Wired For Love

by Michelle Howard

  Exhaling sharply, she resumed her half-sit, half-lean on the table behind her. Her heart thumped on pace with her increased breathing. “Be careful, Hunter.”

  “Always, baby.”

  She rolled her eyes at the cocky tone, crossed her legs at the ankle and waited. Hunter connected the probe to a port in his wrist and flinched. Observing in silence as requested, Narelle gripped the edge of the table behind her.

  When Hunter tipped his head to the side, the whites of his eyes darkened until the entire orbs turned black. Narelle sucked in a gasp. She didn’t know much about Lomanis. Was this normal? The war mongrel whined and a red flush stained Hunter’s cheeks. Should she interfere?

  But no, he’d been explicit in his instructions, and she didn’t want to do anything to interrupt what was happening.

  ***

  Information downloaded at a rapid pace into the section of Hunter’s brain designed for this process. He gritted his teeth against the accompanying twinges of pain from linking with a war mongrel he wasn’t supposed to connect with. The familiar rush brought its own brand of hurt.

  Images and memories occurred in flashes, but enough for Hunter to piece together the details. The surface file ended abruptly. Releasing an unsteady breath, Hunter detached, closed the flap on his wrist and locked the war mongrel’s jack output. Once everything was secure, he braced one hand on the floor and closed his eyes. The burn assured his eyes had changed during the process. What did Narelle think? Would she be freaked? Appalled at how other he really was?

  No time to think of her reaction. He’d been correct in his initial assumption. “The soldier or his handler died on a mission. I’m unsure how Bogan survived and why it didn’t return to the nearest base or command site as it’s trained to do.”

  “Bogan,” Narelle murmured and the dog’s ears flickered, looking toward her for the first time since gaining Hunter’s attention.

  “Also known as K9-15.” Hunter rose to his feet, battling an overwhelming wave of grief that came with the brief moment of connection. A connection he hadn’t felt in years. For good reason. A man only survived the sort of pain he’d gone through one time in his life if he was lucky. More than that and a person was left devastated to the point of no return.

  For Hunter, it had almost come to that. “The war mongrel needs to eat. I’ll see what I can pull together in the kitchen. Again, no guarantee it will accept the food.”

  Truth be told he wasn’t sure how K9-15 survived. The lack of a handler and government assistance should have consigned the war mongrel to death. Of course, it looked like the animal was close enough to that state already.

  “It’s a he not an it.” Narelle’s interjection pulled Hunter’s gaze back to her.

  This was the soft side he’d sensed beneath her tough exterior. She needed to understand. “War mongrels were created to be weapons. Disposable. You had to treat it as such. Attachments were strictly forbidden.”

  For all the good it did. One thing the government failed to take into consideration was the bond which grew between man and animal. Intense training, cyber-connections and depending on one another in life and death situations tended to create a level of trust and intimacy which could never be avoided. Bonds formed on less.

  Narelle’s eyes softened as she stared at Bogan, who stood next to his thigh. “Too late for the warning. I think this guy is attached.”

  Hunter hoped she was wrong. Very wrong. He’d already been down that road and had the scars to prove it.

  Chapter 4

  “We need to return him.”

  Narelle didn’t want to address Hunter’s comment and changed the subject. “Did you find out what you needed?”

  Hunter tossed her a knowing smirk. “K9-15 was the last in his batch created as a war mongrel. Excelled at his training. Almost didn’t make the WIRED program though. War mongrels who didn’t pass the program were put down as failures.”

  “Why?” Narelle couldn’t imagine putting down this beautiful animal.

  “They couldn’t find a handler to sync with him.”

  Narelle’s brows lowered. “That doesn’t make sense. That’s the purpose of the project.”

  Hunter shrugged and clicked his teeth. “Komm.”

  Bogan obediently followed him into the back kitchen. Hunter pulled out a dish and filled it with a broken protein bar. After studying the grainy bits, the food disappeared in a gulp. Brown eyes shot to Hunter, and Narelle held her breath as Hunter added several more pieces.

  “Every K9 is different. Most bonded easily, but from what I’ve seen in his memory banks, Bogan only made it because of Joseph Donner. That’s the soldier who died on their last assignment together.”

  Staring at the dog as he daintily nibbled on the food left Narelle at a loss. “But you can help him, right?”

  “A lot still doesn’t add up.” Hunter shook his head, then went back to filling a bowl with water and setting it next to Bogan.

  “What do you mean?” Narelle pressed.

  Hunter spared her a glance and grasped the back of his neck with another of those telling sighs. “Even injured and without his handler, K9-15 shouldn’t have come near you or let you near him. It’s not in the training.”

  “Maybe he went against his training.”

  Remorse and a heavy dose of anger formed Hunter’s frown. “It’s best for all if you contact the government and return him, Narelle.”

  He kept pushing for what she knew was the right step, but something Narelle couldn’t put her finger on held her back. Why did she feel this strong affinity for the dog? She’d never had a pet or a desire to own one. “I can’t, Hunter. Don’t ask me to do that yet.”

  Broad fingers jammed through the waves of his hair as he pursed his lips. “You do realize the possibility of it...him surviving is slim? Look at him, Narelle. There’s the very real danger to anyone if he decides to attack. He’s a highly-trained asset. War mongrels weren’t meant to last without their handlers. I should know.”

  The last statement was telling as was the brief glimpse of grief twisting his features. “What does that mean?”

  “It means unless he can sync to another handler, he’s going to die anyway.”

  Brutal, hard, honest truth. She expected no less from this man who teased and enticed with a single glance. “What if you sync with him?”

  No hiding his obvious distaste. “No.”

  Narelle occupied her hands by shuffling the container of packaged protein bars on the counter. Anything to keep from touching Hunter to ease his pain as she wanted. “But you have experience. You seem to know about this handler stuff. With your adjustments, couldn’t you do it?”

  “I’m not in the military any more for a reason.”

  Hunter’s rough growl rasped against her senses. Hiding her renewed desire, Narelle studied his expression. There was more he wasn’t telling. Secrets. Hunter Gils was a man of many secrets. But then so was she. Anyone who came to this off the track location came because they needed a place to hide. A place where no one questioned.

  Letting the matter drop was the right thing to do. Contacting the government to get their property was the appropriate step to take. Yet, Narelle hesitated. Hunter knew a lot more than he was letting on. Following instinct, she asked, “You were in the WIRED program, weren’t you?”

  His head snapped up. “Whether I was or not is secured classified information. My role in the military during the Vargos war is top secret.”

  “That a yes?” It seemed natural to push. “Sounds like a yes.”

  His brows pinched deeper, and a snarl rattled. “Don’t go there, Narelle.”

  She ignored the warning even as her breasts swelled in the face of his demand. “I’m only asking because you can help him. I know it.”

  As if a switch flipped, Hunter’s demeanor changed. Anger dissipated and something else took its place. The lines of his shoulders eased. He shifted the weight of his hips, the cocky stance drawing her gaze down to note his prominen
t arousal against the cloth of the black cargo pants.

  When she found the energy to bring her eyes back up, wicked glee and pure seduction stared back at her. “I’ll try. For a price.”

  “A price? What price?” She stiffened and backed up a step. She knew exactly what he wanted.

  Hunter took a step forward, negating the attempt at distance. “One night.”

  Narelle’s heart pounded. Licking her lips, she repeated his words “One night? For what?”

  Pinning her to the wall with his body, his rough palm cupped her cheek. “It ends now. No more games. You know what I want in exchange.”

  Shivers worked their way through her body. Tendrils of desire awakened and coiled around her lower half. She tried to speak and had to clear her throat twice. “Are you really so desperate you’d bargain for a night to get me in bed?”

  “Yes.” Simple and ruthless. No remorse in the blunt tone he used. “You have no idea how desperate I am to crawl between your thighs and see if you’re as hot on the inside as you are on the outside.”

  “Pathetic, Hunter. You’re pathetic.” But her voice thickened. “What makes you think I want to sleep with you?”

  His lips twitched. “Oh, we wouldn’t be sleeping.”

  Need burned a path of arousal straight from her nipples to the place between her thighs. Narelle jerked her face away from his tender touch. She wanted him, but if she slept with Hunter how would she resist him in the future? Without a doubt sex with him would be like no other. He possessed the ability to shred her heart if given the chance.

  She swallowed and forced the answer past dry lips. “No. I’m not sleeping with you.”

  His hand dropped and Narelle immediately missed the contact. He shrugged broad shoulders and moved away, freeing her from the press of his hard body. “Fine. I’ll contact the authorities and make arrangements for them to pick up K9-15.”

  “Bastard,” she spat, out of control and stepped to the side. Far enough away to restrain the urge to strike out physically. To hurt him for forcing her into this position.

  All traces of humor washed from his face. “Bastard? No, not a bastard, but I am a man tired of the chase. Give me what I want, Narelle, and I’ll give you what you want.”

  “You don’t know what I want.”

  His head tipped to the side. “I know exactly what you want because it mirrors my own dreams. I want to drown in the scent of you. I want your soft skin beneath my hands no matter how rough they are. I want to stroke deep into the heart of you as you clench around me with the hunger we both have for one another. Deny it if you must, but I know, Narelle. I see it in your eyes every time you refuse me.”

  “I’m not falling for you baiting me.”

  Hunter leaned close, but Narelle refused to give ground again. Amusement twinkled in his eyes. “Coward.”

  The whisper wafted across her cheek, and her insides clenched. Damn him. Damn him for knowing exactly what he did to her.

  “I’m not a coward.”

  His lips quirked. “Then ask for what you want, and I promise to give it to you.”

  Demand and pleasure all wrapped into one sensuous statement. She could have him, touch him. Narelle balled her fists and stood tall. “You’ll help the war mongrel, Bogan?”

  An abrupt nod as he folded his arms across his chest.

  She’d like to knock the smug grin from his face. “Agreed.”

  His brown gaze smoldered. “Tell me. I need to hear what you’re agreeing to.”

  “One night, Hunter. You and I. In exchange, you’ll try to sync with Bogan.”

  ***

  Too easy. Hunter couldn’t believe he’d gotten her to give in. Fine trembles ran through him. Finally. At last he had a means of finally getting what he wanted from Narelle. He’d have her in his bed and all it entailed.

  Bogan shifted about, reminding him of his presence. Hunter didn’t want to do this. No, he really didn’t want to do this. Helping Narelle and the war mongrel would open wounds long ago healed. It also meant revealing more of himself than he wanted to. None of that would stop him from this course of action though.

  “But you sync with Bogan first. If it doesn’t work, I owe you nothing.”

  He grunted. Always planning a way out. “Agreed. If the war mongrel rejects me, I won’t hold you to our bargain.”

  There was a very real chance of that anyway. Tension eased from her shoulders and Hunter suffered a moment of regret for his methods but quickly squashed it. They both wanted this. He’d merely provided Narelle a way of accepting which allowed her to still deny she wanted him every bit as much as he wanted her. If this didn’t work, he’d find another means of getting her in his bed.

  Hunter turned toward the war mongrel, who lay stretched out on the floor, head planted on his front paws. Hunter crouched and made sure to establish eye contact. He signaled with his hand and used the verbal commands all soldiers in the special unit had been taught. “Komm.”

  Bogan perked to attention, trotted over to Hunter and sat. Hunter took a deep breath. “Ofen.”

  The slot by his ear opened again with a snick. Hunter rubbed at his inner wrist activating the pad. A press of his thumb, and the probe slid out. If this work he’d once more be connected to a war mongrel. Something Hunter had avoided after the loss of his partner during the last mission he’d undertaken with his team.

  Against his will, memories blasted forward. As lead, Hunter and his war mongrel Riktor entered the structure first to scout. The animal saved Hunter by ignoring a direct command for the first time ever and pushed Hunter far enough away to protect him from most of the blast. The rest of Hunter’s team hadn’t been so fortunate. They’d all died, leaving Hunter to walk away with massive scarring, a bad knee and malfunctioning adjustments. The list of injuries he’d sustained would have been enough to shake any soldier. Knowing everyone in his unit died created a wound that would never heal. Losing K9-03 ripped him to pieces and ruined any thought of going back to the lines.

  As the sole survivor, Hunter’s superiors reviewed the incident over and over before clearing him of any wrongdoing. He received his discharge at the same time the Vargos were defeated thanks to that last battle. Sure, he, Riktor and the team were listed as heroes responsible for turning the tide during the war, but the cost had been high. Too high.

  “Hunter, is everything okay?”

  Narelle’s softly voiced question dispelled the memories of the past. Hunter shook his head to clear it. “Fine.”

  She winced, and he wished he could take back the rough bite in his tone. Instead he focused on Bogan. There’d be time later to woo her with sweet words. He inserted the probe, and waited. Unlike earlier when he accessed the surface memories, Hunter needed to allow Bogan to connect with him on an intimate level to create the reciprocal feedback necessary for a successful sync.

  With the war mongrel’s history of unsuccessful matches this would be difficult. On his side, Hunter was counting on his heritage as Lomanis to aid him. Closing his eyes, he relaxed his guard and opened himself. The initial jolt after such a long time shocked his system.

  The currents running from his adjustments were powerful. Hunter sensed the moment the biotronics in Bogan made contact with his. Another jolt followed by resistance on the war mongrel’s part and a low whine.

  “Gott, biet rel,” Hunter soothed as he opened his eyes. Good war mongrel. “Gemfach.” Easy.

  Hunter needed to get through the animal’s natural barrier to accepting another. As expected, his own reluctance to bond again in this manner worked against him as well. Another whine from Bogan as if craving the contact, but afraid.

  “Gemfach,” Hunter repeated, running a hand over the bristling hair on his back. The short strands needed a good washing and a brushing. Something the sync would automatically take care of. “Gemfach.”

  His tone came through, and Bogan held still, every muscle quivering. Part of the block keeping the sync from taking place cracked. The well of emotions f
rom the animal bombarded Hunter until he gritted his teeth against the onslaught. Grief, fear, anger and confusion. The loss of Donner had hit Bogan hard.

  During the mental surge, Hunter caught the handler’s death in a series of slide images from the war mongrel’s perspective. Not complete details, but enough to see the soldier running while looking over his shoulder then weapon fire struck him in the chest as he faced forward. The sequence sped up as he fell to the ground and ended.

  Whatever assignment the two had been on ended with Donner’s death and Bogan returning to the pick-up zone as trained. But not before he’d dragged the young’s man body for hours attempting to bring him back. Hunter’s throat locked. Riktor would have done the same for him in a similar situation. What the military failed to grasp was that syncing between a war mongrel and the soldier handler was more than computer programming and training.

  Trust, love and an unshakeable bond grew. One would think the extensive testing would have revealed this. Or maybe it had and the government didn’t care because the Vargos war meant more than worrying about a small elected group.

  At some point, Bogan realized the futility of his efforts and reluctantly left his partner behind. No one arrived to retrieve him. Days passed until hunger and fear drove Bogan in search of contact with another. How he ended up here was unclear. Static and breaks in Bogan’s recording mechanism prevented Hunter from seeing those details. Probably due to the war mongrel’s waning condition.

  The next footage showed Narelle crouching beside the animal and then their trek to The Zone. Hunter swallowed, hesitating about the next step. If it worked, it would be irreversible. He’d be permanently linked again to a partner and all the potential pain which came along with it.

  Hunter firmed his voice. “Trijl, Bogan.” Sync.

  Despite what he expected, the connection slammed into Hunter with the force of a fighter jet. Stomach dropping, he staggered to one knee. Narelle gasped behind him. Bogan rose to his haunches and snapped in her direction.