“Raisa.” Jackson’s voice was hoarse. “How did I get here?”
“It doesn’t matter. You’re here. You’re alive. You’re here.” She kissed him again. “Never leave me again. Never leave me.”
His hands lifted to her hips, but his hold felt weak.
“I don’t know what happened, but we should get him in the medical booth,” Alexis said. “Lucien is finally out of it.”
Raisa nodded. She didn’t want to let go of him, but she knew Alexis was right. They needed to make sure he was safe.
Dev reached in, scooped an arm behind Jackson’s knees and the other behind his back, and lifted him in his arms.
“What? Dev?” Jackson tried to struggle as the man carried him.
“As Rick would say, shut your black hole,” Dev stated.
Raisa gave a small laugh. Her body shook with fear, with relief, with amazement. She followed Dev as he strode through the corridor. Jackson’s eyes closed and he dropped his head against Dev’s shoulder.
“Hold on, boys and girls,” Rick shouted over the intercom. “We’re blasting off this rock.”
The ship vibrated as the engines started. Dev made it to the medical booth and locked Jackson inside. Alexis was already at the controls, typing in directions as she talked to herself. Raisa leaned against the edge of the booth and peered in at him. His eyes opened and met hers.
“I love you, too,” she whispered, answering his words from the prison hold. “Jackson, I love you so much.”
“He’s going to be all right,” Alexis said. “It’s cleaning his blood. He’s been dosed with some kind of tetrodotoxin.”
“What is that?” Dev asked.
The ship jerked, and Rick began takeoff procedures. Raisa grabbed hold of the medical booth. She wasn’t about to let Jackson out of her sight.
Alexis began mumbling to herself. “Tetrodotoxin. The anatomy of the Old Earth puffer fish. Irrelevant to the situation. Reexamine. Zombies. Dead walking.”
Jackson winked at her and smiled as he mouthed, “Irrelevant to the situation.”
To which Raisa silently said back to him, “Reexamine.”
27
Two weeks had passed before Raisa was finally able to stop looking at Jackson like he was about to fall over. She barely slept as she watched him in the night. She monitored his food, always trying to feed him more. She walked with him around the ship. She knew she was hovering. She didn’t care. Thankfully, Jackson didn’t seem to mind.
“In the commotion, I forgot to give you your things back. The general handed them to me as we were leaving the base.” Lochlann gave a folded bundle of papers to Jackson. They stood outside the dining room, where Raisa had tried to coax Jackson into another helping of the green vitamin cubes. He had humored her and ate them.
“Those aren’t mine,” Jackson dismissed.
“The general said they were,” Lochlann insisted.
Jackson frowned, taking his arm from around Raisa’s shoulders. She watched curiously as he opened the bundle. They were travel papers and identification chips. She frowned as she read the name. “Jackson Groober. I thought you said your name was Burke.”
“It is. Groober was an alias on a mission a long time ago.” Jackson scratched the back of his head before asking, “You said General Ogden sent these with you?”
“He said they were yours,” Lochlann said.
“Was it a mistake?” Raisa questioned.
“No. Ogden was in charge of this mission. All relevant paperwork was turned back in to him when it was over. He must have kept them.” Jackson gave a small laugh. “That sneaky bastard.”
“What?” Raisa and Lochlann asked in unison.
“I wasn’t quite sure if my living was on purpose or an accident.” Jackson put the identification chip in his pocket and then folded the papers before slapping them against his palm. “He planned this.”
“What?” They both asked again.
“General Ogden. He faked my death to make command think he’d carried out their orders, recorded your reactions to it as part of his proof, and gave me a new identity. Jackson Groober.”
“That sneaky bastard.” Raisa wasn’t sure if she wanted to kiss the general or still kick him in his man-bits for what he’d put them through.
“Sneaky bastard, indeed,” Lochlann laughed. “Well, here’s to being off the Federation’s radar, Security Officer Groober.”
“Does it have to be Groober?” Raisa asked. “I mean, can’t we pick a tougher-sounding name?”
“You don’t like it?” Jackson pretended to frown.
“I’m just not sure I want to be Raisa Lovell Groober for the rest of my life.” She was teasing of course. She didn’t care what her name was as long as she was with him.
“Is that your way of asking me to marry you?” Jackson pulled her into his arms. His head lowered, inches away from kissing her.
“I’m not asking.” Raisa grinned. “I find men like you do better when being commanded.”
Jackson chuckled, nodding. “Yes, ma’am.”
His lips met hers, and Lochlann cleared his throat. “Not to interrupt, but Rick asked to use the viewing screen in my quarters The power surges fried his. Apparently, we’re all invited to join him.”
Raisa shared a look with Jackson.
“Should we be worried?” Raisa asked.
“Probably,” Lochlann answered.
Curious as to what Rick was up to, they followed Lochlann to the captain’s quarters.
As they approached, Violette walked out of the room shaking her head. “Dev was right. I should have known better.”
“I didn’t actually think you’d show up,” Rick yelled after her.
Against her better judgement, Raisa walked past the cage in the middle of the room. She saw the box that Rick had asked her to hide from the Federation and guard with her life. One of the information discs was missing.
“You have been a bad boy, Mr. Smith,” a female voice said.
Raisa frowned and moved around the corner. The viewing screen was filled with a buxom woman puckering her lips and biting a finger. The style of her clothes was strange as she bent over to show a full view of her naked ass under her skirt.
“Oh!” Raisa lifted her arm to hide her eyes. “That is what you had me hiding from the Federation?”
“Worth it, right?” Rick grinned.
The woman onscreen made a funny noise, and Raisa grabbed Jackson’s arm to pull him away from the viewing area. “You haven’t heard the last of this, Rick.”
“You can borrow it later,” he offered.
“No. Just no. Get out,” Lochlann ordered.
“But my viewing screen is broken and—” Rick protested.
“Take the discs with you or I’ll break them,” Lochlann warned.
“No, I’m going, don’t hurt my Cindy.”
They heard a scuffle as Raisa and Jackson rushed out of the captain’s quarters.
“I can promise you one thing, Raisa Lovell Groober, life in space will never be dull.” Jackson hooked his arm over her shoulders as he directed her back to their private room.
“I’m all right with dull, as long as you’re safe.” She grinned, slipping from under his arm to face him as she walked backwards. “But if you want an adventure, we can try to create chocolate with my molecular gastro-spectrometer. Whoever figures that one out is going to be rich.”
“You’re a wild one,” he teased.
She grabbed him by his shirt and pulled him toward their room. “Oh, you have no idea, Mr. Smith.”
Jackson laughed, letting her lead him wherever she wanted.
“You’ve been a very bad boy,” she continued, pursing her lips.
Jackson swept her into his arms and carried her the rest of the way into the room. His lips met hers and she laughed as he kissed her. After all they had been through together, she knew they could face anything. Jackson was her forever.
The End
The Series Continues…
<
br /> His Woodland Maiden
Space Lords Series
His Frost Maiden
His Fire Maiden
His Metal Maiden
His Earth Maiden
His Woodland Maiden
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Michelle loves to travel and try new things, whether it's a paranormal investigation of an old Vaudeville Theatre or climbing Mayan temples in Belize. She's addicted to movies and used to drive her mother crazy while quoting random scenes with her brother. Though it has yet to happen, her dream is to be a zombie in a horror movie. For the most part she can be found writing in her office with a cup of coffee while wearing pajama pants.
She loves to hear from readers. They can contact her through her website.
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Check out the excerpts before you buy!
Determined Prince
Captured by a Dragon-Shifter
by Michelle M. Pillow
A Modern Day Dragon Lords Story
Dragon-shifter Prince Kyran has studied the Earth people and is ready to assimilate. Female shifters are all but going extinct on his planet of Qurilixen, and his people are desperate for mates—so much so they’re taking matters into their own hands. What better place to capture a woman than Earth? After all, dragon-shifters had come from there centuries ago. Surely a human female would be honored to be selected by one as fine and fierce as himself?
While on Earth, Kyran stumbles upon the most beautiful woman he’s ever imagined, singing something the natives call rock ’n’ roll. His blood simmers and he knows Eve is the one for him. But taming this feisty female is going to take much more than his training prepared him for.
To find out more about Michelle’s books visit www.MichellePillow.com
Perfect Prince
by Michelle M. Pillow
Perfect Prince
Dragon Lords Series
A Perfect Escape…
Nadja Aleksander has everything she could ever want in life, except her freedom. Skipping out on her engagement, to a man her controlling father has chosen for her, Nadja books passage on the first spaceship she can find. Bound for a planet of primitive humanoid males, Nadja plans on finding a simple, hardworking man who will allow her to live out her days in total obscurity.
A Perfect Mistake…
Dragon-shifter Prince Olek is pleased with his refined and blushing bride. When she chooses him to be her life mate, appearing happy in her decision, his heart soars—until the next morning when his new princess wants nothing to do with him. Olek doesn’t know what he’s done to upset his alluring bride, but he is determined to reignite the hot sparks that burned the night they met.
Perfect Prince Excerpt
“Come, bride.”
Again, she couldn’t deny him, moving to dip under the green tent flap he held up for her. When she drew near him, she smelled the warm oil on his glistening skin. It mixed with the natural scent of him. She breathed deeply. This was as close as she had ever been to such an inadequately dressed man before.
She faltered in her movements, glancing up into his eyes. Before she knew what was happening, a strong hand was on her face, gently cupping her cheek. The touch was fire to her already flushed features. Her lips parted with a ragged, scared gasp. Olek took it as an invitation and dipped his head forward.
Nadja almost screamed when he tried to kiss her. Her first reaction was to run. Dodging under his arm, she darted inside the tent. Nadja froze mid-step as she looked around. The red earth floor was covered completely in soft furs. It cushioned her feet beneath her slippers. Below the center point of the pyramid was a high platform bed, which required a step to climb onto it. Silk hung down around the sides, stirring delicately in the torchlight like soft white clouds.
She should have run out of the tent, not in.
Spinning to do just that, she realized the only exit was still blocked. She was trapped. Olek grinned, though the look seemed baffled.
“I-I,” she stuttered, not sure how to explain her rude behavior, or if she even should.
Olek let the flap fall shut behind him as he followed her inside. He resembled a stalking beast after his prey, relishing the anticipation of the hunt.
Nadja turned from him and was again met with the giant bed. She recoiled from it as if it was covered in poison. It occurred to her how intimate this night really could be. Stumbling back, she bumped into an incredibly hard chest.
She jolted in panic, scurrying away from the solid, warm muscles. Her eyes darted around, taking in the three corners of the enclosure. In the first, there was a bath drawn, the steaming water coming out of the basin. A sweet perfumed scent rose with it. Folded towels, bath oils, and rinses were neatly arranged at the side.
The next corner had a table full of chocolates, fruits and cream sauces. A bench with cushioned seats stretched along the side, resembling a couch. An earthen wine jug was set in the center. Feeling the heady consequences of the liquor she had drunk too much of at the feast, she turned away from the food.
The third corner, behind the bed, was harder to see from her position so she ignored it. Feeling rather than hearing Olek coming up behind her, she again panicked. Swirling to face him, she held up her arms and backed away. Her hands shook. This was not how she imagined being alone with a man would feel like. She always assumed it would be like reporting to one of the robot guards, or talking to a dignitary at some function she was forced to attend.
But Olek was half naked and smiling at her like he knew every thought in her head. Did he somehow realize she liked looking at his oiled chest, to the point where she made a conscious effort not to? Could he know that when his hand had briefly held hers, her nerves had tingled, were still tingling? That the idea of his kisses both excited and terrified her?
Merriment poured from his gaze and she blushed to see it. He held back, standing tall as Nadja studied him. Before she realized it, her eyes were traveling a seductive journey of discovery over his taut chest. Already his small nipples were hard buds. His flesh dipped in all the right places only to rise and swell with each of his shallow breaths. There was no fat on his chiseled form and she doubted they employed beauty services to remove fat cells on a planet like this. His body was all natural. She bit her bottom lip, absently chewing at it as she looked him over.
His broad shoulders carried his strong arms with ease. They were arms that could crush her if he so chose. The metal band on his biceps would have fit on top of her head like a crown. Looking closer, she saw that the jewelry was shaped like a dragon winding over flesh.
Nadja looked at his covered face. He did indeed appear bold and strong like a dragon.
“Are you pleased?” he asked confidently when she didn’t move. Again, his smile was alluring and light. She could tell by the expression that this was a man who laughed often.
She blinked nervously, trying to erase the image of tight flesh burning into her memory. He took a step forward, moving as if to touch her.
“No,” she commanded, her eyes narrowing. Her words stopped him. Her breathing deepened. “Just stay back a moment.”
His head tilted to the side, waiting for her command
.
Nadja took another deep breath, trying to control her undisciplined emotions and wild heartbeat.
“I don’t think there is a need to do any of…” She swallowed nervously and looked at the bath and then the bed. Shivering, she tried to lift her hands to cross protectively over her chest and grew frustrated by the binding straps. With a frown, she tugged the belt off her arms. “I meant to say, I know the tradition of this night is to prove yourself a worthy mate by a display of your…”
As Olek arched a brow, she saw the shifting beneath his mask. His eyes dipped to focus on the way her breasts bounced with her jerking movements. She freed herself from the arm ties and left them to hang at her waist.
Swallowing over her embarrassment, she crossed her arms over her chest to break his gaze, and uttered, “Your prowess.”
The grin widened over his amazingly firm lips. Those lips weren’t fair. No man should look that delectable. Nadja made a small sound of distress before continuing. She knew he wanted her to choose him for her husband. It wasn’t fair. He couldn’t really speak until she granted him permission. The only way to grant him permission was to accept him as a husband. Hurting his feelings wasn’t a great way to start off their possible life together, so she tried to speak carefully.
“I am telling you, there is no need for that. I am not concerned with…” Nadja felt like kicking herself. The words sounded weak and trembling. Normally she could speak with soft confidence, always reasonable and logical and well-phrased. Her voice came out in hot, breathless pants. What was he doing to her? Her body felt like it was on fire, like she needed to take off her clothes and jump into a snow drift. She started to sweat. Absently, she fanned her face, trying to concentrate. Forgetting where she had left off, she repeated, “I am not concerned with your prowess—ah!”
His Earth Maiden AE Page 18
