Under His Command by Annabel Wolfe Read Free Book Online Page B

attractive in a
    distant, unapproachable way—though she didn’t think him cold any
    longer—Colonel Naiad was a little irreverent, his cynical humor
    legendary, and he had a reputation among the females on the ship,
    though word had it he didn’t touch anyone when they were on a
    mission.
    Peyton took another drink of the sweet wine.
    “What time is it?”
    She jerked, her gaze coming up at the sound of the husky voice. A
    little of the beverage in her glass sloshed over the rim and splashed
    her hand. “What?”
    Unmindful of his nudity, Naiad sat up and ran a hand through his
    hair. “I never did go to sleep yesterday because of the Epsilon crisis.
    What time is it?”
    She’d been partially responsible for the “crisis” so Peyton flushed.
    “Past midday. Are you hungry?”
    “Oh yeah.” He smiled in that lazy signature curve of his mouth
    that made the female members of the crew squirm. “Pretty hungry,
    Lieutenant. Food sounds good, too.”
    Where Gallico was cool and distant, Naiad was intense, and
    despite his rank, his slightly teasing manner was unsettling. She asked
    in a cynical tone, “Am I supposed to get you something? These rules
    are new to me.”
    “I can manage.” He swung out of bed and headed for the
    cleansing room. Over his shoulder he said, “And as for the rules,
    Valmont, in my experience most pilots are pretty quick. You’ll catch
    on.”
    Not sure how to take that remark, she sat and waited for him to
    emerge. The sound of running water was punctuated by splashing and

    Under His Command
    43
    it was all intimate in a way she didn’t expect. When Naiad came out
    he wore a pair of drawstring pants and his hair was damp. His lean
    jaw was clean-shaven and the lazy appraisal in his aqua eyes
    thorough. But he didn’t do anything more than move past her into the
    galley and open the refrigeration unit. “I have to admit I’m starving.”
    “Don’t you and the commander have hot food delivered?” She
    was curious, and since she was going to be living in the same quarters
    for a month, she felt she had the right to ask.
    “Just when we request it.” He took out some rations and
    unwrapped the meal. “We’re really used to eating alone. Being first
    and second in command isn’t conducive to a lot of social activity.”
    It really hadn’t occurred to her that aspect of the job would be on
    the lonely side. He went on in a conversational voice, “I am very
    much looking forward to that part of your temporary incarceration,
    Lieutenant. It will be nice to have someone to talk to on a casual
    basis. Almost all my conversation now is limited to procedure,
    personnel, or this ship.”
    Peyton watched him sit down opposite and smiled wryly. “I
    thought conversation was the last thing you wanted from me.”
    His return smile was wicked. “Oh, don’t worry, I’m looking
    forward to the other part of this arrangement too, but having an
    intelligent, articulate woman to spend some leisure time with is very
    appealing.”
    The other part . Under the skimpy gown, her breasts tightened as
    though she had no control over it. The hormonal shot, no doubt, she
    realized, trying to tamp down her mortification over her wayward
    body’s response to both his oblique reference to what they’d be doing
    no doubt after he finished his meal, and to his presence, bare-chested
    and very male, just across the small utilitarian table. That damned
    shot they’d given her to enhance her sex drive must be working for
    she had certainly enjoyed the night before and it very much surprised
    her.

    44
    Annabel Wolfe
    In a good way, she pondered, sipping her drink and watching the
    male across from her. If she was going to have to do this—and it
    seemed she was—it was best if she could take pleasure in it.
    Maybe her expression reflected her thoughts for Jake Naiad sent
    her an amused look. “You and Kel must have gotten along well. He
    looked more relaxed when he relieved me this morning than