It never came.
There was no revulsion, it appeared that particular reaction had been banished, and she was glad. But there was also no burning need. No urge to meld her body with his, to push herself close until they were one.
After a minute, he raised his head, a rueful expression in his eyes. Dropping his arms from around her, he stepped back. Head cocked on one side, he studied her, and she had to prevent herself from squirming under the intense scrutiny. “Callum Meridian?”
She started at the name. “Callum Meridian what?”
“You tell me?”
For a few seconds, her lips tightened and she considered the idea of telling him to mind his own goddamn business. But she supposed it was his business in a way. She had just come on to him. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to…” She broke off not really knowing what to say, because she had meant to get him to kiss her. And she’d always been crap at apologizing especially when she was in the wrong.
Devlin shook his head, disgust clear in his expression. “Jesus.
Callum Meridian. Well, I wish you luck with that—you’ll need it.”
He gave her a long look. “So what was this—trying to make him jealous?”
“No!” She shrugged, then her innate honesty made her go on.
“Well, maybe a little, but not really. I just wanted to see whether…”
She really wished she had never gotten herself into this.
He chuckled at her discomfort. “Don’t worry. I don’t think I’m up to warding off your protectors anyway.”
“Protectors?”
“So far, I’ve had Rico, Janey and Jon come and tell me that if I harm you in any way they’ll…”
She gritted her teeth. “They’ll what.”
“Actually, it varies from drain me dry, to rip my throat out, to slicing off my dick with a blunt knife and tossing it out the airlock.” He shuddered at the last one. “So maybe it’s for the best.
You know, you have a good crew—you obviously inspire loyalty.
The Coalition could use you.”
“Thanks , but no thanks.”
He shrugged. “Well the offer is open. At least until you become one of those bastard Collective monsters. Though come to think about it, it might be useful having a member of the Collective as part of the Coalition.”
“No.”
He laughed, easing the harsh lines of his face. “Okay, I guess it’s time for bed. You do know the Trog snores, don’t you?”
“So you were only coming on to me for the chance of a quiet night?”
“Yeah.”
Tannis paused just outside the room, wanting to thank him for not making a big deal out of her kissing him. She reached up to touch his face. “Thank—” Her words were cut off as a fist came out of nowhere and slammed into Devlin’s mouth, hurling him to the floor.
“Keep your hands off her, you bastard.”
Tannis spun around in time to see Callum leap at the other man. He landed on top of him in a flurry of wings, and for a moment, she couldn’t make out what was going on.
They rolled. Devlin came out on top, and he smashed his fist into Callum’s face. Callum heaved him off and pounced on top of him, pummeling his chest.
Tannis stood watching, hands on her hips. She considered walking away, just going to bed and forgetting the pair of them.
Let them beat the shit out of each other. But there was work to do tomorrow, and she could do without either of them being incapacitated. So she drew her laser pistol, flipped it to stun, and thought about what or who to shoot.
A noise down the corridor made her glance away—it looked like the rest of the crew had come to watch the fun—just as Callum and Devlin rolled again nearly slamming into her legs.
She swore loudly and took aim. She wasn’t planning on shooting either of them, but she wasn’t perfect—she might make a mistake and actually hit someone. It was tempting. Callum was immortal; he would heal quickly. Devlin wasn’t. She waited until Devlin had the upper position and aimed the laser at the floor by Callum’s head.
Sparks shot out as the blast hit the metal floor, and the two men sprang apart. She put a booted foot on Callum’s chest and aimed the pistol at his head.
“You making trouble on my ship?”
Amusement flashed in his eyes. “No, captain.”
“Good.”
She swung the laser around to point directly at Devlin. “How about you?”
He actually grinned. So she was funny now was she? Her finger tightened on the trigger, and the grin was replaced by a look of alarm. Much better.
“No, captain.”
Someone sniggered, and Tannis backed off a step and turned to face the crew. She studied them with narrowed eyes. “And you lot,” she said, waving her weapon in their general direction. “I do not need protecting.” She pointed the pistol at Jon. “Right?”
“Of course you don’t, captain.”
“I can protect myself.” She took a pace toward them, jabbed the pistol into Rico’s stomach and met a solid wall of muscle.
“Right?”
He grinned. “No, captain.”
Vaguely mollified, she turned away. “I’m going to bed.” And with that, she stalked down the corridor, pistol still in her hand.
She was back at her cabin when she realized Callum had followed her. Whirling around, she raised the gun and shoved it into his chest hard.
“Piss off, Callum.”
“I want to talk to you.”
She sighed and holstered her weapon. “What?”
He considered her a moment. A bead of blood welled on his lip where Devlin had got in a punch. He licked it away, and her gaze followed the movement. Then back to his eyes.
“You might not be willing to accept me in your bed, just yet,”
he said. “But while you’re working for me, you don’t sleep with anyone else either.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, really. You’re captain, and in everything else, I’m willing to take your orders. But in this, you’ll take mine.” He pushed up close to her.
“And how are you going to make me?” she asked, genuinely curious.
“I’m going to ask nicely.”
She was backed up against the wall now with nowhere left to go. The heat of his body pressed against hers, his hips thrusting into her, so she could feel the rigid line of his erection against her belly, and flames burst into life inside her.
“How nicely?” she asked, and her voice sounded weak and thready.
“Very.”
His lips lowered to hers, and her breath caught in her throat.
She stared into his eyes. “Aren’t you scared I’ll bite you again?”
“Yes.”
Her hand came up to press flat against his chest and beneath her palm the thud of his heart beat a rapid tattoo.
He leaned in closer. “But I’m willing to risk it.”
Just one kiss, she told herself. No doubt she’d feel absolutely nothing, just like with Devlin. But she was already way beyond feeling nothing. Need coiled up tight inside her, and she knew it would snap with the first touch of his lips.
She tried to remember the research center but couldn’t bring it to mind. Venna, her “angel,” but again the image refused to materialize. All she could see was Callum’s violet eyes, drawing her in. His lips, slightly parted.
“You’re sure?” he said at the last moment.
“Jesus!” Her fingers hooked in his shirt front, and she dragged him the last few inches. The first touch of his mouth was almost tentative, gentle and she didn’t want that.
Her lips parted beneath his, and she thrust her tongue into his mouth, tasting the smoky sweetness of whiskey. She was drowning in the taste of him, intoxicated. Her breasts ached, and her insides were melting. Her hand slid up over his chest to curl around the back of his neck and hold him close while she rubbed her body against his, trying to get some relief for the strange sensations building within her.
; “Slowly,” he murmured against her mouth. But she didn’t want it slow. She didn’t know how she wanted it. How could she?
At last, he deepened the kiss, his lips hard, his tongue urgent.
At the same time, he slipped a thigh between hers, raising it so it pressed against her sensitive core, and sensations flooded her body. She whimpered deep in her throat as every cell yearned toward him. He must have sensed her need; his hand pushing between them, and he cupped her sex. She went instantly still and didn’t move as his fingers shifted against her. Even through her clothes, the feeling was exquisite. Her thighs parted without conscious thought as one long finger rubbed against her.
Her breathing was hard now. She’d pulled back from the kiss unable to focus on anything but the hand between her legs. Her eyes clamped shut as the pleasure built inside her. She felt out of control, and she hated that but there was no way she could stop this now. Then he found the exact spot and rotated his finger and at last she exploded, pleasure radiating out from that point between her thighs. For an age, her body spiraled out of control, and she realized he was holding her upright with one arm around her shoulder. The other hand was still between her thighs and as the shivers subsided, he pressed upward, and she came again.
Pulling her against him, he stroked her back, the touch strangely soothing, and after a few minutes, the shudders that wracked her body died away.
He released his hold on her and stepped back. Tannis forced her heavy lids open. Callum was watching her, head tilted to one side. His expression was blank; she had no clue what he was thinking. Then he gave a slow smile, and her heart rate picked up.
Her legs were shaking, and she locked them. She’d never known her body could feel like that, could react like that.
He remained silent, and she bit her lip. Then coughed, opened her mouth and closed it again. She had no clue what to say. Tearing her gaze from his, she peered around and realized they were still in the corridor outside her cabin. She’d lost all track of where they were.
If anyone caught her canoodling with their client, she would never live it down. Luckily, the corridor was deserted.
She licked her lips and took a deep breath. “Would you like to come in?” She nodded at her door.
He shook his head. For a moment, she didn’t understand, then he took another step back as though distancing himself.
“I honestly never meant for anything to happen tonight,” he said.
“You didn’t?”
“I just meant to make sure nothing happened with anyone else.”
Her eyes narrowed, and his lips twitched.
“I was trying to give you some space.” His hand came up to touch his lip and he winced as though at a memory. “I decided you needed time to forgive me, before I tried again.”
“I’ll never forgive you.” That was the goddamned truth, but she wasn’t sure forgiveness was what mattered anymore.
He shrugged. “Well maybe not forgive but at least see past what happened. Then I thought a kiss wouldn’t hurt, and we both got carried away. But I’m guessing this whole sex thing is new to you, and I don’t want you coming back later and claiming I took advantage of your innocence.”
“I am not innocent.”
“No? Maybe not innocent in some things, but I’m guessing that’s the first orgasm you’ve ever had.”
She so didn’t want to be here right now. Her hands fisted at her side as she fought the urge to punch him in the nose.
Been there. Done that.
She was supposed to have moved on. But he was infuriating, and she wasn’t used to holding back. “Look, if you’re not coming in, maybe you’d better piss-off. Go practice your Mr. Nice Guy disguise on someone else.”
“I will. If I practice enough maybe it will sink in. Anyway…”
He nodded at her door. “When this is over, ask me again.”
…
He was a total fucking idiot.
What had possessed him to walk away?
She’d come so sweetly for him. He could have been in there with her now, buried deep between her thighs. At the thought, his cock jerked in his pants and his balls ached.
He was taking this nice-guy thing way too far.
He got to his own door and hesitated. Should he go back?
In the end, he slammed his palm to the panel before he could change his mind. Once in his room he leaned against the wall and closed his eyes.
His cock was still hard, and he shoved his hand down his pants and gripped it in his fist, tried not to think it could be Tannis’s hand around him. Or her mouth.
He groaned at the thought and a minute later, he came.
Chapter 14
On the monitor, Tannis could see Devlin’s ship, The Black Cat, with an array of smaller ships fanned out behind him. His job was to coordinate his people, annihilate the mark one cruisers guarding the weapons ship, and to protect El Cazador.
El Cazador was positioned slightly to the back and side where Tannis had a good view of what was going on. Their job was to destroy the weapons ship.
They’d had a meeting of the captains earlier that day on board El Cazador. It hadn’t taken her long to figure out that Devlin had been right; the Rebels were definitely in need of some “good”
people. She guessed it wasn’t Devlin’s fault. You could only do so much with training if the raw material was crap. And the ships were a mixture of old and ancient, no match for the sleek, new mark one cruisers of the Church.
Still, this was hardly a plan that required brains to see it through. They were going for a straight up attack. Just blast them all out of space. How difficult could it be?
Obviously, too difficult.
“They’re good,” Rico murmured, and she knew he wasn’t referring to the Rebels. The Church was managing to fend off the attack. Not only that, but they had arrayed themselves in front of the weapons ship and were effectively deflecting any shot El Cazador sent toward her.
And now, as if things couldn’t get worse, it looked like they were using the shield of the other ships to just continue on their way.
“Shit, Rico, they’re getting away.”
“Do I look like I’m blind?”
“Well, do something.”
He turned and snarled at her with a flash of fangs. “Shut up, sit down, and strap yourself in. That goes for everyone else as well.”
Tannis opened her mouth. Rico snarled again, and she clamped her lips together and did as she was told. There were some occasions when it just didn’t do to cross the vampire.
Callum took the seat next to her, and she watched him struggle to fasten the harness—those wings made things awkward. He glanced up caught her gaze and grinned.
He looked far more relaxed than he had when he’d first come on board over a week ago. Which was odd as right now things were going to shit. She could see the weapons ship getting smaller on the monitor as they stood around doing nothing.
“Janey,” Rico said. “Get Devlin on the comm.”
“Okay.”
“This isn’t working,” Rico said.
“No shit,” Devlin replied.
“I want to change tactics.”
“What do you need?”
“We need to turn this around literally. I want your lot to concentrate everything on the central ship. Bring her down, ignore the others for now.”
“And what then?”
“I want you to create an opening we can get through. We’re going after the weapon. Once we’re through you follow us, turn around, and make sure they don’t come after us.”
There was a minute’s silence. No doubt while Devlin considered the plan. But the plan was a good one. Well, actually the only one.
Callum leaned across while they waited. “Did you sleep well?”
She had actually, like a baby. “Okay.”
“I didn’t. I tossed and turned and told myself I was all kinds of stupid that I hadn’t taken you up on your offer. I had a hard-on all night. Couldn’t s
hift it.”
Her gaze shot to his groin, and he chuckled. “Don’t worry I got myself under control eventually. At least I did until I saw you all strapped up in that harness. When this is over, you, me and that harness are going to get together.”
She shifted in the seat and warmth stole through her body. He must have caught the movement, and he grinned. “You like that idea? Get you all naked first, then strap you down…”
Holy moly, she was melting, and he wasn’t even touching her.
“Tannis!”
She jumped as Rico snapped out her name, and she turned guiltily to face him.
His eyes narrowed. “If you could put off the foreplay until later—we’re going in five.”
Jesus, she hadn’t even heard Devlin come back to them. “I’m ready.”
“Yeah, I bet you are, but ready for what?” he turned back to the controls. “Okay, we’re off.”
Rico had switched on the main screen, showing Devlin’s forces. They were grouping together, tightening up, turning so they all focused the central ship. Then as one, their blasters flared.
Skylar punched El Cazador’s guns at the same time and the ship exploded with flashes of light. But the Church’s ship maintained position, and Rico swore.
“And again,” he said.
This time when the shots hit the ship, she rolled. The blasts kept coming now, hitting her vulnerable underside, and she lost control and spun. She hit the ship next to her and together they tumbled out of control.
“We’re off,” Rico said. “Hold on.”
He punched the main thrusters, and El Cazador shot forward, heading for the gap between the ships. Skylar kept hitting the guns so a steady stream of blasts shot out. Tannis closed her eyes as the speed built up until she was pressed back into her seat by the force.
A blaster from one of the ships caught them in the side and they rolled. For a minute, the lights went out, and Tannis hung upside down from the harness. Then they flickered back, and the ship righted herself. She blinked, and then stared at the monitors, there was nothing to be seen but space, and she realized they were through.
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