Her Commanders - M.K. Eidem Page 0,21

noise level, she easily heard the clink of the sphere in his empty glass and moved toward him.

"Who authorized the alterations to this room?" he demanded, as soon as she was in front of him.

"What alterations?" She didn't understand the question. Yes, she planned on making some changes here, but nothing that needed to be authorized.

"The viewport. When and how was it installed? Who authorized it? You need to remove it."

Cali looked to where Jamis gestured. "That viewport has always been there, Commander. It was part of the original structure, and no one is removing it."

"It jeopardizes the security of the Star Base," Jamis told her.

"No more than the ones in the military section do," she argued back. "When those are secured, this one will be too. Now, do you want another drink or not?"

"Not," he told her.

"Then what do you want?" she demanded.

"You," he said, and the look he gave her had her heart speeding up.

"Really." Leaning over, she rested her chin on interlaced fingers as her elbows touched the bar. "And what makes you think I'd be interested?"

Jamis felt his breath catch, his gaze going to the abundant cleavage the position revealed, and waited for the top to give way finally. But it didn't. It was then that he saw the superfine, flesh-colored filaments that went up and over her shoulders. There had never been the chance of that top revealing more than she wanted. His gaze returned to hers and found them silently laughing at him.

"Because you like to live dangerously," he growled for her ears only, and it had her openly grinning at him.

"Maybe." Straightening, she picked up his empty glass and set it beneath the bar. "But if I do, why would you be interested?"

"Because I like to live dangerously too."

"Really." She raised an eyebrow at him, then turned her head and called out, "Mae! I'm going in back for a minute."

The other drink slinger, a Galaian female obviously with offspring, turned from the far end of the bar and said, "Got it."

Jamis watched as Cali walked up to the wall at his end of the bar. When she pushed against it, it swung open, and she disappeared behind it. She was gone less than a minute. When she walked back out, she carried an unusually shaped glass. It was broad at the bottom, then tapered up before flaring out slightly at the rim. It had a healthy dose of amber liquid in it. Walking back to him, she set it down in front of him.

"Prove it," she challenged.

"Prove what?" he asked, looking at the glass suspiciously.

"That you like to live dangerously."

He looked at her for a moment, then lifted the glass and inhaled slightly. He'd never smelled anything quite like it, and his eyes shot to hers.

"You sip it," was all she said, then waited.

Jamis realized this was a test of sorts, and if he failed, she wouldn't be giving him another chance. Lifting the glass to his lips, he took a healthy sip then didn't try to hide his surprise.

It was intense, even more potent than the Apreian skotsk he'd been drinking earlier, and it coated his mouth with a spicy, smoky flavor. "What is this?"

"Scotch. From Earth."

"How in the name of the Gods were you able to get this?" he demanded even as he took another sip. Earthan products were rare and extremely expensive.

"I have my sources," she said, giving him an enigmatic smile. "Take your time with that. I have to rearrange a few things before I can leave."

"Leave?"

"Unless you've changed your mind… about what you want?" She raised a questioning eyebrow at him.

Jamis growled his answer to that then said, "What about the credit collector?"

"That," she nodded at his glass, "is not part of The Brink's inventory. It's from my private stock. So, you can't pay for it," she paused, giving him a sultry look. "But trust me, I'll make you earn it."

Jamis watched her move away, unbelievably turned on by what she was saying. Gods, she was going to let him have her.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

"Mae, who do you want with you behind the bar?" Cali asked.

"What?" Mae asked, looking up from the drink she was pouring.

"The Commander and I have some business. Who do you want to pull off the floor to help back here?"

"You want me to choose?"

"You're the manager now. It's your decision." Cali knew Mae was still struggling with believing she was the manager. Cali had no doubt she could handle it, especially after