Page 16 of Desperate Measures

“Twenty-five.” The Kalquorian smiled at her then leveled his stare at the Chesran. “Hopefully, none will be broken. Fifteen minutes?”

“Make it ten,” a heavy voice growled.

Another Kalquorian strode forward. Toni gaped at the menacing creature who stalked up to stand next to the Imdiko.

Definitely a Nobek. She wondered how someone could be so brutish and handsome at once. Stacy’s sweetheart Kuran was certainly a tough specimen, but he also possessed a decent helping of civilization.

Not so this fellow. He appeared capable of snacking on metal. His formsuit, also of the fleet variety, possessed no body armor she could discern. It displayed an insanely chiseled physique. Displayed? More like flaunted. The fabric of his uniform molded to the muscular swells of his abdomen.

And other fascinating swells lower down.

He wasn’t looking at Toni, but her knees shivered as if made of gelatin. She prayed his glance wouldn’t swing her way, lest she drop to the floor before his power.

“I suggest you do as he says,” a third deep voice noted in amusement. “My clanmate Wovir isn’t the most patient of men.”

Toni turned. Another fleet officer, sporting Dramok-blue trim on his uniform. Armored, thank the prophets, though he was apparently no slouch in the muscleman category himself. His goateed features were sharp with sarcastic humor as he eyed the Chesran.

Damn. Three styles of delicious, apparently a clan. A woman wouldn’t have to choose. She can take the whole platter home. On the heels of that, Toni’s better sense spoke up. Nope. Not gonna do a whole clan. Oh hell no.

But…damn, the temptation.

“Ten minutes. Sure. I’ll be right back.” The Chesran fled to his ship’s open cargo area, his long tail literally curled between his legs as he did so.

“Should I follow him?” To Toni’s relief, the Nobek’s threat diminished as he consulted his clanmates. He was still an icon of sheer destruction, but at least he didn’t appear ready to shred those in his immediate vicinity any longer.

“Give him five minutes.” The Dramok’s tone was upbeat, cheerful. “Then loom over him. Growl a bit.”

The Imdiko merely chuckled and shook his head. “You two. I was handling the situation fine.”

“You were, but group intimidation is so much fun.” The Dramok turned his smirk to Toni, which turned into a real smile. “Hello. I hope you don’t mind us rendering assistance.”

“No. Thank you.” She tried to shake her dazed reaction off, to assert herself appropriately. “Actually, I was working on teaching him to respect Earther women. You ruined the lesson.”

“Would it help if I were to assure you of my respect? Your threat to rip out his tongue and treat it as it so obviously deserved was glorious. Do you mind if I borrow that particular warning?”

“Uh…” Toni’s face heated as she recalled the exceptionally crude comment.

“It was among the best threats I’ve heard.” A slight smile toned down the Nobek’s feral visage further…but he still looked part beast. An admiring beast, who bowed to her as his companions did.

“Dramok Imon,” the goateed Kalquorian said. “These are my clanmates, Imdiko Feru and Nobek Wovir. Whom do we have the pleasure of rescuing, though she was in no need of it?”

“If you’re being condescending or engaging in flattery, you can save it.” She scowled despite wanting to return Imon’s insanely charming beam.

“Not at all! It’s merely how I talk.”

“Like he’s trying to sell you real estate in a swamp on the planet Trag.” Wovir surprised Toni by chuckling, which he didn’t appear capable of.

“In the first months of our acquaintance, Wovir punched me no fewer than five occasions before he realized I’m not quite as smarmy as my natural tone suggests. And Feru, who is one of the most understanding and forgiving men you’ll ever meet…a psychologist, no less…told me to fuck off on dozens of occasions before we clanned. He’s continued to do so since then, but I ignore it now.”

Imon’s grin was infectious. Toni realized she was returning it unconsciously and scowled.

Feru and Wovir laughed at her reaction. The Imdiko who’d stolen her breath said, “Don’t fight it. Imon’s charisma has a habit of blowing past defenses when you’re unfamiliar with him.”

“Even after.” Imon beamed.

“I’ll be on guard then.” Toni was aware her lips were fighting to curve upward again. “I do owe you thanks for getting the green jerk moving on my shipment. We have a lot of refugees on the way, particularly children, and little time to get ready for them.”

“I’ve heard. This issue of the Darks has thrown both our worlds into a mess. Our transport brought a few hundred refugees here from the Galactic Council of Planets.” Imon’s smile lost a measure of its voltage, and Toni thought she detected concerned kindness beyond its brilliance. “Whom do we have the pleasure of speaking to?”

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