Ignite by Tana Stone

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Kalex

I popped open the cockpit and climbed from the fighter, my gaze scouring the hangar bay for Zoey. I might have told her how I felt about her over the comms, but I was desperate to see her and prove to myself that what she’d said was real.

“Good to have you back, Captain.”

I landed on the floor of the hangar bay, turning toward Vekron as he approached. Even though he wasn’t Zoey—and she wasn’t with him—I was glad to see my friend. “Good to be back.”

We both pivoted as another Drexian fighter roared into the hangar bay and came to an abrupt stop.

“Dryx still does combat landings every chance he gets,” Vekron said with a sigh as our Inferno Force brother popped from the cockpit of his fighter before the engines had even powered down. Two more fighters flew in and landed beside him.

“Looks like we’ve got some extra muscle,” I said, grateful that we now had Inferno Force backup for the station and for the rescue mission to get Jax.

“You can thank Zoey for that,” Vekron said, then held up his hands. “And no, I don’t know where she is. She and her friends all left the bridge after you went off comms.”

I brushed this aside. As much as I wished she’d been there to meet me when I got back, dramatic displays of emotion weren’t exactly her style—as I’d discovered all too well. Besides, this gave me the chance to focus on my job as captain and on the imminent task of retrieving Jax.

Dryx and the other Inferno Force warriors walked purposefully toward us, the flame insignias on their dark uniforms marking them as the toughest warriors in the Drexian empire.

“I still can’t get used to seeing you in a captain’s uniform,” Dryx said after thumping his fist over his heart in salute.

“You’re not the only one,” Vekron said.

I ignored my friend’s comment as I eyed the Inferno Force warrior who’d been summoned by Zoey. “I hear you’ve gotten to know our astro-architect.”

Dryx’s eyes danced, and his brows lifted. “Hardly. She tossed me aside before I’d even had a chance to turn on my charm. I can’t imagine what you’ve got on the poor female that would make her choose you over me, but I salute you for it, brother.”

I tried to scowl at him, but I grinned despite my best efforts. “You remain a grekking ass, Dryx. I like to think that Zoey is merely discerning, unlike the scores of females you bed.”

Dryx threw back his head as he laughed, thumping me on the shoulder. “Same old Kalex.”

I grunted, pleased with the old banter that reminded me of serving on my old Inferno Force ship. “I thought you were here to fight Kronock.”

He nodded solemnly, his smile disappearing. “First we rescue Jax. Then we take out the Kronock.”

“Agreed,” I said, pivoting to face Vekron. “I downloaded the data about the energy rift and the location of the Kronock on the other end. Once we study that, we should have a better idea of how to get back there and find Jax.”

Vekron wasted no time in climbing up to my cockpit. “On it.”

“We’ll need to put together an attack team for once we have a target,” I said, glancing at Dryx. “Can I task you with coordinating with the rest of the Inferno Force ships? We’ll need our best fliers and fighters.”

He jerked a thumb toward the open mouth of the hangar bay. “Captain Brok is awaiting our instructions. Just point me toward the bridge.”

Vekron jumped down from the cockpit of my fighter, holding a tablet out in front of him. “I’ve got the data.” His gaze flicked to Dryx and the other two Inferno Force warriors. “You’re with me.”

I was anxious to launch the rescue mission, but I was still wearing a flight suit with no shirt on underneath. “I’ll get back into uniform and join you.”

We walked briskly from the hangar bay, heading in opposite directions once we’d cleared the wide double doors. My heart raced as I stepped into an inclinator car and thought about the battle that I’d escaped. Even though I hadn’t meant to leave my friend, Jax was alone in Kronock territory. Guilt gnawed at me while the pink lights pulsed around me, and strange Earth music played in the background.

When the doors glided open, I stomped out, my long steps eating up the corridor as I headed for my quarters. I wouldn’t rest until I got Jax back, and if the Kronock had blown up his fighter, I’d make them pay.

I swiped my hand over the door panel, barreling in as it opened. Then I stopped short.

The candles I’d extinguished had been lit again, the flickering light illuminating my suite and Zoey standing in the middle of it.

“What…?” I started to ask.

She shifted from one foot to the other, her bright smile dimming somewhat at my sharp tone. “I wanted to get a do-over, but if now isn’t—”

I didn’t wait for her to finish her sentence. Instead, I crossed the room and swept her up into my arms, crushing my lips to hers. Her tense body relaxed almost instantly as she sank into the kiss with a soft moan. I slid my hands down from her waist until I cupped her ass, lifting her so that her legs circled me.

When I tore my lips from hers, she was breathing hard.

Zoey put her hands on both sides of my face, locking her eyes with mine. “When I thought you were gone, and I might not see you again…”

I brushed away a tear from her cheek. “I know. All I could think about when I was in Kronock territory was getting back to you.”

She bit her bottom lip. “But what about not wanting to get involved in something serious?”

“I was wrong.”

She cocked her head at me. “The captain is admitting he’s wrong? Did we enter an alternate universe when I wasn’t looking?”

“Maybe.” I shrugged. “All I know is that I was wrong to think I’d be able to keep myself from falling in love with you.”

Her gaze softened. “You are absolutely the last person I wanted to fall for, but now I know that there isn’t anyone else who could make me as crazy and as happy as you do.” Then her expression turned serious. “I was engaged back on Earth. His name was Theo, and he was killed in action.”

“I know,” I admitted. When her mouth opened in surprise, I added, “It was in your file, which I studied.”

“You studied my file?”

I shrugged one shoulder, shifting her in my arms. “I was always intrigued by you, even when you were making me grekking crazy.” I held her gaze. “I’m sorry you lost him, and that you were afraid you’d lose me.”

“I’m sorry that I tried to keep you at arm’s length because I was afraid of losing someone again.”

“I’m still a Drexian warrior,” I told her. “And I’m still in Inferno Force. That won’t change.”

She nodded. “I’ve realized that I’d rather love you and risk being hurt than harden my heart and lose you.”

“You won’t lose me,” I said, feeling the desire to seek out risk evaporating inside me as if it were smoke. I kissed her again, savoring the softness of her lips. “Don’t think this means I’m going to go easy on you when it comes to the station, though.”

“Does that mean you’re not counting down the days until you leave?”

Suddenly, I wasn’t in such a rush to return to combat with Inferno Force. “It means I’m not going anywhere without you.”

She gave me a wicked smile. “Good, and I’d be disappointed if you went easy on me. You know that’s not how I like it.”

My cock swelled, as I murmured low, “And how do you like it, Zoey?”

She leaned in so that her lips tickled my ear. “You’ll have to sneak me back in that Zandoran fantasy suite for me to confess that, Kalex.”

Desire flared in me at the sound of my name on her lips and the memory of our time in the holographic suite. I was glad my Inferno Force brothers were hard at work on the rescue plan and that the new tribute brides wouldn’t be arriving for a little while.

I had a holographic suite—and some Zandoran vines—I needed to put to good use.