial. Those shots were designed to destroy, not disable the ship. And in a war that was as much public image as strategy, the Coalition had to be careful about the fights they picked. Even if there wasn’t a mole on the ship, there’d be nothing for them to gain from such a senseless killing. It’d only serve to prove the government right when they called the rebel movement bloodthirsty. No, someone else was behind the attack.
“It doesn’t feel right to me. I can’t see what the Coalition had to gain by the attack.” He waited for Michael to nod before continuing. “You said I was one of the reasons you didn’t think it was Coalition. That means you must have had others.” Maybe if he got Michael talking, Adam could shake out more pieces of the puzzle.
“A couple, but none I care to share with a soldier.”
Adam shot him a skeptical look but Michael only quirked an eyebrow at him in response.
“I don’t tell the Coalition your secrets, so it’s fair.”
Adam would’ve had grudging respect for the man if he hadn’t heard him tell the captain about their lack of stealth tech just minutes ago. But since he had, Adam saw Michael’s statement as an attempt at manipulating him—most likely to get Adam to trust him into betraying some confidence. And that left the pit of his stomach burning with anger and disgust.
Two could play at that game though. If Michael wanted to pretend to be the neutral reporter to win Adam’s trust, Adam could act as an ultrapatriotic soldier to provoke the man.
“If you have information that could have an impact on the fighting and save lives, it’s your civic duty to tell someone.”
Michael shrugged. “Guess I have a different definition of civic duty.”
“If there’s an attack you could’ve prevented, you could be tried for treason.”
“I get threatened with that about twice a week. Between you and me, the threat’s lost some of its teeth over the last couple of years.”
Michael was doing a good job of not rising to the bait. But Adam knew people pretty well. He was certain he’d eventually find the right angle. “But you owe—”
“How do you know what I owe? And to whom?” Anger finally flashed in Michael’s eyes.
“Your lover is a captain in the military. That gives me a pretty good idea of what you owe and to whom.”
“I’m a journalist.” He watched Adam closely for a moment as if waiting for the words to sink in and then added, “I’m fucking her, not her ideology.”
A rush of joy spread through Adam’s chest at Michael’s sharp words. It was immature, yes. But since Michael had tried to manipulate him, Adam was going to enjoy the victory. “Now that’s a romantic sentiment. You’re quite the woman’s man, aren’t you?”
An angry red blush crept up Michael’s neck and the man’s body stiffened. It was a look Adam had seen many times, usually right before he ended up in the middle of a fistfight. “I’m a realist. I know what she’s willing to offer and I’m not stupid enough to push for more. But just so we’re crystal clear about my sentiment, she’s my mate. I may not be hers, but that woman owns me.” Michael studied Adam’s scar pointedly. “And if anything happens to her, there isn’t a rock in this system those responsible would be able to hide under.”
Adam heard the warning loud and clear. And there was no doubt that the threat was aimed at him. The man was in love.
A bucket of cold water thrown over his head couldn’t have dampened his moment of victory any more successfully than that realization had. Because maybe that was why Michael had shared his intel with the captain and not him. Maybe it wasn’t as much about manipulation as he’d thought.
He tried not to shift under the weight of his guilt for baiting Michael. He’d gone from wanting to crush the guy to feeling sorry for him in what had to be a new record for mood changes. But being in deep with a woman who, judging by how she and Adam were introduced, had commitment issues couldn’t be easy. If he were being completely honest with himself, Adam would have to admit that Michael’s love life was even more screwed up than his. And with a scar that repulsed or frightened most women, that was saying something.
“I understand completely,” Adam said with a nod. Not that it changed anything. Soon enough they would be enemies.
But not today.
The shower stopped and Michael took a step away from him. “Good. I’m glad.”
He kept an eye on Michael until the captain came back into the room. Her hair was pinned back and her uniform clung to her slightly damp body but Adam wanted to feel nothing but professionalism toward the woman. He failed, though, and failed miserably. His body quickly responded to her curves and his breath hitched as she stretched leisurely in front of them.
Her stare flittered between Michael and him for a moment before she leaned over provocatively to pick up her reader. “They’ve got the ship patched up,” she said with a sigh of relief.
“That’s great news.” Michael’s smile took some of the bite out of his sarcastic tone but apparently not enough as she glanced at Adam questioningly. With no answers for her, he held up his hands and shrugged. Michael’s issues with the captain were something Adam refused to get into.
The captain sighed but didn’t push for answers.
Apparently goodbyes were not this couple’s specialty.
“Thanks for—” she started. But Michael pulled her to him and kissed her passionately before pulling away to whisper something into her ear.
Okay, so maybe they weren’t all that bad at goodb
yes. Adam could admit when he was wrong.
“You’re welcome,” Michael said, stepping away from her. “Now go. Save the people from some indefinable, yet horrible, fate.” He studied Adam for a moment before returning his attention to her and saying, “And make sure you watch that lovely ass of yours. I’ve grown rather fond of the way it looks bent over a table.”
So Michael did still have doubts about him. That was interesting. And as long as Michael didn’t share those doubts with the captain, he decided not to press it.
The captain, fortunately, seemed unaware of the undercurrent passing between the two men. “Your concern is touching. I’ll try to make sure nothing happens to it. Or to the rest of me.”
The couple kissed again before the captain turned for the door. Adam followed her out of the house but didn’t say anything until a closed door sat between them and the journalist. “Must be hard juggling your career and relationships.”
She shook her head, her smile an echo of sadness that made his heart ache just a little. “Wouldn’t know. I don’t have relationships.”
With that she put on her helmet and climbed on her glider. The conversation was over.
They raced on their gliders back through the forest and over the cityscape. And as the landscape changed from one to the other he knew he’d let his chance to overtake her slip by. But he was surprised to find he wasn’t mourning the lost opportunity. Instead a new idea was starting to take shape in the back of his head.
From everything he’d seen and from what he’d heard while pretending to be drugged, she appeared to be fair. And she’d worked with Michael against the government—against her government. She’d even gone so far as to promise to keep an eye open for corruption in the military ranks.
If he somehow showed her what the military was really capable of, would she work against them? It was risky but knowing about future raids—having warning—would be priceless.
But to get her to trust him enough to even listen to him, let alone take a field trip to one of the “terrorist colonies” where she could see for herself what was going on, would take time. And time was one thing he wasn’t sure of. But there was someone who did know the timetable for the mission. And more importantly, who would help him stall if necessary. His partner, McNeal.