HostileIntent (2 page)

“Don’t get too used to it.”

“Not big on owning your mistakes?”

“No, I always own them. I just seldom make them.”

“That makes two of us.”

He laughed as he lay down next to her on the bed and wrapped
an arm protectively around her waist.

She wasn’t exactly the cuddling type but, her muscles
wonderfully aching and her bones still slightly wobbly, she decided it’d be
okay to allow it. As her gaze went to the clock on the nightstand, though, his
arm stiffened around her and brought the feelings of warm comfort to an end.

“Got someplace you’d rather be?”

“Some things aren’t a matter of preference. My job pretty
much keeps me a slave to the clock.”

He glanced over to the clock before returning his head to
the pillow next to her. “So how long until your master is calling?” He nuzzled
her earlobe as he asked the question, sending a fresh shiver of desire through
her still-sedate body.

She rolled over and groaned as she did the math in her head.
“Three hours.” That’d give her just enough time to shower and get changed back
into her uniform before having to be back on the bridge.

“And how much rest do you need?” His hand cupped her breast,
awakening every nerve in her body.

“Only as much as you do.”

Cold air rushed over her as he rolled to the other side of
the bed to dispose of the used condom. “That’s good,” he said, pulling her
close to him again. “‘Cause I’ve only got three hours to have you in as many
positions as possible. Which means we should get busy.”

Her stomach jumped with anticipation as possibilities sprang
into her mind. “What would you like to do next?”

“Shower?”

The thought of the water warming and slicking her skin as
his hands explored her body made her mouth dry and her heart race. “Showers are
nice.”

He swatted her on her ass as he got out of the bed. “They
are the way I take them.”

She jumped out of bed to follow him at the promise. This had
the potential to be one of her best hook-ups ever and she didn’t feel like
wasting even a second of it.

Three hours later, when she finally managed to get dressed
again, there wasn’t a single muscle left in her body that wasn’t singing with
the ache of complete satiation. This had been a one-time-only deal, which was
exactly what she’d wanted, but she was still tempted to get his name and
number. Not with the hopes of building a relationship. Her failed attempts had
proven she didn’t have the time for that.

Unprepared for the truth, it hit her so hard it felt like a
punch in the gut.

One-night stands and friends with benefits is what she’d
allowed her love life to be reduced to. Yes, it was a necessity. She’d learned
quickly that relationships were one of the many sacrifices her superiors had
alluded to when they gave her a ship of her own. But had she so completely
accepted her fate that she’d given up on even the fantasy of a relationship
someday?

If she were honest with herself, she’d admit it
unflinchingly. That, like many of her male counterparts, she’d grown jaded and
had started seeing commitment as an entanglement instead of an act of affection
and companionship. But she didn’t particularly feel like being honest today.

It didn’t matter anyway. Not really. She couldn’t change
anything until she relinquished command of her ship. And that wasn’t happening
for a long time. It most certainly wasn’t happening today. And it’s not even as
if he’d suggested he was interested in more than a random hook-up. So she was
completely justified. She pushed the societally born guilt as far down as
possible and smiled.

“Thanks for everything,” he said calmly, apparently unaware
of her internal battle. Without even looking up at her, he reached down to his
pants and pulled out a credit stick. “I know we didn’t discuss cost, but I
think this should adequately cover your time.”

She stared at him for a moment before her gaze dropped to
the credit stick in his hand. Her mind was still a little fuzzy from all the
endorphins rushing through her blood but she was fairly certain he was
attempting to pay her for the best sex she’d ever had.

“It’s the standard hourly rate, plus a little extra,” he
argued as she continued to stare at the credit stick.

It was true. He thought she was a common dock whore. Which
meant no commitment, while giving her the perfect opportunity to arrange future
meetings.

Sudden joy mixed with the lightheadedness of post-climax and
made the room swim around her for a moment. This was the best possible ending
to the most fantastic three and a half hours of sex she’d ever had. Or, at
least, the best three and a half hours of sex she’d had recently.

After taking the stick, she tucked it in her bra. “Maybe we
can do business again someday?” she asked, keeping her smile seductive.

“You got a number?”

Her digital reader was in her hand before she could
second-guess her decision. And when he held his reader next to hers, all it
took was hitting one simple button and he had her personal communication
account.

“I’m a busy gal, but I’m sure we can work out some sort of
arrangement.”

“I certainly hope so.”

She winked brazenly before leaving him there, lying naked on
the motel bed. Now she’d be able to put him behind her and concentrate on her
mission. Or that was the general plan.

But even after she’d made it back to her quarters her
thoughts stayed with him. She’d showered, dressed in her uniform and pulled her
hair back into its military-issue bun, yet she could still feel the cool,
water-slicked tiles of the motel shower against her back as he fucked her slow
and deep. The mere memory sent a shiver of renewed desire through her body.

No doubt about it, that man was a walking distraction. And
she hoped to hell he’d call—just as soon as this mission was done.

The smooth stone corridors clicked under her heels as she
made her way to the docking bay that held her vessel. Each step brought her
closer to her hangar and heightened her level of excitement until the air
around her hummed with it. The only things that separated her from her ship
were the massive hangar doors.

Entering the security code, she took a step back and watched
as the doors swept open. She couldn’t hold back the sigh of pleasure that
escaped her at the first sight of it. Every time she saw the sleek silver lines
of the fluid design that tore through space like a hot knife through butter,
she fell in love all over again.

This—this warmth that started in her gut and slowly unfurled
itself until it’d swept to every cell of her being—was worth every single
sacrifice she’d ever made. The shine of a new relationship always eventually
wore off but the rush from flying never did—never would. This sleek,
state-of-the-art machine that she’d trusted with her life more times than she
could count was a lover that’d never failed her and never would.

She ran her fingertips along one of its wings, allowing the
cold to seep into her disposition as she made her way to the hatch. This was
all she needed.

“Captain Holt.” Her first mate and the mission navigator,
Commander Aimes, didn’t even bother to look up from his tablet as she
approached.

“Preflight in order?”

“All systems are a go, sir.”

“Are Dobbs and Hodgkins already on board?” Dobbs was the
best damn mechanic in the inner realm and Hodgkins was the most sought-after
tactical officer in the fleet. Both had reached a high enough level of acclaim
that they could name their own assignment. It was a source of great pride that
they chose to serve under her.

Aimes’ head snapped up from the tablet screen to focus on
her. “No sir. They were reassigned. Their replacements have reported and are
already at their stations.”

She stared at him for a second in confusion as the words sank
in. “Whose orders?”

“Sorry, Captain, that information’s above my pay rank.”

“That’s okay, I’ve got a pretty good idea.” It was her
father. He was the only one with the political clout to get it done who wasn’t
afraid of her temper.

And why should he be? She’d inherited it from him.

“I’m going to introduce myself to the new crew members. I’ll
expect you at your station in five so we can get off this hunk of steel.”

“Aye, sir.”

As she slid through the hatch and down the stairs that led
into the spacecraft, the tingling of excitement that always preceded a mission reemerged.
Not even her father’s meddling could ruin this for her.

She rushed through her preflight check and then introduced
herself to the new mechanic. His build was solid and he seemed competent
enough. It took a few minutes of subtle interrogation but when she welcomed him
into her crew she meant it. He was one of hers now. It was as simple as that.

Meeting the new tactical officer, however, wasn’t destined
to be as simple. Granted, it started out smooth. She had no problems punching
in the code to the armory and the door slipped open soundlessly but as she
stepped into the room and saw the shaved head of the man bent over the crate of
missiles, she felt her world shift slightly.

Surely it wasn’t. It couldn’t be.

As if to prove her wrong, he picked that moment to notice
she was there and she was left with nothing else to do but follow his progress
as his gaze made its way up her body.

Adam stared at the woman in front of him. Just the sight of
her made the air rush out of his lungs and his heart stop. The single bar of
silver that rested just above her breast gave him her name clearly but it took
a moment for him to process it. He was too busy remembering what that breast
felt like cupped in his hand to worry about anything as trivial as a name. Her
skin had been silk under his calloused fingertips and her nipples hard as
they’d beaded against his lips.

Eventually, though, he had to shake the memory out of his
head and accept the reality of the moment.

This was
the
Captain Holt.

The woman he’d just had in more sexual positions in three and
a half hours than he’d thought humanly possible was the one he was supposed to
kidnap?

It couldn’t be.

But even as his mind tried to fight it, his body knew the
truth. Her flawlessly pressed uniform, complete with the prim and proper
hairstyle, couldn’t hide her from him. He had to fight the urge to pull her to
him even knowing who she was.

“Sir.” He raised his hand in salute but the action felt slow—as
if time was no longer moving at normal speed. He wasn’t about to mention this
morning but he couldn’t stop himself from thinking about it. And judging by the
dark pink that spread across her cheeks, she seemed to be having the same
problem.

Though he couldn’t be certain if her blush was from the
memories of their afternoon or because she’d actually taken his money and then
gotten caught in the lie.

“I’m Captain Holt and this is my ship, the
Hawk
. I’ve
heard you’re temporarily replacing my tactical officer, Commander Hodgkins.”

“Aye, Captain. Lieutenant-Commander Adam Sans reporting to
duty.” He’d been using that name for so long that it sounded like the truth
even to him. Hell, maybe it was the truth at this point. He hadn’t even spoken
his real name in almost five years. Adam Pallara might as well have died that
day alongside his family, his planet and everything he held dear.

“Commander Hodgkins is one of the best. You feel up to the
challenge?”

Her question pulled him back to the present. “Always, sir.” He
kept his back straight and his voice steady as he answered. Since he was Adam
Sans, he had a mission to complete. And in order to do that, he had to make
sure he didn’t do anything to make her doubt his professionalism or his work
ethic. He’d be off this ship faster than a whore’s wink if he did. He cursed
silently at the saying as the image of her riding him made his cock harden
against the military-issued cargo pants.

One of her sculpted eyebrows arched delicately but she didn’t
make any other note of his reaction to her.

“Good to hear.” Her blush had faded, leaving her expression
completely stoic.

He was an expert at reading people—it’s what made him so
useful to the rebel movement the Coalition currently led—but she gave him
nothing. The woman could give professional poker players tips. “We’ll be space-bound
in five,” she continued, her voice crisp and professional. “Because of the
nature of our mission and the size of the ship, there isn’t much moving around
after we take off.” She pushed a button and a steel wall opened to reveal a
small but practical sleeping quarters. “If you need anything, it’d be best to
tell me now.”

He’d researched the ship but he hadn’t thought about the
logistics of serving aboard such a small vessel. It sounded as if access to the
ship was going to be limited at best. That put a snag in his plans. He’d have
to deal with that later though. Right now he had a part to play. “Can’t think
of anything I’ll be needing, Captain.”

“Good to hear.”

“I was wondering about the nature of this mission, however.”

“It’s a scouting mission. That’s all you need to concern
yourself with.”

“Excuse me, sir. But what exactly are we scouting for?”

“Sorry, that’s need to know.”

“And I don’t need to know?” He suspected as much but had to
at least try.

“My superiors don’t seem to think so, Lieutenant-Commander
Sans,” she countered, putting emphasis on his rank.

Damn it. “How am I going to do my job if I don’t know what I’m
shooting at?”

“Is this your first covert op?” Her brow wrinkled and that
delicious mouth of hers pursed as she examined him suspiciously. For one moment
he worried he’d given too much away, pushed too hard. His cover was good but
wouldn’t stand up against a full-out investigation. It wasn’t until she shook
her head and her look of caution faded that he was able to force himself to
relax a little.

“It’s not all guts and glory like the media makes it out. Chances
are we aren’t going to need to fire on anything. And if we do, I give you the
coordinates and the grade of weapons to be used. All you have to do is follow
orders and fire.”

“Sounds as if you expect an uneventful run, sir.”

“Uneventful is always the objective.”

But he knew there was no way this mission was going to be as
calm as she hoped. His goal was so close he could almost touch it—literally. There
was no way he was going to fail. He felt the small flutter of a victory in his
gut but quickly suppressed it. “Yes sir.”

She nodded and then started to turn to leave but stopped.
Her gaze was locked on the reader that rested in the palm of his hand. “I’m not
one for leaving things unsaid, no matter how embarrassing or awkward they are.”

His throat tightened as she continued to stare at the device.
She couldn’t want to talk about what’d happened between them any more than he
did, though her motivations for silence were undoubtedly different than his. Still,
he watched her swallow and take a deep breath and knew that was exactly what
they were about to discuss.

“Today you had a dalliance with someone happy for you to
think she was a whore. Don’t try to make it more than it was or try to
understand it.” She finally looked up but turned to face the door before he
could read any emotion on her face. “And for the love of the deity, delete the
communication account I gave you.” Without looking back again, she punched in
the security code and stepped through the door.

The girl had balls. He’d give her that. Not many would face
their indiscretions as directly as she had. Then again, judging by the way she
was in bed, the woman was nothing if not direct.

Damn.

He shook his head in irritation as he recognized the spark
of admiration. Or, if not admiration, intrigue at the very least. Not that he
had anything against her personally. He’d never even heard her name before he’d
been given this mission. No, his problem was with the government she served. But
if working missions with the Coalition for the last three years had taught him
anything, it was to never get involved with a mark.

And that’s what she was, leverage and nothing more. Her
safety was going to convince her father, Chairman Holt, to vote correctly on a
piece of very important legislation. Adam had to remember that.

Fortunately she’d made it clear she didn’t plan on a repeat
of this afternoon’s activities so it wasn’t as if there was any real threat of
them becoming emotionally entangled. And he was willing to bet she’d probably
be even less inclined after the whole kidnapping thing.

He took his first easy breath since she’d walked through the
door. The mission was still on track. He just had to make sure it stayed that
way.

Focusing on his assignment helped him get his priorities
straight once more. He had work to do and obsessing about their afternoon tryst
wasn’t helping him prepare. She was smart, his research into her background had
told him that much, but now he knew she was bold and unconventional as well. It
was a combination that was bound to make this more difficult.

He went through his top three obstacles—access,
communication and exit strategy. She was right, this was a small ship. He
couldn’t exactly lure her away from the bridge without anyone noticing. He
couldn’t even go into the command center to study her routine without drawing
suspicion. Getting access to her was going to be challenging.

Communication was easier though. He had a partner on the
ship. They hadn’t been able to work out a secure channel without knowing which
ones the crew used first but now that they were on board it was the first thing
he was going to address.

He pulled out one of the wires that ran from the wall into
his console with a violent tug before tapping on his communications badge. “Tactical
officer to Captain.”

“Captain here, go ahead.”

“There seems to be a technical problem with my console. I’m
going to need maintenance here at the earliest convenience.”

“Is it a critical error?” Irritation buzzed through the comm
with the usual static.

“Looks superficial, sir. One of the technicians must have
snagged a wire on his way out. It needs to be fused back together.”

“It’ll have to wait until after we jump.”

“But—”

“If I send him now, we’ll miss our scheduled window.”

And if a ship missed its window, it was thrown in a standby
rotation, which was overseen by the flight control captain. Adam didn’t want
his assignment’s timetable in someone else’s hands any more than she apparently
did.

“Of course. It can wait until after the jump. Thank you,
sir.”

“Captain out.”

After the jump. They’d be able to set a secured channel
after the jump.

That left the exit strategy. His hand went reflexively to
the canister of sleeping gas in his flak jacket. He was going to have to find
someplace to hide it now that he was on the ship. The last thing he needed
right now was to have it found. There was no justification for him to have
sleeping gas.

“This is your captain. All systems are a go and we’ve been
given launch clearance,” her voice crackled through his communicator.

The ship creaked as it was slowly lifted and guided out of
the docking bay by two single-person vessels. It was the hollow metallic thud
of the vessels detaching a few minutes later that told him they were in space.
“All hands strap in. We’re jumping to null-space as soon as we clear the
station’s gravity field.”

Looked as if hiding the gas was going to have to wait until
after the jump as well.

Still, as he pulled the safety harness over his head, he
couldn’t help but smile. This was it. Once they jumped, she couldn’t throw him
off her ship. Or at least it became a lot harder for her to throw him off. Everything
about the woman cautioned him that she would, given the right incentive,
though.

The vessel shimmied as it launched into the vacuum of space
and then—there was nothing. For an eternity the room wrapped around him and his
lungs refused the order to breathe. Even his heart seemed to stop. It was only
when his lungs burned and the pressure in his ears was unbearable that they
burst through the veil and were back in normal space.

It didn’t matter how many times he’d been in null-space,
each time the experience was as terrifying as the first.

“We’ve reached the outer realms.” The captain’s voice was as
calm and collected as before they’d jumped. “From here on out we’re flying
silent, which means slow. Get comfortable, everyone.”

Slow worked for him, especially while he was still gulping
in large lungfuls of air and clutching his hands together to keep them from
shaking.

Undoing his restraints, he hit his communications badge to
call the mechanic but was stopped abruptly as a metallic boom rocked the ship
around him. The explosion’s bass was so deep and intense he could feel it
radiating from his sternum to his toes.

“Two shielded ships off the port bow, Sans.”

It was too early for the Coalition to act. That could only
mean that someone else had plans for the captain. Though he couldn’t imagine
who else would have a dog in this fight. She was the military and he was
Coalition. Who else was there? He looked at his console screen but the radar
was blank. “Can’t see them on the radar, Captain.”

“They’ve got stealth tech. Let’s knock on the heavens and
see who answers, shall we?”

“Aye, Captain.” The burst of electromagnetic energy swept
through the void of space until it collided with the vessels. There were twin
pings on his radar but the ships recovered too quickly for him to gain any
other information. Flipping his view screen on, he was immediately dismayed to
see static instead of the vastness of space. Next time he was going to have to
be more careful about which wires he pulled while sabotaging a ship.

Another blast rocked the vessel, forcing him to grab hold of
his station in order to prevent being thrown to the floor.

Communicator static pierced the eerie post-attack silence
but this time it wasn’t the captain. “Long-range communications array has been
taken out, Captain.”

“Divert power from communications to reinforce the shields,
McNeal. Sans, prime both torpedo bays and set the cannons to max. Let’s hit ‘em
hard.”

The distinct whine of weapons charging filled the cabin and
began to settle his post-jump nerves.

“Fire when ready, Sans.”

His finger paused above the switch that would start the
firing sequence. He nodded and said a silent prayer to any god that might be
listening. Then he fired. “It’s gonna get bright out there. Might wanna dim
your view screen, Captain.”

There was a hollow thud under him as the weapons were
discharged simultaneously. Hit ‘em hard. She’d given the order and he’d thrown
everything he could at them. He’d even thrown some starburst beacons into the
attack. They wouldn’t hurt the other vessels but the flare beacons would leave
anyone looking at a view screen temporarily blinded. And since the bursts were
usually used to signal a crippled ship, there was no way for their attackers to
expect them.