Kiss of Eon: Eon Warriors #4 Page 5

  But it didn’t stop the need curling inside her, her cheeks going hot.

  Screw this.

  Swiveling, she followed him out the door.

  It led to a washroom area and she heard a shower running. Oh, God. Now she was imagining all those muscles bare, water running over his bronze skin. Wet hair stuck to his scalp, and water sluicing down those hard pecs, over his ridged stomach, and then down to his—

  Allie pressed her forehead to the wall. Get a grip, Allie.

  She never lost her mind over a guy. She liked to keep things pleasant, fun, casual. It was all she had time for with her demanding job. Losing yourself to one person handed them the power to hurt you. She’d seen that up close and personal. A broken heart had driven Drew to the unthinkable. His girlfriend had left him, telling him he wasn’t worth the effort, and it had shattered her brother. Allie would never let anyone close enough to mess her up.

  But this churning need… It was intense and distracting as hell.

  Suddenly, the shower shut off.

  Walk away, Allie.

  But instead, she stepped into the changing area. There were neat rows of lockers against the walls, and the shower room was off to one side.

  And framed in the doorway was Brack, with a drying cloth slung around his hips.

  Oh, boy. The cloth stuck to his wet skin. His chest and abs were bare, and he was cut. There was no fat on his body. She wanted to lick him all over. Instantly, she felt a rush of damp between her thighs.

  He hadn’t noticed her, and he moved toward the lockers. He pressed his hands to the lockers, his head dropping forward. The drying cloth dropped dangerously low on his lean hips, and he groaned like he was in pain.

  Then he lowered a hand and nudged the cloth aside. Oh, God. Allie froze. She knew she should leave. She should tell him she was there.

  She was such a stalker. She couldn’t look away. He was in profile to her, and her greedy eyes drank in the slope of his back, his lean flank, and, as the cloth fell completely to the ground, she saw his firm ass, and the shape of a long, thick cock.

  Oh, sweet Jesus. She swallowed a very un-captain-like moan.

  He still didn’t notice her, and she watched as one big hand took hold of his cock, circling the thick girth. She sucked in a hot breath.

  Then he started to pump it, and a groan ripped from him again.

  Damn, he was magnificent.

  “Allie,” he growled.

  She jumped, then realized he still hadn’t noticed her. Her body trembled. She took a step closer and his head flew up. Blue-black eyes met hers.

  He stilled, but didn’t look away, and didn’t release his cock.

  Allie swallowed. They stared at each other for a long, humming moment.

  Then he pumped his cock again.

  She sucked in a breath, her gaze dropping to his hand. She couldn’t look away. Her body was alive with sensation.

  “Keep going.” Her voice was husky.

  “You like watching me, Captain?”

  “Yes.”

  He canted his hips, turning more so she had a clear view of that proud cock jutting up toward his hard stomach. She licked her lips and pressed her thighs together.

  “You are so damn arrogant,” she said.

  “When you can back it up, it’s confidence.”

  She fought back a laugh. Jeez, when was the last time she’d laughed when a naked man was in front of her, working his very hard, very erect cock? Never.

  Brack’s strokes got faster, more brutal. A flash of angry color appeared along his cheekbones. She watched his chest rise and fall, quicker and quicker.

  And then she couldn’t stop herself. She crossed the space, moving up beside him. She closed her hands around his on his cock. Together, they stroked him.

  “Cren.” His head dropped back.

  They pumped him together, and Allie leaned forward, pressing her mouth to one of his nipples. She raked her teeth over it, and a rough sound rumbled out of him.

  Allie’s hands became slippery with pre-come.

  “Harder.” His voice was a growl.

  She obeyed, and his cock pulsed in her hands.

  “So good,” he groaned.

  Allie sped up her movements and his hips started jerking. She watched the muscles in his stomach strain tight.

  He slid a hand into her hair. “Allie.”

  “Let me see you come, Brack.”

  With a deep growl, he spilled. She worked him through his climax, watching as his come spilled onto her hand and dripped onto the floor between them.

  His chest was heaving. Then he stepped back abruptly.

  She looked up and watched his face go blank. She frowned. He scooped up the drying cloth off the floor and wrapped it around his hips.

  He cleared his throat. “That was…”

  “Hot,” she answered.

  Brack looked away.

  Her frown deepened. He wasn’t shy, so what was this?

  “I can’t do this, Allie.”

  “Share my bunk for a bit? Trade great orgasms?”

  He shook his head. “It never stays that way. Women always want more.”

  “Are you a catch, Second Commander? The ladies always trying to tie you down?”

  A muscle ticked in his jaw.

  “Look,” she said. “I don’t want anything serious either—”

  “Let’s just cool things off.” His voice was sharp, final.

  Wow, those few words hurt more than they should have. “If you don’t want me—”

  “It’s obvious I do, but attractive women are easy to find.”

  Ouch. That helped to cool her blood. “I’m just another pretty face?”

  He looked at her. “I can’t afford to mess up this alliance. Not for something that just isn’t worth it.”

  Direct hit. “Not worth it. Right.” She stiffened, her mind sliding to the past, to her brother. Fuck this. She set her shoulders back.

  He frowned, studying her face. Something worked through his eyes. He muttered a curse. “Allie, I didn’t mean—”

  “No, it’s okay.” Allie just wanted to beat a fast retreat. She backed up toward the door. “I don’t need the entanglement either. I’ll see you around, Second Commander.”

  “Allie—”

  She ignored him and headed out the door.

  Chapter Six

  The next morning, Brack made his way to the meeting room. As he navigated the corridors, he called himself a few select names.

  Cren, he’d messed up. He should never have crossed the line with Allie. He’d spent half the night reliving having her hands on him, stroking him. He rubbed his hand over his face. He’d spent the other half of the night remembering the way she’d shut down when he’d said it wasn’t worth it.

  He hadn’t meant her—he had no doubt they’d be incendiary together—he’d meant relationships in general. They never worked. They either imploded, or were a torturous charade like what his parents shared.

  When he entered the meeting room, he found she was already there. She looked up, her gaze cool like she was greeting a stranger. Brack felt the chill to his bones.

  “Good morning,” he said.

  “Morning.”

  He wanted her to smile, but there was no emotion on her face.

  “Where are the others?” she asked.

  “I sent them out on some tasks.”

  Allie cocked her head. “Why?”

  “Wren sent through something on the security footage.”

  Allie tapped her fingers against the table. “She found something.”

  He moved up beside her and her scent hit him. Fresh. She always smelled fresh. He touched the light table and pulled up the footage Wren had sent. It showed a maintenance conduit in the docking bay. The beginning of the footage showed day-to-day operations that passed the conduit.

  Then, a figure appeared, sidling inside.

  “How did this get missed?” she asked.

  “The footage was tamper
ed with. Someone had enough skill and knowledge to mess with the security cameras.”

  From the height and way the figure moved, it was a man, and he kept his back to the camera. They watched him crouch, planting something right where the explosion had occurred.

  “Fuck a duck.” Allie sounded pissed.

  The man was wearing a Space Corps uniform.

  Then he turned and the image froze, giving a clear view of the young man’s face.

  Allie hissed. “He’s one of my engineers.”

  “Name?”

  “Erick Sharma. He’s a good kid, Brack, and good at his job. I can’t see him doing this.” She frowned, her fingers tapping a beat on the table. “On our way here, we were hit by some alien lifeforms. Ate through the hull.”

  Brack frowned. “The reason you had blood on your uniform.”

  She nodded. “One got inside and attached to Sharma’s face for a few seconds before we got it off him.”

  “You think it…altered him?”

  “Maybe.”

  “There’s always more to people than you think,” Brack said quietly.

  “Dammit.” She smacked the table. “I don’t want him to be a traitor.” She blew out a breath. “Let’s find him and ask.”

  They walked in silence toward the docking bay.

  “Allie, about last night—”

  “It’s forgotten, Second Commander.” Her voice told him she had more important things to deal with.

  Brack frowned. He didn’t really like that it was so easy for her to forget. His helian pulsed, no doubt sensing his confused emotions.

  They reached the docking bay, and moved through the docking port into the Divergent.

  Allie powered down a corridor. “I don’t want to summon him on the comm and get his back up. He should be in Engineering.”

  Brack nodded, taking the time to look around the Divergent. Quarters were a lot tighter than on the Desteron, but she was well built.

  They reached Engineering and Brack heard the low hum of equipment. A grizzled, older man rose from an open console, tools and parts littered around him. He wiped his grease-stained hands on a rag. “Captain.”

  “McNamara, you know Second Commander Thann-Felis.”

  The man grunted. “Yes. Although, you warriors all look alike. Hard to tell you apart.”

  Brack dipped his head. “Chief McNamara.”

  “We need to talk to Ensign Sharma,” Allie said.

  The chief engineer frowned. “He’s not here. Sent him back to his cabin because he said he wasn’t feeling well.”

  Brack frowned. He had a bad feeling about this. From the look on Allie’s face, she did too.

  She headed for the door. “Follow me. Crew quarters aren’t too far from here.”

  In the corridor, she picked up the pace. Brack lengthened his stride as they hurried toward the crew quarters. They entered a well-lit lift and were whizzed upward.

  On the next deck, Allie stopped in front of a door and banged her fists against it. “Sharma, it’s Captain Borden. Open up.”

  Silence.

  Her lips flattened into a firm line. She called out again, waited a beat, then pressed her palm to the electronic lock.

  The door slid open and they stepped into the cabin. It wasn’t big. The bed looked neatly made, and there were no clothes lying around. There was a comp screen on the desk, and beside it, a framed picture of a young, brown-skinned man surrounded by a large, smiling family.

  Allie strode to the washroom, then shook her head. “Empty. Damn.”

  “Let’s split up,” Brack said. “See if we can track him down. He can’t have gone far.”

  She nodded. “I’ll search the Divergent.”

  “And I’ll check to see if he crossed over to the Desteron.”

  Worry gleamed in her eyes. “Call me if you find him.”

  * * *

  Allie stormed into her office, annoyed and frustrated.

  Could Sharma really be a traitor? He was young and dedicated. She shoved a hand through her hair, messing up her braid. She’d checked his file. He was the first of his family to be accepted into Space Corps, he was proud of the fact.

  She dropped into her chair, and even seeing the line of colored origami figures in the shape of Star Wars characters on her desk didn’t ease her mood.

  She touched her comms badge. “Jamie, my office.”

  A moment later, Jamie stepped inside. “You sound like you’re in a foul mood.”

  “I need you to search the ship for Ensign Sharma.”

  “From Engineering?” Jamie frowned. “What’s going on?”

  “Thann-Felis had the security footage enhanced. It shows that Sharma was responsible for the docking bay explosion.”

  “Fuck.” Jamie looked at her boots, her mouth a flat line. Then she looked up, her brown eyes looking almost black. “Don’t worry, I’ll find him.”

  As the space marine strode out, Allie moved toward the window. She’d spent plenty of time in this spot, staring out at space and the stars, thinking, worrying, strategizing.

  Now, her mind was too churned up for her to think. Screw it. She was going to help with the search.

  She touched her comm badge. “Jamie, give me somewhere to search.”

  “Cargo bay.”

  “I’m on it.”

  As she stepped into the large, empty cargo bay, she tried to focus on Sharma, but instead, she found herself thinking about a certain hot, asshole warrior.

  Dammit. She was not going to think about him.

  But she was, anyway. So, she was really attracted to him, and—against her better judgment—she was starting to like him as well.

  She said I’m not enough. My life isn’t worth it. I’m not important.

  Drew had left a note before he’d shot himself with his Space Corps blaster. The words her twin had written were etched into Allie’s head. He’d been so loved, and they’d been connected from birth. They’d made plans and had dreams.

  But a love affair gone wrong had left him feeling worthless. Air shuddered out of Allie. Somehow, her happy-go-lucky brother had let a broken heart affect him so much, he couldn’t see all the good in his life. She blamed herself for not seeing how much he was struggling.

  She straightened. Now, she was living her life for both of them. She had no time for anyone who didn’t want to be with her. And she definitely was sticking to her “no serious relationships” rule.

  She heard a noise. Something falling to the metal floor. Her pulse leaped, and she froze for a second.

  Allie’s hand slid to the blaster holstered at her hip and she circled a stack of storage boxes. She needed to get her mind off her personal life and onto finding Sharma. She needed answers. This alliance with the Eon had to work, or the Kantos would annihilate Earth.

  Not spotting anything, she moved deeper into the back corner of the cargo bay. She flicked the catch off her blaster.

  There was no one here.

  A body flew out of the shadows and hit her. She grunted at the impact, and they smacked into the floor. She rolled, wrestling with her attacker.

  He got on top of her, and she saw Sharma’s face. He clutched a tool in his hand and swung it down at her head.

  She dodged to the side, the metal tool clanking against the floor. She rammed her hand into his arm. He cried out and the tool dropped to the floor with a rattle. She bucked her hips upward.

  Sharma’s face twisted. He made an enraged sound and tried to pin her.

  “Sharma, stop—”

  His knee drove into her gut and Allie hissed out a painful breath. They rolled across the floor, and she tried to pin him down. He was so damn strong. She gritted her teeth, straining against him. She had trained with all her crew, and she knew that he hadn’t been this strong in training.

  They rolled again, and he managed to get on top of her, straddling her body. He clamped his hands around her throat.

  Fuck. She kicked her feet, trying to buck him off her again. His fa
ce was devoid of any emotion as he started to choke her.

  Allie tried to breathe, her boots hammering into the floor. The sound echoed through the cargo bay.

  Dark blotches started to dance in front of her eyes, and her lungs felt as though they were on fire. She couldn’t breathe.

  No, dammit. She wasn’t going to die like this.

  Suddenly, Sharma’s weight was gone, his body wrenched off her.

  Gasping for air, Allie sat up and saw Brack, wearing his black-scale armor, throwing Sharma to the floor.

  Brack swiveled and advanced on the man.

  “Brack…” Her voice was barely a croak.

  She pushed to her feet, dizziness hitting her. She heard Sharma shout and launch at the warrior.

  Brack kicked him. Hard.

  The young engineer doubled over with a groan. She was sure he’d go down, but then he straightened, tensed, and attacked again.

  Brack kicked him again, sending the young man flying into a stack of storage crates.

  “Brack,” Allie said.

  This time he heard her. His head swiveled and blue-black eyes met hers. They were turbulent, the blue strands glowing.

  “He’s…” She coughed. “There’s something wrong with him.” Suddenly, her knees turned to spaghetti and she started to collapse.

  Somehow, Brack crossed the room in a blur of speed and caught her before she hit the floor.

  “Damn,” she muttered.

  “What?”

  “I’ve never done this before, but I’m going to pass out.” Her hands tightened on Brack’s arms.

  He gave her a tiny smile. “You’re going to faint.”

  “No, fainting is completely different.”

  “Really?”

  Allie tried to fight it, even as her head went fuzzy. “Totally.”

  His voice softened. “I’ve got you, Allie.”

  For the first time in a long time, she trusted someone to keep her safe. Then, the blackness dragged her under.

  Chapter Seven

  Brack stood to the side in Medical on the Desteron, watching as Aydin assessed Allie.

  Her crew had wanted to treat her aboard the Divergent, but he’d insisted on bringing her back to the Desteron. No one had dared argue with him.