The Space Colonel's Woman (Dragonus Chronicles Book 1)

by Jay Shaw

  “I think it’s different to what you’re used to.” He said, uncertain if she would wear the stylized silver fern on a background of jet black, and held up the other one. “Then I wondered if…”

  Julia held a patch in each palm and ran the pads of her thumbs over both the raised silver thread, and the smooth stripes; lost in thought for a moment. “Can I wear both?”

  Mark pushed away from the door frame to stand at attention before her. Relief and pride swirled deep in his amber eyes as he reclaimed the patches. He pressed the patches to the velcro on each of her shoulders – Phoenix on her right, flags on her left with the fern taking first rank. Their foreheads pressed together and he whispered against her lips. “You can’t fly without wings, Julia.”

  A sob caught in her throat and tears welled, blurring her vision without spilling over. How had he known her jacket was a lucky charm? Every time she’d gone up in a glider since his rescue, she had felt like something important was missing. Mark smiled, leaned in, and kissed her breath away.

  Chapter 18

  Mark walked into their quarters to find Julia sitting cross-legged on their bed, the iPod speakers blaring eighties classic rock. She had the glider spec folder open beside her and the laptop balanced on her knees, keys clacking softly as she typed.

  “Studying?”

  “Yep, AC/DC has a way of getting the thoughts flowing.” She smiled and turned the volume down to a background hum. “Colonel Archer wants a progress report on my trainees, so she can assign them to teams.”

  Julia allowed herself to take in all the details of the man standing before her. It was wonderful to see him looking so like his old self; straight and tall, with a healthy glow to his skin and less of the exhausted smudges beneath his eyes. He was back in regulation Phoenix BDUs, patches riding high and proud at the top of his shirt sleeves.

  “I see you’re back in black, Handsome.” She closed the laptop, laid it to one side as Mark leaned in to plunder her mouth.

  “Hello, Beautiful.”

  “Hello, Colonel.” Her arousal gave her voice a husky edge, and burned hot pink across the pale skin of her cheeks and chest. “Have a good day?”

  He yawned; laughing through it. “Desk duty is more exhausting than I remember.”

  It was as close as he’d come to admitting he wasn’t a hundred percent.

  “Really?”

  “Wrote up my report on that last mission, signed off on Dawson’s team assignments, debriefed incoming teams, listened to Garrett drone on about the recent X2 research…had a visit with Doc Peyton.”

  Julia looked up from the spec folder at the last, breath caught in the back of her throat.

  “I’ll be cleared for active duty by the end of the week.”

  She untangled her long legs and flung herself into his waiting arms, a squeal of excitement on her lips. “I’m so glad for you! You’ve been like a panther pacing his cage.”

  He laughed and pressed a kiss into the top of her head. “Noticed that, did you?”

  “Ah, it’s hard not to, when I’m in the cage with you.”

  Mark lowered his head and Julia felt a spark arc between them as they kissed; her arms around his neck, fingers tangling in his messy hair. His hips pressed hard against her own, walking her back until she was caught between cool alien metal and hot hard colonel. It was a long while before she could regain enough of her senses to pull back.

  They weren’t permitted to do that yet. And if one of them didn’t end it before it began, they’d be in big trouble with Doctor Peyton. How’s she going to know? An evil little voice coaxed in the back of her mind as Mark molded his hands to the shape of her hips, strong and hot and undeniably masculine. But Lenti would know. One look at either of them and anyone with eyes to see would know.

  Julia broke the kiss and spread her hands on his chest. It wasn’t the best deterrent invented, but it was all she was capable of – lost as she was in a heated haze of need and want it had become harder and harder to ignore.

  “Mark, stop.”

  The blaze of lust and amber fire in his eyes was enough to make her surrender, but she held strong. His gaze was mesmerizing, surging with too many emotions to name, weakening her resolve as he leaned in again. Her elbows bent as he pushed against her hands, flimsy in the onslaught of their desire. His breath was hot on her neck, and she arched back, his lips soft on sensitive skin.

  It would be so easy to give in. She whimpered a regretful moan. The sound of his name on her tongue tasted of surrender. He cupped her breasts, his thumbs rubbing their sensitive nubs to life, sending shivers of excitement through her. She arched into his touch and all he offered, only to pull his hands from her body.

  “Dinner.” Julia whispered, words cracked and pitchy, chest heaving ragged breaths in an effort to find calm. “Let’s get some dinner.”

  His eyes crinkled at the corners. Amusement, and fading ardor, lingered in his gaze and tugged at his kiss-swollen lips. “Do you have any idea what you do to me, woman?”

  She clutched at his arms, bearing down on the swirl of heat within her.

  “When Peyton clears me…you’re my first mission.”

  “I’m shall look forward to it, Colonel.” She stroked her finger along the flat of his palm and Mark’s eyes widened in pleasure. “In the meantime, we should go eat.”

  ~*~

  Three days later, Julia lay naked and snuggled into Mark’s good side with the relaxed beat of his heart beneath her ear. It had felt wrong to be separated, even for a mere six weeks.

  “My sentiments exactly.” He whispered against her temple when she sighed; a smile in his voice.

  “Well?”

  “As of zero-eight-hundred hours, I’m cleared for active duty.”

  “Active duty…”

  “Can you be gentle?”

  Julia blushed and pressed her face into the crook of his neck to hide. “Ah…maybe?”

  He crooked his finger and she leaned further into his embrace. The press of his lips on hers made her fingers curl tight in silky black whorls as she crushed her body along the length of him. She groaned with a longing so powerful she doubted her ability to restrain it, and forced herself to pull back.

  “Nope.” Julia barely recognized her own voice, rough and sweet, like warm honey poured over gravel. “Can’t do gentle.”

  “I noticed.” He murmured; humor stirred through spicy heat. “C’mere.”

  Mark crushed her to him, his arms strong and tight across her back. She answered with an enticing grind and roll of her hips; the hard line of his cock pressing against her. She circled her hand around him, squeezed and tugged his length. Her pleasure heightened by the groans he mouthed under her jaw. His hips thrusting into her grasp and her name a hot brush of air on her cheek.

  “Oh God, Julia.”

  “Hmmm…”

  “Stop, please stop.”

  She took pity on her panting lover, slid her hand free to lie flat over one pec as she rose up. Her thighs squeezing tight around his slim hips as she eased down; engulfed him in wet grasping heat.

  “I’ll be gentle.”

  “Been a while, Beautiful.” He let out a shuddery breath, broad masculine hands gripping her hips tight as if he were the one doing the riding. “No time for gentle.”

  She swallowed hard against the sudden dryness in her throat and rolled her hips; felt him shift inside her. The pleasure of having him after so long apart assuaged the hunger burning beneath her skin, stoked it higher. He chuckled, husky and dark with pleased satisfaction as he rolled into her rhythm, nestled deeper in the only place he ever wanted to be.

  They had no patience for tender lovemaking, both eager to give by taking. Julia growled, pinned his wrists above his head and seized control of their pleasure with a demanding rut of her hips. Forcing him to submit to her need and offering the sway of her breasts to the warmth of his mouth and the rasp of his tongue as she climbed. He inhaled, sharp and desperate, surfing the pleasure she ignited in
him. The weight of his hands around her waist anchored her as she flexed tight around him. Milking her lover of everything he had, his gorgeous body drawn taut in ecstasy, before slumping back onto sweaty rumpled sheets.

  Her hair fell in a riot of tangled bourbon around both their heads and his hands rose to cradle her jaw. They kissed with soft languid presses of lips, interspersed with quiet gasps and gentle nips of sharp teeth in plump flesh.

  “I needed that.”

  “I noticed.” He rolled over, taking her with him. “Not that I’m complainin’.”

  “Six weeks is a long time.” She wrinkled her nose against the tickle of his hair when he nuzzled closer. “Especially when I’m used to having you whenever I want.”

  “I’m all yours, Beautiful.” He murmured; blinking slowly as sleep tugged him close. “Whenever, however, you want.”

  “I think I can live with that.”

  He buried a warm chuckle in the space behind her ear, draped an arm under her breasts and pressed in close against her back. His me too was the last thing she heard as she fell asleep; a soft contented smile on her lips.

  Chapter 19

  “Have a good time.” Mark said to the four women as they waited for Mike to load up Earth’s co-ordinates. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

  “Not much wriggle room then.”

  “Damn right.”

  Julia picked up her backpack and pecked him on the lips. “Just you make sure you’re here, in one piece, when I get back.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He offered a cursory salute, eyes dancing with mischief and mirth.

  Ange, Anora, and Valentina walked through the metallic shimmer in the center of the Birdcage and Julia ran to catch them up; waving over her shoulder as she stepped through to the Air Force monitoring station on Earth. Four-hundred million light years travelled in the space between one breath and another.

  Colonel Archer had given permission for the Earthside excursion. It was Julia’s shopping trip, wedding planning, and hen’s night all rolled into one weekend. They had set their wedding date for three months’ time, and now it was a scant two weeks away.

  First on the list was picking up her dress. She had found the perfect one in a catalogue Valentina had requisitioned in the supplies from Earth and, once Julia had chosen, ordered it for her. After trying it on for any last minute alterations and discovering, to everyone’s relief, none were needed; it was boxed amid a meringue of white tissue paper and sitting in her room at The Jupiter. From a different designer, the others had collected their pre-ordered dresses and now they were shopping for all the little extras; lingerie, hair accessories, stockings, and shoes. The latter was Julia’s high-stress area.

  Everything to that point had been decided upon by the simple maxim that the perfect item would just show up when it was supposed to. After all, the dress had appeared in the only catalogue she’d been able to browse through. Her shoes, however, continued to remain elusive. Julia sighed for the tenth time in half as many minutes, lagging behind her friends as they meandered down the cobblestone lane of boutique shopping district Orchid Court.

  “You will find them.” Anora said, pausing for Julia to catch up. “If it is not to be, we shall call upon the many talented craftsmen on Zefeiria. They would be honored to create for their queen’s dear friend.”

  “Perhaps we should have gone there first.” Valentina pointed the toes of one foot to roll her ankle, before repeating the process with the other. “My feet are killing me.”

  “Told you to wear your sneakers, Lenti.” Ange scolded, bouncing on her toes and grinning. “Comfort first.”

  “I prefer fashion over comfort, when I’m not in the infirmary.” Valentina placed a hand on Ange’s shoulder to balance while she showed off the gold spikes and black patent leather of her four inch Anjalina’s.

  “And you’re paying for it in more than just a month’s rent.”

  “Two months.”

  “I think the point we are overlooking is Julia does not possess her ceremonial footwear.” Anora interrupted with the honey-smooth tones of someone used to settling disputes. “Colonel Holden will, of course, be most interested in what his bride wears on her feet.”

  Valentina and Ange stopped mid-word only to erupt into gales of laughter a moment later. Julia felt her face heat; embraced from all sides by her friends and accumulative shopping bags.

  “I just w-”

  “You just, what, Julia?”

  Julia didn’t answer. Her shoes were in the window of the French-style boutique next to where the foursome had stopped to hug. She walked in, accompanied by the delicate sound of a tiny silver bell. With her heartbeat on pause, she asked the assistant if they came in her size.

  “I’ll check.” The stylish blond in a pinstripe pencil skirt and lace cravat blouse smiled before disappearing behind a curtain.

  Eons later, she returned, a silver-crested pink box in hand.

  Julia tried them on and paid, her ear-to-ear grin lasting all the way out the door. She lifted the pink and white striped bag with a little giggle.

  “Praise be!” Valentina cried, affecting the perfect imitation of a gospel singer during Sunday service.

  “I told you, did I not?” Anora smiled with satisfaction while Julia hugged her tight.

  “Thank you.”

  “What’s next?” Valentina turned to Ange who was scrolling through the list on her palmpod.

  “Lunch.”

  “Wait, you put lunch on the list?”

  “I put everything on the list.” Ange shrugged; the hint of a smile curving her peach-tinted lips. “Lists are my thing.”

  At the mention of lunch, Julia realized she was starving. Her stomach rumbled its agreement as the four women walked down the sloping sidewalk toward Cattleya, whose outdoor tables were bordered by orchid-festooned iron balustrades and shaded by white canvas umbrellas.

  “Champagne, please.” Valentina replied in response to their waiter’s polite inquiry.

  “Mmm…” Ange murmured, her gaze glued to the waiter’s ass as he sashayed his way between the crowded tables and inside to fulfil their order.

  “I agree.” Valentina lowered her sunglasses to the edge of her upturned nose in order to make a more detailed inspection. “Almost makes you want to call him back, just so we can watch him leave again.”

  Other customers looked in their direction in response to the raucous feminine laugher.

  “Anything else, ladies?” Their waiter, Neil, asked as he poured chilled champagne into hollow-stemmed flutes.

  Ange leaned in to whisper in Anora’s ear. “He’d look so pretty on his knees.”

  “Indeed.” Anora stroked an elegant finger down the stem of her glass, letting her thighs fall open.

  Julia choked on the sip of dry fruity bubbles she’d been taking, eyes wide and darting between her friends and Neil to see if he’d heard. “Ah, two antipastos and four large slices of your best chocolate cake, with cream on the side, please.”

  “Certainly, madam.”

  Neil hadn’t heard Valentina. Julia was sure of it. Or if he had there was no heated flush or shaky hand as he scrawled down the new order. “I shall be back in just a few minutes.”

  He tucked the notepad in his waistband and the pen behind his ear, before placing the bottle in the ice bucket beside Anora and making his way back inside.

  “He can cream my cake anyt-what?!” Valentina gave an affronted squeak when Julia elbowed her in the ribs.

  “You’re lucky he didn’t hear you.” Julia reached for her glass and took a hesitant sip.

  “I should make him do more than that.”

  “Anora!” Ange hid her face and chuckled into her palms.

  “What? Don’t tell me you’d say no if it was Mr Hayden Cooper on his knees before you.”

  Ange groaned and dropped her head onto the table in defeat, amid the unrepentant laughter of her friends and the wary glances of fellow diners.

  Valentina saluted her cou
p de gras and downed her champagne in one swallow.

  “Lenti is correct. It is impossible to deny such a man.”Anora’s tone, more than her words, drew the stunned attention of her three friends for a full minute.

  “Unless of course you’re Julia.”

  “Men in thigh holsters, what can I say?” Julia shrugged, downing her last mouthful and offering the glass to Anora for a refill.

  Valentina raised her glass amid the fresh bubble of laughter. “To Julia, who travelled across an entire galaxy to find her man.”

  “Ah, didn’t he fall at your feet?” Ange asked with a not-so-innocent quirk of her eyebrow.

  “Details. Details!” Valentina declared. “The point is they found each other. May we all be so lucky.”

  The universal Amen and clink of glasses suffused Julia in a wave of happiness she’d never expected to experience. Turned out all she’d needed to do to find the man of her dreams, was change realities. Julia felt so light she didn’t understand what anchored her to the ground. Gravity alone didn’t seem up to the challenge.

  A couple of hours and another bottle of champagne later, they piled out of the cab and road the elevator to their hotel rooms with the promise they’d meet up around eight. Julia dumped the collection of store carry bags next to the couch and collapsed on her bed, eyes closing before her head landed in the space between her two pillows.

  When the sun had moved both light and shadow across the cream carpet to linger muted on the burgundy feature wall, she crawled off the bed, rubbing her eyes as she staggered to the door. Who the hell was leaning on the goddamn pain-behind-the-eyeballs chime? She got her answer when she opened the door to find Valentina and Anora, showered and looking far healthier than she felt.

  “Quick, jump in the shower.” Valentina shooed with her hands as she boogied her way to the chair and rummaged Julia’s bag for a suitable outfit. Though nothing she owned was likely to out-sparkle the lipstick-pink sequins her friend was wearing.