Page 189 of Pets in Space 10

The next two days of the voyage to Pega passed in a blur.

Kari and Luka spent time getting to know one another.

Their conversations ranged from the personal and much to her surprise, the professional.

There were aspects of her military life he was able to understand without her revealing details and provide interesting insight.

She talked about her friends Havoc and Jinx. He talked about his fractious relationship with his younger brother. And between those talks, there was sex. Fast, slow, hard, sensuous.

At times, Luka touched her with a gentleness that left her longing for more. At others, he was an aggressive, rough lover who growled husky demands in her ear and sent her body spiraling.

She’d never had someone match her so completely in and out of the bedroom. If they were two different individuals with different jobs, it would be a perfect match.

As time drew closer and closer for them to part ways, her heart grew heavy. It wasn’t fair to run into the one she could see herself having a long-term relationship with only to face the inevitable end of their time together.

“How often do you release Zsusa?” she asked into the comfortable silence after they’d eaten.

Shirtless, he raised his arm and stared at the tattoo. “Usually, when we’re home, I keep her out. It’s only around others that she takes my skin. For her safety. Would you like to see her?”

Unafraid to admit her eagerness, she waved her hand in the air. “Of course. She’s adorable.”

“Don’t let her hear that. She prefers you acknowledge her wrath,” he joked. “Zsusa, reveal.”

Silvery mist rose from the lines of the tattoo until it formed into the gathos crouched on the floor. Zsusa glanced at Kari, turned her back and sat on her haunches to groom her paws.

Luka laughed. “Zsusa, is that anyway to treat our friend. Kari wished to see you. Impress her with your smarts.”

Zsusa collapsed on her side like a wilted flower. Her tail flicked once before settling. Kari shook her head at the theatrics. “It’s okay, Luka. Did I tell you I thought about stealing her from you?”

His gaze flew toward hers, lips parted in surprise. “You planned to steal my gathos?”

His shock was evident. She shrugged. “She seemed too cute to belong to a jerk.”

Zsusa hissed and jumped upright. “I not cute!”

Kari winced from the volume of the telepathic complaint. Luka folded his arms across his chest and slouched back in his seat. “And what made you turn away from this crime of passion?”

Snickering, she gave him the truth. “My job in the military saved you. It didn’t seem fair to her to be gone frequently while she stayed in my tight quarters.”

His brows rose. “Lucky you changed your mind. If you’d left Zsusa for longer than a few hours, she would have torn apart everything you owned in retaliation. In addition to injuring herself trying to return to me.”

Unable to resist any longer, Kari went to the floor on her knees, her eyes on everything but the gathos watching her intently. Zsusa curled around Luka’s right leg, bumping her head against his calf. He absently reached down and scratched her head.

The connection between the two was obvious. Caring, attentive. He’d make a good father. She froze.

Luka tensed and withdrew his laser, glancing around the room. Zsusa straightened and growled in a surprisingly ominous rumble. “What is it?!”

Embarrassed at her reaction, she flushed and avoided his gaze. “Nothing. Just thought of something.”

“Are you worried about when we get to Pega?” He holstered the weapon she hadn’t realized he carried.

“Don’t. I promised you I’d take care of you.

It will be a simple drop off, you’ll board the shuttle that takes off within fifteen minutes of Tagar landing and be back with your military brethren directly afterward. ”

She sighed and leaned back against the chair behind her. Zsusa lowered her belly to the floor and crawled in her direction. Kari pretended not to notice. “I trust you.”

“Good. I won’t let anything happen to you,” he vowed in a steely tone.

Zsusa continued her stealth crawl until she was within touching distance and chirped. Kari glanced at Luka. He rolled his eyes at his wayward pet. “That’s the sound she makes to beg for treats without begging.”

“Ohhh.” Kari reached for the golden animal and paused when Zsusa batted at her hand in a huff. Muffling her smile, she muttered, “You are a mischievous bit of fluff.”

Finally relenting, Zsusa deigned to crawl in her lap and flopped down, legs hanging over Kari’s thighs. Carefully, Kari stroked the thick fur from head to tail. A low, rumbling purr emitted from Zsusa’s chest, completely melting Kari’s heart.

Her shoulders eased and she found herself addicted to rubbing the silky ruff around Zsusa’s neck. When she glanced up, she caught the distant look in Luka’s eyes. She wondered if, like her, he wished for things to be different between them.

The rest of the afternoon flew by. Tagar stopped by to state they’d be landing shortly. As soon as he left, she lifted the sleeping gathos in her arms eye to eye and pressed her face to the pointed snout. “I’m going to miss you, pretty lady. Thank you for rescuing me.”

Slumberous purple eyes drifted open. Zsusa flashed her canines but the sight was so ridiculous Kari could only laugh and lower the animal to the floor. Zsusa sauntered toward Luka who petted her head and said, “Return.”

Her form dissolved into mist and the tattoo shimmered back into position on Luka’s forearm. As if by silent agreement, they gathered their few things, cleaned up the empty meal containers, made the bed and settled comfortably to talk in low tones.

“Then, there are my ventures in the shipping arena,” he said in answer to a question she’d asked about how he typically spent his time.

“You have a shipping company?”

“Surprised?” He smirked from his seat in the chair, tying his boots. “I have to give the Fleet and other authorities some indication my finances don’t come from murky activities.”

She tipped her head down to hide her grin at how easily he spoke of what he did. Outside the mention of Cosin, nothing he shared acknowledged any wrong doing or illegal acts she’d be forced to reveal if questioned. Was it deliberate on his part?

Eyeing him as he rose, she decided the answer was yes.

Despite his ability to joke and tease, he’d been very careful in what he discussed with her regarding the Atoro.

Her chest tightened and she forced herself to smile.

It didn’t matter that they’d decided their arrangement was temporary. Part of her was already ensnared.

What wasn’t there to love? He was honorable, caring and protective. The perfect partner for some lucky woman.

“You ready?” he asked, extending a hand toward her.

Taking a deep breath, she smoothed her hand down the front of her shirt and adjusted her hair in her ponytail.

Her appearance didn’t really matter hiding away in this room, but she’d be glad to get back to the Aranea and change into her own clothes.

At least she’d been able to shower away the sand and grime while in here.

“I’m ready,” she told Luka.

They held hands and she drew another breath as they exited into the hall.

The ship vibrated beneath her feet and she recognized the familiar rumble of docking onto a space station.

If all went according to plan, she’d be on the waiting transport headed to the Aranea within the hour.

Luka would go…well, she wasn’t sure. Neither of them had discussed it.

Probably better that way.

She followed his silent steps through the hall until they reached the main hatch. Outside, the grind of landing gear attaching to the track sounded. She braced her weight, prepared for the thump as the ship came to a shuddering stop. Luka glanced at her and winked before pulling his hand free.

Right. She wiped her palms down her thighs. This was it.

“Thank you, Luka.” She meant her appreciation sincerely. He’d helped her sneak off Orion and ensured she had a safe way of returning to her command when he didn’t have to.

“Not such a bad deal after all, huh?” he asked, the twinkle in his green gaze causing her heart to clench.

He had no idea. After their time together, she’d never be the same. A space in her heart would be reserved for the brash, bold pirate king who’d shifted her perception of him.

Because of Luka, she’d forced herself to look beyond the surface, the rumors, and the implied criminal behavior.

He was more than the head of the snake. He was the man who’d restored her faith in trusting her heart. For that, she’d forever be grateful.

***

Saying goodbye to Kari was more difficult than Luka expected. Watching her interact with Zsusa revealed the soft side of the brash lieutenant. A soft side he was sure she’d prefer to hide.

The revelation only increased his uncontrollable desire for her. A desire that had grown beneath his skin like an irritating itch from the moment he’d crossed paths with her at the bar in Orion.

It was why he couldn’t just walk away after dropping her off to fulfill Zair’s debt. Once he’d held her, kissed her, told her his deepest shame without her turning away, the feeling morphed into something deeper. Something he didn’t want to probe too closely.

Their shared grief at the loss of a parent also created a connection he didn’t have with others. Until her, he’d never discussed how the series of events impacted him or his feelings of failure around not following through on his vow to kill Gubu.

“As soon as I’m on the shuttle, I’ll contact my teammates and let them know I’m safe and returning,” she said as they prepared to exit Tagar’s ship.

He nodded, resisting the urge to beg her to stay, to help him figure out a way to make it work between them.

“Good. The alerts surrounding your disappearance may stall further attempts by the Rudurian to abduct you. If Gubu is smart, he’ll cancel the bounty on your head the moment your return is noted. ”

Luka’s concern centered on the fact Gubu’s behavior implied he wasn’t smart, which could prove dangerous to Kari. That wasn’t acceptable. Their deal as lovers might be ending, but he’d do whatever he could to protect her. Even if it meant throwing the weight of the Atoro behind his actions.

When her shuttle safely departed, he’d contact Harlo and have him see what he could discover in the underground world around what Gubu really wanted with Lieutenant Kari Ma’are.

The ship doors parted and they walked down the ramp together. Smaller than Orion, the Pega station was often used as a jumping spot for smaller ships who couldn’t travel greater distances without stopping for fuel or repairs.

Luka came here often in his dealings for the syndicate. He gazed around the station under the guise of interest. Everything seemed normal. He noted a few familiar faces. Recognition lit their eyes and they politely inclined their heads in acknowledgement.

The tension riding his shoulders eased slightly, not enough to lower his guard but enough to release the breath he hadn’t realized he held.

The roar of engines caught his attention. Behind one wall of specialized glass, vessels landed onto the tracks meant to guide them into the bay. Mechanics and other techs rushed around in orange jumpsuits, datapads in hand, to keep the schedule running smoothly.

Standing in the midst of the bustle, he faced Kari.

A well spring of dark emotions filled him.

Disappointment, regret and concern. None of them changed the facts so he stuck with a clean break.

Donning a neutral mask over his expression, he inclined his head and murmured, “Safe travels, lieutenant.”

She bit her bottom lip, plumping the curve. “Same to you, Luka.”

He waited in hopes she’d voice the same desire for more or his comm code to stay in touch. Instead, she smiled and turned to leave.

Every step she took widened the distance between them and narrowed the chance of seeing her again. This was it. Neither of them would reach out to the other. Fond memories and a gaping hole in his chest from what could have been were all that would remain.

A man in a gray uniformed shirt with his hat pulled low over his brow drew Luka’s attention. His brisk stride put his path on a trajectory to intersect with Kari’s confident march toward the ramp of the transport.

Luka gazed around again, but nothing stood out or appeared off. He fought the desire to race after Kari and stop her. It had to be a case of nerves but he didn’t have nerves. He was the head of the Atoro, there was no room for nerves. His reputation was staked on his rock steady demeanor.

Yet.

Kari’s blonde ponytail swished against the back of her shoulders as she neared the shuttle idling in place for its scheduled launch time slot. Her hands slid into the pockets of her pants.

There was no evidence of concern in her manner.

Against his will, he took one step forward then another. She reached the shuttle, spoke with the clerk who confirmed her passage with a too bright smile. Luka sped up, the sound of his heart beat pounding in his ears.

“Kari!” he called.

She stilled, one foot braced on the ramp. At the same time, the uniformed man reached her side. He grabbed her arm and she stumbled backward.

Two others approached and surrounded her. Horror dawned on Luka and sent him into a flat out run.