Cali & Drake (The Alliance Book 1) by Stormy McKnight

sense.”
    The one named Vareen spoke those words. So the little female was a romantic in a world that didn’t believe in such
things? This was an interesting turn of events. There was only one world close
by that fit that description.
    “I wouldn’t say I was swayed by my emotions—” Cali went to argue.
    “Wouldn’t you? Then how is it that we’re in the middle of the Buffer Zone?”
There was a pause and then someone exclaimed, “I’m sorry Cali. I didn’t mean
that.”
    “Is that how you feel Nellia—” he could hear the hurt in the female’s
voice.
    “I hate to interrupt, but the mystery man is awake.” The woman named
Vareen drawled coldly and Drake wanted to groan. He was getting some good
information from listening to them.
    With a sigh, he opened his eyes to
see three women in the room. The small beautiful one named Cali, a taller
black-haired female with a stern frown and cold purple eyes, and a smaller
brunette with worried hazel eyes. They were all three wearing the black
jumpsuits, but only Cali made it look incredibly sexy.
      “You’re awake, ” Cali stated this and strode gracefully to his side.   “This is Vareen Nas, the ship's science officer, and second in command.”
She waved a hand at the tall, black-haired female. When his eyes met hers, she
gave a slight nod of her head. This one radiated authority over her
surroundings and her rigid stance showed no softness. He nodded his head in
greeting.
    When Cali spoke again his eyes moved to the other woman. “This is Nellia
Adet. She is the ship's doctor.” Again,
he got the slight bow of the head. This one was shorter and softer, like Cali.
Her hazel eyes were filled with trepidation and he came to the startling
realization that this female was afraid of him. He nodded his head at the
doctor.
    “That leaves me…” she said with a slightly breathless laugh and Drake’s
heart rate picked up. “I’m Calinae, or as I prefer, Cali. I’m the captain of The Reliant. ” The machines monitoring
him made a soft chirping noise when she
had laughed, and when he heard her name
they started an even louder alarm.
    Drake smiled faintly and forced himself to relax. Bowing his head to Cali
he tried to speak and was surprised when his voice came out gravelly and rough. “I…am Ch—” he swallowed
hard in mid-introduction not sure how
much to give away. “I’m called Drake.” He decided on giving his first name. “Were
you able to find out how long I was in stasis? Where did you find me?”
    Drake wasn’t surprised when all three females looked at each other
instead of answering.

Chapter Ten
    Cali bit her lip and looked at her friends. Drake had a right to know the
answer to his questions, she just wasn’t sure how much to tell him. Seeing the
suspicion in Vareen’s eyes and the equal mix of fear and suspicion in Nellia’s , she tried for honest answers without
giving away everything they were doing.
    “We haven’t been able to determine how long you were in stasis. The ships
engineers are still working on a compatible computer interface with your escape
pod.” Cali thought back on what he had asked and continued. “As for your last
question, we’re on a scientific mission in the Buffer Zone.”
    “I see,” Drake replied softly, his brow furrowing.
    Deciding it was time to get some answers from him Cali asked, “Do you
remember your purpose for being in space? What is the name of the ship you were
on?   We will try to contact them for you
if they are still in the area.”
    It was her turn to have a furrowed brow because he was shaking his head
before she had gotten a few words out.
    “Your people must be worried about you. Don’t you want to return to
them?” Cali couldn’t understand his reluctance to name his spacecraft.
    “It must’ve been an injury because I don’t recall what I was doing or
what spaceship I was on, ” Drake admitted
huskily.
    His troubled eyes met hers and Cali paused at the shuttered