Megan has been summoned to Essengar station in orbit above a planet she is not allowed to set foot on. No alien has the right to walk on that world.

  She meets her ex-partner in the psi-tracker corps and immediately is overrun with emotion. Einar stirs lust, longing, and when he tells her that he took their child out of stasis to be born in a surrogate, she feels fury.

  Punishing him in the most direct way possible, she drains her immediate anger and they can begin the negotiations for Megan's presence…in his bed…as his wife.

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  Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Impassioned

  Copyright © 2010 Viola Grace ISBN: 978-1-55487-599-3

  Cover art by Martine Jardin All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

  Published by eXtasy Books

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  www.eXtasybooks.com

  Impassioned

  A Terran Times Novella

  By

  Viola Grace

  Chapter One

  egan Bander drummed her fingers on the Marm

  rest of the seat of the private shuttle. The world below teased her with azure oceans and green and gold swathes of farms. It was a horrible taunt to her gravity-starved senses, knowing that she was not allowed to land on the surface.

  “Ma’am. We are docking. Please lock in for landing.” The Essengar servant was diffident, but didn’t look too impressed with her. The disdain in his ice blue eyes was unmistakable.

  Meg didn’t care. Her beloved space Viking had called her to come for a visit. They had been psi trackers together for two years before he was called home. They had been lovers for only a day when he left her. She tried not to hold that against him.

  The reason for this summons was a little muddled. He either wanted her help or just wanted to reminisce over old times. Whichever one it was, she had been assigned to attend Essengar Station and this shuttle had been sent by 1

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  the Essengar High Command to pick her up.

  The ship rocked and she buckled her harness as it shifted in the forced gravity and shielding of the station.

  Megan took in the turrets trained on them as they glided the last few feet into the docking area.

  Someone was taking security seriously. “Why all the extra security?”

  She wasn’t really expecting an answer, but the servant responded. “The War Master is visiting the station. There have been several attacks on his life recently and with no heir, he is in constant danger.”

  “Oh.” So she was meeting with Einar and the War Master was on the station. Not horrible, she just needed to avoid the knots of security when they were on the station. She was only going to be there for a few days she hoped.

  “Docking is complete. You may release your harness. An escort is waiting for you at the foot of the steps.” The servant stood solemnly and took her bag from her when she tried to retrieve it from storage. “Your bag will be delivered to your quarters.”

  “How do you know where I will be?” She quirked her eyebrow. She knew the answer, she just wanted to hear him say it.

  “The War Master has arranged your quarters adjoining his own. Go now, he does not like to be 2

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  kept waiting.”

  Einar had been upgraded to War Master. It wasn’t unexpected—he had always been driven, but to rule the smaller fiefdoms of an entire planet was reaching a little high.

  Straightening her shoulders, she exited the ship and at the base of the steps was the escort that had been sent to get her. Twelve armed guards snapped to attention when she appeared. “Psi Tracker Megan Bander, welcome to Essengar Station. Please, come this way.”

  They were wearing deep blue tunics and deep brown leather trousers and boots. Megan felt the corner of her mouth kick up when she remembered her ex-partner’s penchant for leather pants. Apparently, it was a cultural thing.

  She walked into the centre of the group and opened her senses wide as they started to make their way into the station.

  The men around her were curious, respected the War Master and were completely baffled as to why he wanted this stranger instead of the Essengar women who were lined up to warm his bed.

  Whoa. His bed? Megan wasn’t sure what she thought about that. Sure, he was hot, but that wasn’t everything. He had left her without a second thought five years ago. What could have happened to change his mind?

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  Her escort drew a lot of attention. The population of the station was trying to determine the reason for her escort and a few were wishing her ill because of her very presence in their sovereign space.

  Her blood started to hum in her veins when she thought about Einar, but she squelched it until she could see him in person. She was conflicted.

  When the honour guard stopped outside the doors, she realized that the sparsely occupied hall they were passing through was where her ex-partner was living.

  They passed those doors and went to the next set, “Ma’am. Your quarters. Wait until we determine they are clear and then you may rest and freshen up after your journey.”

  His gaze took in her loose ship suit, the standard uniform that she preferred. “Should I wear another colour?”

  “There will be a formal dinner. You may wish to dress more appropriately.” He stood beside her while they waited for the guardsmen to finish their inspection of her rooms.

  “I can be appropriate if the situation calls for it.

  Oh, look. My luggage.” A nervous attendant brought up her bag to her from the ship. “I will be able to find something in here for dinner. Don’t worry.”

  The guard looked dubiously at the pack, 4

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  imagining that no proper clothing could come from so small a duffel. “We will call on you before the dinner. Have a nice rest.”

  Entering the chambers with her clothing clutched in her arms, she would have gasped if it wouldn’t have gotten the attention of her guards.

  Her favourite colours, ice blue and pale gold were covering every surface in the suite, from the dressing table, the bedding to the drapes around the window that overlooked the central green house.

  It was heaven. She never wanted to leave.

  Putting her pack on the bench at the foot of the bed, she backed up and with a happy cry, launched herself into the huge bed, then rolled back and forth, wallowing in the scent of crisp, clean linens.

  A slow, methodical clapping came from a corner of her room and she twisted in place to glare at the intruder.

  “Welcome to Essengar station, Megan. I have missed you.”

  She snorted and faced her demon on her knees.

  “I just bet you have. You have had a rough time of it. I always made things so easy for you.”

  He stood slowly, letting her take in his magnificence, for he was truly a sight to behold.

  On earth, he would have been a model, an actor or a man who had women that let him use them as 5

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  paving stones.

  Her self-control held until he opened his arms and she gave in to the urge to run forward and wrap herself around him. The hug warmed parts of her soul that she thought were long frozen. She missed him, body and soul. The only satisfaction that she got was that he was holding her just as tightly.

  She let go before he did and leaned back in his embrace. “I made it easy for you again, didn’t I?”

  “Nothing has ever been easy with you, Megan.”

  He rested his forehead against hers and simply breathed her in.

  His eyes were closed, hiding the glorious blue with the slitted pupils, but his blond hair slid around them both, giving them a small bit of privacy that was only them.

  She broke the intimacy deliberately. “So, I hear you are High Commander. That must be fun. How is your wife?”

  He slowly opened his eyes.

  Her blood ran cold at what she saw there.

  “She died in childbirth, but your daughter survived.”

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  Chapter Two

  y daughter? I left her in secure stasis in th

  “M e

  Alliance Medical Centre. I check on her every week, what do you mean she was born?” Megan was struggling against him, fighting to get free.

  After he had left her, the fruits of their union had manifested in the form of a tiny daughter growing inside her. The Alliance had refused her leave to have the baby, so she had her carefully removed, stored and placed into stasis with the assurance that she could reclaim her as soon as she was out of her contract.

  “Our daughter. I was alerted to her existence when she was registered in stasis. The Essengar are protective of their genes. Tests had to be run to make sure that she would be a strong representative of our species. As her father, I had to authorize them.”

  Tears pricked Megan’s eyes for a moment.

  “What is her name?”

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  “Amelie. Just as you wished.” He was acting in a most reasonable manner.

  Meg brought her knee up hard and fast, standing over him as he buckled to the floor. “As I wished? I wanted to bear her, to hold her in my arms. How old is she?”

  He gasped for air as he slowly sat up. “She’s four.”

  “Son of a bitch. You just couldn’t wait. You get married and knock her up with my baby.” She was furious, pacing back and forth like an animal in a cage. “Where is she?”

  “On Essengar.”

  She stopped and closed her eyes, clenching her fists as tears started down her face. “So, I can’t see her.”

  He sighed and rose back to his full height.

  “There is a way, but it will be discussed over dinner. Now, splash some water on your face and get your emotions under control. I will be in my rooms, waiting for you when you are ready.”

  He was back to being Einar, her ex-partner, the man who knew her better than any other in the Alliance. He was speaking sense and if it was the means by which she would see her daughter, she would do it.

  She turned her back to him and walked into the lav, splashing water on her face as suggested. Her baby was four years old and she had never even 8

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  seen her. Amelie…named after her grandmother.

  Meg wondered what the little one looked like, her or Einar or some weird combination of both.

  She stretched, working the kinks out of her shoulders and neck. She opened her senses and found Einar had indeed left her room, but he was staying close to the connecting door. Dinner. She had to dress for a formal dinner. Time to work some magic with her backpack.

  The loose and baggy jumpsuit fell to the floor and she stuck her hand into the pack to withdraw her rolled silk gowns by feel alone. A set of sandals came out for her evening’s attire as well.

  With a practiced flick of her wrist, she unrolled the layers of the gown, putting them on one at a time, securing the two off-the-shoulder layers with a thick sash that bound her from under her breasts to the curve of her hips.

  Megan pinned her hair into a fall of honey brown hair that piled on her head, left her neck bare and tumbled down one shoulder. The mirror told her that she was stunning, but the shock in her eyes kept her mind on Einar and his possession of their daughter.

  Before she left, she tidied up the large room, folding her uniform and setting her boots against the edge of the bed. Unable to delay any longer, she knocked on the connecting door.

  Einar had changed as well, his deep blue shirt 9

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  matched his eyes and the black of his pants matched his boots. The appreciation in his eyes almost made her forget the betrayal.

  “You look amazing, Megan. That gown is…wonderful.” He came close to her and walked around to enjoy the view.

  “Thank you, Einar. Or should I address you as War Master?”

  “Always Einar for you, Megan. Please, be seated.”

  There was a small table set for two.

  “I thought there was to be a formal dinner?”

  She let him help her to her seat.

  “I am in formal wear, you are in formal wear…ergo formal dinner.”

  His grin made her smile a little in response.

  This was the whimsical man that she had come to think of as a friend.

  A servant peeled himself from the wall and served them wine and water. A cart covered with dishes and a pristine cloth supplied the food that he served to them. When the plate of bread was placed in front of her, she hesitated.

  To break bread with the Essengar meant that you did not mean them any harm and you were willing to engage in peaceful negotiation. She thought about it for a moment that had Einar shifting in his chair. “What the hell, I have already kneed you in the nuts.” She broke a chunk of 10

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  bread off and her dining partner breathed a sigh of relief.

  The guards heard her comments and looked at each other with alarmed eyes.

  “Calm down, he still has his equipment, it is just a little bruised.”

  Einar waved them off when they started moving forward. “It was less than I deserved and Megan would not actually damage me beyond recovery.”

  She sighed and took a sip of water. “Even while furious, no. I can’t. It seems you always incite me to passions, lust, affection and anger. Take your pick.”

  He tore off a piece of bread, “I pick lust.”

  She snorted, “You always did.” They ate in companionable silence for a few minutes.

  “I have a proposal for you.” Einar was keeping his gaze on his food.

  “Is that why you sent for me?”

  “Yes.”

  “What is it? Your proposal, I mean.”

  “I wish you to join me on Essengar…”

  “Only citizens are allowed on the surface.”

  “As my wife.”

  Megan coughed as some meat tried to go down the wrong way.

  Einar simply looked at her, his blue gaze bright with concern.

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  As she got her wheeze back under control, she croaked, “What?”

  “I wish you to join me on Essengar as my wife.

  I have received permissions and dispensations from both our governments, all that is necessary is your consent.” He nibbled at a piece of fruit.

  She watched his pointed white teeth as they worked at it. “You are serious?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why? I have no doubt that there is a line of women trying to get into your bed. Our night together wasn’t that memorable, I am sure.”

  He smiled and it softened his angular features,

  “You have not seen our daughter yet. If there is a chance to get another little one like her, I would wed a tortoise.”

  He was a proud father. There was no denying it. As much as she resented her loss of the early days, she was glad that he wanted his daughter enough to flout convention.

  “Was your wife…” She couldn’t finish that sentence.

  “Magna was a good woman, a good Essengar.

  She wed me out of duty, not love. When I told her of my child, she volunteered to carry her to term.

  Her death was regrettable, but Amelie’s biology was different enough to cause Magna’s body to attack itself, a side effect she was not aware of until late in the third trimester.”

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  “And if she had not died?”

  “Our contract would have expired. She was infertile and my people demand an heir.”

  “A baby would be War Master?”

  “No, but he would take my place as Lord Ilgor.

  Right now, there is no one in that place.” He raised his hand and the attendants left the room.

  As soon as they were alone, he stood up and took her hand to raise her to her feet.

  “Megan, I have wanted you since the moment we left the Citadel as partners. Our one night together has been burned in my memory for the last five years. Amelie is a blessing that I could never have expected and all I desire now is for us to be a family at last.”

  In front of her astonished eyes, he knelt and took her left hand in his.

  “Will you have me?”

  Megan fought for an argument, a reason that this was ridiculous, but all she came up with was,

  “Yes.”

  In an instant, Einar surged to his feet and lifted her in the air.

  She clung to his shoulders as he spun her around before pulling her close for a kiss.

 

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