I snorted. “This is going to be impossible.”
He held his palms out in front of him. “Believe it or not, I understand.” Tentatively, he let one hand wrap around my upper arm. “If our roles were reversed it would be hard for me to give up control too.”
“It’s not personal. I’d be this way with anyone.” Staring at his hand on my arm, I took a single step toward him. “Although you are an arrogant ass.”
“I am.” He nodded and a softer smile eased the lines around his eyes. “But I’ll work on it, okay?”
That fluttery sensation in my stomach returned with a vengeance. “I’ll hold you to it.”
“Deal.” He brought me the rest of the way, hugging me to his chest. His arms around me were warm and hard, comfort and protection in one.
Okay, so, maybe I liked him a little.
* * *
Tor
My thoughts tumbled one over the other. As her cheek nuzzled my chest, my plans shifted. I’d vowed to deliver hope to my brathers. For them I would move the stars. But for her, I would collapse the cosmos. I had to complete this mission. It was the only chance I had of making Jane truly mine.
We had to succeed at any cost. That included ensuring her safety from these Mangox crexers.
“Captain.” I held her by her upper arms. Her head tilted up, her eyes a bit glassy. My proud fighter was struggling with this ruse, and we hadn’t yet begun. I had to aid her. “You’re safe with me. I will never harm you.”
“I believe you, Commander.” A wary smile warmed her face, then her cheeks began to darken. “Or should I say,” she swallowed roughly, “Master?”
Drav it all.I’d be lying if I denied my blood heated from that honorific spoken from her desirable mouth. I choked on the gravel in my throat. “Let’s save it for the Mangox.” I pushed her gently from me and tucked her arm around mine. “Ready?”
“No.” She sighed but straightened and stood tall. Freeing her hair from its usual up-style, she let it flow wild and free around her shoulders. “But let’s do it anyway. Brief me as we walk.”
We headed toward the rear of the ship where an airlock would feed their platform to our ship and allow the bastards access. “It’ll be easiest if you are yourself as much as possible, so you’re not playing a character.” I tapped in the sequence that bypassed security and opened access to our ship. My skin grew cold as I did so, but I focused on the little captain as a distraction. “Did you have any rigid instructors in your military training?”
She snickered at that. “Oh yeah.”
“Pretend you’re deferring to one of them.” I narrowed my eyes at her. “You weren’t a student who mouthed off, were you?”
Her chin raised, an indignant pout to her lips. “I was a model student.”
“Good.” I hid my smile behind my free hand. I’d imagined nothing less from a ljona. Like the creature I named her for respected pack order, my little captain understood hierarchy, especially in battle. “Pretend then, I’m one of your past instructors. Instead of calling me…?” I let my voice trail into a question.
She raised a brow at me before she understood. “Sir. We called our instructors, Sir, regardless of gender.”
“Then, replace Sir with Master, and imagine I’m your teacher.” I squeezed her arm before reluctantly letting go and standing stoically beside her. “You can do this, ljona.”
“I know.” Cocking her head to the side, she looked at me through her peripheral vision. “Why do you keep calling me, ljona? I meant to ask before, but I was, um, well,” she bit her lip, “distracted.”
“And what a distraction it was,” I reminded her.
Her breathing sped up, but she waved her hand as if to dismiss the memory. I’d led that slide, for now. She continued, “Uh-huh. Anyway, I get the little captain reference. Not very inventive, by the way.” She rolled her sea blue eyes. “But ljona doesn’t translate. What is it?”
“A fierce creature from my home world.” The ship thumped as the Mangox vessel connected with ours. In another click they would board. “It has a fiery mane that can burn a warrior with one touch, but it is a rare and beautiful creature.” I turned to capture her gaze one final time before we took on this charade. “Just like you.”
The hatch opened before she could respond, and we both spun toward the door.
“Ah Commander,” the seedy Capo Mulo threw his arms wide as he stepped onto the ship, “thank you for having us aboard.”
The capo was flanked by three subordinates, each wearing a black uniform shirt and standing a head taller than him. Since their leader met me at eye-level, none of them could be considered small. All four Mangox were bare from the waist down, covered in thick, brown fur. They did, however, wear belts around their sizable waists, which housed com-units and blasters.
Jane shifted one foot behind her as if to take a fighting stance. Tugging her into my side, I put my arm around her shoulders to prevent the movement. If the Mangox showed any signs of attempting to steal her from me, I’d kill them all. But until then, an aggressive stance would not help our cause.
