Shifter’s Station 2: Pilot’s Heart Read online

  Vance struggled against his chains as if he could somehow use his physical strength to fend off Kirlos’s intrusion into his mind. Kirlos drew a piercing scream from the prisoner as he tore down the man’s shields and gained access to the part of his mind where Kirlos could discern the truth of his statements.

  It took every bit of Kirlos’s concentration to hold himself where he needed to be. He wanted to collapse to his knees from the strain, but he refused to let the prisoner see how much his efforts cost him. He nodded to Marc, signaling him to start the interrogation.

  “What is Ragland planning?”

  Vance snarled. “I won’t --”

  Kirlos sent what Vance might interpret as a lightning bolt into his mind. The shifter roared in agony.

  Marc snarled. “You can’t lie to us. You will answer truthfully or he will do that again.”

  Kirlos squeezed with his mental feelers, effectively shutting off the part of Vance’s brain that allowed him to lie.

  * * *

  After nearly an hour of grueling work on Kirlos’s part and intense pain on the part of Vance, Marc extracted the information they needed. Vance had been sent to kill Larissa or Kirlos, preferably both, so Marc’s grief would distract him from preparing for a full-scale attack. Ragland was on his way with most of his team of shifters and his mercs. He had twice as many men as Marc, and his pilots had far more combat experience. The enemy force would arrive in less than a day.

  Kirlos released Vance and sank to the floor, no longer concerned with showing weakness. The prisoner’s life was forfeit now. Kirlos let his head rest in his hands, massaging his temples to ease the ache his effort had caused. The only time he’d finessed a mind more capable of blocking him was the single time he’d forced the truth from Marc.

  Marc stood over Vance. The prisoner now lay limp and exhausted. Marc growled and Vance let a whimper escape. The prisoner knew he was going to die. Marc’s eyes were gold and wolfish, but when he turned to face the guards and spoke, his voice sounded fully human. “Execute him by injection. You’ll need about five times the serum you would use for a normal human. Dispose of the body when you’re done.”

  Marc headed for the door. Kirlos knew he needed to follow, but he wasn’t sure his legs would work. A part of him had hoped Marc would shift and finish the job he’d started when he’d attacked Vance in the corridor. Such would have been a fitting death for the bastard, but he was proud of Marc for the choice he’d made. Killing Vance when the man was helpless would only have worsened Marc’s self-image, something he couldn’t afford, especially when their future with Larissa hung in the balance.

  * * *

  Kirlos entered Marc’s office and immediately slumped into a padded chair.

  Marc looked up from his monitor. “Are you all right?”

  Marc’s gentle tone warmed Kirlos. Tenderness from Marc was so rare, he tried to soak it up when he got it. “I’m fine. The headache will wear off soon.”

  Marc frowned. “You pushed yourself too hard.”

  “We needed the information. There was no choice.”

  “Don’t ever risk damaging your mind. There are other forms of torture we could have used.”

  Kirlos shook his head. “Torture makes men talk. It doesn’t necessarily make them tell the truth.”

  Marc massaged his temples. He looked as exhausted as Kirlos felt. Kirlos took a deep breath, bracing himself for a fight when all he wanted was to pull Marc into his arms and kiss him senseless. “We’ve got to implement Larissa’s plan.”

  Marc closed his eyes and nodded. “I know.”

  Kirlos shook his head, unable to believe Marc’s acquiescence. He must have done himself more damage than he thought forcing Vance’s mind open. “What did you say?”

  Marc scowled. “This is no time for games.”

  Kirlos sobered and nodded. “How much of her plan did you hear?”

  “All of it.”

  “You mean none of us noticed you standing there?”

  “No. I had the room bugged. I knew you were up to something.”

  “Fucking bastard.”

  Marc smiled. “You’ve always known I was.”

  Kirlos shook his head. “I guess I have.”

  “Don’t think you won’t pay for pointing it out though.”

  Kirlos’s cock stirred at the thought. “After we kill Ragland, I’m counting on spending several days in bed with you.”

  Marc raised his brows. “I’m going to find Larissa. Round up Jeff and Carlos and meet me back here.”

  Chapter 7

  Marc walked to his quarters as fast as he could without actually running. His heart slammed against his chest so hard he was surprised his jacket wasn’t jumping. Gods, how he hated admitting he’d been wrong. If he’d been in wolf form, the fur on his back would have been standing up.

  But no matter how disgusted he was with the situation, he wasn’t going to let his own stubbornness endanger everyone on the station. What a smart man would do was let Larissa pilot her own ship. She’d never be able to train Carlos to her level of competence in a day. But the thought of her in combat hardened his stomach to a rock.

  As the door to his quarters slid open, he drew in his breath and stepped forward. He was already tired, but he knew this conversation would take more out of him than the fight with Vance.

  He didn’t see Larissa anywhere in the living area so he headed for the bedroom. When he didn’t see her there, a sick fear curled in his belly.

  He marched into the lavatory calling her name but he knew with certainty that she wasn’t there.

  When he turned back toward the bed, he noticed a notepad lying on top of the covers. The screen was blinking. He picked it up and pressed the button that lit up the screen.

  Dear Marc and Kirlos, I love you both but I can’t live the life I’m being offered on this station. I’m taking my ship and heading out to find work somewhere else. I hope you find the woman you are looking for. Larissa

  Marc thought he’d understood how important Larissa was to him. But as he read those words, a knot formed in his stomach. He had to grip the bed to keep from collapsing to his knees, as if without her, he could no longer hold himself up.

  How could she doubt that she was the woman he and Kirlos needed? He didn’t doubt it, not anymore. He loved her, and he wasn’t going to lose her.

  He glanced down at the time stamp on the message. Ten minutes ago. He pressed a button on his wrist unit. “Claire.”

  “Yes, Captain.”

  “Expect a request from Larissa to depart in the FT1. Do not comply with her request.”

  “Yes, Captain.”

  He heard the question in her tone, but he had no intention of elaborating. He ended the conversation and shifted instantly. He focused on running as fast as he could, leaping over obstacles and scaring the piss out of several crew members and merchants.

  Finally, he reached the docking bay where Larissa’s ship rested. He slowed and shifted back, oblivious to the fact that he was buck naked, having left his clothes in a heap in his quarters.

  The cabin door was swinging upward to close but he leapt and caught the end of it, pulling himself up and over just in time to keep his toes from being smashed.

  Larissa whirled away from the controls as he landed on the deck with a thud. She drew her weapon and trained on him so fast her movements were a blur.

  Marc stood slowly, letting her identify him, hoping she hadn’t recognized him already and intended to shoot him anyway for chasing her down.

  “What the fuck are you doing here? And why are you naked?” Anger burned in her eyes, but she holstered her weapon.

  “I’m here to stop you from making a big mistake.”

  She raised her brows. “And the nakedness?”

  “I shifted to get here faster.”

  He watched her start to smile, stop herself, and then give in and grin. “I thought you’d found my note and decided to have one last fuck before I headed on my way.”
r />   His cock hardened at the thought. “We’re most definitely going to fuck, but it will not be the last time.”

  He watched her chest rise and fall as she took a long, slow breath. “Marc, I’m not staying.”

  “I love you.”

  Her eyes filled with tears, but she took a step back. “I love you, too, but I need my freedom.”

  Marc’s heart pounded. He knew the one thing he could say to convince her to stay. But he could lose her that way as surely as he’d lose her by letting her leave. Of course, the work she did was dangerous. She could be killed within days of starting a new job. And then, she’d die believing he didn’t respect her abilities.

  He tried one more plea. “You’re the woman Kirlos and I need. Please stay.”

  She shook her head. “I can’t.”

  His stomach churned. Could he give her what she needed? It went against all his instincts, human and wolf. The desire to protect his mate was strong, but ultimately his love for her proved stronger. “We captured one of Ragland’s shifters. Ragland, his shifters, and a company of mercenaries with twice our numbers will be here within hours. Would you stay long enough to pilot your ship in the battle?”

  Larissa’s eyes went wide. She stumbled backward against the control panel. “Pilot my ship?”

  “Yes, that thing you do where you ride in the ship and use all these buttons to make it go where you want it to. It would be best if you also controlled the defense system you described to Jeff.”

  * * *

  The tears in Larissa’s eyes fell down her cheeks. She had to wait several seconds before she could speak. “You really mean this?”

  Devlin nodded, looking painfully serious. “If you’re willing to take this risk for us, then I’m willing to let you.”

  She never expected the captain to offer her the chance to enter the battle, but was it more than a move of desperation to save the station? “And after we’ve kicked Ragland’s ass?”

  Devlin’s lips curled up. He looked like himself again. “I’ll fuck you so hard you’ll have to stay in bed for several days to recover.”

  Heat raced through her body, despite her fear that he wasn’t ready to give her what she needed. “And then?”

  “What else do you want?”

  “I want to stay on as a member of the crew and keep training with Claire.”

  Devlin closed his eyes for a few seconds. “Will you consider doing that and being our lover?”

  Gods of Earth, he thought she’d meant she only wanted be a member of the crew. She smiled. “Only if you promise to take all your frustration out on my ass.”

  Devlin’s eyes widened. She’d actually managed to stun him.

  “I want the freedom to move about the station and participate in its running and defense. I also want to have the crew think of me as more than the captain’s bed slave. But when we are in bed, I’m yours to control.”

  “Strip.”

  “What?”

  “Strip. Right now.”

  “If Ragland will be here in less than a day, we’ve got to start preparing now.”

  Devlin raised his brows. “Did you mean what you just said?”

  Larissa considered pointing out that there was no bed in sight, but this was no time for teasing. She let her eyes roam the length of Devlin’s naked body, stopping for a few long seconds to appreciate his cock which arched up over his belly, nearly reaching his navel. Then she reached for the zipper of her flight suit.

  Lust spiraled through her body at the thought of what he might want from her. The need to hurry and the imminent fight fueled her body’s need, and she knew the crotch of her flight suit was soaked through. Kicking off her boots, she lowered her zipper, pushing the suit from her shoulders and shimmied her hips until it dropped to the floor.

  Devlin jerked at the waistband of her panties, ripping the Velcro tabs at her hips. The flimsy garment came off in his hand, and he threw them to the deck. “Against the wall.”

  She backed up until she hit the wall. Devlin’s intense expression made chills run down her body. His eyes were fully human, but she knew the wolf was looking out at her. He wanted to eat her up.

  He took hold of her waist and lifted her effortlessly. She automatically wrapped her legs around him to steady herself. He cupped her buttocks and tilted her hips so the tip of his cock brushed her entrance.

  She moaned.

  “Ah, nice and wet.”

  “Please.”

  He shoved hard, filling her with one merciless stroke. She arched into him, circling her hips and pressing against his buttocks with her heels. He drove in over and over, relentless in his assault on her body and her senses.

  She let the wall and his hands support her, having no strength to hold herself up. She heard whimpers and thought it was her own voice, but it sounded far away. Her attention was too focused on the throbbing agony in her clit to properly register anything else.

  “Tell me you’re going to stay.”

  She was beyond the ability to form words.

  “Tell me now.” He thrust deep and stayed still.

  She struggled, bucking her hips and clamping her inner muscles, trying to make him move.

  “No more until you say it.”

  She snarled in frustration.

  He growled back, sounding every bit the fierce predator he was.

  She fought to get air in her lungs. Her whole body burned with need. “I-I’ll stay.”

  “Don’t ever try to leave again.” He punctuated his words with a thrust so hard it slammed her against the wall.

  “Fuck me.” She tore at his hair and bit deep into his neck, making him growl.

  He shoved her against the wall over and over. “Is this enough for you?”

  “No. I-I want claws.”

  He made a strangled sound and pulled out of her.

  “No!” she screamed, but he stepped back, forcing her to lower her legs to the floor.

  “Hands and knees.” His voice was low and gravelly. She looked up to see that his eyes had gone golden.

  She collapsed to the deck, lifting her ass toward him, and begging silently for him to enter her again. Claws sank into her hips as he knelt behind her. His first thrust stole her breath, and the pumping of his hips never slowed. She was hanging on the edge of explosion. “Never. I’ll never leave.”

  “Damn right you won’t.”

  He used one hand to gather her hair and push her head down so he could bite the back of her neck, pinning her like he would another wolf.

  She needed him to touch her clit or she was going to lose her mind. “Gods, Devlin. Please!”

  “Marc.”

  “What?”

  “Call me Marc, goddamn it. I’m your lover right now, not your captain.”

  “Marc, make me come.”

  He groaned and reached around her body. He pinched her clit so hard she screamed. Her orgasm hit a second later. He howled as her body spasmed around him, driving into her over and over. Then, he froze, and she felt hot come spurt deep inside her. They both collapsed to the deck.

  The first thing Larissa became aware of was an incessant beeping from her wrist unit which was biting painfully into her arm. It took her a few seconds to extract her arm pinned under Marc’s body. She pushed at Marc and he finally rolled off her so she could get her wrist to her mouth. “Larissa, go.”

  “Thank the gods. I thought you were missing, too. Is Marc with you?” Kirlos’s voice sounded shaky, fearful.

  “Yes, he’s right here.”

  “And you’re both safe?”

  “Yes, we’re fine. More than fine actually.”

  She heard a loud exhalation. “I’ve been trying to page him and couldn’t get an answer. I was afraid…”

  “He’s fine. He must have gotten separated from his wrist unit when he shifted.”

  “Shifted? Are you okay?”

  “She’s fine,” Marc said, pulling Larissa’s wrist toward his mouth. “We’re on our way.”

&
nbsp; “Donovan just signaled us. He’s spotted Ragland’s carrier ship on his sensors. At his current speed, Ragland will be here in six hours.”

  “Shit. Well, at least I know your truth reading abilities haven’t declined.”

  Kirlos snorted.

  “Send Jeff and Carlos to the docking bays. Page all pilots and get them down here too.”

  “Down here? What are you doing at docking bay level?”

  “Never mind where I am. Get yourself to command. I want you monitoring the situation from there. Devlin out.”

  Chapter 8

  Marc joined Kirlos in the command center. “How close are they?”

  Kirlos gestured toward the screen. “I’d expect them to jump in five minutes.”

  “Clear Larissa’s ship for departure.”

  Kirlos glanced back at him. “Where is she?”

  “Just clear her ship.”

  “FT1, you’re cleared for departure.”

  “Thank you, Commander. I’ll see you at the victory party.”

  Kirlos froze when Larissa’s voice came back to him through the com. “What the fuck are you doing on that ship?”

  “Piloting it. Am I clear or not?”

  Marc pushed Kirlos out of the way and hit the sequence that unlocked her docking bay door. “You’re cleared. Begin your exit.”

  “What are you doing? You can’t let her go out there.”

  “You’re the one who told me to give her more freedom.”

  “I didn’t mean for you to send her into combat. Call her back.”

  Marc snarled. “I’m the captain, and I give the orders on this station. Do you need to be removed from command?”

  Kirlos leaned down and hit the com button. “Larissa, you damn well better come back to us.”

  “I will. I love you both.”

  Marc glanced at his lover. “When I got to our quarters, she was gone. I found her on board her ship, preparing to leave.”

  Kirlos closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

  Marc snarled. “It’s my fault, all right. Does that make you happy? If I’d been less of an asshole, then I wouldn’t have had to go this far to show her that I could give her what she needed.”