Under His Command (2 page)

understandably limited due to space and the males had to share. If a

female officer had an infraction and wished to pay the price with

sexual compensation, it was offered as an alternative to punishment

since it was actually helpful. When the regulation was put in place the

males had grumbled at being limited to just two options when women

had three, but then again, they appreciated the reverse discrimination

in other obvious ways, so the rule had held.

Peyton stood there, thinking furiously. Not touching her transport

for six months? Being a pilot was her life. It was what she lived and

breathed. Demotion didn’t hold much appeal either. If she could save

her career, she would. “How many males?” she asked in a tight voice.

The commander looked at her with those cool eyes. “They have to

outrank you. No female officer is obligated to sleep with anyone of

lesser status. We have two colonels, four majors, and a captain on

board. Due to your rank, you are permitted to just service two. If

that’s your choice, tell me which ones and I am sure they’ll be more

than happy about the arrangement.”

The officers all knew each other and socialized often and she

wondered if she could actually do it. She cast over the possibilities.

Being intimate with her colleagues after she’d done everything

possible to gain equal ground? It sounded…daunting, dammit.

Embarrassing, too, and thousand other things, but then she

contemplated again not being a pilot for half a year. Even worse was

going back down to being just another drudge who could only pull

transports in and out of docking.

No. Out of the question.

She swallowed hard and looked at Commander Gallico. Those

austere perfect features, his tall lean body, all that deliciously dark

gleaming hair. In private, the female officers speculated about his

personal life, but he kept to himself and if he availed himself one of

the humans, he was discreet about it. There was little doubt she found

him attractive, despite his intimidating standoffish demeanor. In a

hoarse voice, she asked, “What about you?”

Under His Command

11

* * * *

Kel had no idea what the expression on his face might be, but he

did his best to keep it neutral.

This whole day seemed designed to test him in every way a male

could be challenged.

First was the agonizing decision he couldn’t possibly ask any

officer or crew to go down to the surface of Epsilon, his anguish over

the matter both private and difficult. It wasn’t easy to condemn the

people on the surface of the planet to certain death, yet when he

weighed the odds, it had seemed clear it wasn’t right to order a

hopeless attempt at rescue either. Then the news came Peyton

Valmont had taken matters into her own hands, left the ship

unauthorized, and while he stood in paralyzed indecision over what to

do about it, apparently pulled off the rescue of the millennium.

To compound the unpalatable situation, now he had to punish her.

Yes, he’d let her off easy, but never did he expect she would offer
him

her body.

Did she know he’d secretly lusted after her since the moment she

set foot on his ship? The lieutenant stood there, her rich dark brown

hair highlighted by the subdued overhead illumination designed to

make sure there was no glare on the dozens of monitors, her vivid

hazel eyes reflecting her trepidation, but also her undeniable courage.

She was more than classically pretty, her features delicate and

feminine, long lashes framing those incredible eyes, a soft pink mouth

right now compressed into a tight line of apprehension.

It was common opinion she was gorgeous and though he never

commented one way or the other when the men talked about

Lieutenant Valmont, he definitely agreed.

If he wanted her before, he wanted her even more now. Fuck, how

was he supposed to manage this, especially when she’d suggested
he

be the one?

12

Annabel Wolfe

Kel took in a breath, hoping he still looked unfazed. “What about

me in what way, Lieutenant?”

“If I have to do this, can I service you? Commanders don’t have to

share either, do they? Wouldn’t you count as two?”

“No. Naiad is just a step down in rank, second in command. We

share quarters, responsibilities, and just about everything else.”

Including you, should you choose this.
He didn’t have to explain

it.

For a moment she said nothing. Then with obvious effort, she

nodded. Just once. “Okay, I can live with that. You and Commander

Naiad.” There was just a slight falter in her voice. “The other officers

are my colleagues.”

And
he
wasn’t a colleague. Of course he wasn’t. It was his duty to

distant himself from the staff. To be above it as he dispensed orders

and kept strict discipline. “I don’t…” he started to say, and stopped,

not sure how he wanted to finish.

What the hell was he going to tell her? He didn’t like the idea?

Yes, he did. He’d like nothing better than carry her off to his quarters

right this minute. His sex drive was as healthy and strong as any other

S-species male. With her—the slender yet suggestive lines of her

figure under the required uniform always intriguing—it was very

tempting.

She waited, her back perfectly straight, those entrancing goldgreen eyes wide. When he didn’t speak she explained haltingly, “I

don’t know if you understand how hard it is as a female to get treated

like an equal. Right now even the officers who outrank me regard me

as one of them. I’m going to lose that if I have to submit to any of

them. What you are talking about isn’t like having a sexual affair,

Commander, which is also against regulation for the same reason—

discipline.”

“This
is
a punishment,” he told her, an edge to his voice.

“I realize that. I accept it,” she countered, “but can you see my

position? This way at least I wouldn’t lose their respect.”

Under His Command

13

He could see her in a lot of different positions—that was part of

the problem. Kel looked around at the sterile surroundings of the

bridge. He was the commander, she was just a rogue female pilot, and

why he should feel so guilty about this was a mystery.

Valmont had walked in tense and defiant. She’d stood there and

took his diatribe on her disobedience, and then she’d waited for his

edict. Not that she had much choice, but still once he heard her reason

for why she had commandeered the craft and risked her life, he

understood.

It changed nothing. He really didn’t want to reprimand her in the

first place, so making it as easy on her as possible appealed to him,

but it had to be done.

She
appealed to him. That was the problem. Since the first

moment she stepped foot on the ship, he’d wanted to fuck her.

Now he could have her. Whenever he wanted. In any way he

wanted.

Damn if his unruly cock didn’t start to swell at the thought.

Still, it posed problems if he agreed to this. Kel stared at her. “I

don’t want the crew to think I’m meting out discipline for my own

pleasure, Lieutenant.”

The word pleasure made her color deepen, pink giving a nice

color to her cheeks. “Excuse me for saying so, sir, but I think the crew

would object more if you were too harsh. Feel free to make sure they

all know this was my choice. I’ll do the same.”

It was probably true. She was a damned hero now. Soldiers

always admired the kind of courage she’d shown, and even more so

the reckless act showcased her remarkable ability to handle a

transport craft under any conditions. This solution would take her out

of duty for the shortest time possible and he wouldn’t have to dock

her pay either.

“You won’t have the opportunity to tell them,” he pointed out. “If

you choose this route, Valmont, you’ll be confined to the command

quarters.”

14

Annabel Wolfe

“Yes, sir.”

Naked. Nice
.

“You’re sure this is how you wish to resolve this?”

“I’m certain, sir.”

“Very well.” He waved a hand past the door scanner and opened

the portal, gesturing at the two soldiers who stood at attention there.

He said curtly, “Escort the lieutenant to Level C. See that she’s

indoctrinated.”

Both the guards were too well-trained to show any kind of

reaction, but Kel felt their shock just the same. Level C was where the

females were kept and instructed on their sexual duties before each

voyage, so he imagined it would be common knowledge fast enough

just how he’d handled her insubordination. She left with dignity,

walking between the two much taller soldiers in brisk departure. Kel

wandered over and examined the flight log, but he didn’t really see

the notes he’d made. He needed to sit down and compose a report to

be sent to Minoa on the incident. Epsilon was clearly a lost cause but

at least there had been no further loss of life thanks to one daring,

beautiful pilot.

“How did
that
go?”

Kel turned around and saw his second in command, Jake Naiad,

enter the captain’s bridge, open curiosity in his expression. Naiad

murmured, “It couldn’t have been much fun. I saw them take her out

and she looked more resigned than anything.”

“It went,” Kel responded, rubbing his jaw. “And no, that part of

this job isn’t my favorite. I’ve had to discharge some good soldiers

already in my career. It didn’t appeal to me to do it again.”

Naiad was also tall—most S-species males were—blond, built

with whipcord leanness, his angular features refined and his eyes a

clear aquamarine. He was a good officer and one of the few males Kel

considered a true friend. They worked well together, and when they

were on Minoa between assignments, played pretty well together too.

Under His Command

15

The mutual competitive spirit meant they were good opponents in

sports and other leisurely pursuits, one of which was bedding females.

“Is that what you decided to do?” Naiad asked, sitting down in his

chair by the rows of panels. “You discharged her? I have to tell you;

that’s going to be an unpopular decision, Kel.”

“Am I running a popularity contest?” Kel retorted, lifting a brow.

“She broke about fifteen regulations.”

“Sixteen, but who’s counting,” Naiad remarked, rubbing his chin.

“Two of them big ones. Still, the governor’s son was rescued, along

with one other civilian and over twenty soldiers. How the hell she did

it, I don’t know. Her navigator said he couldn’t help her worth shit

and the thrusters quit twice. He also said she was like a machine. Cool

as could be and determined as hell.”

“The civilian was her sister.”

The other man stared at him and then gave a low whistle. “Okay,

that makes a difference. At least now I understand the determination.

Fuck, you still discharged her?”

Kel leveled an ironic look at him. “I never said I discharged her. I

said I would have been justified in front of any tribunal for doing just

that. Instead I dropped the unauthorized appropriation charge and just

addressed the direct disobeying of orders. I offered her the choice of

any of the statute nineteen sentences.”

Naiad thought for a moment, and then nodded. “That’s more than

fair. I hate to see her lose rank or be sidelined because she’s damned

good, but it’s a slap on the wrist compared to what could have been.

No wonder she wasn’t more upset.”

“Yeah, well, she didn’t want to lose rank or be sidelined either.”

For a moment Naiad looked puzzled but then he blinked.

“Valmont chose sexual servitude? That surprises me. She doesn’t

seem like the submissive type.” He grinned then. “Hey, I’m more than

happy to volunteer to be her—”

“She’s been assigned,” Kel interrupted. “It’s always awkward

when a female officer is punished that way. I let her decide.”

16

Annabel Wolfe

Naiad let out an exaggerated sigh. “Too bad. Some of her fellow

officers, I take it. She’s a delicious little piece, in my opinion. Who?”

“Me. Us, I guess, would be more accurate.”

Blond brows shot up. “Nice work there.” Naiad grinned. “I’ve had

worse news. This day has gone from being a near disaster to shaping

up pretty good.”

“I didn’t coerce her in any way. It was her suggestion.” Kel was

irritated with himself for sounding defensive but was pretty sure there

was a hint of it in his voice anyway. “She doesn’t want this to affect

her status with the other officers she interacts with on a daily basis.”

“Smart female, the lieutenant.” Naiad’s blue-green eyes reflected

amusement. “I can’t say I’m disappointed. Neither are you. Even

before all this, I’ve caught you looking at her a time or two in a very

un-commander-to-pilot way.”

Was that true? It probably was, though Kel thought he’d kept his

interest hidden. Naiad had an annoying way of being perceptive at the

wrong times. “She’s noticeable,” he admitted.