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She scurried away, the bedspread clutched in her hand.

Striker glanced around. Dinky was still stalking him, his teeth bared and his skin flushed red. It was a clear challenge.

“Don’t worry, you lethal little arm biter. She’s safe with me. I’m not challenging your position as alpha. Not yet, anyway.”

Dinky growled and settled on his haunches, his bug eyes not leaving him.

Striker tidied up the chaos in Wren’s bedroom. His gaze landed on the broken holo frame. He peered at the people in the shimmering image. They were Wren’s family. She never talked about them. He had a feeling they were no longer around.

He set down the holo frame and headed to the tiny kitchen. He brewed coffee and returned to the living room.

Her place was cozy. Most people used their quarters like he did, a place to get rest and food before heading out for work. But Wren had pictures, soft cushions, even a few ornaments of space ships dotted around. There was much more to her than a cyborg-like efficiency. She had feelings. She loved. She had a life outside of her work.

Striker sighed and slumped on the couch. There was no point in getting comfortable here. He could offer Wren a good time in bed but nothing more. There was nothing about him anyone wanted for long.

At least he’d helped Wren when she needed it. Despite her stubborn resistance, he was glad he’d been here for her. Maybe she wouldn’t think he was such a jerk after this morning.

He glanced at Dinky, who rumbled a growl at him.

Although maybe she should. He didn’t want her to get the wrong impression about him. He was no one’s alien knight in shining armor.

Chapter 4

The mission had successfully launched three hours ago. Wren’s head was still tender but no longer ached, and her vision wasn’t blurry thanks to Striker’s assistance.

She adjusted her position, crouched in the undergrowth on Libran. The air was just about breathable, so she didn’t have her full suit on, but she wouldn’t be doing star jumps thanks to the thin atmosphere.

Striker was right beside her, so close she could feel his body heat. She resisted the urge to lean into that warmth. It was only because it was so cold on this rock strewn, sandy planet that she wanted to get closer to him.

“Any movement on the scanner?” she whispered.

“Still nothing. Maybe it was a system blip that identified the sullock. There hasn’t been a sighting of these creatures for two years.”

She glanced at him, surprise hitting her. “You read the mission brief?”

He chuckled low, the sound sending a rumble of pleasure through her. “I sometimes do. And I had time to kill this morning after my partner tried to knock herself out in a feeble attempt to get out of this mission.”

She nudged him with her elbow. “I’d never do that. I live for these missions. It’s why I trained so hard on Earth. I wasn’t missing out on a chance to study and save rare species.”

“I know. I’ve also read your file.” He arched a brow. “You aced your classes, scholarships to all the expensive places, then a year under the tutelage of Professor Armstrong.”

“You really have been reading up on me.”

“I was interested.”

“In me?” Her voice came out squeaky. She cleared her throat and tried again. “I mean, of course, it’s important to know who you’re working with. I read up on you, too. Although a lot of your file was redacted. Apparently, you did something big and impressive while you were in the elite squad that people shouldn’t know about.”

“Yep, that sums me up. I’m an intergalactic alien mystery.”

“You don’t always have to joke about these things,” she said. “I’m interested in you, too. I want to know about the guy who’s protecting my butt.”

“I’ll protect that glorious piece of equipment with my life.”

She shook her head. “I know you have good fighting skills.”

“The best. That’s why I’m here. It’s not to take in the scenery on these star scorned planets we keep landing on.”

She glanced at him and looked away. He was always like this. Whenever she talked about his past, he made jokes. But there was something murky in his past, something that meant he’d left the elite squad under a cloud of mystery, but no one knew what it was.