Death Defying (Dark Desires) by Nina Croft Read Free Book Online Page A

you’re not my freaking father.”
    After a long moment staring at her, he sat back in his chair. “You’re right. Finish what you were saying.”
    “There’s not much else—he kissed me, and I was right back in that cell. It was as if the last fifteen years just vanished. I was so full of fear and rage. You told me once that you use sex to keep the darkness at bay—I don’t want to live with that choice.”
    Lips pursed, he looked at her for long moments, then nodded. “Okay.”
    Janey and Daisy entered and the conversation was over. Janey sat down at her console and immediately her manicured fingers were flying. Daisy took the seat next to Rico. Daisy was genetically modified, a GM like Tannis, though in Daisy’s case, her DNA had been mixed with some sort of plant—Tannis had no clue what.
    El Cazador had picked up her escape pod floating in deep space after her family had been slaughtered three years ago, as part of the Church’s purge of GMs. Daisy was now copilot and loved flying, taking the controls whenever Rico would let her. According to Rico, she was a natural, though he never said it where Daisy could hear.
    Today, as usual, she was dressed as some sort of mini Rico—whom she had a huge crush on—black shirt and black pants tucked into knee-high black boots. Her green hair was pulled into a ponytail, her pale green skin glowing. Her chlorophyll levels were high—she must have been on her sun bed.
    “Where is he?” she asked.
    “Who?” Tannis replied, although she knew exactly which who she meant.
    “Callum Meridian.” Daisy almost bounced with excitement. With her boundless enthusiasm, she made Tannis feel old. “Those wings were just amazing. Did you know he was a fighter pilot back on Earth? And he was the best.”
    “ Christos ,” Rico muttered.
    Tannis almost grinned. It looked like Rico was in for some competition in the hero-worship department, and he obviously didn’t like the idea. It wasn’t funny, though. This trip was already fraught with potential catastrophes, and they could do without any testosterone-fueled pissing contests.
    What they did need was a meeting.
    “Get everybody together in the conference room in half an hour, including his Leadership—we need to find out just what it is he’s paying us to do.”
    …
    Callum was hungry. It wasn’t something he was used to—he had servants to make sure he had everything he desired, the second he desired it. He only had to think he wanted something and it would be there.
    Obviously, not any more.
    He’d go in search of this galley as soon as his other hunger was under control.
    He stared at the open doorway where Tannis had exited ten minutes ago. Her reaction to his kiss had been unexpected. So had his. At least it confirmed there was nothing wrong with his libido—his dick was rock hard. His disinterest must have merely been boredom. There were too many women all too eager to bed him for reasons he’d not bothered to question, but in the end the charm of having anyone he wanted had faded.
    Now, it felt as though his body was coming awake after years of hibernation. Heat pooled in his groin and he shifted. He could still taste her, hot, spicy woman tinged with the exotic, and he wanted to finish what they’d started. Except, they hadn’t started it. He had. And from her expression afterward, he’d been the only one to enjoy their kiss. Before she’d wiped it clean, he’d seen shock and even fear on her face.
    She was such a mystery, and that intrigued him.
    Callum.
    The colonel’s voice sounded in his head, and a ripple of unease ran down his spine. They’d agreed no contact except in emergencies. What is it?
    Trouble. The Council have refused to recognize me as a member.
    I left specific instructions—
    Which they’re ignoring. But there’s more—all hell broke loose after you did your flying stunt. They are not happy. They put out a comm that you’ve been kidnapped, and they’re sending out everything