Lost in Barbarian Space

by Anna Hackett

  A wolf leaped at them, its giant body flying through the air. Colm swung his sword and the wolf fell, slamming against the marlin before skidding off into the snow.

  Colm leaped over the side of the marlin and landed hard in his seat. Honor closed the canopy, and before Colm was even strapped in, she took off.

  They shot fast into the air.

  “What the hell are they?” Honor said.

  Colm’s face was grim and his chest was heaving. “A larger, deadlier version of Markarian winter wolves.”

  It wasn’t until they cleared the moon, and the Drake was in view, that Honor let herself relax. The muscles across her shoulders were tight and her pulse was still racing.

  She looked at Colm and could see the stress still radiating from his tense frame, obvious in the way he clenched his hands repeatedly into fists.

  “Are you okay?” she asked.

  A muscle ticked in his jaw. “I will be.”

  She frowned. He hadn’t been this…out of control after the fight with the raiders. “What’s wrong?”

  “I just…lost some of my warrior control.” He looked at her and she saw gold bleeding through his brown eyes. “Seeing you in danger…the claws of the wolves so close to you…”

  “Hey.” She reached out and squeezed his arm. “I’m fine.” Then her stomach sank. “But I’m not sure Dr. Behati will be.”

  They were both silent as they followed Derek’s marlin into the Drake’s hangar bay. By the time Honor climbed out of her marlin, the med team already had Dr. Behati’s prone body on an anti-grav stretcher. One of the doctors nodded at Honor.

  “Everyone okay? Any other injuries?”

  Honor shook her head. “Just Dr. Behati. Is he going to be okay?”

  The doctor’s brow creased. “We don’t know yet. He’s badly injured, and we’re worried about foreign infections. But I’ll let you know as soon as we know anything.”

  “Thanks, Doc.” Honor ran a hand through her hair.

  “It isn’t your fault,” Colm said quietly.

  Her jaw tightened. “I’m in charge. That makes me responsible for everyone’s lives.”

  “These are people who willingly go on dangerous expeditions. They know the risks, just as every warrior does when he lifts his sword.”

  Tiredness and guilt swamped her. “Let’s get cleaned up and change.”

  As they strode side by side down the corridor, Colm was very quiet. The enormity of what had happened on the moon hit Honor. She felt a little shaky. It had been too close.

  When they reached her cabin, Honor paused near her door. “Thanks for your help on the moon, Colm. Without you there—”

  “You might have died,” he bit out.

  She pushed back the strands of hair that had escaped her tie. She really needed a shower. “I’ll clean up and change—”

  Suddenly, Colm pushed inside her cabin. With one large hand pressed to her chest, he backed her up against the wall. The door slid closed behind them. She looked up, ready to give him a mouthful, but his face made her pause.

  He looked like a man possessed.

  “Colm—”

  “The wolf almost took your life.” Colm leaned down, pressing his face into her throat. She jumped at the contact. “It almost took you before I had the chance to touch you, before I tasted you—”

  Honor felt a flare of damp heat between her legs. “Colm—”

  He yanked at her enviro suit. “Off.”

  Honor didn’t let herself think. Adrenaline was still surging through her veins, and her hands moved to help Colm remove the suit. It fell at her feet. She pushed at Colm’s fur coat, sliding it off his shoulders and baring his chest. All those intriguing muscles made her mouth water.

  She smoothed her hands over the hard planes of his chest, then lower, over his abdomen. He growled.

  Once her suit was off, he tore at her clothes.

  “Colm—”

  “Quiet.” The word was barely understandable, his voice was so hoarse.

  Mere moments later, Honor stood there, naked. Before she could say or do anything, he grabbed her, spun her, and tossed her on her bed. She landed on her hands and knees.

  Her heart was hammering in her chest. She felt his hands at her legs, pushing them wider apart. God, she was bared to him.

  His palms shaped her ass. As the shock of his warm touch speared through her, she looked over her shoulder and her stomach contracted.

  He was a big, aroused barbarian warrior. His face was stark, set like stone, and in his eyes blazed a hunger…for her.

  He was still wearing his tight leather trousers and they outlined an impressive, erect cock. She licked her lips.

  He knelt by the bed, right behind her. She frowned…until she felt his hot breath on her inner thighs.

  “So very pretty,” he murmured. He ran his fingers through her folds and she cried out at the touch. “And so very wet for me.”

  He pressed his mouth to her.

  There were no gentle laps or slow moves for her hungry warrior. Instead, there were hard licks and firm sucks. The sensations made her body tremble and her hands twisted in the covers.

  “Colm…oh, God…don’t stop.”

  He growled against her and sucked her clit into his mouth. Honor couldn’t hold back against the explosive sensations rocketing through her body. She rocked back against his clever mouth, hungry for more. He sucked again and she exploded. Her scream bounced off the walls of her cabin.

  Honor collapsed on the bed, panting hard.

  She felt movement behind her, then the sound of a buckle unfastening. Yes. She wanted Colm, hard and thick, inside her.

  The comm unit beside her bed pinged.

  No.

  She hesitated, tempted to ignore it. But the call could be about Dr. Behati. She glanced back at Colm, her gaze going to where his trousers gaped open, showing more hard muscle. Sorrow and desire rode her hard, but she sat up, twisting the sheet around her. “I’m sorry.” She touched the comm button. “Brandall.”

  “Agent Brandall?” Ning’s voice came through clearly. “Dr. Lev’nan and the others are waiting on you and Warrior Mal Kor before we open the lockbox you brought back from the moon. Can you meet us in the library?”

  Honor pressed her head to the covers. Her body was still quivering from Colm’s touch. “Yes, of course.”

  “I can’t reach Colm—”

  “I’ll find him.” She cleared her throat. “See you in five minutes.” She closed the line and turned. “Colm—”

  He planted one knee on the bed, leaned in, and kissed her. As his tongue moved against hers, she tasted herself on his lips.

  “You have work to do. I understand. For now, my work is done.” He palmed her breast. “But I have more plans for us, Honor. And in the future, I do not want you to battle giant wolves and get injured.”

  She bristled. “I work in security, barbarian. I decide what I do, not you. You don’t rule the galaxy.”

  “I don’t want the galaxy.” He flicked a thumb over her nipple and she gasped. “I just want you.”

  Honor released a shaky breath. No one had ever wanted her like this warrior. “Later.”

  He nodded. “Later.”

  As Honor stood and moved towards her closet on legs that felt like liquid, she looked back over her shoulder. “Oh, and warrior? I don’t want to see you injured battling giant wolves, either.”

  A faint smile crossed his face. “Then I suggest we look out for each other.”

  Chapter Nine

  Colm sipped his coffee—feeling his nanami working to dilute the effect of the stimulant in the drink—and watched Honor and the older scholar circle the metal box. It sat on a brightly-lit table in the library.

  He watched the two of them comment and mutter, and toss ideas around for how to open the box. Several other archeologists and Agent Abora stood nearby, watching and offering their ideas, too.

  Colm took another mouthful of coffee again, but it wasn’t the taste
of the strong drink that piqued his interest—it was the fact that he could still taste Honor on his lips.

  Those moments in her cabin…it made him hard to think about it. Having her under his hands, under his mouth. He’d felt like an enraged hargon beast, scenting its mate. Seeing her on the moon, so small and courageous against the giant wolves…it had snapped something inside him.

  Even now, he felt an unsettled, restless fury ebbing and flowing inside him.

  He was worried the dark secret he harbored was about to break free.

  Honor’s voice snapped through his black thoughts. She was so focused on her work and he wondered if anyone else could see the guilt stamped all over her face. She’d already called down to the med bay three times to check on Dr. Behati.

  “There appears to be some kind of lock here.” Honor motioned toward the top of the box. “Maybe if I—” She reached out and touched the lockbox.

  There was a zapping sound. Honor snatched her hand back, shaking it.

  “Ow.”

  Colm moved toward her and grabbed her hand. He studied her slender fingers but didn’t see any injury.

  “It’s fine,” she said.

  Dr. Lev’nan tapped a finger against his chin. “We could scan it. See if we can find any weak points in the metal.”

  “The metal looks very tough to me,” Agent Abora said.

  Colm barely held back a snort of irritation. He had no intention of seeing Honor injure herself opening this stupid thing. He reached over, grabbed the sides of the lid, and pulled. It was tough, he felt his muscles strain. A tingle ran over his skin. He let the strength of his nanami flood him.

  The lid popped open.

  Honor stared at him. The archeologists were all gaping as well, then Lev’nan shook himself, and bustled past Colm. He looked into the box.

  “Amazing.”

  Honor followed and peered over the side. She made a small noise and reached inside. She lifted out some sort of weapon.

  “It’s a collection of ancient guns,” she breathed with reverence.

  Colm smiled. He suspected she would’ve looked less excited if it had been filled with exotic jewels or precious metals.

  Honor and Lev’nan started pulling the ancient weapons from the box. They set them out on the table. Its glowing surface flared to life and Colm raised a brow.

  “Holo-table,” Honor told him. “It has a built-in computer. It’s scanning the weapons, taking images and measurements.” She lifted a small gray gun up. “These are fabulous. I know the First Warriors were all former military. They obviously had an extensive collection of ancient weapons on their ships.” She turned the gun over in her hands. “Imagine…someone from old Earth used this.”

  “There appears to be something built into the side of the box,” Lev’nan said. “I’m not sure what this is.”

  Honor leaned over and gasped. “It looks like what I’ve seen in failsafe storage boxes.”

  Dr. Lev’nan nodded. “You’re right. It does look like an early design of a failsafe.”

  “What is that?” Colm asked.

  “They were designed to download the last of the ship’s records and store valuables, in the event of an emergency,” Honor said, poking inside the box. “It looks like an early version of a Sync built into the side of the box. Here, let me try…”

  She fiddled inside the box for a moment, and when she pulled back, she was holding a small electronic device.

  “Definitely a precursor to the Sync,” Agent Abora said.

  “Can we integrate it with the Drake’s computer?”

  Agent Abora shrugged. “Perhaps. Let me try.”

  The science officer took the device and moved over to the holo-table. She set the device down on the surface and tapped in some commands. After a moment, the table made a chime and the woman shook her head. “It’s not working. There are a few other things I can try, but the tech might just be too old to work with ours. Leave it with me.”

  Honor and Dr. Lev’nan returned to pulling the final weapons out of the box.

  Colm leaned against the holo-table and watched the two of them work. Well, to be fair, he watched Honor work. It appeared he wasn’t tiring of watching this fascinating woman.

  A woman who could never be his.

  Finally, Agent Abora shook her head. “I’m sorry, nothing I’ve tried is working.”

  “Take a break, Agent Abora,” Dr. Lev’nan said. “I think we all need a break and I’d like to head to the med bay to check on Dr. Behati.”

  Agent Abora nodded. “I’ve set the holo-table to try a few other things, but it will take some time.”

  After the others had left, Honor leaned two hands against the table.

  Colm saw the tension in her. “Honor.”

  “Still no word on Dr. Behati.”

  “Not your fault.”

  “My mission, and he’s lying in the med bay, torn up by some giant creature I should have protected him from.” She raised her head. “I should have listened to you. This is your world—”

  “Ansar is a location I’ve never stepped foot on before, Honor. It was a new place for all of us. The only thing at fault here is the wolf that attacked him, not you.”

  “I was security—”

  He spun her to face him. “New worlds, new adventures. As I said before, it is a dangerous job you all do.” Colm reached out and touched her face. “From what I can see, you do a fine job, Honor. No one can question your dedication.”

  Her eyes fluttered closed. He stroked along her cheekbone, marveling at her smooth skin.

  Suddenly, the holo-table beeped. They both turned their heads, and Colm saw text flooding the surface of the table.

  “God.” Honor leaned over, scanning the text. “Ship’s logs. Yes.” She scrolled through it. “There’s a record of the crash. They were hit by a meteor, the cargo bay was breached.” She looked up. “That’s how the box ended up where it was. It fell out of the ship when the meteor tore a hole in the side of it. Oh…!”

  “What?” he demanded.

  She grinned. “The ship’s comp recorded their entry path details. We can use it to determine the exact location where the ship hit.” She leaned over and started tapping and swiping her finger on the table. It was like she’d forgotten Colm was even there. She muttered to herself, tapping in more commands.

  Colm just watched her. He’d always known he would never claim a woman as his own, and he’d never wanted to. But watching Honor, entranced by her, he wished things were different.

  “I’ve got it.” Her eyes were wide with excitement. “Right near the third location we’d detected.”

  “So, we head back down?”

  She nodded and her mouth firmed into a hard line. “But this time, I’m going prepared for those creatures. I’m taking the electro-deterrent system. We can drop it from the marlins, and once it’s operational, the system will generate an electrical field that should deter the wolves.”

  “Should?”

  “There are never any guarantees. Besides, I’m planning to take more guns this time.”

  Colm stroked a finger down her arm. “Can I fly the marlin?”

  “No.”

  “Not even if I promise to put my mouth on you again?”

  Her eyes narrowed. “Quiet.”

  He smiled. He saw the memory in her eyes. He remembered the sounds she’d made under his hands.

  “Suit up, barbarian, and let’s go and find this ship.”

  “You know you call me barbarian when you’re angry…or flustered.”

  “I don’t get flustered, barb—Colm.”

  He touched her hair. “You call me warrior when you’re not angry.”

  “Get your gear. I’ll meet you at the marlins. I want to find that ship…for Dr. Behati. Something for him to study once he’s back on his feet.”

  At that moment, Dr. Lev’nan reappeared, holding a mug of some steaming drink in his hand.

  Honor took a quick step back from Colm and cleared
her throat. “How’s Dr. Behati?”

  “He’s not conscious, but the medical team believe he’ll make a full recovery.”

  Honor released a breath. “We cracked the Sync from the lockbox, and got the Valhalla’s records. We’re heading out again. We found the exact location of where the ship crashed. We’ll need another archeologist to join us.”

  Lev’nan grimaced. “Doubt I’ll have any volunteers after what happened to Dr. Behati. Guess I’ll be joining you.”

  Soon, Colm found himself strapped into the marlin again, zooming out of the Drake.

  Honor’s hands cruised over the controls, her face set. “We’ll get to the location, and the first priority will be to drop the deterrent system.”

  Colm grunted. He knew Honor needed to do what she could to protect her team.

  “Then we’ll land and—”

  An alarm sounded. It was loud and strident. Honor went stiff.

  “Drake, talk to me?”

  “Honor.” Agent Abora’s harried voice. “A ship has appeared on scanners! It came out of nowhere.”

  Honor looked over at her screen and swore. “Where the hell did they come from?”

  “Travelers? Explorers?” They’d never had so many ships in Markarian space before.

  “I don’t think so,” Honor said. “Ning, I need details. What kind of ship?”

  “Hang on…it’s an old model Zoorian starfreighter. But Honor, it’s got all kinds of illegal modifications. They’re lighting up my screen. There are a lot.”

  Honor cursed again.

  “What?” Colm hated being in the dark in a situation like this.

  She looked his way. “That kind of ship. Those kind of mods. It’s likely space pirates.”

  Markaria had its share of brigands. He knew pirates were not a good thing. “They know about the wreck…the treasure.”

  Honor looked furious. “Yes, I suspect they do. Nik kept the news contained, but my guess is that we have a leak. We have to assume the pirates know.”

  “What do we do?”

  “Outrun them. Get back to the Drake, and then get the Magellan here. It’s the only thing that has the firepower to take the ship on.”

  She changed the marlin’s course and touched the screen. “Marlin Beta, return to the Drake. I repeat, return to the Drake.”