Lost in Emotion

By Melissa Schroeder

Alien Gorgons, Federation enemies? No contest. Telepathic anti-terrorist agent David Adams can fight anything. Anything, that is, but his feelings for Genoa, the sassy, sexy spy he’s been charged with protecting.

Genoa doesn’t need an intergalactic space ranger getting into her business. But, when things get out of control, she realizes there is a little more to the spy.

As they race for their lives, trusting each other becomes a necessity. The closer they get, the more David’s control over his abilities slips, and when their lives are in danger, he has to convince Genoa to trust a man who has been lying to her from the moment they met.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bryant Street Publishing
• Release date: Jun 15, 2022
• ISBN: 9781094443874

Melissa Schroeder

From an early age, USA Today Bestselling author Melissa loved to read. First, it was the books her mother read to her including her two favorites, Winnie the Pooh and the Beatrix Potter books. She cut her preteen teeth on Trixie Belden and read and reviewed To Kill a Mockingbird in middle school. It wasn’t until she was in college that she tried to write her first stories, which were full of angst and pain, and really not that fun to read or write. After trying several different genres, she found romance in a Linda Howard book. Since her first published book, Grace Under Pressure, Mel has had over 60 short stories, novellas, and novels published. She has written in genres ranging from historical to contemporary to futuristic and has worked with 8 publishers although she handles most of her publishing herself. She is best known for her Harmless and Santini series. After years of following her military husband around the country and world, Mel happily lives with her family in horse and wine country in Northern Virginia.

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

Cold, mind-numbing fear slithered down David’s spine. For a moment, he couldn’t move as the emotion washed over him, through him. He swallowed the panic rising in his system as he glanced around the barroom.  Damn, who is it?  He hadn’t had a transfer of emotion like this in years, but it shot through his system like a lightning bolt.

So many people, but only one emotion came through. Fear, stark as a winter’s night, tightened his stomach. When he brought his glass to his mouth, he noticed the blue liquid rippling. He set it down without taking a drink and glanced around the room again.

Smoky haze from the incense cigarettes the locals of Rilah preferred filled the air, making it hard to see into every crevice and corner. David didn’t like it. Something sinister was at work in the room. An agent for the Counterterrorism Unit of the Federation of Nations, he was a target if anyone suspected his quest. He would be dead in less than a heartbeat if the wrong people knew he was searching for their missing spy.

He studied the occupants lounging around on the various couches and chairs throughout the seedy bar. Coming here tonight had been his last attempt at finding the elusive Genoa.

Want another, pal? the Rilahlian bartender asked. David looked up, trying to determine if the feeling of fear had emitted from the seven-foot-tall being. Nothing but impatience showed in the Rilahlian’s bluish-green eyes.

Naw, think I’ve had enough for the night.

Before he could move on to the next customer, the bartender glanced over David’s shoulder and cussed in Rilahlian.

The sound of raised voices and breaking glass erupted behind him. David looked over his shoulder and saw a crowd of men surrounding a table at one of the booths. The sight of green-tinged hair sent David’s senses into hyperspeed. Gorgons. And probably warriors, judging by their black, fitted suits and the lasers holstered at their sides.

Gorgons, although now at peace with the Federation, had planned several attacks on Earth and abroad. Rogue mercs still roamed, looking for work, and these fit the bill. Their deception was made easy by the fact they looked more human than any other species in the galaxies.

Fear lashed out at him again, and he knew instantly whoever was in the booth with them was the source. He stood up and headed in the direction of the commotion. As he drew within about ten feet, one of the warriors shifted and David got a glimpse of the booth’s occupants. Another warrior, dressed in black and bigger than the others, sat on one side of the table, his hand around the wrist of a woman. David shifted his focus to her. A smile curved her lips, her pale green eyes sparkled with defiance. Heat swept through him, warming his blood and twisting his stomach. It was the same damn reaction as when he’d seen the picture of her six months ago.

Damn. Genoa.

CHAPTER TWO

Genoa tried to calm her heart and the panic threatening to choke her as she wiggled her arm and stared at Deras.  Damn, damn, damn.  She’d been so close to getting away clean tonight. The info Marcus Carlyle needed was burning a hole in her transmitter, and after sending it, Genoa planned on disappearing for a good long while. She’d made too many enemies lately, and had been on her way to disappearing when Deras had shown up.

Asshole. If she had her blade, she’d cut out his heart and feed it to him on a platter. The idiot just didn’t know when to let go. Genoa smiled, hiding her irritation and her fear.

Listen, Deras, I’m not yours to keep. We had a good time; now it’s over.

His frown deepened and true anger darkened his green eyes. No one tells Deras when it is over. I decide. And you are in no position to argue with Deras.

She really hated when he referred to himself in the third person. He sounded mentally challenged. Just the memory of his hands on her skin made her stomach turn. What she didn’t do for the Federation… They owed her big. The only thing saving them was that she hadn’t been forced to screw the monster.

His fingers tightened around her wrist and her fingers began to tingle.

See, Deras is not happy. Maybe Deras sell you.

Maybe Deras is a jackass. Real fear coiled in her stomach. She fought not to show it. He would do it, sell her for a sex slave. Being half-human, half-Gorgon would make her irresistible to some weirdoes. She knew she would bring a pretty penny on the market. Before she could open her mouth to placate him, another man stepped forward, pushing a couple of the Gorgons out of his way. He stood several inches shorter than most of them, but Genoa knew instantly they wouldn’t try to screw with this one. Deras gestured with his head and the rest of the warriors backed away.

He wore his light-brown hair shoulder length, shaggy and unkempt. Dominant cheekbones and a beard gave him a lean, hungry look, but the thing that held her captivated was his sharp, tawny eyes. He glanced at Deras, then at the grip the Gorgon had on her wrist, and finally settled his concentration on her. For no apparent reason, her heart turned over and then increased in speed.

Is there a problem here, babe? he asked, his accent purely pegging him from Earth.

Just a small disagreement. I wanted to leave; Deras objected.

Her finely tuned senses picked up on the scent of male aggression, some of it from the Gorgons, but primarily from the new arrival. And, unlike so many times before, the whiff of male hormones warmed her blood.

Deras studied the man, and his grip on her wrist slackened enough for her to slip her hand out of his reach. Before she could slide out of the booth and make her escape, Deras grabbed her by the hair, pulling her back against him, and held a laser pistol to her head. Activity around the bar came to a standstill. The band’s out-of-tune music dissolved as deadly silence filtered through the room.

Ya know—Deras, is it? I really don’t like anyone manhandling my woman.

She’s not your woman. You don’t even know her name, Deras spat out.

The newcomer’s sharp gaze studied her face, then looked straight into her eyes. Heat spread up her neck and into her face. Without breaking eye contact, he said, Genoa.

The sound of her name in his earthly accent should’ve repulsed her. Instead, a warm wave of arousal slid through her. She felt her nipples tighten.

And just how the hell does he know my name?

Before she could process that thought, another popped into her mind. Deras had to be wondering the same thing, and his feeble mind couldn’t handle detaining her and thinking at the same time. She rammed her elbow into his ribs. His grip slackened. The human reached across the table, grabbed her hand, and yanked her past the stunned warriors who had just caught on to what was happening.

She stumbled, almost falling flat on her face, but gained her balance within seconds and followed him to the door. She had little choice, since he still had her wrist in a death grip. The angry shouts of the Gorgons sounded behind them as he weaved his way through the crowd of stunned onlookers. A moment later, they were outside; the heavy, polluted air of Rilah City almost made her choke as she followed him, keeping pace with his long strides. He turned right at the corner and headed straight for the Intergalactic Port Station.

She dug in her heels and almost stumbled when he continued running. When he finally realized she wasn’t following, he turned around and glared.

Princess, I don’t have time to dick around. I don’t mind beating the shit out of your buddy, Deras, but I really don’t feel up to taking on his entourage.

Listen up, space ranger, I appreciate your help back there, but really, I have other plans tonight.

He stepped