“What about belonging?” Dolan’s hand slipped down her back as he stepped up behind her. He bent to brush his lips against her cheek.
Jayda twisted out from under his touch. “Stop!”
Dolan grabbed at her arm, smiling playfully as he pulled her back into his arms. “It’s me, remember?”
“All too well.” She turned her face away as he tried to kiss her. “All that was to get me to cooperate. Poor little lab rat, out here all by herself, should be easy to manipulate. You clearly have a lot of experience getting what you want.”
Dolan leaned back. “Whoa, where’s that coming from?” He stared at her, waiting for an answer. “You think that’s what I do, go from one port to the next hitting easy targets? I’ll tell you, lady, you’re not easy.”
“What, it took a bit longer than usual to get me into bed?”
“No, that was the easy part. Getting past the bitch took an effort.” His head jerked to one side and Jayda’s fingers stung immediately from slapping him so hard.
Dolan pulled his head back around slowly. “Are you mad that I got you into bed, or that you enjoyed it so much?” She swung again, but this time he caught her wrist. He pulled her against him, kissing her as hard as he had last night.
Jayda struggled to break free, but he only pushed her back against the portal, his body pinning hers. She was no match for his strength, or the ache growing inside her as his hips ground against hers. He caught her leg as she tried to push against the portal, pulling it around him. A moan rolled up through her chest and all resistance melted away.
His kiss was just as hungry, but softer. She leaned her head back against the portal as his lips moved along her jaw, to her ear, to the spot he’d discovered last night. His hand unzipped her uniform, slipping it over her shoulders as his lips moved down her neck. “Someone might…”
“Door’s locked.”
CHAPTER NINE
The humming of her body had spread into her head and all she could hear was a soft buzz.
“I should let you answer that.”
“What?” Jayda shook her head, the buzzing sound remained.
“Your comm-link.” Dolan kissed her lightly, groaning as he eased himself from her embrace. “It might be important.”
Jayda felt her face burn hot, pushing him away as she sat up. She pulled on her uniform and twisted her hair back into its clip, turning around to see him still stretched out on the lounger. “Get dressed!”
Dolan snickered as she made it to her chair, adjusting the video receiver to narrow the view down to only herself. She glanced his way before answering. His back was to her, pulling on his pants.
With one more breath, she opened the comm. “Sienna Outpost Lab. Maldonado here!”
An audio link activated. “Sienna, this is Tessling GR 8541. We picked up a short May Day burst from these coordinates. Are you in need of assistance?”
Jayda looked to Dolan again, pulling his shirt on. The emergency signal from his ship was automatic. Dolan shut it down as soon as she warned him of a possible sabotage. His finger went to his lips and she muted the call. “Don’t say anything about the particle storm, just an engine failure. Tell them you’ve called the pilot to give a report.”
She released the audio. “Yes, it came from the Dolan 4, a freighter picking up a load. They experienced some type of engine failure. I’ve called the ship’s captain to speak to you. Please remain on the link.”
“Certainly.”
She flipped the audio to standby, not giving them the opportunity to ask questions.
Dolan was already talking to one of his crewmen. “Yeah, 8541. ASAP! Is Verna over there? Hey, get her up to Sienna’s galley, now!”
“Verna?” Jayda played faces through her head, now regretting her avoidance of the crew. “Who’s she?”
“The pilot.” Dolan shook his head. “Taylor just released her for duty.” Dolan went back to the portal and picked up her discarded coffee, bringing it to her. “They can be legit, but you’re the one who suggested anyone convenient might be out there intentionally.”
She took the coffee, still warm, pondering her suspicions as she sipped. “You believed me enough to plan for the worst.”
“I saw the evidence. I’m also wondering why the transit base didn’t know a GR was in the area? Geo-research vessels are tracked so we know where to go looking if they disappear.” Dolan ticked off the logic points on his fingers. “They might be just who they say, but better we’re prepared.”
Jayda looked at the blinking light, the ship waiting for her to reopen the line. “So, why are we waiting for Verna? You can answer all their questions.”
“I can, but I have my reasons. We also want them to assume the worst. The weaker we appear, the sooner they’ll reveal themselves.” The sound of boots running up the corridor interrupted him from explaining more. A tall woman ran into the galley. “Great you’re here!”
Dolan pulled the woman to the side, switching from Standard to a language used by freighters, a blur of seemingly senseless words, but Jayda understood every word. In clipped morphs of Standard, Dolan explained what he wanted from her.
Jayda listened, but also watched as they huddled close, Dolan’s hand on her arm, the tip of her head as she stared at him. There was a familiarity under the surface, especially as he squeezed her arm, his hand lingering in a reassuring gesture, too close to just be business.
Finally letting go, the woman followed him over to Jayda’s chair. “Dr. Maldonado, this is Capt. Verna Breeze.”
Jayda looked up at the woman, at least ten years younger and pretty. The flight suit accentuated a thin frame, but also strong muscles. Her skin was a deep golden brown, her hair black, with reddish streaks at the temples, pulled up into a knot on her head.
