Jaron's Promise

by Michelle Howard

  If she had the ability to speak, she would have cursed. Deciding to make the best of the situation, she blocked everything from her mind except not exceeding the men. Jaron was right. In this form, she could have left them behind without trying. He maintained his place to the right but slightly ahead of her.

  Noise, some sound Sasha couldn’t place caught her attention. She huffed to warn Jaron. He glanced down at her then murmured to his team, “We’re being followed.”

  “Enemy closing in,” another announced.

  Curses rang out and Jaron slapped her flank. Sasha hissed only to have him grin. For spite, she swiped out with her front paw and he tripped as he dodged her deadly claws.

  “Jaron, she’s yours.”

  Humor dropped, Jaron exchanged hand signals with the one called Rydak and the stern leader fell back to cover her rear. Normally fear prevented Sasha from allowing another behind her. Especially someone she didn’t know, but she deferred to whatever reason Jaron had for the action and fought her cat’s instinct to lash out.

  Jaron’s men ran around them, but she only had eyes for the handsome Jutak who had shared imprisonment with her. Nothing in his demeanor signaled the least bit of awkwardness in running naked. They’d spent all their time together comfortable with their nudity, but she couldn’t help taking in the impressive sight of his body in motion without a stitch of clothing.

  Time in The Collector’s lab had left its mark in a thinner frame, but he wasn’t the least bit cowed. Jaron was the perfect lover, the perfect partner.

  And damn if Sasha wasn’t in love with him.

  Chapter 14

  Exhilaration filled Jaron. Free. He was free thanks to his fellow Jutak warriors. He glanced at Sasha, tongue lolling in sheer happiness no matter the danger.

  Excitement continued to flow through his blood. He would receive a severe lecture from Torkel and more than likely a mark in his file, but he’d worry about that back on Enotia. At the moment, his concern centered on Sasha and making sure she got out with him. His fellow Jutaks would help.

  He didn’t miss Rydak’s curious looks. The Team Three Leader had questions, but held them back for now. Jaron accepted the temporary reprieve. He wasn’t sure what he’d say or how he’d explain his feelings concerning Sasha.

  After what they’d been through, he knew he wanted to spend time with her. Time outside of the stress of being held by The Collector. He wanted the chance to explore what they had together.

  A snarl mixed with a pained cry rang out behind him. Jaron spun around as soon as he heard it. Sasha limped toward him her back right leg lifted slightly above the ground and his heart stopped. He lowered his laser and dropped to one knee. His friends gathered around in silence.

  Tension and concern emanated from them, but he focused on Sasha. “How bad, kitten?”

  She sat on her haunches releasing another pained sound, then shifted. His gaze fell to her injury. Discoloration in a disturbing shade of green already spread downward, encompassing her lower calf and ankle. He stroked a hand over her leg, catching her wince.

  “I can make it.” Typical Sasha. She rose, using his shoulder to brace. Jaron caught her about the waist, helping her to stand.

  “We need to keep going, Jaron.”

  Rydak voiced what they all knew. Jaron reached over to pick up Sasha, he’d carry her if he had to. No way he’d leave her behind. She smacked his hand away and glared. “No. You’ll be slowed down. Let’s keep moving.”

  Against his better judgment, they took off again. From the corner of his eye, Jaron watched every step Sasha took. Her brown hues paled every time she put weight on the ankle. The slight limp dramatically took away her former speed. His gut clenched as he watched her struggle. Several glances from Bane and V’hor said they noticed too. She continued, strain forming lines at the corner of her mouth, a mouth he’d kissed in such eager passion not long ago.

  “She’s not going to make it. At this rate, whoever’s chasing will overtake us,” Khane interrupted in his comm from his position further ahead.

  “Shut up, Khane.” Jaron didn’t like hearing what he knew.

  Khane rushed back to them and continued to give voice to his thoughts. He didn’t even lower his tone. “You don’t have to like it, but we need to get rid of her, Jaron.”

  Grabbing Khane by his black shirt, Jaron slammed him against an outcropping of rocks. Everyone stopped. “Shut the fuck up. I’m not leaving her.”

  “She’s nothing to you. For all we know she’s a plant by The Collector. He let her escape with you as a trick.”

  Because everyone was guilty in Khane’s mind. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  Khane’s snort didn’t hide the sneer as he spoke in a harsh growl. “After assuring everyone you wanted no Chosen, you would put us at risk for sex sharing? Is she that great? Wait, she’s Argoran. That explains the answer to that question. Leave her behind, Jaron.”

  Jaron’s fist was flying before he realized it and he hit Khane in the throat. He did nothing to help as his team mate gagged. “Like you left your mate?”

  Khane flinched and Jaron leaned in close. Some secrets were best not shared with the others. Not even his Unit Leader. “You think I don’t know what you did? I was the first selected to the teams. Torkel ordered me to pull the background of every Jutak who joined his Unit after. I know what you did, Khane.”

  Now Jaron got the reaction he hoped for. Khane’s blue eyes hardened. “Fuck you, Jaron. You don’t know anything.”

  “Enough. I’ll cover. Get her on the shuttle, if she’s going with us, Jaron.” Rydak went to one knee and took up position. “Vee, you’re with me.”

  Without question the Serpine fell back, green gaze steely. Jaron gave up hope Sasha might have missed the argument when she faced him.

  “I’m holding you back.” Even as she stated the obvious, her mouth firmed and her eyes took on a determined expression. “Just go.”

  Jaron’s pulse jumped. How could she ask that? He must have taken too long to respond. Her stance declared she was prepared to be abandoned. Expected it.

  All because the bastard in the past had betrayed her. Jaron’s jaw tightened. If Sasha thought he’d leave her, that she wasn’t worth the effort, she was about to be surprised.

  “We are getting you out, Sasha.”

  The protest formed in her brilliant green eyes. Jaron held a hand up to listen as Torkel buzzed on the comm. “Rydak, estimated team arrival to shuttle?”

  Rydak clicked in. “Ran into trouble.”

  A pause as Torkel took in the words not said. “Permanent trouble or slight delay?”

  Khane glanced at Jaron, his gaze full of meaning. Jaron’s breath picked up, his fingers twitching on the weapon in his hand. Years of experience and control stopped him from smasing his fist into Khane’s face again.

  “Delay,” Rydak said, not one inflection in his tone giving away a reason for concern.

  Torkel exhaled over the comm. His Unit Leader sensed there was more they weren’t sharing, but would leave it for now. “You need to be gone in under five minutes. I expect you all on that shuttle in the timeframe and that includes you too, Jaron. We didn’t bust our asses to not bring you home.”

  A grin threatened to escape in spite of the growing danger. “Afraid Faye will blame you if something happens to me?”

  The burn of Sasha’s stare seared his shoulders. Jaron met her gaze and hoped he looked reassuring. She only had access to his side of the conversation.

  “Just get here, Jaron.”

  By unanimous decision Bane, Uri and Khane took the lead. Rydak and Vee would hold off whoever followed. Without waiting for her agreement, Jaron bent and picked up Sasha. She shrieked, but he ignored her as he raced to catch up with the others.

  Behind them mayhem and chaos ensued as their pursuers burst into the opening from beyond the cover. Explosions overlaid Torkel’s orders, but Jaron couldn’t mistake his urgency. He risked a look over his shoulder
. Rydak picked off the assailants with unerring accuracy and Vee’s steady firing dulled his hearing. The air sizzled and crackled.

  “You’re crazy, Jaron.” Sasha looped her arms about his shoulders even as she made the pronouncement.

  The shuttle came into view as Bane, Uri and Khane charged ahead and clambered up the lowered ramp into the open doorway of the shuttle. They were close. Jaron grinned, exhilaration making him giddy. He glanced down at Sasha. “We can make it.”

  Guards suddenly charged into the small area the pilot had selected to land. They raised lasers in Jaron’s direction and began firing. Long range blasters. Heart thrumming a desperate beat, he veered toward the right. Sasha cursed when Jaron hunched over, doing his best to protect and cover as much of her as possible.

  Shouts and pounding boots chased behind him. Breath stuttered in his lungs, but Jaron kept going in the opposite direction of the shuttle, drawing them further away.

  “I need to set you down.” There was no way they’d escape on foot.

  “Do it.”

  Jaron took a moment to stare at Sasha’s fierce countenance. Despite their situation, she didn’t appear frightened, only resigned. Jaron ducked behind a gnarled and knotted tree stump with its top half sheared off from some violent phenom. He lowered Sasha carefully. Favoring her right leg, she curled her back against the meager protection.

  When Jaron checked over the top of the stump, he realized he’d traveled further off the path and the direct line to his team. Dr. Kirkem’s men blocked the way back. It would be a run of desperation to get past them.

  If he carried Sasha, he’d present a larger target. The risk of dropping her if hit also increased but letting her make it on her own wasn’t an option. Jaron refused to accept defeat. Her twisted ankle was a detriment to their escape, but he was a Jutak. He’d make it work. On a solid inhale, Jaron raised his laser and started blasting every time one of the guards was foolish enough to get near.

  Chapter 15

  Hope dashed, Sasha muffled her cry of disappointment and crouched as Jaron defended their position. The pain in her ankle was the least of their worries. Sasha knew the real reason behind her dismay. She’d allowed herself to care, to love. And now she’d pay for breaking her own rules.

  If Jaron’s team stayed behind they’d be overrun. None of them would make it. She wouldn’t let that happen. Sasha let her gaze linger on the tightly drawn shoulders of a male who had proved his worth in the simplest of ways. By just being himself. He was amazing and she didn’t suffer a moment’s regret about their time together or sex sharing with him when she’d had the chance. “Jaron?”

  The night went quiet around them. Jaron squatted down beside her, sweat slickened his hair to a darker shade of blond. His chest rose and fell from his exertions. They both were dirty, scrapes covering them from their bid to escape and yet Sasha had never felt more alive.

  “They’ve fallen back,” he answered as he checked the weapon then twisted to face her. He caressed her face with a single finger on her cheek. “Don’t worry. The teams are good. Vee and Rydak will realize we didn’t make the shuttle and clear a way for us as soon as they catch up.”

  She wanted to believe him. Everything in Sasha desperately wanted to grasp his words and hold them close, except she knew better. The odds weren’t in their favor and Dr. Kirkem was insane enough to continue until he recaptured them. Especially the Jutak warrior he wanted to break.

  He’d keep after them. They’d both end up back in the labs and subjected to experiments. And probably his teammates along with them. Unless they had a distraction. Chest tight, Sasha swallowed. She pulled on her inner strength which had made her one of the toughest Bounty Retrievers in demand. “You need to go, Jaron. I’ll hold them off.”

  It was the only way the rest of them could make it. Her time was up. Sasha’s stomach clenched tight at the thought. It wasn’t until now that she realized there was so much more she wanted from life. Including a chance to know if Jaron was as real as he appeared.

  Fuck it. Sasha ground her teeth and hardened her emotions. She would do her best to take out The Collector while giving Jaron and his friends the opportunity to escape.

  “No.” Short and succinct.

  Sasha rolled her eyes, though her heart skipped a beat at his instant refusal. “Don’t be ridiculous, Jaron.”

  Jaron lowered his laser to the ground and clutched her to his chest. The rabid look in his eyes warmed her insides. “You are ridiculous if you think I’d even consider letting you stay behind to deal with Dr. Kirkem.”

  “It’s the only way, you know it.”

  ***

  Jaron’s gut twisted. He held Sasha tighter as if he could block out what she said. She struggled in his arms, so he eased his hold, hands reluctant to let go. She swiped at her damp face. Sweat glistened on her golden-brown skin, her full breasts rising and falling with each panted breath.

  But the steely glimpse in her gaze didn’t falter.

  “Sasha.” The whisper fragmented as he said it because it was clear she’d made up her mind.

  Her mouth pursed and she narrowed her eyes on him. “One of us needs to lead them away. Cause a distraction in order for your team to make a run for it. If…if they see I’m left behind, they’ll want to come after me. It will give you the time you need to get to the shuttle.”

  But it didn’t have to be her. Rydak or V’hor would do it. “One of the others—”

  “You know I’m right,” she cut in. “I can’t make it with my ankle.”

  The plea in her eyes was hard to resist. Acceptance glowed from her eyes tearing him apart on the inside. “I promised, Sasha—”

  She pressed two fingers to his busted lip. “We won’t speak of it.”

  “My team…” He tried again, but Sasha stopped him.

  “They’re not just your team. They’re your friends. Do you want The Collector to have the chance to shoot your shuttle out of the sky? Do you want to lose all of them, your friends after they risked their lives for you?”

  His eyes burned. She knew he didn’t. “Damn you, kitten.”

  And damn her pride and integrity.

  “Let me do this, Jaron. I wish I had friends who would do all of this to get me back.”

  A muscle ticked in his jaw. The truth ripped free. “I would do this and more.”

  “I believe you.” Appreciation glimmered in her green eyes for his words then grew grim. Sasha yanked him close and kissed him, her lips crashing into his. Jaron gripped her hips, wanted to pick her up and take her with him. She pulled away with a rough exhalation before he could act on the reckless thought. “I’m the only choice. Get the others out of here. I know you won’t forget about me.”

  “Never,” he bit out, angry she’d felt the need to mention it. Jaron clicked his comm. “Rydak, Vee, pull back. Get to the shuttle.”

  No one questioned him.

  Vee and Rydak lit up the air as round after round of lasers blasted through the air. Jaron grabbed his weapon. The men who had he and Sasha pinned down were distracted, Rydak and Vee obviously drawing close.

  Jaron aimed and took the enemy out. Simple head shots and their bodies collapsed to the ground. He stood and grasped Sasha by the forearm, pulling her to her feet. “Are you sure about this?”

  “Both of us were never going to get out.”

  The truth of her words almost caused him to lash out in irritation. Jaron bit down hard on his tongue. The chatter from the team in his earbud became distant as Jaron gave his full attention to Sasha. Rich brown skin with hints of gold was smudged with dirt, sweat and other things, but her gaze glimmered with challenge. Shoulders thrust back in defiance pushed her breasts up and out.

  They’d escaped the labs, spent hours in a dirty cave and she appealed to him more now than any other female to cross his path. Jaron wanted to push, to back her down from this course of action. His muscles tensed to do just that but her mouth firmed as if she read his thoughts and only waited to see
if he’d be smart and let her do this or stupid and doom them all.

  Adrenaline coursed through Jaron and he knew he wasn’t being rational. If there were any other solution, he couldn’t see it and Jaron hated Sasha in this moment. Hated that she was right and willing to sacrifice herself.

  One of them did have to provide a distraction. He tapped his comm.

  It wouldn’t be her.

  “Rydak, follow my signal.”

  “Tracking you, Jaron. Coming your way.” The other Team Leader responded immediately.

  Panic flashed across Sasha’s face. Her nipples stood out like points, the muscles in her taut abdomen quivered. “What are you doing, Jaron?”

  He gripped the back of her nape and drew her to him in order to press a soft kiss to her arched brows—the perfect curves one more thing about her he liked. “We do need a distraction.”

  Her breath rasped against the base of his throat. She relaxed against him. “I’m glad you understand.”

  The only thing Jaron understood was that he wasn’t leaving her. No way he could let Sasha believe she meant less to him than the men who fought to get them out of this. He pulled back and released his hold after rubbing his thumb over the silky hair at her nape.

  Rydak approached them on a run. “There are more of Dr. Kirkem’s men coming. I think the fighting at the lab site is waning, but a small group broke off and is hunting any of those who escaped. I don’t like this.”

  “Any idea on the unknown who attacked?” Jaron asked, standing close to Sasha.

  “None.” Rydak’s gray eyes took in the both of them. “Plan?”

  “Yes.” Jaron glanced at Sasha prepared for her protest. “One of us will act as a distraction. Draw the incoming guards away while the others get to the shuttle. The guards will chase the easier target.”

  It didn’t take Rydak long to come to a conclusion. “It should work.”

  Sasha gripped Jaron’s arms, the bite of her claws making their presence known. “Don’t forget. We agreed I’d be the diversion.”