CHAPTER TWELVE
Something electronic pinged.
"Okay, we're out of time," Arek muttered. He let her go, and the sensual spell was broken. The humming stopped, also. "Deuce, can you hear me?"
"Yes, captain," Deuce said instantly. "We seem to have had an interruption in my data feed. My apologies. How may I serve you?"
Arek lowered one eyelid in a slow wink to Mia, and strode to the hatch, slamming it open and striding out into the cabin. "I said, now that quarking interview is over, how about some good intel on our next challenge. It's time to prepare."
Mia gazed after him. How the hells was he so—so focused on his scheming to outwit Octiron, when her brain seemed full of one need—getting that kiss, or whatever he'd seemed to promise a moment ago?
Arek sagged against the wall outside his sleep cubby, for once in his life, his knees weak. What had he almost done in there? Kiss a Tygress... or, even worse, place his hand over his heart like a knight of old, swearing fealty to a queen? When she looked up at him with those big golden eyes, all her uncertainty and courage shining forth, all he wanted was to hold her, protect her... and fuck her until they both lost their minds.
But, exactly why was he holding out against her sweet, peppery attraction, anyway? It wasn't like she was a siren or a succubus of legend, intent on stealing his manhood. She was a Tygress, a sweet, hot little temptress with courage, heart and apparently much less experience than he would expect from a gorgeous female of her race. Else why did she blush when he teased her, eye him only when she thought he couldn't see, and allow him to so easily foil her tryst with another male?
Arek supposed he should feel guilty for using the HQ surveillance to pretend Tenn had met with the redhead that night, instead of earlier in the week, before he'd even met Mia. But as a seasoned warrior, and one of Hamor Base' tech experts, Arek felt no such remorse. He'd learned to use tech to best the enemy... and any male who wanted to fuck his partner, his Tygress, was the enemy.
Maybe it was time he accepted that, instead of fighting it.
He wanted her, and despite her refusal to acknowledge their mutual lust, she wanted him.
Game on, Tygress. Game on.
He straightened, stretching muscles stiff from bursts of activity followed by inactivity on the ship. He was tired, but through it burned desire, for her.
But when he knocked, waited, and then pushed open the hatch to her sleep cubby... his prey was stretched out in her bunk. On her side, one arm flung out on the pillow before her, her long hair streaming over the pillow, and sound asleep.
Arek dropped his head with a quiet groan. His timing sucked.
Then he yawned mightily, and wiped a hand over his face. Sleep, then. And after that, let the chase ensue.
He left the hatch open between their cubbies when he retired to his own bunk.
* * *
Jostyn Jag was on a link with the elected Governor Prime of planet Bryght. GP Peotr Lyons also happened to be his cousin, on his mother's side.
"Jostyn," the Governor asked, seated at his opulent desk in his office. "My assistant said this is urgent. How may I help?"
"Peotr, thank you for seeing me. What do you know about Octiron Media?" Jag asked.
Lyons' smile disappeared. "This is about Mia, isn't it."
"You know, then."
"That she's a contestant in Octiron's Race? Yes. My daughter is a fan of those sort of shows, never misses one. She told me Mia was taking part… I watched with her last evening."
The two men shared a look of understanding.
"I'm worried," Jostyn said. "Tryon's career has led him into some deadly situations, but this… it's insane. They're sending young beings from every race out to duel with monsters! I want my daughter out, now!"
Lyons sighed heavily. "I understand. Listen, Jos. I'm not sure what I—what we can do. Octiron is huge. But I'll start shaking some branches, see who drops. I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Meanwhile, stay calm."
Jostyn Jag bared his teeth. "Oh, I'll be busy as well. You're not the only one who'll be shaking branches."
* * *
Arek sauntered into the galley and brushed by her on his way to the coffee machine. "Sleep well, kitten?"
Strangely, the nickname brought up none of her usual irritation. She was too busy dealing with the hit to her senses—his scent, his heat and strength in such close quarters. The caressing note in his deep voice.
"Um—what?" she asked. "Oh, sleep? Yes. Fine."
"Good." He came back and sank to the seat opposite her. He gave her a hooded look through the steam rising from his mug, and drank. Mia stared at his lips, wet from the coffee as he lowered his mug. "So did I."
She looked up, meeting his gaze, and unaccountably, blushed. "You left the—the hatch open between our beds."
He shrugged amiably. "I did. So, you ready for our second challenge?"
Abruptly, the warmth surrounding them like a bubble popped. A chill settled over her shoulders. "I... think so. I mean, yes. I'm ready."
He smiled at her, his gaze warm, and held out his hand. "Good. Team Starry Night."
Mia lifted her hand, and his closed around hers, warm and strong. A current of live power arcing between them. "Team Starry Night," she agreed.
And if she wished he would follow through with a kiss, well... that was her business alone.
"Your next challenge," Deuce told them, "takes place in The Allermo Sector, which contains the small planet Altaria, a required stop on the Space Race. Altaria is a small, rock-based planet, roughly the size of your Bryght, Mia. It revolves around its sun, Miraga. Altaria has two moons, and the atmosphere supports luxuriant plant growth, with salty seas and fresh water. Plants vary between native growth, and those brought in by early settlers."
Mia gazed in wonder at the holomap of the planet they'd brought up in the middle of the cabin, so she and Arek could walk around it and examine different areas. This was largely shades of green, with pale milky-green seas and the darker greens of vegetation, although strips of tan sand bordered the seas, and ran in a wide ribbon through one valley that nearly bisected the planet.
The mild appearance of the planet came as a complete surprise to Mia, after all the talk about its being deserted. The plant life was much more moderate than that on Am-ghyr, and there seemed to be no jagged mountains, cliffs or abyss-like canyons.
"This is one of the loveliest planets I've ever seen," she said to Arek. "And I watch a great many travelogues on the holovids."
"I believe you," he said, in such a bland voice that she immediately suspected he was laughing at her behind that soldier's face.
"Well, some of us don't get to travel for work," she shot back, and then winced. "I mean... not that you get to see many scenic places..."
He snorted. "No, most military outposts are by no means scenic. Nor are settlements that have been overrun by Gorglons or Maus."
When she grimaced, he shook his head. "Mia, don't fuss about saying the wrong thing with me. I've a very thick skin. And this is a beautiful planet, but the thing you must remember, is this beauty hides deadly traps."
"What? How do you know that? What kind of traps?"
"The Captain is correct," Deuce chimed in helpfully. "Planet Altaria is known for its hidden dangers. We recommend our contestants be extremely cautious while exploring. Each team will also be provided with a complete holomap of known traps."
"Which will do little to no good," Arek replied. "As there are hundreds more traps undiscovered."
"What happened to your 'Team Starry Night, we can do this' attitude?" she muttered.
Arek grinned, in a way that made Mia narrow her eyes at him suspiciously. He knew something he wasn't telling her. Well, he'd better watch out, because the moment they landed she was yanking him into her sleep cubby and demanding he activate that jamming device of his.
And then, she just might demand something else... such as that kiss she'd been waiting for.
She blinked, and forced her mind back to their business. "So, about these traps?"
He sobered. "Right. Deuce?"
"Yes. Altaria was once the home of the Altarians, a race known in this galaxy for their culture and peaceful lifestyle. Unfortunately, they placed little credence on maintaining armed forces to protect themselves. They were invaded centuries ago, and their civilization fell. The survivors fled.'
'Their conquerors were the Narrguhl, a race of beings who prided themselves on their intellect, but from the scientific angle instead of cultural. The Narrguhl had no interest in settling Altaria. Instead, they used it for experimentation of defense systems they might employ on their own, much larger planets.'
"And when they were reprimanded by the ruling council of this galaxy," Arek cut in, "The cold bastards pulled out—and left their quarking defense traps behind. They're still in place. The problem is, they left no records of where their traps are. So they're still in play."
Mia shuddered. "What kind of traps?"
"Psi, physical, mechanical—you name it, they used it. Like I said, they were experimenting."
"They sound like disgusting beings."
He nodded. "Indeed. Intelligent and completely amoral. Hard to find a worse combo. The planet is infamous in this galaxy. Nicknamed 'Farewell', because so many have arrived… but never left."
Mia wrapped her arms about her middle. "And we're supposed to land there?"
To her astonishment, Arek dropped on eye in a slow wink. "Oh, we'll be all right, kitten. Now, Deuce, what about animal life? There may be no humanoids left, but are there predators we need to be wary of?"
"No large animal life," Deuce said. "There are a few colonies of rockrats."
"Rockrats are no trouble," Arek said, correctly interpreting Mia's wide eyes. "Peaceful little creatures. Only danger from them is that they'll chew a hole in your pac to get at food and drink."
Mia wrinkled her nose. "After our last 'rodent' encounter, I'm less than excited to meet more."
Arek chuckled. "Then we'll stay busy searching for the traps, so you don't have time to worry about rodents."
She rolled her eyes and went back to studying the holomap. "Yes, captain, I'll definitely be looking for those traps." Every moment of every hour on planet, in fact.
"Mia," he said, looming at her side. "I'll keep you safe. I swear it."
"Depending on what challenge they toss at us down there," she said. She did not raise her head, but every molecule in her body was attuned to him, so large and warm and strong at her side. So... mate-able.
What? With an inward gasp of horror, Mia sidestepped away from Arek. "I have to... use the lav," she mumbled. No, she just needed some alone time, that was all. And if that involved touching herself while imagining it was he instead, that was her secret.
When she came out long moments later, she cast one hunted look his way, and ducked into the galley. A cold ale was just what she needed.
But as she twisted the top off and took her first drink, he sauntered past the galley, gave her a hooded look, and disappeared into the lav himself.
Mia choked on her ale, and spent the next few moments coughing, bubbles from the fermentation up her nose, and ale sprayed on her flight suit jacket. She held the open bottle in her hand, her desire for it gone. Why had Arek looked at her that way? Did he suspect what she'd been doing—no, of course not. How could he know, and why should he suspect?
She set the ale down and hurried to her sleep cubby, stripping her jacket off on the way. She wore a plain, lii silk tee underneath, just fine for the temperate cabin. And the pale apricot hue was much more flattering than the black jacket. The jacket shoved into the cryo-cleanse unit, she finger-combed her hair, perused her reflection in a holo-mirror. Her face was a bit flushed, but other than that, she assured herself, she looked fine. Normal. Nothing to see here, move along.
And she was certainly more relaxed. She smiled to herself as she sauntered back to the galley to reclaim her drink.
Her smile lasted until he emerged from the lav, a certain look in his eyes and a curve to his chiseled lips that looked very familiar... like looking into a holomirror. Mia choked on her ale again.
Arek brushed past her on his way to the frig unit. His scent was stronger than usual, musky, male and utterly delicious. She wanted to knock him onto the floor and lick him all over.
She frowned at him over the top of her ale bottle as he tipped back his own ale and took a long drink, the strong column of his throat working as he swallowed. He tipped the bottle back down and looked at her. Mia put out the tip of her tongue and licked a stray drop of ale from her lip, then drew her lower lip under her teeth and released it, her gaze locked with his.
His jaw flexed. The air between them thickened, a rope of tension twisting tighter with each breath.
She shifted her weight onto the balls of her feet, ready to spring at him and do something—anything—to slake the hunger building low in her middle. Not for any food or drink, but for him. She might not like his arrogant, bossy ass, but she wanted him more than she could recall ever wanting another male.
"Te-eeeammmm Starry Night!" boomed an obnoxious voice. Holovid Suede Harrington flashed into view in the middle of the cabin, giving them a toothy smile.
Mia jumped, a startled squeak erupting from her throat. Across from her, Arek didn't move, only his gaze turning toward their unexpected guest. Then, over the emcee's shoulder, one of his satellite blondes dipped her head and gave Arek a special smile, and Mia's arousal fled, leaving behind an icy ball of what felt uncomfortably like hurt.
No, it was disgust, that was all. Arek A'Renoq was a typical male, moving from female to female with as little personal regard for them as a rutting catamount.
Straightening her spine, she turned to the emcee and gave Arek her shoulder. "Hello, Suede," she said sweetly. "Great to see you. Are you here to tell us about our next challenge?"
"I certainly am!" the man crowed. Behind him, the blondes jiggled with excitement. Mia's smile had become little more than bared teeth, but she held it, somehow.
"Team Starry Night, here is your next challenge! Your first, as we all know, was 'mouse'. The second challenge is.... 'Cat'" The man chuckled happily, staring at Mia as if he expected her to swoon with delight. Seriously, again with the cat and mouse jokes?
"Sounds like another winner for us, Suede," Arek said over her shoulder. "Tell us more."
When Mia snarled under her breath, his warm hand settled on the small of her back, out of sight of the holocams. A warm weight, reminding her to remain calm. Strangely, it worked. She managed to listen in silence as the emcee recited another short rhyme.
'The kittens are denned, somewhere on Altaria.
Call them out, but don't let them scare ya.
Small and swift, like snowflakes from the sky,
Scatter them quickly, you'll soon know why.'
"Ha, ha!" Suede Harrington lifted one soft, manicured hand in a little wave to them. "Good luck with this challenge, Team Starry Night! See you on Altaria."