Page 10 of Star Defenders (My Alien Mates 2)

"The challenge of an intelligent woman, eh?" Zarex said, but he quirked an eyebrow at me.

"Right?" Slek drew the word out, as though he was long suffering. "Can't live with 'em, can't suck your own cock." He placed an arm around me and gave me a squeeze.

"Not unless you're a Centaurian," Zarex said.

Slek did a double take. "Really? I didn't know that about them." He cocked his head. "Hmmm, how about that?"

I cleared my throat. "As fascinating as this is, shouldn't we get ready to board?"

"Yes, we should," Danec said, obviously uncomfortable at the subject of the conversation, and how friendly we were being with Zarex.

I understood Danec's reluctance to trust the Agusian. He was likeable, but he wasn't above suspicion.

Speaking of guys who were not above suspicion, J'avet stepped up behind us wearing his customary scowl. His dark red eyes focused on Zarex, as if the rest of us weren't there. Maybe to him, we weren't. Undoubtedly he was wondering why another commander would bother with the likes of us.

"Ah, J'avet," Zarex spoke before he even opened his mouth. "I was wondering when you'd slink out from wherever you're hiding."

J'avet narrowed his eyes. "Your people are the ones with reptilian ancestors. I'll leave the slinking to you."

"But Parvorans are catlike," Zarex said easily. "I would think slinking is more of a feline thing." He turned to me and added, "Wouldn't you say?"

I ignored J'avet's glare and raised my hands. "Sorry, I'm staying out of this."

"Oh come now," Zarex said. "You're the nurse. In your professional opinion—"

"Enough," J'avet growled. "Are you planning to be insufferable during the whole journey?"

Zarex smiled. "I never plan that far ahead. I merely seize the moment as it comes."

"Then I'll stay in my cabin, just to be sure." J'avet seemed to regret having left it.

For some reason, I actually felt sorry for him. To Zarex, I said, "Maybe we could all be nice to each other and get along?" I gave him a meaningful look.

"Perhaps you should mind your own business," J'avet snapped. He turned on a booted heel and left me to gape after him.

"He's so charming," Slek remarked.

"That's one word for him," I said.

Danec opened his mouth and closed it again.

I suspected he was about to use our nickname for J'avet—asshole-dickhead-prick—but thought better of saying it in front of Zarex. Seeing the two commanders at odds with each other was one thing. Getting in the middle of it, and insulting J'avet, was another. One which might get him thrown in the brig until theHalcyonleft without him.

"J'avet is a good commander," Zarex said, confirming my suspicion that while he ribbed the other man, he didn't approve of others doing so.

"Did you know theHalcyonis the fastest ship of its kind?" Slek said suddenly. "With a smaller, more efficient engine."

"She'll get us to Agus two days sooner than another ship would," Danec said.

Relieved at the change of topic, I added, "I've heard she has a pretty good infirmary too."

"A full body scanner was installed before she left dry dock," Zarex said.

Did I imagine his eyes raked my body as he spoke? I stood between Slek and Danec, with Slek's arm around my shoulders and Danec's hand touching mine, and Zarex was still looking at me? Yes, I was sure I imagined it. I already had my hands full.

So why did I want him to look again?

"Um. Really? That's… Fabulous."Veryeloquent, I told myself. It was a shame Kalvix would never see it. The Agusian doctor Slek had flirted mercilessly with was a passenger on a pod destroyed by the rogues. Or so J'avet said. I had no reason to think he lied. He was an asshole, but he was honest to a fault.

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