Page 7 of Alien Engineer's Mate

"Oh, but surely you have a quick moment?" She followed, as focused a huntingdrakeen. "I've been meaning to ask about the station's power systems. As a teacher myself, you know… upper levels, of course, I find it all absolutely fascinating..."

His bracer chimed again. Forty minutes late now. The temptation to pick the irritating human up and move her aside grew stronger with each passing second.

"I have a meeting." He rumbled in a voice that made junior warriors run for cover. "Engineering matters require attention."

“Oh, but I’dloveto hear all about your work." Her smile widened like a krin’s as she invaded more of his space. "Perhaps over dinner? I know a lovely little place in the commercial sector…”

“I do not socialize outside the mate program." The words escaped through clenched teeth despite his effort at diplomacy. “And mate potentials are not allowed out in the commercial sector without an escort.”

He realized his mistake as soon as her smile widened even more.

“Yes, but I would have an escort, wouldn’t I? And the mate program is so... restrictive, though, isn't it?" Her hand brushed his arm, sending revulsion crawling across his skin. "Surely there’s room for getting to know each other more… naturally?"

A growl built in his chest, but movement and a flash of orange hair caught his eye. Taller than the average warrior, Commander Kirr’s height made him stand out even among them.

Their eyes met. Kirr’s lips twitched with poorly concealed amusement.

Draanth. I’m never going to hear the end of this, Maax thought sourly. But he'd take any escape route available, even at the cost of his dignity.

"Commander," he called out, letting his voice carry like the distress signal it was. "A moment of your time?"

Aisha stepped back at Kirr’s approach, her eyes widening. His greater height and rank tended to have that effect on most humans… a fact Maax had never appreciated more than this moment.

"Of course, Lead Engineer." Kirr’s expression was neutral, though his golden eyes danced with amusement. "I believe we're both expected in the same meeting?"

"My apologies for the delay." Maax gave Aisha, who had finally retreated to a bearable distance, a curt nod. "Good day, Lady Aisha.”

He fell into step beside Kirr as they walked away. His friend waited until they were safely around the corner before speaking.

"Rough morning?"

"Emily had nightmares." The memory of her terrified whimpers made his hands clench at his sides. "Again.”

Kirr’s amusement vanished like air into space. "She is safe now. You made sure of that."

"I know." Maax glanced at his bracer's stream of increasingly urgent messages, guilt warring with protective instinct. "But the memories remain."

"And that female by the nursery?"

A growl escaped before he could stop it. "She knows I am not available outside the mate program. A fact she chooses to ignore.”

"Ah, but you are such a strong male, taking on such responsibility," Kirr mimicked Aisha's tone to perfection, then dodged Maax's half-hearted swipe with a wide grin. "Perhaps I should mention to Security that she's harassing the Assistant Chief Engineer?"

"I can handle it." Maax straightened his jacket, trying to look more like a professional and less like someone who'd spent the night in a chair. "Though if you'd arrived a few minutes later..."

"You'd have what? Thrown her out an airlock?" Kirr chuckled. "That would be somewhat hard to explain to Emily. And Duke Karrigan.”

The mention of his daughter brought a smile to his face despite everything. "She's worth all of it. Even thepain-in-the-draanthicfemales."

"Now that," Kirr said as they reached Engineering, "is something I never thought I'd hear you say."

They paused at the entrance. Through the doors, he could see his team clustered around the main display; heads bent over what was no doubt the power grid analysis he was supposed to be leading this morning. His chest tightened with fresh guilt.

"Go on," Kirr prompted. "I'll even explain about the nightmares if you want. Better than letting them think you've finally succumbed to human female wiles…”

"And no, I can make my own excuses, thank you very much.” He eyed Kirr. “You're enjoying this way too much.”

“Of course.” Kirr’s grin widened. "It's not often I get to see the mighty Maax A’Taav felled by a small child and a persistent female."

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