Hack

by Annie Nicholas

  She leaned forward, those expressive eyebrows raised as she scanned his room. The television lay flat, its surface on the mattress. The telephone was in its detachable pieces and the microwave sat on the foot of the bed. “You’ve been...busy.”

  He cleared his throat. “I’m not from the area and I forgot my adapter to charge my devices. I was looking for an alternative means.” His chest swelled at how quickly the explanation came to him. Being around the silver-tongued Trace for so long had rubbed off on Hack.

  “Oh, we can shop for one tomorrow. In the meantime I have a tablet you can borrow.”

  “That’s generous of you.” He meant it. There was a naïve and generous nature to some of the humans he’d met. He could understand the older races’ desire to colonize this world. Look at how desperately he wanted to possess this woman after meeting her just that morning.

  Her gaze stole around his room. “Didn’t they deliver your luggage?”

  “No.” He’d overlooked that detail. Wearing the same outfit every day would most likely draw even more attention and he hadn’t any currency.

  “Let me call the front desk and ask about it.” She returned to her room and used the phone.

  He rubbed the nape of his neck and bit the inside of his cheek to stop from grinning like a fool. Hack was more than capable of taking care of himself. However, his amused heart softened as she berated the resort staff for losing his luggage. Guilt tugged a little at his conscience. The staff wasn’t at fault but he loved this protective side of Jeannie, and being championed for once instead of being the champion.

  She hung up. “They will give you resort credit to buy a few outfits while they search for your luggage.” Jeannie grabbed her purse. “Let’s go.”

  Hack straightened, glancing over his shoulder at his project. “Where?”

  “To shop. You can’t wear that to the dance, and we should get you a bathing suit.” She had her back to him.

  He pressed his body to hers. “I could just go naked.” Taking a small risk, he pressed his lips to her cheek. She needed to get used to his touch. The sooner the better, because he wasn’t sure how much longer he could resist staking his claim. They had so much ground to cover—like the fact he was an alien.

  She laughed and poked playfully at his side. “And cause a stampede of women. I don’t think so.” She pressed her hand to where he had kissed her. Had he been too bold? For once, he envied Trace’s ability to blend with any culture with ease. Hack hadn’t realized how difficult it was until now.

  Hack’s kiss seared Jeannie’s flesh like a brand. She hadn’t been kidding about the stampede. She’d noted the appreciative stares Hack drew. There was a predatory nature to his movements and a dominance to his presence. They had barely met and she’d seen the reaction people had when he entered a room. They sat up and took notice.

  Yet Hack didn’t seem to care. He’d been focused solely on her. She’d held her breath the whole way to their rooms in fear of waking up to discover this had all been a dream. Yet, here he was and he’d kissed her cheek. Agreed to go to the dance with her. She kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. Like he was gay and wanted only to be friends.

  She led him out of their building to the area that held a few boutique shops. “They said to charge the outfits to your room.”

  He stood at the entrance of the store, glaring at the racks as if facing off an army.

  She weaved her fingers with his and tugged. Pleased when he tightened his hold. “Come on. The sooner you try stuff, the sooner we’re done.”

  “I’m not sure where to start.” He scratched his head. “What is appropriate to wear at the resort?”

  “You packed your own bags, didn’t you?”

  He gave her a sly smile. “No, I didn’t.”

  Of course, he didn’t. He probably had one of his many lovers do it for him. She ground her teeth. That thought was unfair. Hack hadn’t been anything but friendly since they’d met—in her bed. Had that been just this morning? She was already prepared to sink her possessive claws into him. Time to cool her jets before he broke her heart.

  Jeannie browsed the racks, giving Hack some distance. Space. She needed space and a cold shower. If that didn’t work, she would pay a visit to the ice dispenser and pour some down her panties. How had he ended up in her bed? Then lost his resort package and luggage. “Hack?” She turned and he was right behind her, kissing close.

  His gaze was all liquid heat and laser focused on her lips. “Yes, Jeannie?” he whispered.

  She gave him a slow blink and forgot how to breathe. What had she wanted to ask? Oh yeah. “Were you possibly robbed while on the cruise? Is that how you ended up in my room?” She didn’t see any visible evidence of an attack except for the swollen eye she’d given him. Maybe he’d been drugged. All he’d told her was that he hadn’t been feeling well. She’d assumed he’d drunk too much alcohol like everyone else.

  “I don’t have much memory of last night. It’s possible. What do you remember?” His gaze grew sharper as if hanging on to her every word and hoping for a specific answer.

  “Umm...” She tried to access something after boarding the cruise. Foggy images of her lounging by the pool, and a party that seemed to last forever. Her head began to pound and she rubbed her temples. “There was that humdinger of a party.” She shook her head. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

  Concern crossed his expression and he caressed her cheek. “We don’t have to. I was just curious what you recalled.”

  She returned her attention to the clothes. “Here.” Holding a pair of khaki shorts in front of his hips, she nodded. “Looks like they should fit. We should buy some T-shirts and that bathing suit.”

  “Yes, I like to swim.” His gaze darted to the view of the ocean outside the window. To her joy, he hadn’t looked at the pool. It seemed out of character that she had spent yesterday lounging by the chlorinated water she hated.

  “I was planning on exploring the reefs tomorrow morning. A small snorkel trip.”

  “To look for your sharks?”

  She laughed. “My sharks are in much deeper water. I’ve chartered a boat to the area in a couple days to take some videos.” She also needed to make sure her filming equipment was fully charged and that she had extra battery packs. The dive would be deep and dangerous. There was no room for error. “The snorkeling is just for fun.” She held up a prepackaged set of mask and snorkel that she’d selected from a rack by the register. “Here.”

  He took the package and examined it closer. “Interesting gear.”

  “You’ve never used one?” Maybe she’d gotten the wrong impression about how much he loved the ocean. It wouldn’t be her first time misjudging somebody’s character.

  “Never.” A soft chuckle. “I can understand the design would help you see and breathe easier.”

  “Me?”

  He cleared his throat. “Us. I meant us. I’ve just never bothered with equipment. I’d love to go with you.”

  “It’s a date.” She added the snorkel set to his shorts and helped him pick out a few more items.

  Hack held a small black bathing suit. “How about this?”

  “Perfect.” She almost purred at the thought of seeing him wear it tomorrow.

  Chapter Five

  Jeannie adjusted the shoulder strap to her bikini top and stared at the full-length mirror. Unlike the kind she normally wore under her wetsuits on dives, it was not practical. This top helped her boobs by making her B-cups look like Cs. She hopped in place. And they bounced like Cs. Nice. The boy-short bottoms emphasized her muscular legs and abs. She needed all the help she could get to look curvier. Her last filming project had been demanding and had melted away the layer of fat that made women appear softer than men.

  This trip was more than about sharks. It was her chance to take a break and have some fun. Prove to herself she could be sexy and interesting. She was tired of being alone, and needed practice in dating. Having the interest of the resort’s
hottest man was a huge ego boost. She bounced once more to make sure she had seen those results correctly. Yeah.

  Fate had given her Hack and she’d use everything in her arsenal to catch him—hook, line, and sinker.

  She snatched up her snorkel gear and slung it over her shoulder. She’d eaten a banana in her room for breakfast. Snorkeling on a full stomach only made her nauseous.

  They had agreed to meet on the beach since Hack wanted a full breakfast before going out into the ocean. She padded barefoot along the cobblestone path. Sunlight warmed her skin against the cool morning air. This was what she lived for.

  “Hey,” called out an unfamiliar male voice.

  She ignored it, assuming they were calling out to someone else.

  The sound of feet jogging behind her grew louder. “Hey.” A dark-haired man slowed to a stop at her side. “I’m Stephen.” He held out his hand. “You must be new.”

  Jeannie slid her hand into his, shaking it and introducing herself at the same time. “I arrived yesterday.” Glancing around, she didn’t see any reason for him to chase after her. “Is something wrong?”

  “It looks like you’re going snorkeling.”

  She nodded. Stephen was as tall as Hack with all-American good looks and an athletic build similar to MMA fighters. Men like him never paid her attention.

  “Want some company?” He flashed a ten-thousand-dollar smile.

  “She already has company.” Hack stormed in their direction, snorkel brandished in his hand like a weapon. He wore only the tiny bathing suit she had encouraged him to purchase, every delicious golden inch of him exposed for her admiration. He planted himself between her and Stephen, his annoyance palpable. “Three is a crowd.”

  Stephen held up both hands and backed away. “Okay, I can take a hint.” He hurried toward the resort’s main building.

  “Hack, that was rude.” And totally hot. She wanted him to wrap her up in his strong arms and carry her back to his room. She’d pull his bathing suit off with her teeth then—

  “It was?” He lifted his chin, arrogance in persona. “Good.”

  She couldn’t help it. She had to laugh. He looked too smug.

  Then his gaze lowered, caressing her bikini-clad body. “I like this outfit even if it draws others to you.”

  She fought the urge to bounce on the balls of her feet like she had done in front of the mirror. “You seemed annoyed by Stephen.” Maybe she should invest in more bikinis after all, but her job demanded more practical swimsuits and she couldn’t afford for her top to snap three hundred feet underwater.

  “I was, but I will fight off any contenders. I don’t share.”

  Clearing her throat, she pretended his comment hadn’t aroused her.

  He inhaled deeply and smirked.

  What was that look for? “Come on.” She led them to the empty beach. It was still early for sun worshipers.

  Though muscular, Hack had a lean, hard torso. Sleek. It seemed like he had extra ribs to support his tall frame. His movements were fluid as he slowed his pace to match hers. In the sunlight, she glimpsed three parallel scar lines on his throat just under his hard jaw. When he turned his head toward her, she spotted identical scars on the other side. Surgery? They were so fine, she hadn’t noticed them until now.

  The small flaws made him more real, less godlike. Nobody should be perfect.

  “Why are you grinning?” His eyes sparkled. “Are you pleased that I chased off that male and you have me all to yourself?”

  “Oh yes, that’s exactly it.” She loved that he felt comfortable enough around her to tease. And what an odd term to use. Male instead of man, guy, dude, or any other slang. English might not be his first language. She reached up and traced the scars with her fingertips. “These are curious marks.”

  Hack ran his fingertips over the spot Jeannie had indicated. His gills. They were still there. He could feel them under the skin and he tried to flex them open. No, still sealed. The gills were useless.

  Jeannie stared at him. “I didn’t mean to pry.”

  He shook his head. He’d made her uncomfortable. “I was born with them.” It wasn’t a complete lie. He didn’t like concealing the truth from his mate. He wanted to tell her everything, but for her sanity, he kept quiet. She had chosen not to meet aliens. How was he going to explain the truth without losing her in the process?

  Fate had a terrible sense of humor. The one woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with had rejected the idea of mating with an alien. He’d change her mind. They were meant for each other even if she didn’t know it. He just needed the time.

  Her lush body was barely covered and he found it hard to think. Every cell wanted to stake his claim.

  She tossed him a shy smile over her shoulder. “How well do you swim?”

  “Like I was born doing it.” His home world didn’t have a moon like Earth so tectonic plates hadn’t developed on his planet, leaving it without mountains or continents. His race had evolved in the water. Natural predators. He hadn’t been allowed home in years and most oceans were too toxic for him to enjoy in his real form. Earth’s waters were perfect so his gills didn’t burn with every breath. He wished he could use them now instead of this plastic tube.

  Jeannie paused at the edge of the beach, the gentle waves lapping at her bare toes. She scanned the horizon and pointed. “See where the water is rough?”

  He nodded. “There is something just below the surface.”

  Her grin at his response sparkled. “It’s a small reef. Do you feel comfortable going out that far?”

  “Yes...” He eyed her. There were predators in the water. He’d seen them when swimming after the cruise ship. She carried no weapons and her soft skin offered little protection. “Do you?”

  “Sure.” She set the mask over her eyes. “I do this for a living, remember?”

  Either she was the bravest woman he’d ever met or the most reckless. While he was at her side, she’d remain safe. Even in this delicate human guise, he still retained his natural strength. He wished for a knife, but he noticed everyone went into the waters unarmed. Trace always told him to blend in with the locals when on mission. Hack already stood out in his alien/human blended form.

  Even now, he was attracting stares from a passing female.

  “Maybe that bathing suit wasn’t such a good idea,” Jeannie muttered under her breath while glaring. She was possessive? Good, because so was he.

  Stepping closer, he blocked her death glare and brought her attention back on him. “I could take it off.”

  She tossed her head back with a laugh. “Keep your suit on, show off.”

  He ducked, hiding his pleased grin. She found his body attractive too. That’s all that mattered. “Well then, I’ll keep that in mind for later. In the meantime, can you show me how to wear this?” It wasn’t a complicated device, but he knelt on one knee so their faces were more level. She was that much shorter.

  “Slide the mask over your head like this.”

  He rested his hands on her hips as she helped him with the equipment. Her skin was soft as silk, her waist narrow and muscular.

  She showed him how to use a snorkel, wrapping her full lips around the mouthpiece. His focus narrowed on that movement. He swallowed a groan as he imagined her doing the same to him.

  “Ready?” she asked.

  He blinked, shoving his fantasy away. “Yes.” His voice was rough and deep. “After you.” The bathing suit hid little and he was happy to sink his hard flesh into the cool waters before she noticed his arousal.

  With smooth strokes, she swam ahead, eating the distance at a steady pace.

  At first, he floated and watched. Just when he thought she couldn’t be more stunning, she proved him wrong. People went on and on about how fragile humans were. From his limited experience, they seemed quite resourceful.

  He swam after her, closing the distance. The snorkel proved useful and he kept the mask on even though he still had his clear inner eyelids.
Jeannie wasn’t ready to discover their existence.

  Fish rose from the sunny bottom and swarmed around him as if greeting a long-lost cousin. Using the fake fins on his feet, he cavorted with the school until he spotted Jeannie silently watching.

  Feet slowly kicking, she treaded water. Her head tilted.

  He surfaced next to her. “What’s wrong?”

  “They’re...playful with you.”

  “Is that strange?” Not where he came from. These fish were too small to be proper prey and didn’t recognize him as predator.

  Sunlight reflected off the clear turquoise waters, making glittering patterns across her face. He took her by the hand. “Want to try?”

  A smile of pure joy was her response.

  Hack should have been in his room building his communication device, but then he would have missed this opportunity. His heart swelled as he realized how connected she was to his world without even knowing it.

  Chapter Six

  Time flowed at ocean current speeds and they missed the afternoon meal. The joy in Jeannie’s face as they explored the reef was worth it. Her sun-darkened skin glowed, making her the most beautiful creature Hack had ever laid eyes on.

  They padded barefoot on the soft sands of the beach toward their building.

  “You promised to come to the dance with me.” Her grin was infectious.

  “I don’t know how to dance.” The tease came easily to his lips. It was also the truth. This type of skillset was more in Trace’s field of work.

  “Nobody really knows how anymore. Just shuffle your feet to the beat of the music.”

  “Do you frequent these kinds of events?” He didn’t like the idea. That other men had danced with her... And other things. It was a ridiculous feeling, he knew this, but there it was. She belonged with him now. If he didn’t go, she might find someone more interesting. She, after all, wasn’t experiencing the same soul-gripping emotions he was. He ran his hand through his hair. Convincing her to accept him as he truly was would be hard.