“Keep your hands off her, you bastard.”
Tannis spun around in time to see Callum leap at the other man. He landed on top of him in a flurry of wings, and for a moment, she couldn’t make out what was going on.
They rolled. Devlin came out on top, and he smashed his fist into Callum’s face. Callum heaved him off and pounced on top of him, pummeling his chest.
Tannis stood watching, hands on her hips. She considered walking away, going to bed, and forgetting the pair of them. Let them beat the shit out of each other. But there was work to do tomorrow, and she could do without either of them being incapacitated. So she drew her laser pistol, flipped it to stun, and thought about what or who to shoot.
A noise down the corridor made her glance away—it looked like the rest of the crew had come to watch the fun—just as Callum and Devlin rolled again and nearly slammed into her legs. She swore loudly and took aim. She wasn’t planning on shooting either of them, but she wasn’t perfect—she might make a mistake and actually hit someone. It was tempting. Callum was immortal. He would heal quickly. Devlin wasn’t. She waited until Devlin had the upper position and aimed the laser at the floor by Callum’s head.
Sparks shot out as the blast hit the metal floor, and the two men sprang apart. She put a booted foot on Callum’s chest and aimed the pistol at his head.
“You making trouble on my ship?”
Amusement flashed in his eyes. “No, Captain.”
“Good.”
She swung the laser around to point directly at Devlin. “How about you?”
He actually grinned. So she was funny now was she? Her finger tightened on the trigger, and the grin was replaced by a look of alarm. Much better.
“No, Captain.”
Someone sniggered, and Tannis backed off a step and turned to face the crew. She studied them with narrowed eyes. “And you lot,” she said, waving her weapon in their general direction. “I do not need protecting.” She pointed the pistol at Jon. “Right?”
“Of course you don’t, Captain.”
“I can protect myself.” She took a pace toward them, jabbed the pistol into Rico’s stomach, and met a solid wall of muscle. “Right?”
He grinned. “No, Captain.”
Vaguely mollified, she turned away. “I’m going to bed.” And with that, she stalked down the corridor, pistol still in her hand.
She was back at her cabin when she realized Callum had followed her. Whirling around, she raised the gun and shoved it into his chest hard.
“Back off, Callum.”
“I want to talk to you.”
She sighed and holstered her weapon. “What?”
He considered her a moment. A bead of blood welled on his lip where Devlin had got in a punch. He licked it away, and her gaze followed the movement. Then back to his eyes.
“You might not be willing to accept me in your bed, just yet,” he said. “But while you’re working for me, you don’t sleep with anyone else either.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, really. You’re captain, and in everything else, I’m willing to take your orders. But in this, you’ll take mine.” He pushed up close to her.
“And how are you going to make me?” she asked, genuinely curious.
“I’m going to ask nicely.”
She was backed up against the wall now with nowhere left to go. The heat of his body pressed against hers, his hips thrusting into her, so she could feel the rigid line of his erection against her belly, and flames burst into life inside her.
“How nicely?” she asked, and her voice sounded weak and thready.
“Very.”
His lips lowered to hers, and her breath caught in her throat. She stared into his eyes. “Aren’t you scared I’ll bite you again?”
“Yes.”
Her hand came up to press flat against his chest and beneath her palm the thud of his heart beat a rapid tattoo.
He leaned in closer. “But I’m willing to risk it.”
Just one kiss, she told herself. No doubt she’d feel absolutely nothing, just like with Devlin. But she was already way beyond feeling nothing. Need coiled up tight inside her, and she knew it would snap with the first touch of his lips.
She tried to remember the research center but couldn’t bring it to mind, then Venna, her “angel,” but again the image refused to materialize. All she could see was Callum’s violet eyes drawing her in. His lips slightly parted.
“You’re sure?” he said at the last moment.
“Jesus!” Her fingers hooked in his shirtfront, and she dragged him the last few inches. The first touch of his mouth was almost tentative, gentle, and she didn’t want that.