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.”
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