“We are excited to have you join us, Madame Alonson.”

Lissi brushed her palms down the sides of her pants as nerves lent her voice a shaky tone. “Call me Lissi, Matron Toule.”

The woman seated across the shiny black desk from her smiled and rose to her feet. “The computers indicate you have completed your final training modules and are available for assignment. How do you feel about that?”

For weeks, Lissi had bounced back and forth about what she wanted to do as a career now that her schooling was complete. She’d gone to the government offices to speak with someone about a position only to run into person after person who knew her maman or papan in some capacity.

From their overt smiles and warm manner, Lissi knew immediately she’d never truly put her skills to use. Everyone would treat her with kindness and she would not learn and grow. As a result, Lissi left without applying for the posted role and walked into the United Tourism building next door in response to their post about a tourist advisor opening.

The location on Enotia acted as one of the hubs for interplanetary tourists’ locations. After speaking with the head department, they’d offered Lissi a job immediately and she’d accepted.

“I am excited, Matron Toule.”

And she was. Lissi shared with her parents her choice and reasons. To her surprise, they agreed she’d made the right decision. While they wanted her in a safe, secure position with the government, they also understood the connection of their family could hinder her finding true happiness there.

“Great. I have three overdue assignments for you to take on. One is the soon to be opened retreat called Lafette. You are to ensure they have implemented the proper safety standards. The other is here on Enotia at Aspire and the last...,” the Matron grimaced, “is Sulon’s house of pleasure where you’ll determine the reason for their drop in customer satisfaction ratings and increased complaints. You can choose which one to start first as long as all are completed and brought current in the allotted time frame. I’m sure there will be more smaller inspections in between as the case load is full.”

Laughter spilled out and Lissi clapped a hand over her mouth. Her parents would not be pleased when they discovered visiting sex sharing facilities was a part of her job. They had a notorious reputation for being quite decadent. “I believe I will take on Sulon’s first then Aspire and Lafette last.”

The new spa and resort catered to the wealthy and she’d save that in order to enjoy herself before returning home.

Humor flickered in Toule’s gaze before she resumed her professional demean. “For your first assignment, I believe you made a wise decision. It is always best to take on the tough ones first and get the experience behind you. The others will seem mild in comparison. The system will be updated to reflect your acceptance of the position.” Matron Toule stood and handed Lissi a small blue chip. “This contains all the information you need. We request all initial visits take three days minimum to conduct the inspection. Once done, complete your reports and submit them upon your return.”

Elated, Lissi jumped to her feet and accepted the chip. “You won’t be disappointed. I’ll do a great job.”

Toule inclined her head. “I know you will, Lissi. Be sure and take the time for a deep contour massage at Lafette,” she added with a wink.

Lissi left the building in a euphoric daze. She needed to share her news with someone and knew instantly who she wanted. Tapping her comm as she prepared to head home, Lissi waited for the deep masculine tones to answer.

“Greetings, Lissi.”

Releasing a pent-up breath, she blurted, “I have my first assignment with my job at United Tourism. I leave for Sulon’s in the morning, Tor-Tor.”

“Sulon’s? The sex sharing station?”

Of course, her brother would already know of the place though she didn’t want to think about why. “Yes. My role is to inspect and assure the safety standards are being met and followed.

His groan was exaggerated but his response contained joy. “I am pleased for you, Lissi.”

By his voice, Lissi could almost hear his smile. Her brother was as proud of her as she was of him as a Jutak. It didn’t matter that he was not her brother by blood, Torkel would always be her brother of the heart. Her parents always bragged to friends about how welcoming he was to his new sister. Never jealous or worried she’d take his place in their family.

“Thank you, Torkel.” Lissi leaned back in the seat of the transport and closed her eyes, letting the auto setting guide. This was a goal achieved. One of many.

“Have you told maman and papan?”

“I am almost home now and will tell them. I wanted to share the news with you first.”

His rich chuckle filled her ears and Lissi rubbed her thumb over the comm wishing she could hug him. “You wanted my approval first in case Maman threatens to block your travel.”

A quick grin lifted her lips. While Torkel could do as he pleased with their maman, Lissi only received such leeway from her papan. She was his baby girl and he gave in to her every desire. Maman more stern and wise to Lissi’s ways was not as easy to win over. It wasn’t her fault trouble and mischief seemed to find her.

“Maman loves me best,” she said.

“Maman loves me more,” he countered in a tone that stated neither of them really cared. Then his voice took on a more serious note. “Be safe, Lissi. If you have need of me, do not hesitate to reach out. I will always be there for you.”

His familiar words of love and concern reassured her as nothing else could. The transport slowed in front of the curved driveway leading to her parents’ one level farmhouse. “I know. Be safe, Torkel.”

“Always.”

“And...and take care of Rydak,” she finished on a huff.

This time Torkel’s delay in response took longer. Finally, he said, “I do my best, Lissi.”

***

Rydak stared as his Unit Leader ended his comm. Against his wishes the question slipped out. “Lissi?”

Torkel knelt in front of his locker and removed his protective vest from the rack. As soon as his head cleared the opening, he eyed Rydak with a knowing glint in his gaze. “Yes.”

“She is well?”

Torkel released a sigh and rose from the bench in front of his locker to face Rydak completely. “Are you finally going to tell me what’s going on with you and my sister?”

Maintaining his composure, Rydak closed his own locker and did up the side latches on his protective vest. At least he could give a completely honest answer. “There is nothing between your sister and I.”

If anything, his words didn’t seem to ease Torkel and his Unit Leader’s expression darkened. “Is she not good enough for you and your illustrious family line?”

Torkel’s question was so far away from Rydak’s reasoning it took a stunned moment to comprehend what he said. “You know that’s not the issue, though my lineage does play a part.”

The Jaard family possessed a myriad of abilities from generation to generation. Some gifts came with an ease of use and helped for the good of Enotia. Others like Rydak’s emphatic touch brought with it nothing but pain. All of his life he’d suffered for something everyone admired. His skills allowed him to excel in his career as a Jutak warrior while being a detriment to any pleasure he could deride in his personal life.

He lived every day devoid of one of the most basic things people took for granted. Touch. Skin to skin. People said he was blessed and should be thankful his blood ran true. Rydak grimaced and stood up. He felt far from blessed.

Torkel stabbed a finger in his direction. “Stay away from Lissi if you’re going to hurt her, Rydak.”

He slammed the door behind him, leaving Rydak to face Jahul who sat on the bench next to him. Jahul kept his silence as he slid his ear comm on and reached for the handheld laser blaster to slide in the holster at his waist.

“Go ahead and say it.”

Jahul shrugged, fastening the thigh strap of his holster. “It’s not my place.”

His Team Lead’s stoicism added fire to Rydak’s building frustration. “You understand my history. You know what Lissi wants is impossible.”

Jahul snorted and rolled his eyes as he strapped his laser rifle over his shoulder. “I know you’re afraid.”

The claim pushed him over the edge. Anger exploded in a rare burst of temper.

“Fuuuck!” Rydak slammed his fist into the lockers, denting the frames and caving in the door on the one bearing his last name. He ignored the resulting burst of pain in his knuckles. “You have no idea!”

Jahul didn’t flinch or draw back from his loss of control. Breath coming rapidly, Rydak glared at the black leather encasing his hands then held up the throbbing one toward the other Enotian. “This, this will always keep me from her. Not fear. Not Torkel. But my legacy. Strong fierce Rydak Jaard from one of the most honorable families on Enotia...” He shook his head on a rough laugh. “And I can’t touch the one female I want more than anything in my life.”

“If you feel this way, end her infatuation now.” Jahul glared at him, coming to his feet to stand over Rydak. “Don’t play with her feelings. That female is falling in love with you.”

“I’m not playing with her.” How could he when the attraction went both ways? He wanted Lissi as much if not more than she wanted him. He sighed and dropped back to the bench. “I don’t know what to do.”

Except he did. He had to stay away from Lissi.

Jahul cursed then ran his hands through his blond hair on a heavy exhale and leaned against the lockers to give Rydak his full attention. “Listen. I know it’s complicated but you need to make a choice and make it soon. The others are all starting to notice and for obvious reasons they are very protective of her.”

Because they highly respected their Unit Leader Torkel and held nothing but admiration for Marlin not to mention Shaya, who treated them as if they were her lost children.

“I will make it clear she needs to stay away from me.”

Something he should have done from the very beginning but he hadn’t wanted to lose the small connection. The smiles which brightened his day and the light in her eyes were sometimes the only thing he had to keep his head on straight when he went out on a mission. Nothing else mattered more than knowing Lissi cared for him.

“She won’t like that.”

Rydak didn’t like it either. Her determination and perseverance in the face of her pursuit of him was never in doubt. He had no choice though. Whatever he said or did needed to be as close to harsh as he could make himself be with her and not lose the respect of his Unit Leader. Only something severe would end the connection she sought with him.

Jahul’s face twisted, his thoughts clearly torn between protecting the younger female and being a friend to his teammate. “Is there no other way? Are you sure you can’t be with her?”

Rydak couldn’t pretend. They’d been friends too long for him to deceive his Team Lead. “I can never touch Lissi Alonson without physical pain. I will know her every thought the moment her bare hand clasps my hand. Secrets that should be hers alone would be mine as well. Between my pain and her lack of privacy, she’d soon grow resentful. How could she not? I’m not going to let Lissi choose a man who can’t be with her the way she deserves.”

It hurt Rydak to share his deep thoughts. The truth he’d only just come to accept himself.

“What’s holding you two up? Team’s ready to go.” Torkel burst through the door, one hand gripping the frame as he interrupted what Jahul might have said in response. His brown gaze landed on Rydak, studying him for a moment then went to Jahul. “Problem?”

There would always be a problem for him. No use wishing for otherwise. Rydak stood up and grabbed his weapons. “No. Jahul was briefing me on a separate matter.”

It was clear Torkel didn’t believe him but proving once more he understood when things should be left alone, he nodded, and they all walked out of the locker area together.

Outside, the military base where they lived bustled with activity. Several Jutak warrior Units resided on Enotia while others were based off-world. It gave them the advantage of being able to leave from various locations to respond to emergencies requiring the unique skill set of their military.

Waiting in the hover-car sat his fellow teammates, Bane, V’hor, and Khane. Members of Team One and Two stood in front of the main building dressed in all black, arms crossed over their chests. Gazes held steady and each nodded in turn as Torkel drove by them then through the electronic gates, which kept the citizens of Enotia from trespassing.

In the back seat, Jahul leaned in Rydak’s direction. “You’re wrong you know.”

Glancing up from reviewing the information on his data pad, Rydak lifted his brows. He knew instantly what he was referring. “How?”

“I understand a little of how you struggle.” Jahul clenched his hands in his lap, the muscle in his jaw ticking. “My family’s line was not as strong as yours but we possessed telepathic abilities. I could hear the thoughts of everyone in my presence. Gloves wouldn’t have helped in my case. It was...scary at times and lonely at others.”

Rydak stiffened. As a child, he’d endured some of what Jahul spoke. If Rydak didn’t have the gloves protecting him, he’d be constantly bombarded with everything from thoughts to sensations of those he touched and unable to function. The Team Lead had been with the Unit for a couple of years. He didn’t remember Jahul ever mentioning a similar problem. “How do you handle it?”

Pain flashed across Jahul’s features, blue eyes going dark. “My Chosen. She was the only female I couldn’t hear. Not a word, not a thought. When she died, my ability somehow died with her. At times, I wonder if it was her way of helping me with the hurt of her loss. She more than anyone knew how painful it was for me to be in the presence of other people. I took inhibitors Dr. Maku administered and they worked for short periods of time so I could go out on missions.”

Rydak vaguely recalled Jahul’s Chosen. She’d been a quiet female with a gentle manner about her. He absorbed the rest of what Jahul told him and hated the leap of hope bounding in his chest. “But you couldn’t read her?”

A slow smile curved Jahul’s lips. It spoke of things any male would recognize. Satisfaction and intimacy. “Not once. I couldn’t wait to go home to her. The silence was something I’d never experienced until we met.”

“You don’t suffer any longer?” Rydak couldn’t comprehend the nirvana Jahul described.

Expression falling, Jahul tipped his head down. Sadness drew his mouth tight. “No. From the day my Chosen took her last breath, I haven’t needed the inhibitors. When I explained to Torkel, he made me lead for Team Three. Now you know my story. And Rydak, I do understand.”

What Jahul shared was deeply personal. The hover-car slowed and came to a top. Outside the pilot waited by their shuttle for their team to evac. Rydak clasped his shoulder and squeezed. “Thank you, Jahul.”

His circumstances were different but it was nice to know another shared some of what he went through. Torkel leaped from the hover-car signaling them out. Clearing his mind of every thought but the upcoming mission, Rydak took a deep breath and ran with the others to get on the shuttle.