***
2 days later
“Fuck, Jutak.” Sasha collapsed on the bed, her lungs laboring as she sought to catch her breath.
Sweat coated her body, cooling as the heat of sex sharing died down. Jaron smoothed a hand over her ass cheeks, gave it a smack then rolled to the side behind her and pulled her up tight to his chest. Each time, each and every time without fail, he held Sasha in his arms like this before falling to sleep. Sex sharing or no sex sharing.
Tonight, he’d been away on a mission with his team. Half-sleep, she’d heard his soft footfalls as he entered the bedroom, removed his uniform and used the cleansing room. Skin damp, he’d climbed into the bed and kissed her shoulder exposed by the sheet, making his way across her collarbone and ending at the pulse by her throat.
As always, Sasha responded with a low growl, rolled over and tackled the hard body poised beside her. Now, she let the sound of his soft snores soothe her. Drowsy, she massaged the warm palm braced on her belly. Another thing he did, as if his touch alone could hold her here.
Jaron was too good to be true which meant at some point this…whatever they shared would implode on her. So Sasha did what she did best. She leaned over, ever careful, kissed the side of his cheek and snuck out.
Proud of herself, Sasha made it to the lobby of the Jutak home undetected.
“Leaving?”
She came to an abrupt halt at the sight of the familiar Jutak soldier leaning against the wall near the exit of the facility. His voice grated as he asked the question, but upon closer inspection, he looked pale and shaky.
Despite her inclination to escape into the night, Sasha drew near. “Are you alright, Kyele?”
He snorted and the corner of his mouth turned down. “There is an Earth thing when a female is with child.”
Confused, Sasha waited. He straightened then groaned and clasped his middle. He really didn’t look good. “Should I get your Unit Leader? A medic?”
If she contacted any of them then Jaron would be notified. Kyele shook his head and slumped back to the wall. “There is no cure for the alien sickness. It will pass. Joni promised.”
He glanced up and to her surprise, grinned when he faced her. A scary grin, but a grin none the less. “If you are planning to leave I suggest you hurry. Jaron’s alarms went off.” Kyele tapped the small black disc in his ear. “He’s up and heading down.”
Sasha didn’t know what to make of his warning. A trick? “You’re his friend and teammate, why help me?”
“Sometimes you have to learn the hard way to accept love.” He shrugged. “At least that is how it appears.” His skin grew chalky. “Morning sickness is a vile, vile thing.”
Without explaining what he meant, Kyele left her standing alone as he rushed off.
“Going somewhere?”
Sasha spun around. Bare foot, Jaron stalked toward her, wearing nothing more than low slung black wide legged pants. Kyele had managed to fool and delay her in the process without seeming to. Smart. She’d remember that in the future.
***
“Going somewhere?”
Sasha spun around and Jaron had the pleasure of catching her off guard.
“I was leaving.”
He’d figured that out when he woke to an empty bed. At least she was honest. “I see.”
“How did you know?”
“Sensors on the doors alert to my comm. The moment you left, I was awakened by the chirp.”
Sasha cursed more elaborately than usual.
“Kyele knew I’d take the nearest shaft down.” Jaron tipped his head toward the one she’d used. “Not that one.”
“Oh.”
There was no need in pretending what they both knew. He couldn’t believe the weeks together meant nothing and she’d do this. Still he felt the need to dig at the hole in his heart. “Without saying goodbye, Sasha?”
“Goodbyes are unnecessary, don’t you think?”
She attempted to be flippant, but Jaron caught the myriad of emotions on her face. Sasha thought she was adept at hiding from him but Jaron saw beyond the facade.
“I hoped there would be no need for goodbye.”
Which probably made him an ebo. He thought he had more time. Time to figure out how to keep Sasha with him.
“You never mentioned wanting more,” she added with a light shrug of her shoulders.
Then she was blind. “I do. I want you to stay.”
Would she consider it? Sasha nibbled her bottom lip, fangs scraping the plump flesh. “I have a bounty. A big one.”
He didn’t care. “Then do what you have to and come back.”
Jaron wasn’t sure why she looked so shocked. He thought it was obvious how he felt.
“You really mean that, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
“You are a sweet one.” Sasha came to stand next to him. “I think I will return here when I’m done.”
His relief was staggering. Jaron slid his arms about her waist and tugged her close. “I think that’s an excellent idea.”
Sasha’s shy grin caused all sorts of reactions—anticipation, excitement and hope.
“Here’s something to remind you of me while I’m gone.” She rose on tip toe and kissed him. Soft. Teasing. She palmed the back of his head to hold him steady until she was good and ready to let go. Jaron stiffened, feeling the move down to his gut. When Sasha leaned back she winked. “Just the way you like to be kissed.”
It was more than the way he liked to be kiss. It was Sasha. Jaron forced himself to strive for humor and grinned. “You did it right.”
Her lips quirked. “Good.”
She stepped away, hands sliding from him and Jaron wanted to snatch her back in his arms. He swallowed past the knot in his throat, the very act of breathing obstructed by the yawning hole spreading inside. “How long will the job take?”
“It’s a high level retrieval. A few weeks? I might not be able to communicate with you until I’m done. You understand this, Jutak?”
Sasha didn’t know him as well as she thought. He was an expert at tracking people. He’d find her wherever she was and make sure she stayed safe until she came back to him. “Yes.”
She turned to leave and Jaron caught her hand. She arched a brow. He flipped her wrist over and entered his code on her new comm. “My comm code in case you need me. For anything, kitten.”
“Aww, will I get the mysterious Jutak commander if I use it.” Her lips curled as if amused by the thought.
Jaron hurt too much at letting her go even briefly to be amused. His voice remained serious. “No, you’ll get me. It is a direct link. No matter when or where, I will always answer if you call.”
Sasha cleared her throat then nodded. This time when she turned and walked away, Jaron didn’t stop her.
Chapter 23
Sasha tossed back the last of her drink and hiked her legs up on the reclining lounge where she rested in her rented room. Perhaps it was the alcohol or maybe she felt sorry for herself, but she found her mind unable to stop thinking of Jaron.
She missed him. He’d given her his contact information if she ever needed anything. A means of getting a hold of him directly if his words that night were to be believed.
Over the last two weeks she’d been tempted. In her lonely bed. Late night tracking this particular bounty. Never was he far from her thoughts.
She kept his information in her comm and took it out to stare at when she remembered the pleasure they’d shared in one another’s arms. Temptation pulled her toward the comm during her loneliest moments, but she knew if she exchanged so much as a brief line to the Jutak warrior, she’d forget the job and rush to Enotia. To him.
But now. This was different. Huge. Sasha was finally in position to close out the biggest bounty of her career and wanted to share the news. Maybe celebrate or hear the pride in Jaron’s voice when he acknowledged her cunning.
Sasha sighed and tapped a nail on the screen. What to do? What to do? Giving in, sh
e hit the assigned symbol on the screen and seconds later the call connected. His rich voice rolled over her.
“Greetings, kitten.”
No shock, no surprise. Her heart leaped in her chest at his swift recognition. A pleased purr slid past her lips before Sasha clamped them together. “Jaron.”
“Tell me you commed to say you miss me as much as I am missing you.”
Why did her cheeks hurt? Sasha pressed fingers to her mouth. She was smiling. A real smile. Not the fake one she’d been using these last weeks with the hole in her heart too big for anything but this man to fill.
“Maybe I did.” She really did.
His wicked laughter filled her ear. “Tell me when and where and I’ll be there, kitten.”
Sasha nearly moaned aloud. How easily he got to her. “What would we do? I am still on the job you know.”
“I do not care.”
Sasha rolled over onto her side and pressed her free hand to her stomach to still the flutters. It wasn’t a hardship to agree to his request since the purpose of her comm was to share her news anyway. “What exactly are you suggesting?”
“You know what I want, Sasha.”
The rasp of his words caressed a part of Sasha she’d thought long dead. A part that only came alive around this male. “Wouldn’t you like to know why I’m reaching out to you? It’s good.”
“Good enough to explain why you went out of your way to keep your tracks hidden?”
Now he sounded angry. No. He sounded frustrated and a little…sad. Suddenly she didn’t want to tell him about the leak regarding the location on a Marenian named Arlo. It diminished this comm and seemed self-serving.
But if Sasha collected the bounty, she’d be one step closer to getting Orland. Up to this point, the bastard had managed to avoid Sasha using the same methods she employed to avoid any hints of her whereabouts while working a bounty. If she paid Orland back, she’d be clear to…she wasn’t sure. Maybe see if things really could work with Jaron.
“Tell me, Sasha. Then let me know where I need to be to see you.”
Sasha reached for the message cube she’d received earlier and spun it in her hand. “I have a lead on one of the Marenians close to Lothar. His name is Arlo.”
A pause. Sasha frowned and pushed up to a half-seated position at the silence on Jaron’s end. She thought he’d leap at the chance to ask. They both had reason to hate Marenians. Her brows creased and a stirring of unease pricked at her senses. Why the hesitation?
“Jaron?”
“I am here. Is this the same special case you were assigned Bounty Retriever for when you left?”
Stilted. The question contained none of the affection she’d come to associate with her Jutak. In response, Sasha’s answer was as stiff. “Yes.”
Jaron sighed and she could almost see him running his hand through his hair as was his habit. “I am pleased for you, Sasha. It is a big undertaking.”
This was more like him. Ignoring her misgivings, she relaxed. He lacked enthusiasm but her comm must have caught him off-guard. “Yes, and I’ve finally managed to get him to meet at a public place. Should be fairly easy because he thinks he’s there to buy a rare female slave.”
Nothing else would have drawn the wily Marenian out. Sasha’s contact assured her Arlo would show and the female in question posing as a slave was fully aware of the risk and willing to help Sasha for a few credits.
Jaron cleared his throat and dropped his tone to a husky murmur. “Tell me where to find you.”
There was no doubt any longer in Sasha’s mind that she wanted to see him, work or no work. Adjusting her wrist comm she sent him the meet details and coordinates. “Be here in two days, Jutak.”
She disconnected with a smug grin. Inside her heart bounced with joy. Falling back on the recliner, Sasha hugged herself. She’d been a fool to wait so long. The truth stared her in the face and she no longer wished to fight it. She was going to follow her instincts.
“I think I’m ready to say I love you, Jaron.”
***
The knot lodged in Jaron’s throat took a bit to clear. His breath ragged, he commed Torkel, knowing what he was about to do would ruin any chance at a future with Sasha.
“Is everything alright, Jaron?” Torkel sounded distracted. Probably with Faye.
“We have intel on Arlo.”
Chapter 24
Torkel pulled Jaron aside before they entered the meeting room. His brown eyes were somber as if he understood the gravity of what they were about to do. “I want to ask once more—you are certain of the details?”
Jaron nodded in a jerky motion, his stomach churning inside as it had been over the last two nights. “I am.”
“Fine.” Torkel exhaled on a harsh breath. “I know this was hard for you to do. It is the right decision.”
Torkel could say that. Probably believed it. He wasn’t the one risking a potential future with the female he wanted as his Chosen.
They entered the room together and all gazes turned in their direction. Jaron took an available seat between Khane and V’hor. Torkel went to the front of the room and made the announcement.
“We have a chance once more to get Arlo.”
Gazes hardened in retribution. Lothar was clear he had no love lost for the Jutak warriors or any other form of authority, but they had evidence of Arlo’s direct involvement in a vendetta against them. He went out of his way to direct attacks toward their particular Unit many times, going so far as to target their Chosens.
Torkel continued with all the pertinent information about the meeting Sasha had sent Jaron including time and location. Each detail gouged a new hole in his already cracked heart. He fisted his hands under the table unable to meet anyone’s stare. Sasha had been excited. She believed Jaron would be happy for her and wish her success.
Instead, he’d sent her commed transmission to Torkel. His Unit Leader paused his pacing and braced his hands on his hips, staring at the fifteen men gathered. “Thanks to Jaron’s intel, we know Arlo’s whereabouts for a small block of time today only. He’s taking lead on this and will go in alone until contact is made. Once we receive confirmation, Team One will go in and arrest Arlo.”
Jaron lifted his head on those last words to gaze around the table. Anticipation had them all on edge. At last, they might actually stop Arlo and create a break in Lothar’s slave ring. Next on their list of priorities would be Lothar’s son, Niko. Taking down the two principle players would disable a huge portion of the illegal business.
A few questions were tossed about and Torkel answered them. Jaron blocked it all, trying to get his head on the mission. It wasn’t easy. Chairs scraped back and noise filtered in. The meeting was over.
Torkel cornered Jaron before he could leave. He bit down on his annoyance. “Do not deviate from the plan, Jaron.”
“I know.”
“You understand Sasha F’Lan is not to be made aware of our presence or that we plan to apprehend Arlo prior to her claiming the Bounty?”
Gritting his teeth, Jaron gave the only answer he could. “Yes.”
“Remember,” Torkel added. “You are doing what needs to be done.”
Sasha would be hurt. There was no way to avoid it. But if they could get their hands on Arlo, he could lead them to Lothar. The Jutaks taking custody of the Marenian exceeded the need of one Bounty Retriever.
The justification sat like a tertian steel ball lodged in his gut. Jaron had only to imagine Sasha’s reaction to such a grave betrayal and felt ill.
***
The crowd at The Zone was at capacity, music blaring from overhead speakers. Dancers gyrated on the floor and clustered tables overflowed with customers of all ilks. If you wanted to stay under the radar and avoid the law while blowing credits on alcohol, The Zone was the place to go.
The rowdy bar was owned and run by an ex-soldier, who knew how to keep secrets and kept the customers under control for the most part. It wasn’t a place where Jaron would have usuall
y gone, but he also knew of Hunter Gils’ history and military background. If things got out of order Hunter would make sure Jaron was able to leave undetected as a Jutak.
He spotted Sasha sitting at a lone table in the back, a square container with blue liquid frothing at the rim in front of her. She wore her hair slightly shorter than he remembered, the curls no less wild. Under the dimmed lights her skin held a bronze tone with a gold sheen.
Swaying with the beat of the music with her head tipped back to watch the dancers, allowed Jaron the chance to stare in hungry fascination. Her full lips a scarlet slash of red that thickened his cock in an instant. No female attracted him as Sasha did before and since. Jaron walked in her direction, his dark look warning off any who thought to approach him.
Sasha glanced up as he reached the table and her green eyes were as vivid as he recalled. She stood and patted his forearm. The touch seared despite the cloth of his shirt. “You made it, Jaron.”
Small talk could wait, the mission could wait. His need for Sasha couldn’t. Jaron grabbed her hand and tugged her around the table and toward the side door a few feet away. His palm slapped on the door which opened into a small cubby enclosure no more than four by four in space.
“Ja-ron!” Her chuckle mixed with his name.
Too far gone to be rational, Jaron’s mouth was on hers. He backed her against the wall, ripping her shirt from the waist of her pants until he touched skin. Sasha’s skin. Jaron groaned in her mouth and eased back, forehead falling to hers. “Sasha. My Sasha.”
Her hips rolled beneath him. “We need to get back out front. Arlo is due in—”
“An hour,” he finished for her, undoing the buttons of her top. “I only need fifteen minutes.”
Her snort blew air across his nose and Jaron found himself smiling even as he loosened her pants and slid his hand down to palm her mound. Sasha jerked. “You can’t be serious?”
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