Master of Her Heart (Sons of Amber Book 2) (2 page)

Their sperm was collected and made available to all the human worlds so women who wanted to conceive could go to fertility clinics and be impregnated with the sperm of the Son of their choice. Catalogs containing short bios and images of all the Sons were found in such places so women could have some say in what their children might look like or what traits they might inherit from their fathers.

It was all too clinical, but there was little choice. Higher ranked women like Leah could also opt to reserve time with one of the Sons as scheduling allowed, to try to get pregnant the old fashioned way, but that seemed even worse to her.

Nearing forty, Leah was starting to really worry about just how and when she would finally start her family. She wanted a baby. A little boy to raise and nurture. She wanted it desperately, but since coming to work for Michael Amber, all too often when she pictured her son, he had Michael’s dark hair and flashing blue eyes. She could easily imagine the boy she would dote on and love with all her heart, as she couldn’t afford to love his father.

Michael was a Son of Amber. He was also one of the most influential and successful of the Sons. Not a man who could settle with one woman—ever. Such daydreams were useless and could be dangerous to a woman who worked with the tempting man, day in and day out. She knew Michael depended on her. He might even feel some kind of affection for her, but he would never feel the love she desired with every fiber of her being.

She’d been married. She knew what young love felt like, and she missed it. Sometimes she ached for the half-forgotten feel of her husband’s arms around her. It had been so long ago, she barely remembered him now. Sometimes it all seemed so pointless.

The time was drawing near when she would have to make a decision. Either she stayed working with Michael, watching him, wanting him, and knowing she could never have him, or she would quit. She would resign her commission and visit the fertility clinic, choosing Michael’s seed to produce her baby boy.

The choice was a cold one, but the result would warm her heart for the rest of her life. Michael’s baby couldn’t help but be a reflection of the great man she’d come to know…and love.

The thought jarred her as he ended the comm. Michael sighed and sat wearily at his desk.

“Thanks. I definitely owe you one for that, Colonel.”

Leah gathered her wits and sat as he indicated the chair in front of his desk. “Anytime, sir.”

“Smithson ought to be court-martialed for her actions.”

Leah chuckled dryly. “She’s too well connected. They’ll never go after her.”

He sighed and threw a stylus onto his desk. Leah had to stop herself from staring at his massive shoulders as he sat back in his chair. The man was just too appealing for her peace of mind. Lately it had gotten harder and harder to ignore his incredibly masculine attributes. Ever since she’d decided she would have his baby, she found she couldn’t look at him with the same detachment she’d cultivated since first being assigned to his staff.

“It’s disgusting.”

“You’ve got that right,” Leah muttered, thinking more of her wayward thoughts and inability to focus on the task at hand than what he was actually talking about. It was time to quit thinking of Michael as a stud and concentrate on the work they had yet to accomplish. They had a lot to get through today and this little run-in with an idiot general had sidetracked them enough. “You’ll be lucky if she doesn’t start trash talking you among the other generals.”

A cold look entered his icy blue eyes. “Let her try.”

A shiver coursed down her spine and she understood what the gossips meant when they talked about Michael Amber’s death glare. He’d become famous among the soldiers fighting to protect humanity for his skill and intense methods. Leah had never actually fought beside him, but she caught glimpses of the deadliness of the man every now and again.

She’d trained in the gym with him just once, early on in her tenure as his Executive Officer. After that one, sweaty, dangerous run-in, she’d avoided being in the gym with him ever again. He was deadly with his hands and he moved like a serpent—sinuous, strong and lethal.

His physique was impeccable. His musculature made her mouth water in a way it should not for a man who was firmly off limits. His eyes were intent, his concentration total. He’d impressed her, and before the virus she’d been exposed to the best of the best of military men in her own family and tribe. She thought she was used to his kind of man, but Michael Amber was in a class by himself.

“The jits are getting too cocky, though. More and more of them are turning pirate and raiding fringe colonies, stealing supplies and women. It’s got to be stopped.”

Leah shook herself, trying to concentrate on what he was saying rather than the scandalous thoughts about her boss that came more often of late. “I agree. Especially when there might still be undiscovered pockets of uninfected humans out there like those Ezekiel found.”

Mike nodded, turning to his read-outs. “Something’s got to be done. Do you have the assignment roster for our intel scouts?”

She accessed her handcomp, which never really left her side. It contained all the pertinent data she might need in a hurry and connected her with other databanks where she could access all kinds of things within a few moments. She lifted the small pad from her hip and switched it on from standby mode. A cheery blue glow greeted her.

“Anyone in particular, sir?”

Mike’s glacial blue eyes narrowed. “Zeke would have been perfect for this, but he’s retired.” He was thinking aloud, a habit she’d grown used to over the years. “I need a Risker for this kind of mission. One who’s available now or will be in the next week or two?”

“Male, then?”

Mike nodded. “A Son could possibly blend in with the jit pirates.”

She started to comprehend what he had in mind. Few humans had ever reported seeing a jit’suku female, so if Michael wanted to infiltrate their ranks, it had to be done by a male. Only a Risker would be fool enough to try, and only a Risker had any odds at all of succeeding. She consulted her lists.

“Silas and Tyron are free now. Smith, Hauer, and Billy come free within the next two weeks.”

“All right. Comm Ty and see if you can get him here tomorrow for a little strategy session. Last I heard, he had some pretty good contacts on the outer rim.”

“Yes, sir.” She made a note to contact the man on one of their high-security channels.

CHAPTER TWO

Tyron arrived on the interplanetary shuttle the following work period. He hefted his satchel over one shoulder and headed for the military wing of the station. It would be good to be on a mission again. He was getting restless more often lately, but doing a special job for his brother Mike was just the ticket to take him out of the doldrums.

His golden hair was a bit longer than standard military cut, earning him a few looks from the uniformed women bustling around. They knew darn well what he was, if not exactly who he was. Men were so rare, few seldom ventured off their home worlds, and even fewer took the risk of working actively in the military on one of the more vulnerable stations. No, the only males seen up here were Sons of Amber going to and fro on various missions, both military and civilian.

Atlantia Station
was the most heavily defended orbital platform, seeing as it served as this sector’s HQ. His brother, Commandant Michael Amber, ran the show from this orbiting gun platform and oversaw the defense of every planet, ship, station and colony in the sector. It was a big job and Ty didn’t envy Mike the enormous responsibility, but he knew there was no better man for the job. He admired Michael and counted him among his closest friends.

Ty would do just about anything for Michael, and he knew the feeling was mutual. They’d grown up together—at least as much as Sons “grew up” after coming out of the incubator. They’d been in the same instructional classes and had partnered for fighting exercises and other tasks. They worked well together, their skill sets complimenting each other and, more than that, they genuinely liked each other.

The same could not be said of all Sons, though most of them shared some basic comradeship simply because they
were
Sons. They were the only males of their kind, and that bound them together somewhat.

Ty smiled at the women who watched him pass, winking at a few—either making dour faces smile or young cheeks blush. He liked women of all kinds, though lately he’d found his many encounters with the female kind lacking. He didn’t understand it, and had no idea what he was looking for, but nevertheless, it was there. A vague sense of dissatisfaction.

Oh, he enjoyed the sex. Scratch that. He
loved
the sex. But he wanted something…more. What that
more
was, he didn’t quite know, but he was beginning to suspect, like some of his other brothers, he was looking for one special woman with whom to share his life.

He wasn’t actively seeking her—he knew he had a job to do that precluded tying himself to just one woman—but he still felt the lack. Was it love he was missing? He didn’t know. He wasn’t sure he’d ever experienced love, but he was intrigued enough to consider the possibility, though he would never act on it. No, his duty lay in repopulating the human race.

Even if there were one special woman out there for him somewhere, he couldn’t commit to her and go against everything he’d been created to do. Better he go on these missions and do his duty, protecting the remnants of the human race, and forget his foolish yearnings. Mike would help get his head screwed on straight. If there was one Son of Amber who always lived up to his responsibilities, it was Mike.

Ty found Mike’s private apartment and announced himself at the door, which would relay the signal to those inside. Mike had to be off-shift at this hour, so Ty had come directly here, bypassing the office and more formal surroundings. Ty wasn’t a formal man.

Mike answered the door with a drink in his hand and a look in his eye that said he’d had more than one. Ty was surprised. Mike had never been much of a drinker, or one to use a crutch of any kind. Dominant to the core, Michael was a straight shooter who muscled his way through life with both brawn and intellect.

“Rough day, brother?”

Mike leaned one arm up against the door frame and sighed.

“You could say that.” He stepped back to allow Ty entrance. “Thanks for coming. What can I get you?”

Ty dumped his bag by the couch as he took a seat. Michael had nice living quarters—a bit Spartan for Ty’s tastes—but still nice and comfortable. Big, solid furniture that he could sit on without worrying if he’d break it somehow, and strong enough to support his tall frame. Ty stretched his tired muscles as Michael moved to the sideboard where a number of decanters sat on a small tray with glasses.

“Some Scotch wouldn’t go awry.”

Michael poured the alcohol and handed a glass to Ty before collapsing into one of the overstuffed chairs placed in a grouping with the couch.

“I’m glad you could make it.”

Ty sat back, savoring his first sip of the fine brew. “I’m always glad to help, brother. Truth be told, I’ve been a little restless lately. This kind of assignment ought to be just the thing.”

“Leah filled you in on the details?”

Ty noted the odd tone of Michael’s voice and it puzzled him. Mike was usually the steadiest of men. The slight waver when he spoke his XO’s name concerned him.

“She sent me the pertinent facts. I can infiltrate out in that sector pretty easily. I’ve laid the groundwork. A few of the tamer pirates know me and will vouch for me with the others.”

“That’s good.” Mike knocked back his drink and leaned his head against the back of the big chair, stretching out.

“You want to tell me what’s wrong? Does it have something to do with Leah?”

That got Mike’s attention. His eyes popped open and he glared in Ty’s direction.

“I’m not even going to ask how you figured that one out.” Mike sighed heavily and his eyes closed again. “It’s nothing. She’s the best damned XO I’ve ever had.”

“And the most beautiful. Not to mention capable.”

“She is that,” Mike agreed. “But she’s beside the point.”

“Maybe.” Ty decided to let the matter of Leah drop. He’d seen them interact. There was more to that story than either one would admit, but he figured they’d sort it out in time.

“So what’s this restlessness about? Want to change careers?” Mike knew him better than that, but Ty recognized the wry, almost teasing tone. He decided to come clean. Mike knew him well. He was also highly placed. Maybe he knew more about the situation with the Sons who’d found life mates than he’d let on.

“I think it has to do with those marriages lately. I never thought Zeke would take himself off the market.”

“Yeah, I was a little surprised at first, but his Angela is one hell of a woman.”

“You’ve met her then?”

Mike’s eyes held a knowing gleam Ty recognized immediately. Every once in a while Sons gave each other a hand with a woman. It was rare, but they’d all done it a time or two.

“Angela is perfect for Zeke. I think they’ll have a happy life together.”

“I hope you’re right.” Ty leaned forward on the couch. “Mike, do you think there’s a woman for each of us? Lately I’ve been feeling…I don’t know…a little incomplete. I feel something strange when I see some of our brothers partnering up with just one woman. Like maybe that’s what I want.”

“You got a special woman in mind?” Mike studied him.

“Maybe.” Ty was reticent. “I don’t really know what love is. But I think I want to find out.”

“When you figure it out, let me know.” Mike’s eyes were haunted and Ty thought his brother might have a bit more first-hand knowledge than he realized.

They talked of the mission and set up lines of communication they could use. Leah had prepared a set of ident chips for Ty, and they went through the details of the operation before Ty took his leave an hour or two later. He’d grab some sleep, then head out on the next shuttle. He had a job to do.

*