Page 11

“You got it.” Sloane walked off with Dallin, leaving Cleo on her own.

Her insides were still shaking from the up close and personal contact with Hunter.

She clenched her fists and shook out her arms, trying to dislodge the nervous energy coursing through her. There had to be a way around this.

She couldn’t keep fending off Hunter, she wasn’t mentally strong enough. Even though her mind was clear not to go there, her body screamed at her to leap into those huge arms.

And her mind wasn’t so perfect. Cleo had Hunter in her dreams most nights, and none of those dreams were clean. You’d have to be dead not to get aroused by being around such a funny, gorgeous alien.

Cleo bit the inside of her cheek as she strode to her office, her mind a whirl of possibilities. Maybe she could fire Hunter. He was overstepping the line. She could say she didn’t want to be hassled by a colleague. But a part of her did, and Hunter wasn’t harassing her. She loved the feel of his hands on her body. And the memory of being pinned up against the wall as he told her in his calm, level tone that she was his mate, sent a thrill to her core.

“Meow?”

“Helix!” Cleo picked up the adorable cat and rested him on her shoulder. He belonged to Daisy, but seemed to enjoy hanging out in her office whenever he could.

Helix purred and curled himself around her neck like a living fur collar as she entered the office and stood by her desk with her hands on her hips.

“What shall we do about my Hunter problem?” Cleo stroked her cheek against the cat’s soft fur. She adored all animals, but had a special bond with this little bundle of trouble.

The cat licked her cheek before hopping onto the desk.

She watched him strut around, inspecting everything. This was the closest Cleo got to having her own pet. She didn’t have time to look after one properly, and she’d feel guilty for neglecting it. Just like everything else. She never felt she was giving enough and kept letting people down.

Cleo’s fingers flexed, and she frowned. That was the soundtrack of her life. She never had enough time for the things she loved because she needed to make sure everyone else was doing okay.

She stroked Helix a few times, the feel of his warm, soft fur instantly lowering her stress levels. “I could have Hunter relocated.” Cleo settled in her seat and looked through the pile of messages she had to respond to. “He’s got skills. He’d be an asset to anyone he worked with.”

Helix batted one of the messages to the floor.

Cleo retrieved it. “Is it fair to make Hunter leave? He’s a great fit in this team. And he’s a great fit for me.” Panic welled up her throat at the thought of him gone, but she cut it off. “This is my issue to deal with. Hunter shouldn’t suffer because I’m an idiot and can’t control my hormones.”

She sat back and stroked her fingers through Helix’s fur. Was that all this was? She was horny? Cleo had paid zero attention to romance since taking this job. This role gobbled up her every waking hour, and when she wasn’t dreaming about Hunter, she dreamt about work. There was no room for a partner.

“Maybe I’m the one who should find a new place and leave Hunter here.” That thought made her nose wrinkle. It would crush her to leave the Apocalypse. She’d built an amazing crew who were as dedicated to the conservation cause as she was.

Helix rolled over and exposed his belly for a tickle.

“We have a problem, don’t we? I don’t want to leave the Apocalypse, yet I can’t punish Hunter because he wants something I can’t give him.”

“If I may interrupt,” ELVIS said. “What is it you’re unable to give Hunter?”

Cleo sat back in her seat, picked up Helix, and settled him on her lap. Some of the crew objected to the all too human AI who helped run the ship. But she liked him. “Hey, ELVIS. Without getting too specific, Hunter wants something from me, and I don’t have it to give him.”

“We have plenty of supplies on-board. Maybe you can find a spare of whatever he needs there. And I’m happy to order anything in. I have access to thousands of supply channels. And we’re scheduled for a waystation stop in two weeks. You could find the item there.”

“Thanks, but it’s not that kind of thing.” Cleo tapped a finger on the desk, and Helix jumped on it and kicked it with his back feet. “Although... maybe I should offer him a distraction. Something to turn his head.”

“Turn his head? Away from what?”

Cleo sighed. “Away from what I can’t give him. Maybe that’s all he needs, someone with no barriers. Someone who can show him a good time without the consequences of all this.” She waved a hand in the air.

ELVIS was silent for a second. “There are twelve escort services within an hour of here. Shall I arrange a meeting for Hunter? Two of the services will fly to the ship, providing transportation costs are covered.”

A strangled laugh shot out of Cleo. “I don’t mean buy Hunter sex! At least I wasn’t thinking that until you suggested it. I mean, I should find him someone who can give him what he wants.”

“I might be mistaken, but does Hunter only want sex with you?”

She blushed, even though ELVIS was simply presenting the facts. “Um... pretty much. I think that’s what he wants. He told me to get ready.”