Beneath a Trojan Moon

by Anna Hackett

  ***

  Relda watched the scenery whizz past as they approached Medina in Hunt’s transport. The vehicle was running on anti-grav, skimming across the landscape silently and smoothly. It had come as no surprise to Relda that he preferred driving it on manual and not auto-pilot.

  She turned away from the farms that were now giving way to more houses and stores as they approached the city. Hunt’s big hands held the wheel with ease, hands that had not long ago touched her, caressed her and brought her to three mind-blowing orgasms.

  The thought of leaving him gutted her. She curled in on herself, suddenly very cold.

  Soon they were in the streets of the city. He parked at the Marshal’s Office and they walked toward her house.

  He didn’t say anything. Maybe there was nothing left to say.

  They turned into her alley and Relda stumbled to a halt.

  It was packed with people.

  Stall owners from the market, her employees, Hunt’s deputies, the girls, and even the street children were running and dancing through the group. Probably picking pockets.

  “Relda!” Alia spotted them and hurried their way. She threw her arms around Relda’s neck. “We’re so glad you’re okay. We were so afraid.”

  When the girl drew back, Relda stared at the crowd. Even her neighbors were here.

  She glanced at Hunt. “You arranged this.”

  He just stared at her, a small smile on his lips.

  “Relda.” Lars, a food stall owner, came forward, a smile visible in his eyes that looked like cracked ice. “This is for you.” He held out a small basket filled with pastries and sweet rolls made from recipes from his homeworld of Perma. “Thought you wouldn’t be up to cooking right now.”

  She took the basket, staring at it blankly. “Thank you, Lars.”

  “Relda, Relda!” One of the street urchins ducked past Lars. He held up a small bouquet of wilted wildflowers. “To make you feel better.” He smiled shyly and dipped his head.

  Hunt’s big body brushed hers from behind, his lips tickled her ear. “Looks like I have some competition.”

  An older woman, one of Relda’s neighbors, bustled forward. “We’ve all left you some things, dear. To help you rest and recover after your ordeal.” She took the basket from Relda and passed it to Alia. “Your girls have put them all inside.”

  Relda felt an overwhelming rush of emotion fill her. She tried to talk, but her throat was so thick she couldn’t get any words out. She looked at them all, and saw no fear, no terror. They were looking at her the same way they always had.

  Hunt wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her to his side. “Relda’s tired. She’ll catch up with you all soon.”

  There was a chorus of well wishes and admonishments to rest as Hunt tugged her into the cool interior of her house.

  The girls fussed around, telling her they’d cleaned her rooms and put a tray of food upstairs for her.

  Pria came forward and pressed a bottle into Relda’s hand. “To help you…relax.”

  It was a massage oil. The girl had listed the scents on the side in a flourish of handwriting. As Relda read off the names, her eyes narrowed. They were all aphrodisiacs.

  Then the girls were gone in a flurry of activity.

  “Come on, beautiful.” Hunt nudged her up the stairs.

  Relda walked into her rooms. There was no evidence a life-and-death fight had gone on here, no sign of the nano-droid remains. Everything was just how she liked it.

  No, everything was how she loved it.

  She’d thought she’d been holding herself back from the people here…instead she’d made herself a home without even realizing it.

  “I…I…” For once, Relda couldn’t find any words.

  Hunt dropped onto one of the couches and with a tug, tumbled her into his lap. He stroked a hand down her arm. “I told you to give them a bit of time to process. Despite all that incredible power locked in your decidedly delicious body, they know you. Relda the businesswoman, the rescuer of young girls, the sensual woman. You’re one of them and they don’t want you to go anywhere.”

  Oh, how she wanted to believe that. Wanted to belong. Wanted to stay.

  “It’s dangerous—”

  “Timothy Li will not be telling anyone about what happened here.”

  Hunt’s cold tone gave Relda goose bumps. “What did you do?”

  “I had a little…chat with him. While you were sleeping.”

  “He’s still alive?”

  Hunt shot her a look. “Unfortunately, yes. I’m still a sworn marshal.”

  And a good man.

  She cupped his face, felt the scrape of the stubble on his cheeks, his blue eyes were locked on her.

  “Li’s in a cell. With Westin.” A muscle in Hunt’s jaw flexed. “Relda, the people here, they will protect your secret. And I’ll protect you with everything that I am.”

  Tears welled in her eyes.

  “Relda, I want you to stay.” Hunt pulled in a long breath. “For a long time, I’ve been dead inside. Losing my family, then so many men and women under my command…it all eroded bits of my soul away until I was filled with dark spaces. I’ve been surviving, but not really living.”

  She bit her lip, wanted to pull his head to her chest and hold him. “Hunt—”

  “Shh, not finished yet.” He pressed his hands over hers. “You brought me back to life. One look at you and all this vibrant color crashed into my gray world.”

  She sighed. Could the man be any more perfect?

  “Every conversation with you intrigued me. Every time I’d see you from a distance in the market, laughing or flirting, you drew me in. Watching you with those girls you say you don’t love, made me start to slide just a little bit in love with you. And then when I finally had you in my arms, well—” he smiled “—I really felt like you’d brought me back to life.”

  Her lips twitched. “You’ve completely shattered my image of the strong, silent soldier. You say such wonderful things.” She clutched at him.

  “Stay.”

  Just one simple word. But it was filled with so much. For Relda, it was the ultimate risk, the ultimate act of trust.

  And she did trust this man. With her body, her life and most importantly, she knew she could trust him with her heart.

  “Yes.”

  With a wild smile, he yanked her forward, his mouth taking hers. The kiss was hard and frantic, tongues sliding, like they were trying to devour each other.

  Then it softened, Hunt’s hand sliding into her hair. She moved, straddling him, holding him as close as possible. She didn’t plan to let this man go. Ever.

  When Relda pulled back for air, she saw his aura shining bright around him, all those blues she could stare at all day. And at the heart of it all, she saw a new color—violet. The color of a deep and true love. A warm glow filled her.

  Then she felt the prickle of energy as a foretelling closed over her.

  It was just a flash. A tiny, brief image.

  Of Hunt sitting on the same sofa. Cradling a baby girl in his arms. A girl with a wild tangle of brown curls and ice-blue eyes.

  The sweetest pain pierced Relda’s chest. Her deepest, unspoken dreams were coming true.

  Hunt straightened. “What is it?”

  She started undoing the buttons on his shirt. “I just had a little vision of the future. Our future.”

  “And?”

  “Well, first off, I can tell you that you’re about to get very lucky, Marshal Calder.”

  He helped her pull his shirt off, leaving his muscled chest bare for her hands. “I already am, Ms. Dela-Cruz.”

  She pressed her lips to his. “And our future is looking pretty amazing.”

  ~ Official Document ~

  Galactic Broadcasting Corporation (GBC)

  Daily News Update - #3456798011

  Subject: Starship crash at Souk Spaceport

  The crash of a luxury cruisership at the Souk Spaceport has many confus
ed. The cruiser’s engines apparently overheated while the ship was attempting an illegal take-off from the spaceport.

  An escape pod did eject from the ship and attempt an escape, but strangely, the pod suffered some kind of malfunction and crashed back to the surface. Even more strange, the pod appeared to suffer no impact damage [click here for exclusive images of the crashed pod]. Witnesses, most of them stall holders at Medina’s market, were interviewed by GBC. All confirmed that the pod simply made a lucky landing and nothing extraordinary was involved.

  The Marshal’s Office refused to comment on the event except to confirm that the cruisership’s owner, a Mr. Timothy Li, was arrested and taken into custody on charges of assault and kidnapping of a female stall holder at the market.

  Stay tuned to GBC for more updates on Soukan news and for the first in breaking galaxy news.

  ---

  I hope you enjoyed Relda and Hunt’s story!

  For a limited time, I’m giving away a review copy of one of the other action-packed books in the Phoenix Adventures (your choice!) to anyone who posts a review of Beneath a Trojan Moon on Amazon or Goodreads. Just email me the link to your review, let me know which book from the series you’d like to receive, and what format you’d prefer (Kindle or ePub). My email address is anna@annahackettbooks.com. - Anna

  Don’t miss out! For updates about new releases, free books, action romance info, and other fun stuff, sign up for my VIP mailing list. Click here to get started: AnnaHackettBooks.com

  The Phoenix Adventures continue with BEYOND GALAXY’S EDGE, the story of sexy smuggler, Justyn Phoenix, and Patrol captain, Nissa Sander.

  Join the adventure!

  Read the first chapter of Beyond Galaxy’s Edge

  She had him this time!

  Captain Nissa Sander stood on the bridge of her Patrol ship, hands crossed at the small of her back, and watched the small runnership come into view.

  “Lieutenant Allard, confirm her engines are powered down?” Nissa asked.

  Ever efficient, the experienced Gavin Allard tapped at the console in front of him. “Affirmative, Captain.”

  “Got you this time, Phoenix,” Nissa muttered. “Ensign Gat’nar, open a comm line to the Mercury.”

  “Open, Captain,” Bella Gat’nar replied. The young, female Modian’s tail swished behind her.

  “Mercury, this is Captain Sander of the Patrol ship, Resolute Freedom. Prepare to be boarded.”

  The viewscreen flared to life and the cockpit of the Mercury came into view. It was far smaller than the bridge of the Freedom, with only two seats—one for the captain and one for the co-pilot.

  In the co-pilot’s chair sat a grizzled old man with a head of wild, gray hair. His eyes were two different colors: one blue and one green. He had a faint smile on his weathered face.

  But it was the big man lounging in the captain’s chair who caught Nissa’s complete attention.

  Justyn Phoenix.

  Deep-space explorer. Smuggler. Handsome scoundrel.

  Her heart gave a traitorous kick in her chest. Like it always did when she saw him. Damn thing never listened to her.

  Didn’t mean she had to let its reaction show.

  “Captain Smooth.” His voice was deep, with the tiniest hint of a laugh under it.

  The ridiculous nickname grated, but Nissa summoned her self-control and let it slide.

  He smiled. “You can board me any time you please.”

  Life was just a big game to Phoenix. Nissa heard someone on her bridge snicker. Eyes narrowed, she turned and scanned her crew. Under her infamous “You don’t want to piss me off” glare, the snicker died. As one, her crew straightened in their seats and stared straight ahead. Except for her first officer, Commander Drayna Tellis. Nissa’s friend made no attempt at hiding her smile.

  Nissa turned back to the viewscreen and eyed the man she’d been trying for three years to arrest for smuggling. Ever since she’d been assigned to the ass end of nowhere out at the edge of the galaxy.

  He was gorgeous. And he knew it. He had a big, tough, muscled body that even in his deceptively lazy sprawl, she knew could move like lightning. His hair had gone well beyond being in desperate need of a cut. It was a rich, thick brown with the slightest glint of gold running through it. Probably from sunning himself on some uncharted, fair-weather planet when he ran deep-space convoys with his brothers.

  His face was on the rugged side of handsome with bright-silver eyes and a scar that cut through his left eyebrow and disappeared into his hairline. Every time he explained how he got it, the story changed and became wilder, more dramatic, and more incredulous.

  Damn him for being everything Nissa found attractive in a man.

  Well, except the criminal part.

  She stiffened her spine. “Cut the crap, Phoenix.”

  “Can I ask why an esteemed Patrol captain feels the need to board an honest freighter just going about its business?”

  She barely resisted the urge to roll her eyes. “Cut the good-ol’-boy routine as well. We intercepted intel that said you just picked up a shipment of Ryssian tobacco from uncharted space.” She smiled her best bitchy smile. “As you know, that tobacco is illegal.”

  Phoenix leaned back in his chair. “You gonna search me?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then come aboard, Captain Smooth.” He opened his arms. It looked like he was gesturing at his lap. “I’m all yours.”

  That snicker came again, but this time she ignored it. She wasn’t entirely sure she had full control of her temper.

  “Commander Tellis, arrange teletransportation for myself and the security team to the cockpit of the Mercury.”

  Drayna was silent for a second before she nodded. “Yes, Captain.”

  Nissa appreciated that Drayna didn’t question her need to go to the Mercury. Her friend had given Nissa plenty of lectures on her obsession with locking up Justyn Phoenix.

  Seconds later, a bright blue light enveloped Nissa, the teletransportation beam twisting and turning around her. Then she was staring at Justyn Phoenix in the flesh.

  He was standing now and she hated that she had to look up at him. She was tall for a woman, and she wasn’t above using her height to her advantage on the job, but that wasn’t an option here.

  He was wearing dark-brown trousers that molded over those long legs of his, a white shirt, and a navy vest, left open.

  She caught the gaze of her head of security. “Commander Tryker, you and your team can start your search now.” The older man had been with Patrol a long time. Experienced, capable and dependable, she didn’t need to tell him not to miss anything.

  “You got it, Captain.” His voice held a slight burr of his Tashian acent.

  “Gus, give the commander a hand,” Phoenix said.

  With a nod, the crusty old man headed off with Tryker and the security team.

  Then it was just the two of them.

  “I’m looking forward to slapping a set of electro-cuffs on you.”

  Phoenix tilted his head and smiled. “Now, Captain, I always knew you had a little dominatrix under that starched uniform of yours.”

  Nissa felt a flood of heat race through her. She stepped forward until her polished, black boots hit his scarred, brown ones. “You are a criminal and I will see you in the brig.”

  He reached out and ran a finger down the side of her neck, briefly touching the start of the scale pattern on her skin. “I bet when people see that sexy reptilian pattern they think it might be rough. But it’s so smooth.”

  She slapped his hand away. “Quit calling me that ridiculous name.”

  “It suits you. That smooth, caramel-gold skin with those tantalizing patches of pattern. Your long, elegant neck and sexy, bare head. Your deep, oh-so-smoky voice.” He leaned down and she felt his warm breath against her face. “We both know your security team won’t find anything. Same as the last time you searched me. And the time before that.”

  The scent of him ambushed her. Impo
ssibly, he smelled like the snow-dusted trees on her homeworld of Thusia. Damn him for smelling so good.

  “You also know I don’t hurt anyone, don’t steal from anyone. Why do you have such a burning need to lock me up, Captain?”

  “It’s my job.”

  “But out here on the edge, no one really cares much about laws and rules.” He waved a hand. “Things are more fluid.”

  “The laws and rules are there to keep order. To keep people safe.” Goddess, Nissa could almost hear her father’s voice. Commodore Sander lived and breathed Patrol, even though he’d retired several years ago. “If we start bending or ignoring the rules, the edge will turn into a lawless, chaotic mess in less time than that speedy runnership of yours can cross the galactic border.” The thought of lawless chaos made her think of her brother. She felt a stab of pain, and squelched it.

  Justyn’s teeth were white against his tanned skin. “But Nissa, getting messy is so much fun.”

  Nissa’s lips twitched. Goddess, he was the only person who could swing her from wanting to punch him to wanting to laugh in a matter of seconds. “Just stay out of the way while my team does their search.”

  “Want to wager they won’t find anything?”

  His confidence made her heart sink. She had the horrible feeling she’d be going away empty-handed and red-faced. Again. “No.”

  “Come on. How about a case of that Gluk’sol wine you like to drink?”

  She shook her head. Last time she’d been on Galaxy’s Edge—the closest and most popular space station on the edge—she’d let him buy her a drink. It was an unwritten rule on Galaxy’s Edge that you left your feuds and quarrels at the spacedock.

  In the space station’s bars and clubs, off-duty Patrol officers rubbed shoulders with smugglers, wealthy merchants drank with career thieves, and missionaries danced with pleasure workers. The damned smuggler had gotten her tipsy, made her laugh, and let his thigh brush against hers at the bar one too many times.

  She was woman enough to admit she wondered what it would be like to have Justyn Phoenix spread out beneath her—naked and available for her hands to explore.

  But she was a Patrol captain. An ambitious one who was good at her job. So she never let the fantasy go past that. She imagined what her father would have to say about Phoenix. She winced. None of it would be good.