Dangerously Hers (6 page)

Eva shrugged. “Do what you please but on Sonis I’m twenty-four.” Then she smiled wickedly. “I made Ship record that age rather than my true Earth age.”

At the mention of Ship, JB perked up. “Where is he anyway? I was expecting him to pop up and say hi.”

Jess cringed at the thought of Ship popping in unexpectedly.

Eva glanced up. “Ship? Are you here?” She waited for a second then, when she didn’t get a response, she added, “I don’t know. It used to be he was invisible to the naked eye but it turns out humans are the only species who can see him. I don’t think he appreciates it so much. Since the influx of all the women, he’s been hiding out. I have no clue what he does when he disappears but I’m sure he’ll pop up. He’s too nosy not to.”

At hearing Ship’s name, Josanis giggled and ran for a vase with a mix of pink and red flowers in it. Before he could reach it, Jess swiped it away. She didn’t want any of her new things broken before she got a chance to enjoy them.

“He won’t just ‘pop’ up here, will he?” Jess asked. The thought was enough to make her want to vomit.

“I’ll tell him not to unless you invite him.”

Jess didn’t see that happening anytime soon.

Not getting what he wanted, Josanis wailed and threw himself on the ground. Eva watched him and shook her head. “Since he’s the only toddler in the palace, I’m afraid he’s spoiled rotten.” Eva lifted him from the floor and placed him back on her hip. “It’s all going to change in a little while—there’s five confirmed pregnancies so far.” She said the latter part beaming.

“And I assume the women are more than willing to be with Sonis males?” JB asked.

“Oh yeah. I’ve been real busy in the infirmary. I’m working with the architects to build a maternity ward. In a couple years we’re going to need a bigger room.”

Speaking of rooms… “Where’s the bedroom?” Jess asked, still cradling her statue, eyeing Josanis warily.

“Oh! I almost forgot the best part.” Eva turned on her heel, with JB and Jess following behind her.

“I was hoping to see Yazmine while I was here.”

Eva peered over her shoulder. “Have you spoken to her?”

“I tried but she’s not taking my calls.”

Eva stopped. She leaned against the doorframe to what Jess assumed was the bedroom. “I don’t know. I’ll ask her.”

“I just wanted to see how she was doing.”

“She’s doing better. The healers have been making good progress with her.” Eva cocked her head in thought. “Jess, it might do her some good if you talk with her.”

“Me? Why me?”

“I think she would be able to relate to you.”

“If the healers here are half as good as the ones on Laconia, then she’s in good hands. Plus I really didn’t interact with Yazmine all that much while she was on
The Vengeance
.”

“Just think about it for me, will you?”

She’d heard Yazmine had been traumatized by Sa’Mya’s uncle Umar. Yazmine’s only crime had been that she was beautiful enough to catch Umar’s eye. Jess didn’t even want to think about what would have happened if Umar had known that she too was a female. She nodded.

“Thanks. Meanwhile, JB, I’ll see if she’s open to visiting with an old friend.”

“I appreciate it,” JB replied.

“Well then,” Eva said, turning around. She burst through the door and moved to the side, waiting for Jess and JB to enter.

“Eva…it’s…it’s…” Jess was speechless. The midsized bedroom reminded her of a four-star hotel room.

“Now, it was harder to get the architects to construct the bedrooms properly. They just couldn’t get it through their thick heads we’re used to stuff in our rooms.”

JB whistled low. “This is great.”

“I had to fight with them to make the dressers and nightstands. They couldn’t understand why we folded up our clothes
and
hung them in closets.” Eva snickered. “But of course I won.”

Jess ran a hand across a wooden dresser. “This is wonderful.”

JB made his way toward some black curtains. “How’s the view?” he asked Eva, concerned.

Jess’ room on Laconia hadn’t had a window. Although it wasn’t something she discussed with JB or the rest of the crew, they had all known it was because she still hadn’t felt comfortable on an alien planet.

Eva eyed Jess for approval. “Kane suggested the heavy curtains.” She pulled one thick curtain back and knocked on the glass door. “Something else I had to argue for—sliding glass doors. Jess, I didn’t think you’d appreciate sleeping while exposed to the elements.”

Hell no.

As Eva fully opened the curtains, sunlight filled the room. Jess couldn’t help but peer outside, letting her fingers lightly touch the glass.

“There’s Drazlan,” Eva pointed out. Two suns sat high in the Sonis sky. The planet that Sonis rotated around could be seen in the distance, large and brown.

Although the ground was covered in mostly sand, small patches of grass and trees dotted the landscape. About fifty feet from her balcony, there was what appeared to be a lake, albeit out of place and in the middle of a desert.

“Is that a mirage?” Jess asked.

“Nope, that’s a real lake,” Eva replied. “You can’t swim in it though.” She shuddered and JB lifted a brow. “I have no idea what’s in it.”

Jess glanced back toward the water. She swore a murky shape swam near the surface, making the water ripple before disappearing again.

“Gross,” JB said.

“Piss me off and that’s the first place you’re going,” Jess replied to him.

Before he could offer his retort, a chiming sounded throughout the room. Jess’ head snapped up.

Josanis laughed and smacked his hands together. “Ding, ding, ding,” he sang.

“That’s the doorbell,” Eva offered.

“Whoa, who do you know?” JB asked Jess jokingly as they made their way back through the apartment to the front room.

Jess pointed at Eva’s back. “Probably for her.”

“Don’t stress out, Jess. It’s for me but you’ll get to meet your neighbors soon enough,” Eva said.

Jess scrunched her face at the thought.
I don’t want to meet any new neighbors. Not yet anyway.

“That’ll be Lo. It’s time for Josanis’ nap,” Eva added.

Jess nodded. Lo’Ren, or “Lo” as Eva called her, was Eva’s best friend and Josanis’ nanny. When Eva had first come to Sonis, the other females hadn’t wanted anything to do with her because she wore training clothes and refused to wear the traditional Sonis long gowns. Taio had hired Lo’Ren to be Eva’s friend and they had been inseparable ever since.

Eva pressed a button on the wall console and the door slid open. Jess had been expecting the pale-pink female with spikey hot-pink hair, but not the giant standing by her side.

Jess inhaled sharply.
What is he doing here?

Eva looked from Lo’Ren to Rasha with uncertainty. “Hey, Lo… Um…Rasha, can I help you with something?”

Lo’Ren placed a hand on her chest. “
I
came to welcome Jess and steal Josanis away.” She waved and entered the apartment. “I don’t know why
he’s
here.” She thumbed back at Rasha.

“JB, Jess, you remember Lo, right?”

“How could I forget Lo? She’s the only pink person I know.” JB gave Lo’Ren a welcome hug. “Hi, Lo.” Then he nodded toward Rasha. “Rasha.”

Rasha gave a curt nod in return.

“Rasha, we talked about this,” Eva said, uneasy. “Is there something you
need
right now?”

Rasha kept his eyes locked on Jess.

He’s probably back for round two.

Jess crossed her arms over her chest. She’d been in enough stare-downs to know who would win this one.

Rasha nodded in Jess’ direction. “I came to retrieve her.”

Jess dropped her arms to her sides and blinked rapidly. “Me? Why do you want
me
?”

JB took a step forward.

“Rasha, what are you doing?” Eva asked.

“I need her sooner rather than later,” Rasha replied nonchalantly.

Jess glanced from Rasha to Eva then back to Rasha again. “What? I don’t get it.”

“Oh, I get it,” Lo’Ren muttered.

“Lo, please,” Eva snapped.

“Not a word out of me,” Lo’Ren replied.

Eva blew out a hard breath and motioned toward Rasha. “Jess, meet your new boss.”

Chapter Six

“M…m…my boss?” Jess pointed a finger at Rasha. “Him?”
Anyone but him.

Eva nodded and Jess backed away. She tripped over Josanis, sending them both crashing to the floor. Josanis was stuck underneath her legs. His little face went from golden to bright red in seconds, then pinched into a frown before he began to wail. Lo’Ren and Eva let out horrified gasps and ran to him.

Jess lifted her legs off him, freeing the toddler to roll away from her. “I’m so sorry,” she murmured.

As soon as he saw his mother rushing to his side, Josanis stretched out his arms, waiting for her to pick him up.

“You’re okay, faker.” Eva grabbed him and rocked him. “Just yesterday he tumbled down the stairs leading to the private gardens without so much as a peep.”

JB and Rasha offered Jess a helping hand. She ignored Rasha’s and grabbed for JB’s, allowing him to pull her to her feet.
I don’t need his help
, she thought as she wiped at imaginary lint on her pants and shirt.

As she calmed Josanis, Eva hurried to Rasha’s side. “Jess, Rasha is the head guard. And with that comes a lot of responsibility. To put it mildly, he needs a lot of help. He can barely keep all his accounts and meetings in order. Taio complains about it all the time. I’m so glad you’re here to straighten him out.”

JB choked on a laugh. “You have got be kidding.”

Eva glared at JB. “You are not helping.”

JB covered his mouth with one hand and held up the other. “Sorry, but this is too good. So much for making a good first impression, Jess.”

Jess didn’t see the humor in the situation like JB did. She’d come all this way, hoping for a brand-new start…for…for…nothing?

“Jess, please. You and Rasha will work out fine,” Eva said.

No we won’t.
I called him names…to his face.

Jess shook her head. “I can’t do this. Maybe this was a mis—”

“Oh no, we’re not leaving.” JB sobered. “You were all spit and hellfire a little while ago. Stop being a pussy.”

Her eyes flew back to Rasha. “But…”

What had she called him? Oh yeah, the Jolly Green Giant. And Gigantor—Jess couldn’t forget that name either.

I fucked up, again.
She inwardly groaned.

“Jess, Eva has promised that you will help manage me.” When Jess didn’t immediately reply, Rasha continued. “I have not had a personal assistant in a long time. Eva has assured me you will be able to keep me on task.”

Eva beamed and nodded. “If anyone can handle him, it’s you, Jess. He needs someone hard and firm and you’ve already proven that you’re both.”

She’d also proven that she was confrontational, had a smart mouth
and
could not follow directions…

“Oh yeah, I think this would be perfect for you, Jess.” JB gave her a hearty slap on the back, causing her to stumble closer to Rasha.

She clenched her fist, resisting the urge to slam it into JB’s agreeing mouth. She didn’t want to worsen her already bad reputation.

“I guess if you don’t think you could handle the job or you’re too scared to work with him, I’ll let you out of our agreement,” Eva said.

Was she too scared? Maybe just a little. She would never admit it. But damn Eva for knowing exactly what buttons to push.

“I’m sure Kane and Sa’Mya won’t mind if you return to Laconia. Although I’m pretty sure Sa’Mya has probably thrown out everything you left behind,” JB added.

At the thought of going back to Laconia with her tail between her legs, Jess pushed all fear aside. She squared her shoulders. “I can handle anything.”

“Well good, that’s settled,” Eva said. “We’ll let you two get acquainted while I show JB to his room.”

“Wait…now?” Jess asked as Eva and JB started for the door.

“Now is as good a time as ever. Rasha can finish up the tour and we’ll all meet up for dinner,” Eva said over her shoulder.

Heat flushed across her skin. “But—”

“Does he bite?” JB asked Eva.

Eva cocked her head to the side. “I don’t think he’s the biting type.”

Jess’ jaw dropped.

“I think this is perfect. It’ll give the both of you a chance to start fresh.” JB winked and followed Eva and Lo’Ren out. “We’ll see you at dinner.”

Jess wanted to follow them but Rasha stood between her and the door. She could go around him.
But he’s so fucking big.

And he’s standing there…watching me.

She gulped.

She was alone.

With him.

“Eva said I should give you a lot of compliments.”

Huh?
She watched his face for a hint of amusement. Was he making fun of her?

“She said human females appreciate compliments.”

Jess shifted.
What exactly is his angle?

He looked around the room. “You have a very nice apartment. It is filled with a lot of…things.” Rasha’s gaze finally settled on her and her heart skipped a beat yet again. “Do you need to freshen up before I show you to the offices?”

Jess almost laughed in his face. It didn’t matter how much counseling she had or what her heart was doing, she would never get undressed with him nearby. “No.”

Rasha nodded. “Very good. We can leave.”

He walked out the door and stopped to wait for her. “Are you ready?”

Jess crossed her arms over her chest. “We’re going to your office and nowhere else?”
Like the dungeon.

He motioned down the hall. “I was going to take you on a tour but if you’d rather go straight to the offices…”

Jess gave him a sideways glance. Eva trusted him and he
was
her new boss. She had prepared for this. She was ready to put all fears aside and start her new life.

She nibbled on her lower lip. What if he tried something? What if he took her somewhere else besides his office? What if…

Rasha smiled and his eyes brightened. “I don’t bite, remember?”