Read Jessica E. Subject BUNDLE (Intergalactic Heat) Online
Authors: Jessica E. Subject
Jessica E. Subject BUNDLE (Intergalactic Heat) (21 page)
She slipped off his lap, and kneeled in front of him. As she fondled his balls, she sank her mouth over his shaft. He groaned. It felt so good, he forgot what they’d been talking about.
Chapter Four
Paige sank into one of the chairs beyond customs at McCarron International Airport in Las Vegas. Back row, third from the left, her usual, and—thank goodness—unoccupied seat. From there, she had the perfect vantage point to see everyone coming and going. Reaching inside her shoulder bag for her tablet, she sighed. Another “no” to the Space Service, leading to another rejection report, one that should have been prevented before she even arrived in Las Vegas. Her prospective recruit, Claire Donovan, had answered the door, a newborn baby in her arms. Her handler should never have sent her to visit the woman. Now, she’d have another rejection on her record. Was the person feeding her information slacking, or trying to get her fired? She wanted to leave the Space Service, but not as a result of someone else’s inefficiencies. She was too professional to allow someone to take her down, or to try to break her contract. The contact was why she’d had to say good-bye to Jared after the hockey game and their forever-memorable elevator ride down to the parking garage.
As soon as she’d driven away from him at the stadium, the void of loneliness had swallowed her. Such was the life she’d signed up for. No, she’d signed up with her husband, and he’d left her lonely and bound by a contract that left her no time to find someone else who might love her. Jared could have been that guy, if she’d had the chance to find out.
Opening the report document, she cursed her ex and her contact. It was all she could do to remain seated rather than leaving the airport and the Space Service forever. Where would that get her? Her employer had access to technology that would lead them straight to her no matter where she went. No, she was destined to be alone for the rest of her life, her only chance of a connection to any man through a one-night stand.
Her tablet beeped, indicating an incoming video call. The link, her handler. She’d never seen the person face-to-face, never knew if she’d had the same one from the beginning. With a deep breath, she prepared to give him or her a piece of her mind.
Grabbing her bag, she stood, already in search of a secluded spot to have the upcoming conversation. Rage boiled from deep within her, and she didn’t need to be revealing secrets kept from the world in anger. In a corner away from the hustle and bustle, she hit connect.
Her ex-husband’s face flashed onto the screen.
“Zane?”
What the hell?
He was the last person she wanted to see. Realization dawned on her. Her ex was the idiotic person trying to ruin her career.
“Hello, Paige. How did your recent recruiting assignment go?” His toothy grin, even on screen, made her skin crawl.
“You asshole. You know damn well how it went.” Her knuckles grew white as she gripped the screen. He’d sent her to recruits guaranteed to reject her offer. Why? “Care to tell me why you’ve been feeding me misinformation?”
He raised an eyebrow. “Simple. I want you out of the Space Service. My Draseda is young and vibrant, and eager to take your position.”
So that was her replacement’s name. An alien as a recruiter? Yeah, right. But she’d never admit how much she wanted to leave her career behind. Not to him. “I signed a contract. And how is that possible? You’re both on the space station.”
“Oh, Paige, you’ve really been kept in the dark.”
His chuckle grated on her nerves. What was he talking about?
“My dear ex-wife, I’ve been back for months. I’m not going to tell you how, as you don’t have the clearance. I’ve been your handler for that long, too.”
Around the same time she’d received her first rejection. Damn. Wouldn’t that look suspicious to the Space Service? They knew the two of them had been married. “Yes, but the contract?”
“I can get you out of it.”
Her heart skipped a beat. Had she heard his whispered words correctly? “You what?”
“I said, I can make the contract null and void. I kept hoping you would do so yourself, get pregnant by one of the young studs you kept recruiting before I became your contact. I mean, I can’t see why they wouldn’t be interested in a fox like you. Isn’t your biological clock ticking? Or are you that dedicated to your job?”
God, what had she ever seen in that man? Had he always been such an insensitive ass? With a deep breath, she reined in her anger. It would do her no good to explode on him. Not when he held her chance for freedom. “How?”
“You leave that up to me. All you have to do is give me the word.”
“And where will that leave me?” No matter what, there would be repercussions from her leaving the Space Service. If it were that easy, she would have walked away as soon as her marriage had ended.
“Your house, vehicle, and all communication systems will revert back to Space Service property. Your belongings will be placed in a storage locker, and an agent will meet you at Dulles with the key and to collect your tablet. Your salary for the rest of the year, as well as the agreed upon severance stated in your contract will be deposited in your bank account. Then you’re on your own.”
It all sounded too good to be true. Sure, she’d be homeless and without a job. Her bank account could handle that. There had to be something else, some other obstacle she couldn’t think of. “What’s the catch?”
“You never worked for the Space Service. You’ve been out of work for fifteen years.”
Yes, that would be tough to explain.
“Say the word, Paige.”
She drummed her fingers against the bottom of the tablet. If she ever met a man like Jared again, she wouldn’t have to leave him behind. She’d be able to have a relationship. Was it worth giving up the last fifteen years? She drew in a deep breath. “Yes, Zane, I want out.”
“Done. It was nice knowing you.”
The screen went blank. She pressed the power button, but the tablet would not work.
Oh God, what have I done? Where am I going to go?
She should have asked for more time to decide. Without her tablet, life as she knew it had ended. She was free, but completely alone in the world.
***
Jared jerked back on his lead foot. As anxious as he was to get home, he didn’t need to get a speeding ticket. Not only were Mrs. Collins and the kids waiting for him, he also had an interview with a possible housekeeper in five minutes.
He hadn’t planned on allowing another person into his fold, but his niece and nephew kept him on the move. When he finally got them into bed at night, he wanted to relax, not have to worry about vacuuming, and laundry. Mrs. Collins had convinced him to place a classified ad in the paper, but only one person had responded. The woman wasn’t even qualified; her experience keeping her own home clean.
From his short conversation with her, there’d been something familiar, something telling him to give her a chance. He hoped he wouldn’t live to regret following Mrs. Collins’s advice again.
The woman meant well. But after his one-night stand experience, his nights had been lonelier than ever. He longed to have someone to share his bed with and his love. No, not just anyone. Paige. He couldn’t get her out of his mind, though he knew he would never see her again. She haunted him, came to him in dreams during which he relived every erotic moment of their time together, from her mouth gliding down the length of his cock as the crowd cheered, to her screams as she experienced orgasm during their elevator ride. His wrist always got a workout before he fell asleep. And now, as he steered into his driveway, his cock strained inside his pants, yearning for release. What a way to meet a prospective employee.
She stood on his porch, her back to him, hand lifted to ring the doorbell. He gazed upon the soft curves of her body, her long, wavy brown hair. So memorable, even without the black suit or the skimpy red dress. Impossible. She’d said her life belonged to the Space Service. Why would she be on his doorstep? And the woman on the phone had said her name was Piper. Was he hanging on to a false hope?
Only one way to find out.
He yanked the car door open and bounded up behind her. “Can I help you?”
She spun around to face him, a grin spreading across her lips.
He gasped. No, it can’t be her.
“Hello, Jared.” His name rolled off her tongue, sounding sexier than any woman who’d tried to pick him up as a Marine.
“Paige? You’re here?” Or was his imagination playing tricks on him?
She reached up and stroked the side of his face, her simple touch fanning the fire deep within him. God, how he’d missed her. “Is this another recruiting visit, because you know I’ll never join the Space Service. I’m responsible for two active preschoolers.”
“Space Service, what’s that?” She stared at him as if she had no idea what he was talking about. “No, I’m here for the housekeeping position. And I’ve always wanted to have children of my own. Maybe one day.”
“You’re a housekeeper now? I thought—”
“I’ve been out of work for fifteen years.” She winked at him. “Without any experience, I can’t expect to find a salaried position.”
“Wait.”
Shit!
How had he not recognized her voice over the phone? “You said your name was Piper.”
“Yes, I did. I wanted to surprise you, and I see I did.”
He groaned as she stood next to him and rubbed the length of his cock.
“Though, I’m hoping this was for me, and not someone else.”
If she only knew how often she’d been on his mind over the last two weeks.
“You, oh God, you.” He pressed his body to hers, backing her against the front door. Claiming her mouth, he reveled in her sweetness. As much as he desired her, the ache that had settled on his heart receded with every stroke of his tongue. He’d hoped for something more. And with her here…. Dare he think it possible?
The door opened behind Paige. Grasping her shoulders, he held her steady so she wouldn’t fall into his foyer. Mrs. Collins’s wide eyes met his. “I’m back, and my interviewee is here as well.”
“I see that, though I didn’t think the interview would be so intimate.”
He chuckled at her questioning glance. “It turns out I know her.” He smiled at Paige before spinning her around to face the older woman. “Paige, I’d like you to meet Mrs. Collins, one of the women responsible for setting us up.”
Paige waved. Even though he couldn’t see her face, he smiled at her sudden sheepish posture. Ms. Brown, former Space Service recruiter, was embarrassed?
Mrs. Collins winced, her face reddened. “I’m sorry I interrupted. I just thought you needed help bringing in the groceries. I’ll…I’ll gather Dylan and Madison and take them to the back yard while you give Paige a tour of the house.” She took a step back and paused. “I can’t stay much longer today, as Ernie and I have plans, but next Saturday, I can watch the kids late into the night if you’d like.”
“That would be great, Mrs. Collins,” he called to her retreating form. “Thank you.”
He kissed the top of Paige’s head then reached for her hand to guide her into his house. “Welcome to my home. If you’re lucky, I’ll let you see my cuffs.”
She giggled. “I’d like that. Maybe tonight?”
“Yes.”
Hallelujah!
Ms. Brown had returned to his home. And in the future, if things went well, it would be hers, too.
~ABOUT THE AUTHOR~
Jessica Subject started writing to encourage her daughter to read. Now she writes to keep herself grounded. Although she reads many genres, she enjoys writing Science Fiction Romance the most and believes everyone in the universe deserves a happily ever after. She lives Southwestern Ontario, Canada with her husband and two kids and loves to hear from anyone who has enjoyed her stories.
You can visit Jessica at:
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