Biologist and witch, Jaida Chel combines nature magick with herbal science to protect Kai, the last shapeshifting dragon on her world of Somerled. But when Captain Brayden Stokes reenters her life, not only is Kai's life at stake, but so is Jaida's secured position in the colony. Brayden and Jaida can't resist the sexual heat between them, even though she knows a relationship would be doomed. Fleet pilots don't stay planetside for long.Jaida is torn between Brayden and her dragon and companion, Kai. When Kai morphs into a human twice a year, his sex drive is ravenous. He must mate for twenty-four hours or die. Unrestrained passion between Kai and Jaida temps Brayden into a forbidden encounter. With Jaida's sassy, wicked ways, the three cross boundaries, exploring eroticism beyond their imagination. When secrets and betrayals are revealed, Brayden must risk everything for one last chance at love.
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An Excerpt From: DRAGON WITCH
Copyright © KATHY KULIG, 2010
All Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave Publishing, Inc.
Chapter One
Brayden Stokes was seconds away from reaching across the table and grabbing Commander Krentz by the throat. Spotting the security guards across the common room, Brayden dug his fingers into the armrests and remained in his chair, knowing the three or four seconds of pleasure gained from choking his commander would not be worth it.
Krentz had about eight years on Brayden and at least fifty pounds more muscle. The bald man who was his boss also stood a few inches taller than Brayden. Besides a court-martial, getting into a fight with Krentz would land Brayden in the infirmary for several weeks.
The commander lifted the new female recruit’s legs over his lap and slid a hand up her skirt, then unfastened a couple buttons on her uniform shirt. Brayden watched the man stare at the exposed swell of her breasts. “You have such soft skin, Rhosyn,” he said with half-lidded eyes.
The woman leaned forward and smiled, not making any attempt to move away. Was it a forced or seductive smile? Brayden wasn’t sure. Maybe she was too afraid to stand up to him.
“Am I’m distracting you from your game, commander?” Rhosyn asked. A soft laugh rippled through her as if she was teasing him.
Brayden’s muscles tensed, his fists clenched, but he knew the two guards drinking coffee and watching a video would be on him before Krentz struggled for a breath. And on the Outer Rim far from the Fleet’s rules and regulations, it wasn’t unusual for a commander to order a crazed crew member to take a one-way trip into the vacuum of space.
The commander unfastened yet another button on the woman’s uniform shirt, exposing her nipples. She only giggled and wriggled her torso as she picked up her glass and sipped her drink. Realizing his chivalrous instincts were wasted on the woman, Brayden leaned back in his chair and let out a long breath. “We going to play this hand or are you going to play with your new recruit?” He was pushing his luck with his sarcasm, but they’d been together for ten years and Brayden could get away with some attitude especially when he was losing a hell of a lot of credits.
“I can handle both,” Krentz said as he snaked his hand over his companion’s shoulder, the woman twisted toward the groping Krentz, allowing for easier access. He then slipped his hand inside her open shirt and cupped her breast. Gasping, she arched her back, apparently enjoying the attention. Brayden averted his gaze. She’d signed on during the last stop at the Outer Rim Space Station and apparently hadn’t wasted any time making her move on the commander. Figured.
“You’re a fool, Brayden,” Krentz said. “You can’t possibly win and you can’t bluff. The desperation is in your eyes. It’s your tell.”
“Maybe.” Brayden held his ground. “You don’t know what’s at stake here.” Taking a sip of his drink, Brayden focused his attention on his lousy hand of cards. Maybe Krentz’s hand was worse, but he doubted it.
Was the woman a plant to distract Brayden’s game? Krentz had been known to pull that. Brayden knew what qualifications Krentz required of his recruits—at least from the women. A beautiful, intelligent and compliant crewmember on duty and in his bed. Her long, dark hair hung loose—not Fleet regulation for an officer, then neither was having her shirt unbuttoned down to her waist. As she leaned over to glance at Krentz’s hand of Robard’s Bluff, every crew member in the room got a clear view of large round breasts and rosy nipples.
Brayden’s cock stirred despite his current problem—a hopeless and grave issue by the look of his hand. He was about to lose the final round and possibly his chance at getting his pilot’s license back. His jaw tightened at the consequences not only to his peace of mind but to innocent colonists.
Krentz had already beaten two other crew members who were more interested in watching their commander fondle the new recruit than concentrate on the game. “I’ll raise you another credit,” Brayden said as he tossed the gold chip into the pot, trying to bluff and maintain the confidence he didn’t feel. He was screwed, he knew it, but he had to play the hand.
Krentz looked at the two crew members then at the pot of gold chips and chuckled. “Another month’s worth of credits, eh Brayden?”
“You don’t get it, do you?” Brayden couldn’t hide his anger, knowing he was crossing a line with his commander with this tone. After all the transport jobs and all the colony settlements, the legal and illegal runs he did at the orders of Krentz, Brayden was still puzzled by him. He could understand working the system for financial gain, or higher rank. The farther out, the more corrupt the Fleet became. But Brayden didn’t understand apathy for human life, and he couldn’t respect the man for that reason.
Krentz raised his eyebrows. “Enlighten me.” He poured himself another glass of Cahoon Jack and emptied the bottle. He held it up and gave the woman a look. “Would you, Rhosyn?”
She smiled. “My pleasure.” Getting up, she unbuttoned her shirt, revealing a healthy amount of cleavage, and walked across the common room to the wall of storage compartments. With a tap of her finger a panel slid open and she selected a bottle.
Glancing over her shoulder, she apparently seemed satisfied that Krentz was still occupied with his cards. She stepped to another wall and switched on a computer monitor.
Brayden wished the woman would finish what she was doing and fill Krentz’s glass with the amber liquid. Getting the commander drunk was his only chance of winning. Brayden didn’t dare drink another drop of CJ. He held the glass to his lips but didn’t drink. “Dammit, I’m responsible for those colonists on Krakatan. If you’d clear it with Fleet, I can get my license back and do a humanitarian run to rescue those people before their planet—”
Krentz slammed his fist on the table and the chips rattled. “I don’t do favors unless there’s something in it for me.”
Taking a breath, Brayden focused his attention on his cards. If he didn’t watch himself he’d never get his license back and he’d be stuck under Krentz’s thumb for years while his ship, the Zepar, rusted in the docking bay.
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