by Rena Marks
“Where is Sunny?” she snapped. “She is the one who should be here to patrol the front wall.”
“Change of plans,” he snapped back, putting himself immediately into reminding her he was boss. “Sunny is paired with her mate. North wall.” He deliberately used the words her mate, instead of Beast. To remind Tempest she had no claims to the woman she’d insist was her partner. Today, he was her partner. “You’re with me.” He kept his voice professional. “West gate. Let’s go.”
He kept the pace brisk as they strode to lockboxes to grab hover boards from just inside the inner gate—magnetized to the inner wall. If anyone were ever to manage to steal a hover, it wouldn’t work with the positive charge on the outside edge of the wall. Hovers were installed when it was realized that a Xeno Sapien could jump from the wall—but needed a hand up again. The boards were convenient for that. They pulled from horizontal slots in the bottom of the wall—and were slapped in place at the top. Each night the chutes were demagnetized and the thin boards dropped back down to the lower slots inside the wall.
She kept up with him as they shot around the inner gate to the west wall boundary. His radio sounded inside his helmet.
“Permission requested to relieve Eclipse and Veneer,” Adam said.
“Permission granted,” Shawn said, hitting a button to mark the time. It would enable them a visual image of the guards who patrolled. Another safety precaution since Sunny had been kidnapped right from the gates. Her kidnapping had traumatized Tempest and he would never again allow that to happen. In fact, the only time she was able to relax while Sunny worked is if she—or Beast—was partnered with Sunny.
She was much more sensitive than she ever let on.
The hover boards raised them level to the wall, where the two guards who were getting off duty approached. One was human, one was Xeno Sapien. With a nod to the Xeno, he jumped from the wall at the same time Shawn stepped from his hover board, landing on the wall in a smooth move. It kept the weight count on the edge of the wall exactly the same. Two guards on the wall at all times. Their DNA signatures calculated each person’s individual weight and he knew exactly who was on duty, unless two people weighed the same. But then again, he’d know that fact, too.
Sam, the other human on the wall, nodded at Tempest and held out his hand to her. She grunted and gripped his shoulder instead, stepping off the hover board with her right foot as he stepped onto it with his right. As she leapt off the board, he stepped up, switching places with her in one smooth, practiced move. With another nod to Shawn, he zoomed down the wall on the hover board to join his partner. It was a shame humans couldn’t jump the distance, but they compensated with the hovers.
Shawn clicked the change of personnel into his computer tracker.
“Beast. Sunny. Report.”
“Permission to relieve Beta Team,” Beast’s voice said.
“Granted.”
Another click.
“Permission to relieve Crescent Team,” Blaze said.
“Granted.”
The last click, and the shift change was complete. With the computer counts readjusted to the new height and weight level recordings, each patrolling member’s vitals would be monitored.
He and Tempest scouted the general surroundings and then began to walk down the wall. Sometimes partners worked in teams, patrolling down the wall at the same time. She was uncharacteristically quiet.
“Talk to me.” His voice was commanding because authority was what Tempest would listen to.
She sighed. “What do you wish to know?”
“Are you attending sparring tonight?”
“No.”
It was like pulling teeth to get further information out of her.
“Why not?”
“I am not ready after our last sparring. I wish to focus on other aspects of my life.”
Damn if her voice didn’t sound all hoity-toity. He suppressed a grin.
“What will you be doing instead?”
“I shall call a friend over and have me time.”
“For what purpose?”
“I am sure it will relieve stress, just like sparring does. But I wish to explore other venues of relief and test their effectiveness against sparring.
Oh, because his precious girl thought she could replace sparring—and him—easily and effectively.
“Good luck with your friendship test,” he said easily.
“Th—thank you.” Her voice sounded a little unsure, as if there was a catch she expected from him. There would be, all right. She had no idea.
He continued to walk ahead of her on the wall. Technically, she could walk alongside him, but it might cause touching and he knew she hung back for a reason.
“Shawn?” she asked.
“Yeah.”
“Tomorrow’s my day off—”
Did she seriously think he wasn’t aware of her schedule?
“Yeah.”
“I thought I’d volunteer to work patrol. There’s that dance tomorrow night and I thought others might have requested the time off to attend. I wouldn’t attend the dance anyway—”
“No.”
He waited for it…
“No?” The confusion in her voice was priceless. He allowed himself a smirk because she couldn’t see from behind him anyway.
“No.”
Pause.
“Why?” There it was—the slight surliness, the beginning of aggression.
“Because if you want overtime, I’ll give you overtime. But it’s not going to be on the wall. I’m attending the dance to keep the order. You’ll be my partner.”
She could take that any way she wanted. It sounded slightly like work—and slightly like a date. Especially after the secret simmering between them. He could almost feel the confusion coming off her in waves.
“But—”
“No buts,” he snapped. “I need to see you maintain yourself in a different environment. A different set of rules. It’s easy to be standoffish and in control when you’re on top of a rock wall.” He stopped suddenly, turning around to face her. “And right now, we’re not even on the side of the wall where there are inhabitants. Control is easy to maintain, is it not?”
She acknowledged with a brief nod. “Perhaps.”
“It will be more difficult when you’re among your peers. Dressed in party clothes instead of a rubberized cat suit.” Though, her cat suit looked better than any of the suits the men wore. “When they’re having fun and laughing, and having too much to drink. How do you remain in control then?”
“I’ll figure it out.” She bit her lip and he wanted to nibble on it himself.
“And I’ll be there to make sure.”
She looked as if she was about to protest.
“Consider it more training, my pretty.”
“You’re going to have to stop calling me that.” She frowned at him.
“I’ve called you that since the first day I saw you. Why would I stop now?”
“Because…well, because…” she had a hard time hinting at their agreement.
“Because it means something different now that I know we were supposed to be happily fucking by now? Or are you worried others might know?”
“Because it’s frivolous and unnecessary since we are not fucking,” she said clearly.
“Then the remedy is to fuck?”
“What? No! Of course, not.”
“Well, my pretty,” he leaned in so his breath mingled with hers. “Figure out why we made the pact.”
Chapter Four
Tempest:
“WHAT IS THE EMERGENCY here? Oh, hey, Lily,” Sunny said when she burst through Tempest’s front door.
“Hummus?” Lily asked, bringing the tray of chips and dip from the kitchen to the living area of Tempest’s quarters. She’d arrived early to make the snacks. “It’s fresh.”
“Oh, is that the version with the toasted pine nuts? I love that one.” Sunny grabbed a chip before Lily even sat, dipping it into the bo
wl of dip and moaning.
Hmmph. Tempest didn’t mind inviting her friends over—though to be fair, this was the first time—but were they really starving? Dinner was technically an hour and a half earlier and she’d seen them both in the mess hall. Which is precisely why she invited them over now.
“Have some, Temp,” Lily said. “It’s what girls do when we get together. We enjoy fancy dips that have no meat. When the males are present, they all insist on hearty meat dips that could not only pass as lasagna, but break the chips.”
“Girl, right?” Sunny laughed.
It was the “what girls do” that got Tempest. The name “hummus” did nothing for her—but the idea that other girls ate it did. She picked up a chip—albeit a bit gingerly—and dipped it into the creamy concoction. In case it was hideous, she schooled her face for control as she bit into the chip. A myriad of flavors burst onto her tongue.
“Good, huh?” Sunny laughed. “Don’t look so surprised. And you don’t have to freeze your facial features when trying something, Tempest. You’re our friend. You either like it or you don’t.”
“It won’t hurt my feelings,” Lily agreed. “More for us if you don’t.”
It wasn’t bad, per se. Plus, it was good to know that males did not care for it. That made it more special for girlfriend functions. “No, I like it,” Tempest admitted.
“Well, good,” Sunny said. “Now, back to my original question, what’s the panic?”
“I merely wish girl advice,” Tempest said, narrowing her eyes in case Sunny thought to back out. “And you both are girls. Plus you both owe me for the good I’ve done for you.”
Lily rolled her eyes. “Girlfriends don’t keep count of what they do for each other.”
Tempest winced. Another thing she’d have to remember.
“If you’re inviting your girlfriends,” Sunny said. “Why aren’t Robyn and Amanda here? I seem to remember them being included on your girlfriend list somewhere.”
“I wished to have Xeno Sapien girlfriends. I feel Robyn and Amanda might be influenced with the human factor. In fact, I think Lily may be slightly influenced with humans, being mated to Jason and all. However, I relented when I realized her cooking skills may be a pleasant experience to bring to a get together.”
Lily’s mouth had dropped so Sunny grabbed another chip. “Well, she’s got that right,” she said to Lily. “Do go on, Tempest. Tell us what has your panties in a bunch.”
Panties? Bah, who needed them? “I requested overtime to cover the dance. By working the wall so that others may attend,” she clarified. “But instead Shawn has scheduled me to work the dance. With him. In actual civilian clothes.”
“And?” Sunny asked, munching on the chips as if that was her sole purpose for being here. Lily, to her credit, remained quiet.
“It feels too much like a date and not work,” Tempest exploded. “Especially with what occurred between Shawn and me.”
“What occurred?” Sunny asked, mouth full.
“Shawn has remembered that he and I made a pact the day his death occurred,” Tempest said, trying not to squirm. “We had agreed to explore the sexual feelings between us.” At Sunny’s raised eyebrows, she hurried to explain. “I have since changed my mind.”
“Why?” Sunny asked. “He’s hot.”
“Because he is human and weak,” Tempest spat.
“Is it because he is human or because he is weak?” Lily asked.
Lily was probably feeling put out because she was mated to a human, but Tempest had no time for such delicate sensibilities. “Both.”
“Well, he may be human, but there’s no way he’s weak,” Lily said. “He’s never once balked at the idea of having to fish me out of the water when I’m in my altered state.”
Hmm. Lily had a point. She was a man-eating barracuda while in saltwater.
“And he’s not really weak if he trains Xeno Sapiens,” Sunny added.
“He does not have the physical strength we do.”
“He expends it in other ways. He can deflect blows until we tire because he knows how to compensate for our propensity for strength. That is hardly weakness.”
“He’s not weak because he died either,” Lily said, taking a chip. “If anything, death makes him stronger. He seems to know what he wants and commands it.”
Yes, Shawn was definitely more commanding since his death. Used to be, he was laid back and laughed a lot, giving Tempest her way. Now, he was in her face and all snarly most times. It was perplexing.
“In any case, it is confusing,” Tempest said. “I do not understand the purpose of attending an outing with him on my personal day off. Especially when he has turned it into a work day and knows I cannot refuse his commands.”
“So he has you confused?” Sunny asked.
“Yes.”
“So what you’re really saying is you want your power back.”
Tempest thought about that. “Yes. I do not like this befuddled state.”
Lily giggled. “Then you turn the tables on him.”
Tempest turned to her. “I do not understand.”
Now it was Sunny’s turn to giggle. “Remember how we had Beast all confused when he decided to no longer touch me? And you brought me all of that clothing to tempt him?”
“Yes. But that is different. Beastly is rather stupid.” At Sunny’s affronted look, she quickly added, “No offense.”
“The more you know,” Lily said mildly. “All men are stupid when it comes to temptation.”
“Are you suggesting that I tempt Shawn with my clothing?” If anything, this idea baffled Tempest. Did they not understand she was not interested in him that way?
“Hell, yes,” Sunny said. “He can hardly remember to be all commanding and bossy when you’re walking around like a goddess. And it doesn’t take much to make you look like a goddess.”
“So instead of me being confused, he would be?”
“You got it,” Sunny agreed.
“Ta-da,” Lily said. “Power back.”
“Hmm. I do like this idea of having my own power returned.”
“Whatcha got in your closet?” Tempest could hardly make out Sunny’s words with the chips in her mouth.
“Uniforms,” she admitted. “Sweats for when I’m at home.”
Lily waved the dip on her chip gleefully. “Looks like we gotta call Robyn and Amanda over anyway. They need to bring a few of their dresses.”
“The sluttier, the better,” Sunny agreed. “Got any popcorn? Not sure we want them eating all the dip.”
Tempest pulled the dip aside, keeping it from the two barracudas. “I only have four friends,” she snarled. “I need bargaining power.”
Ten minutes later, the computer announced the newcomers at the door. “Dr. Robyn Saraven and Dr. Amanda Becker.”
“Thank the Goddess,” Lily giggled, getting up to get the door. “Break the dip back out.” Both Robyn and Amanda were weighed down with garments draped over both arms. Amanda had a clear suitcase filled with shoes.
“Anyone bring sexy underthings?” Sunny asked.
“I do not wear undergarments.”
All four women turned to look at her. Time seemed to hold still for a moment. Had she said something inappropriate? “Unless I am sparring in a rather short skirt. No sense in giving everyone a freebie,” she amended.
“Well, not sure if you’ll end up sparring,” Amanda laughed. “Let her go without.”
“Dip?” Sunny asked, smoothly maneuvering it from Tempest’s side. “Tempest goes all out when she invites her girlfriends over. She had Lily make it.”
“Is that the one with the pine nuts?” Amanda asked, not waiting for a response.
Robyn and Amanda dumped the clothing over a chair and squeezed onto the sofa around the dip. Four hands snaked out from every direction, descending on her dip like a ravenous horde of ants.
Tempest sighed, getting up from her seat to give her guests room. She had thought that having all four of her fr
iends over would mean they behaved with better manners, but perhaps she had picked the wrong four.
She made her way to the dresses. One was in gold, one in silver, four were black.
“Black seems to be the trendy color,” she said.
“Black is always the appropriate choice. Also, red. But with all the purple skin you’ll be showing, we weren’t sure if you wanted red as a backdrop. So we went with colors to complement the rest of your body.”
That was certainly caring of her friends to remember the rest of her skin color. People tended to forget since she wore uniforms from the neck down, gloves even covering her hands, that the rest of her was a different color than her face.
“I shall try on your selection,” she announced, her back facing them as she dropped her sweats to her ankles and bent over to get them off her fuzzy-stockinged feet.
She thought she heard a small protest behind her but when she looked through her knees, all four women had their eyes glued to the dip they were all crazy over.
“She wasn’t kidding about going commando,” Amanda said. “You could try those on later, you know.”
“It is best if you see them all to tell me which one looks best for Shawn.” Just saying the words made her go all warm and squiggly inside, like she had worms.
“So now it’s on with Shawn?” Robyn asked, her eyes darting back to Tempest.
Tempest dropped her cotton shirt so she stood completely naked, then stepped into the first dress.
“Oh, no. I merely wish to tempt him so that I may regain my power.”
Amanda looked confused. “Explain.”
“He will forget to command me and act bossy if he is distracted because I am dressed to kill,” Tempest said.
“Since she already killed him,” Lily giggled.
“That is inappropriate. However, it does show our comfortable girlfriend status to make inappropriate comments,” Tempest said.
Lily raised a brow. “Like calling Beast stupid?”
“Or calling him Beastly?” Sunny asked.