by Tana Stone
I twisted back around to face the back of the bar, the clear shelving devoid of the bottles that would soon fill every compartment. I rested my elbows on the obsidian surface, steepling my hands in front of me. “Aside from the accident, Jax and I picked up an anomalous energy reading during the fly-about.”
My friend swung his head to me. “Anomalous how?”
“Jax’s picked up a few of them since he’s been flying security patrols, but the energy fluctuations come in short bursts, and then disappear. He didn’t think much of them because they’re erratic and infrequent.”
Vekron drummed his fingers on the bar. “I’d need to see the readings, but an energy fluctuation could mean a lot of things.”
“I thought it might be connected to the construction and the holographic emitters we’re installing,” I said, giving myself a mental kick that I’d never gotten around to asking Zoey if her design could have anything to do with the anomalies.
Vekron gave a curt shake of his head. “Doubtful. Our holographic technology is pretty contained. Besides, unless there was a system overload, it wouldn’t create an anomalous reading you’d detect from outside the station.”
I straightened, pushing my glass away from me and pivoting to face him. “What else could it be?”
“Again, I’d need to get a look at the readouts, but did the anomaly look temporal?”
I blinked at him a few times, as my sluggish brain computed what he was asking. “Are you telling me it could be a wormhole?”
“I’m not telling you anything,” Vekron said. “But energy surges that come and go quickly usually mean temporal technology—or jump technology.”
The whiskey in my stomach churned. “The Kronock have jump technology.”
Vekron gave me a pointed look. “I know. The last thing any of us want is a fleet of enemy vessels jumping in and surrounding the station.”
“I thought the station had a protective energy field that repelled jump technology.”
“It does,” Vekron said with a weary sigh. “I developed it, but that doesn’t mean it’s foolproof. If the Kronock can hack into our security frequencies, they’d be able to jump in.”
The sick feeling in my gut wasn’t subsiding, and I pressed a hand to my stomach. “What are the chances of that?”
“Previously, I would have said not very high…” He allowed his words to drift off.
“But now?” I prodded, my voice hard.
“The Kronock continue to do things we never would have suspected. Between their biomedical research and their acquisition of jump technology, they’re clearly working hard to catch up to us.”
Before the Kronock attack on Earth, I would have brazenly said that our enemy would never be a match for us, but I’d since learned that it was a fatal mistake to underestimate their ability or their vicousness. I could never forget that the Kronock’s end game was to wipe the Drexians—and all other species they considered inferior—from existence.
“Are you saying it’s possible these energy anomalies are the Kronock?”
“It could be them attempting to jump their ships in and failing.”
“Why would it be so random and infrequent?” I asked, wishing for the first time in my life that I’d spent more time studying engineering and physics.
“Attempts at jumping in from a far distance would take a great deal of energy. And I’d assume that with each failed attempt they’ll be recalibrating and adjusting based on the new data.”
Which mean that eventually their attempts might be successful. I allowed my eyes to close for a moment as I took all this in. As much as I welcomed battle with our enemy, I did not wish to bring it to the station—or to Zoey.
“This is worse than a kiss,” I said under my breath, turning to face the empty bar shelves.
“A kiss?” Vekron asked. “What does a kiss have to do with anything?”
My eyes flew open, and I cursed the fact that I’d said that out loud. Grekking Noovian whiskey. “Nothing. I was talking nonsense.”
“Kalex, who did you kiss?” Vekron asked, clearly not buying my weak excuse.
I glanced at the bottle of whiskey, even though I knew it couldn’t help me. There was nothing to do but tell my friend.
I swiveled toward him on the bar stool and opened my mouth, as the wide doors to the lounge slid open. We both craned our necks to see the unmistakable silhouette of Zoey standing in shadows, her hands braced on her hips.
Vekron looked back at me. “Forget I asked.”
Chapter Twelve
Zoey
By the time I tracked down Kalex, I was highly irritated and breathing hard. It had taken me long enough to get Serge to leave my quarters without emphatically kicking him out—that I would have never heard the end of—and then the captain hadn’t been in any of the places I’d expected. I’d tried his quarters, the bridge, and even the Drexian canteen where most of the warriors took their meals. And he had his personal comms device turned off, which further annoyed me. After rushing around the station for what felt like ages, I’d finally stopped one of the Drexians I knew flew security patrols.
“Jaxon, right?” I’d asked when I’d stopped the flight-suit-clad alien outside the hangar bay.
The tall Drexian with dark, loose hair eyed me with curiosity. “Jaxon, but my friends call me Jax.”
“Okay, Jaxon. I’m looking for the captain. You wouldn’t happen to know where he is, would you?”
“Kalex?” His grin widened. “You’re sure you want that moody Drexian?”
I felt like I’d been caught with my hand in the cookie jar, wondering how he knew that I wanted the captain, before realizing that his question was more general. “It’s a construction issue.”
Jaxon let out a breath. “He won’t be thrilled to hear that.”
“Yeah, well,” I said. “I do need to find him, and he doesn’t seem to be anywhere.”
The pilot glanced at the dimmed lighting in the corridor that indicated the station was in the night cycle. Even though there were no days or nights in deep space, the station set illumination to mimic Earth days. “It’s after hours. Maybe he snuck off to the officers’ club.”
I frowned at him. “That’s not open yet.”
Jaxon grinned at me, giving me the sense that he was used to charming females. “Not officially, but he is the captain.”
“Thanks,” I’d called over my shoulder as I spun on my heel and headed toward the inclinator, annoyance flashing fresh within me. It wasn’t that the officers’ lounge was dangerous—it wasn’t a construction zone anymore—but, like most of the station, it wasn’t staffed or fully stocked. It hadn’t occurred to me that anyone would sneak in before it officially opened. Then, again, Inferno Force warriors were notorious rule-breakers. The thought both irritated and thrilled me.
When I reached the door and swiped my hand over the panel to open it, I had to stand in the doorway for a few moments as my eyes adjusted. Compared to the bright-white hallways, the officers’ club was dark and shadowy, the gray carpet and glossy black surfaces seeming to suck up light as soon as it entered. Faint blue light glowed from recessed alcoves in the ceiling but, even so, I barely made out the shapes of the Drexians sitting at the bar.
“Captain?” I called out, hoping the pilot hadn’t sent me on a wild-goose chase.
There was a shuffling sound as the figures stood and approached, then I saw that it was Kalex and Vekron, both looking worse for wear.
“What are you doing here?” Kalex asked, his deep voice scratchy.
It wasn’t a bad question, but it annoyed me all the same. “I could ask you the same thing. This lounge isn’t cleared for use.”
“As captain, I authorized my use of it.”
I jutted one hip to the side as I eyed him, his face still partly in shadow. “Of course, you did.”
He flinched at this, but clenched his jaw as he stared me down
“I think I’m going to let you two fight this one out,” Vekron said,
his voice cutting through the crackling tension as he sidestepped me to reach the doorway. Then he glanced back at Kalex. “Unless you need a referee.”
Kalex growled, flicking his gaze to him for a beat.
Vekron held his palms up as if in surrender. “Clearly not.”
He ducked through the wide doors, and I stepped farther into the lounge, the double doors swishing closed behind me. Once they’d shut, cutting off the light from the corridor, the lounge was even darker.
I blinked a few times, hoping my eyes would adjust faster. Being alone in a dark room with Kalex was doing nothing for my fluttering pulse. “I’ve been all over the station looking for you.” I hadn’t meant for it to sound like an accusation, but the sharpness of my words sliced the air between us.
The captain released a long breath. “I needed to think.”
Even from a few feet away, I could smell the liquor on him. “More like you needed to drink.”
I tried not to take it personally that he’d kissed me and then rushed off to get drunk, but it wasn’t exactly the reaction a girl wanted. Did he really want to blot out the memory of it so badly?
“It seemed appropriate to have a drink after I’d destroyed my career.”
“What are you talking about?”
He stepped closer to me, and I could see that his face was contorted in some sort on internal agony. “I never should have kissed you. I’m your commanding officer, and it was wrong of me to force myself on you.”
“Yeah, you probably broke a bunch of rules.”
“I understand your anger at me.” He lowered his eyes to the floor even though he kept his shoulders squared. “I intend to submit my resignation at first watch.”
“Resignation?” I cocked my head at him. “You think I’m mad at you because you kissed me, and I want to see you kicked off the station?”
His head jerked up. “You don’t?”
I put my hands on my hips and scrunched my lips to one side. “I’m mad at you all right. But not because you kissed me. I’m mad because you stopped.”
His mouth gaped, and his eyebrows lifted.
My heart pounded as I closed the distance between us. I still wasn’t sure if this was my best idea, but it was better than being matched up with some rando by Serge. At least this way, I knew there was no danger of falling hard and getting hurt. This was just about sex, and I was so ready.
“I never thought you were the type of warrior who got a girl all worked up and then left without satisfying her,” I snapped.
If his eyes could widen any further, they did.
I’d never been shy with men, but I’d also never been the aggressor before. I’d never had to. Men had usually pursued me, and I’d been happy to let them. Besides, I’d had to fight so hard in every other part of my life to get ahead, it had been nice to have one thing I didn’t have to chase. Not that I’d ever been passive about my own pleasure, but I’d never set my sights on someone for the sole purpose of getting laid.
Looking at the baffled Drexian, I felt a rush of power that made me lightheaded. There was something to be said for taking what I wanted when it came to sex. And it was an even bigger thrill to be demanding it from a big, tough Drexian.
“What?” He was clearly confused since my tone was sharp even though I was basically telling him I wanted him.
I almost giggled at his stilted words and his stunned expression, but I kept my expression fierce. What Kalex and I did best was fight, and if I was going to keep emotions out of this, that couldn’t change.
“I thought Drexians were known for their stamina, but you ran off. You afraid you can’t handle me in bed?”
A growl rumbled in his chest. “I can handle you just fine.”
“Oh, yeah?” I challenged him, tilting my head and licking my lips. “Prove it, tough guy.”
Another rumble emanated from him, and a vein on his neck pulsed. “You don’t know what you’re asking for. You should walk away.”
Despite my heart hammering, I closed the remaining distance between us, peering up at him defiantly. “I’m not walking away, and I’m not asking. I’m ordering you.”
His dark eyes flashed. “You’re ordering me?”
My mouth was dry, and my hands trembled but there was no going back now. “That’s right, Captain. I’m ordering you to finish what you started and fuck my brains out.”
With a roar, Kalex scooped me up, wrapping my legs around his waist as he thundered to the long bar and set me down on it hard. “No one orders me around, but I am going to fuck you so hard that you beg me for mercy.”
I tremor of trepidation slid down my spine, but I ignored it and fisted my hands in his shirt. “Not a chance, Captain. I don’t beg for anything.”
“You will for me,” he said, before crushing his mouth to mine.
Chapter Thirteen
Kalex
Sensations ricocheted through my body as I parted Zoey’s lips with a dominant sweep of my tongue. Like before, I was surprised by how easily she yielded to me, her tongue swirling eagerly with mine and her moans breathy in my mouth. The mouth that was so quick with sharp comments and acerbic barbs willingly opened to me, allowing me to take possession as need stormed through me.
Her hands moved from the front of my shirt to my shoulders, her fingernails digging into me as she pulled me closer. Sliding my own hands down to cup her ass from behind, I jerked her so that her body was flush to me.
Zoey let out a small gasp, her tongue still tangling with mine as she groaned. I needed to feel more of her, so I found the buttons of her shirt and quickly undid them, my fingers skimming the lace of her bra when I tugged open her shirt.
Tearing my mouth from hers, I panted as I gazed down at the ivory lace covering her high, round breasts. The contrast with her soft brown skin nearly took my breath away, and I roughly tugged the lace of one cup to the side so I could suck on her hard nipple.
She arched her back, forcing her breast even deeper into my mouth. I gladly took it, sucking the pebbled flesh and savoring the delicate velvet of her skin. Cupping a breast in each hand, with the damp lace shoved to the side, I moved from one nipple to the other, flicking and sucking as she shrugged off the rest of her shirt and fumbled with her bra clasp behind her back.
When she’d removed them both, I sat back and gazed down at her bare chest, her breasts quivering as she sucked in ragged breaths.
I glanced over my shoulder at the door to the lounge. No one else dared enter the officially unopened space, but that didn’t mean the doors were locked. Even as desire raged through me, I tried to steady my breath. “We should go back to my quarters—or yours.”
Zoey shook her head. “No. I want you to fuck me here.”
Lust arrowed through me at her fervent words, but I glanced again at the doors and then at the wide window as a Drexian fighter jet zoomed by. “Anyone could see us.”
She bit her bottom lip. “Don’t tell me a Drexian is afraid of being seen.” She cut her eyes to my pants and arched her brows. “I know you have nothing you should want to hide, big guy.”
I did quick double take even as she let out a throaty laugh.
“Your package is hard to miss.”
“It isn’t me I’m trying to hide,” I said, trying not to wonder when Zoey had been staring at my cock.
“You don’t need to worry about me.” She wiggled forward on the bar and hopped down, her bare breasts bouncing, then she kicked off her shoes, undid her pants, and shimmied them down the length of her legs. When she stood in front of me in nothing but a pair of ivory lace panties, she gave me a wicked grin. “See?”
My mouth went dry as I stared at her, but I moved quickly to lift her back onto the bar and part her legs. “I see that you’re already wet for me.”
She opened her legs wider. “What are you going to do about it?”
I fought the urge to flip her onto her stomach and pound my cock into her. No, she might think she was in control, but I’d show her who really wa
s—and make her beg.
Without a word, I slid my fingers through the lace sides of her panties and tugged them down the length of her long legs. Tossing them aside, I hooked her legs over my shoulders and nestled my face between her legs.
She sucked in a breath, her pupils wide as she peered down at me. “I thought I told you to fuck me.”
I ran my tongue through her folds. “And I thought I said I don’t take orders from you. Your body is mine, and I’m going to do whatever I want with it. Do you understand?”
She let out a small squeak and lay back on the bar, threading her fingers through my hair as I returned my attention to her wet heat. It had been so long since I’d had my face buried between a female’s legs and my first time pleasuring a human. I knew about the bundle of nerves that made them scream—my Drexian brothers had been very free with information on how to pleasure a human—and I quickly found Zoey’s, circling my tongue around it as she writhed beneath me.
Not all females made noises, but I loved that Zoey did, her moans loud and shameless as I worked on her slick nub. I could only hope that anyone walking by in the corridor would take the loud noises as an indication not to come inside, because there was no way the echoing sounds of Zoey’s ecstasy weren’t carrying beyond the walls of the lounge.
As her cries became louder, I slipped a finger inside her, earning a gasp and then a groan of delight. “If that’s just your finger, I can’t wait to take your cock.”
I sucked on her clit as I slid a second finger inside, battling my need to fuck her with my desire to make her come first. Sliding my thick fingers in and out, her cries became gasps, and her legs clenched around my head.
Holding my fingers all the way inside her, I stopped working my mouth on her clit and lifted my head. “Do you want me to stop?”
“What?” She jerked her head off the bar, her eyes wild as she focused on me. “No, don’t stop.”
