WIP Wednesday - Clan of Europa: Bernadette

 

When you owe Captain Bernadette Miller, she will make you pay

“Don’t worry. I’ll pay what I owe.” Halmiko sat up, ready to leave Medical before he embarrassed himself further…and realized under the sheet that had slid to his waist that he wore nothing. “Shit. Kom wouldn’t have an extra…oh, thanks,” he said when Bernadette pointed to a pile of folded clothes at the foot of the medi-bed.

He paused when she didn’t leave to let him dress. Then he realized she’d already seen everything. Still, didn’t Earther women usually hold modesty in high regard?

She smirked as if she knew what he was thinking and turned, as if to head for the door. Then she paused, swiveled to face him again, and looked his bare torso over. A rush of excitement filled him, and he warned it off. Surely she wouldn’t…

Her regard met his again, and her grin widened. “You know, there’s always another option.”

“For what?”

“For settling your debt to me.”

He gazed into her dark eyes. No, it was too good to be true. Certainly no Earther woman would invite a Kalquorian she barely knew to her bed? Most definitely this tough lady wouldn’t.

Amusement sparkled her eyes. “Unless you’d prefer otherwise. Maybe I don’t interest you. Or perhaps you’re in too much pain? Weakened by your injuries?”

He tossed the sheet aside. “Do these look weak to you?”

She eyed his cocks, already standing stiff and strong, beginning to shine with lubrication. “They’d better not be. I don’t have time or patience for uncertain men. Come on if you want your debt forgiven.”

He grabbed for the clothes, but she was already striding out of the medical bay. Halmiko cursed. Shielding his excitement with the shirt and trousers bunched in his fists, he raced after her into the corridor.

 

She searched for the man she couldn’t forget and found a shattered clan she couldn’t resist.

Captain Bernadette Miller was a nun on the moon Europa, hiding from a painful past. Now she hunts the galaxy for the Kalquorian who made her stop running from herself. When she gets a lead on his clanmates, she thinks her search is finally over. What she finds, however, is a clan devastated by broken promises.

Nobek Halmiko was once a star kurble player. Now he wanders space aimlessly, picking up jobs where he can find them, trying to forget the clanmates he let down. When Bernadette shows up asking questions about his missing Imdiko, he has nothing to say. But some women get in a man’s head. Some women don’t take no for an answer.

Dramok Tumsa had it all: a career he loved, the perfect clan, a troubled but talented brother he’d do anything for. Tragedy on the kurble field destroyed it all. Now his estranged Nobek is back, with a beautiful, hardnosed Earther captain who offers him an opportunity to make amends. Can he piece his clan together again? Does he deserve the chance?

Imdiko Doljen is wracked by guilt. He’s hidden from those he let down…including a woman he couldn’t keep. When she shows up in the company of his clanmates, old hurts ignite anew. It doesn’t matter what he wants; he can’t fix the mistakes he made.

The only path to regaining the love Bernadette lost means healing this shattered clan. Is she ready to commit to three men instead of the one she came for? When disaster strikes, she has to call on all the strength she possesses to stop them from falling apart for good.

Releasing late 2022

 

WIP Wednesday - Clans of Europa: Bernadette

 

Bernadette gets an eyeful

She came to the door of a small chamber she’d given to the battle-happy Nobek trio of her crew to work out their cabin fever by pounding the hell out of each other. As long as they showed up for their shifts and did their jobs competently, they were free to indulge in as much fighting as excited their warrior hearts.

The door was open, but that wasn’t odd. The rest of the crew was free to watch Kom, Burken, and Dakmo fight and bet on who would win. There was no one there to cheer the combatants, however. They were all no doubt drinking and fucking their credit accounts empty on the station.

Bernadette peered in to see which of the Nobeks had opted to bring the party home. A glance, and she froze.

Her shock wasn’t due simply to seeing Halmiko on her carrier, locked in combat with Kom. It was seeing him stark naked as he fought.

Kom was naked too, but that barely registered on her radar. Neither did the shredded fabric scattered over the padded floor, material that had once been their clothing.

Over the years, she’d seen her security chief nude more times than she could count. He refused to wear clothes in his own quarters during his free hours and thought nothing of answering his door or even stepping out to talk to others in the buff. Hell, he’d wandered into the mess hall naked to pick up meals to eat in his quarters on several occasions. He was only careful when Bernadette took on Earther refugees to transport to safe ports, as her race was so easily upset by a scarred giant stalking around with two swaying dicks.

A distant part of her mind registered that she’d better warn him they were taking two human women and children to Haven. It was a dim whisper in her consciousness as she gaped at Halmiko.

Kalquorians, as a rule, were magnificent. Nobeks, born fighters, were particularly spectacular when it came to fit bodies. But she’d never seen the equal of Halmiko.

He was pure brawn as he grappled with Kom, trading punches, kicks, and occasionally tossing each other across the space. Scars crisscrossed his torso, arms, and legs, but they couldn’t detract from the incredible definition or perfect symmetry of masculine excellence. Nor could the streaks of blood, his and Kom’s, painting his brown body like warpaint. The typical amount for a pair of Nobeks fighting for fun.

Like Kom, he was erect. His thick cocks curved up, but sex wasn’t in the air. The Kalquorians always grew hard when they fought, but there was no glistening of their natural lubrication when it came to combat. At least, not that she could tell from the distance where she stood.

Still, Halmiko held her gaze. She tried to ignore the heat crawling through her, an eager response she hadn’t known since Doljen. Her heart pounded. All at once, it was hard to breathe. Was she breathing?

Halmiko landed a kick to Kom’s midsection, a rippling stretch of abdominal muscles. Kom grunted and doubled, and as Halmiko sought another angle with which to capitalize on the instant of superiority, his attention fell on Bernadette. He froze, his stare locking with hers. Electricity shot through her at that primal glare.

The distraction was his undoing at what had appeared to be a fairly equal contest. Still bent, Kom rushed him, his shoulder driving into his opponent’s equally defined gut. He rose with Halmiko draped over his shoulder, simultaneously pivoting and tossing him into the air. Halmiko flew. His head thudded against the wall, and he dropped to the floor in a heap.

“Shit,” Bernadette swore, and she stampeded across the floor to check on the crumpled Nobek.

 

She searched for the man she couldn’t forget and found a shattered clan she couldn’t resist.

Captain Bernadette Miller was a nun on the moon Europa, hiding from a painful past. Now she hunts the galaxy for the Kalquorian who made her stop running from herself. When she gets a lead on his clanmates, she thinks her search is finally over. What she finds, however, is a clan devastated by broken promises.

Nobek Halmiko was once a star kurble player. Now he wanders space aimlessly, picking up jobs where he can find them, trying to forget the clanmates he let down. When Bernadette shows up asking questions about his missing Imdiko, he has nothing to say. But some women get in a man’s head. Some women don’t take no for an answer.

Dramok Tumsa had it all: a career he loved, the perfect clan, a troubled but talented brother he’d do anything for. Tragedy on the kurble field destroyed it all. Now his estranged Nobek is back, with a beautiful, hardnosed Earther captain who offers him an opportunity to make amends. Can he piece his clan together again? Does he deserve the chance?

Imdiko Doljen is wracked by guilt. He’s hidden from those he let down…including a woman he couldn’t keep. When she shows up in the company of his clanmates, old hurts ignite anew. It doesn’t matter what he wants; he can’t fix the mistakes he made.

The only path to regaining the love Bernadette lost means healing this shattered clan. Is she ready to commit to three men instead of the one she came for? When disaster strikes, she has to call on all the strength she possesses to stop them from falling apart for good.

Releasing late 2022

 

WIP Wednesday - Clans of Europa: Bernadette

 

Irresistible woman meets immovable Nobek

A frown from Halmiko. “I’d like to find out what happened between you and Doljen.”

“Yeah? Tell me exactly where on Haven I can locate Tumsa.”

“He isn’t hiding, as far as I know. Ask around.” Halmiko looked her over, his gaze evaluating. “You look better with your hair down.”

“Is that supposed to be a compliment? Let me try. You look better with my eyes closed.” Bernadette patted the coiled bun of her hair. “At least I have hope of improving my appearance in the light of day.”

She was lying through her teeth about his looks. His features were a touch craggy and rough, yes, but handsome, framed by jet-black hair that reached to his waist. That double-spiked beard gave him a devilish aspect. In a good way.

A hint of warmth within told Bernadette she was perfectly fine with his appearance. He probably would have looked even better without the grim set of his features, which occasionally drifted into a morose expression.

He relaxed. There was no smile, but he proved her assessment correct as his countenance eased. He made a show of sizing her up.

“Let’s go somewhere private. When I strip off my clothes, you won’t give a damn about how my face looks. You won’t be able to take your eyes off all I have to offer.”

“You have nothing I’m interested in, unless you can tell me where Doljen is.”

“Did you fuck him, little girl? Is that why you’re so determined to find him?” Halmiko took a step toward her. No softness now. He was brutish with sudden anger.

His fury was red hot, and Bernadette met it with ice-cold ire. “I want to find out if he’s all right. If he’s in one piece. Safe. In short, I’m doing what you, as his Nobek clanmate, promised and failed to do.”

Rage turned him into the demon he’d only vaguely resembled. Halmiko abruptly loomed over her, threat etched on every inch of him. His growl filled her ears, erasing the racket of the marketplace.

He froze, a terrible gargoyle hanging over her. His gaze slid from her face to the blaster she’d shoved into his rock-hard abdomen.

“You can back up now, Hal,” she purred.

A new emotion was added to his anger. His pupils dilated. He licked his lips as he retreated a step. “Quick draw, Matara. Impressive.”

“Thank you.” She pretended she didn’t notice the telltale spicy scent that came from him. Anger and arousal were a dangerous mix when it came to Nobeks. Even if she’d considered for a single moment taking him up on his offer of sex, she wouldn’t do so in his current mood. “I’ll leave you to your shopping, big guy.”

She left him there, holstering her weapon as she walked off…purposeful strides, but not too fast. Running from a Nobek was more dangerous than fucking him when he was angry.

 

She searched for the man she couldn’t forget and found a shattered clan she couldn’t resist.

Captain Bernadette Miller was a nun on the moon Europa, hiding from a painful past. Now she hunts the galaxy for the Kalquorian who made her stop running from herself. When she gets a lead on his clanmates, she thinks her search is finally over. What she finds, however, is a clan devastated by broken promises.

Nobek Halmiko was once a star kurble player. Now he wanders space aimlessly, picking up jobs where he can find them, trying to forget the clanmates he let down. When Bernadette shows up asking questions about his missing Imdiko, he has nothing to say. But some women get in a man’s head. Some women don’t take no for an answer.

Dramok Tumsa had it all: a career he loved, the perfect clan, a troubled but talented brother he’d do anything for. Tragedy on the kurble field destroyed it all. Now his estranged Nobek is back, with a beautiful, hardnosed Earther captain who offers him an opportunity to make amends. Can he piece his clan together again? Does he deserve the chance?

Imdiko Doljen is wracked by guilt. He’s hidden from those he let down…including a woman he couldn’t keep. When she shows up in the company of his clanmates, old hurts ignite anew. It doesn’t matter what he wants; he can’t fix the mistakes he made.

The only path to regaining the love Bernadette lost means healing this shattered clan. Is she ready to commit to three men instead of the one she came for? When disaster strikes, she has to call on all the strength she possesses to stop them from falling apart for good.

Releasing late 2022