Taking Command

by Jennifer Leeland

  "It will have to wait until tomorrow.” She placed another tool in her box.

  "What's up? You have a hot date, Dani?” Rider grinned at her. He didn't like to let her forget that she was a woman.

  She sighed. “No. I'm going to see if I can find a game of Sky Chess. Anything is better than fixing Condensers."

  Rider just nodded. “Okay, we'll see you tomorrow."

  Dani rushed to her quarters and changed her clothes. If she was quick, she could catch Paul Lestrano without a chess partner. He was challenging, and Dani liked to try and beat him.

  Her dark pants and loose fitting gray top did nothing for her coloring but as she stared in the mirror, she tried to blot out the vision of a red dress torn to shreds by a man clad only in briefs. The expression of lust and desire for her in those dark eyes had made her feel erotic and sensual. But she had to get back to real life. In real life, she was average, uninteresting. With an impatient thrust of her hand, she combed her dark hair and headed for the Sky Bar.

  Most of the bar was empty as she gave her order. To sooth her and relax her taut nerves, she chose red wine. That and a good game of Sky Chess might help her sleep tonight. Maybe she wouldn't dream about the dominant man the VFR conjured up for her.

  She took a moment to soak up the mood in the Stardust Bar. It was a dimly lit place, with dull neon lights advertising whatever alcohol was popular at the moment. The bar stools were stainless steel with black faux leather cushions that kept patrons upright as they drank themselves into oblivion. The customers were military and civilian and they came here to drink and maybe socialize. The other bars on the ship were more like dance clubs and meat markets. This was a place to get lost.

  The tables in the back sported Sky Chess game boards, three tiered and well lit by overhead lights. That corner was the brightest in the room and the one place she understood. A game with rules and no surprises was right up her alley tonight.

  A deep voice sounded at her shoulder. “Are we playing chess tonight?” She turned and inspected her friend. Paul Lestrano was dark and the muted light of the bar room only emphasized the shadows on his face. He looked Latino, with dark brown eyes and black hair. Without conscious thought, Dani made a comparison with the fantasy man with black eyes and a tattoo. Paul was slimmer, though no less powerful she guessed. Where the man in the VFR resembled a panther, Paul resembled a lynx. Smaller, but deadly. Something about him had always made Dani wary. Maybe it was the way he always watched her as if he was summing her up, cataloguing her.

  She smiled at him. “I'd love to."

  With wine glass in hand, she followed Paul to a corner of the bar where a Sky Chess board was already set up. “You were waiting for me."

  He inclined his head and a faint smile curved his lips. “I was. I enjoy our challenges."

  The game began and Dani made the first move. Her fingers wrapped around the elaborately decorated pawn and set him on the middle tier. Paul's long fingers rested on one and then another as he stared at the board with a thoughtful expression.

  Instead of getting lost in the game as she usually did, her mind wandered to her fantasy man. Why had the computer picked that type of man? Why not some vid star? Maybe he was a computer generated generic choice. Even as the thought drifted through her mind, she dismissed it. That man was no generic anything.

  Another move and another, but she couldn't focus on strategy. She was lost in a pair of wicked hands and a commanding voice.

  Fingers snapped in front of Daniella's face. “Checkmate, Dani.” Paul Lestrano rolled his eyes. “You weren't even a challenge tonight."

  She gazed at the pyramid shaped board hovering over the table. All she seemed to be able to think about were obsidian eyes and an exotic tattoo. She shook her head. “I'm sorry, Paul. I don't know what's wrong with me."

  "Did you take my suggestion?” Paul's long fingers manipulated the pieces for another game.

  Her face burned as blood rushed to her cheeks. “What suggestion?” She tried an innocent expression on him.

  He smirked. “It's clear you went to the VFR."

  "Well, it didn't relax me.” She brushed a strand of hair away from her face.

  "I would love to know why.” Paul's expression was blank, unreadable.

  She shrugged. “It just didn't. How's the military section these days?"

  He stared at her for a moment. “It's the same. The military doesn't change much. The civilian section is much more interesting."

  "I don't see why.” She sighed. “With endless Condenser repairs, it doesn't seem interesting to me."

  "Is that why you come to the Sky Room? Because there's military and civilian people here?"

  "The colonists are nice, but they all have their specialty. If they don't, they're in intensive training. It doesn't give me much in common with them."

  "Why didn't you ever go into the military, Dani?"

  "I might have, but I had to make a living.” The conversation was getting dangerously close to talking about her family, her father.

  She spotted George, a fellow mechanic, across the game room and waved to the older man.

  "I'm sorry to hear that.” She shot Paul a glance and wondered if there was irony in his tone. It was hard to read Paul Lestrano. Tall, good-looking, capable and distant. Very distant. “Before George joins us, tell me something. You used to work for Lansring, is that right?"

  Her brows knitted. How did he know that? Then, she shrugged. “Yes. Why?"

  "You're the only one onboard who has worked on the All Terrain Hover Vehicles."

  She stared at him. “I am?"

  "I think George will need your help.” Paul folded his fingers in a tent and concentrated on the Sky Chess board.

  "George is military.” She shook her head. “I don't have that kind of access."

  "Actually, you do. I checked. Once the military realized you once worked on ATHVs, they cleared you.” Paul's voice was so mild, so easy, as if he was talking about the weather.

  "Well, no one told me,” she huffed.

  His dark eyes pinned hers. “No?"

  Before she could respond George sat down. “Who won?"

  Daniella glared at Paul. “Oh, Paul did. He always wins."

  "Then it's my turn to play him, Dani. Move over, won't you?” George rubbed his hands together in anticipation. “Maybe he won't win this time."

  "I found a mechanic to help you with your little problem, George.” Paul lifted his first piece for his opening move.

  "Really? Who?” George's hand hovered over one piece and then another.

  "Dani worked for Lansring. She worked on the ATHVs when they were first developed. She can fix your vehicles."

  George's blue eyes lit with pleasure. “Wonderful. Can you start tomorrow?” He glanced at Paul. “She'll have to get clearance."

  Paul shot a humorous smile at Daniella. “No problem."

  * * * *

  The general slammed down the phone and glared at Jake. “What's taking so long for the mechanics’ section report? I need to make sure those vehicles are operational before we reach the Asberek's orbit."

  The office walls vibrated from the general's loud complaints. It was the normal routine for Jake. Every morning, he met with the old man, who yelled about something or other, and then Jake went out and yelled at his men. Routine. Boring. He stifled a sigh and asked, “Who's in charge of the section?"

  "Lieutenant Paul Lestrano and he's giving me the run-around.” The old man was disgruntled. He'd been forced to take this assignment. His reputation wasn't great and he was too independent for the “new” military. They let him keep his stars, but sent him out of their sight. He was crusty, but Jake liked him.

  "Do you want me to go down and shake things up?"

  The general's white brows clashed over his nose in a frown. “No. Something is going on. We'll find out what it is. Keep an eye on this for me."

  The old man's instincts were sharp. He was abrasive with the colonists, distant to h
is men, but dead right about how things really were. When Jake had decided to escape his life on earth, the general hadn't questioned him about his motives. Only once, when Jake was drinking too heavily, General Cartright told him to deal with his ghosts. He had said it as if he was a man who understood ghosts.

  The old man dismissed him. Jake left the office and started the same routine. Keep the ship running smoothly. Keep the men in shape. And keep himself away from the VFR.

  No problem.

  But his routine was disrupted by visions of a writhing, beautiful body and dark, short hair. As he strode out to the military hanger to run his men through more mindless drills, he argued with himself. Why not go back? What would it hurt? She was a hologram, not a person. There's no danger there.

  Even as he thought it, he knew it was a lie. She was dangerous. He wasn't going to become addicted to a fantasy. It seemed he'd added another ghost. This one was no easier to deal with.

  He barked out orders to his men, ignored the resentful expressions and got back to work.

  * * * *

  He meant to stay away. Yet, two days later, he was standing in front of the blinking lights of the VFR. For forty-eight hours, he was haunted by the beautiful dark haired hologram with the golden eyes.

  Repeat previous program, Captain Tarune?

  The words appeared on the console. He hesitated, torn in two directions. One way was dangerous and one way was safe. Even as his hand rose to press the “accept” button, his mind argued against him.

  Was it because he didn't connect with the people around him? Could a fantasy be safer than sharing with a real, live human being?

  As the doors slid open and he stepped into a huge Redwood grove, he didn't care why he was there anymore. He only wanted the woman the computer created for him.

  The scene was perfectly set. Sunlight streamed through the canopy of trees and the soft sound of running water played in the background. Ferns dotted the landscape and even the air was damp and cool.

  She stood in the center of the grove, surrounded by an ethereal light. Tonight, she wore a green dress that clung to her ample curves and stopped just above her knee. Her golden eyes widened as she watched him approach. He didn't want her to speak. She opened her mouth to say something, and he held up a hand as he closed the distance between them.

  "Don't speak."

  Her mouth snapped shut, a confused expression on her face. He didn't wait any longer. Forty-eight hours of burning desire needed to be released and he wasn't going to waste any time.

  As he bent to devour her mouth, she hesitated only for a second. All the response he hoped for made him wilder as she clung to him and met his tongue with her own. His hands stroked her back, and pressed her closer to him. Her body wrapped around him, her heat running along his thigh. He broke the kiss and gave an order to the computer.

  "Prompt. Gag scarf. Prompt. Nylon Rope. Twenty feet,” he growled.

  The computer complied and the woman, Daniella, opened her mouth to speak. He shook his head sharply and she stopped. Her gold eyes were hazy and her lips were swollen from their kiss. He tied the gag around her mouth, making sure she was comfortable and held up the rope.

  "That tree. Over there.” He pointed to a sturdy Redwood that was the right width.

  There was something in her eyes that he couldn't pinpoint. Again, he reminded himself that she was a computer program. She seemed so real with human emotions.

  As she turned toward the tree, she shot a glance over her shoulder and he could have sworn he saw fear and confusion. How was that possible? Maybe it was all part of the dominant/submissive experience. He only knew that he wanted power over her and he wanted to please her.

  Her hand touched the tree and she met his gaze with a question in her eyes. “Put your back against it.” She complied and he lifted the dress over her head before he tied her to the tree and wound the rope around her waist and shoulders. Why he wanted to bind her to that tree, he had no idea. He only knew that he wanted her helpless, begging, screaming for him. He wouldn't last a minute if he allowed her to speak or let her touch him.

  Bound to the tree, her beauty struck him, and he inspected her from her dark, spiky hair to her perfect feet. Her breasts were a little more than a handful which Jake liked. Her skin was smooth and the curves dipped around her hips to the junction between her thighs of curly, black hair. He inhaled her scent. Oddly, she smelled of spices and something else tangy that he couldn't identify. Her arms were extended back with her muscles taut and strained. The circular strands of rope around her body contrasted with her skin and he noted slight redness where it was tight. His pulse accelerated and pounded through him as he studied her. The ropes held her still, but her eyes traveled over his body making him so hot for her, he wondered if he would last at all.

  He stood in front of her, his fingers brushing her nipples and staring at them as they hardened and darkened. Her body arched against the ropes as he touched her. The gag only muffled the groan that escaped her. He dug his fingers into her hips and slid them down her thighs, lifting them to cradle on his hipbones. She bowed her lower back, scraping her pubic hair over his cock. He resisted the urge to plunge inside her and stroked her clit with his index finger. He leaned next to her ear and whispered, “Can you feel the bark against your back, Daniella? When I drive into you, it will be slow and torturous. You've been haunting me for two days and you need to pay for it."

  Her wet response made him grit his teeth for control. His finger left her clit and began to stroke her ass. She squirmed against his hand. As he slid down her body, her calves rested on his shoulders as he bent to give her breasts his full attention. His teeth scraped along her nipples and then sucked on her as hard as he could as his finger slipped in the tight hole of her butt. With nimble fingers, he kept one finger pressed in her ass, as his thumb slid inside her pussy. She was so wet, so hot and the muscles of her slick channel clenched around his thumb creating pressure on the finger in her tight anal entrance. Her hand thrashed back and forth and her hips rotated frantically. He knew the minute she found her release. Her whole body contracted and strained against the ropes around her, as moisture dripped down his finger.

  He moved his hands to dig into the soft flesh around her hips and repositioned her legs around his waist. She was still tight and clenched when he plunged his cock inside her slick channel increasing the friction as she squeezed him. His hands gripped her ass as he pounded in and out of her. When he heard a muffled scream from her, he poured himself inside her and reveled in the contractions that took every drop from him.

  His legs shook as he rested his forehead against hers. Still connected, he leaned down to bite the soft, creamy skin of her shoulder. It was then he noticed the blood on her back. He could smell the coppery scent of it. Long, jagged lines of broken skin were bright angry red. Slamming into her while she was tied to the tree had scraped the skin on her shoulders and blood oozed from the scratches.

  Shock hit him. She couldn't be a computer program. They didn't bleed. Which meant she—

  He stepped away from her and quickly undid the knots and, as soon as she was free, she ripped the gag off. He was still completely stunned or he might have found a better way to deal with the whole thing. Instead, he yelled at her, accusing her. “You're not a program. What the fuck are you doing here?"

  Covering her naked body, her face crumpled and she bolted for the doors and disappeared.

  By the time he opened the doors, he was on his own entry way and there was no sign of a black haired woman with gold eyes.

  Who the hell was she?

  * * * *

  She ran for the privacy of her room, her back aching and her heart wrung dry. Daniella held back the tears that wanted to spill over.

  The minute Jake had walked into that Redwood grove, she'd known something was wrong. She hadn't specified him. She deliberately chose a blond man because her encounter with Jake was too disturbing. When he'd entered her fantasy anyway, she knew something
had gotten messed up.

  Then, he'd told her not to speak. The desire in his eyes, the sexual tension in that order shut her right up. She couldn't have held a coherent thought after he kissed her. Lost in him, she allowed him to do things to her that no man ever had.

  Even now, as she knew he was never going to know who she was, she wanted him. Reaching her room, she allowed tears to fall. She ached in more places than she ever had in her life. Why had she ever gone to the VFR?

  No more fantasies. Reality is enough to handle.

  She reached up and stroked her sore shoulders with her hand. What compelled her to obey him, even while she knew it wouldn't end well? As she inspected her scratches in the mirror, she marveled at her own desires. She loved the marks. She treasured every bruise. The pain had been exhilarating.

  It disturbed her that the VFR held such sensitive material about her and a real man now seemed to have access to those details. When she'd filled out the lengthy VFR computer questionnaire, it seemed so safe. Anonymity was promised. Complicated safeguards were in place. She'd fooled herself into a belief in safety.

  Every member of the crew of the Zenith filled out those questionnaires and took a psychological evaluation. She wanted to believe she'd been manipulated by this man, this stranger, but his reaction seemed genuine.

  She should report it. But somehow she couldn't. As she stared at her reflection and the marks on her arms and wrists, she shook her head.

  Maybe she'd report it tomorrow. Right now, she just wanted to forget it ever happened.

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  Chapter Three

  "What's your problem these days, Dani?” George demanded. “You seem distracted."

  Distracted? Obsessed was a better word. The effort to keep away from the VFR made her cranky and frustrated. Work was the only thing that kept her sane.