Bane's Heart Read online

  An alarm beeped from one of the monitors on the table beside his bed. It corresponded to the sound emanating from the white bracelet clipped around his right wrist. As if on cue, the door to his room swished open.

  “There’s been an alert.”

  Husky and smooth, the familiar voice was a welcome one. Bane stayed silent as the dark-haired medic assistant approached his bed, her hand going straight to the white band on his wrist. Her touch was warm, comforting.

  As she leaned over him, Bane inhaled discretely and was rewarded with the light aroma she carried. Not floral or fruity. Something better, ripe with hints of a hidden sensuality he could only hope to uncover. A moment later, the alarm stopped.

  “Lights on. Fifty percent.”

  A dim glow filled the room at her throaty command, eliminating the stark blackness. Bane shifted on the bed to disguise the erection trying to make an appearance. His reaction was the same every time this particular medic assistant came to see him. She pulled a data pad from a large placket on the front bottom of the blue uniform shirt she wore. A uniform that hugged her thick, curvy form.

  She didn’t gaze at his face one single time. That was Dharma Volgi. Efficient as always.

  For some reason, her stern demeanor bothered, aroused and shook him from the apathy he struggled with. Day in and day out, she bustled about, never responding to his light probing questions about her personal life.

  She never once reacted to his rare outbursts of frustration nor his occasional smiles. If he was hoping she’d notice his interest, he was wrong.

  Strands of hair in deepest brown fell about her cheeks from the loose knot at her neck. Bane tugged on one with his left hand since she retained her grip on his right. “I am fine, Dharma.”

  At last, she looked up but only to shoot him a warning glare as she jerked her hair free. “I will determine that.”

  Her eyes were brown. Cold and not the least inviting. She was definitely consistent in her treatment of him. Too bad. The thought of sex sharing with her was often the only thing he had to focus on at night when the nightmares got too bad.

  She’d probably ream him if she knew that. Bane wanted to smile but chose to relax against the bed until she had whatever numbers she needed. He closed his eyes, as always, at ease in her presence.

  Mutterings drifted to his ears. Insults about him. A slight smile curved his lips. A crack in her armor at last. He’d disturbed her perfect routine.

  When her fingers released his medical band and pressed against the raised skin over the glands on his wrist, he twitched. Did her thumb stroke ever so softly over his pulse? Impossible. Not rigid, rule following Dharma. His lids lifted.

  As expected, her head was down, reviewing her readings. Satisfaction added a light tinge of red to her tanned cheeks. She dropped his wrist like it was a burning rod. “Done. You may return to sleep. Do you wish the lights to remain on?”

  So formal. Despite her somber expression, he detected a glimmer of concern. Neither of them mentioned the nightmare. Then again, it wasn’t his first. Dharma usually worked days and wasn’t often witness to them, but it was probably in his records somewhere.

  “What are you doing working so late?” he countered.

  She was already halfway to the door, assuming he’d deal with the lighting on his own which he tended to leave on after this particular nightmare. Dharma paused and dropped her head toward the floor. Her annoyed exhalation had his earlier grin breaking free and completely dispelled the last remnants of disquiet the dream had left behind.

  “I’m covering for Teyla.”

  Bane hid his grimace. He didn’t care for Teyla. She was jittery in his presence. Too shy, too jumpy. But he kept those thoughts to himself and wondered at the adjustment to his schedule. He wasn’t fond of any changes to the routine the staff had established with him. Part of his reasoning was a safety precaution.

  As a soldier with the Enotian military, it was ingrained in him to be wary about those around him. He wouldn’t feel entirely comfortable until he was back home and surrounded by his trusted teammates.

  He wouldn’t complain, though. Not if it meant he got to see Dharma and her enticing backside, which the snug blue pants couldn’t hide. Her physique and deep golden bronze complexion with hints of a red undertone matched the other Breters on site.

  Built on the taller end, she had curves throughout and was close enough in height he could rest his jaw on the top of her head. Which was saying something because he towered over the females on his home world of Enotia.

  She had small breasts, but her rounded buttocks more than made up for it. They would make a perfect grip for his hands as he thrust into her.

  His mouth filled with saliva and his cock filled in another way. If they sex shared he wouldn’t have to worry he’d hurt her in bed. All the care he used with Enotian sex workers wouldn’t be necessary. She looked strong enough to take him full on.

  Long brown hair dark enough to be black was often kept in a knot at the back of her head, revealing angular cheekbones and a broad forehead. He knew her hair reached the middle of her back when loose because the pins had fallen out once when she’d been transporting him to a rehab session. It had taken every bit of his training not to stretch his arm the small distance between them and bury his fingers in the rich length.

  Once more he adjusted the sheet over his lap to help disguise the physical stirring from her presence even though her back was to him. “Does this mean you won’t be here in the morning?”

  Regret tugged at his senses. He liked his day starting with Dharma. It helped him deal with the head medic and his team. Truthfully she was the only thing positive about his stay here.

  “I will be here in the morning,” she finally said. “Good rest, Jutak Hardusho.”

  The door closed with a quiet snick behind her. Bane sighed. His goal was to hear her say his first name. At least once before he left here. But at this rate that might never happen. She was too efficient and professional about her duties.

  ***

  She hurried down the hall and around the corner away from the sight of others before leaning against the wall. Her nipples were stiff peaks beneath her uniform top. Bane Hardusho tempted her.

  Plenty of patients had come through during her rotation over the last two years and none elicited the disturbing response the Jutak brought out. The elite soldier had no idea how hard it was to appear immune to his presence. His smiles disarmed without effort, his frowns just as compelling.

  She swiped a hand down her face and froze at her trembling fingers. Stars. How did he manage to unnerve her when rarely did he say anything inappropriate? Unless his devastating smiles and tentative jokes counted.

  Not that he had to be inappropriate. His hot stares were enough. The Jutak warrior watched her as if he’d devour her. Those eyes. She tried to recall if she’d ever seen eyes like his. Black with curious lines of white in the center pupil.

  His hair was blond, the deepest shade of gold she’d ever seen and worn short in a military cut. His body, which she frequently touched to help him move about, was as hard and honed as the strongest alloy.

  She’d seen him more than once without a shirt, sometimes only wearing a toweling cloth on his lower half. Solid muscles all over. Big. Imposing.

  Being near his large frame actually made her feel soft. More feminine. That wasn’t easy with someone of her tall stature. Did he find her physically appealing? Attractive even? Her body, though proportionate, was bigger than an Enotian female, leaving her to feel ungainly in comparison when she thought of the other women he was used to.

  He’d arrived at CV-8 two weeks ago for help figuring out why the cybernetic enhancements in his legs weren’t working. The medic who did the work must have been the top in his field. No evidence of the extensive surgery he’d had to regain the ability to walk marred his physique.

  Not that she wanted to see signs of him hurt. She’d seen enough patients come through with jagged scarring and thick tissue adhering over wounds less damaging than Jutak Hardusho due to clumsy medics or sub-par equipment.

  Or Bane as she often thought of him in her mind. Her heart thudded and her hips wanted to rock. This wasn’t supposed to happen. She wasn’t supposed to be attracted to him but how could she have expected him to be such a beguiling man?

  Staring at the ceiling and the domed lighting, she couldn’t block out the series of images of him barely clothed running through her mind. He favored body-hugging, knee length shorts and tight long-sleeve shirts which strained over his broad chest. His legs were thick cords she couldn’t fit two hands around, every inch rippling with muscles despite his inability to walk unaided.

  She craved one chance, one opportunity to touch him freely. Give reign to the bothersome desire making itself known for the first time in years. Her lips firmed. Past experience warned she didn’t want to go down that path again. This unexpected arousal for the injured soldier was unwanted. It left her feeling vulnerable and weak. Evil targeted the weak.

  “Dharma?”

  She spun around, pushing away from the wall, hands clenched in defense. One of the other female medic assistants stood in front of her. She relaxed her stance. “Yes?”

  Caris eyed her strangely. “Is everything alright?”

  Caris was exceptional and worked alongside Tao and another specialist on Bane’s case. As a Breter, she had the perfect personality for being at a medical research facility, determined and studious.

  “Everything is fine.” She straightened and tugged at the hem of her top, fixing the matching blue bottoms unnecessarily with a jerk. “Did you need anything?”

  “No.” Caris shook her head, sending dark short curls dancing about. Her blue eyes narrowed. “I was about to end shift and planned to speak with the patient, Bane Hardusho. Notations show you responded to an alarm recently. I assume there are no new developments.”

  Caris’ voice pitched high on the end of her statement, her brow arched in inquiry. Dharma cleared her throat and hoped Caris attributed her flushed features to the heating system. “No. Nothing. The alarm was in error. The patient was fine.”

  Neither she nor Bane had discussed the nightmares that sent his stats in a volatile display and set off a medical alert routinely. Everyone should be allowed to battle their demons without witnesses if they chose. She understood that more than ever.

  Caris stared a moment longer, intense and unrelenting. Another might have given in to the need to ramble. Dharma had worked here too long to be intimidated. Longer than Caris in fact. She crossed her arms over her chest and kept quiet.

  “Well, if there are no issues, I’ll go ahead and leave.”

  Another pause then Caris left. Dharma watched her go, all the while wondering why something about the other woman bothered her. Caris had done nothing obvious outside her unusual interest in the Jutak warrior. An interest which could be explained easily as a medic assistant taking pride in the work she did, but Caris was also new and seemed to seek out Dharma at every turn with questions regarding Bane.

  Nibbling her bottom lip, she decided to pay closer attention in the future. If Caris thought to interfere with the Jutak, she’d have to get through her first.

  Chapter 3

  Two weeks later

  Bane listened to the medics, the words they said...and the ones left unspoken. He kept his face blank, not giving away any sign of his growing panic. Week after week, he’d been here because the military research facility was known for its advanced work on cybernetic enhancements and biotronics similar to his.

  “Do you understand what we have explained, Jutak Hardusho?”

  Frustrated, Bane sighed and slumped back against the pillows of the bed he’d already spent more time in than he cared to track. “Yes. I’m fucked.”

  The head medic, Tao, flinched, his smile strained. “That is not how I would say it but there is no medical reason we can find for why your biotronics aren’t syncing in order for you to walk again.”

  “Is there anything you haven’t told us?” Caris asked, leaning closer. “Something we can look into as the cause for the failure?

  Bane shook his head. He’d done everything, covered everything. The therapy was proving pointless because nothing worked. A snarl of frustration escaped his tightly pressed lips as he snapped, “I’ve told you everything.”

  Conversation resumed. Medical jargon he couldn’t decipher. Turning his head to the side, Bane stared at the pale blue walls and ignored the rest of what the medics added. Clenching his fists on his lap, he fought back the need to roar his denial of his circumstances.

  Reckless anger wouldn’t solve anything. There had always been the possibility this wouldn’t work. His reluctance to accept the truth didn’t change matters.

  Acknowledging that only increased his ire. It took longer than he wanted to regain control. But he did. Taking a deep breath, he spoke through gritted teeth. “Get out.”

  “You are due in therapy shortly,” Tao said, using his conciliatory tone.

  Bane didn’t care. All of it was a waste of time at this point if it didn’t help. He faced the group and repeated in a voice softer but more deadly. “Get. Out!”

  “Jutak Hardusho, you have to let us help.” Tao raised an imploring hand, his dark eyes beseeching.

  “You can’t,” Bane snapped.

  They exchanged glances. Bane didn’t have to have the ability to read thoughts to know what they were thinking. They believed he’d finally broken. Cracked around the edges due to his circumstances. After a moment of silence, they eventually left, closing the door quietly behind them.

  Completely and utterly fucked.

  The moment he was alone, Bane grasped the portable comm next to him and keyed in a code he’d know in his sleep.

  “Are you wanting to gloat about your extended break?” Jaron, his teammate, asked without a greeting.

  “Maybe.” A small smile curled Bane’s lips. None of them enjoyed being out of commission due to injury. “How’s Sasha?”

  “Good. Very good.”

  Bane could hear the satisfaction in Jaron’s tone regarding his Chosen and relaxed. “The Unit?”

  “All is well. Team Three is due to return from their mission today.”

  Team Three was his team. They were working short-staffed since his Unit Leader, Torkel Alonson, refused to consider replacing Bane and giving his position to another. The list of soldiers waiting for a chance to be assigned under Torkel’s command was well over a dozen.

  Bane closed his eyes and spoke the most painful words ever. “Perhaps the placement process should begin, Jaron.”

  “Have you received a new diagnosis? Did the medics discover something else hindering your recovery?” Jaron fired back.

  Bane let out a broken chuckle and stared around his room with its array of medical equipment. “Nothing like that. I’m just not sure there’s hope.”

  There was a telling pause, then Jaron stated, “I was able to get a hold of my friend. Hunter’s on his way after he clears a few things from his schedule and gets someone to watch his bar. Estimated arrival less than two weeks. Maybe sooner.”

  The tight sensation in his chest unfurled, releasing Bane from fear’s brutal grip. Hunter, a former Jutak warrior, had the same version of cybernetic enhancements as the ones used on Bane. After his injury, Jaron had been adamant Hunter could help.

  Still. “If things do not work out, know that I am honored to have called you all teammates.”

  “Save it, Bane. If any of the Chosens hear you speak that way, they will descend on that military research facility like a horde.”

  Unexpected laughter exploded from Bane. The Earth women and Jaron’s Argoran Chosen were a bold group, vocal and protective of those they considered family. Bane was fortunate to be included in that intimate circle. For so long it had only been his maman and him.

  “Give Hunter a chance,” Jaron added when Bane’s laughter died down. “Don’t give up yet.”

  Hope was all Bane had to cling to. Then he remembered something he’d wanted his friend to follow up on. “Were you able to access the background on Caris Tiloh?”

  If Bane had his own comps at his disposal, he could have run the scans himself and cracked the government privacy codes for the information. Due to his limitations and access, Jaron was the next best thing.

  “Records from her maturation at sixteen annals and under are sealed. Everything after is in order.”

  Bane rubbed at his temple. Unusual. Unless she had criminal activities listed as a youth, there was no need for someone in the medical field to have their personal history blocked. “Thoughts?”

  “I’ll expand the search measures if you believe it’s worth it.”

  It was probably nothing. There was truly no cause for why Bane wanted the background other than a worrying itch in the new medic assistant’s presence. He tended not to ignore his itches but in this instance. “Leave it. I’m sure its nothing.”

  A pause as the comm line hummed between them. “I can pursue it without interfering with my other work, Bane. She has unlimited access to you. Is there a perceived threat?”

  The nature of their job required secrecy, allowing a select few an awareness of their identities. Any documentation requiring holo images of them was sealed and only those with the highest clearance were deemed privy to those details. The goal was to minimize the dangers they faced to a certain extent, but nothing was perfect.

  “I’ll let you know if anything warrants you to dig deeper.”

  “Agreed,” Jaron gave in with reluctance. “And comm your maman. She left a message this morning.”

  Running a hand through his hair, Bane blew out a breath. He’d been avoiding contact with his maman. After the life-threatening wounds he’d sustained during his last mission, he’d started sending her his death chant telepathically. It was only performed when a Ceraton expected to die and reached for their loved ones.

  She’d raced to his side, the event reigniting dark memories for her. Bane was an only child and her Chosen, his papan, had died many years ago, but the pain never left her. Now, she was pressuring him to leave the Jutaks. And he couldn’t. Not even for her.