Wellington's Surprise. Copyright © 2016 Ella Drake.
All rights reserved.

Chapter One

“It took me a while to track you down.”  The relief in the strange voice coming through the comm made Tee’s head tilt.

“Who is this?” he snarled. Strangers made him edgy and after the nice relaxing morning he’d spent grooming his mate, he didn’t know if he’d rather reach through the comm and wring this interloper’s neck or question how and why they’d been tracked.

“It’s Wellington.”

“Who the hell is Wellington?” The ridges of Tee’s cheeks rose in agitation and a growl built in his chest. Leaning forward in the pilot’s seat, he glared at the comm as if that device actually was the caller from Station Viesel where they were set to dock in a few hours. “This better not be some bounty job for Mal Hunter.”

“You don’t know my name?” The man seemed surprised.

Tee straightened in the chair and reluctantly continued the conversation. It meant interrupting his plan to head back to the nest and pin Mal to the mattress for the rest of the trip, but a few minutes to let the cyborg re-build his reserves meant maybe he’d get it a little rough this time. Tee purred and adjusted in his seat. He reached forward, nearly severing the link but instinct stayed his hand.

“Remind me,” he gruffly prompted.

“The tech who has put your cyborg in two different bodies so far. Don’t tell me you’re risking another trip here because you need a new one.”

“No. His body suits him.” Tee’s lips tipped into a smile he was instantly glad none of his brothers could see. They’d call him soft, again. His mouth twisted. This man, this tech, Wellington, they owed him. He’d not only saved Mal twice but had also kept their secrets. And Mal’s body more than suited Tee. It gave him a reason to open his eyes in the morning, a reason to breathe, because it kept Mal’s consciousness safe.

“Who are you talking to?” Mal’s hand fell over Tee’s head and stroked through his hair. Tee purred through the growl of frustration. He’d wanted to rejoin Mal before his lover could escape their nest.

“Just wanted to check our clearance to land before heading back to bed. Wellington interrupted me.”

“Wellington?”

“You know his name?” Tee accused.

“How did you not know his name? How much money have you wired that one man alone?”

“He gave us account numbers,” Tee replied, affronted. “Who needs a human’s name anyway? They’re puny wastes of time.”

“This human needs to talk to you.” Wellington interrupted and Tee glared again. The puny human needed to be able to see Tee’s scowl and be appropriately terrified.

“Why?” Mal leaned over Tee and Tee turned his head to sniff at Mal’s neck. The usual scent of the oil he used to keep his joints in working order made Tee’s mouth water. His pants tightened against his groin, and regretting putting on his clothes, he adjusted in the seat again. They didn’t need them. They were alone on this trip. After months of reassuring themselves that the Geonate truly meant to finally leave them in peace, they’d been free to leave Ferrashi.

Everyone had insisted that Tee and Mal take a honeymoon of sorts. Even Tee knew it was to give his family a break from the surliness that only Mal could tame. That was fine by him.

“We’ll see you there.” Mal’s voice rumbled and ripped Tee from his lust-filled thoughts of getting Mal on his back and riding him hard.

“See who, where?” Tee murmured and licked Mal’s neck.

Mal chuckled and cut the comm. “Did I distract you?”