Primal Shifters

By Kira Shayde

Three novella-length paranormal romances in one overarching story. In an alternative Africa, the animal predators are human, territorial hostilities have led to war, and loving outside your boundaries can get you killed.

 

Warning: if you're not a fan of scorching hot sex scenes, this book is not for you. A "tamer" version is available, Primal Shifters North America.

BANE OF HER DESIRE When Holly Ainran's brother goes AWOL from an elite military force in South Africa, she confronts Commander Bane Ojore, a rare melanistic lion shifter. Sparks ignite, but Holly finds a challenge in taming this brooding, hostile beast. Bane does not expect the daughter of a high-ranking parliamentary executive to be a smart, code-breaking expert adamant about abolishing the lion caste hierarchy and ending the lion-hyena conflict. Nor does he expect such a stunning lioness to fall for him. But Bane's job is to find the traitors supplying weapons to the hyenas, and all signs point to Holly's brother. Holly won't give up on her brother though…or Bane. As their passion escalates, so do the risks, the danger, and ultimately, their love.

DESIRES AT WAR Months as a POW in South Africa leaves lion shifter Fix Ainran struggling to recover, but he can't get the curvaceous Caryn Plumar out of his mind. Yet the beautiful daughter of the hyena chairman only torments the disabled former soldier with heated trysts before pulling away. No matter how much she desires Fix's touch, Caryn's obligations involve more than fighting for an independent hyena state in a land ruled by lions and fraught with war. She must sacrifice any chance of happiness and freedom by marrying within the clan to ensure her safety. Unable to stay apart, Fix and Caryn defy societal rules and risk their lives as they battle enemies, search for the truth about his captivity...and fall in love.

COOL BLUE DESIRE When Alina Van der Stel agrees to spring an imprisoned lion shifter in South Africa and hand him over to the rebels in return for information about her birth parents, she doesn't expect the man to capture her mind as much as he does her body. Falsely accused of conspiracy, Kipper Lumbwi has no intention of allowing the icy blonde to sell him to the very traitors who landed him a stint in prison. Yet her ethereal blue eyes reflect years of sadness as a snow leopard trapped in a land of lions, and he understands her need to find her true kin. Except she's not the only one targeting him. With a bounty-hunting hyena and the Defence Force in pursuit, Kipper and Alina agree to an alliance…one that leads to her finally experiencing the joys of desire. Can their passion earn them the trust they'll need to survive?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kira Shayde
• Release date: Feb 25, 2019
• ISBN: 9780999018378

Book preview

Chapter One: Bane of Her Desire

ACCORDING TO LEGEND, the gods warned humankind that if they insisted on behaving like animals, they would become animals, permanently. The humans didn’t listen, and their fate was sealed. They became prey. Yet the gods weren’t done. Animal predators were given the chance to rule, and the ability to shift between animal and human.

The African lion, the pinnacle of hunters in the wild, replaced man as overlord and quickly implemented a system to ensure their supremacy in the new world. The disparaged spotted hyena, often the more tenacious and successful predator on the plains, was the lion’s natural competitor. Becoming human didn’t change this. It only made it worse.

Because these shifters were animals first and human second.

HOLLY AINRAN OPENED the rusted footlocker her father had received from the Mission Elites paramilitary base, not expecting to find anything different than before. She tossed her brother’s fatigues and scuffed military boots aside and sifted through the contents of his safe-deposit box: some banking papers, his soldier-assigned data chip, an engraved knife, and a silver ring from their grandfather tucked inside a leather pouch.

She sat back on her heels. If only there were something among Fix’s personal effects to give her a clue as to why he had dropped off the face of the earth. Was he having an affair with a married woman? Involved in some shady drug deal?

Months ago, he’d been reported AWOL, yet he hadn’t reached out to her. Ticked her off. Maybe she was no more than his kid sister, but she’d thought they were close. At least they had been before he joined the Elites. Another possibility flitted through her mind, and she shoved it away angrily. His body hadn’t been found, and she just knew he was alive. Felt it somehow. Whatever it took, she’d find him.

Although she’d already examined his data chip, Holly inserted it into her laptop and scrolled through the directories. She sighed. Nothing more incriminating than saved game scores, pictures of his Mission Elite buddies relaxing by their campsite, and innocuous e-mails to his on-again, off-again girlfriend.

This time, she spied a seemingly gibberish file name. Gotcha.

She double-clicked the file and received a system error. Encrypted. Damn. Now she was definitely intrigued. What was Fix hiding? She ran the file through various computer algorithms and within minutes bypassed his encryption, but it wasn’t a text file as she’d expected.

A video appeared on her screen, and she recognized the Mission Elites base. Out of camera range, a man spoke, his deep voice imposing, almost threatening, and a tremor coursed through her. But when the man strode into view, and the camera focused on his face, her breath caught in her throat. His black eyes were like bullets beneath a strong brow ridge, and a dark shadow of stubble colored his square jaw.

Her gaze riveted to his mouth as if something had possessed her, and she no longer listened to his words, imagining how it would feel to have those commanding lips against her skin. The muscles in his jaw flexed, and the low timbre of his voice vibrated through her veins, setting off a surge of sensual hunger. This man was evocative, combustive...primal.

Uneasiness crept over her, and she pushed the errant thoughts aside. There was a coldness to his face, a tightness around his eyes. This was a man who didn’t reveal secrets, who wouldn’t share himself. A man who clearly reveled in danger and control. This had to be the elusive Bane Ojore, leader of the Mission Elites paramilitary force.

The man shifted to his animal form, and Holly gasped. She stared at the video, mesmerized by the sight of a lion with fur as black as a thundercloud, his mane the color of charcoal and fuller than any she’d seen. She thought melanistic lions had been driven to extinction. He prowled before the soldiers, threw back his massive head, and let out a out a ferocious roar.

She shuddered, but from a sense of danger...or something else?

At once, her small apartment seemed stifling and claustrophobic, and she shut down the lid of her laptop, sucking in a trembling breath. Her nerves and her hormones needed to chill. After glancing out the window, she decided a run would help clear her mind and burn off some of the stress from searching for her brother.

The park near her apartment, sandwiched between the woodlands and the lake, was cool compared to the rest of the city, particularly during the scorching heat of the afternoon.

Outside in shorts and a tank top, Holly jogged at an easy pace until a man caught her eye. It had been years since she’d seen her brother’s friend, Kipper Lumbwi. She approached him hesitantly, a tad embarrassed, wondering if he’d recognize her.

He looked up, and his polite expression gave way to a wide grin. Holly, wow, have you grown up. You used to be such a skinny little thing.

She laughed. Thanks, Kipper. Had to happen sometime.

Although still slender, her womanly curves slight, she wasn’t a kid anymore, and she appreciated Kipper’s approving look. Made her feel more feminine.

His glance lingered a bit longer. Yeah, little Holly Ainran has definitely grown up.

Heat infused her cheeks. Of her brother’s friends, she had liked him the most. As a teen, she’d begged Fix to let her tag along on border patrols, and Kipper never minded. He hung out at the Ainran house mostly to escape his nasty drunk of a father and would play cards with her while waiting for Fix to finish his homework. Kipper always let her win.

She gestured to his officer uniform. What’s this? You stationed here now?

Yup. After my tour with the Defence Force was done, I joined a local enforcement group and have been working mostly in the savannas of South Africa. But last month, I was assigned closer to the cities. I love it. I get a chance to really help people here.

She nodded. Fix and Kipper had joined the Force right out of school at eighteen. Five years later, they came home, but Fix seemed aimless. After six months of listening to their father attempt to convince him to pursue a career in Parliament, Fix joined the Mission Elites, a controversial and exclusive paramilitary force under the leadership of Bane Ojore. Fix never discussed the new force with Holly, but she’d overheard him talking to their father about the heightened levels of stress and danger in their assignments.

Kipper ran a hand through his trimmed light-brown beard. So, how’s Fix doing? Man, I haven’t seen him in two years. Is he still with the Elites stationed near the hyena colonies? Does he ever come home for a break?

With a pang, Holly realized Kipper didn’t know. Quaking, she bit her lip to keep the sudden tears at bay, but her eyelids fluttered and tears drenched her lashes anyway.

Hey, what happened? Something about Fix? Here, maybe you should sit down. Kipper guided her to a park bench.

Taking a seat, she wiped her eyes and dropped her voice to a whisper. Fix is gone. Absent without leave. No one seems to know where he is.

Kipper sat next to her and narrowed his eyes. Hmm, wouldn’t have expected that from Fix. I know the hell he went through fighting hyenas, and he’s as tough as they come. Blown up on a mission, ambushed by hyenas, yeah, but gone AWOL? Her brother’s friend shook his head. Didn’t see that coming.

Holly sighed deeply. Me neither, but that’s what we were told by the base.

You know, there are a few reasons a guy goes AWOL: he’s lost everyone important to him, he’s done something terrible, or he feels he’s a threat to others. Fighting hyenas drives a lot of guys crazy. Kipper grimaced. Drives a lot of guys to do crazy things.

She stiffened. I’d like to believe my brother would never do anything terrible.

Yeah, I understand. Kipper scratched his chin. Did the Elites tell you anything specific? I’m sorry, I don’t mean to pry or bring up bad—

She patted his arm. No apology necessary. They never informed us if anything unusual happened on base. My dad and I were shocked when they told us Fix hadn’t returned. Still are.

Yeah, a shock, Kipper agreed, tight-lipped.

Her brother’s friend gripped the bench and adjusted his position, widening the gap between them. Holly wasn’t sure if his sudden withdrawal was due to her or the conversation. Maybe he was angry to hear the news secondhand.

I’m sorry to be the one to tell you about Fix. I assumed you knew already. I know the two of you aren’t as close anymore, but I thought someone from the base would have called you.

Kipper shrugged. I’m no longer in the military business. He stared into the distance, perhaps remembering his time with Fix in the hyena colonies, perhaps thinking of the friendship they had as kids. After a moment, he returned his attention to her. Was Fix a part of any special missions? Any other guys in the Elites know anything?

I don’t know. They keep giving my dad the runaround. I’ve been thinking I need to meet with Mr. Ojore in person.

No, Kipper said emphatically. That’d be a huge mistake. You’d be putting yourself in danger. An amped-up group of young men near the borderlands is no place for a woman. Not to mention that hyenas are incredibly tough. In packs, they can easily take down a full-grown lion. Let me talk to Bane Ojore for you.

She raised her eyebrows. Kipper hadn’t served in the Mission Elites. Do you know Mr. Ojore? Will it be a problem for you to arrange a meeting with him?

Never met the man, but I still have friends in the Force. I’ll ask around. If I find out anything about Fix, I’ll let you know.

His darkened tone and almost accusatory gaze relayed an unspoken implication as if she were in the wrong by mere genetic association. Was she now suspect as well because her brother had abandoned his duties? Or did Kipper Reynard know something she didn’t?

The air around them turned misty and cool, and she rubbed her arms to ward off the chill. Perhaps just the sun’s angle. They were now enveloped in shade from the extensive tree canopy.

While Holly wanted answers, she wasn’t sure she was ready to hear them. Had her brother done something so awful he’d rather leave his family than face the consequences? An ache settled in her chest. That would break their father’s heart. Dad would never forgive himself for letting Fix join the Mission Elites.

Kipper stood and straightened his crisp khaki slacks. Listen, Holly. Give me your phone number, and I’ll keep in touch. Fix was my buddy. I’d like to help.

She gave Kipper a quick hug. Thank you so much. I wish I’d come to see you sooner.

Me too, he replied, his smile too professional, perhaps even obligatory. Not unexpected, though. They hadn’t spoken in years. She stepped back. Her brother’s friend wasn’t the same gangly goofball she’d known as a teen. He was still tall and lean, his posture now straight. Gone was the self-conscious hunch. And his once long, full hair was cut short, accenting his angular cheekbones.

He cleared his throat. I have to get back to work. It was great seeing you again.

She nodded to return the sentiment, although Holly was more certain than ever she’d have no choice but to speak with Bane Ojore personally. With that decision, a strange feeling overcame her that gave her the shivers. For some reason, she’d never felt so nervous before, and yet so eager, to meet a man.

KIPPER WAITED UNTIL Holly turned around before letting his smile fade. Her hug had nearly sent him into a tailspin. She was open and inviting, always had been. Not a conventional beauty—more sporty than stunning—but absolutely adorable. Large, innocent eyes in a heart-shaped face with bee-stung lips ripe for kissing. Dark-blonde hair pulled back in a haphazard ponytail, slightly careless and utterly sexy. As far as he was concerned, she could have any man. But she was a first-caste lioness and off-limits to a male of his standing.

He watched his friend’s sister jog away, the teasing roundness of her ass a slap in his face. See this? Well, you can’t have it.

He squinted, his gut hardening. Fucking caste hierarchy, barbaric and discriminatory. Only the first caste enjoyed the privileges of society, while second-caste lions served in the military, third caste toiled as merchants, and fourth caste suffered as laborers. Then there were the untouchables—other apex predators capable of rivaling lions for control of Africa but sequestered into controlled territories by a petrified Parliament. With the leopards having retreated to the far north, and the jackals barely surviving on the fringes of their former range, only the hyenas had the strength to fight back, and the ages-long war had taken its toll on all.

Parliament insisted the caste system was the only way to maintain order, prevent chaos, and ensure a civilized society, but what they really worried about was the dilution of particular genetic traits only a few lions possessed. Powerful traits that allowed a Parliament of male first-caste lions to reign unchallenged.

Kipper clenched his hands. He hadn’t spent years living in barren hellholes and fighting bloodthirsty hyenas in the colonies for nothing. Something had to give. And soon.

Holly’s trim figure disappeared around the bend. Little Holly Ainran. He tried to assuage the pang of resentment in his chest. If only things were different, a lioness like her could be his. Maybe a lioness exactly like her.

Chapter Two

IT WAS A FOUR-HOUR drive north to the Mission Elites base, where the woods gave way to a mix of savanna and semiarid bush, and the city morphed into sparse villages. Holly parked her car outside the compound and walked through the open gate, surprised no one stopped her. Then again, the Elites weren’t a typical military operation.

She spied Commander Bane Ojore and could not stop staring. His tight white T-shirt highlighted his suntanned skin and provided a tantalizing showcase for his impressive biceps and broad shoulders, not to mention his fatigues did nothing to hide his heavily muscled thighs. When he raised his arms overhead to grab a pulley rope and ease a huge canister to the ground, his rippling back muscles made her mouth water.

Sweat trickled down the back of her neck, and she found it difficult to catch her breath, the air dry and hot. Yet she had a feeling it wasn’t the climate. She waited for the commander to finish his job, and when he did, he strode past her, ignoring her completely.

Excuse me, she called out, but if he heard her, he made no outward sign.

Holly exhaled in frustration and followed him to the command-post building. She trudged across the uneven ground, slowing down when she tripped on a protruding tree root. At least she’d been smart enough to wear sneakers. She entered the building and was immediately assailed by the odors of sweat, leather, and gasoline. Wrinkling her nose, she breathed through her mouth and followed the signs on the walls to the main office. The door was ajar, but she knocked to announce her presence. No response. She knocked again.

Excuse me? Mr. Ojore? She peered around the doorway.

He didn’t bother looking up at her. What do you want, Miss Ainran? he asked curtly.

She rocked on her feet, taken aback by both his demeanor and his question. How do you know my name?

It’s my business to know everything that goes on here.

Yes, of course. Perhaps he recognized her resemblance to her brother. She entered his office uninvited and took a seat. That’s why I have come to see you. I want to know what happened to my brother, Fix Ainran.

Her composure faltered, and she shook her head to chase away the doubts in her mind. She needed answers. I want to know if you have any information about where he is.

Ojore looked up and studied her, his wavy black hair longer than she would’ve expected for a military officer, much less a commander. There was an unfamiliar aspect to his dark, brooding features, a hint of the lands to the east, although she couldn’t identify his ancestry.

For a moment, the expression on his face softened. Then he clasped his hands together, all business again. Unfortunately, Miss Ainran, I have nothing to tell you.

Holly sucked in her cheeks. I did not drive all this way to be told nothing.

The man narrowed his dark eyes slightly. I made it clear to your father on the phone that I had no further information about your brother’s whereabouts. Ojore paused and glanced out the small window in his office. Miss Ainran, we may never know what demons possess even those who are closest to us. Our work here in the colonies is extremely stressful and physically demanding. Some leave injured; some are evicted. Sadly, some are killed in action. And some believe the decision to leave should be on their own terms.

Please. Something must have happened to my brother before he left, Mr. Ojore.

Commander Ojore.

"Yes, Commander. You must have some idea why Fix did not return to base."

He refocused his gaze on her. Is that important?

It is to me.

The week before your brother failed to report back, the commander began in a clipped tone, we lost an entire squad during a hyena attack. Twelve men were killed or severely injured.

Holly swallowed hard. She couldn’t imagine how traumatizing such an ordeal would be for a soldier to witness. She wiped her brow, feeling the confines of the cramped office. I’m deeply sorry about the loss of your men, Commander, but are you implying my brother abandoned his obligation to the Mission Elites and his family because he feared for his life?

She squared her jaw, resolve strengthening her. "I know my brother. He’s seen death before. He’s faced death before. There has to be another reason he would have failed to report to you and not reached out to his family or friends. You may have been able to sidestep this matter with my father, but you will not keep the truth from me."

The commander leaned back in his chair and said nothing, his piercing gaze intimidating, bordering on hostile. Growing uncomfortable with his attempt to unnerve her, Holly returned his stare defiantly to prove she was no pushover.

I will look into the matter, he said and rose to his feet. His mouth compressed, and he peered down at her. This is a treacherous area, Miss Ainran. You should not have come here alone. You are unmated.

It wasn’t a question, or worse, an accusation, simply a statement of fact. While not ashamed of her unmated status, she knew most males found it odd due to her high caste.

Yes, she replied coolly.

As the daughter of a member of Parliament, she was schooled in proper decorum, even in situations where it was not reciprocated. While arranged matings among the high caste were not uncommon, Holly had no such interest in matting merely for cubbing sake.

She laid her hands primly in her lap and forced a tight smile. I am determined to choose my own mate rather than share an alpha male in a pride.

Ojore raised an eyebrow. I neither required nor requested an explanation.

Full of yourself much? She pretended to brush a spot from her pants.

An unmated female is a distraction to the young male lions here, he said, clasping his hands behind his back. Prevents them from doing their jobs.

Obviously, she should have thought of this before traipsing across the base. Again, she tempered her reaction and opted not to respond with a rhetorical question about what jobs would be prevented by a mere woman in the soldiers’ presence.

Ojore rounded his desk, and Holly stole a sideways glance. Yowza. Granted, she hadn’t intended to check out his package. Doing so certainly wasn’t appropriate, particularly considering the purpose of her visit, but his hips were directly at her eye level, and his fatigues were quite fitted. A brief vision flashed in her mind of that impressive girth inside her, and her thighs pressed together involuntarily.

Miss Ainran?

Heart pounding, she averted her gaze. Had she been staring outright? Holly peered up and found him regarding her, his lips curved in a bemused smile. So much for him not noticing.

Her first instinct was to bolt upright and make a hasty exit, but the man blocked the path to the door. With his fists on his hips, he stepped closer to her, and Holly gripped the arms of her chair in alarm.

Then her feline senses detected his primal male scent, and she had to fight the urge to rip off his pants and devour his cock whole, or at the very least blurt out something very inappropriate. Nothing like coming into heat at the most inopportune times. Damn, she needed a boyfriend.

BANE HELD HIS BREATH, the tension building inside his chest until he thought he would explode. Her scent had been driving him crazy ever since he inhaled the sweet, feminine aroma of her estrus when she entered the base. Then he got a look at her, and it was all he could do not to fuck her right there and then. Luminous eyes, the color of rich dark gold, naturally outlined in black. Clean-scrubbed ivory skin. Rosy lips. When she blushed, a pink veil spread across her cheeks. He thought of where else she’d be pink, and his groin tightened painfully.

She shook her head, and wisps of sandy-blonde hair escaped her long braid. He had to shove his hands behind his back or he would’ve reached out to tame the errant strands. Holly Ainran could be his poison, but she was a mere babe, an innocent. A knot formed in his gut. She’d never know the truth about her brother or what her brother had done.

Another message, sir, a corporal announced, entering Bane’s office. The man spied Holly and grinned. Excuse me, sir. Wasn’t aware you had company.

Bane gave his underling a withering look, and the corporal’s grin vanished. Th-the message, sir, the man stammered, extending an envelope to Bane.

Dismissed.

The corporal nodded and hastily vacated the office.

Bane had aimed his order of dismissal at Ainran’s sister as well, but given the way she tilted her head, a wry smile on her pretty face as if challenging him, he knew she wouldn’t leave unless forcibly evicted. He held back a smile as he pictured her fighting him while he dragged her out of his office, her warm body wriggling against his, her indignant cries giving way to passionate begging.

His heart rate wasn’t the only thing that spiked. Damn the woman and her heat scent. She might as well be sitting in his office naked.

However, the message the corporal brought couldn’t wait. Weighing his options, Bane tapped the envelope against his hand. Ultimately, he decided to open it and pull out the folded paper. After a quick scan, he tossed the paper onto his desk and rubbed his mouth in frustration.

Bad news?

He didn’t bother looking at her. Unknown. The message is coded.

Let me help, she said, sounding bright and earnest. I have experience cracking code.

Bane sighed. Miss Ainran, you are young. I’m guessing eighteen? First time away from home—

I’m twenty-six, she interrupted dourly.

He lifted his gaze, and she shrugged. I’ve always looked younger than I am.

She uncrossed her legs and leaned forward, and he had to force himself to ignore the way her blouse tightened across her breasts. The last thing he needed was this sort of distraction.

I’m not a kid, Commander Ojore. I know how to handle myself. I spent my childhood on border patrols with my brother and his friend Kipper.

The name rang a bell. Kipper Lumbwi?

She nodded. You’ve worked with him?

Not directly. Bane stared at Holly until she fidgeted in her chair. Finally, he asked, Kipper Lumbwi is a friend of yours?

Kipper was my brother’s best friend when they were young. He was at our house all the time, until they both joined the Defence Force.

Bane frowned. The situation with Fix Ainran was more complicated than he’d thought.

Is there something wrong?

Kipper Lumbwi is involved with the rebels aimed at dismantling the caste hierarchy.

Holly snorted in derision. Can you blame him? The castes are archaic. Why should someone be relegated to a particular line of work or be forbidden their choice of mate solely because of the caste of their parents? What about the concepts of democracy and free will?

Bane crossed his arms. Spoken like a naive, sheltered little girl.

With a flash of indignation in her eyes, she sprang from her chair. I am not naive, Commander.

Social stratification is a necessity, Miss Ainran, facilitating trade and providing a sound economic institution.

She jeered. You sound like you’re reading from a textbook.

He suppressed his reply and studied her. Perhaps she was not so much naive as stubborn. You must be aware the caste hierarchy reduces incompatible matings. By preventing lions from mating outside their born castes, the hierarchy ensures socioeconomic compatibility. All members of the community are on the same page, so to speak, increasing the stability of the prides.

He looked out the window again, stilling the whisper of longing. A mate was not in the cards for him. In a quiet voice, he added, The daughter of a parliamentary executive would be expected to join a pride led by a first-caste alpha male.

As I said before, I will choose my own mate, regardless of what caste he’s from. I will choose him because I love him, and I will not share him.

Returning his focus to her, Bane narrowed his gaze. And what will your father have to say about that?

My father knows how I feel. He believes the system can withstand change. She lifted her chin as if daring Bane to contradict her.

He did not. Your father must be an unusual man.

He’s a good man, a good administrator. He enjoys his work and truly wants to better the lives of others. He leads by example, for the greater good, and not to obtain power.

Bane nodded. He’d never met Executive Ainran, but her words equaled the man’s reputation. Miss Ainran, do you understand the differences among the castes?

Of course, she replied, wrinkling her nose, clearly affronted he’d asked such a question. The first caste is Parliament, second caste is military, third caste are the merchants, and the fourth caste are the laborers who are never allowed to study, serve in the military, or own a business. And then there are the untouchables—anyone who isn’t a lion.

Bane ignored the frostiness in her tone. That is a simplistic overview. I am talking about the actual differences.

A look of confusion clouded her features. What do you mean?

Nothing, he replied. Perhaps she didn’t know. Surprising, considering her father’s occupation. Then again, Executive Ainran was not a typical member of Parliament, as evidenced by his son joining the Mission Elites and his daughter’s willful disrespect of societal constructs, not to mention military commanders.

The message on Bane’s desk beckoned, and he slipped it into his pocket. He’d pass it on to one of his coders. He studied the young woman seated before him. Was she serious about helping? Bane opened his desk drawer and pulled out an old message, no longer important, and debated a moment before handing it to her. She might be a civilian, but her father was an executive of Parliament.

Can you decrypt this?

Her eyes widened as she inspected the paper. On the spot? Give me some time and—

Time is something we don’t have, he replied tersely.

She took a deep breath. Hand me a pen.

The corner of his mouth rose, and he reached into his desk. Generally, he wasn’t on the receiving end of orders. He handed a pen to her and watched her scribble on the paper, her brow furrowed. She stared at the ceiling, absorbed in thought, and then returned to scribbling. Finally, she pushed the paper toward him with a self-satisfied smile. Fast enough for you?

He picked it up and read what she’d written under the coded message. He peered at her over the top of the paper. Yes.

She sat back in her chair. But that was a simple code. You knew that, didn’t you?

Instead of replying, he gave her a handheld communicator.

Another test? She studied the string of nonsense characters on the communicator screen, although the encrypted message didn’t seem to capture her full attention. More than once her gaze flicked over to him as he leaned against the file cabinet, his arms crossed, biceps flexed.

He tapped his foot, and she lifted her head. This one is a little more complicated.

Oh, is my presence affecting your concentration? He stared down at her.

Your foot, she stammered.

Right. It wasn’t the tapping of his foot bothering her. He was used to women gawking at his physique. He was also used to taking advantage of that. Little Miss Parliament’s blatant ogling certainly enticed him, yet she wasn’t merely another pretty girl in need of a night of passion to satisfy her animal instincts. There was something different about her, something interesting. Something that made him want to get to know her better. Much better.

Bane planted his hands on his desk and leaned forward. He needed to see her again after today, even if she was a distraction. Take the communicator home with you, where you can study the message at your leisure. Return tomorrow at fourteen hundred hours.

Her lips thinned as she lifted her gaze to meet his. That almost sounds like an order, Commander.

He raised one eyebrow. That’s because it is.

Chapter Three

BRISTLING, HOLLY STRODE to her car outside the Mission Elites base. What a jerk! Insensitive, domineering, and condescending—everything she despised in a man.

So why in the hell did Bane Ojore make her thighs wet? Other than he radiated sensuality like a solar flare and was the epitome of male perfection, straight from his chiseled jaw down to his gorgeous ripped muscles. She squeezed her eyes shut. Perhaps it was the taunting coolness of his gaze or the way his mouth curved in a mocking smile?

Hmm, there was definitely more to the man—a flicker of vulnerability, a hint of need beneath the cold, hard exterior. Of course, she could be simply imagining, or hoping, that was the case. Maybe he was nothing more than what he seemed—an arrogant military commander.

Seated in her car, Holly concentrated on the handheld communicator the commander had given her. Not recognizing the encryption method, she studied the coded message with intent, but her mind wandered.

The audacity of that man ordering her to return with results! True, she wouldn’t turn down an opportunity to get another eyeful of him. On the other hand, he’d insulted her beliefs about the caste hierarchy. She didn’t need another load of that bull.

Wouldn’t it be dandy if she decrypted the message right away? Then Commander Bossy wouldn’t think she was such a naive little girl. If she impressed him, he’d realize what an