Save for Shardae (9 page)

Her eyes flitted again to Zander’s face before swinging back to Raja. No doubt about it. They hadn’t wanted her to ask that question. As chief of security, she had to ask those questions and more if need be -- and judging by the face each man made, the news ranked in the terrible level.

“Tell me.”

Raja removed his glasses and studied her intently. “All right. You’ve been here for the last three days. Mackerel and Pilot Reyes met the medics on the hologram floor. They had to rush you here. When you arrived, your pulse was faint. Your heart rate was dropping so fast…”

“You were dying,” Zander interjected.

She could see anguish in his verdant eyes. How bad it been? How close had she come to dying? Did Zander really care?

“…mild concussion was easy to treat,” Dr. Raja was saying as Shardae tuned back in. “It was what we discovered inside the wound on your scalp that made it really exciting.”

Patches of memories smeared across her mind. She tried again to snag one of them, to bring it forward, make it clearer, but a haze blotted it out.

“What was it?” she asked, not liking the scowl on Zander’s face. “Someone hit me from behind…”

Dr. Raja nodded. “With a blunt instrument. I submitted a report to Commander Ashe and Lieutenant Stein. A toxin on the object ended up in the wound and fed into your bloodstream.”

“Send me a copy of that report,” Shardae muttered around the tightness in her chest.

“’Course,” Dr. Raja replied, “consider it done. The interesting part, Sergeant Simmons, is the toxin was Scarlet Burn.”

Scarlet Burn
.

Scarlet Burn acted as a poison. Originally discovered on Mars, the early colonists believed the bacteria from which Scarlet Burn derived could be helpful in burning out damaging viruses. However IGO scientists quickly learned that Scarlet Burn didn’t eradicate viruses -- it burned out everything. It tore through the body’s natural defenses. In a matter of twenty hours, the host human would die, the human’s brain turned to oatmeal by the Scarlet Burn.

Decades later, most IGO soldiers and personnel had been inoculated against the Scarlet Burn, but the Burn had been manipulated so many times by rogue chemists and amateur drug dealers that the IGO disease control unit began cataloging each strain. At last count, there were more than to two hundred different varieties of the Scarlet Burn bacteria.

She didn’t know which strain she’d been infected with and she didn’t know why.

“Sergeant, there’s more,” Dr. Raja said. “I’ve just received more news.”

Her stomach burned and nausea whirled. “Go on.”

Dr. Raja glanced pointedly at Zander as if to protest his presence when such important information was about to be given. She looked at Zander, too. He was new to the craft. Maybe he had tried to kill her. Could what she’d mistaken for concern in his eyes actually be guilt? She didn’t know, but her gut told her he wouldn’t hurt her -- and if he did, it wouldn’t be sneaky.

The doctor sighed as if he’d made the same mental argument she had and found it exhausting. In the end, the doctor’s enthusiasm spurred him on. “The strand of Scarlet Burn is GB074. It’s exclusively used as a fight deterrent on Titan’s Penal Colony.”

She clenched her teeth. Titan. They didn’t use Scarlet Burn on her craft, but she knew for a fact Omega Team had samples of it. They even transported supplies to Titan Penal Colony. Not that it was impossible to smuggle it off the outpost -- it was very possible. Too darn possible.

“How far out are we from Titan?” she asked Zander.

“Four days, tops.”

Dr. Raja sighed. “Sergeant Simmons, the amount in your wound was enough to kill you. Despite your inoculation and how swiftly Lieutenant Mackerel and Pilot Reyes got you to me, it’s a wonder you’re alive.”

“Yes, Doctor, it is curious, but let’s keep it between us.”

He frowned at her, clearly not liking the idea. “Commander Ashe…”

Shardae’s voice took on that titanium tone she used when people were pissing her off. “I’ll debrief her. Your lips stay sealed.”

“My duty,
Sergeant
, is to ensure the welfare of this entire crew.”

Shardae grinned as she propped herself up higher in the bed, leaning into Dr. Raja’s face. He actually flinched backward. Smirking outright at him, she said, “My duty is to keep the craft safe. Yours is to keep it healthy. Read your fucking handbook. Titan Penal grade Scarlet Burn presents a clear and present danger to the safety of the crew onboard this craft. So, since I’m chief of security, I want to keep this vessel secure. To do that I need you to keep your damn mouth closed.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Dr. Raja answered distastefully. “I see your point; however, my duties are to the IGO. The commander must be made aware of what’s happened.”

“Fine!” Shardae threw off the thin blanket. “I’m done here.” With great effort, she pushed herself off the bed. Her body betrayed her, sending her spiraling into Zander’s outstretched arms.

“Gotcha!” His strong hands held her firm, steadied her from falling to the floor. If only he could keep her heart from its constant fluttering whenever he touched her.

She wrapped her arms around his neck. He scooped her up into his arms. She gave up pretending she didn’t want to touch him. Someone had tried to kill her. It had shaken her. Darryl Snow’s words came back then, echoed in her head and raised more goose flesh.
Trust no one
.

Trust. Could she trust the man holding her? Out of all the people on the craft, no one had tried to harm her until he came onboard. Zander had been on the hologram floor with her! The arms of her attacker were holding her!

In that moment of panic she barked, “Put me down! That’s an order!”

“Yes, ma’am,” he answered automatically. “Anything you want.”

“Anything?” she inquired, her voice croaking in her fear.

Zander relented and put her down long enough to get dressed.

Dr. Raja’s laughter followed them out of medical and onto the lifts. She didn’t like it. It scraped against her ears. Her instincts told her that Zander wouldn’t harm her. His rage at Mack had been genuine. But he could’ve been upset that Mack disrupted the plan he had in motion.

She didn’t honestly believe that. The reason she trusted him couldn’t be put into logic. She trusted him because her heart did.

As the doors of the turbo lift closed, leaving them alone, she tried to wrap her head around the entire situation. She leaned back, breathless against the turbo lift’s wall, her chest heaving. Perspiration had plastered the fine hairs along her forehead to her skin. She didn’t smile at him, but the expression on his face spoke to something feral in his depths that threatened to spill out.

When he’d kissed her a few days ago on the hologram floor, she’d liked it. For a few yummy minutes, she let her control slip. Part of her wanted to do that now. A big part. Could her weakened state have lessened her ironclad hold on her emotions?

“Directions?” the A.I. asked.

“Housing floor A.”

Her eyes met his. She swallowed again. In his eyes, she saw something she hadn’t expected -- desire. It uncoiled from him, washing over her in waves. How could he be aroused by her? She’d been in the infirmary for three days. She must look a mess.

He released a slow, steady breath. He said, “Anything, Sergeant. Just give the order.”

She peered into the lusty depths of his eyes. Limbs weak, hands cold, and her fingertips numb, she trembled from the desire he raised in her. Those chills didn’t all come from the cool air.

Zander took her hands into both of his wide, dry ones. “Cold?”

Not waiting for her answer, he kissed her fingertips, one at a time. Like droplets of warm soothing oil, his kisses spilled more sensual shivers down her spine. “Zander…” she moaned softly.

“Hmmm?” he asked, her index finger still captured between his damn kissable lips.

“Housing Level A,” the A.I. announced.

The doors slid back so fast Shardae didn’t have time to react.

“Ah, good to see you, Sergeant Simmons,” Mack said, his deep, rich voice brimming with amusement.

A sharp gasp escaped her mouth before she jerked her hand away from Zander’s talented lips.

Mack’s eyebrows rose. She hastily plunged her hands into her pockets. He stepped aside to allow them room to exit. “I see you’re better,” he announced, drawing out the word
better
.

She nodded. “Thank you for saving me.”

He shrugged like it was an everyday occurrence. “No problem. Really. It was Reyes’s, uh, enthusiasm that really saved you.” His hand shot out, stopping the doors from closing. “Reyes, take care of her.”

“’Course,” Zander said and reached for her hand.

She let him hold it. She’d chosen Zander, but Mack was her friend. “I don’t need someone to protect me, Mack.”

Mack sighed. “Don’t speak too soon, Shardae.”

Annoyance made her cheeks hot. “What do you mean by that?”

But he’d already drifted further back into the lift’s belly. The doors closed.

“He means you can’t trust anyone,” Zander said.

Those were the same words Darryl had said.
Trust no one
.

Chapter 13

“Identify,” the A.I. ordered as they approached her quarters.

“Sergeant Shardae Simmons.” She noticed he lingered in the corridor, searching. The hairs on her neck rose. The doors opened and she entered. “Zander…” she started, letting go of his hand to hug herself.

“Yes?” He turned her around to face him.

Could he have done it? She needed to know for sure.
Trust no one
. “Leave,” she said. She needed to think.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, surprise on his face. “You’re shaking.” She couldn’t look into the intensity burning in his face, his eyes, and through to her soul. “Talk to me, Shardae.”

“Get out!” she said, breathy. “You attacked me!”

Zander grabbed her wrists to stop her from striking him. “Why? Why would I hurt you?”

She spun, putting her back to him. “Because you’re new. You could have ties to Lee, Rojas… Let. Go. Of. Me!”

He did. But he didn’t leave. “I’m from Omega, remember? Mackerel --”

“There were only the five of us,” she interrupted. Not up to her full strength, it was all she could do to stop the room from its counterclockwise swirl. “Mack would never, ever hurt me.”

“Why?” Zander interjected, voice harsh. “Why
not
him?”

“Because…” She couldn’t bring herself to say it. “Because Mack…”

Zander snatched her by the shoulders so fast, she yelped. His fingers dug into her shoulders. “Because he loves you,” Zander said softly, as if to say it louder would hurt more. “So, if Mackerel loves you, he wouldn’t hurt you. Neither will I.”

She asked the question that scared her. “Why?”

He gazed into her eyes. “You don’t know?” he inquired, a bit of playfulness in his voice.

“No,” she lied. Her heart raced so fast and beat so hard she expected it to burst out of her chest.

“Yeah, you know.” His thumb stroked her skin. “I love you, Shardae. I couldn’t hurt you. You know that in there.” He tapped the spot where her heart was located.

She couldn’t speak. Throat full of tears, she didn’t feel the first light kiss. But Zander made certain the second one hit home.

As his lips pressed more firmly into hers, she closed her eyes and let go. She pressed hard against his chest and wrapped her arms around his neck. He broke the kiss and used his right hand to release his hair. Did he know that she wanted to touch his hair? Snatch it into her hands by the fistful.

He kissed her again. In submission, her lips parted allowing full access to her mouth. And he came in with a furious hunger.

The glimpse of animalistic fervor broke free. He ravaged her mouth, making it his own by nipping at her lips, allowing his tongue to swirl against her teeth. She pressed impatiently against the firmness of his torso and the steel of his desire.

She couldn’t hear over the roar of her adrenaline-soaked blood. But his mouth had released her lips. They stung from the fierceness of his kiss. It was like he wanted to infuse himself into her very cell structure. Now, he dropped kisses along the sensitive spot at the base of her neck. She arched in pleasure. Her body begged for what her mouth seemed unable to say.
More
.

Zander disabled her control, piece by piece, kiss by kiss.

* * *

Shardae’s fingers wound in his hair, lost in the tangles she created, like her love had become entwined around his heart. He teased the small of her back, his fingers snaking beneath the tank top. Smooth flesh glided beneath his fingertips. Tattooing circles and loops across her skin, Zander liked how she squirmed in response to his manipulations. She wiggled against his cock, making him sigh in response. So hard, he could put a hole through the wall of her outer room. It ached for release.

“That’s so nice,” she moaned from deep in her throat.

His fingers traced the waistband of her pants until they reached her waist. Placing his palms flat against her warm skin, he felt her shudder at his touch. His hands swept up her sides. He spread them to her shoulders.

“Zander,” she breathed. Her hold on his hair tightened.

Now, he would have her. In the wake of her words, her sweet sighs raised chills on his chest that chased down his spine, directly to his extremely ready rod.

She yanked his hair again, harder. He groaned at the flash of heat and pain, but it faded fast in the face of his desire. “I like the way you pull my hair,” he confessed in one shuddering breath. “You make me wild, Shardae.”

He’d been so ready for so long, his cock hurt in need. So eager to enter her heaven, he could feel it weep into his briefs. But he resigned himself to taking his time, savoring her. He didn’t want to rush any of this.

So, he rubbed her back in slow, streamlined strokes. She moaned in pleasure. She unzipped his jacket, her bottom lip caught between her teeth. Damn, she made all his nerves ignite. That look, so innocent, naughty, and sexy all melded into one lustful woman, caused him to grunt from the visual impact. Then his reasonable mind chimed in.