Destin's Hold (The Alliance #5)(52)

Destin reached over and closed the door behind Beth.

“Cutter said you requested transport over to the base,” Destin said in a quiet tone, walking over to sit down in the chair next to her.

Sula’s gaze softened and she nodded. “Yes. I’ve been doing some research on the missing women,” she murmured.

Destin’s lips tightened. “I want to assign some security to you. I don’t want you traveling alone,” he said, reaching for her hand. “Even with all the new construction and rebuilding, there are a lot of people who aren’t happy with the fact that aliens are still on the planet.”

“They lost so much. I can hardly blame them, Destin,” Sula murmured.

Destin gently squeezed her hand and released it. The confrontation with Mason and the others had disturbed him, but he understood their feelings. Hell, he had felt the same way, but after spending so many months on the spaceships and then on Rathon, he had a better appreciation for just how na?ve he was in his understanding of the universe he lived in.

Sitting back in his seat, he noted that she looked a little pale. He didn’t have much time left before he was supposed to meet with the others. It’d be nice if he could assign one of the men to Sula, but after the reaction he’d just seen from them, there was no way he’d let them near her. That left only one person he could trust at the moment – Beth.

“I’ll have Beth stay with you when I can’t. She knows this city like the back of her hand and can fight,” Destin said. “I’ve got to return to the meeting. I’ll let her know.”

“I’m not sure how long I will be gone. I’d like to see if Chelsea is still at the medical unit as well. I enjoyed her company the last time I was here,” Sula said, stirring the spoon in the cup of soup in front of her.

“Make sure you have your communicator with you,” he instructed, still leery about letting her out of his sight. “Sula….”

“Yes?” Sula responded.

“I…,” Destin began before he released a frustrated sigh and stood up. “Be careful.”

Destin bent and pressed a hard, possessive kiss to her upturned lips. For added measure, he teased them with his tongue. She immediately opened for him like a blossom seeking the sun. A soft moan escaped her and he lifted his hands to frame her jaw while he deepened the kiss. They were both breathing heavily when he reluctantly ended the kiss. His thumbs caressed her cheek, sliding over the smooth, silky skin.

“I’ll see you later this evening,” he murmured, straightening. “Cutter is here. He’ll take you back to the base. I need to speak with him first, though. In the meantime, I’ll have Beth meet you back here and let her know that she’ll be assigned to you when I’m not available.”

“Thank you,” Sula said, watching him walk back to the closed door. “Destin…. Will my being here – with you – compromise you in any way among your men?”

Destin turned, his hand on the door.

“Why would you think that? Has anyone said or done anything?” Destin asked in a calm, controlled voice.

“No… It’s just….” Her hand lifted and she played with the end of the braid lying over her shoulder. “I saw the way those two men looked at me when we arrived. I don’t want to cause you any difficulty. If necessary, I can stay at the base.”

“Is that want you want?” Destin asked, gazing back at her with an emotionless mask.

Sula’s lips firmed and she shook her head. “No. I would prefer to kick their asses if they make your life difficult, but something tells me that wouldn’t help my cause any,” she admitted with a rueful smile.

Destin released an unexpected chuckle and his eyes glittered with amusement. He smiled back at her, his shoulders relaxing. This is what he loved about her, her ability to surprise him and make him proud.

“It might not, but I would prefer that to you being at the base. Don’t worry about my men. They know you are mine,” Destin replied. “I’ll see you later.”

Destin pulled the door opened and stepped out of the break room. He drew in a deep breath, his mind churning. He loved her. He loved Sula.

“So it is true,” Cutter replied, straightening from where he was leaning against the wall outside of the break room.

Destin scowled, wondering how long the Trivator had been standing there – with Trig. Destin seriously contemplated a large roll of Duct tape for Trig’s mouth.

“I didn’t say a thing. You did that back in the other room,” Trig stated as if reading Destin’s mind.

Ignoring the statement, Destin turned his gaze back to Cutter. Over the last two years, the Trivator and he had formed a tentative truce. He knew the man was here for more than a social visit. Something else was going on.

“Richard said that Alissa Garcia was last seen with you. What do you know about her?” Destin asked, continuing down the hallway when Cutter stepped beside him.

“I saw the female when I stopped by to see how the new security forces she was working with were doing. She asked to speak to me in private and explained that she was investigating the disappearance of several human females. The location made her suspect alien involvement. I assured her I would look into it and stepped up patrols in those areas,” Cutter replied. “Razor contacted me to describe what happened back on Rathon. The attack on his and Hunter’s residence was disturbing.”