by Anna Hackett
“It’s none of your concern.” He’d made that abundantly clear.
That muscle in his jaw ticked again.
“God, I feel like I should smoke a cigarette just watching you two,” Emerson said.
Selena frowned. “What?” She had no idea what the doctor was talking about.
“Never mind.” Emerson injected something into Selena’s arm. “It’s a surface-level poison, and you’re having a small allergic reaction to it.” The doctor glanced at Tane. “She’ll be fine.”
He released a slow breath. “Good.” Then he spun and strode out of the infirmary.
A small growl escaped Selena’s mouth and she glared at the door.
“He was worried.”
She glanced at Emerson. “I’m not his to worry about.”
The doctor raised a brow. “Really? Has anyone mentioned that to him?”
Selena sighed. “I don’t… I…” She felt the sudden need to talk to someone. “I kissed him.”
A smile bloomed on Emerson’s face. “Really?”
“He stayed frozen.”
Now Emerson’s smile faded.
The words kept tumbling out of Selena. “Then he kind of…snapped and kissed me.”
Emerson’s smile returned. “Was it good? I have to admit I’ve wondered what Tane Rahia’s kiss would be like. All that dark, smoldering intensity.”
Selena licked her lips, her heart pumping just thinking about it. “It was amazing. Hot, fierce, hard, rough. Perfect.”
The machine beside her beeped.
With a grin, Emerson touched it to silence the alarm. “Your heart rate spiked.”
Selena hunched her shoulders. “Then he pulled back.” Hurt flooded in. “He said he couldn’t give me what I wanted, and if I wanted to experiment with sex, to find another test subject.”
“Oh, Tane, you idiot.” Emerson reached out and carefully bandaged the scratch on Selena’s hand. “Want some advice from someone who’s been there before?”
“Been where?”
“Falling in love with a rough, tough soldier who doesn’t think he’s good enough for you.”
Selena blinked. Is that what Tane thought? That couldn’t be right. “Tane’s tough, heroic, brave. He’s a good man, and so…so…”
“Hot?” Emerson supplied.
“Yes. How could he not be good enough for anyone? He could have anyone he wanted.”
The doc smiled. “I know that. You know that. Now you just need to convince him.”
Selena slumped. “I have no idea how to do that.”
“Just be yourself, Selena.” Emerson patted her arm. “That seems to be working just fine for you. Now, go and get some rest, but in the morning, I’d love your help with these samples.”
Selena nodded. “Of course. Thanks, Emerson.”
The infirmary door opened, and for a second, she thought the big muscular man was Tane.
Gabe Jackson stepped into the infirmary.
“Hey, big guy.” Emerson walked over to her man. “I’m just about done.”
The silent soldier only had eyes for the blonde doctor. He reached out, pulling her close to kiss her, one of his big hands resting on her belly. “Bed.”
Emerson grinned. “My man of few words.” She winked at Selena and mouthed something.
Worth the trouble.
Tane was in a bad mood.
He’d slept like shit, and despite a hard workout at the gym, he still felt off.
He kept seeing that look on Selena’s face when he’d pushed her away. It sliced into him, again and again. He needed to get his head back in the game.
He strode down the corridor, heading toward the tech lab. Doc Emerson and Noah had decided to set up a special lab there for the alien samples instead of the infirmary. Noah had some better containment set up, and Emerson was worried about injured patients being close to the alien gunk.
“You look cheery.”
He glanced up and saw Mac and Taylor from Squad Nine. Dark-haired Mackenna “Mac” Carides was a small, toned powerhouse and Squad Nine’s second. Taylor towered over Mac and possessed an athletic body and a gorgeous face. Her brown hair was streaked with red and pulled back in a ponytail. Taylor knew her way around a carbine very well.
He lifted his chin.
“We heard your mission last night was successful,” Taylor said.
Of course, Devlin would have told the brunette. Tane nodded. “We got the samples.”
“Dev said Selena was amazing,” Taylor added.
Tane grunted. Both women grinned.
“I think our gorgeous alien has blossomed,” Mac said.
Taylor nodded. “People are starting to take notice.”
He frowned. “What people?”
Taylor just winked at him, and the women continued down the corridor.
Pulling his bad mood tighter around him, Tane kept moving through the tunnels. Could he have one freaking minute where people didn’t bring up Selena?
Then he heard a sweet, feminine laugh—clean, pure. He should keep heading to the tech lab, but he turned, following the sound.
He rounded a corner.
Selena was wearing faded jeans and a pale-pink shirt today.
There was a man standing with her—a clean cut twenty-something with a wide smile. The guy murmured something, and Selena laughed again.
Tane felt like he’d taken a fist to his gut.
Then her head moved and she saw him. Her smile dissolved.
Damn. A part of him wanted to march up and punch the guy in the face. If the asshole even thought about touching her… Dammit, he’d practically ordered her to find someone else.
Another part of him just watched her—she looked relaxed, all light and smiles.
This guy made her laugh.
Tane had hurt her.
He swiveled, and headed down another tunnel. It took him a moment to realize he’d headed in the opposite direction to the tech lab. With a quiet curse, he kept walking. Maybe taking the long way would help him clear his head.
Near the dining room, he nearly ran into Hemi, Griff, and Indy.
“Hey, where’s the fire, bro?” Hemi said.
“How’d the mission go?” Griff asked.
“Fine.”
Indy raised a dark brow. “You’re moodier than usual. What’s wrong?”
“Woman trouble,” Griff said. “That’s the only thing that puts that look on a man’s face.”
Indy elbowed her lover.
“It’s totally worth it, of course.” Griff lowered his head and kissed her.
Indy wound her tattooed arms around Griff’s neck and kissed him back. A second later, the pair were lost in each other.
Tane ignored them. “We got the samples. I’m heading to the tech lab now to see what progress they’ve made.”
A slow smile crossed Hemi’s face. “Heard you carried a certain cute alien into the infirmary last night.”
Tane felt the need to curse, but swallowed it down. “She got hurt.”
“Is Selena okay?” Indy asked, leaning into Griff’s side.
Tane nodded.
Indy grinned. “Did you kiss her boo-boo better?”
Tane just stared at her. “I’m going.” He walked past them.
“That man is sunk,” Griff said.
“Yep,” Hemi agreed. “But looks like he’s planning to go down with a fight.”
Tane kept moving and soon reached the tech lab. He paused in the doorway, staring at the lines of benches filled with computer parts and wires.
A blonde, curly head popped up from behind one bench. “Tane, hi.”
“Hi, Marin.” Ash’s woman was cute, smart, and sweet. She had the tattooed former biker wrapped around her finger.
“I wanted to check how the work on the alien samples is going,” he said.
Marin’s nose wrinkled. “They’ve set up in there.” She pointed to a large, glass door. “It’s not going well so far. Noah is like a rabid bear.”
T
ane strode to the door, and before he reached it, a bad smell hit his nose.
Inside, several benches were covered in what looked like crazy experiments. Tubes filled with liquid bubbled. An area at the back was cordoned off with curtains like in the infirmary.
Noah sat at a comp, scowling, while Emerson leaned beside him. Both of them wore protective eyewear and masks.
They both looked unhappy.
Tane knocked on the glass, and Emerson let him in.
“Hey.”
“Morning, Tane.” Emerson shoved some glasses and a mask at him. Then she tucked some of her hair back and glanced at the curtain.
Noah just grunted.
Tane slipped the glasses on and tugged the mask into place. “No breakthroughs, I take it?”
“Not yet.” Noah thrust his hands on his hips.
Suddenly, a raptor stepped out from behind one of the curtains, a green sample in a small glass vial in his clawed hand.
He nodded at Tane.
“Gaz’da,” Tane said in greeting.
The raptor was an ally who’d turned on the Gizzida. He’d helped them out numerous times, and now called the Enclave home. The alien’s English was even taking on a slight Australian accent.
“Gaz’da’s helping us with the testing,” Emerson said.
“Emerson?” a muffled feminine voice called out.
Tane stiffened. That was Selena’s voice coming from behind the curtain.
Emerson shot him a look. “Selena’s helping, too.”
“The blood sample.” Gaz’da handed the vial to Emerson.
Green blood.
Selena’s blood.
“Emerson…” Selena’s voice sounded wrong. Weak. “I don’t feel—”
Tane strode across the lab and jerked the curtain back.
She sat on the bench, hooked up to several tubes. She lifted her head and blinked slowly. “Tane?” Then she grimaced in pain. “Ow.”
“Emerson,” he growled.
He grabbed Selena’s hand as the doctor appeared.
“Dammit, her heart rate and respiration are elevated.”
“Unhook her. Now.” The Gizzida had experimented on her. He hated seeing her like this.
“Tane.” Her voice was a whisper, her face impossibly pale.
“How could you experiment on her?” he bit out. “You know what she’s been through.”
Selena’s fingers gripped his. “I volunteered. I want to help.”
Emerson was busy unhooking the tubes. “Selena’s blood has several valuable properties that I think can—”
“I think I’m going to faint,” Selena said.
“Hey.” Tane cupped her cheek. “Look at me.”
She blinked again. “I like looking at you.”
Damn. He stroked her cheekbone. “Stay with me.”
She pulled in a shallow breath. “I love your eyes. So dark, but sometimes, they look like chocolate. I like chocolate.” Then she gasped.
“There, the last tube is free,” Emerson said.
Selena dragged in a breath. “I…can’t breathe. Air. I need air.”
“Come on.” Tane scooped her off the bench. “You’re coming with me.” He glared at the others, daring them to stop him, as he strode out.
Chapter Eight
She hated feeling weak.
Selena clung to Tane—absorbing his heat and strength—as he strode through the corridors.
Here they were, him seeing her like this again. A wave of dizziness hit her, and she tried to get some air into her lungs. She was never going to convince him that she was strong and confident.
She heard him contact someone on his communicator and let them know they were headed outside.
He reached the external door and Selena felt a ripple of energy.
“Wait.”
A squawk echoed down the tunnel and they both turned. A dark, black shape flew toward them like a black arrow.
“Shit,” Tane mumbled. “Tell him not to claw me up.”
Fluffy landed on Tane’s shoulder with a flap of wings. The bird gave Tane a baleful look through bright-green eyes, then leaned down and nuzzled Selena.
“I’m okay, Fluffy.”
He’d been a tiny fluffball of a chick when Finn had rescued him, but now his feathers were a smooth, oily black. Gyrs on her world were different, but his mother had been experimented on by the Gizzida.
“Come on.” Tane walked outside.
Sunlight hit her and her muscles instantly relaxed. She pulled in a shuddering breath, energy filling her.
Fluffy took to the air, and Tane set her down. She kicked off her shoes and worked her toes into the grass.
She walked across the green, absorbing it all.
“Not too far.” His voice came from right behind her. He was sticking close. “Better?”
She looked back at him. “Yes. Thank you.”
His jaw tightened. “You don’t need to be a damn lab rat. The Gizzida did that enough to you.”
“Emerson and Noah weren’t hurting me. I want to help, any way I can.”
Tane thrust his hands on his hips, his face dark. “Don’t like seeing you ready to faceplant on the floor.”
Confusing man. As she absorbed the energy around her, her pain faded. But she still felt the beat of Tane’s anger.
He stood so straight and tall, that sense of aloneness pumping off him.
Her fingers curled into her palms. She wanted him so badly.
“Tane—”
He spun and pulled her against him. With one hand on the back of her head, he pressed her face against his hard chest. His fingers slid into her hair.
She absorbed his energy—it was strong and hard.
They stayed there, pressed together, Fluffy whirling overhead.
“You tempt me.” His voice was gritty.
“I’m not doing anything,” she said.
“You don’t need to.” He made it sound like an accusation.
Under her hands, his muscles coiled. Everything about this man pulled her. And despite his harsh words at the end of the mission, she knew that he was drawn to her as well.
She tipped her head up, letting her hand move up to stroke his jaw. Maybe Emerson was right. Selena just had to convince him they could be together.
“Stop fighting so hard,” she whispered.
A tremor went through him. “You don’t need more nightmares.”
She saw them boiling in his eyes. Understood what it was to be haunted by old hurts.
Being this close to him warmed something inside her. Some small core of ice she hadn’t even known was there. She’d found her feet over the last months, and now it was time to test her newfound balance.
“I’m tough enough to handle your demons, Tane.” She went up on her toes and kissed his jaw.
His fingers flexed on her. Then he turned his head, his mouth taking hers.
The kiss was slow, deliberate, but it still had her gasping for air. His mouth moved down her neck and found a sensitive spot.
She moaned. Oh.
“You like that?” he asked.
“Yes.”
His teeth scraped her skin and she moaned again, clinging to him.
Suddenly, Fluffy’s screech cut through the air.
Selena stiffened. “That’s a warning.”
Tane lifted his head, just as the communicator attached to his belt beeped. He pulled the device out.
“Tane!” Elle’s panicked voice. “Get inside. Now. We’re detecting alien signatures all around you.”
“Fuck.” He grabbed Selena’s hand. “Come on.”
They’d barely taken two steps when a violent buzz filled the air. Selena felt the vibrations and she turned to see a black cloud in the sky, descending on them. Fast.
“Run,” Tane barked.
They broke into a sprint, but the Gizzida bugs flew faster.
She could see them now. They had bat-like wings attached to a long black body with a large stinger on the end of a sh
arp tail. The creatures were almost as big as she was.
“We can’t risk opening the door,” she panted. “If one gets inside…”
Tane cursed and her pulse spiked. If they couldn’t get back, they had to fight.
“Keep going.” Selena spun to face the swarm. She wouldn’t let them hurt Tane.
“Fuck, no,” he growled. “I’m not leaving you.”
He leaned down and yanked a knife from his boot. Then he stood beside her.
The flying scorpion aliens flew closer.
Fuck. Fuck.
Tane hated that Selena was in danger. He glanced at her.
Nothing about her said she was afraid. Her feet were planted, her small body tense and her eyes narrowed.
She was pure courage.
She met his gaze. “Ready?”
He nodded.
The first bug reached them. Selena dodged, spun, and raised a hand. She looked like she was dancing. She pressed a palm to one of the creature’s wings. The alien screeched, its wings collapsing in on themselves.
Tane ran, leaping into the air. He swung his knife and caught one of the bugs’ wings. He ripped down, cutting through the tough skin.
The creature crashed to the ground and Tane landed, rolled, then came back up on his feet.
He saw Selena running away from him, the swarm whirling to follow her.
Fuck.
He broke into a sprint. One bug swiveled in his direction, its wings flapping wildly. Tane threw the knife. It hit the bug’s face and it flew to the side, screeching.
He powered toward Selena, pushing for all the speed he had.
The swarm rose up overhead, stingers aimed at her. He dived, tackling her to the grass. He stayed on top of her, covering her body with his.
A shadow fell over them, and she looked up, her eyes widening. He knew a scorpion bug was launching itself at them.
Selena threw a hand up, and he felt a charge of energy in the air. The hairs on the back of his neck rose.
A bug crashed down beside them on the grass. Then, he heard the distant sound of carbine fire.
He turned his head and saw berserkers sprinting toward them from another entrance.
Tane rose and pulled Selena up. The bugs circled, some breaking away to attack the berserkers.
But his squad was still too far away.
