Mark of Eon: Eon Warriors #5

by Hackett, Anna

Aydin and Jamie both jerked back.

  “The war commander has requested you both on the bridge.” A male assistant held out robes to Aydin and Jamie.

  Aydin wrapped the robe around his body, watching as Jamie did the same.

  She shot him a tight smile. “Duty calls.”

  Chapter Six

  Jamie strode onto the bridge and everyone spun to face her.

  Aydin was already there, in a new black uniform. She’d stopped by her cabin to change as well. No way she was attending a debrief in a robe.

  Her gaze met Aydin’s and she swore she heard a sizzle. Dammit.

  “We’ve identified the planet you saw in the images from the helian, Aydin,” Caze said.

  “It’s a planet called Kelaff,” Davion said.

  Aydin’s brows drew together. “It’s not in the Caylar System.”

  “No. I agree that the map to the Caylar System was supposed to derail our search for the helians.”

  “So, tell me about this Kelaff?” Jamie demanded.

  A mission was just what she needed. She was still messed up from the supernova-hot moments in the gym with Aydin and their little jaunt to the Kantos object. She’d nearly jumped him in a decon chamber. God.

  She needed to kick some ass and clear her head.

  Jamie jammed her hands in the pockets of her uniform. Yes, a full-blown mission was what she needed, and kicking Kantos butt was an added bonus.

  Davion nodded and images popped up on the screen. They showed a brown-and-green orb.

  “We have limited intel, unfortunately,” Caze said. “Kelaff is riddled with huge sinkholes, most of which are filled with water. The rest of the planet is lush, dense rainforest. It has some venomous animals, but no large predators that we know of.”

  Aydin crossed his arms. “That’s it. The planet the helian showed me.”

  “Tell me that we’re going in,” Jamie said.

  “We’ll send a small team in to Kelaff,” Davion said. “They’ll sneak across the border and confirm that the helians are on the planet.”

  Jamie looked at Caze. The big warrior had his arms crossed over his chest.

  “There could be a large Kantos presence protecting this lab. It’s imperative that we do not let them know that we’re there.” Caze’s gaze scanned the room. “I’ll take a small team. Me, Lara, Jamie, and Aydin.”

  Jamie’s eyebrows rose. “Aydin?”

  “We need to take samples and recover the helians if we find them,” Caze said. “Aydin has the skills to do that.”

  “When do we leave?” she asked.

  “In six ship hours. While we sleep, my security team will prep our gear and the stealth ship.”

  “Find those helians,” Davion said. “We already know that the Kantos are experimenting with them. If they succeed with their experiments… The outcome will not be good for Eon, or for Earth.”

  Jamie headed into the corridor and a second later, Aydin fell into step with her.

  “Why is the Kantos’ experimentation with the helians so bad?” she asked.

  He lifted his wrist, showing off the wristband that housed his own helian. “Helians have the ability to manipulate energy. They can shift energy into different forms. That’s what creates our weapons and armor. Once bonded with a warrior, they can control some bodily functions. They can increase a warrior’s strength and aid in healing.”

  She frowned. “Can the Kantos achieve the same bonding that you have with a helian?”

  He shook his head. “We know for certain that bonding can’t be forced. With a helian and an Eon warrior, it’s a mutual bonding, a symbiotic relationship.”

  “What does the helian get from the relationship?”

  “The chance to use their abilities, to live and thrive.”

  They entered a turbo lift and Jamie leaned against the wall. “So, what do you think the Kantos are doing with the helians?”

  “Manipulating them through experiments, trying to exploit their abilities. Davion saw some helian-based weapons when he first met Eve. They could find a way to disrupt a warrior’s helian, and prevent us from using them for our weapons and armor. They already have the immobilizing substance that can entrap our helians.”

  Jamie had heard about the black gunk that could restrict a warrior’s helian from working. If the Kantos found a way to do that permanently… Shit, it would be beyond bad. They’d render the warriors powerless.

  “Fucking Kantos.” She tried to shake off the edgy feeling that was making her shoulders tense. She really needed a good fight. She almost wanted a bug to appear so she could beat it down.

  They stopped in front of Aydin’s cabin.

  “You need to rest up,” he told her. “We have no idea how the mission will go. We need to be in top form.”

  She looked at him, all medical-commander bossy. She wondered if she could work alongside him on this mission, in harsh, dangerous conditions, and keep her cool.

  He got under her skin and unsettled her like no one she’d met before. She wanted that feeling to go away.

  And she knew one way that she could get rid of it.

  She gripped his shirt and pulled him inside his cabin.

  He tensed. “Jamie—”

  “I need something to help me rest.”

  She shoved him against the wall and pressed her mouth to his.

  He stiffened, then groaned, his hands clamping on her hips. She thrust her tongue inside his mouth and rubbed her body against his.

  He thrust a muscular thigh between her legs and she rode it, tremors shivering through her.

  Yes. She could work him out of her system just like this.

  For her, sex was like chocolate. Once you’d had a little bit, it took the edge off, and she didn’t crave it anymore. And Jamie never gorged because she’d never felt the need to before.

  One taste of him and then she could set him aside.

  “Fuck me, Aydin.” She nipped his lip. “Hard and fast.”

  * * *

  This Terran would be the death of him.

  She wanted to rush, but Aydin wanted more. For the first time in his life, he wanted more than just her delectable body. He wanted to see more of what he’d glimpsed under her dense armor.

  But then she cupped his cock and the blood in his body went south. A groan ripped from him.

  She smiled and nipped his jaw. “You want this.”

  “I want you. With a hunger that borders on insanity.”

  “I want to see all of you.” She flicked open his trousers and then she stroked him through the fabric of his undergarments.

  “I want sex and a mind-blowing orgasm,” she purred.

  Aydin spun her so she faced the wall and pinned her there. “No.”

  She made an annoyed sound.

  “You’ll give me more than that,” he growled against her ear.

  She pushed back against him, rubbing her ass against his cock. “Dammit, warrior, most guys would be thrilled with hot sex and no strings attached.”

  “I’m not most guys.”

  “No, you’re not.” Her voice was laced with frustration.

  He reached up and cupped her jaw, tipping her head back so that he could see her eyes. “You’re afraid of me.”

  Her dark eyes widened. “I’m not afraid of you.”

  “Really?” He kissed her until she was pressing against him, making husky sounds. “You don’t have to be afraid of me.”

  “Stop talking,” she muttered.

  He kissed her again. She tasted so good, of so many flavors he wanted to savor.

  She spun, then tore at his shirt, yanking it over his head.

  Cren, the bed was too far away.

  He dragged her down to the floor, ridding her of her shirt and tank top. She gasped, desire burning in her eyes.

  He lay her on the floor and leaned over her, sucking her nipple into his mouth. He ran his hand down her side, enjoying her long, strong, and beautiful body.

  “I want you inside me.” She wa
s trying to reach for the waistband of his trousers.

  “Soon. Let me see you first.”

  “Just sex, Kann-Ath.”

  “We’ll talk about that later.” He pulled her leggings off.

  She lifted a long leg to circle his hip and he gripped it, kneading her calf muscles.

  She bit her lip. “That’s not where I want you.”

  “Quiet.” He stroked the soft skin behind her knees, then higher to her upper thigh. His control was non-existent, his legendary cool totally gone. He pushed her down and lowered his head.

  She tensed and he kissed her belly.

  “So strong. Your body is a piece of art, Jamie.”

  She stiffened a little, like she didn’t know what to make of his words. Aydin kept exploring, peppering small kisses across her skin. He moved lower, lower.

  Now she sucked in a breath and he watched her face as he pushed her thighs apart. “It is so much more pleasurable to take your time.” He lowered his head and licked her.

  Her body arched like a bow. “Oh, God.”

  “Delicious, Jamie.” Her taste filled him. He lifted her to meet his hungry mouth.

  She moaned and grabbed his hair. She pressed her hips to his lips, and he licked and sucked until she was writhing.

  “I….” Her voice cracked.

  “Go over, Jamie.”

  There was a flash of panic in her eyes.

  Then he gently sucked her clit. “I have you.”

  “I can’t. Not that easy…”

  “Go over.” He licked her clit.

  She screamed, her body shaking as pleasure overtook her. Aydin’s mind stopped working. He couldn’t go slow anymore. He shoved his trousers off.

  She looked up at him, dazed. Then wild satisfaction threaded with need shot through her eyes.

  He knew she wanted him to fuck her. Hard and fast and over.

  Aydin was a warrior who valued strategy, even when the short-term tactics hurt. He knelt over her, circled his cock, and pumped it.

  Her hot gaze ran over his body, then snagged on his cock.

  “More.” The word was torn from her.

  “You want quick and over,” he said. “Not what you’re getting, Jamie.”

  He leaned over her and their mouths clashed—lips, teeth, tongue. He tasted iron-rich blood. She tried to wrap her legs around his hips.

  “No.” He pulled back and kept working his cock, hard tugs and pulls.

  “God. Fuck.” She stared at him. “You have a beautiful cock, Aydin.”

  He growled. He felt need pumping through his body.

  “You want to come all over my body?” Her voice was a purr. “Spill all over my skin?”

  He gritted his teeth, his cock swelling. She rose up, and the head of his cock brushed against her skin. Prickles of heat danced behind his eyes.

  Then he grabbed her and spun her onto her hands and knees. She made a choked sound, then he snaked a hand beneath her, his fingers sliding between her legs.

  “Aydin.” Her body bucked.

  Cren, he loved the sound of his name on her lips. Choked with need. He found her slick lips and stroked through them, then found that small nub and rolled.

  She shoved her ass back against him and he thrust his cock against her. He so wanted to slam inside her, to feel how tight and warm she’d be around him.

  But he knew that once they’d fucked, Jamie would rebuild those walls. She’d shove him aside and avoid him. No, he needed to take it slower with this tough space marine.

  He thrust his fingers inside her and she cried out. As he pumped them inside her, he thrust his cock against her taut ass.

  “Do you like that?” he said against her ear, his thumb stroking her clit.

  “Yes.” She rode his hand.

  It didn’t take long before she started coming a second time. Her hoarse cries filled his ears.

  Aydin ground against her, that smooth skin so good against the head of his swollen cock. He pumped harder, faster and then his own release stormed through him.

  He pressed a hand to her lower back, and then his roar echoed through the room as he spilled hot fluid all over her bare ass.

  Then the room was quiet, except for their harsh breathing. Cren, the best sex of his life and he hadn’t even gotten inside her yet.

  Jamie started to move but he tightened his hand on her. She looked back over her shoulder and he saw her guarded expression.

  “Come here,” he murmured.

  “I need to go.”

  “No.” He gripped her waist and lifted her. She gasped and he closed the distance to the bed. “Don’t move.”

  “Warrior—”

  “Do not move, Jamie.” Tugging up his pants, he strode to his washroom and returned with a cloth.

  Jamie looked like she was assessing her best exit strategy. He pressed a knee to the bed and then wiped his seed off her skin.

  She went still and he took his time. “You have a beautiful ass, Jamie.”

  Dark eyes flashed.

  He tossed the cloth on his bedside table, then climbed onto the bed. Then he pulled her against his chest.

  She was as stiff as a board. “I don’t cuddle.”

  “Shh.” He closed his arms around her. “We need some rest before our mission.”

  She tried to pull away and he tightened his arms.

  “I sleep alone.”

  By Eschar’s bow, he was happy to hear that. Now, more than anything, he wanted to see her sleep in his arms.

  “I could make you let me go,” she growled.

  He looked down into her face. She looked one part angry, and three parts confused. “No, you can’t.”

  Her gaze traced over his face. “I can’t believe you think I’m stubborn.” With a huff, she laid her head on his chest.

  Aydin smiled. His marine had just conceded the battle.

  But as they lay there, he looked at the ceiling and wondered what he was doing. His work was his life, his most important tool in rebuilding his family’s name.

  A battle-hardened space marine from Earth was not part of his plan.

  Chapter Seven

  Jamie double checked her gear and her suit. She was standing by the sleek, little stealth ship in the docking bay of the Desteron. The stealth ship was a beauty.

  She sure hoped the Eon would share their starship technology with Space Corps.

  Caze, already clad in his black-scale helian armor, was loading some gear into the ship. Lara stood nearby, wearing the same helian armor, and Jamie was totally jealous. Because the pair were mated, Caze could share his helian armor with Lara.

  Footsteps echoed through the large space.

  Jamie looked over her shoulder and her heart stuttered.

  Aydin strode in, also in his helian armor and holding a black case in one hand. His gaze hit hers and he glared at her.

  Okay, so she’d snuck out of his cabin. They’d given each other some galaxy-shattering orgasms, then once he was asleep, she’d used all her considerable stealth skills to sneak out like a thief.

  Or a coward.

  She pressed her tongue to her teeth. She could admit to herself that what they’d done, what he’d made her feel, left her feeling…rattled.

  She cleared her throat. “Morning.”

  He grunted.

  “Everyone ready to leave?” Caze asked.

  Jamie nodded. “Let’s do this.”

  The big warrior touched a control and the side door of the stealth ship opened. Once the four of them were inside, Jamie realized there wasn’t a lot of room. It was built for covertness not comfort. As she moved to one of the seats in the back of the ship, Aydin stowed his gear in a storage unit.

  “Strap in.” Caze walked past them and into the cockpit at the front of the ship. Lara followed with a smile and a wave.

  Jamie settled into a chair and pulled her harness on. When she looked over, she saw Aydin was also strapped in and staring straight ahead. His armor had adjusted, the scales disappearing off h
is arms to leave them bare.

  Moments later, Caze contacted the bridge, and the small ship lifted off. The engines were a smooth, barely perceptible purr. Out the viewscreen, she saw the docking bay doors open, and then they were zooming into space.

  Jamie took a deep breath. This was familiar. Heading off on a mission, not knowing what you were going to face.

  Aydin leaned over and she stiffened, her brief sense of calm fleeing.

  “I don’t like waking to an empty bed,” he growled softly.

  She didn’t look at him. “The fooling around was over.”

  “It wasn’t just physical.”

  “Yes, it was.”

  She felt him studying her, like she was one of his medical experiments. Like he could see into her head. She turned her head and stared back.

  Then he smiled, seeming to shake off his bad mood. “So stubborn.”

  She leaned back, eyeing him warily. Why did she suddenly feel like he had something up his sleeve? Not that he had any sleeves on right now. Against her will, her gaze drifted over his biceps.

  Shit, he had a bite mark on his bicep. Oh, God. If anyone noticed…

  Jamie leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes. She wasn’t sure how much time had passed when she heard Caze’s deep voice.

  “Crossing out of Eon space.”

  She straightened. “Any sign of Kantos ships?”

  “Nothing on long-range scanners,” Lara replied.

  If the stolen helians were on Kelaff, she figured the Kantos wouldn’t want to draw any notice to the fact by having loads of ships around. She drummed her fingers on the arm of her chair as they closed in on their destination.

  “Kelaff in visual range,” Caze said.

  Jamie unclipped and moved toward the cockpit. The planet was framed in the viewscreen.

  Now that they were close, she could see the sinkholes. Damn, they were so large that many were visible from space. They were dark-colored and circular.

  As they approached, Caze waved her back to her seat. They hit the planet’s atmosphere with only a small shudder, Caze and Lara flying them in low. God, Jamie loved this little stealth ship.

  Beside her, Aydin pulled out some sort of scanning device.

  “What’s that?” she asked.