Cali & Drake (The Alliance Book 1) (7 page)

“I find myself agreeing with Vareen,” Nellia spoke softly. “We’ve been
out here for a long time and going back is inevitable. Why shouldn’t Cali take
this taste of passion while she can? Not that I understand the attraction to
Drake. To
me,
he’s wild, dangerous, and
terrifying.”

Diandra just pursed her lips, refusing to argue anymore.

“You asked us here for our opinions.” Vareen turned to her. “I’m sorry
Cali but what we think isn’t as important as what you want. You’re the one
who’s got to live with the choices you make.”

“So it comes down to knowing yourself, and if you can live with walking
away from Drake when the time
comes,
”
Nellia warned.

That was the crust of her problem. Would she be able to return to Cestori
once she’d had a taste of passion with Drake?

For the last few
days,
Drake could
only curse himself. Cali wasn’t coming back. He’d thought honesty about his
intentions would be better than more lies between them, but
obviously,
he was mistaken. The only person to
visit his quarters had been the tall dark-haired one. Vareen. She’d come by
yesterday to updated him on the search for other stasis pods.

“We’re picking up faint readings coming from the orbit of a distant moon of
Titus. We’ve changed course and should arrive in approximately forty-eight.”

“Why so long?” Drake sat straighter in his chair at the news they’d found
something. He remembered hearing the guards boasting about this being the
fastest ship ever made on Cestori as they walked him to his quarters.

“We aren’t traveling at maximum speed. We’re trying to conserve energy,”
Vareen supplied that information from the doorway. She’d refused his offer to
have a seat, and he wasn’t going to argue.

He may not be a good liar, but he was finding they weren’t either. “I
thought this ship was advanced enough to need limited energy supplies.”

Vareen smiled coldly, “No point in pressing our luck.”

“Can you ask Cali to come to my quarters?” He wanted to speak with her
about the pods they were tracking. An urgency had come over him now that he
knew there were others from his ship in stasis.

“I don’t think that’s a wise decision.” Vareen hesitated then biting her
lip, added, “Cali, against all logic, is my friend. You don’t know the whole
story, and while you think she might get hurt, I know she is
sure
to—”

“Then tell me the whole story.” Drake interrupted. He took it as a good
sign Cali had told her friends about his attraction to her. It meant she was
thinking about him.

“It’s Cali’s choice to tell you or not.” Vareen frowned furiously. “I’m
only going to advise you to be careful. Cali can be overly emotional when it
comes to her interactions with people.” Vareen shook her head, “I’ve got to get
back to my duties. Per Cali’s orders, I’ve kept you updated.”

“Thank you.” Drake hurried to add before Vareen could disappear, “I’ve
assured Cali and want you to hear it from me as well. I mean no harm to anyone
on this ship.”

“That’s a loaded statement,” Vareen bowed her head slightly and backed
away. “What your intentions are, and the reality of what is to
come
might very well be two different things.”

Drake frowned at the cryptic statement, but before he could comment the
doors slid shut.

That conversation had him thinking all night. The last thing in the world
he wanted was for Cali to be hurt, that’s why he’d warned her away. If she came
back it was because she was willing to take the risk.

Drake snorted.
What a risk it would
be too. He hadn’t told Cali the whole truth about anything. There were serious consequences
of them being together, and he knew that once he held her he’d never want to
let go. There was something special
about
his attraction to her.

All of that was true.
However
,
he argued with himself.
I’m honorable in
my intentions and determined to keep her safe.
Drake read between the lines
of Vareen’s warning. Something was going on that Vareen felt would get her
friend hurt, beyond a relationship with him that is. He just needed to get Cali
to talk to him so he could figure out how to help her.

Does she even want your help?

Hmm…
Drake rubbed his temples.
He needed to get a grip, talking to himself wasn’t helping. It all came down to
one thing, no matter how hard he tried to talk himself around it, he was
determined to have Cali, and damn the consequences, she was going to be his.
The decision was made.

There were things he didn’t know about her, and there were
a lot
of things she didn’t know about
him. None of it
mattered,
however, all he
could focus on was the intense need to claim her.

Standing up and striding toward his room he was stopped when his door
chimed.

“Come in,” he called out impatiently. Turning toward the doorway he
froze, it was Cali.

“Drake—”

He didn’t let her finish. Pulling her into the room, he backed her
against the wall.

“Lock the door.” Cali was forced to look up since he was a head taller
than her. “Do it now Cali.”

He
watched her trembling hand as
she
felt for and found the console. Not
breaking eye contact she ordered, “Computer, lock down this door. Only my voice
authorization is to release the lock.”

“Confirmed,” the
computer-animated
voice intoned.

The moment Cali locked the door, he grabbed her hands into one of his and
pressed them over her head. Leaning back to put some space between them, he
looked his fill. Cali’s eyes were bright with passion, her lips pink and
inviting. Her heavy breaths drew her uniform tight against her breasts and
Drake frowned at the material in the way.

Taking the fastening at her throat, Drake slid the zipper down until the
creamy globes parted the material as if seeking his attention. With one finger
he trailed a path between her breasts, pushing the material slightly to the
side as he went. Turning his attention to the other side, he repeated the
process until her breasts were uncovered. Drinking in the sight of her, he
relished when gooseflesh spread across her skin.

“I’m—” Cali went to say something, but he pressed a finger against her
lips.

“No,” he insisted. “No talking tonight. We can talk after…”

His words caused a tremor to run through her body. Leaning back into her,
so their bare chests rubbed against each other, Drake growled softly in
pleasure at his bodies reaction. Thankfully his pants were of a thicker
material than the uniform they had offered him. If he had been wearing that,
his painfully swelling erection would have burst through the damn thing. As it
was, he feared his control would snap, along with his poor trousers.

His hands now trembling with pent up desire, Drake brushed one thumb
across Cali’s lower lip. Her tongue swept out to taste him and he growled
louder. The temptation was too much. He bent and pressed his lips against hers.

Taking two handfuls of Cali’s glorious ass, Drake strode into the
bedroom. Come morning, they would know everything they need to…about each
other’s bodies at least.

Cali heard someone calling her, as if from very far away. “Captain.”
Snuggling closer to the source of warmth next to her she struggled to regain
the dream she’d been having. “Captain.” The voice was persistent; she’d give
them that much. “Cali!”

Opening her eyes, Cali couldn’t remember for a second where she was.
Turning her gaze around the unfamiliar room, it dawned on her. She was in
Drake’s bed, what time was it?

“Cali, if you don’t answer I’m going to engineering and getting a laser
torch!” Vareen’s angry voice threatened over her
comlink
.

Finding her
uniform
she pressed her
comm badge. “I’m here Vareen,” She spoke softly. She didn’t want to disturb
Drake. His large frame was sprawled across from her. The blanket they’d been tucked
into had slid to lay at his hips. “What do you need?”

“We’ve arrived at the source of the other signals. You asked to be
notified no matter the time.” Vareen reminded her.

“I’m on my way to the bridge now,” Cali slowly shuffled off the bed with
a loud groan.

“What was that? Are you hurt?” Vareen sounded panicked again.

 
“Later Vareen, Clear.” She pressed
her comm badge again and it went quiet. Cali knew she would no longer be heard.
Her muscles protested the activity and Cali had to grab her lower back. She
felt sore all over, especially between her legs.

Stepping into the jumpsuit Cali zipped it on. She’d never find her boots
in this light and figured a quick stop to her quarters might be in order for a
new pair. Tiptoeing out of the bedroom, she made it to the console and pressed
her hand against the scanner.

“Unlock.” She whispered and the flashing green light told her the door
would open.

Running her fingers through her hair she stepped in front of the door and
exited into the hallway. The guards didn’t seem surprised to see her. It had
been a few years since she had done the ‘walk of shame,’ returning to her
dormitory disheveled and in the same clothes as the day before. The only
difference, this time,
was the fact she didn’t
feel any shame in what she had done with Drake.

Renewed sexual desire at the thought of his
lips,
and happiness that she had experienced his lovemaking, but no
shame.

Moving to the lift she distractedly called for the command deck. It was a
good thing the bridge was right across the hall from her room. Once in her
rooms she took the time for a solar shower, fixed her hair and grabbed a pair
of boots. When she was satisfied with her appearance, she strode across the
hall.

“Captain on the bridge.”

Cali looked at the holographic image and counted four signals. “What do
you have Vareen?”

“There appear to be four stasis pods caught in the orbit of this moon,”
Vareen got her up to speed. “I’d just ordered them to be pulled into the
docking bay. The life signs are being masked by the same kind of shielding
around Drake’s pod. Any survivors inside are unknown.”

“You’re with me to the docking
bay,
”
Cali ordered and Vareen followed her to the lift. “Has the medical staff been
notified?”

“Yes, Nellia should be waiting in the docking bay before us.”

Cali called for level six.

“Are you going to tell me about last night, and today?” Vareen looked
ahead when she asked the question and Cali could see her lips twitching.

“Last night
and
today?” Cali
blushed, “What time is it?”

“You went to Drake’s room last night, and it’s now afternoon.”

Cali didn’t know what to say. She’d been so engrossed with Drake she
hadn’t realized almost twenty-four hours had passed.

“Well?” The lift stopped and Vareen motioned for Cali to go ahead.

“No, I’m not telling you about last night or today.” Cali softened as
more memories flashed through her mind. Drake’s lips on her neck. Drake’s hands
on her breasts and hips. Some things were not for public discussion.

“Of course,” Vareen gave her a knowing look. “That’s probably a good
idea.”

“Cali,” Nellia motioned for her and Vareen to enter the docking bay. “They’ve
just arrived. Scanning for contaminants should only take a moment.” Nellia eyed
her with a hint of humor, “Are you going to tell me about last night—”

“She doesn’t want to talk about it,” Vareen stopped Nellia with laughter
in her voice. “We’re going to have to fill in the blanks with our imaginations.”

“Do we have to hit random buttons on the pods to open them, or have the engineers
cracked the code?” Cali asked to change the subject.

“We have the code,” Vareen stated and showed Cali the
handheld
unit she was carrying. “I just have to
attach this to the pods and they should open.”

“It appears we are good to approach them. After you.” Cali waved at the
docking bay.

Vareen chose the one closest to
them
and strode to it. She pressed her decoding unit to the console and they waited.
Finally, with a flashing of buttons and a whirring sound the lid opened.

“Nellia, check this one before we open the
others,
” Cali ordered and Nellie began scanning the occupant with
her hand held medical unit.

While Nellia was scanning, she stood back and examined the male occupant
of the pod. Since the pods were the same in size, Cali guessed this male to be about
six-foot tall. She couldn’t see if he had any scars or markings on his body
since a golden colored shirt covered him. Unlike Drake, whose shirt was in
tatters, this male’s clothing was more finely preserved. His black pants and
boots did match Drake’s, and his body was similar in musculature. Where Drake
had black hair, this male was golden blond. His face, however, was softer
somehow, less rigid.

“He’s in the same state as Drake when we found him.” Nellia finished her
scan.

“Send him to medical,” Cali ordered. “We can move to the next pod.”

Vareen stood ready at the next pod in line. When the
golden-shirted
male was transported, she placed
her hand held unit against the next pod’s console.

Another male was lying dormant inside. This one was wearing a red shirt
with the same black pants and boots. His body frame was similar in size to
Drake and the golden one. While she had thought the golden male was softer than
Drake, this male radiated being pampered. His reddish hair had been cut stylishly
to fall around his face. A small growth of beard neatly covered around his lips
and chin. The rest of his skin was smooth, without any type of blemish and
there was a nice smell coming
from
him.

“This is more like
it,
” Nellia
smiled faintly at the sight of this male. “He appears more refined than the
others.”

Cali wisely remained silent. This male was just as large and could do just
as much damage. Cali would stake her seat as captain on it.

Nellia scanned him, and found nothing wrong, so she transported him to
medical as well.

“That leaves lucky number three.” Cali joked as they opened the third
pod.

“By the old gods…” Vareen’s startled exclamation broke off and Cali
couldn’t blame her for being unable to finish her sentence.

“How did he fit in the pod?” Cali couldn’t believe what she was seeing.
“Hurry to scan him and get him to medical.”

The poor male was crammed into the pod. He had to be at least
six-foot-five
or six but it wasn’t just height,
he was wide as well. Like the other two, his shirt had survived and covered his
body. His hair was a pitch black and although Drake and the others had longer
hair, this male had his hair shorn very short. His face had a few faint scars,
but it didn’t detract from his looks. The overall impact was a rugged and
deeply masculine male.

“Vareen,” she looked over, “What do you think…” Cali broke off her question
when she saw the dumbstruck look on her friend’s face.

“He’s clean. As far as I can tell, all three of them are in perfect
health.” Nellia stood next to her and watched Vareen. Their friend was still
staring silently at the male in the pod. “I don’t think it’s wise to put him in
the medical unit. In fact, I think all of them should be sent to holding
cells.”

“What?” Vareen had snapped out of her pensive staring of the male.

“Why?” Cali asked at the same time.

“Look at the size of them,” Nellia snapped. “That’s why. I’m not sure
what’s gotten into either of you, but the safety of the ship comes first. These
males are dangerous and should be isolated.”

“Nellia, I didn’t know you to be so
irrational,
”
Cali argued back. “Drake hasn’t proven to be dangerous at all.”
Unless you count to my ability to walk
straight
, she added silently. “We should treat them as guests until they
prove unworthy of that status.”

“I agree with Cali,” Vareen was back to staring at the prone male. “They
seem harmless enough.”

“Harmless,” Nellia snorted. “I would hardly—”

“Enough,” Cali didn’t want this male to wake up stuffed in a pod.
“Transport him to medical. I’ll send additional security if that’ll ease your
mind.”

“Okay,” Nellia sighed, “I’ll transport him. Thank you for the additional security.”
Nellia was obviously unhappy but did as she asked. With a link established the
male in all black disappeared.

“That leaves the last one.” All three of them moved to the final pod.
When it was open they found another male. This one had a blue shirt, the black
pants,
and boots and…Cali smiled faintly.

“Are those shells in his hair?”

The male had a single braid on either side of his face, his normal hair
color appeared to be platinum blonde like her, but the braids were colored a
nice cobalt blue. Tiny shells were attached in various positions along the
braid. It was very interesting to her, where the other males didn’t have any
type of adornment, this one seemed to be shouting his individuality.

“Again, he’s perfectly healthy,” Nellia muttered.

“Send him to medical. We can all go and see how these four fare.” Cali
moved toward the lift with Vareen following. Nellia arranged the last transport
and hurried to catch up.

“Computer, level
two,
” Cali asked
the lift when everyone was inside. “Vareen, arrange for quarters for the four
men. As soon as they wake up, I’m sure Drake will want to see them.”

“They can have rooms on the security level as well. That’ll make it
easier for the guards to watch over all five of them.”

“Agreed,” Cali was distracted by the snort from Nellia. “What?”

“How many guards are you going to put to watching over those five? I’m
not sure we have enough to manage the task.”

“You’re being cautious, which is admirable Nellia, but I still don’t see
the danger in the men that you do.”

“Why not ask Drake to come to medical. He might want to greet them when
they wake.” Vareen made the suggestion as the doors to the lift opened at level
two.

“I’ll call for him in a few hours. If these four are anything like his
case, they won’t wake up until much later anyway. I want Drake to get some
rest.”

“So now are we going to get the details?” Nellia swept down the hall. “Does
he lack stamina?”

Cali blushed at the teasing but refused to rise to the bait. Tapping her
comm badge she called, “Computer connect me to the security chief.”
 

“Security here captain,” a male voice rang out.

“Detail an additional eight men to the medical unit,” Cali ordered. They
arrived at the medical room and the double doors opened automatically.

“Confirmed. I will send an additional eight men to back up the two
already stationed there.”

“Thank
you,
chief. Clear.” Cali
broke with the male security officer and looked to Nellia.
“
Should I add more guards?” Cali teased.