Page 13 of Enforced Love

Chapter Five

By the time I made it to my rooms, I had thirty-five minutes to shower, change and get ready. It had been harder than I’d thought to walk out and leave Heath and Dracon on that shuttle. Hell, now, I had another incentive to keep my ass safe and get back in six weeks. Not that I’d really needed another. I love myself and plan to keep me around as long as I can.

I zipped through the shower, letting the hot beam scan over me. No hair removal this time, so I didn’t have to put my hair up. I was still moisturized from last night, as well, so the cool beam wasn’t necessary. I jumped out and automatically reached for my uniform that I’d put out before entering.

The black underclothes were just for me. They were soft and sheer, allowing me to feel feminine under my masculine uniform. Next, I pulled on the black pants and T-shirt of the Enforcer before sitting down to slip on my combat-style, black Enforcer boots. Standing, I reached for the quetchin for my hair and sighed as all my long locks disappear beneath it. Now, when I put my hat on, you’d be unable to tell I was female from the neck up. The boobs in my T-shirt were a dead giveaway.

Ten minutes to go. I went out to the commons area, but neither Soph nor Mandy’s doors were open so I opted to jot a quick note of farewell. I had no idea how their nights had ended, and I didn’t want to interrupt if they’d been as great as mine. A grin tugged at my face as I left our quarters and headed toward the Liege Commander’s post. No one could have had as great a night as me.

I hurried down the corridor, hoping to be one of the first there. My father had always taught me winners weren’t just on time; they arrived early. Still, from the sound of the raised voices, it appeared I wasn’t the first to arrive. And whoever was in there wasn’t happy about something.

I stilled. My pulse picked up, and my breath felt trapped in my lungs for a moment. I recognized those voices with the Liege Commander. Dracon and Heath were in there, and it appeared they were arguing about me. Or at least, Dracon was. I stood where I was and eavesdropped.

“The fifth quadrant is no place for some little girl to trail along with us, sir.” That was Dracon’s voice.

My temper flared. He hadn’t thought of me as a little girl when he’d been fucking me last night.

“Seriously, sir,” Dracon’s voice continued. “How are we supposed to babysit in the fifth? Can’t you send her somewhere else with another team?”

“No,” Liege Commander Diamato replied. I’d met him several times, both in and out of uniform. He was a tall and commanding figure, who happened to be friends with my dad. I’d never met his wife or son, but then most of the dinners had been working ones anyway. I’m sure I’d only been allowed because of my age at the time. I hadn’t seen him socially since becoming part of the Enforcer squad.

“Enforcer Certze has more than proven to be capable of taking care of herself,” the commander continued. “I don’t foresee her needing you to babysit, as you put it.” There was an edge of anger in the commander’s voice, and I wondered if it was for me or just because they dared question him.

“She’s still a woman,” Dracon said, sounding angry. I remembered that voice stroking over my skin just as his hands had. Hell, my nipples were already steel points. But my anger spiked higher with his next words, and I found myself entering the room. “She’s genetically the weaker sex. If you want to make her feel like she’s good, that’s fine, but don’t risk our lives in the process.”

“I don’t…” the commander started to say, but I’d heard enough, and I interrupted without thought.

“I don’t require a pat on the head or anywhere else,” I said, entering the room and immediately drawing all eyes my way. Right away, I saw they recognized my voice, but with my current appearance, they were unable to place me. “I don’t need a babysitter. I’ve more than earned my right to head to the fifth, and I don’t need your approval.”

“I’m sure you’re good at the job you do,” Dracon said, and his gaze scanned me from head-to-toe as if to imply I’d slept my way to where I was. “But you have no idea what happens in the fifth quadrant. The big bad guys there would eat up a little girl like you.”

“Would they?” My blood was pounding in my veins and I felt like I was ready to explode. “Would they really?” I whipped off my hat and slammed it against my thigh. My eyes locked with Dracon’s, and finally, realization dawned in his eyes. “Perhaps, I should request a new team due to personal conflict?”

Personal conflict could be used in some situations, but to be honest, I wasn’t sure the commander would care whether or not we’d fucked. To be honest, I really didn’t want to confess to such a thing, either. Had I known last night who Dracon and Heath were, I might have reconsidered our night together. They probably would have, too.

“Is that a request you want to put in?” Liege Commander Diamato asked.

“Hell, no,” Heath stated through gritted teeth. “Request for a bit of time alone with Enforcer Certze, sir. To speak freely, sir.”

Dracon turned away, and the commander looked at me. “Is that all right with you, Enforcer?”

“Yes, sir,” I replied. I had a feeling this conversation was about to turn ugly, and I really didn’t want my Liege Commander to get the wrong impression about me. I knew exactly how it would look, and it wouldn’t matter that these two were the first active Enforcers I’d slept with in my career.

He nodded. “You have one hour,” he said. “I’ll delay your ship until 0700, but no later.” With that, he walked out of the room and, this time, closed the door behind him.

For a moment, I stood there, uncertainty ripping through me. I felt like a total girl. I’d liked them, a lot. Now, reality had invaded, and I realized Alpha sometimes stood for asshole.

“Did you know who we were last night?” Heath asked me.

“No—”

Dracon’s heated voice overrode mine. “Of course, she did. Did you want to check out the staying power of the two men you were being shipped off with for six weeks? Did we pass muster, Enforcer Certze?” He growled my name and managed to degrade me in two sentences.

I felt the color infuse my neck and face. I’d never been this angry. “Your judgment is misplaced,” I began. “My record speaks for itself. I won’t validate or qualify myself to anyone, especially you.”

“Well, isn’t that refreshing?” Dracon grunted. “You’ve never been to the fifth, so I don’t care what your record shows. There are some really bad men there. Sexual slavery is rampant. People are kidnapped all the time and never found again. A tasty little treat like you will have all the men coming at us, just for a chance to take you. You’ll bring a high price if they decided not to keep you.”

“You’re assuming I’ll be captured,” I replied. “I won’t be.”

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