by S. E. Smith
Also by Susan Grant
The Star Series:
Star King #1
Star Prince #2
Star Rogue #3
Star Champion #4
Star Puppy #4.5 (novella)
Star Hero #4.6 (novella)
About the Author
When NY Times/USA Today bestselling author and Air Force veteran Susan Grant isn't driving an 18-wheeler (a 747 jumbo jet) she loves writing romantic, action-packed stories featuring gutsy woman and honorable men. Flying to exotic places and trying every kind of food imaginable helps Susan bring her sci-fi worlds alive for readers. She is a winner of the prestigious RITA award for her book Contact, an alien abduction sci-fi romance.
www.susangrant.com/
Wired For Love
By
Michelle Howard
About Wired for Love
Hunter Gils has put his past in the military behind him. Now his focus is on his bar and the less than savory clientele. Life is perfect – except for a gray-eyed beauty who refuses his advances.
Narelle Bindu wasn’t immune to the tall, dark stranger working at The Zone. He wanted her – and she wanted him. The only drawback was she didn’t have room in her life for a man, not even one as tempting as Hunter.
When a deadly attack creates the perfect opening for an old enemy, the two lovers must work together to survive. What they never expect is to find an ally willing to help them – even if that help has four legs. Can their four-legged friend keep Hunter and Narelle alive long enough to find out that one night would never be enough?
This is in honor of Frieka, the best pet secondary character I’ve ever read in a romance
One
The mewling cry cut through the night and grabbed Narelle’s attention. She paused and cocked her head to the side, listening for the sound again. Silence greeted her. It was late and she hoped to stop in at The Zone for one last drink before they closed the doors for the night. Maybe squeeze in a quick chat with the striking owner and bar keep. A grin tugged at her lips. Hunter Gil definitely warranted her best effort to get there on time.
Thinking about the serious brown eyes which lightened at her approach and the slow smile Hunter always gave at her arrival was enough to hurry her steps. Another whine followed by a yip stopped her in her tracks. Tugging up the collar of her synth leather jumper against the late night chill, Narelle sighed and rolled her eyes.
“This better be worth my time.”
She doubled back on the street, following the continuous whines until she reached a locked shop door. All of the lights inside the building were out, the owners probably warm and settled in their residence for the night.
Narelle huffed and tapped on the thin-framed door just in case. “Hello?”
She paused, waiting for some sign anyone remained inside.
Nothing.
“Well, I did my part.” She turned, fully prepared to rush to The Zone in hopes of catching sight of Hunter.
Rapid barking brought her to an abrupt halt. Narelle cursed and turned back. This time she bypassed the front door and peered around the corner to the narrow pathway nestled between the two buildings. The tight passage reeked of rotting trash and stagnant water from the prior night’s rain storm.
A dark shadow flashed against the wall on the right, heading toward her at a rapid speed. The size and shape of the threat loomed above her head. Another curse and Narelle stumbled backward but the creature kept coming, its pace picking up. Seconds from withdrawing the knife she wore at her hip, Narelle burst back onto the street and glanced over her shoulder only to come up short.
The menacing creature from the dark was…a four legged animal about knee height. A pitiful one at that. With more than a bit of trepidation, she held out her hand. “Hello there.”
Distinguishing the color of the short-matted coat proved hard. A mixture of dark and light brown hair covered a shivering body beyond thin. At the sound of her voice, the animal lowered itself close to the ground and crawled toward her with hesitant steps and another whine. Narelle’s heart softened as she squatted until the creature reached her.
A dog.
Not an ordinary dog, she decided, even in the dim security lights from the nearby closed shops. The eyes reflected a keen intelligence. As soon as the dog drew close enough, she ran her hands along its trembling sides, and bones met her fingers. Pointed ears flicked forward at her touch and a warm nose nudged at her chin.
“Aren’t you a cute boy. Or girl.” Determining the sex needed a different angle and better light.
Now the bigger question—what to do with her discovery? Pushing up to her feet, Narelle glanced longingly in the direction of the bar. She could take the dog to her temp room and hope she didn’t get kicked out for violating the no living pet rule or she could continue on her path and see if Hunter had any idea on what to do.
The dog leaned into her side, bumping the back of her knee. A quick lick of its dry tongue against her fingers decided.
“Come on, boy. Or girl,” she muttered and started for The Zone at a rapid pace. Her furry friend kept up, claws clacking against the wet pavers.
As she neared the popular spot for off-worlders, Narelle slowed. The door burst open and several men fell through the entrance laughing and stumbling into one another. At her side, the dog growled, drawing notice. One of the men, a regular she recognized just by his scrungy shirt and pants with a threadbare cloak thrown over his shoulder, stared.
“Wassat?” He bumped a friend and pointed behind Narelle.
She tensed, one hand dropping to the top of the dog’s head. The short fur bristled beneath her fingertips.
His drunk cohorts laughed and grabbed his arm as they tugged him down the street until she no longer heard their sloppy footsteps. Breathing a sigh of relief, she stepped inside and crossed into the hum of activity representing The Zone. Due to the late hour, only a few determined customers lingered waiting for Hunter’s inevitable bellow as he evicted them all exactly on closing hour.
Hoping to go undetected, Narelle took a seat in a back booth, settled the dog then watched the bustling man behind the bar. Hunter’s large frame moved briskly from one end of the counter to the other, a towel slung over a broad shirt-clad shoulder. While chatting with the two customers seated on the stools, he washed and cleaned glasses. He worked with an economy of moves and Narelle allowed herself to enjoy the sight.
Smooth muscles rippled and flexed in his lower arms made bare by the rolled sleeves of the black fitted shirt. Shaggy black hair in need of a cut fell over his brow and blocked a clear view of his features. Not that Narelle minded, since she knew exactly what he looked like and could describe him with her eyes closed even after a drink or three.
At her side, the dog nudged her thigh before stretching out full length on the wine-colored bench seat.
“Are you hungry?” She rubbed a pointed ear. Deep brown eyes met her gaze, and Narelle melted. She wasn’t a melt-y person, but this animal was hitting all her weak spots. “Alright. Let me see what I can do.”
Taking a deep breath, she rounded the booth and pushed back her shoulders as she strode toward the bar and the one man who managed to arouse and terrify her at the same time. He looked up and their gazes connected.
Power. It radiated from him in waves and no other word perfectly described the man she approached. Sections of dark hair stood up in disarray on top where he’d no doubt run his fingers through it several times during the evening. Thick brows lowered in her direction, brown eyes narrowing.
Familiar heat from whenever they crossed paths slammed into Narelle despite her attempt at nonchalance. Everyone around them faded away. The lights, the music, none of it intruded. Her focus zeroed in on the man stripping her bare with nothing more than a look.
It was obvious Hunter didn’t care if anyone saw the way he stared. A customer tried to catch his attention, but his intensity never wavered. Narelle paused to catch her breath, masking the hitch in her stride by sw
iveling around as if she was surveying the crowd. When she turned back around, his eyes continued to blaze in her direction.
The wiser part of her screamed run, run now and the less sane part—mainly her libido—strained to reach out and touch him. But she didn’t let any of that deter her. She needed answers and not a being in this establishment doubted Hunter was the one to talk to if you had questions.
If her stomach bubbled with nerves, it was because he’d stated his interest clearly every time her travels as a smuggler brought her this way, and she’d flirt, laugh then scurry off. The last time Narelle had felt herself waiver, tempted beyond belief to give in to the sensual strings connecting them.
It always took a while to bolster her courage enough to return and face him. Even then she still denied the vivid attraction because that way lay trouble. Hunter slept his way through women and she had the terrible habit of falling in love with any man she took to her bed. Nothing good would come of her giving in to Hunter and she’d end up with a bruised heart for the endeavor.
All of this meant it was probably time to move on, time to find another stop point for her routes. At least Hunter now allowed her the illusion of pretense. Oh, he continued to eye her from across the room if he noticed her arrival and not once did he stop the wicked glances. The difference lay in the effort, deeper undertones and the knowing smiles which lacked the force and potency of earlier gestures. It was if he’d backed off and dared her to reach out for what she wanted.
And Narelle wanted. Stars and moons how she wanted!
Two
Hunter sensed her the moment she entered his radius. Narelle Bindu. No matter how hard he worked for it, she avoided his bed as if he carried a plague. From beneath lowered lids, he watched her approach with a sensuous walk many women attempted but failed. What amused him more than anything was her complete and utter lack of awareness about her appeal.
Rapacious gazes followed her, but she neither glanced right nor left. He straightened and tossed the used towel on the bar as he folded his arms over his chest to resist the driving urge to snatch her close when she was within reach.
The last time he’d made his need obvious and propositioned the lithe green-skinned beauty, she’d not only fled The Zone but the satellite station as well, sending his worry meter off the charts until she eventually returned. Narelle wasn’t ready for what he wanted to offer as evident by her disappearance, but those few days of wondering if he’d chased her away for good still scared Hunter. She’d driven him to new heights with her avoidance tactics, causing a reaction no other woman before her ever had.
Time. He needed time to draw her in to satisfy their mutual desire for one another. Eyeing the rounded curve of her breasts from the low cut of her top, his lower half sprung to life. No denying he wanted her, but he wouldn’t push as hard again.
The problem resided in his growing worry that he didn’t have much time left. Narelle in the last couple of visits exuded an unseen before restless vibe Hunter couldn’t pin down. It was almost as if she planned to disappear permanently.
His heart clenched. He wouldn’t allow her to vanish without getting one taste. The vow grounded Hunter and loosened the knot in his gut. He ignored thinking about why it mattered so much.
In her black leather synth suit, she appeared a woman well versed in the seductive arts. Long legs, body sleek and a fluid swing of those curvy hips. One only had to look into her gray eyes to reinforce the impression. Daring and full of allure.
Except for now. Now she looked worried. Tense lines creased her forehead. Pearly white teeth nibbled on the full bottom lip, turning the green flesh a darker shade of emerald.
Hunter growled, his lips curling up at the sexy gesture. She was pretty. Beyond damn pretty and he liked everything about her including the small scar on the upper right side of her lip. He had dreams about that scar. About her lips. About kissing her until neither of them resisted the undeniable pull drawing them close.
Pale green skin hinted at her heritage as a Nordo, the short black horns on her temple no longer than his thumb confirmed it. Nordos coming and going at his rough and ready bar wasn’t unusual but his visceral reaction to Narelle was.
Hunter leaned forward and braced his forearms on the counter separating them as she stopped at the bar. Deep and stormy, her eyes flared in appreciation, and Hunter luxuriated in a moment of pride for maintaining his former military physique. “What can I get you tonight, Narelle?”
“My usual.” A sassy wink accompanied her order.
His cock surged in response as he turned to mix the fruity beverage with a surprising strong hit of alcohol. The first time she’d requested the drink, Hunter had eyed her luscious form from head to toe wondering if he’d be scooping her off the floor later. All hair and ass not an extra pound to be found yet she’d handled the heavy dose of alcohol like a pro.
Today she wore the red mass in a tight bun but curls slivered free. Sometimes at night, he dreamed about pulling on those strands while she was on her knees, mouth to his hardening length.
“I’ll have what she’s having, Hunter,” an irritating customer yelled out from across the bar. One dark look from Hunter had the man paling and ducking his head back to the full glass of clear liquid already in front of him.
Over his shoulder, Hunter winked at Narelle, catching her smirk before she wiped the expression clear. The gods forbid he should ever think she found anything about him appealing. With the mixer humming away as he prepared her drink, Hunter wondered what her story was. Like most of his patrons, she kept her lips sealed about her private life, but he’d made no secret of his interest in exploring the heated attraction which ignited whenever their paths crossed.
Drink finished, he walked back toward her and held it slightly out of reach. Her brows pinched and an exasperated huff escaped her lips. “Get it over with, Hunter.”
He grinned. She knew him well. “Stay after closing and talk to me.”
“Fine.”
The full glass almost hit the floor with a crash. Hunter caught it before the blue bubbling liquid spilled and handed it over. “What did you say?”
Her eyes rolled. “You heard me.”
“Allow me time to replay the moment in my head.”
He almost had it. A glitter in her gaze, a slight curve of her lips and a twitch of that damn scar. Then she banked the spurt of humor. Hunter vowed he’d see her laugh one of these days.
Narelle bit her inner cheek as she leaned her hip to the side. Amusement faded and doubt clouded her features. “I was hoping we could talk in private for a minute.”
All intentions to get a pretty smile from her before he headed to his lonely bed vanished. “What’s wrong?”
She shifted nervously, head jerking to the side. Hunter tried to see over her shoulder but she leaned closer, blocking his view of the bar, and her citrus fresh scent washed over him. He swallowed back a groan and gave her his full attention.
“I found something outside before getting here. I wanted to see if you could help me.”
Narelle never asked for help. At least he didn’t think she was the type to ask for help. All cocky confidence and sheer bravado with a veneer of vulnerability that made Hunter want to wrap his arms around her and never let go. Except she refused his every attempt to move what they shared from light banter to something hot and physical.
“You know I’ll help you, Narelle. All you have to do is ask.”
Her shoulders dropped and her eyes brightened as she shot him a half grin. She pointed over her shoulder without turning. “When you close come see me at the back table.”
Annoyance nipped at his patience, but Hunter gave in with a firm nod. “I’ll only be a little while.”
Putting words to action, he signaled the closing of the bar by hitting the overhead lights twice. Long use to the abrupt nature when he declared it time to go, customers began settling their tab and rising to their feet.
“Out now!”
Chairs scooted b
ack and patrons leaped to their feet faster. Humor twitched the sides of his lips. He may have been forceful a time or two escorting wayward customers out the door.
Quiet settled after the place emptied, and he tallied the night’s earnings with half a mind to the task, the other half firmly on Narelle, who never moved from her spot in the back. Blonde highlights gleamed in the loose sections of hair, which fell about her face from the knot atop her head. She’d positioned herself well, and he only caught glimpses of her profile as she nibbled her lips and alternately looked down at her lap.
Hunter couldn’t imagine what could have driven her to him but wasn’t going to complain. More than anything, he’d love to have the challenging woman indebted to him. He shut out every light except the smaller ones running over the main bar and the corner stage where he sometimes paid to have performers come in.
Keeping his steps light, despite the beginning twinges in his right knee, Hunter approached her table. Unobserved he took note of the way her hands continually clenched on the table. The invisible barrier she normally kept around him was lowered. Hunter sensed changes he had yet to pinpoint, and his cock stretched in pleasure.
