Chapter 2
"Who are you?" Phoenix growled, securing the intruder with his full weight. She was light; it wasn't hard to subdue her, but she'd caught him by surprise. He hadn't expected such a frenzied attack.
Damn if his groin didn't throb where the hellcat had kicked him, and she'd left claw marks down his forearm. The woman had fought like her life depended on it.
He could tell she was trained, but not by any military—he knew that much. Not a serious threat, then. Maybe an eco-warrior? One of those passionate planet defenders who didn't realize the danger they put themselves in.
"What's your name?" he repeated. He'd been warned there had been threats. They’d been told to be vigilant.
She squirmed beneath him, but he held her steady, pressing her wrists into the hard ground. Both her hands in one of his. The other he splayed across her hip, preventing her from unseating him with her repeated thrusts.
He regretted the use of force, but she wasn't going anywhere until she'd answered some questions.
"Ellie," she gasped, and he noticed—more than noticed—the way her T-shirt twisted under her breasts, exposing her smooth, flat stomach. It was soft under his hand—he didn’t know skin could be that soft.
He forced his gaze to her face—pretty and heart-shaped, with an angry flush staining her cheeks. Her hair had come loose from the binding, splaying out around her.
She lifted her chin, and it was then he noticed the small, inch-long scar on her neck, silver in the diffused light. "Who do you work for?"
"Xonex, the energy company."
He frowned. Xonex, the same company that had hired him for his expertise in handling situations exactly like this.
He frowned. It didn't add up. Why was she dressed in black, prowling around the deck in the early hours?
She was staring up at him, petrified. Her eyes, light-brown flecked with gold, were wide and frantic. Even terrified, there was something fierce, yet vulnerable about her. He eased off a little on her wrists, but not enough that she could wriggle free.
He had to be sure.
"You work here? On the Explorer?"
"That's what I've been telling you." Angry eyes glared at him, and she tossed some messy chocolate-brown strands out of her face.
"Then why are you dressed like a cat burglar?"
She spluttered. "Cat burglar? This is my yoga outfit."
"Yoga? You're kidding." Now he'd heard it all.
"I'm an engineer. I told you, I work here."
Confused, he stared at her, trying to get her measure. Lean and curved in all the right places, with cascades of deep brown hair framing a pale, pretty face, she didn't look anything like an engineer—then again, she didn't look like any intruder he'd ever encountered either. A yoga guru, yes. Ironically, that was the easiest to believe.
"Where is your ID?" he asked, his face so close he could breathe in her scent. Vanilla—warm, inviting, disarming.
She grimaced. "I–I left it in my room."
He sighed.
Really?
"You have no ID, but you expect me to believe you work here?"
"I do." She gave a sexy pout.
He narrowed his eyes. "How come I haven't seen you before?"
"I flew in yesterday evening. Actually, I saw you and your friend up on deck, but you didn't see me."
He frowned. He hadn't noticed her. Could be a convenient excuse. "What are you doing prowling around the deck at five in the morning?"
She wriggled again, her hips digging into his thighs. For a small woman, she was remarkably strong. He pressed down, then wished he hadn't. A surge of heat spread to his groin, which was still pulsing from connecting with her knee.
"Isn't it obvious? I'm doing yoga." Irritation replaced the fear. That was something, at least. He hadn't liked seeing how panicked she'd been.
He knew fear, and hers had been very real. Desperate, terrifying, irrational fear. Experience had taught him he wasn't the reason. Something else had caused that fear, something bad, and a while back. But she hadn't let it go.
"Yoga, right…" His voice petered off.
The way she was looking at him… all bristly and defiant, her tiger's eyes flashing in the hazy dawn. He wanted to believe her, but he had to check it out fully before he let her go.
She could just be a really good liar. The whole yoga thing might be nothing but a smokescreen. For all he knew, an activist group had sent a bombshell like her to stir up trouble over the oil drilling.
This wasn't new territory for him. After a solid twenty years in the service, with a good chunk as a Navy SEAL, he was no stranger to diehards on a mission. People got pretty intense when they truly believed in a cause.
"Look, I just got here yesterday." She snapped, clearly ticked off. "If you get off me, I'll take you to my cabin and show you my ID badge. Then we can clear this whole mess up."
Now that was the first sensible thing he'd heard her say.
"Sounds like a plan." Letting go, he released her hands. He'd check her out, and if she was telling the truth… well, then he'd owe her an apology. Somehow, he didn't mind that too much.
She huffed. "Can I get up now?"
"All right, but just so we're clear, you're sticking with me until I know you're legit."
She gave a quick nod and another small exhale.
He backed off, then offered a hand up.
She ignored it, got to her feet, then brushed herself off, but not before throwing him a look that could melt steel.
"After you," he gestured, resisting a grin. She really was a hellcat.
She walked ahead of him along the narrow gangway, swishing her hips as she went. Groaning silently, he followed.
Was she toying with him? Trying to provoke him?
He followed that sexy ass down the corridor, trying to stay focused, but damn if she wasn't making it difficult. Inappropriate thoughts crept unbidden into his head, not helped by the memory of her flushed face, soft skin and sensual stride.
They reached the door that descended into the crew's quarters, and she glanced back—big eyes, asking permission, but not without a mocking glare.
He nodded and down they went, the greenish glow of emergency lights bathing everything in an eerie tint, the rig creaking around them. He had to admit, she seemed to know where she was going.
"My roommate is still sleeping." She hesitated outside one of the cabin doors.
"I'll wait here."
So, the little vixen had been telling the truth, but he had to play by the book. Everyone onboard had to wear their ID card. No exceptions.
She slipped into her room, leaving the door cracked just enough so he could glimpse inside. Last time he'd let his guard down, it had almost cost him. He wasn't about to make the same mistake twice. Women could be full of surprises.
Then she was back, dangling her ID right in his face. "Satisfied?"
Phoenix checked it out, squinting in the murky light.
Eleanor Rider, Chemical Engineer, Xonex Energy Services.
Okay, so she was on the level.
He handed it back to her, meeting her triumphant gaze. "Thank you, Eleanor Rider. Sorry about the inconvenience. I had to make sure, you understand. We take security very seriously on the Explorer."
He saw a flicker of fear return, but she covered it well. "I suppose you were just doing your job."
He gave a brusque nod. "Yes, ma'am."
She sniffed, not quite ready to forgive him. "You should think twice next time you jump a stranger." Her gaze roamed over his physique, and he thought he detected a reluctant flicker of appreciation. "A man your size, you could hurt somebody."
"In my line of work, a delay could mean loss of life." His eyes bore into hers. "Just remember to wear your ID in future. It will save further… misunderstandings."
She tossed the loose strands of hair over her shoulder as she spun around to go back inside the cabin. "Don't worry, I will."