Page 17 of Alien Knight Teddy Bear Troubles

Taeger’s eyebrow rose higher and higher as he took in her dress. Was that a towel? She was standing there half naked like it was nothing. Heat slammed through him. His shaft, which had been uncomfortably hard all morning, hardened painfully. Walking over to her, he bent down and took the corner of the towel in his fingers. He pressed the fabric and gave a command.

Immediately the cloth lengthened into a floor length dress, changing from white to a deep blue. She was beautiful before with the scrap of material, but now she was absolutely breathtaking. He immediately regretted the act, as he wanted nothing more than to take her back to his room and strip her bare. Bury himself in her warmth. Cassie’s indrawn breath of surprise was a potent aphrodisiac. Only years of self disciple allowed him to step away. “Yes. I am taking you home, Cassie. Where you’ll be safe.”

“No.”

“No?” Greig looked as if she had offered grave insult, but Taeger’s gaze lingered, his look filled with questions she couldn’t answer.

She shook her head. She’d tell them what she could. “No. I have to get back to Mora Five. I thought you were from Mora Five? That’s what Ion told me.”

At the mention of his name, Ion dropped her hand and walked to Taeger, holding up his bear. “Uncle Taegie. BooBoo Bear’s leg is broken.”

“Don’t worry, little one. We’ll have the doctor look at it right away.” Taeger leaned down and picked up the boy, who snuggled into the crook of his neck and shoulder like he belonged there and Cassie felt a pang of envy. That’s whereshe’dslept last night. Against all that warm, safe heat. Cuddled and protected.

Shit.

Focus.

“I must return to Mora Five. Is there a small shuttle or some other craft I could take?”

Taeger looked at her over the top of Ion’s head like she’d lost her mind. “Earth is the safest place for you, Cassandra. Mora Five was attacked by the Dark Ones, most of the planet’s population swept up into harvest ships, like the one you were on. It’s too dangerous for you to return.”

What could she tell him without breaking trust with the people on Earth who were counting on her? She’d picked up the package, a weapon from their contact on the Intergalactic Council. She’d been halfway home when the Vilitos attacked. Somehow, she had to repair her ship and get that weapon back to Earth, intact. Which meant finding that damn ship. She had to finish her mission. Had to.

And then there was Charlie and Smith. They hadn’t been on the prison ship. At least, not that she’d seen, which was why she held out hope they were still on Mora Five.

Waiting for her to return. Wondering if she was dead.

Even if they tried to make it off the planet, Charlie was too much of a mess to fly, and Smith didn’t have any flying time at all. Not even in a normal jet or airplane. Let alone an experimental craft developed using unpredictable alien technology.

Cassie ran a hand through her hair and realized that it was wild and tangled from her shower. She’d been too worried about Ion to even finger-comb her hair. And from the way Taeger’s gaze followed the movement, his eyes darkening, she imagined she looked like she’d just tumbled out of bed.

If only. Better yet, tumble back into bed…withhim.

“I have to go to Mora Five.” Focus. Jeez. “You don’t have to take me. Just give me a ship and I’ll get out of your hair.”

“Why? Why do you want to go back there?”

There it was, the question she couldn’t answer. But she couldn’t look Taeger in the eye and lie to him either, not after last night.

Damn it. Definitelynotspy material.

“I can’t tell you that,” she hedged, her arms crossing protectively in front of her.

Taeger shifted Ion to his other shoulder and touched one of the control panels. “Doctor Obieon, can you come take a look at Ion’s Kuvu bear? He has a serious leg injury.”

The male voice on the other end of the comm chuckled. “Of course. Please assure Ion that I am on my way.”

“Excellent. Thank you.” Taeger closed the comm and locked his gaze with hers. Waiting. To scream? Yell at her? Demand answers? She had no idea.

“I will escort Ion and his bear to the medical station,” Greig offered. The look he gave her as Ion happily transferred to his arms one Cassie couldn’t quite figure out. He looked…confused.

Taeger watched him go, as did Cassie. And then, it was just the two of them staring at each other over a holographic image of Earth, the sun, and the rest of the planets. Home. She was looking at home, being offered a ride, and she couldn’t accept.

Taeger sighed, one hand swiping over his face tiredly. This was not a conversation he wanted to have with her. All he really wanted was to take her back to bed. For a week. A month. Forever. Whatever she was hiding could end their relationship. “Tell me the truth, Cassandra. What were you doing on Mora Five?”

She reached out and touched the small, holographic orb where everyone she knew and cared about fought to survive this new alien threat. Humanity was outgunned, outmatched and being lied to. So, what could she say to one of the aliens whose people were not just squatting on Earth, but lying to its leaders?

Nothing. Not a damn thing.

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