Alien Heart (2 page)

He proved it by dropping her to the floor—after he sealed the escape hatch and placed himself in front of it.

“Why did you bargain for me?”

He studied her, his jewel green eyes intense. Her heart pounded for a different reason, and the heat coiling through her screamed danger. She could
not
be attracted to an alien. She just—couldn’t.

“I have need of a competent technician. One who has, how did you say it? A way with anything mechanical.” He raised his hand when she opened her mouth. “You will be free to go once your bond is paid. Whatever you may think of my people, we do not capture and torture innocents.”

Anji blushed, embarrassed at having her words thrown back at her. He lowered his hand and stepped to her, obviously trying to appear as unthreatening as possible. Not easy, considering he towered over her.

“Will you come with me?” His deep, quiet voice was warm this time, his eyes almost gentle as they met hers.

“I can leave, the minute my bond is paid?” He nodded. “I do know, to the minute, how much longer I have until I’m free.”

A smile tugged at his full lips. “I never doubted it.”

Oh, God—she was actually considering his proposal. “I want it in writing. Before we leave this ship. And I keep the agreement.”

“Done.” He gestured. “Shall we tell your former employer that he is officially off my list?”

“I don’t—ˮ she cleared her throat, nerves kicking in. Right—now they kick in, after she agreed to this craziness. “I don’t know your name.”

“The lack affects us both.”

“Oh. I’m Anji—Anji Pearce.”

“Anji.” She shivered when he said her name. It came out Aunji, the A long and soft. God, she was in trouble. Big trouble. “I am Kiele Suun, Commander of the battleship
Watersong
.”

Anji’s first look
at the alien ship stopped her in her tracks.

She had seen vids, and holos, but nothing prepared her for the beauty, the absolute symmetry, of the real thing.

The walls around her looked like waves, frozen just before they crashed, graceful and curving, with a luminous quality that made them feel transparent, even though they were as solid as the floor under her feet.

Kiele’s hand touched the small of her back and she jumped. Just having him stand next to her left her hot and needy—when he touched her like that, she wanted to throw herself at him, feel that erection pressed against her—

Stop it.

“I will take you to your quarters, Anji.” Amusement wove through his deep voice, and she shivered again at the sound of her name. “You must be hungry. My cook knows several human dishes, and I will have him prepare a meal for you.”

“I—thank you.” He had a cook. Captain Johnson believed that dry, tasteless protein bars were all that he was required to provide. They had taken off from the station where he bought her bond before she realized she had to bring any other kind of food. She had been living on those disgusting bars for weeks now. Her stomach rumbled in anticipation, and she smiled. “My stomach also thanks you.”

His fingers spread across her back and she forgot about her stomach. “I would like to join you for the meal, if that will not make you uncomfortable.”

Uncomfortable was not the word for what she’d feel. “Okay.”

Masochist.

The stopped in front of a door and Kiele passed his hand over a glowing circle. The door opened, into a room three times the size of her previous quarters. She wanted to cry when she saw the bed. A real bed, tucked into the corner and firmly bolted to the wall.

“This will be suitable?”

“More than suitable. Thank you, again.” She lifted her head, met those jewel green eyes. “I have a feeling I’ll be thanking you a lot before we’re done. Captain Johnson didn’t exactly provide—luxurious accommodations for his crew.”

“He is a disgrace to the rank of captain.”

“Seriously—tell me how you really feel.”

Laughter burst out of him. That same warm, rumbling laughter she remembered. The sound of it shot heat straight to her core.

“I find myself liking you, Anji Pearce.” His amusement faded. “Despite my agreement to keep myself distant.”

She swallowed, unable to tear herself away from his intense gaze. “I find myself liking you, Kiele. Despite the whole alien thing.”

Some of the intensity eased, a smile crossing his angular face. “I look forward to sharing a meal with you. Talking more with you.”

Talking. Right. She had to stop imagining what was under his uniform, if the rest of his skin was as smooth and tanned as his hands—

“Anji?”

“Here. I’m just—tired, I guess. Captain Johnson kept me busy most of the time, trying to keep his poor excuse for an engine from blowing itself up.”

“Sleep, then.” His voice caressed her, low and quiet. “There is a comm beside your bed. Press any button and I will be alerted immediately. We can wait on the meal—ˮ

“No. I think I’ll sleep better if I eat first. At least, that’s what my stomach is demanding.”

With a nod, Kiele headed for the door. “Captain Johnson will be sending over your belongings. I have arranged for a simple wardrobe, until we can determine what you will need. It is in the closet, next to the bathing room. You have time to clean yourself up if you would prefer to eat without grease on your hands. And other places.”

Anji’s hand flew up to her face, which was probably streaked in more than one place. Another blush heated her cheeks. “Thanks. Again.”

She watched him leave, waited for the door to close behind him before she dashed over to the door next to the bathing room and touched the glowing button next to it. Her jaw dropped when the door slid open, revealing what Kiele considered a simple wardrobe. The girly girl she buried in favor of sensible clothes for her job burst out. She started to touch the silky, shimmering fabric, and halted when her grease stained hand reminded her that she needed a long shower before she even thought of touching.

The bathing room was another jaw-dropping revelation. She understood now why Kiele referred to it as a bathing room; a huge, clear glass tub stood in the middle of the tiled floor.  Anji walked around the tub, and found a shower behind it, stretching across the back wall. A water shower.

“Oh, God.”

She started tearing off her clothes, drooling at the thought of a hot, real water shower. The last time she experienced a water shower was two stations and one ship ago. The mist/air-dry cubes became the norm for stations conserving water, and required on ships with more than a certain number of crew. Water weighed too much, took too much space, and the recycling equipment required was expensive.

A bin stood next to the closet, and she dumped her clothes there, not wanting to stain the beautiful blue tile. She set her boots next to the door, set the lock—like Kiele couldn’t override it—and padded naked to the bathing room, unbraiding her hair. After a minute inspecting all the panels, she got the water turned on, and the temperature where she wanted. Then she stepped under the spray and let out a sigh as the warm water hit her skin.

She stood there for several minutes, just soaking in the moisture, enjoying the feel of water on her skin. There were dispensers for several types of shampoo and detangler. Anji went by scent, since her fine, straight hair wasn’t picky, and chose a soft lavender with a wisp of ocean. It seemed all of the scents had that back note. Considering the source, that shouldn’t surprise her.

With her hair in a topknot, she moved to the soap dispensers, and found one that smelled like how she thought ocean air would smell—clean and fresh. If it lingered, it wouldn’t clash with the detangler. She was halfway down her torso when she realized she was primping herself.

“Oh, God,” she whispered, staring at the shower wall. A nice room, clothes, food prepared for her. She was being seduced—there was no way in hell that Kiele was doing this because she was his new employee and he wanted to impress her. Heat flushed through her at the thought, and her nipples tightened when she thought of him touching her. Really touching her. “You idiot.”

She was attracted to him.

Quickly finishing her scrub down, she rinsed off, squeezed the excess water out of her hair and braided it, wrapping the braid in a tight knot, and dried herself with one of the plush towels. She found a soft robe of the same fabric, plus a set of pajamas with long sleeves, a high neckline, and plenty of buttons.

She managed to cover herself from neck to ankle and sit in the body hugging chair next to the bed just before Kiele returned, carrying a large tray. The scent of hot food wafted across the room, and her mouth watered.

“Your shower was satisfactory?”

“More than satisfactory. Thank you—” She shook her head. “I should create a holo and just flash it every time you walk in.”

“I am pleased.”

She tilted her chin, feeling relaxed, playful. “Only pleased?”

Heat flashed in his green eyes—reminding her she walked on dangerous ground.

“More than pleased,
t’anling
.”

“You called me that before. What does it mean?”

Kiele set the tray on the table, then moved to her and held out his hand. Swallowing, Anji took it, let him pull her to her feet and lead her to one of the two curving chairs on either side of the table. He helped her sit, and finally let go of her hand to sit in the other chair.

“T’An translates to heart of the ocean—a loose translation, but the closest I can find in your limited language.” He started dishing up what looked like beef stew, his gaze focused on his hands. “
T’anling
means soft heart. It is an endearment.”

Heat flushed through her again. Damn, she was beyond trouble, and too close to throwing herself at him territory.

Lust. It was only lust—perfectly normal with a man as beautiful as Kiele. Love wasn’t even on the table—not with an alien, and definitely not with her. She’d taken enough emotional blows to last a lifetime.

She tried to distract herself by focusing on the food. “Is that beef stew?”

“A favorite of my chef. We are not accustomed to land animals—it is difficult to transport a cow under water.” Anji laughed, relaxing. His deep, quiet voice helped, and the fact that he wasn’t looking at her with those mesmerizing eyes. “But some of my people have taken well to beef, and other meats. I am not one of them. The other pot is fish stew.”

“I’d like to try it.”

He looked over at her, clearly surprised. “I would enjoy sharing it with you.”

They ate, Kiele telling her between bites what he expected of her as his employee. Most of it was rote—until he got to the bit about dinner. Together. Every night.

“Why?”

“I enjoy your company, Anji.” She fought the shiver at her name. Damn, why did he have to make it sound like a caress? “But if it makes you uncomfortable, I will not demand it of you.”

“No—it’s okay.” Panic at not seeing him confused her as much as her unwanted attraction to him. She fumbled with the belt on her robe, sweat sliding down her back under the stifling weight. “Not as cold as I thought,” she muttered, shrugging out of the robe.

Her fingers fumbled over the buttons on her pajamas. She froze when Kiele stood.

“Please, allow me.” He waited for her to nod, then unbuttoned enough for her to breathe. She jerked when his fingers brushed her bare skin; he swallowed, but instead of retreating, his cool fingers slid up her throat and cradled the back of her neck. “So warm,” he whispered. “I cannot—”

He captured her lips in a kiss that shot heat straight through her.

Anji whimpered—God, she didn’t whimper, but this man, this alien, left her feeling vulnerable, helpless under the assault on her lips. His free hand spread across her back, and before she understood what he was about to do he hauled her up against his chest, his lips threatening to devour her.

She moaned when his tongue slid against hers. The unfamiliar, rough surface left her skin tingling, her body straining to get closer to him. He was cool, and it felt so good on her hot skin. He felt so good.

She wrapped both arms around his neck, surprised by the smooth scales under her hands. It was his turn to moan when her fingers followed the line of scales under his loose shirt, down his spine. His hand curved over her ass and pressed her against his rock hard erection. His huge, rock hard erection.

Reality clawed through the haze of straight up arousal, reminding her that she had herself practically wrapped around an alien. She let out a gasp and jerked free of his kiss. Those intense, jewel green eyes, dark with lust, made her want to dive right back in, alien or not.

“I—can’t.” She unwrapped her arms and pushed at his chest. His defined, muscular chest. “I’m sorry.”

“Please forgive me, Anji.” He lowered her to the floor and backed away. Distance didn’t help; she still felt him, still wanted him. “I will leave you to sleep.”

He strode to the door, his hands clenched into fists.

“Kiele.” He halted, and she moved to him, hating that he took all the blame for this. “You weren’t the only one enjoying—well, all of it. I just got a little—freaked out, remembering—”

“What I am.”

“Not only that.” The end of her braid tickled her cheek. She reached up and unwound her tilting bun, letting the length drape over her shoulder. Kiele watched every move, his gaze lingering on her braid. “I’m your employee, your human employee. I don’t want to alienate everyone else on the ship before my first full day. I really don’t want to put you in a position where you have to decide between them and me.”

“As I am their commander, any decision I make will be followed. You need not concern yourself, Anji. I would not be the first of my crew to share relations with a human. It is not forbidden, not on my ship.” The tone of his voice told her what he thought of other ships not sharing his viewpoint. “You know already I am drawn to you, and I believe you have some attraction to me.”

A blush heated her cheeks, and she wanted to strip off her pajamas, right before she climbed on top of him—

God, she needed another shower. A cold shower this time.

“Kiele—”

“I will wait for you,
t’anling
.” He cradled her cheek, leaned down to kiss her forehead. Desire shot through her, left her hot and aching. He turned it up to needy when his thumb brushed over her scar. No man had ever touched it—most pretended it wasn’t there, and if they did notice it, treated her like she had a disease. God help her, why did the first man who made her feel like this have to be a different species? “Sleep, now. I will have my head engineer show you around in the morning.”

Before she could dislodge the lump in her throat he was gone.

***

An older, unfriendly
version of Kiele waited outside Anji’s room the next morning.

“I am Orlen. You will address me as sir.”