Chapter 1 #2
Axton’s gut tightened. He wasn’t sure he wanted to hear—
Xander tilted his head at his second. “Xenia, I’m assigning you as primary on the Codex retrieval.”
Xenia jerked. “Sir, I’m in the middle of training the new recruits—”
“It’s an order,” Xander added in a quiet voice that brooked zero argument.
She straightened. “Yes, sir.”
Axton was still stuck on every minute of every day and night. “No. I’m not—”
“You want the Codex back?” his brother prompted. “As soon as possible?”
Axton ground his teeth together. Yes, he needed the Codex, but he didn’t need the incredibly tempting distraction of Xenia around him right now.
“Fine. Commander Alexander can work in my office. Now, I have a meeting to attend.”
Xenia sat at the polished, black conference table in the Prime’s office, her fingers flying across the computer screen built into the table’s glossy surface. She was working so fast, her hands were a blur.
She was running searches and poring through the e-records they’d confiscated from the Rahl and through the interrogation records of their Rahl prisoners. She swiped again at the glowing screen. So far she hadn’t found any mention of where they might have stashed the Codex.
She needed to achieve her objective and find the artifact. Fast.
Because all she seemed to be able to think about was Axton Saros.
With her enhanced senses, she easily picked up his scent in the office. Something crisp and citrusy. She glanced at his sleek desk, imagined him sitting there, lounging in the black leather chair, his arrestingly handsome face staring out across the city.
No, no she wasn’t thinking about him. She shook her head. That was a dangerous path.
Involuntarily, her thoughts turned to Xander and Malin Phoenix, and Xenia almost groaned. That was almost as bad. The two of them touching, kissing, smiling… Xenia gripped the edge of the table. Xander was so obviously in love with the salvage mechanic, and Malin loved him right back.
Xander was Xenia’s boss but also her friend. She was so happy for him, but seeing his happiness…it just underscored everything she could never have.
Realizing the table was creaking under her increased strength, she forced herself to relax.
She wished she could fire up her emotional filters and block all these chaotic feelings like her fellow CenSecs.
Centax Security cyborgs weren’t supposed to feel jealousy. They weren’t supposed to feel at all.
But it was her little secret…her filters had never worked properly. She felt. She’d learned to hide it, especially from the Security doctors. She really didn’t want them cutting and poking more than they already did. Or worse, kicking her out of Centax Security.
She had moved through the ranks to become Xander’s second-in-command through sheer will and grit. And by learning to hide every drop of emotion behind a perfectly composed face.
She had to be the perfect CenSec.
It was all she had. All she would ever have.
The office door opened soundlessly, and Axton Saros strode in. Her gaze collided with green-gold eyes.
She almost jolted. He was almost as tall as his brother but leaner, although by no means soft.
He had the body of a runner or a swimmer.
His face made him the darling of all the news and gossip channels in the quadrant.
Square jaw, regal cheekbones, sleek silver implant at his temple, and stunning eyes of concentric rings of green and gold.
It was a face that inspired trust and obedience—perfect for leading a planet.
She thought his features looked sharper now, harder than before the coup.
She’d never forget opening that cell door and seeing the vibrant, charismatic man chained to the floor, his bare chest streaked with blood, his shoulder dislocated and swollen, and his face beaten black.
And still he’d stared up at her with defiance in his eyes.
He’d been back at work only a few hours later. Helping to rebuild the planet.
Everything about Axton tore through Xenia’s barely functioning emotional filters like a laser cutter through steel.
She stood, her hands behind her back, staring over his shoulder.
“Sit down. You don’t have to jump up every time I enter a room.” He pulled off his suit jacket. “Did you find anything?”
She sat, her gaze drawn to the way his white shirt contrasted with his dark-bronze skin and how his trousers pulled tight over his—
Xenia! “Not yet.”
“The clock’s ticking,” he said.
She stiffened. “I will find it.”
He held up his hands. “I don’t doubt your abilities, Xenia. In fact, I respect the hell out of them.”
She blinked and watched him warily as he stalked closer.
“Show me what you do have.”
She nodded. He stood over her shoulder as she showed him the documents on the screen, and outlined the things she’d ruled out. He made a few humming noises in his throat. But all she could think about was the fact that he smelled so good.
He reached forward to point at the screen. “I think we can discount this.”
He was in her space, so close that she could feel the heat of him. She kept her face blank, her hands curled together in her lap. This insanity would pass. It had to.
“Do you ever wear this down?” He fingered a strand of her hair.
She jerked her head to the side and looked back at him. “No touching.”
His gaze sharpened on her. “Why?”
“Because.”
“Not a very precise answer for a CenSec.”
“I don’t want you touching me.”
He leaned down until his face was a whisper away from hers. “Really? Why do I get the impression you’re lying to me?”
“Prime Saros.” The office computer’s modulated voice filled the room. “Your next appointment is here.”
“Thank you.” He tilted his head and focused back on Xenia. “What’s your next step in the investigation?”
“I’m going to head out and take a look at the location where the Rahl had their base here in Haxx.” And get out of your office and away from you.
“Great. Computer, reschedule my appointment.” Axton looked at Xenia. “I’m coming with you.”
“No, I don’t—”
“I’m. Coming.”
Xenia gritted her teeth. “Fine.”