Heart of Eon: Eon Warriors #3

by Hackett, Anna

  “The bugs have damaged the stabilizers,” Sassy said calmly.

  Around the bridge, warriors cursed and clung to their consoles.

  Malax saw Wren stagger and reached for her. His hand closed on hers, just as the gravity system failed.

  His boots left the floor, and as she started to float upward, Wren gave a startled squeak. He wrapped an arm around her, pulling her into his chest. She clung to him.

  “Get the engineers down there,” Malax ordered.

  “We need to stop those bugs first.” Airen was still gripping the light table, her feet floating above her head.

  Malax’s head brushed the ceiling, and he braced himself, holding Wren tight. “I need ideas, warriors.”

  Wren tapped her lips. “Hmm.”

  He glanced down at her, instantly distracted by the full, plump shape of her mouth. Cren. He had a disabled ship to worry about, not Wren Traynor’s delectable mouth.

  “I have an idea,” she said. “Sassy, are these bugs attracted to sound?”

  “I believe so, yes.” Sassy’s voice came from the floating tablet.

  “I have a few Kantos bug noises stored in my data,” Wren said. “Can you generate a noise at the right frequency to attract them?”

  “Yes.”

  Wren swiveled to look up at Malax. “You need to get me close to the bugs. Sassy can generate the sound, and you need to find something to trap them in.”

  He pulled her closer. “I can organize that.”

  “So, we have a plan.”

  He nodded. “Hold on.”

  He pressed a boot to the wall and pushed off. Wren snatched her tablet from mid-air as they floated past.

  “Airen, I need containment boxes brought down to deck Gamma-Two.”

  “I’ll arrange it.”

  Malax zoomed out of the doors of the bridge, keeping Wren flush against his body. They flew down the corridor.

  “Ooh, I always wanted to fly,” Wren said.

  He shook his head. Nothing seemed to faze this woman. She’d been sent to hijack a high-tech, alien warship and hadn’t hesitated. Now, she was going to capture Kantos bugs without any gravity, and she sounded excited. Whatever situation crept up, she appeared to simply adjust her strategy and charge onward.

  He tightened his hold on her and found his nose buried in her hair. He pulled in a deep breath of her scent, something warm beneath the lingering traces of his soap.

  Focus, Dann-Jad. After they contained the Kantos bugs, then he’d deliver Wren to the Desteron. He’d probably never see her again. She was a confounding little Terran, and definitely not for him.

  He only had room in his life for his ship and his warriors.

  Chapter Seven

  Malax expertly maneuvered them through the corridors and down a malfunctioning lift shaft. He moved with ease and didn’t bump them into anything once. Wren was a little in awe. She’d have donked her head half a dozen times by now.

  She was actually digging having no gravity. It was fun.

  Especially when you were pressed up against a hard, male body.

  She knew she shouldn’t be focused on Malax’s muscles, but she felt so small tucked up against him. He made her feel safe, protected. Even Lance had never made her feel like that. She knew that whatever they faced, Malax Dann-Jad would face it head on.

  They moved into another corridor, and she heard the faint buzzing of the Kantos insects.

  Holding Malax with one hand, she pulled out her tablet with the other. She tapped the screen and saw Sassy was finished generating a sound that should attract the bugs.

  She pressed her lips together. Hopefully.

  As she concentrated, her body drifted from Malax’s. He pulled her closer, one big hand gripping her hip to hold her in place.

  It was terribly distracting. Focus, Wren. And not on the strong fingers digging into your skin. Or on what else he could do with those fingers.

  Besides, she was headed for the Desteron and her sisters soon. A warrior like Malax would never be interested in her, and soon she’d never see him again.

  On that depressing thought, she looked up. “Okay, this should work…I think.”

  His eyes narrowed. “You think? That’s not good enough, Wren.”

  “Sorry, Mr. War Commander, but I don’t have the time or resources to run any tests right now.”

  He blew out a breath and nodded. “All right.” He touched his communicator. “Airen, are the containment boxes ready?”

  “Ready, Malax. The team is just around the corner from you, putting them in place.”

  Malax pushed off the wall again, moving them closer. Wren spotted the long, narrow panel that had to lead into a conduit. Behind it, she heard the humming buzz. Yeah, they were in there.

  She heard a clunking noise and looked over her shoulder. Several warriors appeared, shifting some large boxes into position.

  The humming increased.

  Malax moved them away from the panel, and Wren almost dropped her tablet. She grabbed for it and bumped her knee against the wall. Ow. She shifted, and her elbow jabbed Malax in the jaw.

  “Sorry. I’m a klutz.”

  He rubbed her elbow and tucked it back in front of her. “We’re ready.”

  “Okay,” she said. “Sassy, we’re a go.” She touched the screen and the sound started. The discordant buzzing was far louder than the insects. She winced. It wasn’t pleasant.

  Nearby, she heard the warriors groan and clamp their hands over their ears. Malax made a pained sound.

  “Oh, God.” She hadn’t thought. She knew that the Eon warriors had more acute hearing than humans. “Sassy, lower the volume.”

  The sound dropped a fraction and she saw Malax’s face relax a little.

  Then there was a buzz of sound. They turned and she saw the panel burst off the conduit. A rush of black insects poured out of the hole.

  They rushed at Malax and Wren.

  Ugh. She batted at them. They buzzed around her, covering her with some sort of sticky goo. It felt like honey and smelled terrible.

  “It’s working,” someone yelled.

  The swarm rushed over Wren and Malax. She felt more of the sticky substance splatter onto them.

  She shifted her arm and her tablet closer to the containment boxes. The bugs flew inside. It was working!

  “They’re all in,” Malax said.

  She shut off the sound. The warriors quickly slammed the boxes closed. From within, she could hear a muffled, angry buzzing.

  The Kantos bugs were trapped.

  Eon warriors were shaking their heads and tugging on their ears, but they were smiling.

  “Eww.” Wren lifted a hand. It was coated in a pale-green, sticky substance. She tried flinging some of the goo off, but it wasn’t budging. “Gross.” It looked like snot.

  Malax swiped some of the gunk off his face. It was totally unfair he still looked rugged and hot, despite the icky substance.

  “The bugs are contained, War Commander,” his security commander said.

  “Well done, Wren,” Malax said. “Excellent work.”

  She felt a flush of pleasure. “I am very good at what I do.”

  “A-hem.” Sassy’s voice. “I had something to do with it, too.”

  “Yeah, yeah,” Wren said. “Quit trying to steal my thunder.”

  A faint smile appeared on Malax’s face. “You are definitely not a klutz with your tablet.”

  Her flush deepened.

  Malax turned to his security commander. “Sabin, I want these containment boxes destroyed. Incinerate them.”

  The man nodded and turned to the warriors. Moments later, they moved off, the boxes floating between them.

  “Come on.” Malax maneuvered Wren down the corridor. “We need to clean up. Hopefully, my engineers will have the gravity system back on soon.”

  “I get another shower?”

  He made an amused sound. “Well, once we have gravity again, you can.”

  Wren closed her ey
es and moaned. She’d shower three times a day if she could, to catch up after the last week.

  When she opened her eyes, she saw Malax staring at her, a strange, intense look on his face. Her belly flipflopped. His gaze traced her face, falling to her lips.

  She felt the arc of attraction between them and it made her chest hitch.

  Then he looked away. “Come on.”

  * * *

  With Wren wrapped in his arms, Malax sailed down the corridor toward his cabin. There were several items floating through the hall—some tools, a comp screen, and a pair of boots. He made a note to remind his warriors to secure all items aboard the ship.

  “War Commander.” Airen’s voice came through his communicator. “The engineers haven’t quite fixed the gravity systems, but they’ve patched it enough to return gravity to the main decks. Prepare for gravity reinitialization.”

  “Acknowledged. Thanks, Airen.”

  He pulled himself to a stop and gripped an air vent above his head. “Hold on.”

  Wren wrapped her fingers around the vent and a second later, he felt the gravity kick in. The floating items dropped like stones, clunking on the metal grate floor.

  Malax let go. He dropped to the floor, bending his knees to absorb the impact.

  “Oh, God.” Wren let out a strangled sound and he saw her falling. Her arms and legs were flailing.

  He caught her against his chest, the air rushing out of her.

  “Um, thanks.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “Peachy.” She sniffed. “Except for this horrid smelling gunk.”

  He set her on her feet. “You can have a shower now.” He nudged her toward his cabin and seconds later, followed her inside. “I need to synthesize some new clothes to fit you.” No Eon clothes would come close to fitting her.

  “This alien goo is gross.” Her nose wrinkled and she rubbed her fingers together.

  He walked to the synthesizer and tapped on the screen. “We should have the other damaged components fixed soon, then we can set a course for the Desteron.”

  “I can help,” she said.

  He turned to look at her. “I would appreciate that.”

  Their gazes locked and they kept staring at each other.

  The synthesizer beeped, and Malax cleared his throat. “The washroom is all yours.” He waved a hand.

  With a nod, she took the clothes he held out to her. The door slid closed behind her.

  Touching his own sticky hair, he winced. He smelled really bad. He needed a shower and clean clothes of his own. As he gathered the supplies he needed, he heard the shower turn on.

  Instantly, he imagined her naked. Those curves, her gleaming skin, and those dark curls. His cock went hard and he swallowed a groan. His hand slid into his pocket and he pulled out the scrap of pink lace.

  He should return them. He fingered the delicate fabric, imagining what it would look like on her. Desire was a hot burn inside him and he stared at the door. All his life, Malax had dedicated himself to his career, to pleasing his father, and then to protecting his family and those under his command.

  He never took anything for himself. He always put the needs of others before his own. He fingered the lace again. For the first time in his life, he wanted something so badly, it hurt.

  Malax blew out a breath. Wren wasn’t his. She was Terran and would soon be off his ship.

  His fingers closed around the panties. He wasn’t giving them back. He quickly exited his cabin and entered the adjoining one, which was vacant, to shower and change. Under the blasts of misty water, he kept imagining Wren. With a groan, he let his hand slide down his body. He needed to do something to relieve himself, or his control might slip and he’d do something he regretted. His fingers curled around his cock.

  A short while later, he stepped back into his cabin. Wren was still bathing, and now he heard her singing. Badly.

  He shook his head, smiling. What she lacked in talent, she made up for in enthusiasm.

  Then he heard her scream.

  Every muscle in his body locked tight. He hurried to the door, overriding the electronic lock. He rushed inside.

  She was naked in the shower stall and he charged toward her. He snaked an arm around her, searching for the threat.

  “What’s wrong? What’s happened?”

  Her cheeks turned pink. “Um…the water went cold.”

  His brows drew together. “The Kantos aren’t in here?”

  “No. Sorry.”

  Malax tried to calm his racing pulse. That was when he realized his hands were touching warm, damp skin. Naked skin.

  His gaze dropped, skating over her body. She was pressed against him, turning his uniform damp. Her full breasts were plumped up against his chest, and he saw pretty, pink nipples.

  Her blush deepened. “Malax.”

  He loved hearing her say his name. “Wren.”

  “Oh, God, I’m naked!”

  “I noticed.”

  She held her hands up to her chest. “Stop noticing.”

  “That would be impossible. You’re beautiful.” He grabbed a drying cloth and held it out to her. She quickly wrapped it around her body.

  She shoved her wet hair back. “You’re probably used to women with sleek, toned muscles. Not round bellies and curvy hips.”

  He frowned, realizing she was embarrassed. “Yes, Eon woman are generally taller and more muscular.”

  The drying cloth had stuck to her damp skin in patches, giving him small, peekaboo glimpses of her. For some reason, he found it just as provocative. His unruly body was throbbing now. He’d never felt a loss of control like this. Certainly not with any of his casual bed partners.

  Wren gave an awkward laugh. “Well, I’m not muscular. At all.”

  “You’re beautiful, soft, fascinating. I find the differences very intriguing.”

  She swallowed, eyeing him. “Sure you do.”

  “Remember, a war commander never lies.”

  Malax sensed the pulse fluttering in her throat. Then he picked up her scent. This time, it was spiked with her arousal. He swallowed a groan.

  “You’re all perfect.” She waved at his body.

  “Perfect depends on the beholder’s point of view.” Because he couldn’t stop himself, he reached out and touched her hair. He ran the damp, silky strands through his fingers.

  “I would have thought that warriors liked strong, muscled badasses.”

  “Quiet,” he demanded. “No one can say what I like except me.”

  She stared up at him.

  “There are numerous ways to be a badass, Wren. Like having the courage and skills to hijack a warship. Or evading detection for days. Or helping capture a swarm of dangerous Kantos bugs.”

  Her chest was rising and falling. “You find me attractive?”

  “Immensely. It must be obvious.”

  Her gaze dropped and when it hit the bulge at the front of his trousers, she sucked in a breath. “Oh.” Her gaze flicked back up. “This is probably a bad idea.”

  “Probably.”

  “I hijacked your ship, I’m leaving soon…”

  “Yes.” His hands curled into fists.

  “Screw it.” Wren moved fast, leaping on him.

  She surprised Malax and as he caught her, he almost stumbled. Then he wrapped his arms around her, loving the feel of her against him. He spun and pressed her back to the washroom wall.

  Then his mouth was on hers.

  He drove his tongue into her mouth and her tongue met his. She moaned, rubbing against him. Her taste. He wanted more. Desire exploded inside him.

  “My, God—” she mumbled against his lips “—you can kiss.”

  “More.” The word was barely understandable, coated in possession.

  “So you like curvy, geeky, and a bit clumsy?” she gasped.

  “I like sweet, sexy, and smart.”

  She shimmied against him and with a growl, he deepened the kiss. He slid his hand into her hair, tilting her he
ad back. He let his tongue plunge deep.

  The drying cloth slipped off her body. He pushed her up, closing his mouth on one of her pretty nipples.

  “Oh! Oh, Malax.” Her hands gripped his hair.

  He looked at her face and saw pure pleasure on it. Her eyes were closed and more color ran along her cheekbones. He took his time, lavishing her breasts with attention. As he sucked on one plump nipple, he couldn’t get enough of her. He moved across to the other breast.

  “That is so good,” she gasped.

  He stroked a hand down her body. He urged her legs around his waist, stroking her hip, then he slid one hand between their bodies. His fingers dipped between her legs.

  “Yes.” She bucked against him.

  “You feel so soft.”

  He stroked the delicate folds. She was damp and soft. He stroked, exploring, watching her face for what she liked. He found the hard nub of her clit and pinched it gently.

  “Yes, Malax.” She bucked against him. “Don’t you dare stop.”

  “You want more?”

  “Yes, please.”

  And Malax wanted nothing more than to give her pleasure and watch this small Terran come apart for him.

  Chapter Eight

  “You’re so soft here.”

  Malax’s words rumbled through Wren. She tightened her legs on him, her hands tugging on his hair. He was stroking her and it felt mind-blowingly amazing.

  She rolled her hips, riding his hand. A second later, he slid one thick finger inside her.

  She moaned. “Oh, God.”

  This time he groaned. “So tight. So warm and wet.”

  He added another finger and she felt the sweet sting as her body stretched to accommodate him.

  “Ride my fingers, Wren. Take what you need.”

  She didn’t care about the noises she made. He held her against the wall with ease, stroking her closer to her release.

  She felt the giant orgasm building, looming on the horizon. Here she was, riding the fingers of the sexiest man she’d ever seen.

  “So sweet.” He kept working her. “You like this?”

  “Yes, God, yes.”

  “I can smell you. I can feel your body clamping down on my fingers.”