Under His Command by Annabel Wolfe Page A

It wasn’t like he hadn’t caught the ominous undertones
    in the conversation with Minoa’s governor. “But orders are orders. In
    this case, we are the instrument. Rarely do we have all the
    information. I trust Kartel to not make any decision lightly.”
    “I do too, but I’m not at all sure I can issue a fire order on a ship
    that carries more innocent people than convicts.”
    The same dilemma was what had Kel sleepless, even after his
    satisfying interlude with Peyton. At least the pleasurable diversion
    had taken his mind off it for a little while. And he might have drifted

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    off if she hadn’t compounded the unsettled state of his mind by asking
    him some uncomfortably probing questions. “I guess we’ll have to
    wait and see what they want us to do. If we even locate the
    Serpentine.”
    “A big variable, I agree.” Jake rested his head on the back of his
    chair and briefly closed his eyes. “I’m half hoping we don’t. Let some
    other military command take this one.”
    “Peyton thinks they’ll head for Anaya Two.”
    Jake’s eyes opened and his mouth curved. “You discussed this
    with her? Here I thought you were just fucking each other.”
    Kel scowled before he could control the reaction. “I’m not just…”
    Thank the stars he managed to trail off before he said more. Not
    that it helped much, for Jake looked openly amused. “Not just what?”
    “Never mind,” he growled.
    His second in command just laughed. “Let me venture a guess as
    to what you’re not. Not as detached as you should be from the
    beautiful lieutenant, am I right? I’ve felt that from the start of this
    mission. Maybe you aren’t aware of the way you look at her.”
    Kel stared at him, his mouth tight. If he denied it, he’d be lying
    and he made it a personal policy to tell the truth at all times, even
    when it was painful. Unfortunately, Jake Naiad knew him very well.
    And it was undeniable the very first time he’d seen Peyton Valmont
    she’d had a profound effect on him in more than just the physical
    sense. If there was one thing he admired, it was skill, courage, and
    intelligence. In bed, he found her passionate and arousing, but he also
    thought about her in other ways.
    It was a first in his life. Females were passing entertainment, not
    someone you discussed command decisions with, and the reality of
    the situation already had him uneasy.
    “She asks about you,” Jake informed him. “I noticed from the
    beginning when we talk she has a less-than-flattering-for-me tendency
    to steer the conversation back to you.” He shrugged broad shoulders.
    “You and our gorgeous lieutenant connect.”

    Under His Command
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    Our. He wasn’t precisely jealous she and Jake had a sexual
    relationship. Kel knew his first in command well and Jake would take
    care to pleasure her and that was what mattered. They shared women
    often enough the concept was perfectly acceptable, but he would be
    jealous, he realized, if Peyton showed a preference for his friend.
    What the hell did that mean?
    “Does it bother you?” Kel asked, settling into his own chair.
    Naiad shook his head. “I saw it coming from the beginning.
    Peyton and I are friends. You and I are friends. If she’s destined to be
    your life mate, why wouldn’t I be happy for you both?”
    “Life mate?” Kel’s brows shot up.
    “I’ve never seen you so interested in a female and we’ve known
    each other a long time. She is certainly interested in you . Considering
    how tired she is when I get off duty I’m going to say the sex between
    you two is more than just good, and—”
    “I think you’ve said enough,” Kel interrupted curtly. Life mate ?
    Just the idea of it made him break out in a gentle sweat. His career
    was his entire existence at this time of his life. Most males didn’t take
    a wife until they decided to breed and even then it wasn’t necessary.
    There were always human females to impregnate and the