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Somalia
“Look here, dammit, I don’t need any fucking
geo-freak coming in here and telling me what I can’t and
can’t do!” Kenric Annson shouted into the phone. “I’m here
doing my God damn job. It’s not like it’s a picnic out here
where you can walk up the street to the Starbucks for a
venti Mocha. There’s war going on around here and sending
some pencil pusher down isn’t going to do a damn thing
except complicate things. My men and I are busy enough
without the added job of babysitting.”
The response he received only infuriated him
further. After cursing a streak at the dial tone in his ear
he slammed the phone down.
“You okay boss?”
The question came from Shade, one of the
workers on this crew. Actually Shade was his next in
command. Kenric only knew him as Shade and that was fine. He
trusted him with his life, hell Shade could call himself
Tinkerbell if he wanted to. Shade was a huge muscular man
with braided hair which he kept confined to a ponytail most
of the time. A goatee and dark brown skin completed the
package. Man looked downright lethal standing there with his
personal arsenal strapped to him and everyone respected him.
“Hell no.” He popped his neck and sat on the
edge of his desk, arms crossed.
“What’s up?”
“That was Frank.”
Shade groaned and rolled his eyes as he
snipped the end off a cigar. Frank Grimmel was technically
the boss down here. However, as far as Kenric and the others
were concerned he was a waste of sperm. Part of the reason
everyone called him boss, to add another dig into Frank’s
authority. Frank was only here since his brother owned the
company.
“What’d the dumbass want?”
“He’s sending us a civilian.”
“What?!” Shade looked over the tops of
mirrored sunglasses and stared while he lit his cigar, the
smoke curled up and around his face like a snake.
“Yes, something about this doctor being able
to help us find the natural gas pockets faster and dig for
them safer.”
A snort of derision. “Does he not get this
isn’t your America? That while we’re digging we have men
standing guard? Hell, even when we’re not.” Shade shook his
head. “I mean even Frank has two men guard him the rare
occasions he’s here.”
Kenric shrugged and got up to lean against
the wall near the window. He stared outside at the steppes
only to turn fully and brace a hand against the pane of
glass, warmed from the summer sun.
“I have a bad feeling about this,” he
muttered. “A fuckin’ rock doc.”
Shade cleared his throat. “Boss.”
“Yeah?” He continued to stare out over the
brush and scrub.
“We have company.”
He spun around and found himself staring at a
woman. A gorgeous woman. Whose skin, the colour of melted
caramel, covered an amazing body. One reminiscent of an old
pinup girl, nothing but swells, dips, and curves.
Oh fuck.
Her black hair drawn back from haughty facial
features by a tight bun. On her face was a cool look of
dismissal. Her navy blue skirt suit brought some other
things to mind and he felt his body respond. Almost
violently. Her dark brown eyes were framed by thick, sooty
lashes. She had full lips which shone with a clear lip
gloss.
In one hand she held a black briefcase. He’d
never seen anyone so determined to dress severely and look
so damn hot. He allowed himself one more leisurely perusal
of her fuck-me heels, long legs, and up over nice breasts
and an amazing—even with the hint of superbia—face.
Hellfire and damnation. I would love to see
her in a bikini. Or nothing at all.
He spied Shade staring at her too, and for some reason it
pissed him off. From deep within a rush of anger coursed
through him at the thought of Shade even touching this
woman. Why is she looking at him?
“Can I help you, darling?” he drawled,
leaning against the windowsill.
Her gaze snapped from Shade to him, her eyes
narrowed a fraction before that damn unimpressed stare took
over.
“First, I’m not your darling.”
Her voice was a raspy alto which sent shivers
all down his spine. His cock stiffened in his BDUs and he
almost shook his head to clear the fog which seemed to
encompass his mind steering him down the sexual path.
Want to be?
He put a toothpick between his teeth. “Testy. Who are you?”
“I’m here to see Mr. Kenric Annson.”
Another thrill rushed through him. He quirked
a brow and glided toward her noting how she held her ground.
Like a stalking lion, he prowled around her. She smelled
fresh with a light yet unrecognisable scent. No one smelled
this good around here. Another punch to his gut made him
bite back his groan.
He wanted to know if she smelled like this
all over. How soft her skin would be beneath his. How all
those damnable curves would feel pressed to him.
Back before her, he gazed down to her waiting
stare. “I’m him, darlin’. What can I do for you? Hell, why
don’t you tell me who you are.”
She never blinked. “I’m...how did you put
it...the fuckin’ rock doc. Dr. Eshe.” |
