HostileIntent (4 page)

“Protocol. You can’t really blame him for the other. You
trusted me so he gave me the benefit of the doubt. A mistake I’m sure he won’t
be repeating.” He smiled brashly as his gaze slid down the gap in the front of
her blouse that gave just a tantalizing peek of her bra. “Besides, if I thought
I was going to get to watch you with someone, I probably wouldn’t be thinking
straight myself.”

“You aren’t a trained soldier.” She ran a finger down her shirt,
unbuttoning the remaining buttons as she went. “And I think that concludes the
business portion of the agenda.”

“So what’s next on the schedule?”

She pushed her shirt off so she was lying in front of him in
her black satin bra and her panties. “Pleasure, of course.” She nodded toward
Sans as she unhooked the bra and sent it fluttering to the floor. “Do you think
he’ll wake up soon?”

“Why? Were you enjoying the extra attention earlier?” He
leaned forward to kiss her shoulder. The flutter of pressure caused her breath
to hitch and her nipples to harden. The man was gifted.

“I certainly wasn’t hating it.” She wrapped her arms around
his neck to run her fingers through the blond curls that swept rakishly at his
nape. “Besides, he’s my bodyguard. What if I should need his services?”

His deep hum of approval thrummed through her as he pulled
away from her to look deeply into her eyes. “There may be hope for you yet.”

“And should you need my services, rest assured that I’m
capable of providing them.”

They both looked over at Sans, who appeared to be still
passed out—except his mouth twitched as if he were suppressing a smile. Damn. How
long had he been conscious? She mentally went over everything she and Michael
had said while weighing the consequences of Sans overhearing. If he knew she
was a source for Michael, the consequences could be steep.

Michael, however, didn’t seem as worried, as he’d already
turned his attention back to her and trailed kisses down the sensitive skin on
the side of her neck.

“Though you wouldn’t have been so lucky if you’d needed
those services a couple minutes ago,” Sans added.

“So you just woke up?” she clarified. But as Michael focused
his attention on one of her breasts, she found she didn’t care nearly as much
about the answer as she had only a second ago.

Sans opened his eyes and nodded.

“Can’t really argue with your timing,” she said
breathlessly.

“The best timing I’ve ever encountered,” Michael agreed.

“Maybe, but that really depends on if she wants me here,”
Sans said, looking into her eyes. “Say the word and I’ll wait outside.”

There was no denying that having him watch was adding to the
delicious sensations already overwhelming her. And though inviting him to join
in would be crossing the line both professionally and personally, him watching
wouldn’t really be breaking any rules. Besides, he was supposed to be providing
security for her. Something that would be hard to do with a wall between them,
as he’d so eagerly pointed out earlier.

Yes, all of her arguments were based on technicalities but
she wanted him here and he didn’t seem to object. “Stay.”

Unable to resist the pleasure any longer, she sighed and
closed her eyes as Michael took one of her nipples in his mouth. He nipped at
it sharply before soothing the almost-pain with the tip of his tongue. Moaning,
she arched her back toward him, craving more. And he was happy to comply.

For a few moments she hovered in the state of near euphoria.
But when she opened her eyes again and found Sans’ attention focused on the
other man’s tongue as it swept across the hardened bead of her nipple, she
needed more.

She ran her fingertips down Michael’s hard body until they
came to the waistband of his pants. Undoing them, she pushed them as low as she
could and rocked her hips against his. She needed to feel his erection grinding
against her abdomen.

“Too many clothes.” Her voice was raspy but she didn’t care.
The only thing she cared about was satisfying the need that pulsed through her
mercilessly.

Michael, much to her relief, leaned back and stripped off
the rest of his clothes, which allowed her to stand and make a show of sliding
out of her panties. But when she was finally naked, she didn’t join him on the
couch. Instead she went to her knees in front of him and nudged her way between
his thighs.

Looking up, she caught his gaze before smiling wickedly and
then traced the hard length of his cock with her tongue. She went from the base
to his tip in one languid stroke and then worked her way around his thick head
before taking him all the way into her mouth. His cock resting on her tongue,
she wrapped one hand around the base of his erection and cupped his balls with
the other before she started moving rhythmically over him. Every time she got
to the head, she swirled her tongue around the sensitive skin before taking him
deep into her mouth again.

He growled as he wrapped his fingers through her hair and
guided her pace and rhythm. “He’s watching you suck my cock. Your lovely ass
dancing in front of him.”

She couldn’t help but react to his words. Her pussy, already
swollen with need, now throbbed. And she was certain if she ran a finger
through her folds, she’d find herself wet and ready.

The thought of touching herself in front of both men made
her dizzy with desire. But she couldn’t. Her hands were currently busy
pleasuring another. Moaning, she took him deeper until he hit her throat. His
cock felt so good sliding between her lips, she never wanted it to end.

“Feels wonderful, darling. But you’ve got to stop.” Each
word was said around a heavy breath. He was having a hard time staying in
control but even with as much fun as she was having, she wasn’t ready for him
to finish.

Slowing her pace, she licked his length a couple more times
before standing in front of him.

“You are one of the sexiest women I know,” Michael said, his
husky voice sending a fresh wave of desire through her.

She leaned over and grabbed a condom out of one of the
pockets in her pants. She tossed the foil square at him and then smiled. “One
of?” she challenged sharply as she kneeled on the couch to straddle his hips
between her thighs.

“Yes, one of. Now turn around so I can admire that gorgeous
ass our guest has been staring at.” He’d already torn the packet open and was
sliding the sheath over his cock. Soon he’d be buried deep inside her.

She smiled as she turned to face Sans but the smile was
quickly forgotten as Michael adjusted his position and thrust into her. Leaning
forward slightly, she braced her hands on either side of him on the couch and
allowed him to set the rhythm by guiding her hips. Her gaze stayed locked with
Sans’.

“Are you imagining what his cock would feel like in your
mouth while I filled this tight little pussy of yours?” He pulled her down on
him harder as he tilted his hips slightly. The shift made him hit that spot
that would drive her to the brink with just a few more thrusts. “‘Cause I can
pretty much bet that’s what he’s thinking about as he’s watching you.”

Damn. Now it was all she could think about. She’d had Sans
in her mouth before but not while she was fucking someone else. She had no
problem imagining him tweaking her nipples as she took him deep into her
throat. Rubbing her back as Michael drove into her. Caressing her shoulders as
he came—as they both came—inside her.

She shivered as the images rushed through her. Michael was
hard inside her and she was so turned-on. She wasn’t going to last long. Already
she could feel the elusive wisps of release gathering around her like an
electrical storm.

She tightened her inner muscles around his rigid cock as she
slid over its length but it wasn’t until he reached around her and firmly
stroked her clit that she found the release she sought.

As the orgasm slammed through her, she threw back her head
and cried out at the intense pleasure just as Michael thrust into her roughly
and called out her name. They’d come together but it wasn’t Michael she was
thinking of as the waves of euphoria carried her away. Or, more specifically,
it wasn’t just Michael. No, she wanted them both.

It was an alarming realization, especially given that she
never fooled around with crew members. Their first encounter she could dismiss
because she didn’t know he was on her crew, this time he didn’t touch her so it
didn’t count either, but next time…

She pushed the concern to the back of her head as she took a
deep breath and wiggled her hips a little, enjoying the last aftershocks of the
orgasm.

“I’d ask if it was good for you, but I’m actually more
concerned for your friend,” Michael teased.

“He’s a big boy, I’m sure he can take care of himself,” she
said, winking at Sans.

Sans arched an eyebrow and smiled as he asked, “Would you
care to watch?”

“That does seem fair,” Michael said, his rich laughter
filling the room as he rubbed her back.

She shook her head as she got off him as gracefully as the
position would allow. “As soon as you’re assigned to somebody else’s ship, I’d
love to. In the meantime…”

“I’m stuck in my cramped quarters, solving my own problems.”

“You seem like a resourceful enough man.” She turned around
and bent over to kiss Michael, knowing her bare ass would be in full display
for Sans. At the thought, she could already feel the heat of arousal as it
started warming her blood once again. It wasn’t as fast or as demanding as it
had been a moment ago but it was there. A warning to the danger of the game she
was playing.

“I think I need to go freshen up,” she said, grabbing her
uniform from the floor.

“You know where the washroom is. I’m sure I can keep our
guest entertained while you’re gone.”

She paused for a moment, tempted to ask Michael to clarify,
but then let it go. Regardless of his plans, Michael couldn’t become bonded to
Sans in one afternoon. It was impossible.

Walking to the bathroom, she turned on the shower and
stepped under its blissfully warm spray. A part of her was still warm and
glowing from her orgasm but another part was worried about the decision she’d
just made.

Even if Michael and Sans never saw each other again, she’d
opened the door to the next level today. Would Michael let her close it or
would he push for more?

Since they’d started their tenuous relationship, she’d heard
a clock ticking in the back of her head—its rhythmic beat measuring the seconds
of comfort they had left. But now its ticking was louder and faster.

Adam stared at Michael for a moment after the captain
disappeared down the hallway, wondering exactly what sort of entertainment Michael
had in mind. True, he wouldn’t object to sharing the woman with him, but he’d
never been with a man before. If ever there was one who tempted him, however,
it was Michael. He seemed to radiate sensuality.

Michael stood and then threw away the condom before turning
to face Adam again. “We had a deal,” the other man said, picking his pants up
off the floor. “Or have you so soon forgotten?”

Apparently he had. It took him several seconds even after
being reminded for Adam to figure out what Michael was talking about. “Oh. That’s
right. I get to kick your ass now. It must have completely slipped my mind.”

Michael shook his head as he got dressed. “Really?”

“Sorry, I guess I’m not as pissed as I thought I’d be,” Adam
answered with a shrug. Oh, he’d been angry when he’d first regained consciousness.
But then he’d started listening to Michael and the captain’s conversation. Now
he was curious. “I would like to know why you drugged my wine, though.”

“We had business to discuss that was of a sensitive nature.”
Michael’s gaze swept over Adam’s scar.

Every survival instinct Adam had vibrated in warning at that
stare. It quickly turned his earlier curiosity into caution. Michael knew
something about Adam’s scar. Adam’s heart pounded in his ears and his stomach
twisted nervously but he had to call Michael on it. He wouldn’t be able to
defuse the situation until Michael laid his cards on the table. “You’ve been
interested in my scar since I showed up on your doorstep.”

“It’s a very interesting scar.”

He hoped the brief smile he shot at Michael would appear
casual. “Not exactly the descriptor I would give it, but I guess it works.”

“How long ago did you get it?” There was an edge to Michael’s
voice that only added to the buzzing in Adam’s ears.

“Five years ago.” No point in lying to the man about when it
happened. It’d only make his story harder to remember when Michael got around
to asking about how it did. “Right after my twentieth birthday.”

Michael’s face clouded in thought and then he nodded to
himself. “So Luca’s third moon?”

Adam’s heart seized painfully at the mention of his home. No
one had ever guessed it correctly before. Some people knew where he’d grown up,
of course. But only because he’d told them. They hadn’t guessed. “I’m sorry. I
don’t know what—”

“I’ve seen that scar pattern before. Though never on anyone
still alive. It’s from an H8 chemical burn off. The Coalition skirmishes with
the government had just elevated five years ago so burn offs were still
uncommon.” Michael’s gaze held his as he rattled off his proof, daring Adam to
challenge him. “That year the government was only granted a single judgment to
burn. Luca’s third moon.”

Adam would be impressed with the man’s skills of deduction
if he didn’t have the sneaking suspicion they were in some sort of contest—one
that he was losing. And then there was the pesky little matter of his life or
at the very least his freedom being in Michael’s hands. If the other man shared
his insight with the captain, he’d be in custody before the sun set. That is,
if he survived being brought in. Coalition members rarely did.

Taking a steady breath, he forced himself to relax and
pushed the dark thoughts to the back of his mind. All wasn’t lost—yet. The man
had suspicions, sound ones, but Adam wouldn’t have survived this long if he
hadn’t been good at coming up with answers on the fly.

“I wish the story of this scar was that exciting. It is an
H8 burn, but it didn’t happen in a burn off. There was a spill at a worksite
and I was showing off for a girl. You know how it is. We’d do just about
anything to get them look at us like a hero, especially at that age.” He let
the story die there with a shrug. “Long story short, I woke up three days later
in the hospital covered in bandages with everyone telling me I should be
thankful to be alive.” At least that last bit was the truth.

“Really? There was a spill? And why weren’t you in safety
gear if you were working around such a dangerous chemical?”

If he hadn’t heard Michael was a journalist while pretending
he was still drugged, Adam would’ve figured it out by the man’s questions. They
were quick and smart but also had a slant of concern for public safety that a
good journalist should have. And hearing it now gave Adam the perfect spin. “The
plight of the working man, right? My boss would only buy the suits for the
engineers. Guess the rest of us weren’t worth enough to him to justify the
expense.” Now he had to offer him the happy ending—the silver lining that every
fairy tale needed in order to be complete. “But because of what happened to me,
that all changed. Public outcry can be pretty loud when they’ve got a picture
to go with it.” He gestured to the scar with a flick of his wrist. “And after I
was declared healed, I joined the military. Better job and better pay.”

Michael studied him for a moment before nodding. “I’m glad
something positive came from what had to be a living hell for you. Sorry I
brought it up.”

“No harm done.” Which was mostly true. It still hurt for him
to think about the scar. Not because of the pain of the burn, though it had
been worse than anything imaginable, but because it reminded him of what he’d
lost that day. Everything.

“I just got excited for a moment, thinking there might’ve
actually been a Luca 3 survivor. Could you imagine the story from his point of
view?”

A dull ache filled Adam’s chest. “Even if there was, no one
would want to listen.”

“I would listen. Any journalist worth his salt would.”

Adam snorted with disdain. He might have actually believed
Michael if he hadn’t already tried going to the networks five years ago. Only
two journalists had apparently been worth their salt by Michael’s definition. But
even they’d turned on him when they’d faced pressure from their stations.

Though the press was still technically a free press, they
were costly enterprises. And when the stations’ budgets relied heavily on
subjectively awarded grants that the government doled out, the line between
free and propaganda got a little fuzzy.

It wasn’t entirely their fault. Even Adam wasn’t so
idealistic that he couldn’t see the reality of their situation. With the
stations being accountable to their shareholders first and the citizens second,
it wasn’t cost-efficient to report stories that made a major financier look
bad—especially since their funding would go to a competitor if they did. He may
be an engineer now but he’d been raised a businessman. He knew the harsh
reality of economics.

“Not sure many would care to hear the story of a traitor. But
what do I know?” Adam shrugged to deflect any of the residual bitterness that
might have worked into his words.

“Traitor? Just because a person made Luca 3 his home doesn’t
make him a traitor.”

It was an interesting sentiment but not one he trusted
enough to comment on. Too much was at stake for him to allow curiosity to get
the better of him. Besides, regardless of how Michael saw him, he was certain the
captain wouldn’t see him as anything other than a traitor. And her opinion was
the only one that mattered right now. “They were selling fuel to the Coalition.
At least, that’s what the government says.” It was how the government had
gotten a judge to sign off on the burn-off order. But it was a lie.

“That’s never set well with me. From everything I’ve heard
about the Pallaras, they seemed loyal.”

And they were. Up until the day the government destroyed
them. “Business is business. Isn’t that how the saying goes?”

“Maybe. Huh…” Michael looked up at him, his face pinched in
concern.

Adam waited but after a moment of silence knew the man wasn’t
going to say anything without a prompt. “What?”

“When Renee said she thought it was the Coalition who’d
attacked the
Hawk
, I automatically dismissed it. One of the reasons
being, well—no offense intended, that I’d assumed you were working with them.”
Michael looked uncomfortable with the admission. “No offense. You just have
that look. And they’d never attack a ship they had a mole on. But since you’ve
cleared up that misunderstanding, I have to wonder if she was right.”

“You thought I was Coalition and you didn’t tell her?” It
was beyond belief. Who was this man loyal to?

“I don’t go around making unfounded accusations,” he shot
back. “And I don’t start witch hunts on a hunch. I fully planned on figuring
out your allegiances before you left. If you were a threat, I would’ve told
her.”

“Comforting.”

“You’re missing the point. The attack could’ve very well been
Coalition after all.”

Adam had to fight the urge to shake his head in denial. Those
shots were designed to destroy, not disable the ship. And in a war that was as
much public image as strategy, the Coalition had to be careful about the fights
they picked. Even if there wasn’t a mole on the ship, there’d be nothing for
them to gain from such a senseless killing. It’d only serve to prove the
government right when they called the rebel movement bloodthirsty. No, someone
else was behind the attack.

“It doesn’t feel right to me. I can’t see what the Coalition
had to gain by the attack.” He waited for Michael to nod before continuing. “You
said I was one of the reasons you didn’t think it was Coalition. That means you
must have had others.” Maybe if he got Michael talking, Adam could shake out
more pieces of the puzzle.

“A couple, but none I care to share with a soldier.”

Adam shot him a skeptical look but Michael only quirked an
eyebrow at him in response.

“I don’t tell the Coalition your secrets, so it’s fair.”

Adam would’ve had grudging respect for the man if he hadn’t
heard him tell the captain about their lack of stealth tech just minutes ago. But
since he had, Adam saw Michael’s statement as an attempt at manipulating
him—most likely to get Adam to trust him into betraying some confidence. And
that left the pit of his stomach burning with anger and disgust.

Two could play at that game though. If Michael wanted to
pretend to be the neutral reporter to win Adam’s trust, Adam could act as an
ultrapatriotic soldier to provoke the man.

“If you have information that could have an impact on the
fighting and save lives, it’s your civic duty to tell someone.”

Michael shrugged. “Guess I have a different definition of
civic duty.”

“If there’s an attack you could’ve prevented, you could be
tried for treason.”

“I get threatened with that about twice a week. Between you
and me, the threat’s lost some of its teeth over the last couple of years.”

Michael was doing a good job of not rising to the bait. But
Adam knew people pretty well. He was certain he’d eventually find the right
angle. “But you owe—”

“How do you know what I owe? And to whom?” Anger finally
flashed in Michael’s eyes.

“Your lover is a captain in the military. That gives me a
pretty good idea of what you owe and to whom.”

“I’m a journalist.” He watched Adam closely for a moment as
if waiting for the words to sink in and then added, “I’m fucking her, not her
ideology.”

A rush of joy spread through Adam’s chest at Michael’s sharp
words. It was immature, yes. But since Michael had tried to manipulate him,
Adam was going to enjoy the victory. “Now that’s a romantic sentiment. You’re
quite the woman’s man, aren’t you?”

An angry red blush crept up Michael’s neck and the man’s
body stiffened. It was a look Adam had seen many times, usually right before he
ended up in the middle of a fistfight. “I’m a realist. I know what she’s
willing to offer and I’m not stupid enough to push for more. But just so we’re
crystal clear about my sentiment, she’s my mate. I may not be hers, but that
woman owns me.” Michael studied Adam’s scar pointedly. “And if anything happens
to her, there isn’t a rock in this system those responsible would be able to
hide under.”

Adam heard the warning loud and clear. And there was no
doubt that the threat was aimed at him. The man was in love.

A bucket of cold water thrown over his head couldn’t have
dampened his moment of victory any more successfully than that realization had.
Because maybe that was why Michael had shared his intel with the captain and
not him. Maybe it wasn’t as much about manipulation as he’d thought.

He tried not to shift under the weight of his guilt for
baiting Michael. He’d gone from wanting to crush the guy to feeling sorry for
him in what had to be a new record for mood changes. But being in deep with a
woman who, judging by how she and Adam were introduced, had commitment issues
couldn’t be easy. If he were being completely honest with himself, Adam would
have to admit that Michael’s love life was even more screwed up than his. And
with a scar that repulsed or frightened most women, that was saying something.

“I understand completely,” Adam said with a nod. Not that it
changed anything. Soon enough they would be enemies.

But not today.

The shower stopped and Michael took a step away from him. “Good.
I’m glad.”

He kept an eye on Michael until the captain came back into
the room. Her hair was pinned back and her uniform clung to her slightly damp
body but Adam wanted to feel nothing but professionalism toward the woman. He
failed, though, and failed miserably. His body quickly responded to her curves
and his breath hitched as she stretched leisurely in front of them.

Her stare flittered between Michael and him for a moment
before she leaned over provocatively to pick up her reader. “They’ve got the
ship patched up,” she said with a sigh of relief.

“That’s great news.” Michael’s smile took some of the bite
out of his sarcastic tone but apparently not enough as she glanced at Adam
questioningly. With no answers for her, he held up his hands and shrugged.
Michael’s issues with the captain were something Adam refused to get into.