HostileIntent (9 page)

He nuzzled her neck as his hand slid farther up her rib cage.
She smelled of mint with just a hint of musk to it. Damn, that smell turned him
on. It’d gotten to the point that he couldn’t drink mint tea anymore without
getting an erection. But this wasn’t tea. This was her. And having her in his
arms was much more potent.

Work-roughened fingers grazed across his thigh before
cupping his ass cheek. He froze. He’d assumed that Adam wouldn’t mind some
incidental touching. Adam was a smart man and it only made sense that there
would be some brushing going on. But he’d just raised the stakes to a whole new
level.

Michael rolled Renee over so she was lying on her back in
between them and kissed her deeply. Then as he cupped her breast he broke the
kiss and leaned forward so he could kiss Adam. Adam tensed slightly at the
contact but then relaxed into the sensation. Just when he got a response from
Adam, he moved his attention back to Renee. He dipped his head and took her
nipple into his mouth. She moaned softly and wiggled her hips in invitation.
But it was an invitation that would have to wait as Adam was now licking and
sucking on her other breast.

Together the men made their way down her body. They brushed
kisses along her ribs and nibbled at her hips. But between each caress, they
shared a kiss or a caress of their own until they’d reached her pussy.

When they finally arrived at their goal, Adam gently pulled
her lips apart and held them so Michael could run his tongue from her opening
to her hard and swollen clit. He loved the way her warm essence clung to his
tongue and filled his mouth. And the way she moaned and bucked her hips at the touch
as she buried her fingers into his hair. “You guys don’t play fair,” she
whimpered.

He caressed her with his tongue and then sat back so Adam
could get a taste of her. “Oh, I think this is very fair.”

She whimpered again and ran her nails down Michael’s arm. “Please.”

Michael slid a finger into her core as Adam continued
licking her.

“More.” She was panting with need as she said the word.
Seeing her so lost to the passion of the moment filled him with a deep sense of
awe. This is how it was supposed to be.

He added another finger to the first inside her and pumped
rhythmically in her until he felt her muscles tighten around him. “She’s close.”

Adam sucked on her clit one last time before backing away.

“No. Please.”

“Don’t worry. We aren’t stopping.” He looked over at Adam. “Remember
when you fucked me in front of Adam?”

“It was a day ago. I’m frustrated and horny, not suffering
from dementia.”

Had it really only been a day? So much had happened. “Okay
then. If you get on your hands and knees, we’ll see if I can make that
particular fantasy a reality.”

He tore open a condom package and slid it over his hard cock
as the other two people got into position. Then, grabbing her hips, he slid
into her core as she took Adam’s cock into her mouth.

Michael watched as Adam ran his fingers through her hair and
guided her movements. Their obvious desire built his own as he thrust into her
until passion and heat filled him. She was so tight and wet. Every one of her
muscles was tense and she shook with her need to release. He was close to the
edge too. But it turned out that Adam was the first one to climax. Adam tried
to move her off him just before but she fought to keep her position. And as he
called out and his body began shaking, he seemed to surrender to the pleasure
of having her mouth wrapped around him.

Seeing the uninhibited expression of desire pushed Michael
dangerously closer to the edge. He didn’t want to finish before she did,
though, so he moved one of his hands to strum her clit. It only took a few
strokes before she was shaking and moaning beneath him. She was a beautiful
woman but when she was in the throes of a climax, she was breathtaking. He
caressed her clit a few more times just to make sure she enjoyed herself to the
fullest before he thrust into her deeply and allowed his body the release he so
desperately needed.

A flash of white light filled his mind as his muscles
trembled and his heart raced. This intense moment of pleasure was only eclipsed
by the calm sense of tranquility that filled him after it was over. It was that
sense of harmony that he craved and that ruled him. He only got it when he was
with Renee. She gave him the greatest moments of strength just before she
walked out the door.

Adam fell into a deep sleep after the amazing experience. He’d
been with her before. And it’d been fantastic. But not even that could compare
to sharing her with another. Her passion seemed to be amplified when she’d been
with more than one lover. And it’d turned him on as well. More than he thought
it would. Feeling Michael’s strong body next to his while watching Renee react
to their attention had been a heady experience. One he’d never forget.

When he was awoken by a gentle nudge he hoped it was an
experience he’d be repeating. But it wasn’t meant to be.

“Shhh. Don’t wake Renee up.”

“Why?” His groggy mind didn’t want to think about anything
other than sex right now.

“Representative Lee is here. We need to meet with him.”

Without Renee. Not that he was ready for her to hear what he
had to say anyway. He would tell her, eventually. Just not tonight. “Okay. I’m
getting up.”

He rolled out of bed and got dressed as quickly as possible
before following Michael down to the kitchen. The room smelled of cinnamon
rolls and coffee. It was a combination that made him weak in the knees.

“Help yourself,” Kat said as she gestured to the table. She
stared at his scar for just a moment too long and then seemed to catch herself
and offered him a sympathetic smile. He hated the way people always noticed his
scar first. But her reaction was one of the better ones he’d come across. “I’ll
have another batch made up for the ranch hands.”

The rolls smelled heavenly but as she moved out of the way
his attention focused on the three men standing on the other side of the table.
He couldn’t exactly ignore her though. “Thank you, ma’am. I appreciate the offer.”

He waited for her to leave the room before holding his hand
out to the man standing in the middle. He was wearing a suit where the other
two were wearing military fatigues. Adam was betting that he was the
representative they’d been waiting for. “I’m Adam, sir.”

“Please, call me Jasper. And this is Gates,” he motioned to
the man on his right. “And Julian.” Who was on his left. “They’re my military
attachés.”

He shook both of their hands but felt uncomfortable being in
the room with the men. Jasper could give them any official title but Adam could
tell by their body language that they were Jasper’s bodyguards first and
foremost. And as bodyguards, they were intimidating. Both men had obviously
been genetically engineered soldiers at one point in time.

“I was told that Captain Holt was here as well,” Jasper said
as he took his seat.

“She is. She’s sleeping right now and after the day she’s
had, we thought it best if she got a good night’s sleep.”

Jasper raised a brow in question. “She has had a rough day.
It was considerate for you to allow her to sleep. And here I thought it was
because Adam Pallara, or Adam Sans as he’s more commonly known, is a Coalition
member charged with kidnapping her to influence a vote. I’m glad to see I’m wrong
and that you two are just being thoughtful.”

“Adam Pallara?” Michael stared at him as if he’d grown two
heads. “You’re Adam Pallara?”

Adam’s breath whooshed out of him in a moment of surprise. “Was.
I was him a long time ago,” he said without taking his attention off Jasper. “How
could you—”

“Do you honestly think politicians never talk with Coalition
members? We’ve been trying to broker a peace accord for the past year. A peace
your little stunt has all but destroyed.” He glared at Adam and Adam realized
the bodyguards weren’t his biggest threat.

“This wasn’t me, sir. I was protecting her.”

“No. What you did is singlehandedly escalate the conflict.”
Jasper put his arms on the table and leaned forward. “Tell me one reason why I
shouldn’t hand you over to the authorities as an enemy combatant.”

“I was supposed to kidnap her. That’s true. But I changed my
mind. I wasn’t going to go through with it. Then we were attacked when the
Coalition did try to take her.” The words spilled out quickly. “But I stayed behind
and helped her escape. By the time we were safe, she’d already been declared
dead and the news was saying the Coalition was to blame.”

Jasper looked at him skeptically. “Any other day, I wouldn’t
believe a single word that you just said.” He sighed heavily and rubbed his temple.
“But today seems to be your lucky day. Your people are singing the same song.
Well, except for the end part. They think you’re all dead.”

Adam took a deep breath. “Thank you, sir.”

“Don’t thank me. Being held as a traitor would be a vacation
compared to what Captain Holt is going to do when this all unravels.” Jasper
picked up a roll and took a big bite. “But that’s between you and her. What I
want to know is whose bright idea kidnapping her was and who attacked her.”

“It was a desperate move and it didn’t have much of a chance
of success, I know, but the Coalition was running out of time. The council
votes on the Loyalty Directive in a couple of days and we need them to vote no.
Our usual lobbyists weren’t able to sway enough of the vote. Even you’re
planning on voting yes. So we decided to take matters into our own hands.”

“It was part of a deal. I’d vote yes on the Loyalty
Directive if they’d get rid of the part of the bill that gave the military
authority over the Subservients.”

“Which is probably why they put that in there,” Michael
said.

Jasper glanced over at Michael before returning his
attention to Adam. “Regardless, it was a stupid move. Kidnappings never sway
votes. At least, not in favor of the kidnappers.”

“It was stupid, but Renee wouldn’t be alive if he hadn’t
been on that vessel,” Michael countered. “Then where would we be? She’s alive
and can tell her side of the story because Adam was there.”

Jasper nodded. “So the Coalition didn’t mean her any harm?”

“None. If we hurt her, it’d be the death knell for our
movement.”

“Then who did? And why?”

“I can’t prove who is responsible, but I think I can prove
why they did it.” Adam looked at the men. Would they believe him? Did he
believe himself? It seemed too crazy to be true. But ever since Renee had
mentioned her scouting missions and the planets that’d disappeared, he knew
they were connected. “Whoever is responsible wanted to rally the people against
the Coalition. They wanted,
needed
the people to get behind this directive
to get it passed.”

“But why? What makes this piece of legislation important
enough to kill to get it passed?”

“They want it passed for the same reason the Coalition wants
it killed. Because it gives the military the authority to burn off planets without
going through a judge.”

“But it would still have to pass a committee vote.”

“A committee appointed by the military council. That doesn’t
provide the citizens much protection.”

“Are you implying the military would issue a burn off of a
citizen-occupied planet?” Jasper’s voice was icy but his guards looked at each
other uncomfortably.

“I am, because I’ve seen it happen. You know who I am. You
can see my scars. You must know what I lived through.” His voice cracked with
emotion and the pain of talking about that day.

“Your family was found guilty of treason. A judge signed off
on that order.”

“We weren’t selling to the Coalition.” After years of
silence, it felt good to defend his family’s name. “Any evidence the government
had was contrived.”

“Can you prove that?”

“I don’t have to. Your own men have already done that for
me.” He pulled out his reader and opened it to the official report. “The
Coalition insisted on setting up a base on any settlement they did business
with to protect the population against government retaliation. But they never
found any evidence of a base on Luca’s third moon. They couldn’t because one
was never there. It’s all here in the official report.”

Michael took the reader from him. “Why didn’t you tell
someone about this years ago?”

“Because it’s circumstantial evidence at best. I’m the only
one left alive to testify on my family’s behalf and my word isn’t admissible in
court. Traitors don’t have that right.” He smiled ruefully. “But the word of a
traitor isn’t the only evidence I have now. Check into Thumell and Dystanatious.
Renee swears they were clear. She was on the scouting missions. But they’re
gone. Along with at least three others.”

Jasper’s expression softened. “It still doesn’t add up. Your
story destroys the Coalition’s claims. If the government can get judges to
order the burns without proper evidence, they wouldn’t need the declaration.
They most certainly wouldn’t need it badly enough to kill a high-ranking
military official to get it.”

Michael looked up from the reader. “Unless they no longer
have their judge. Who authorized the burns for Thumell and Dystanatious?”

Jasper pulled his reader out and brought up the reports. “Both
were authorized by Judge Doshell.”

Michael looked up at the announcement. “That’s the same
judge who authorized Luca’s third moon.”

“And I don’t think it’s a coincidence that he passed away
three months ago,” Jasper added.

“Do you believe me now?” Adam asked.

Jasper nodded. “Yes. But that still doesn’t answer why they’re
doing burn offs.”

“They’re all mining planets. Just like Luca’s third moon.”

Michael looked at him. “The military is using the ore for
their jump drives?”

“And since the government doesn’t have to buy it from a
private source, they’re saving a fortune,” Jasper said quietly. “Which is why
this bill has so much support.”

“Holy shit.” Michael cradled his head in his hands. “All
those people. And five mining planets under military control. It’s no wonder
the prices of fuel have gotten so high. They practically have a monopoly. And
the only one who’s really committed a crime is Doshell. Everybody else made
sure their boxes were all checked.”

“Not necessarily. Do you see who else signed off on every
single one of these burns?” Lee turned the reader around so Adam could read
through the report again. “The prime minister.”

Adam shook his head. “He probably didn’t even read the
report. He saw the others had signed off and he did the same. Rubber-stamping
isn’t a crime.”

“No, but it might be enough for me to call for a vote of no
confidence in his office.” As Lee spoke, Adam’s spirits started to lift. They
might actually be able to make a difference. “It’s going to be a hard battle
though. We’ll be up against some stiff opposition. But if we get the vote
pushed through, all of the senators will be searching for ways to distance
themselves from this legislation. There’s no way it’ll pass.”

Michael smiled. “We have Renee and Aimes. They’ll testify
about the attack. And we have you,” he said, pointing to Lee. “You have the
reports. You can convince them that we’re telling the truth.”

But Jasper laughed sharply at the statement. “I’ve made a
lot of waves since I was voted into office. I haven’t exactly made friends in
the congress.”

“Then let’s go beyond the congress. What if I broadcast the
session live? The whole universe would be able to see what’s going on.” Michael
leaned forward in his chair with apparent excitement at the idea. “They’d hear
the evidence, too.”

“Still not the best of odds. We’ve got a reporter, a dead
pilot and a member of the Coalition who’s already been found guilty of treason.”

The room fell silent as someone took a sharp breath behind
Adam. He didn’t have to turn around to know it was Renee. He’d heard her gasp
before. Granted, always before it’d been a gasp of pleasure, not one of pain.

“Treason? You’ve been found guilty of treason?”

He had to turn to face her now. But he didn’t relish the
idea of seeing the hatred on her face. “In absentia.”

She looked up at Michael. “And you knew?”

“I knew he was Coalition. So yeah. I knew.” Michael didn’t
try to shy away from the truth even by an inch. That impressed Adam. He didn’t
think it impressed Renee though.

“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me.” She placed her hands
on her hips and scowled at Michael.

“To what end? You would’ve had him thrown in the brig. Or
worse. And he’s been helping you since the moment he stepped on your ship.”

“He’s Coalition.”

“I don’t give a shit what side he’s fighting on if he’s
fighting for you. Don’t you get it? You’re the most important thing in the
universe to me.” He paused for a second and then shook his head. “Of course you
don’t. You run from anything that even resembles a commitment. You’ll never
love anything more than your job.”

“It’s not a job. I’m a pilot, not a cook. I don’t have the
luxury of a workday. I’m gone for days if not weeks at a time. And I can’t tell
anyone where I’m going or when I’ll be back. Every time I walk out the door, it
might be the last time I walk through it.”

Adam was beginning to feel awkward with the fight unfolding
in front of him. He could only imagine that Jasper and his men were just as
uncomfortable but it wasn’t as if they could get up and leave.

“Yeah. I know. I’ve been living that life with you for years
now. But no more. You’re going to have to make a decision.”

“You can’t ask me to give up being a pilot.”

“I’d never do that.” He stood up as he shook his head. “And
I can’t believe you’d think I would.” Michael crossed the room and kissed her
deeply. “But I’m either in your life or I’m out of it. No more hanging around
with one foot out the door.”

He walked away from her without looking back. She raised her
fingers to her mouth briefly and then seemed to remember where she was. Jerking
them away from her lips, she shook her head and then glared at Adam. “You. This
is your fault. And you’d better fix it.” She stomped off, leaving Adam alone
with Jasper and his attachés.