Although he saw through her, although he knew that she was only trying to get him to talk, he suddenly found his defenses down. When she was so close, within kissing distance, he couldn't help himself. He wanted that closeness.
He wanted to trust her.
"I swear to you, I know nothing about any enemies of Zanthar aboard my ship. We left with a crew of eight, and all eight of them I've known for years. I would put my life in the hands of any one of them. There is no way they can be working for an enemy we didn't even know existed."
"I understand," she said, her voice soothing. Her hand gently brush some of his hair away from his neck. "I trust my crew as well. And my scanners. Please believe me that Hareema DNA is present on your ship."
"But I don't know how it could have gotten there. We've met no one on our travel to JL-398, except you. There was nothing out of the ordinary until you boarded our ship."
"The Hareema are sneaky," she whispered, her voice so seductive. "They've infiltrated so many planets we've almost lost count. They could be disguised as anything and they are virtually undetectable."
Her words cleared the fog in his brain long enough for him to think about the situation logically. "If they are so undetectable, then how did your scans pick up their DNA?"
"A Hareema shapeshifter can only hold a shape for about twelve hours. Then they are forced to change back into their true form, a solid block of jelly. Although they can almost instantly change back into their disguise, those few seconds are enough to leave a faint DNA residue. And we picked up that residue on your ship."
Jeffrey turned to face her, instantly regretting the move as he could no longer feel her breath against his ear. "You are absolutely certain you picked up this DNA on our ship?"
He stared at her hard, wanting to make sure her answer was the truth. She stared back with clear eyes and a sincere expression.
"Yes. I'm certain. There was, or is, at least one Hareema aboard your ship."
Jeffrey stood suddenly. She wasn't lying, or she was the best liar he'd ever seen. And if she wasn't lying, that meant the crew remaining on theEarhartwere in grave danger.
"Let me contact my ship. I need to talk to the captain." Captain Brooklyn had to know that the Zantharians could be telling the truth. They needed to be strategizing how to detect the Hareema aboard theEarhart.
"I can't let you do that," Kat'Chinna said, her expression tightening.
"Please," he said, grabbing her hand. "If my crew really is in danger, I need to talk to them!"
She shook her beautiful head. "I'm sorry, I truly am, but I can't let you talk to them yet." Kat'Chinna gave him a persuading look. "Now, if you could tell me more about your mission, about your crew and who helped you plan the logistics of your trip, maybe I could convince Major Ontarii to let you contact your ship."
Jeffrey stared at her. She was so beautiful, so alluring. Even now, her wide dark eyes begged him to tell her all of his secrets. But it was clear now that she wouldn't take him at his word that he knew nothing about her enemy.
He could talk until he was blue in the face, but she wouldn't let him out of this room until she was satisfied. And she looked like the kind of female that took everything a man had to be satisfied.
In that moment, Jeffrey made up his mind. There was no more time to play the game the way she wanted it to be played. His crew was in danger, and he was a prisoner, helpless to protect them.
It was time to turn the tables on the alien female. Time to regain the upper hand for good. Although he'd let her toy with him, let her flirt and use her wiles, he no longer could afford the luxury of a long flirtation.
If she wanted to play at seduction, he'd show her how it was done. It was time to see if she enjoyed the benefits his friendship would bring.
