Page 1

Chapter 1

“The data suggests we’vealmost got them.” Hunter D’ahar’s gaze flicked from the screen, showing Commissioner Viewick to the vast expanse of space in front of him. Only a few more hours until they were home, then he could hide from this tedium for half an hour, before it started again.

“We must ensure this mission is a success.” Commissioner Viewick’s nostrils flared, and he leaned closer to the screen. “We cannot underestimate the urgency of this situation.”

Hunter gritted his teeth. If he smart-mouthed this out of touch idiot, he’d be up on an insubordination charge. He knew why the former general was freaking out. He had the Apexians breathing down his neck and was terrified about pissing them off.

Hunter glanced at Cleo Newman, who sat in the co-pilot seat next to him. As always, she was a picture of calm and professionalism as she dealt with High Command. And if he didn’t know her so well, he’d have missed the muscle twitching in her jaw that showed she was as frustrated as him at being told how to do their jobs.

Cleo leaned forward in her seat. “I assure you, we’re on top of this. Since we discovered the Siblet experimentations, they’ve been on the back foot. And we’ve shut down a dozen testing sites and removed all the animals in the last three weeks.”

“And that includes finding two more white tails,” Hunter said. “We already have them located at a sanctuary.”

“Yes, and that’s outstanding work.” Commissioner Viewick licked his lips. “We’re receiving pressure on all sides to end this swiftly. The Siblet can’t be allowed to continue.”

“And they won’t. If there are any flaws you see in the plan we laid out at the meeting, let us know,” Cleo said. “Everyone seemed happy with the continued surveillance and retrieval work. It’s taking precedence over all other work.”

Hunter didn’t miss the undercurrent of anger in Cleo’s voice, or the way her chin lifted a fraction as she stared down the Commissioner. She hated putting their conservation work on pause. Cleo loved her work. But standing in her way of getting on with it was High Command and the Siblet plan to rear killer mutant animals and unleash them on unsuspecting planets. And then there was the poison problem.

He focused on the ship’s controls for a few seconds, mainly so he didn’t have to stare at the portly commissioner as he kept flapping his lips. It had been torturous to spend an entire day stuck in meetings with High Command as they’d analyzed every point of their plans to stop the Siblet. The thought of going back and doing it all over again in a week chilled Hunter’s blood, and there wasn’t much that terrified him. He’d spent years facing off with the baddest scum this universe could throw at him, but these tedious meetings took torture to a whole other level.

Commissioner Viewick sucked in a breath and leaned back in his large black seat. “The plan is fine, but you must also keep up with your conservation work.”

“Send us those new recruits you keep promising us, and we will,” Hunter muttered under his breath.

Cleo’s hand appeared on his knee and she squeezed hard. It was a warning to keep his mouth shut.

Heat flared up his leg and his cock hardened at her brief touch, but a rumble of annoyance replaced the flare of pleasure. He should have numbed himself to feeling anything when he was around Cleo. But whatever he did, nothing worked.

He’d tried to find a flaw in those perfect curves, or tell himself that humans were weak and couldn’t be relied on, but Cleo was always there when anyone needed her. She ran a damn fine ship and had the respect of all the crew.

He’d even tried picturing her sick, but that had made his protective instincts ignite, and he’d wanted to take care of her.

Hunter was the sick one, pining after someone he’d been forbidden from touching again.

And as much as that pissed him off, he respected her, too. But Hunter felt much more than respect for the sexy, smart Cleo Newman. His desire for her was seared into his brain.

The heat from her hand still lingered on his knee. Hunter adjusted his position and focused on checking the fuel logs to avoid chasing a fantasy of grabbing Cleo, ripping off her clothes, and convincing her she loved him. Because that was what he wanted.

The one time they’d gotten naked together had been out of this galaxy amazing, but Hunter wasn’t looking for an easy lay. He wanted an eternity with one person, and like the dumbass he was, he’d picked the woman in this star system who refused to give him that.

While Cleo continued to talk to Commissioner Viewick, Hunter allowed his gaze to run over her, just to add an extra twist to the torture he already felt. She kept her shiny dark hair short, and it suited her heart-shaped face. She had big dark eyes that flashed whenever she was passionate about something, and an infinite amount of patience when dealing with the crap that came with being in charge of an interstellar conservation project.

“I’ll send you a daily bulletin on our progress, as requested,” Cleo said. “You’ll be the first to hear if there are any changes. But we don’t expect problems.”

“I look forward to the progress reports,” Commissioner Viewick said.

They said their goodbyes and signed off.

Hunter grinned as Cleo let out a loud sigh and groaned. “At least that’s over with. We’ve covered everything. And I mean, everything. I thought he was going to check on the color of my underwear, just to make sure it was regulation issue.”

Hunter snorted out a laugh. “You have regulation panties?”

She shot him a smile. “In your dreams.”

His cock twitched at the thought of seeing Cleo in her underwear. Or better yet, out of it, discarded on his bedroom floor. “They’re scared. That’s why he keeps grilling us.”

“I know. And I would be too if I had the Apexian leaders demanding results and insisting resources are handed over. You guys don’t always play nice.” She arched a brow.