Malfunction, page 15
“How likely do you think that is?”
“I think it won’t stop the deaths. Our killer has gotten a taste for it now, and I’m guessing they have convinced themselves they have a just cause. But it might stop them blowing up any more ships.”
“It’s the ‘might’ that’s making me twitchy,” Rico said. “I don’t like the thought that there’s someone out there with the ability to blow up my ship and the total lack of conscience to enable them to kill ten thousand people when it’s expedient.”
“Yeah, and if we don’t know the who and the why, we have no clue what else might trigger them. How about we pretend that we’re going along with the terrorist theory but continue to investigate under the radar. See if we can’t uncover our killer and then decide what to do.”
“We?” His eyes narrowed. “You want to keep soldier-boy on the case with you? You don’t think the sensible thing would be to keep this between us? Perhaps put a little distance between you and Sergeant Farrell. He doesn’t strike me as stupid.”
No, he wasn’t stupid, but she didn’t think he would stumble on the truth. And yes, she did want to keep him around. She had a flashback to the feel of his mouth on her that morning. Holy moly, it had felt good. And she owed him an orgasm. She always paid her debts.
“He won’t be a problem. And he can help—we can tell the Trakis One we’re compiling a report so we can shut the case and they can publish it, so people can sleep easy in their beds.”
“Or their cryotubes,” Rico said. “Okay, your decision. But I won’t risk anyone uncovering what’s happening on my ship. So you make sure he doesn’t find out. If he does, he dies. That simple.” He sat back and stretched. “Anyway, we’re stuck with both him and the lovely Layla for the moment. All movement between ships has been prohibited until further notice. Probably until the red alert has been downgraded.” He sat back and regarded her out of half-closed eyes. “So what do you make of the beautiful Scientific Officer Langdon?”
“She’s actually very competent. I thought she was going to go all hysterical on us after the explosion, nearly burst my eardrums with her screaming, but then she pulled herself together and flew us back here. I’d say she’s brighter than she lets on.”
“Maybe I’ll keep her out of trouble while you continue the investigation with your soldier. Do my part. It’s only fair.”
“You’re such a hero,” she said.
“Yeah.” He grinned. “And maybe we’ll both get laid. Watching you eat has given me an appetite.”
“Jesus,” she muttered. “And you talk to me about being sensible?”
“The difference is I can make sure she remembers nothing about our little fling. Though I suppose I could do the same for your friend. He’s not my type, but for a favor, I could lower my standards.”
“Gee, thanks.” Rico was capable of wiping the memory of anyone he had taken blood from. A very useful trait. If worst came to worst, he could do the same with Logan. He’d have to drink from him first, and somehow, she doubted that would happen voluntarily, but Logan could be made to forget the coercion as well as anything else that was likely to put them at risk. She’d worry about it later. If everything went to shit.
Voices drifted in from the corridor. Looked like they had company. “So we’re agreed?” she asked. “We go along with the terrorist is dead theory and everything is okey-dokey and we’re just closing up the case.”
“We do.”
“But we could really do with an excuse to visit one of the other ships if you can come up with something believable.”
“I’ll give it some thought.”
Logan and Layla appeared in the doorway. They made a striking couple. Both tall and good-looking. Prime material for building a new human race. They entered the room, and Logan took the seat opposite her, and she avoided meeting his eyes. Layla sank down onto the chair beside him as if staking her territory. A growl rumbled in her throat—her cat was awake, after all—and Rico cast her a sharp look of speculation. She forced a smile. She was good. Logan wasn’t hers. The growl echoed deep inside her. Someone was grumpy and didn’t agree.
Layla smiled at Rico. “Logan says you have coffee. Could I have a cup? I haven’t had coffee in…five hundred years.”
“Of course.” Rico rose to his feet. “Let me get it for you. Sugar? Cream?”
Her eyes widened. “Wow? I’m impressed. And yes to both.”
“We aim to please.”
Katia rolled her eyes, but luckily, no one saw her as they were all focused on the beautiful, charming Layla. She gritted her teeth. What the hell was wrong with her?
Rico got a mug from the dispenser and placed it in front of Layla then placed a bowl in front of Katia. “Ice cream,” he said. “I think you could do with a little cooling down.”
She lifted the corner of her upper lip in a snarl then turned it into a sweet smile. “Thank you so much. I’m super impressed as well. You’re so impressive, captain.”
He snorted a laugh and then took the seat next to Layla.
“Hey, don’t I get anything?” Logan said. Rico reached into his pocket and tossed him a flask. “Thanks.”
Katia placed a spoonful of ice cream on her tongue and closed her eyes as it melted. Chocolate. She licked her lips, opened her eyes, and found Logan staring at her mouth. She held his gaze and stroked the spoon with her tongue, and heat flared in his eyes. That was better; she almost purred. Rico cleared his throat, and she broke the contact.
“So how are you?” she asked. He looked okay, not cross-eyed or anything. She sniffed. No blood, just a whiff of antiseptic.
“Good.” He rubbed the back of his head. “Just a lump. So what’s happening?”
“Well, the fleet is on red alert, but they believe the explosion on the Trakis Three was a suicide mission, and the terrorist died, and the threat is over.”
“Balls. You don’t actually agree, do you? It’s a load of bullshit.”
She glanced at Layla and decided she didn’t want to say any more in front of her. Presumably her loyalties lay with the crew on the Trakis One, and she would report back to their captain. Which was exactly what Katia didn’t want. She’d already decided she would wait to brief Logan on the ongoing investigation when they were alone. She tried to convey a message with her eyes. Shut up. But he obviously wasn’t paying attention.
“No way was that a terrorist attack. It was an obvious action to keep us away from finding whatever answers were on the Trakis Three.”
“You really believe that?” Layla said. She sounded almost bewildered. “But what about the empty cryotube?”
“You have to admit, there’s an awful lot of evidence supporting the terrorist theory,” Katia said.
He snorted. “A lot of awful evidence you mean.”
She ignored the comment. “It makes sense if you think about it.” He opened his mouth, and she continued before he could get any words out. “Why don’t you sleep on it and we can talk about it later? Maybe you’ll have joined up the dots by then.”
His eyes narrowed on her. She flicked a glance at Layla, who had leaned in close to Rico, listening to something he was saying. She finally saw the understanding dawn in Logan’s eyes. Took him long enough. “You’re right,” he said. “I’m probably not thinking straight at the moment.”
“Don’t worry, we make allowances for you.”
“I did just get banged on the head.”
Her bowl was empty. She sat back and smothered a huge yawn with her hand. It had been a long day. Well, actually, not that long, it was probably only late afternoon, but she’d had enough. She looked at Logan. “I think I’m ready for a shower and a sleep.”
“Me, too.” He winked and pushed himself to his feet.
Layla looked up. “Is there somewhere I can clean up?”
“Of course,” Rico said. “Katia will show you where.” He turned to look at her. “The cabin on the other side of you is empty. I need to check up a few things with the…crew.” He turned to Layla. “Then after you’ve had a cleanup and a rest, and you’re feeling a little better, I can give you a tour of the ship, show you a few things.”
“That would be lovely. I appreciate you taking the time. And I’d love to talk to your Scientific Officer here. I met her in training.”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
Hah. How likely was that?
Layla frowned as something occurred to her. “If there’s a ban on moving between ships, then what’s happening about the party?”
“The party?” What freaking party?
“On the Trakis Seven. There’s always an anniversary party on one of the ships. Who goes along is rotated as the shuttles can only carry four. This year, it’s on the Trakis Seven, and I was going. It’s a special one—five hundred years in space. I was looking forward to it. I met Callum in training. He was a nice guy.”
“Callum Meridian?” Katia asked. “He’s the captain of the Trakis Seven?”
“Yes. He’s been awake about the same time as me. You know him?” She sounded skeptical and well she might.
“Only by reputation,” she said. Callum Meridian had been a goddamn hero fighter pilot in the years leading up to the exodus from Earth. He’d also been engaged to the daughter of the President of the Federation of Nations. The planet’s most famous couple, though they’d broken that off before they’d left Earth. She sighed. Callum Meridian was gorgeous, and he was free. He’d just about replaced Han Solo in her fantasies. Because that was what he was, an out-of-reach fantasy—the way she liked her men.
She glanced at Logan. He was watching her out of narrowed eyes. Was she looking a little dreamy? Probably. She smirked. They needed an invite to that party—the perfect excuse to visit another ship. There had been some deaths on the Trakis Seven, the most recent ones chronologically. Definitely worth a visit. Yay, she was going to meet Callum Meridian.
Logan leaned in close. “Get that look off your face. He’s likely a total asshole.”
“Only thinking about the investigation,” she said smugly. “But he was a hero.” She sighed dramatically. “Come on. Let’s go.”
Chapter Nineteen
Logan strode down the corridor, flanked by the two women. It was making him a little twitchy. He could almost feel their gazes locked on his ass.
He considered pointing out that they shouldn’t objectify him. But he didn’t mind Katia objectifying him as long as she was on the same wavelength as he was, which was, basically, burrowing himself deep inside her as soon as possible.
He recognized the corridor. It was where the room they had slept in was situated, and he slowed his footsteps, glanced back at Katia for directions. They would need to get rid of Layla first.
She came to a halt in front of one of the identical doors, and he and Layla came to a stop beside her. “This is your cabin,” Katia said to Layla.
Layla looked between the two of them then rested a hand on his arm. “I was hoping we could talk some more,” she said.
Not on his agenda. He gave her what he hoped was a rueful smile. “Later, huh? Right now, I need a shower and a rest. My head is killing me.”
“I could take another look.”
“I think I need to lie down somewhere quiet. But thanks.”
Katia placed her hand on the panel, and the door opened. Layla went in, reluctantly, casting him an almost hurt glance. But then the door shut on her, and he released a sigh of relief.
“A headache?” Katia said, turning to him.
“I didn’t want to hurt her feelings. But I have places I need to be right now.”
She studied him, her head cocked to one side. “You’re a nice guy, Logan Farrell.”
No, he wasn’t. “Bed. Now.”
She waved him down the corridor, but something occurred to him. “Is Layla safe on her own? You said last night we were sharing because you thought I might be in some sort of danger.”
She flashed him a grin. “I lied. I just wanted to get into your pants.”
Did he believe her? Maybe fifty-fifty. He had no doubt she wanted in his pants, but at the same time, she had been protecting him. As Layla had said, there was something not quite right about the setup here on the Trakis Two. Rico didn’t want anyone looking too closely, and he was likely to stop any information coming to light. But how far would he go? Logan couldn’t help but wonder if Caldwell had stumbled upon something Rico didn’t want to get back to the Trakis One.
He pushed the thoughts aside. For now, at least. He reasoned he was pretty safe for the next few hours. He walked beside Katia the few feet that took them to the next door. He would have liked a little more distance between them and Layla, but he’d take what he could get. Katia pressed her hand to the panel, and the door opened. Logan hustled her inside, and she was in his arms and plastered against him before the door even closed.
He had to lower his head to kiss her—she was so much shorter than he was—but it was worth the effort. His mouth slanted over hers, and she tasted hot and sweet, and he parted her lips with his and pushed inside, his tongue filling her. His cock had jerked to life as soon as they’d touched, and he pressed against her, walking her backward to the bed. He kissed her until they ran out of air and he had to fill his lungs.
Her skin was flushed, her lips swollen, her eyes darkened with desire. Sliding his hands to her waist, he picked her up, tossed her on the bed, and came down quickly on top of her, his hands framing her shoulders to hold his weight above her. He was rock hard now, his dick pressing against his fly almost painfully. He pushed one leg between her thighs and lowered his hips so she could feel how much he wanted her.
She stared up into his face and licked her lips. “I need a shower.”
“I need a fuck, and you smell pretty good to me. Sort of hot and sweaty…” He punctuated his words with biting kisses down her throat, along her collarbone, burying his nose in her cleavage and breathing in deeply. “…and sexy as hell. But you are wearing way too many clothes. They have to come off. Right now.”
He sat up on his heels, straddling her hips, and came up with a plan of action. It was pretty simple. He clasped his hands on the front of her shirt and ripped it open. No bra, and he stared at her breasts, small but full and perfect, tipped with dark red nipples that pointed up at him. She made no move to cover herself, just allowed him to stare.
“Hey,” she said. “We have limited resources, you know. I can’t pop down to the shops and replace that.”
“Darling, you’re mistaking me for someone who gives a fuck. We’ll turn up the heating—you won’t need clothes.” His hands covered her breasts, and she closed her mouth. He massaged them gently, watching the pleasure flash across her face, her cheeks flush with color. A low purr rumbled from her throat. Shuffling down, he lowered his head and sucked one tight nipple into his mouth, and her back arched beneath him. He could do this forever, except just not right now. Because right now, he was working on the presumption that if anything could go wrong, then it would. Like the ship might explode around them at any moment. And the only thing he wanted exploding right now was his dick while it was buried deep inside Katia.
He gave one last suck, nipped it with his teeth, then sat up, his hands going to her waist. She came up on her elbows and watched him as he unfastened her pants, raising her hips to help him as he tugged them down. She kicked off her shoes—looked like she was as eager as him. Thank God. He finally managed to tug them all the way off, and he threw them on the floor. Apart from the torn shirt, she was naked in front of him. And so beautiful he ached. Tiny and perfectly formed. She had such a big presence that he sort of forgot how small she was. He wanted to take her in his arms and protect her. But later. Right now, he wanted inside her so bad, his dick ached. His hand went to his waist, and he unfastened his pants, shoved them down over his engorged shaft, groaning in relief as it sprang free.
He glanced up to find her staring, and he twitched under the hot desire in her eyes. She was sprawled open before him, and he cupped a hand between her thighs. Her eyes drifted closed, and that purr came again. He curled his fingers so they slipped between the folds of her sex, and she was so wet and warm. She pushed against him, and he swiped his thumb over her clit. She jumped. She was so ready.
He removed his hand, gripped his cock, lubricating it with her juices, then he lowered himself on top of her and positioned himself at the entrance to her body. Her eyes were open, she was watching him, and he couldn’t resist a quick kiss on her full lips, then he thrust inside in one smooth move. She was so tight, but she welcomed him inside easily, wrapping her muscles around him, pulling him in.
Fully inside, he went still for a moment, savoring the sensations, then he slowly pulled out. Her legs wrapped around his hips as though she was trying to keep him inside. Any second now, things were going to get hard and fast, and he wanted nothing in his way when that happened. Placing his hands on her knees, he pushed her legs up against her sides, opening her to him, still deep inside. “Trust me, kitten.”
Her eyes flashed at the nickname. “Give it your best, soldier.” But her voice was breathy with desire. This time as he pulled out, she stayed still, watching him out of half-closed eyes. He shoved back in slowly, and she…growled. Pleasure shot from his balls up his spine, through his body. He’d never felt anything so good. He ground his hips against the sensitive spot between her thighs, and she moaned and pushed up against him. Her arms came around him, her fingernails digging into his skin, raking down his back.
The sharp pain loosened the tight hold he had on his control, and he let the power flow through him. He pulled out and shoved back in again, harder this time, and she took him easily, rising up to meet him, growling again when he withdrew. There was something so primal, almost animalistic in her responses.
