Mark of Eon: Eon Warriors #5

by Hackett, Anna

  Aydin sat down and pulled up his own tablet. “Then, let’s get to work.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Jamie picked up the pace on the warriors’ version of a treadmill.

  She’d been at it a while, which was fine with her. She was just damn glad her legs were working again.

  Several warriors were training on the mats in the gym. She’d already sparred with a few, and left them groaning. And Cutie sat balanced on the treadmill beside Jamie’s. The little alien was staying close to Jamie’s side and busy taking in all the things happening in the gym. Her long tail rocked back and forth behind her.

  The doors opened and Eve and Lara walked in.

  It was very obvious they were sisters. Both athletic, with an air of confidence that said they knew how to handle themselves. Their dark-brown hair was pulled back in matching ponytails that only highlighted their similarities. Lara wore the typical Eon uniform while Eve wore fitted black pants and a blue shirt.

  Shaggy bounded in behind the woman, giving a happy woof.

  Cutie tensed and when Shaggy spotted the alien, the canine stilled, the hair on the back of his neck rising.

  Uh-oh.

  “How are you, Jamie?” Eve asked.

  “Legs are working fine.” She slapped at the treadmill controls to stop it. As she slowed to a walk, she grabbed her towel and blotted her face. She kept a wary eye on the animals glaring at each other.

  “Damn glad to hear that,” Lara replied.

  Cutie hissed and Shaggy barked.

  “Shaggy,” Eve said. “Be nice.”

  “Shaggy, Cutie,” Jamie said. “Cutie, Shaggy.”

  “That thing is pretty cute,” Lara said.

  Suddenly, Cutie leaped into the air and clamped herself onto Shaggy’s head. The canine barked and turned in a circle.

  “Cutie!” Jamie reached for her.

  As she plucked the alien off Shaggy, Cutie’s claws grew to wicked knives and she hissed.

  “No,” Jamie said.

  Shaggy growled and Eve grabbed his collar.

  “Friends.” Jamie gave Cutie a little shake. “Large, blade-like claws away.” Cutie’s big eyes narrowed. “Now.”

  Cutie gave a little chitter, her claws slowly retracting.

  Eve made a humming sound. “We’ll have to keep an eye on these two.” She glanced over at a nearby warrior. “Enel, could you take Shaggy back to my cabin, please?”

  “Yes, Ambassador,” the young warrior said.

  Eve rolled her eyes. “I’ve told you that Eve is fine.”

  “Yes, Ambassador.” The warrior put his hand on the canine’s head and led the reluctant animal toward the door. Shaggy glared at Cutie on the way out.

  “Stubborn warriors,” Eve muttered.

  Jamie set Cutie on her shoulder and the small animal curled around her neck. “Any updates on the helians?”

  Lara shook her head. “The security team still hasn’t found any information in the Kantos lab data about the helians.”

  “The coordinates about the Kantos ships you guys got from Daarna Waystation has helped narrow some things down.” Eve crossed her arms over her chest. “But we still don’t know the final destination of the ships or the helians.” Eve huffed out a breath.

  “So, right now, we have a big pile of nothing,” Jamie said.

  Eve nodded. “That’s about it.”

  “We’ll find them.” Lara’s voice was firm. “One thing we’ve learned is that these Eon warriors don’t give up.”

  Yeah, Jamie had learned that the warriors took stubborn determination to pretty impressive levels. She studied Eve. “How are you feeling?”

  “Right now, I’m feeling great.” The other woman pressed a palm to her flat belly. “But I never know when the hitchhiker is going to cause me to lose my lunch.”

  “Eve Traynor pregnant.” Jamie shook her head. “Hard to believe.”

  Eve smiled. “I think the same thing every day. Then I see the way Davion looks at me when he’s thinking of our child, and I—”

  “Kind of melt and look sappy,” Lara said.

  Eve smacked her sister’s arm. “Just you wait.”

  Lara held her hands up in retreat.

  “I’d better grab a shower,” Jamie said.

  Lara nodded. “As soon as we know something, I’ll let you know.” She looked at Cutie. “Want me to take your deadly-but-cute pet back to your cabin?”

  “Yes, please.” Jamie urged Cutie to move and the alien leaped onto Lara’s shoulder, chittering away like she was talking to the other woman.

  After the women left, Jamie strode through the gym and hit the communal showers. At the moment, she had them to herself. As she stripped off her workout gear, goose bumps broke out over her skin.

  Getting naked made her think of sex, which made her think of Aydin.

  Her skin tingled as she pictured Aydin’s mouth and hands on her.

  She hopped under the spray and let her head drop forward until her forehead touched the tiles. She was supposed to have gotten the warrior out of her system. Instead, he’d looked after her, healed her, and given her a gorgeous knife as a gift.

  Okay, maybe they just needed to have sex. Surely this need would eventually burn out.

  She flicked the water to cold, doused herself, then got out. She dried off and pulled on clean cargo pants and a black T-shirt.

  She could solve this problem.

  Purpose filled her. She knew exactly what she wanted to do.

  It was late, most of the ship’s warriors were already in their bunks, but when she stopped by Aydin’s cabin, he wasn’t there.

  Typical. She pivoted and headed to Medical. The man took dedication to his work above and beyond. Something twisted in her chest. Although, now she understood that it was dedication to his family. Restoring the honor his father had stripped away.

  She didn’t think Aydin Kann-Ath had anything to make up for. Convincing him of that was another story, though.

  When the doors whispered open, it was quiet and the lights were set on low. It was also empty—no patients or staff. But she heard quiet noises from Aydin’s office.

  She moved silently to stand in the doorway, and let herself watch him.

  God, he was hot. She could look at him all day long—that thick, brown hair, those broad shoulders, those arms that made her mouth water. His biceps or his thighs, it was a toss up which she liked more.

  She felt the throb ignite in her belly and then arrow between her thighs. And suddenly, she didn’t just want to share hot, sweaty orgasms with him, but she wanted to give him pleasure. To see him take something just for himself, that had nothing to do with family or honor.

  Suddenly, Aydin’s head lifted.

  “Hi,” he said.

  “Busy?” she asked.

  “Combing through some newly translated Kantos data.”

  She wandered in. “Find anything?”

  He shook his head. “Not on the helians or their location. Just more medical data for my team to look into.”

  She ran a finger over the glossy surface of his desk. “I just ran ten miles.”

  His lips quirked. “Legs okay?”

  “Perfect. Although they could do with a little more of a workout.”

  As she moved closer, he pushed his chair back, a quizzical look on his face. And before he could protest, she slid onto his lap, straddling him.

  Now both his eyebrows rose. “What are you doing?”

  “I think you need to give me a thorough examination, Medical Commander.”

  Desire sparked in his eyes, the green strands glowing. She moved her hips, rubbing against him, and felt his hardening cock beneath her.

  “Jamie—”

  “We both want this, Aydin. You know and I know it.”

  “You want sex.”

  She moved against him again. “So do you.”

  He fisted a hand in her hair. “You have no idea what I want.” Then he moved his hands and cupped her breasts. “But I
can’t say no to you.”

  She moaned.

  “Let me see.” His thumbs rubbed across her nipples.

  She bit back another moan.

  “These appear to be fine. Very fine.” Then his hands slid down and under her shirt, stroking her skin.

  “Where does it hurt?” he murmured.

  “Lower,” she murmured.

  He rose, lifting her like she weighed nothing. He set her on his desk, towering over her. He pushed her back, his face taking on a focused, intense edge.

  Then he stroked his hand down the center of her body. He gripped her shirt and pulled it over her head. Her bra followed, then he leaned down and pulled her nipple into his mouth.

  Oh, yeah. Jamie slid her hands into his hair.

  “Pretty,” he murmured against her skin.

  Her nipples tightened to pebbles. His mouth moved lower, kissing across her belly.

  “I think I’m getting closer to the problem,” he said.

  “Yes, you are.”

  He flicked open her cargo pants and pulled them down her legs. His eyes were alight, the green strands glowing neon against the black.

  “You’re so gorgeous,” he said.

  No one had ever called her that. Tough, fit, dangerous, but never gorgeous.

  He grabbed the side of her panties and then, with a flick of his wrist, tore them off her.

  She made a hungry sound and he let out a deep groan. He bent over her, his mouth taking hers. But then he was gone again, his dark head moving between her thighs.

  “Oh, God—”

  Then his mouth was on her, licking and sucking. Oh. She fought not to shake under the strength of the pleasure.

  “Yes,” she panted. “That’s what needs some attention.”

  One of his fingers slid through her folds, then he thrust it inside her. “I’ll take care of you, Jamie.”

  Pleasure was a hot rush that left her panting. This man, so big and strong, cut through everything. He was deep under her skin.

  But right now, she needed more. More of him.

  “I want you inside me, Aydin.”

  Their gazes locked.

  “Deep inside me,” she murmured.

  * * *

  Aydin wanted to slow this down. He wanted to seduce and worship his marine.

  Jamie moaned beneath him and he thrust a second finger inside her, loving the tight grip of her body.

  She’d seduced him. She’d come in here with desire in her eyes. Cren, it didn’t take much with this woman.

  He gripped her hips, pulling her right to the edge of his desk. Then he shoved down his trousers.

  He gripped his cock. “Is this what you want?”

  Her lips parted, her gaze hot enough to melt metal. “Yes.”

  He leaned forward, rubbing the head of his cock against her. She made husky, little sounds, and he moved to rub against her swollen clit.

  Now she cried out, her body bucking. His helian glowed warm on his wrist, accentuating all his emotions. The passion riding him was stronger than anything he’d ever experienced.

  He needed Jamie. Needed to claim her, mark her as his.

  He gripped her hips and then thrust inside her.

  She arched off his desk with a sharp cry.

  Cren. This Terran woman shredded his control. He pulled out, then sank back inside her.

  “Don’t stop. Please, harder.” Naked need shone on her face.

  Aydin leaned over her and moved faster. Her long legs clamped around his hips.

  “You feel better than anything.” His voice was one step past a growl. “Tight, wet, warm.”

  “Fuck me, Aydin.”

  “This is not…fucking.”

  He slid a finger between them, feeling where she was stretched around his cock. He groaned. Then he touched her clit.

  “Aydin!”

  He kept thrusting, keeping the plunges firm and hard.

  “This is mine now,” he growled and rolled her clit.

  Her lips parted. “I belong to myself, warrior.”

  “You will be mine.”

  She pushed up to meet him, giving as good as she was getting.

  He thrust harder. “Jamie.”

  Her hands gripped his arms, her nails digging in. “Stop talking.”

  He was close to coming, and he could feel the tension in her body. She was about to splinter apart. “Look at me.”

  Her eyes snapped open.

  Then he slowed his thrusts until he was moving slowly, but deeply, inside her. “Feel that?”

  She shook her head, biting her bottom lip.

  He thrust again, as deep as he could go.

  “Say my name, Jamie.”

  She shook her head.

  “Say it.” He pulled out until just the head of his cock was lodged inside her. “Say who you belong to.”

  Her legs tightened on him, her heels digging into his ass as she tried to urge him on.

  He took her mouth with his, kissing her deeply. “Say it.”

  Her body trembled. “Aydin.”

  He slammed back in. She exploded, her scream bouncing off the walls of his office.

  Another thrust, and Aydin’s climax roared through him, throwing him over the edge. Hot pleasure spilled through him and into her. He collapsed on top of her.

  When Aydin could think again, he realized he was pinning her to his desk. He pulled back, and she moaned when his cock slipped free.

  Sitting back in his chair, he pulled her into his lap.

  She stiffened, then slowly relaxed. He stroked a hand down her back.

  “Well…” She cleared her throat.

  “Don’t ruin it,” he said.

  Her gaze flicked up to his, then, with a sigh, she leaned her head on his shoulder. “You smell good.”

  “We both smell like sex.”

  She made a small sound. Aydin tightened his arms around her and enjoyed the moment. His body was satiated, and his woman was naked in his arms.

  Then his comp chimed. Cren.

  She turned her head. “What’s that?”

  “That means we found something in the Kantos data.” He set her on her feet reluctantly. “Get dressed, shara.”

  At the endearment, she hesitated. Then she snatched her clothes off the ground and pulled them on.

  He did his pants back up, but left his shirt off. He scrolled through the info on the screen and Jamie pressed into his side, trying to see.

  He liked her there.

  “What did you find?”

  Aydin froze. “Cren.”

  “Warrior, I can’t read this. Tell me what it says.”

  He met her gaze. “It mentions a Kantos lab.”

  She frowned. “Okay.”

  “Not the one on Kelaff, a bigger one. Deep in Kantos territory. It says they were expecting a special, top-secret delivery.”

  “The helians,” she breathed.

  He nodded. “We need to wake Davion. Now.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Standing on the bridge of an Eon warship, still feeling sticky between her thighs, was an experience Jamie hadn’t faced before.

  It didn’t help that every time she looked at Aydin, she felt a pulse in her lower belly.

  Jesus, focus, Park.

  Davion was scowling at the data. Caze and Lara—who both still looked a little rumpled from being woken—were there, too.

  “It doesn’t mention the helians directly,” Davion said.

  “A top-secret shipment?” Aydin replied. “It has to be them.”

  “It says this larger lab is on Veela.”

  Jamie felt the unhappy tension in the small group. “What do you know about the planet?”

  “It’s a rocky, volcanic planet,” Caze said. “It contains rivers of lava interspersed with lakes filled with toxic water.”

  Nice. Jamie wrinkled her nose. “Sounds perfect for a bunch of murderous bugs.”

  “We have little intel on this lab.” Davion crossed his arms over his broad chest.
“We didn’t think there was a large facility there.”

  “Incoming transmission from the king,” a young warrior at a console called out.

  The screen blinked and King Gayel appeared.

  Seeing the Eon king always made Jamie want to stand a little straighter, or bow, or something. She might have just shared some scorching-hot sex with Aydin, but that didn’t stop her from admitting that the king was gorgeous.

  Even just seeing him on the screen didn’t mask his broad shoulders and powerful body. The Eon king was one hundred percent warrior. His face had a sharp blade of a nose and strong jaw, all framed by the usual long, brown hair of the Eon. His sleeveless, blue shirt made the blue strands in his eyes stand out, and a gold cord circled one of his muscled biceps.

  “Davion,” the king said. “I got your message about Veela.”

  The war commander nodded.

  “You believe this is where the Kantos have taken the helians?” the king asked.

  “Yes, but it’s not confirmed.”

  Gayel released a breath, his jaw tight. “We need to get them back. Whatever it takes.”

  Davion nodded. “I’ll send a team.”

  “This planet is too deep into Kantos territory for a team,” Caze said. “The larger the team, the higher the risk that they’ll be spotted.”

  The war commander nodded. “Good point. Two people, then.” He glanced at Aydin. “And we need someone capable of handling the helians.”

  Jamie’s gut cramped. This would be a dangerous mission. She didn’t like the idea of Aydin going in.

  “I’ll go,” she said.

  Aydin’s brows drew together. “It should be a warrior.”

  She glared at him. “I may not be Eon, but I am a warrior. It’s in Earth’s interest to stop the Kantos as well. That’s the whole point behind our alliance.” She turned to look at Caze. “I’ve proved myself.”

  The security commander inclined his head.

  “She can’t come.” Aydin put his hands on his hips.

  Davion frowned. “Why?”

  “She’s barely recovered from the pollen reaction.”

  Jamie tensed. “I’m fine. You cleared me.”

  “The other reason is because we have a sexual relationship. That could cloud our judgment in the field.”

  Jamie’s spine stiffened, horror flooding her. He did not just say that. In front of his king, of all people.