“It’s lucky you could fix the problem.How is our ship?”Lynx asked.
“Gweneth fixed it,” Ellard said.“My hand wasn’t up to the delicate wiring.I need to practice more.”His explanation emerged stiff and displayed a hint of mortification.“There is a crack in the cargo hold area, and we had to seal the lock doors.I’m hoping we can get it fixed on Narenda.”
A glance showed a blaze of red in his cheeks.
“Good job, Gweneth,” Lynx said.
“Nanu showed me some basic repairs.Ellard steered us out of the debris.We’re a capable team.One person alone would have perished.”
“What is your location?How far away are you?”Lynx asked.
“About half a cycle, I think,” Ellard said.“Now that we’re away from danger, I’ve reduced our speed.I didn’t want to shake the ship apart.It’s not handling as well.”
“We’ll be asking questions this end,” Shiloh gritted out.
Lynx frowned.“We’ve had a series of isolated incidents in the city.Vandalism and such.Someone painted anti-royal graffiti on the new buildings.This might be connected.I’ll contact the Narenda delegation and let them know why you’re delayed.”
“We’ll attempt to contact them too,” Ellard said.“Tell them we’re coming from west-south sector.”
Lynx gave a brisk nod.“That is off course.Try not to dally too long.Over and out.”
The communication broke abruptly but not before she caught another sly wink from Shiloh.
“We’d better attempt communication,” Ellard said in a stiff voice.
Gweneth nodded, irked when he avoided her gaze.“Of course.”Her feline rumbled in disapproval as she calmly sat and fastened her safety harness.“We’re representing Viros.This is an important mission.”But they were safe and while her fingers tapped on the communication keys, her mind busily planned for the next stage in her Ellard offensive.
Ellard watched Gweneth from the corner of his eye as he guided the ship toward Narenda.She’d handled herself well in the crisis, and he still couldn’t believe they’d escaped the debris field alive.
He loosened his grip on his knee, the prick of claws into his flesh doing little to still the clamor taking place within his body.That kiss.
Gweneth sat in her seat, her fingers flicking buttons as she attempted to reach someone on Narenda.
“Ah,” she said, the sound carrying a wealth of satisfaction.“Narenda, please come in.This is theGallantfrom Viros.”
A face appeared on their communications screen.A dark and handsome man.Ellard disliked him immediately.
“Gallant, I read you, but I can’t see you.”
Gweneth popped under the panel, and he heard the rumble of her muttering along with a word that sounded suspiciously like “sexy beast”, but no.He couldn’t have heard right.Without warning, she emerged from beneath the panel, and he noticed a smear of grease on her cheek.It highlighted her high cheekbones and pouty lips.
Ellard muttered a curse and wrenched his gaze away from temptation.He failed to understand why this particular woman wormed under his skin and bothered him.That kiss… A shiver rippled through him as he recalled her soft curves pressing against his chest, her lips moving against his…
“Can you see me now?”Gweneth asked.
“I certainly can,” the dark-haired man said.“I never realized our visitors included a woman.”
“I’m Gweneth Swithin, and I’m traveling with Ellard Tetsu.I’m sorry we’re late.Our ship suffered mechanical problems.They’re fixed now, and I believe we should arrive on the morrow.”
“Excellent,” the man purred.“I am Gryffnn Drake, brother to the chieftain.”
Ellard caught the narrowing of the man’s gaze and the shift of his pupils.A dragon shifter.Ellard hated the way the male eyed Gweneth like his next dinner.
“We’re looking forward to visiting your planet,” Gweneth said in her melodic tones.“Will your chieftain still be available to meet with us?”
“Yes, of course.We welcome the chance to trade beyond our borders.”
A feline snarl burst from Ellard, and his claws dug into his thigh.The dragon wanted to meet Gweneth.That was clear from his drool and his oozing sexuality.
