Makar

MAKAR

Her eyes were mesmerizing.

That's how I knew there was something different about her. Everything from the way she walked, danced, and talked, to how she begged me for more, drove me crazy, and it also terrified me.

When we were done, I pulled away from her and stood looking at the kitchen floor for a moment. I don't know when it happened, but we spilled a bag of sugar everywhere. I bit back a laugh, almost admiring the mess we made before pulling out the cleaning supplies.

When I looked back at her, though, my smile was gone. Not because I wasn't attracted to or completely entranced by her but because fear rippled through my veins.

Why was I feeling this way about a human woman?

She wasn't supposed to be this amazing.

It was like I was seeing the galaxy for the first time. I quickly cleared my throat and looked around, rubbing the back of my head while she got down from the counter.

Her face seemed just as surprised as I felt. Yes, I was dominant, and saying all those things was standard. What wasn't was how I felt while saying them. I almost felt guilty, actually.

I didn't want to make her beg for it, even. I just wanted to give it to her so she felt good.

I'm turning into a sap. I'm just tired, and we have things to take care of.

That was what I told myself, anyway.

"Why don't you frost the cupcakes, and I'll clean some of this up?" I asked, trying to ignore the roughness in my throat.

She nodded. "Yeah, sure, okay."

I reached for her, but let my hand fall away. Her voice sounded distant, remote.

Of course it did.

I bought her contract, brought her to a strange place, and then basically forced myself on her.

But… She responded so eagerly, her hands all over my skin. The memory of her moans in my ear had me hard all over again.

She bent down to pick up her pants, and I marveled at her body. Even thinking someone that graceful would open herself up to me like that amazed me.

I walked over to the counter I sat her on while she frosted the cupcakes. I would glance at her every few seconds while rubbing the white powder into the sink and sanitizing the surface.

Every time I did, I hoped she wouldn't catch me. I didn't know if I would have been able to live with the embarrassment of her knowing how wild she made me feel.

She also frosted the cupcakes beautifully. She had a knack for it, almost like a delicate touch that sometimes I lacked. She made up for the things I didn't have, like a woman's attention to detail, caring touch, and extreme focus.

She was so precise with frosting them. Her hands didn't even shake. It made me wonder if the sex we had didn't phase her one bit.

Of course, it didn't phase her. She gets hit on all the time at the club. I'm just some random guy who purchased her contract.

When I looked down at the sugar, I also noticed her fingerprints on the edge of the counter. She gripped it hard.

Maybe she wasn't as unaffected as I thought.

I picked up a measuring cup and sponge from the counter and rinsed them in the sink. The faster I calmed myself with a distraction, the better off we would both be.

"Makar." Her gentle voice startled me.

"What?" I asked jumpily, turning around to face her.

She stared at me with those wide eyes and a blushing face. Her neck was still red from where I nibbled on it.

"Where do you want me to put these?" She motioned to the cupcakes.

"Uh…" I looked around the kitchen. Honestly, I didn't care where she put them. I just didn't want her to see me so in my head about the whole situation. "Just in the center of the island."

She walked them over to the island, but her hands stayed perfectly still. That must have been one of her amazing qualities as a dancer. My eyes were fixated on her. It was like the room moved in slow motion.

After she placed them down, she flipped her long straight hair over her shoulder. There was a purple streak, almost hidden in the inky black, that I didn't notice before.

She glanced over her shoulder at me and grinned slightly.

A loud crash on the ground broke my attention. My eyes shifted to the floor, and I saw broken pieces of the measuring cup everywhere. My hand tightened, almost a reflex at her smile, shattering the cup.

How stupid.

Bending down, I grabbed the pieces before her hand touched mine. She kneeled in front of me, trying to help pick up broken shards.

"Don't worry about it," I said, trying to keep my voice from cracking. "If you could get the counters, that would be great."

"Are you sure?" Her fingertips brushed mine, and I gulped. "Makar…" Her face turned into one of concern. "Are you all right?"

"Yes," I replied darkly, turning my attention back to the floor. "Just wipe the counters. Watch your step."

She didn't respond. She just stood up and did what I told her to. She was great at taking orders. Normally I liked giving them, but now it tasted like ashes.

And then I glanced at the clock.

Shit.

I never kept Alkard waiting so long before.

"All right," I said, standing up and collecting the last of the glass. "Come with me."

"Where?" she asked as I dumped the glass into a trash bag.

"Don't question me," I responded as I glanced at her firmly.

I took her arm and led her through the hallways. My private kitchen was still a mess, but that's what my bots were for. Usually, I tried not to leave a mess for them. The private kitchen was my one indulgence, my own space. Normally, I cared for it myself.

This time, though, I needed to get Sophia somewhere safe and leave quickly.

We reached my chambers, and I motioned for her to walk inside. She did so cautiously while eyeing the room. I assumed she wasn't accustomed to the life most Vinduthi lived on Thodos III.

"Stay here," I ordered. "I'll come back for you." My eyes ran over her legs and body as she brushed her hair behind her ear, looking at me confusedly. "Soon. Stay here."

I closed the door and sighed with relief. Two sides of me were at war. There was one that wanted to run as far away from her as I could because the feelings she gave me were so intense.

Then, the other part just wanted more of Sophia Delgado.

Making my way to the meeting room, I replayed the sex in my mind. No one had ever gotten to me like that. It was like once I kissed her, a part of her shot into me. She was in my head, running around all over the place and making me crazy.

It hadn't been ten minutes until I wanted her again. It was more than a want; it was a craving .

When I reached Alkard's chambers, I exhaled and tried to compose myself. I knew I was a mess, but that didn't mean everyone else had to.

"Alkard," I rapped on the door. "Have a moment?"

In a moment, he opened the door, his face drawn into a serious expression. "Done with your new playmate already?"

I didn't bother to answer, just pulled up a chair next to his desk.

He perched on the edge, tossed me his percomm. An elderly Xyolxi stared back at me, the gaunt face and sunken eyes of his species boring through the screen.

"We've confirmed it. That retired Inspector General that Mera identified is working for Conii."

Shock ran through me.

"Goran? He's on our payroll, though, isn't he?"

Rage burned in Alkard's eyes. "Apparently not. Because of him, we've lost far too many shipments, and it's put our relationship with the Zeqs on shaky ground."

I turned it over in my head.

After the war, those of us in Alkard's squad decided to make this place our home. Well, those of us who survived.

It wasn't perfect, but Thodos III was the perfect station for running contraband to any system that didn't like the rules and regulations that the Alliance had set into place.

We did well for ourselves, establishing a solid base, slowly calling in the rest of the surviving Vinduthi from our unit to take care of our expanding business interests.

Everything was going well until this business with Conii.

Shipments could be replaced, but a betrayal… that couldn't be overlooked.

"I guess it's time to send a message," I said finally. "You said he retired. Do we know if he's still on the station?

"He is," Alkard responded seriously. "He owns Orbitus."

It was so ridiculous, I couldn't even think.

Orbitus. The trendy spot that was known for its exquisite food and near impossible reservation list.

Word among the foodie crowd was that it was trying to replace the Nebula as the premier restaurant on the station.

That would take some doing.

"You can't tell me he loves to eat," I said, glancing again at the near skeletal frame in the image.

Alkard snorted. "I suspect it's more likely that the restaurant gives him an acceptable cover to launder the payments he's received from both sides."

"Would explain where they got all the startup money. Running a restaurant like that takes money. Goran's never seen me." I tapped my fingers on the table. "So that's a plus. I wonder…"

"Whatever you're thinking about, put the plan into action soon." Alkard's hand pressed on my shoulder. "I'm ready to clean up this mess, and I want him gone."

With a nod, I got to my feet. Alkard was right. This was a mess, and while Conii was responsible for it, we couldn't overlook anyone who betrayed us.

Outside in the hallway, I paused, letting my back hit the wall while my head tilted back, staring blankly at the ceiling.

I'd never turned away from a mission before, and I didn't plan to do so now.

So why was my brain trying to figure out how to stay with Sophia instead?