The Rogue Prince

by Michelle M. Pillow

  Jasmine wanted to make sure she was far away from her husband before she made her presence known. She’d sneaked on board the Var ship while a couple of the crewmen fussed over the price of fuel. They’d left their loading plank down, and it had been a lot easier than she thought to get by them.

  Jasmine had no idea where the Var ambassadors were going, or what would happen to her when they got there. It didn’t matter. She was on her way to being completely free. And, come what may, she was never going to be prisoner to a man again.

  9

  “Where’s the woman?” Rick asked as Reid came into the dining hall.

  Reid stopped in the entryway frowning, looking around. Rick sat with a steamy pile of scrambled eggs in front of him, complete with thick strips of meat and a fluffy pastry he didn’t recognize. Next to Rick, Lucien and Viktor were arguing over a communicator. The piece of equipment was obviously broken, and Reid got the quick impression that Viktor had taken it apart, and Lucien wasn’t too happy about it.

  The room was small, set up with a long metal table and a food simulator. Going to the wall, Reid stated, “Sloken.”

  The unit beeped and Reid took out a dark green liquid, perfect for a morning pick me up. Evan had tried to convince him to drink something called coffee instead, but the brown stuff he procured had smelled horribly bitter. Reid thought it was a prank until Evan shrugged and drank the coffee for himself.

  “Yeah, we didn’t think you’d be out of your quarters for about a week,” Viktor added with a knowing grin. Only problem was, Reid had no idea what the man thought he knew. Viktor glanced up from his project, only to reach over and slap Lucien’s hand when he reached for it.

  “She still in your room?” Rick asked. “I have to confess, I was really jealous.”

  “What are you babbling about?” Reid grumbled, looking at the men. He frowned. Were they referring to his morning pleasuring session? That was the only thing that had happened in his room.

  “Well, the woman,” Lucien said. “She did stay with you, didn’t she?”

  “Who? What woman?” Reid asked, sipping the sloken. “What are you talking about?”

  “Um, Doctor Miss. St…” Rick tried.

  “Mrs. Doctor St. Claire,” Viktor corrected.

  “That’s it,” Rick exclaimed, pointing a fork at Viktor before stabbing one of the strips of meat. “You’re one lucky man, prince. She’s a fine piece of ass.”

  “Don’t call women a piece of ass,” Lucien said. “You’re the ass, fly boy.”

  “Jasmine?” Reid asked.

  “There. Something you can pronounce, space cadet,” Viktor told Rick. The pilot made a face but kept eating.

  “Jasmine wasn’t in my room last night,” Reid said. His stomach tightened. Why did they think Jasmine was with him? His hand gripped the cup of sloken. He tried to remain calm.

  “Well, we just thought… She did get on board yesterday before we left,” Lucien said, looking at Rick for confirmation.

  Rick nodded. “Yep. She sure did. Had a bag with her, too. Not fair, if you ask me. I try to take a few playmates on board, and I get yelled at. But, I suppose that’s the privilege of being royalty.” Though he pouted, Rick’s tone indicated he was teasing.

  “That’s because you were kidnaping the playmates,” Lucien clarified.

  “You talked to her?” Reid demanded, wondering why he suddenly felt excited or why his heart leaped in his chest at the mere thought of her being on the ship.

  “Well, no, not really,” Rick said. “We pretended not to notice her. Poor woman looked embarrassed and, well, we sort of left the loading plank down so she could sneak on board. We just assumed she was going to your room to…well, you know.”

  “Do you think…?” Lucien began.

  “That she found Jarek instead?” Viktor finished. Lucien tried to grab a metal coil. Viktor slapped his hand back.

  “Ow,” Lucien grumbled.

  Reid’s heart stopped beating. His hand tightened on the mug, crushing it. Hot liquid poured over his hand. He jumped up to grab a towel. “Sacred cats!”

  The three men watched him, laughing.

  “Smooth,” Rick said, continuing to shovel large forkfuls of eggs into his mouth.

  “I think somebody’s jealous,” Viktor added, his voice soft and teasing.

  “Where’s Jarek?” Reid demanded.

  “You can’t blame the poor woman,” Rick said. “You two do look alike.”

  “Where is Jarek?” Reid repeated, his tone darkening with a growl. He felt the beast within him arise with his irritated words. If he weren’t careful, he’d start to shift in his impatience.

  “Yeah, she probably thought you didn’t want her, so she went after your brother,” Lucien said.

  “Where is he?” Reid asked, his voice rising. He was breathing hard, and he felt anger inside him. It was irrational, but he couldn’t stop it. He didn’t know Jasmine, had no claim on her besides a night of dreams and a morning fantasy, but that didn’t stop him from shaking.

  Rick motioned to the door with his fork. “Cockpit.”

  Reid stormed out of the dining hall.

  The three men looked at each other for a brief second before jumping up. They ran after Reid, eager to watch the show.

  “Jarek,” Reid stated, stepping into the cockpit. His brother was seated in the pilot seat, typing coordinates into the controls. Reid had managed to get himself under control during the short walk over, well aware that Rick, Lucien, and Viktor could be teasing him about Jasmine even being on board the ship. “Is Jasmine St. Claire on this ship?”

  “St. Claire? You mean that woman who wanted a ride? Not that I know of,” Jarek answered. He stood, flipped a switch, and sat back down. “Not unless you changed your mind and smuggled her on board. Please tell me you didn’t smuggle her on board. Reid, we don’t have time for this—”

  “No, I didn’t,” Reid said flatly. He turned to Rick. “You say you saw her come on board?”

  “Uh, yeah.” It was Rick’s turn to look confused. He turned to Lucien. “Didn’t she? I mean, we were getting fuel, but she was heading right for the docking plank.”

  “I’m pretty sure,” Lucien answered. “I mean, we were looking the other way, but she was there one second, gone the next.”

  “Do you think…?” Lucien began.

  “Lochlann or Jackson?” Viktor finished.

  “No, I’ve spoken to both this morning,” Jarek answered. “They would’ve said something to me. I’m sure of it.”

  Rick, Lucien, and Viktor exchanged funny looks. Lucien’s voice was disbelieving, as he said, “Surely not…I mean, she wouldn’t have gone to…to…?”

  “Dev?” Viktor finished, just as perplexed.

  Reid took a deep breath. Dev had been in the VR room earlier, but that didn’t mean anything. Looking around the cockpit, he demanded, “Computer, where’s Dev?”

  10

  Jasmine couldn’t take it anymore. Her legs were asleep, she wasn’t sure if she still had feet, and her wrist throbbed uncontrollably. Almost nervous, she pushed open the cargo door. She waited for an alarm to sound. Nothing. Lightly, she waved her hand, seeing if she triggered anything. Nothing again. The cargo hold was silent.

  Finally determining it was safe, she sat up. She glanced around the long metal room filled with shipping crates and gasped. A red demonic looking creature sat in a chair. He had it tipped back on two legs, as his crossed ankles rested on a nearby crate. He was facing her, leisurely tapping his long fingers on his trim stomach as if waiting for her to show herself. As she stared, he glanced up from his hands. His eyes were black, matching the color of his hair. He had human features, except for the intense coloring of his skin.

  Jasmine’s mouth opened. Nothing came out. Not only was the creature red. He was huge, nothing but muscles.

  “I wondered when you’d decide to come out,” the red demon creature said. His black brow arched slightly on his face. “I don’t think it would be comfo
rtable to sleep in there, but who am I to judge?”

  “Ah,” Jasmine managed, pretty proud of herself for getting that much out.

  “You can call me Devil, if that helps,” the creature said.

  “I—I wouldn’t,” Jasmine instantly said. “That would be terribly rude of me to do so.”

  “How do you mean?” he asked, tilting his head to the side to better study her.

  “Well, just to call you a devil because you’re… well, because you’re red.”

  “Or because it’s my name,” he put forth easily.

  “Your name is Devil?” Jasmine shook her head. This couldn’t be right. Did she get on the wrong ship? Who was this guy and why was he acting like her presence was no big deal?

  “My name is Salebinaben Johobik en Dehauberkelsain en Thoraxian en Yyrtolzx Devekin,” he answered, his words so fast she couldn’t even try to repeat them. “Or you could call me Devil, Dev for short.”

  “Nice to meet you, Dev,” Jasmine said. “I’m Mrs. Doctor—actually, Jasmine. I’m just Jasmine.”

  Not feeling any immediate danger, Jasmine sighed. Just Jasmine. She liked the sound of that. Just Jasmine. Not, Chadwick’s wife. Not, Mrs. Doctor St. Claire. Just Jasmine.

  Jasmine.

  “I’m sure Captain Jarek would’ve allowed you a bed, had you just asked him,” Dev said, placing his large black boots on the floor. He wore all black. It actually looked stunning next to his red skin.

  “Jarek the Var ambassador?” she repeated. “So I am on the right ship?”

  “If it is his ship you were meant to be on,” Dev said.

  “You say this is Captain Jarek’s ship, not Ambassador Reid’s?” Jasmine wanted to get out of the cargo hold, but her legs were still cramped.

  “Reid is Captain Jarek’s brother,” he answered, standing.

  Jasmine knew that. She just assumed since Reid spoke that he was the one in charge. The Var ambassador hadn’t said anything to make her think differently.

  “Why don’t you come out of there?” Dev asked. “It can’t be all that comfortable.”

  She took a deep breath. He was really tall and obviously strong. However, she read a quiet kindness in his eyes, and she wasn’t frightened of him. If anything, her marriage had taught her how to read a person’s eyes.

  “I can’t move,” Jasmine admitted. “I’ve been still for so long, and my legs hurt.”

  Dev crossed over to her and reached to take her hand. “Allow me to help you.”

  Jasmine pulled her hand back so he couldn’t take it. Dev frowned as she cringed away from his touch. She held up her wrist to show her bruise. “I smashed it in a door.”

  Dev barely glanced at it, before stating, “A door with five fingers?”

  “How could you possibly know…? I mean, you barely looked at it.”

  “Put your arms around my neck and I’ll lift you out of there.”

  Jasmine obeyed, wrapping her arms around the man’s thick neck. He scooped his arm beneath her knees. His skin was hot, and she realized how cold her metal bed had been. Just then, the door leading to the main part of the ship lifted.

  Jasmine’s wide eyes turned to the entryway. Reid was there. Or was it his brother? She couldn’t see his neck with the way the light fell. His face was shadowed, and she couldn’t make out whether he had a tattoo or not.

  She saw just enough to know he wore the same style of clothes he’d worn the day before, black pants with the sides of his thighs and butt exposed, and a tightly fitted dark blue shirt with more cross laces beneath his arms. The pants hung low without the aid of a belt, and she saw the toned, flat ridges of his strong abs. Her heart picked up, and she glanced at her bag, wanting to get her pill for the day. She’d brought plenty to last her until she could find a new supplier.

  Something about the arrogant way the Var ambassador stood told her that it was Reid. She’d actually thought about him during the long night when she couldn’t sleep. He was so big that if she had the money, she’d want to hire him as a bodyguard. Maybe she could hire Dev instead? The big, red, demon looking giant seemed a whole lot safer.

  Reid glanced into the cargo hold, doing his best to control his sudden temper. His eyes easily adjusted to the dim light, as his pupils dilated to those of his cat form. Dev was in front of him holding Jasmine in his arms. Tensing, he tried to calm his raging emotions. His first reaction was to possessively rip her away from Dev’s embrace.

  He narrowed his eyes. All he could see was Jasmine. She looked so much different than before. No longer in an expensive gown and jewels, she wore a pair of black slacks and a tight crimson shirt that hugged to her perfectly proportioned breasts, breasts that were not too large and not too small. Her long hair was tied at the nape of her neck, completely bound back. She still looked beautiful, would undoubtedly look beautiful no matter what she was wearing. Reid became aroused, the potent force of his desire flaming his blood.

  “What’s going on here?” Reid eyed Dev with jealousy. Dev was bigger than him and a trained fighter, but he didn’t care. Reid had trained for over half a century in combat. He balled his hands into a fist, ready to challenge the man if he didn’t hand Jasmine over.

  “We have a stowaway,” Dev answered easily, obviously unconcerned with Reid’s anger. “She needs medical attention.”

  Everything but concern drained from him as he stepped forward. His eyes roamed over her form. He was about to grab her when her pale face stopped him. She was eyeing him strangely. It was then that he realized what he was doing. He had no right to be possessive of her. She was a stranger and beyond that, just a woman. He was attracted to her, but he wanted no claim on her. The fact that he’d been about to fight Dev for touching her amazed and horrified him. He hardened himself, forcing a calmness to his insides.

  “What are you doing here, Jasmine?” he asked, his voice purposefully hard. “I thought I told you no.”

  “Ah,” Jasmine squirmed against Dev who instantly set her down. “Ambassador Reid. It is my hope you’ll reconsider your decision now that I’m here.”

  “We’ll turn around and take you back.” Reid didn’t like the effect she was having on his senses. He was aroused, sure, but he also wanted to possess her. He didn’t like the feeling one bit. Such things would take him down a path he was unwilling to travel.

  “Please, Ambassador, I’m not asking for much, just safe passage. You can keep the new medical booth and I…I’ll sleep in here with the rest of the cargo if you don’t have any other place for me. I can also pay you.” Jasmine turned and grabbed her bag. Hugging it to her chest, she said, “I have jewels.”

  “Are you insane or merely careless? To come on a ship with strange men carrying jewels? What’s to stop us from robbing you blind, ravishing your body and throwing you out into deep space?” Reid’s chest heaved with deepened breaths.

  She made a soft noise. He was instantly sorry but didn’t take the words back. Harsh or not, they were true. Only an imbecile would put herself into the position Jasmine was in. She didn’t know him or the crew.

  “Honor,” she said after a long pause. Her eyes dipped down to the floor. “Your honor will stop you from doing those things. You do have honor, don’t you, ambassador? Or is your kind too primitive for such a concept?”

  Reid’s gut tightened.

  “The answer is no. We won’t be responsible for your safety. We’re very busy men.” Reid scowled. At that, Dev actually snorted with repressed laughter.

  “I’m not asking you to take responsibility for me. I can take care of myself. All I ask is for safe passage to whatever your next port happens to be. I can find my way from there.” Jasmine hugged the bag tighter. Reid’s eyes narrowed as he saw her wrist. She moved her fingers to cover the bruise.

  “Why?” he suddenly asked, the question not occurring to him before that moment. He’d assumed she’d wanted to come because of her attraction to him. Maybe he’d been wrong. There had to be more to Jasmine than he was seeing.

>   “I just need a ride,” she said, lifting her head. “Actually, ambassador, I believe I’m talking to the wrong person. I need to speak with Captain Jarek. This is his vessel and… Dev, would you be so kind as to escort me to the captain?”

  “Yes, my—” Dev began.

  “No,” Reid interrupted coldly. “I’ve already spoken on it.”

  “Sorry, sir, but it’s the law of the sky. When in flight, the captain’s in charge, unless there is a higher ranking nobleman,” Jasmine stated. She didn’t smile, but she looked irritatingly triumphant. Reid noticed that the woman never really smiled. It was a shame. She had the mouth for it. “I’m afraid that ambassadors are not higher ranking.”

  “Reid,” Jarek’s voice bellowed over the intercom. “Get up here to the cockpit now. We’ve got trouble. We’re about to get boarded!”

  Jasmine paled. Reid wondered at the expression. He reached for her, careful to drag her by her good arm as he ran toward the cockpit. He didn’t want her out of his sight.

  “Hey,” Jasmine protested as she jogged behind him. “You have to be the rudest brute I’ve ever met. Let go of me this instant.”

  “Sorry, your royal highness,” Reid spat, growling the mock title at her. “But, you said you wanted to meet with the captain. Here’s your chance.”

  Bars of artificial light glowed intermediately to light the long steel corridor. Reid sped past them so fast that they were only flashes of color. He barely heard Jasmine’s feet tripping on the metal floor behind him.

  “Let go,” She cried, the irritation evident in her voice.

  Reid came to a sudden stop at the cockpit, moving to thrust her ahead of him. Jarek glanced at her and lifted a brow in question. Reid merely explained, “Found our stowaway.”