by S. E. Smith
She didn’t like it when a small frown darkened his features. She wanted to see him smile. He didn’t look like he smiled much. Smiling was good for a person. It made all the bad things in the world a little less scary when someone smiled. Perhaps he didn’t have anyone to smile with. Her dad always said he never smiled or laughed until she came into his life. That was her magic, he told her. She brightened the world around her. Skeeter decided that the man holding her hand needed a little brightness in his world.
Her fingers tightened around his when he started to pull away. She wasn’t ready to let him go. In the back of her mind, she was still afraid of the memories that haunted her when she first woke.
“I don’t like blood,” she murmured. “It makes me faint.”
“Yes, that is what the other male said,” he replied stiffly.
“I’m sorry about that,” she said, looking up at him. “Did you get your leg taken care of while I was out?”
He cleared his throat and shifted in the narrow chair he had pulled up next to the bed. She tightened her fingers around his when he tried to pull his hand away. Instead, she took up the rhythm of running her finger back and forth over his. She tilted her head when she saw his cheeks turn a slightly darker color as she caressed him.
“It is healed,” he responded in a slightly deeper, bemused voice. “Violet likes you. She was worried. She showed me where to bring you. Your co-pilot took her to get nourishment. She was hungry. She said I had to sit with you until you were better.”
Skeeter smiled when she thought of the beautiful little girl she had rescued. “I like her too. So what is your name and why did you want to kill me?”
“You took Violet,” he stated, pulling his hand away from her and standing up. “Why?”
Skeeter sighed at the loss of his warmth and sat up. She swung her legs over the side of her bed. The room tilted for a moment before righting itself. A nervous smile curved her lips when she found herself suddenly at eye level with the huge male as he knelt in front of her, bracing her arms.
“Because,” she murmured in a hushed whisper as she leaned forward.
“Because… why?” He asked confused.
“Because I couldn’t leave her behind. I want to kiss you,” she said, unaware that she said the last part out loud.
“What?” Krac’s head jerked back slightly as her words resonated through him. He froze when he felt her hands move up, first to his shoulders, then to the back of his head. “What are you…?”
His words died as Skeeter gently touched her lips to his. They felt just as good as she thought they would. She brushed the tip of her tongue along the seam as her hands tightened in his hair, forcing him off balance so that he fell into her. His breathing increased. The moment his lips parted, Skeeter deepened the kiss.
This… she thought as warmth filled her. This is what it should feel like when you kiss the right person.
She moaned when she felt his hands tighten on her arms as he pulled away from her. She reluctantly brushed her lips across his once more before she let him break the contact between them. Her eyes fluttered as she tried to focus back on where they were.
“Why did you do that?” He demanded harshly. “Do you think to make a fool out of me? I could kill you before you take another breath.”
Skeeter shivered as he rose and stepped away from her. His face was flushed and his eyes were twin flames of burning coal as he stared down at her. He clenched and unclenched his fists several times before he turned on his heel.
“I am taking Violet,” he snapped out over his shoulder as he walked out of her cabin.
Chapter 13
Skeeter scrambled off the bed as the strange man disappeared. She didn’t understand what just happened. She could feel the waves of suppressed rage coming off of him. She had kissed a lot of men looking for her Prince Charming. Hell, she had thought Terry had been it until he disappeared on her and joined the monks on Cramoore. She was glad now that he had because his kisses never affected her the way the one she just had did.
“Wait a minute!” She yelled as she hurried down the corridor after him. “Please, will you just wait a second?”
She barely had time to put her hands up to stop herself from plowing into his back when he suddenly stopped. She bit back a groan as she felt the taunt muscles under his shirt. She swore her nerve-endings were about to short circuit from wanting to explore his broad back.
“You can’t take Violet!” She said desperately.
She gasped and would have fallen when he turned suddenly on his heel and glared down at her if he hadn’t grabbed her wrists that were still up in the air. She looked up at him, trying to think of what she could say to make him stay for just a little longer. Hell, she didn’t even know his name yet.
“Why?” He demanded.
“Because,” she started to say.
He glared down at her. “The last time you said that you kissed me. What do you want? And why should I not take Violet.”
“You can’t take her because I don’t know your name,” Skeeter whispered. “I don’t know where you plan to take her. I don’t know if you are going to kill me and Frog. You can’t take her because I don’t… I don’t want you to go yet,” she finished barely above a whisper.
“Why?” He asked gruffly.
“Why what?” Skeeter asked, confused.
“Why did you kiss me?” He demanded in a strained voice. “Why do you not want me to go?”
Skeeter bit her lower lip again and gave him a small uncertain smile. “I don’t know.”
Krac scowled fiercely at her response. “You don’t know why you kissed me or you don’t know why you don’t want me to go?” He growled.
Skeeter thought about their conversation for several long seconds before she threw her head back and laughed. It was the strangest, weirdest conversation she had ever had and she loved it. It matched her feelings and what was happening and she suddenly felt wild and free.
She threw her arms around the neck of the huge male standing in front of her when he started to turn away. Standing on her tiptoes, she leaned her forehead against his when he lowered his head to frown down at her. Her lips twitched as she realized she liked it when his large warm hands slid around her waist.
“Can we start over?” She whispered, looking into his eyes. “My name is Lulu Belle Mann. Everyone calls me Skeeter, though. This is my short haul freighter. It isn’t big. It isn’t fancy, but it is mine. I’d like to welcome you aboard.”
Krac stared back into the suddenly serious blue eyes that were gazing intently at him. The fire that had started back in her cabin ignited into a blazing inferno. He swore it felt like the ice around his heart was melting.
“My name is Krac,” he finally responded. “Has anyone ever told you that you are a very strange and unusual female?”
A shy smile pulled her lips up at the corners. “Maybe once or twice,” she replied in amusement. “But I like strange and unusual. Normal is highly overrated and boring.”
Krac frowned. “Why did you kiss me?”
“Because,” she whispered, lowering her eyes to his lips. “I wanted to see if your lips tasted as good as they looked.”
Krac’s hands tightened on her waist, pulling her closer as she leaned into him. His lips sealed over hers in a fierce kiss meant to frighten her away. Instead, a low groan escaped them both as something deep inside them connected.
“Oh no. Oh hell no! Oh, double hell no,” a high-pitched voice snapped out breaking them apart. “Your father was very, very clear, Skeeter! He said ‘no men, no space, protect at all cost’! He was very, very clear about no men! Of any kind! You are going to get me killed. I just know it. We’re in the middle of space and you have to find one of the things that is guaranteed to get me killed!”
Skeeter bit her lip and blushed when she saw Violet staring at her with her little mouth hanging open. She must have been with Frog because she was wearing a small cloth tool belt around her waist and had her pl
astic sword in it. Skeeter glanced up at Krac who was looking down at her co-pilot like he would like nothing better than to step on him.
“Frog, this is Krac. He is…” Skeeter paused as she glanced up at Krac again. “Why are you here again?”
“You’re standing in the middle of the corridor kissing the male who thirty minutes ago was going to kill you... us… and you don’t even know why he is on your freighter?” Frog asked in outraged disbelief. “And my name is not Frog! It is Froget!”
“I have come to take Violet back to her parents,” Krac stated with a raised eyebrow. “She was taken from them.”
“By the two men in the shop?” Skeeter asked, curious.
“What do you know about them?” Krac scowled as he turned his gaze back to her. He bit back a silent curse when he couldn’t keep his eyes from shifting to her swollen lips. “Where are they?”
Skeeter shrugged. “Not here, thank goodness. They were totally mean looking.”
“What were you doing in that shop in the first place?” Krac asked, stiffening as he thought of the danger she must have been in. “Who do you work for?”
“I’m hungry!” Violet’s voice suddenly broke the tense atmosphere at Krac’s sharp questions. “I’m feeling really, really sad, Skeeter. Can I have macaroni and cheese and a cheesy sandmidge?”
Skeeter’s eyes broke contact with Krac’s and softened as she saw the hopeful look on Violet’s face. She knelt down on one knee and opened her arms. She lifted Violet in her arms and pressed a kiss to her cheek.
“You look absolutely miserable,” Skeeter agreed with a wink. “I think you need a big helping of macaroni and cheese to make you feel better.”
“And the cheesy sandmidge? I need the cheesy sandmidge too,” Violet said with a grin.
“With lots of cheesy in it,” Skeeter promised.
She turned and walked toward the galley leaving Krac and Frog to follow if they wanted. Violet didn’t deserve to be upset by what was going on. It wasn’t her fault that grownups made such a mess out of life. She also didn’t want Violet to have to remember what she had been through. She would tell Krac everything she knew but not in front of Violet. She wanted to shield the innocence in the little girl’s eyes for as long as possible, just like Bulldog had done for her.
“You know what? I miss my daddy,” Skeeter said as she set Violet down. “Would you like to say hi to him after we eat?”
“Can I call my mommy and daddy too?” Violet asked as she stood on the chair so she could watch Skeeter as she prepared their dinner. “I miss my mommy and daddy too.”
Skeeter glanced over her shoulder and smiled warmly at Violet as she watched their meal cook in the replicator. Her eyes collided with Krac’s for a moment as she waited to see his response to Violet’s innocent request. She smiled her thanks when he sharply nodded.
“Yes, baby. We can contact your mommy and daddy too. I know they must miss you something fierce,” Skeeter said, wrapping her arm around Violet and lowering her into the seat so she could place the food in front of her.
“Something fierce. Something fierce. My mommy and daddy miss me something fierce,” Violet sang in an off-key voice.
Skeeter ran her hand over the wild curls even as she felt the tug on her heart that this little bit of sunshine would soon be with someone else. For a moment, she understood what Bulldog meant when he said the world was a little bit brighter.
Maybe one day she would have her own little girl to make cheesy sandmidges and macaroni and cheese for. Her eyes moved to the huge gray male who stood off to the side of the door, staring at her almost like he could read her mind. He nodded briefly before turning and leaving her and Violet alone to enjoy their meal. Skeeter’s heart beat heavily as she thought about the fact that the little girl wasn’t the only thing she was about to lose.
If I’m not careful, it will be my heart as well, she thought as she listened to Violet tell her about playing hide-and-seek with her Uncle Krac and other tales.
Chapter 14
“Krac, have you found her?” Kordon asked, leaning forward to pierce Krac with his dark blue eyes.
“She is safe. I have her,” Krac replied as he leaned back in the cockpit of his own starship.
“Oh God! Oh God! Oh Kordon!” Gracie’s voice broke as she wrapped her arms around her mate from behind and lowered her head to his shoulder. “She’s safe. Our little girl. Oh Kordon, she’s safe.”
Kordon’s throat worked furiously as he pulled Gracie around and into his arms. He lowered his head for a moment as he fought for his own self-control. When he looked back up, a cold ruthlessness had filled them.
“Where are you? I can have a warship meet you. Both Ty and Malik are on standby, as well as Bran,” Kordon stated.
“I’ll send you our current location now,” Krac replied.
“Is she… is she okay?” Gracie asked in a husky voice. “Did they hurt her?”
“She is very well. It would appear her kidnappers were not expecting someone else to take their prize,” he replied dryly.
“Who?” Kordon bit out even as he notified both of his younger brothers about the location of the short haul freighter.
“She was taken by Captain Lulu Belle Mann,” Krac replied.
Kordon frowned. “I’ve heard that name before.”
“She is Ti’Death’s daughter, though I do not know how that is possible,” Krac answered.
Kordon’s face cleared as he recognized the second name. “Now I remember. Rorrak couldn’t walk straight for two days after he met her at one of the bars. I had to bail him, Bran and Cooraan out of the brig on Newport. I remember them saying something about Ti’Death’s daughter, dancing and a fight that broke out. I’ll have to ask them what happened again.”
“Can we talk to Violet?” Gracie interrupted. “Please… I need to see that she is alright.”
“I’ll connect to the Lulu Belle’s communication system so you can see and speak with her,” Krac said.
He focused for a moment as he linked into the Lulu Belle’s computer system. He found the necessary codes and bypassed the security system so that he had control. He opened the link within seconds. Froget’s smooth green head and face appeared on the vidcom.
“What in the hell? What are you doing now? I thought you had left. You need to before Ti’Death finds out you kissed his daughter! He’ll have both of us either in that damn tank of his or as new members of Cramoore. Personally, I’ll take the tank before I let those bastards cut off my…,” Froget’s voice faded as he saw the fierce expression on Kordon’s face. “That’s it! We’re dead. She’s brought the whole damn Zion council down on us now. I knew I should have stayed in the swamp and been a mushroom harvester. I just knew it.”
“Where is my daughter?” Kordon demanded.
“Daddy!” A voice in the background squealed. “It’s my daddy! He’s here.”
“Violet?” Gracie called out, desperate to see her daughter. “Violet, sweetheart.”
“Mommy!” Violet’s vivid dark green eyes, shimmering with excitement, suddenly appeared on the vidcom. “Hi mommy. I’m on an… an… adventurer. Skeeter and I was playing dinosaurs and knights and I got to be a knight but she was the dinosaur and she was going to eat me up but she hit her nose and she wanted me to kiss it then Uncle Krac came and he cut up her costume and she fell asleep cause he was bleeding then he kissed her all better but I told her I was really sad so she made me cheesy sandmidges and macaroni and cheese. I like it. Can I have some when I come home, even if I’m not sad. Skeeter says her Tila made it for her when she was little.”
“Violet,” Kordon said, sitting forward as a relieved smile tugged at his lips.
“Oh, Skeeter likes to wear pants too, and Frog doesn’t like his name and he isn’t a Prince Charming cause Skeeter kissed him and he didn’t change, but she hoped he would because he looked just like the frogs in the picture books but he didn’t and…”
“Violet Coraleen Jefe,” Gracie said s
ternly. “Take a deep breath.” Violet stopped and drew in a big breath. “Now, release it. I love you, Violet. We’ll be with you soon.”
“I love you too, mommy. I love you, daddy,” Violet said, leaning forward and pressing her lips against the screen. “Bye-bye.”
“Bye-bye, baby,” Gracie whispered, reaching out to touch the screen where Violet’s lips had been. “Krac. Thank you.”
“I owe you more than I can ever repay,” Kordon added gruffly.
“My job is not finished yet,” Krac said, disconnecting his connection with the Lulu Belle so he could speak privately with Kordon. “The threat is still there. They did not get Gracie this time, but they will try again. We already know that. There is no guarantee that they will not try to take Violet or your son or another family member. They have done this to others on the council back on Earth. More often than not, those members were found too late.”
*.*.*
Harden glanced back at Crane and nodded. Moss stood to the side, his head down as Crane released the box containing Mace. His face twisted in grief and rage as the outer door closed again. He looked up at Harden with dark eyes.
“I am going to kill the gray man,” Moss swore. “He killed Mace. I am going to kill him.”
“You go right ahead and kill him,” Harden responded. “But, we need to get the kid back before they hand her over to one of the warships.”
“I have a lock on their location,” Crane said. “Are you sure about this? I’ve got a bad feeling.”
“Yes,” Harden and Moss said at the same time.
“I’ve never failed a job and I have a score to settle with the bitch who took the kid. I don’t like it when someone steals from me,” Harden said.
Crane couldn’t help the retort that escaped. “She paid you for her,” he reminded the other man. “Fifty credits and a bracelet. You know, if you kill Ti’Death’s daughter, he is going to come after you. I’ve heard he is very protective of her.”
