Free Alec (BBW Secret Baby Bear Shifter Romance) (Secret Baby Bears Book 1) by Becca Fanning Page B

lip. Annie let go of his shirt and wrapped her arms around his neck and opened her mouth to him.

    The kiss was the kind of thing she stopped herself from imagining during quick hook-ups with men she never saw again. It was intimate and slow, the kind of kiss that promised all the time in the world. Annie thought her heart might stop. There were, she supposed, worse ways to go.

    “Leo, I—oh, Christ, really?”

    Leo and Annie jerked apart to see Rick scowling at them.

    “I thought the intercoms were down,” the brunette said, “so I came to find you so we could deal with this situation we’re in. Of course, if you feel that going at it like teenagers is more impending than out impending doom, by all means go ahead.”

    “I was just, ah…” Leo coughed. “I was just showing her how to shoot a gun, don’t worry about us.”

    Annie cringed internally as Rick looked very pointedly at Leo’s weaponless self.

    “Anyways. Please relocate to the cockpit. I have a suspicion that if I ignore Strathmore’s calls any longer he’s going to just blast us out of the sky.”

    “Right,” Leo said, smoothing his shirt. “Lead on.”

    The terror that had lessened in Leo’s presence returned with a vengeance. Annie grabbed his sleeve.  

    “Tell me it’s going to be okay,” Annie hissed at him.

    “At very least it’ll be interesting,” he answered. At her glare, he added, “I’m not in the habit of letting my people get hurt you know. Have a little faith.”

    “For the man who thought ‘I was teaching her to shoot a gun’ would actually work?”

    “You’re lucky you’re gorgeous enough to get away with that. Anyone else and I’d be forced to challenge them to defend my honor.”

    “You have none to defend,” Rick cut in as they approached the cockpit. “Now, be firm, be polite, don’t let him access video, and don’t get us killed.”

    “I can do that,” Leo said. He entered the cockpit and sat in the pilot’s chair, leaning over to press a button on the dashboard. Annie and Rick hung back.

    “Don’t worry,” Rick murmured. “He’s actually very good at this.”

    “I’m just afraid ‘very good’ isn’t going to get very far against Strathmore,” she answered quietly.

    “Hello, Appomattox ,” Leo said in a firm, agreeable voice that Annie recognized from the beach. “You are speaking to the captain of the ICS Breakwater . How may I help you?”

    “Hello, Captain Ingram,” Strathmore said, voice as chilly and distant as ever. “I believe you have something of mine. I’d like it back.”

    “Sir, I assure you that all cargo on my ship was gotten through a trusted supplier. I doubt—”

    “Feigning ignorance will gain you no mercy. We both know I mean the girl,” Strathmore interrupted. “Anyanka, are you listening in? I imagine you are, since your new friends haven’t seen fit to allow a video call. How are you? It doesn’t matter. No matter what the answer is, it’s so much better than you’ll be once I have you again, you dim-witted bitch.”

    Annie shuddered and Leo’s hands clenched so tightly on the edge of the dash she was afraid he might dent the metal.

    “And why, exactly, should I give her back to you after that?” he asked through gritted teeth.

    “I’d have thought it was obvious. I’m giving you the chance to earn the right to continue living. My sorry excuse for a bride in return for the lives of your crew. It’s an excellent deal.”

    “With all due respect,” Leo said in a tone that made it very clear exactly how much respect he thought that was, “I think this is something I should discuss with my crew.”

    “And give you time to plot? I think not,” Strathmore said, sounding bored. “You decide now, Captain. Is whatever the little whore’s been doing for you really worth risking your life over?”

    Leo went rigid. “I think this conversation is over, Captain Strathmore,” he said in a voice ironically similar to the other