Page 80 of On a Rogue Planet
Xander had heard the stories as well. And seen the results of the early teletransportation tech. One of the academies had experimented with it. They believed it was now mostly stable, but he doubted Forge was using the Centaxian version.
“I’ll go alone,” he said.
“No way.” Malin turned on him. “You need me there. Without a partner, you’ll stand out like an Infiltrator at the freighter docks.”
“I won’t risk you.” He used his best CenSec voice. The one that made his CenSec teams tremble.
Her face softened for an instant before she screwed up her nose. “I’m coming. End of argument.” She stomped off. “I’m going to get ready.”
Xander wanted to kick something.
“Don’t hit anything in my cockpit, CenSec,” Zayn said.
“Welcome to the wonderful world of women.” Dathan dropped into a chair.
Xander released a breath. “You have to stop her.”
Dathan lifted a shoulder. “Short of tying her up, not much we can do. She’s a big girl.” His dark look said he wished she wasn’t. “Besides, I thought you were willing to doanythingto achieve your mission?”
He was. Wasn’t he? But no matter how much he knew Centax needed the Antikythera, he couldn’t risk Malin.
He’d touched her, tasted her. She was his as much as Centax.
Dathan pulled a holo-pen from his pocket and chewed the end thoughtfully. “A cyborg willing to jeopardize his mission for a woman. Never thought I’d see that.”
“I…care for her.”
“You aren’t who I’d pick for her. But I don’t doubt you feel something for her.” Dathan’s blue eyes darkened. “I’m just not sure if it’ll be enough.”
Niklas crossed his arms over his chest and broke the tension. “The Galactic Security Services have been trialing teletransportation tech on their Patrol ships out on the edge.”
Dathan snorted. “Of course they’d test it out on the galaxy’s edge. Wouldn’t want to have to explain any nasty messes in the central systems, would we?”
“Apparently they haven’t had any incidents,” Nik added.
“I’ll tie her up.” Xander scowled. He couldn’t put her safety at such risk.
Dathan winced. “CenSec, please, I do not need any images of you tying up my cousin in my head. I’m not dumb, I know what you two have been up to in that cabin.”
Shockingly, Xander wanted to smile, but thinking of Malin’s atoms pulled apart by the teletransportation and not put back together right… “I don’t want her hurt.”
“We don’t either. BEll, can you confirm the origin of the teletrans tech Forge is using?” Dathan asked.
“Sure thing. Hang on, I need to run a few discreet scans.” The computer fell silent for a moment. “It’s made by Lorian Industries. The same manufacturer the GSS uses for its systems.”
Xander relaxed a fraction. His own data indicated that Lorian had achieved stable teletransportation. But he still didn’t want to risk Malin.
“Malin will make her own decisions. She’s been doing that a long time.” Niklas looked out the window, his gaze on the planet. “Besides, I think whatever you find down there will be far more dangerous than teletransportation.” He looked over at Xander.“No matter what we want for the women in our lives, we have to support their decisions, even if we don’t agree with them.”
“I don’t like it.” Xander was built to protect.
Dathan snorted. “Believe me, I sympathize. I feel that way at least once a day since Eos landed in my life. But the upsides far outweigh the downsides.” A secret smile crossed his lips.
And Xander could guess what the other man was thinking about. Because the last few days with Malin had shown him the pleasurable upsides.
It wasn’t just pushing himself inside her tight, hot body, or putting his mouth between her legs and watching her come. It was working quietly together over engine parts. Listening to her giggle at him while she ate. It was the sound of her gentle breathing while she slept in his arms.
“Hey, Xander?” Dathan caught his gaze. “Clock’s ticking. You have a party to get to. Better go find your tux.”
