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Paperback
ISBN:9781944270438 Published By: Beachwalk Press Release Date: October 17 2016 |
Paperback
ISBN:9780995418219 Published By: Imogene Nix Release Date: 1 May 2017 |
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Blurb:
When betrayal and loyalty collide, can love overcome all obstacles?
Kera Aarens is strong, sexy, and focused on her new role as commander of security on Aenna, but she’s recovering from injuries she suffered at the hand of Crick Sur Banden, the leader of the Ru’Edan Rogues. Offered the job of protecting the hidden Admiralty base, this driven warrior is desperate to regain her balance.
Admiral Gustav Elphin is in charge of the base and was previously Kera’s commander aboard The Star of Ishtar, the scene of his greatest regret. He vividly remembers—and regrets—not fulfilling the promise of one night of passion with this amazing woman. Now Kera’s back in his life and he’d do just about anything to close the emotional chasm between them.
Facing a breach of station security, and multiple personal threats to each of them, Kera and Gustav must work together to neutralize the agent who’s hidden among the workers of the station.
Somewhere along the way, maybe, they will find a second chance at love.
Content Warning: Space travel, violence, and evil aliens abound
Genre(s): Science Fiction/Futuristic Romance
When betrayal and loyalty collide, can love overcome all obstacles?
Kera Aarens is strong, sexy, and focused on her new role as commander of security on Aenna, but she’s recovering from injuries she suffered at the hand of Crick Sur Banden, the leader of the Ru’Edan Rogues. Offered the job of protecting the hidden Admiralty base, this driven warrior is desperate to regain her balance.
Admiral Gustav Elphin is in charge of the base and was previously Kera’s commander aboard The Star of Ishtar, the scene of his greatest regret. He vividly remembers—and regrets—not fulfilling the promise of one night of passion with this amazing woman. Now Kera’s back in his life and he’d do just about anything to close the emotional chasm between them.
Facing a breach of station security, and multiple personal threats to each of them, Kera and Gustav must work together to neutralize the agent who’s hidden among the workers of the station.
Somewhere along the way, maybe, they will find a second chance at love.
Content Warning: Space travel, violence, and evil aliens abound
Genre(s): Science Fiction/Futuristic Romance
THIS VERSION IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE
ISBN: 9781618853189
Published by: Secret Cravings Publishing
Release Date: 6 August 2012
Blurb:
Kera Aarens is strong, sexy and focused on her new role as Commander. She is also recovering from her brutal experiences at the hands of Crick Sur Banden. What could be better than the post of Head of Security on Aenna?
Gustav Elphin is the Admiral in charge of the Admiralty base of Aenna. His past with Kera is a lonely testament to the mistakes he made in his focus on the Star of Ishtar – the mistakes he keenly regrets.
Now the two are thrust together under dangerous circumstances. Gustav must work with Kera to find and neutralize the threat to the base security before any hope for the safety of all are compromised.
Somewhere along the way, maybe, there will be a chance to find hope and a second chance at love.
ISBN: 9781618853189
Published by: Secret Cravings Publishing
Release Date: 6 August 2012
Blurb:
Kera Aarens is strong, sexy and focused on her new role as Commander. She is also recovering from her brutal experiences at the hands of Crick Sur Banden. What could be better than the post of Head of Security on Aenna?
Gustav Elphin is the Admiral in charge of the Admiralty base of Aenna. His past with Kera is a lonely testament to the mistakes he made in his focus on the Star of Ishtar – the mistakes he keenly regrets.
Now the two are thrust together under dangerous circumstances. Gustav must work with Kera to find and neutralize the threat to the base security before any hope for the safety of all are compromised.
Somewhere along the way, maybe, there will be a chance to find hope and a second chance at love.
Excerpt:
She walked in, her body more slender than ever before, hollows at her cheeks, not gaunt, but without the softening of her features. Those eyes of hers carried a distance and coolness Gustav had never seen before, the green depths freezing him out. He couldn’t detect any long-term signs of damage from the torture she had experienced, but he itched to strip the clothes off her to check, making sure she had healed. The impulse to go to her shook him to the core.
Duvall McCord had kept him apprised of her physical condition while she recuperated on the Elector. Once she had recovered enough to board the freighter, though, there had been total silence. He didn’t like that. But he was an Admiral, and he had a role to serve. How well I understand the restraints of my position, he thought sourly. It kept him from acting on the emotions, clawing at him all the time, especially the one which told him she remained his woman. Therefore he observed radio silence and stewed. His staff was confused by his almost irrational behavior of the last months.
Now she was here, vital and alive. He ached to touch her face and soft, satiny skin. He cleared his throat instead of acting. “Good to have you back, Commander. How are you feeling?” He winced at the question, thinking soberly that while she seemed fit enough, dark shadows remained in her eyes. Her beautiful, rich brown hair was tied up in the severe bun she always favored on duty, her flawless skin pale. He didn’t need to detect any sign of bruising, having already received and reviewed the holographic images Duvall had sent him. Her condition when Raven and Jemma had found her enraged him even now.
“I’m fine, Admiral. The SurgiTech aboard the Elector cleared me to take a leave period. However I believe I am well enough to report for duty.” Her eyes glinted, and for an instant, he wondered if she meant to disagree with her placement here. He knew she would argue his placing her on medical leave, at least until a satisfactory evaluation arrived showing her recovered enough to resume duty. She had such a fiery temperament, but it seemed muted—the one particular hot-blooded trait that had drawn him to her over time. The vitality she exuded warmed him, and he craved her heat, even now, after all these years.
“Commander, I am placing you on medical leave until I have an updated medical status.” She started to rise, the lines at the sides of her mouth tightening and her knuckles on top of his desk turning white. He waited as she drew herself back, ready to argue the point.
“With all due respect—”
He cut her off. “No, Commander. This is a routine requirement, and you know it. Besides which, you need to log in with the accommodation section and obtain a billet, so I have no doubt the time will be welcome.” Her eyes flashed against her pale skin. She sat back in the seat, obviously understanding this was not an argument she needed.
“Sir. Yes sir.”
He understood she wanted to fight his decision, and the urge to grab her and tell her why he had brought her back here raged within him. He contained his anger as reality slammed into life. He held on to his patience.
“You have also been transferred to the Admiralty on Security Detail. The current Commander is taking leave. You are required to take over for the duration. He will arrange to complete an official handover in the next day or two, and once you have effectively taken control, we will be required to meet to discuss a particular case that requires looking into. You will also contact SurgiTech to arrange an exam, allowing you to resume duty.” He kept his words quiet and controlled, dismissing her.
“Sir, I need to be back in the field—”
“No.” His voice was decisive and firm, dismissive, stopping her outburst. His gut churned. Every word he spoke felt like it built a brick wall between them, this one more insurmountable than the one that already existed between them. “I need your completed report on my desk before 1500 hours.”
She reached into a pocket of her suit, pulled out a micro disk, leaned forward, and placed it on his desk. “My report is complete. I had five weeks of nothing to do.” She raised her chin and looked at him. “Sir.” The last word she chewed out, cold enough he could almost see ice dripping from her lips, and that almost shattered his control. “If that is all, sir?” He nodded, and she stood, a small gasp escaping.
He half rose. She still experienced pain, even as she tried to deny the truth, and he wondered just how much. He needed to know she was ready to resume her role as a security officer. Her eyes flicked to his, daring him to say anything. He subsided, watching her heft the bag, and with a smart salute, she left.
That went well. He slammed his fist on the desk, watching as the disk she had presented him with jumped in response. Barsha! Even after nearly ten years, he still wanted her. The tortures of being near her, but unable tobe with her, would never end, not if they continued this way. He closed his eyes, breathing deeply in through his nose, and exhaled. Gustav pushed the defeatist thoughts aside before focusing on his work once more. He pressed the communications center, giving orders to his staff.
She walked in, her body more slender than ever before, hollows at her cheeks, not gaunt, but without the softening of her features. Those eyes of hers carried a distance and coolness Gustav had never seen before, the green depths freezing him out. He couldn’t detect any long-term signs of damage from the torture she had experienced, but he itched to strip the clothes off her to check, making sure she had healed. The impulse to go to her shook him to the core.
Duvall McCord had kept him apprised of her physical condition while she recuperated on the Elector. Once she had recovered enough to board the freighter, though, there had been total silence. He didn’t like that. But he was an Admiral, and he had a role to serve. How well I understand the restraints of my position, he thought sourly. It kept him from acting on the emotions, clawing at him all the time, especially the one which told him she remained his woman. Therefore he observed radio silence and stewed. His staff was confused by his almost irrational behavior of the last months.
Now she was here, vital and alive. He ached to touch her face and soft, satiny skin. He cleared his throat instead of acting. “Good to have you back, Commander. How are you feeling?” He winced at the question, thinking soberly that while she seemed fit enough, dark shadows remained in her eyes. Her beautiful, rich brown hair was tied up in the severe bun she always favored on duty, her flawless skin pale. He didn’t need to detect any sign of bruising, having already received and reviewed the holographic images Duvall had sent him. Her condition when Raven and Jemma had found her enraged him even now.
“I’m fine, Admiral. The SurgiTech aboard the Elector cleared me to take a leave period. However I believe I am well enough to report for duty.” Her eyes glinted, and for an instant, he wondered if she meant to disagree with her placement here. He knew she would argue his placing her on medical leave, at least until a satisfactory evaluation arrived showing her recovered enough to resume duty. She had such a fiery temperament, but it seemed muted—the one particular hot-blooded trait that had drawn him to her over time. The vitality she exuded warmed him, and he craved her heat, even now, after all these years.
“Commander, I am placing you on medical leave until I have an updated medical status.” She started to rise, the lines at the sides of her mouth tightening and her knuckles on top of his desk turning white. He waited as she drew herself back, ready to argue the point.
“With all due respect—”
He cut her off. “No, Commander. This is a routine requirement, and you know it. Besides which, you need to log in with the accommodation section and obtain a billet, so I have no doubt the time will be welcome.” Her eyes flashed against her pale skin. She sat back in the seat, obviously understanding this was not an argument she needed.
“Sir. Yes sir.”
He understood she wanted to fight his decision, and the urge to grab her and tell her why he had brought her back here raged within him. He contained his anger as reality slammed into life. He held on to his patience.
“You have also been transferred to the Admiralty on Security Detail. The current Commander is taking leave. You are required to take over for the duration. He will arrange to complete an official handover in the next day or two, and once you have effectively taken control, we will be required to meet to discuss a particular case that requires looking into. You will also contact SurgiTech to arrange an exam, allowing you to resume duty.” He kept his words quiet and controlled, dismissing her.
“Sir, I need to be back in the field—”
“No.” His voice was decisive and firm, dismissive, stopping her outburst. His gut churned. Every word he spoke felt like it built a brick wall between them, this one more insurmountable than the one that already existed between them. “I need your completed report on my desk before 1500 hours.”
She reached into a pocket of her suit, pulled out a micro disk, leaned forward, and placed it on his desk. “My report is complete. I had five weeks of nothing to do.” She raised her chin and looked at him. “Sir.” The last word she chewed out, cold enough he could almost see ice dripping from her lips, and that almost shattered his control. “If that is all, sir?” He nodded, and she stood, a small gasp escaping.
He half rose. She still experienced pain, even as she tried to deny the truth, and he wondered just how much. He needed to know she was ready to resume her role as a security officer. Her eyes flicked to his, daring him to say anything. He subsided, watching her heft the bag, and with a smart salute, she left.
That went well. He slammed his fist on the desk, watching as the disk she had presented him with jumped in response. Barsha! Even after nearly ten years, he still wanted her. The tortures of being near her, but unable tobe with her, would never end, not if they continued this way. He closed his eyes, breathing deeply in through his nose, and exhaled. Gustav pushed the defeatist thoughts aside before focusing on his work once more. He pressed the communications center, giving orders to his staff.
