Kazan Read online

  “I’m saying we would share a bed. If you think you could manage it.” It’s hard to say what possessed me to throw out the challenge, but it had the desired effect, like a lightning bolt sizzled up her spine, waking every particle of her. She was so close, I could smell her.

  Whether it was some fragrance she wore, or what she used to wash her hair, I couldn’t say. Whatever it was, I liked the thought of smelling it again.

  “You think I couldn’t manage it? Are you saying that you think sharing a bed with you might be too much for me?”

  “It’s been too much for others.” Another lightning bolt. This was fun.

  “You sound very sure of yourself, Colonel.”

  “I’ve been in combat many times. The way one wins is by being certain of everything one brings to the table.”

  “It’s the same in my line of work.”

  “Is it?”

  She nodded, keeping her eyes on mine. I don’t think either of us had blinked for the better part of a minute. This game was dangerous, but it was also a startling amount of fun. Despite knowing we couldn’t possibly end up together, I was starting to enjoy the idea of thirty days tied to this firecracker.

  “Well then. Maybe we should test the theory out. See if you can share my bed for one night, then we’ll decide if you can handle the next twenty-nine days.”

  “Deal.”

  Our lips were close. Closer than they ought to have been, given the resolve I had walking into this room. I don’t know what it was about this dark-haired siren, but her take-charge demeanor was proving to be exactly the kind of thing that got me going.

  Her eyes fluttered shut. Her lips were gently, ever so slightly parted. I found myself leaning down.

  Was this really happening?

  Elle

  “Glad to meet you,” someone said, the door swinging open to reveal another one of those Jorkan guys. Immediately, I jumped back from where I was, my lips narrowly avoiding touching Kazan’s. “Let’s get down to business, shall we?”

  Well, damn.

  Had we really been that close to kissing? What was wrong with me?

  “Lights down, please.” The buttoned-up Jorkan official clapped his hands together and, almost immediately, the bright lights in the room dimmed. “I promise I won’t take much of your time.”

  Kazan and I were directed to the plush couch at the far end of the room, and we sat beside each other. Smoothing down the front of my dress with one hand, I cleared my throat and tried to forget all about the fact that we had almost kissed.

  One more clap of his hands, and a projector slowly came down from the ceiling and started whirring softly, shining a beacon of light into the center of the room. A holographic image of two flags flapping in the wind appeared there, with tacky 80s music as a soundtrack. It seemed like I was stuck in a nightmarish version of the future where funky synthesizers were still a thing and perms remained a fashion statement.

  “It started a couple of years ago,” the official finally spoke up, his tone clear-cut evidence that this was a rehearsed speech. “The Jorkan military uncovered a plot from the Rippers to invade Earth, and it got in touch with what is known as the United Nations. The humans, who had always been afraid they were alone in the universe, had to come to terms with the fact they were just one of many planets in the galaxy brimming with intelligent life.”

  The holographic images changed, and now they showed a fleet of poorly designed CGI starships orbiting Earth. Clearly, whoever had commissioned this video presentation had been someone from Earth. Tackiness seemed to be a prerequisite when it came to public organizations.

  “Knowing they needed help to protect their planet, the United Nations made a pact with the Jorkan: in exchange for their military protection, the governments of Earth would have to build a genetic database and conduct periodic testing on their females.” Opening his arms in a welcoming gesture, the official smiled at us in that rehearsed way of his. “If you were wondering about the reason behind you being here, that’s why. The two of you have been deemed as genetic matches, meaning that Miss Ashby here is capable of producing offspring with you, Colonel Kazan.”

  I’d thought that there could be nothing more embarrassing than sex-ed teachers putting condoms on bananas, but this had to be close. There I was, sitting with a perfect stranger beside me, and some asshole was already hinting at the fact that I was perfect for child-bearing. It seemed like the future had more in common with the past: I was just waiting for someone to drag a stove into the room and chain me to it.

  “Don’t worry,” Kazan grunted, glancing at me. “It isn’t like we’re in this for life.”

  “Correct,” the official said, his happy-go-lucky tone getting on my nerves. Did he really have to sound so damn excited about the whole thing? “Despite the fact that female matches have been rare, ethical considerations prevent us from forcing anyone into this.”

  “I figure the assholes who grabbed me from my apartment missed that memo,” I said. Politeness went out the window the moment those guys decided to kidnap me. I mean, I wasn’t even allowed to pack a suitcase. If they didn’t even allow me to have my designer shoes, they sure as hell couldn’t ask me about my good manners.

  “Well, uh, it’s a disorienting experience to be brought here, I admit,” the official continued, shifting his weight from one foot to the other.

  He wasn’t expecting me to be this straightforward. I figured most women that came through here were simply too stunned with everything to talk back. One more clap of his hands, and the holograms changed again. This time, a small planet with green and blue tones appeared in front of us, the tacky 80s soundtrack reaching a frenzied crescendo.

  “This is Tarkun IV, a small moon that’s also one of the most renowned resort colonies this side of the galaxy. It’ll be your home for the next thirty days.”

  “Resort?” I said before I could stop myself.

  He nodded earnestly. “A private beachside resort with all the amenities, physical conditioning, couples’ activities, a nightclub. A top-level security rating—the resort boasts the best reputation for vacationer safety. Why, there is barely enough crime to justify the police force.”

  Beachside? Damnit.

  “I have responsibilities,” I said, and my voice sounded weak even to me. This was absolutely diabolical. “I can’t be sipping cocktails on a beach for an entire month.” Thirty days sounded better than having to plead my life to the Jorkan or whatever these guys were called but, on the other hand, I was a busy woman. There was no way I could put my life on hold for an entire month. My intense, stressful, rapidly paced life. “I hadn’t planned on taking a vacation for a few years. My caseload is insane right now. People are depending on me.”

  “We understand.” Bowing his head, the official avoided meeting my gaze. “That’s why we’ve informed the partners in your firm that you’ve come down with a serious illness and have been quarantined.”

  “You what? How dare you!?” Why hadn’t I tried that tactic before? Was it really that easy? I realized the direction of my thoughts and dragging my mind kicking and screaming back to the plan. Somehow, I needed to bamboozle them into releasing me. But . . .beachside resort? There were worse things in life than spending thirty days on a beach.

  But on the day I was about to become a name partner, these idiots had decided to tell Schwartz and Eriksson that I had come down with a bad case of the space flu. All those years of hard work, thrown away. I took a deep breath, torn.

  The governments’—both Jorkan and Earth—gross overstepping and human rights violations aside, there were two warring agendas here. On the one hand, years of hard work, paying off student loans, just now barely dragging myself to the part of the tunnel where there was light. And on the other hand. . .beach. Vacation. Thirty days of relaxation, no worries, no stress, no hectic pace that barely allowed me to breathe.

  It seemed like a no-brainer. . .if I could set aside my outrage over how the entire situation was handled.
/>
  “Why didn’t you all just ask?” I demanded. “Instead of snatching me without consent from my home with no regard for my rights or dignity?” I stabbed a finger at him. “You know what’s guaranteed to turn a woman off the whole Build-A-Baby proposition?”

  He opened his mouth, shut it.

  “Kidnapping! That’s what, in case it isn’t obvious.”

  “Give him hell,” Kazan muttered, lifting his drink in a languid toast. “That part never made sense to me either. Setting us up to fail. You try courting an enraged female who’s just been kidnapped.”

  The official nodded. “I’ll pass along your feedback, and—” he leaned forward with a conspiratorial air “—there has been some discussion amongst us agents that perhaps the onboarding process should be revised. But you know bureaucrats. They write policies and never bother to consult the common man or woman.”

  I grimaced, envisioning a room filled with old, rich men out of touch with everything blithely coming up with this program. What do all woman want? A vacation! When do they want it? Right after being kidnapped! Sounds great, let’s sign it into law!

  “There are concerns regarding secrecy and safety involved,” the official continued, “but your feedback is noted and will be taken into serious consideration.”

  “You need to do more than take it into consideration,” I replied patiently. “No woman is going to want to go along with your mandatory mate program when she feels unsafe.”

  “Yes, yes I quite agree, and I repeat, the only thing mandatory about the whole experience is this thirty-day period.”

  Kazan shifted on the couch, setting his glass down suddenly. “Look, if you don’t want to go, you don’t have to.” He glared at the official until the man snapped his mouth shut. “The way they went about this is shitty. I’ll fight it if that’s what you want, make them take you home.”

  “Uhh. . .” the official began.

  “Be quiet,” Kazan growled. “Elle?”

  I looked into Kazan’s eyes and realized he was serious. If I said the word, all that coiled internal tension would explode outwards. He would fight. It might not be very effective, one man against how many other security officials were lurking, but it was the thought that counted.

  Slowly, I shook my head, testing my emotions. I trusted Kazan, shockingly enough. I’d been around some real creeps in my time, the kind of men who made your spidey-sense shoot off within thirty seconds of knowing them. Kazan felt real, solid. Like the guy in the bar who would knock your blind date upside the head for getting too handsy, escort you home, and not try to pat your ass as a reward.

  “I’ll proceed with the program for now,” I said, and he nodded, picking his drink back up.

  “Wonderful.” Straightening his back, the official pointed at some bullshit legalese that had replaced the image of Tarkun IV. “You’ll have to remain together for an entire month, just so you have enough time to get to know each other. After the thirty days are up, and if you’re both agreeable to the idea, there’ll be a ceremony known as Signing Day, during which your mating bond will be confirmed.”

  Kazan snorted beside me, and I couldn’t help but share the sentiment. Signing Day? How romantic. This was the second time I was hearing that bullshit; it hadn’t sounded good the first time, and there sure as hell hadn’t been any improvements since then. Whoever had designed this experience clearly had put a lot of thought into the feelings involved in a mating bond. Or not.

  “What if we don’t want to go through with that signing thing?” I asked, unconsciously raising my hand as if I were a second-grade kid. Once I realized what I was doing, I lowered my hand and straightened my back. “We’ll be free to go?”

  “That’s correct, yes,” the official replied. “At the end of the mandatory period, you’ll be free to go your separate ways, if that’s what you wish. It’s our hope, though, that this experience will make you realize that your genetic makeup matches up in such a way that—”

  “We get it,” Kazan cut him short with an impatient grunt. “Carry on.”

  “The entire experience has been carefully designed and customized so as to ensure your mating bond can reveal itself in all its splendor. Your profiles, tastes, and personalities have been analyzed meticulously, and you’ll be put through a series of activities and experiences that will allow you to get to know each other. Absolutely nothing will impair your enjoyment of the experience.” Clasping his hands, the blue Jorkan allowed his smile to widen into a grin, his eyes darting from me to Kazan. “Any questions?”

  “Who’s paying for this?” I asked.

  Kazan snorted. “The Jorkan government is filthy rich. Paying for it isn’t the problem.”

  I considered all of that, especially what I was up against. An alien government with unlimited wealth and the blessing of Earth. Was there really anything I could do but wait it out? The violation of my human rights was outrageous, true. On the other hand, I hadn’t been harmed and it didn’t seem as if this was state-sanctioned rape: I was being given a choice.

  They had even analyzed my profile and tastes. I seriously doubted that going on a shopping spree for designer shoes would be something that Kazan would appreciate, but I wouldn’t mind it if those were the kind of experiences these space kidnappers had in mind.

  “Very well.” Clapping his hands together one final time, he ordered the lights to turn back up. “You’ll depart for Tarkun IV tomorrow, and so you’ll have to spend the night here, on Pluto Station. Let me show you to your room.”

  This time I couldn’t remain silent.

  Things were moving fast.

  “Room? As in...a single room?”

  “Evidently,” he replied. “After all, you’re a couple.”

  Kazan

  I was impressed.

  Free drinks, a thirty-day vacation at a luxurious resort, and a hot woman to warm my bed. Maybe the experience wasn’t going to be as bad as I’d thought it would be. It would hurt to be away from the guys for an entire month, especially with them being trained by a complete moron, but I was pretty sure they’d survive without me. To honor them, I promised myself I’d drink their share once I got to the resort.

  “This way, please.” Marching out of the room, the short Jorkan official led us through a maze of white corridors, most of them with viewports showing Pluto’s barren landscape right below us and the star-peppered sky above.

  You’d think that a better place would have been chosen for a station like this, but I figured the many governments of Earth had decided that they still weren’t comfortable with having the scary aliens that close to home. It still amazed me they hadn’t even told their own people they weren’t alone in the universe.

  “Here we are.” Standing in front of a white door, the official waved at the panel mounted on the side. “The door will only answer to your biometrics, so you can be sure you’ll have your privacy.”

  I snuck a glance at Elle, only to see her cheeks turning red, and a smile tugged at the corners of my lips. I thought she’d be running for the hills by now, but she didn’t seem that upset with having to share a bed with me. Sure, she did look a bit confused, if not conflicted, but I could work with that.

  Pressing my thumb against the panel, I waited until the panel’s light went from a bright red to a deep green. The door hummed softly, then it slid to the side, hiding itself in the wall.

  “Enjoy your night,” the official said, bowing his head and taking a step back. Shrugging, I strolled into the room and waited for Elle to follow me before I closed the door behind us.

  “Hunh,” I muttered, “not bad.”

  The room was larger than the accommodations most captains were given on a battlecruiser, and it sure as hell was more opulent than any place I had ever slept in. A massive bed, large enough for at least five people, occupied the center of the room, and the sheets fitted over the mattress so perfectly you could use them as a trampoline. Facing it was a large viewport, offering an expansive view of the rocky planet we w
ere orbiting.

  There was something weird about the room, though.

  I could see two drink carts, in opposing corners, and there were two bathrooms, as well. The glass shower booths had been placed in full view of the bed with only a glass panel separating them. Just like the drink carts, they had been positioned facing each other, almost as if the room had been designed so that both sides of it were perfect mirror images.

  “A drink?” I offered, strolling toward the closest drink cart and grabbing the first bottle that I saw.

  “What are the options?” Elle asked, her eyes still scanning the room.

  “Yes or no,” I replied, and looked back at her over one shoulder.

  “Very funny.” Shaking her head, she joined me beside the drink cart. “I’ll take a Scotch. I need something stronger than wine.” She grabbed a bottle of that amber liquid I had been drinking before, and poured two fingers of it into a lowball glass.

  Shrugging, I put back the bottle I had chosen, a blend of Jorkan liquors, and poured myself a serving of that Scotch-stuff—and, by serving, I mean that I poured enough of it to fill an entire glass.

  “Well, this is awkward.”

  “Is it?”

  “I’m not in the habit of sharing a bed with strangers,” she said, but I could tell that she wasn’t being entirely honest with me. She didn’t look like a prude, and I was more than willing to bet that she wasn’t inexperienced, either.

  “You know my name,” I countered. “Which means I’m no longer a stranger.”

  “You also have horns and a tail.”

  “So?”

  “So, that’s strange.”

  “Don’t you want to say ‘exotic’?” Grinning, I threw my head back and downed the whiskey in my glass with a single gulp. It was sweet, but it packed a punch. Placing the glass back on the cart, I watched as Elle took a small sip of her own drink, her green eyes watching me over the rim. She was playing hard to get and, against all odds, I was enjoying it. Women came easy to me, but I liked a challenge.