“A ship hails us. They claim to be Federation Military,” Jarek said.
“Tell them we do not recognize Federation law,” Reid answered. Rick, in the pilot’s seat, chuckled and said nothing.
Evan, who was acting as copilot, said, “They’re waiting for our answer. We need to tell them something. If we don’t let them board, they’ve threatened to quarantine the ship.”
“What do you mean you’re not part of the Federation? Everyone’s part of the Federation treaties except for a few primitive planets and…” Jasmine’s words cut off as they all looked at her, only to finish weakly, “outlaws.”
“She’s a real treasure,” Jarek said sarcastically to Reid. Rick laughed harder.
Reid shrugged at the comment. “What are they looking for?”
Jarek, Rick, and Evan slowly turned to look at Jasmine. Her face paled. She eyed the four men in turn, stopping to stare at Reid. Tears entered her eyes. She began to shake. It was the most emotion he’d yet seen from her.
“No, please,” she whispered. “You can’t.”
“What did you do?” Reid demanded. “Why are you running?”
“Reid,” Evan said quietly. Reid turned to him. Evan’s brow was furrowed in concentration. He stared at Jasmine for a few seconds, before saying, “I think we should help her.”
“Argh,” Reid growled. He met Jarek’s expression. His brother nodded in silent understanding. Turning to grab Jasmine, he pulled her arm, “Come on. Hurry.”
Jasmine watched the men in terror. When Reid again grabbed her, she flinched. Her eyes flew to Jarek, pleading with him not to give her up. He didn’t seem to care, none of them did. Reid pulled her back down the long corridor.
“Please,” Jasmine whispered. “I’ll do anything. Just don’t tell them I’m here. Don’t let them find me.”
“Why?” Reid demanded. He stopped, turning to face her.
“I can’t go back,” she answered. Lowering her tone, she said, “I’ll do anything.”
“Sleep with me,” Reid stated, his words a challenge.
Jasmine gasped, but quickly nodded. “Done.”
“Anyway I want,” Reid said. He took an aggressive step toward her. She watched as his eyes flickered with yellow. This man wasn’t all human. She should’ve realized it sooner.
Jasmine bit her lip, making a small noise as she hit the metal wall. Not as readily as before, she nodded again. She fought her fear, saying, “Fine.”
“I could see your interest when we first met,” Reid said, his words low. “I only ask for what we both want. But, I enjoy your game.”
Reid’s hand lifted and she flinched. He frowned. To her surprise, his touch was soft, gentle. He stroked her cheek, before skimming the backs of his fingers over her hair. He seemed to hesitate, his dark eyes locking on hers. Her heart fluttered and she drew deeper breaths. Her eyes dropped to his lips, curious about the texture of them.
She expected cold dispassion when he kissed her, anticipated stiff lips, a quick peck. Instead, his kiss was soft, warm, tender. He didn’t rush, didn’t demand, as his fingers lightly stroked her cheek. She didn’t know what to do so she just stood still, her lips parted as she let him move. Her heart skipped around in her chest, but other than that, his kiss did nothing to her but warm her lips in a very pleasant way.
He pulled back, looking deeply into her eyes. She wanted to feel joy, wanted to give him some sort of emotion to answer his fierce look of desire. She couldn’t, not even to pretend. She knew her face was blank when she looked at him, with only the slight pooling of tears in her eyes giving away any hint that she felt at all.
“What will your brother do?” she asked, breaking the silence when he did not.
“He’ll let them board,” Reid answered.
“They’ll find me,” Jasmine said. “They’ll scan the whole ship until they do.”
“No, they’ll find us, fea” Reid answered. This time when he took her hand, he didn’t pull, just led her down the hall.
“I don’t understand.”
“Reid, you have five minutes,” Jarek’s voice boomed overhead. “Quit fooling around and get moving!”
“We’ll be ready,” Reid answered. He glanced at Jasmine. “We need to hurry.”
11
“Come in,” Reid said, glancing down at Jasmine. She appeared nervous, and he couldn’t blame her. If the Federation were after her, she should be worried. When she didn’t enter quickly enough, he ordered gruffly, “Hurry. We don’t have a lot of time.”
“What’s the plan?” she asked, still not moving. She glanced both ways down the corridor, and he knew she contemplated running. They were in deep space. There was nowhere for her to go.
“I’m going to hide you,” Reid said. He reached for her, pulling her forward.
“Oh.”
“With my body,” he added, running his hand over the scanner to shut the door.
“Oh,” she began, only to finish with a loud, “What? You mean for us to…to…? Now? How can you think of that now? I haven’t even prepared. I mean…shouldn’t I bathe first?”
“Not one for spontaneous, eh?” Reid shot her a devilish grin, unable to help himself. She really was flustered to be alone with him. He’d only made that crazy deal to see what she’d say, to see if he could stir the sweet fragrance from between her thighs to tempt him. She smelled good, but he only got a hint of longing from their kiss, not the torrent that he’d expected. The hunter in him stirred, more than willing to work harder to capture his prey.
Her taste was still on his lips. She’d not kissed him back but just allowed him to sample her. He was fine with that as well, as long as she was willing. He’d never force an unwilling woman to his bed, not that he’d ever encountered an unwilling, single woman.
When he studied her, his eyes met her wide brown ones. Letting a smile curl the corner of his mouth, he pulled the cross laces at his sides and tugged his shirt over his head. Jasmine’s breath caught, and when the shirt passed over his vision, she was no longer looking at him.
“Five minutes doesn’t give us much time,” she said softly, biting her lip. She slowly reached for her crimson shirt, toying with the hem.
“We’ll manage,” Reid said, watching her with interest, as he moved his hands to his waist. He kicked off his boots, sliding them under the bed along with his shirt.
“All right then.” Her voice sounded small. She still didn’t look at him as she pulled off her shirt.
Reid stopped, staring at her. She wore a lacy white bra, the two cups holding her amazing breasts. For a moment, he forgot what he’d been doing. His fingers itched with his desire to touch her. Her waist was narrow, her stomach flat. He licked his lips. Oh, yeah, he could definitely work with this. Then, he saw the bruise that was still on her arm, another along her ribs, and the now matching bruise on her wrist.
“More walls?” he asked, frowning.
She looked away.
Intent on touching her, Reid let go of his pants. They had loosened enough that the material slid off his hips to the floor. He kicked them under the bed. Jasmine gasped, her gaze automatically flying to his hard member. Her cheeks colored, and she made a weak sound in the back of her throat. Reid sensed the fear in her and wondered at it. The fragrance of it brought him back to the present.
When she continued to stare, her shirt off, her body unmoving, he said, “Not that I mind you getting naked, fea, but we don’t have time for much else.”
Jasmine’s face drained of color. “What? I just said that. You said five minutes was plenty of—”
“You meant five minutes for that?” Reid asked, disbelieving. He leaned over and grabbed the blankets, messing up the bed. Then, taking the long pillows, he laid them along the edge. “Fea, I’ll require at least five hours for that—minimum.”
Jasmine swayed on her feet. Reid shot forward, catching her before she fell over. Blinking rapidly, she looked up at him. “Five hours? Truly?”
“Excite you,
fea?” he asked.
“My name’s Jasmine, not fea,” she whispered, looking at his lips.
Reid’s head tipped back, and he sniffed. “You need to lie down on the bed now, fea.”
“No, my name is Jasmin—”
Reid grabbed her and lightly tossed her on the bed, before lifting her shirt and throwing it at her. “Whatever you do, don’t start screaming. I detect them on the ship. Just get under the covers and hold still. I promise I won’t hurt you. Do you believe me?”
Jasmine nodded though the gesture hardly appeared convincing.
Jasmine watched Reid from her place on the bed. He was completely nude, a fact she couldn’t help but stare at. His body was solid muscle, even surprisingly so after the peeks of flesh his clothing had revealed. And when she saw his male pride, standing very tall and erect from the bed of hair between his thighs, it was all she could do to keep from running out of the room and turning herself into the Federation.
Five hours at the mercy of that? However would she survive it?
Jasmine closed her eyes. She’d get through it. She’d find a way. Opening her eyes, she tried to speak. Her lips parted, and she was about to answer when his body trembled violently.
Reid’s eyes were the first to change, filling with a pale green. Next his dark flesh morphed, as it molded and grew orange, white, and black fur. Jasmine couldn’t move. Reid dropped to his knees and within seconds a large tiger was before her—bigger than any she’d ever seen.
“Reid?” she asked, her voice small. “What…are you?”
A light roar sounded in the back of his throat and he jumped up next to her. Her whole body bounced as the bed shifted with his weight. His teeth were sharp, pointed fangs, connected to a very powerful mouth. Jasmine flinched, unable to help it as he neared her. She pulled back, hitting against the wall in fear.
What have I gotten myself into? This can’t be happening.
Reid lowered his head to her, and she slowly lifted her shaky hand to touch him. His fur was soft and warm. She relaxed when he didn’t bite her. Suddenly, his head whipped up and turned toward the door. Jasmine heard footsteps approaching. She pulled the covers over her body. Reid turned, lifted a paw to her shoulder, and pushed her down. He lounged next to her, blocking her from view of the door with his size.
Jasmine burrowed between the covers and Reid’s body, feeling his warmth along her chest. She’d thought he’d wanted sex before the men came, and now cursed the fact that she’d taken her shirt off. Unconscious of the action, she curled her fingers along his side.
Reid felt Jasmine along his back, stroking him, petting him. Having her hands on his body was torment, but he didn’t move to make her stop. The door to his quarters slid up. Two men in black Federation uniforms tried to come inside. Reid growled in the back of his throat, drawing their attention. Their eyes widened, and they instantly stepped back.
He watched, amused as they whispered amongst themselves. He easily heard them fighting over who would go in. Reid roared, this time louder.
“Anyone in there?” one of the men yelled at last. Reid roared again, this time loud and long as he bared his deadly teeth. Lowering his head, he stiffened and drew his paws close to his body as if ready to stand, daring them to take a step inside. He stayed down, just in case any part of Jasmine was exposed. Besides, she had a tight grip on his fur and didn’t seem to want to let go.
“Shut it,” a second man ordered. “No one’s in with that thing unless he ate them. I only have the one life form reading.”
“Yeah,” the first man laughed. “I don’t want to be next on the menu.”
The door slid shut. Reid felt Jasmine relax, but she didn’t let go of him. He turned his head to her. She was completely buried under the covers.
Watching over her, he stayed shifted, just in case the men came back. He rested his head on his paws. After half an hour had passed and she still hadn’t moved, Reid hooked the blanket with his back claw and pulled it down. Jasmine was fast asleep.
12
“All clear?” Reid asked, coming into the commons. The lounge area was equipped with a viewing screen, gaming tables, couches, and chairs. The men spent a lot of time there when they didn’t want to be alone in their quarters. Lucien, Viktor, and Jackson played cards, taking shots of liquor as they hit a losing hand. Lochlann and Jarek talked quietly in the corner. His brother looked up at him as he walked in.
“Where is she?” Jarek asked.
“Sleeping in my bed,” Reid answered. The men gave him knowing looks, and he held up his hands. “No, not yet. Even I am not brute enough to seduce a sleeping woman.”
“Great, I’ll tell Rick he still has a chance,” Viktor teased.
Reid frowned, not joining in the laughter. “You do that and tell him I’ll break his legs if he touches her. She’s mine.”
Jarek looked him in the eye but said nothing.
“I mean, she’s under my protection,” Reid amended softly.
“She did appear tired,” Evan put forth, looking up from his hand-held. Reid guessed the man was reading another book.
“I would be too if I’d slept in a metal crate all night,” Viktor said, tossing down a card.
“You said we should help her.” Reid looked at Evan, coming forward to take a chair next to him. “Why?”
“She’s scared,” Evan said simply.
Lochlann and Jarek leaned forward, resting their elbows on their knees. Reid eyed the Draig warily but kept his mouth shut. Lochlann was Jarek’s friend, and Reid wouldn’t start a fight with the dragon-shifter unless provoked. The others quieted but didn’t stop their game.
“Did you read her then?” Reid asked.
“Yes.” Evan laid his hand-held down. “But, anyone can see she’s terrified just by looking at her. And I saw the bruise on her wrist.”
“Yeah,” Jarek nodded. He studied his fist thoughtfully. “It was a hand. Probably a man’s by the size of the markings.”
“Definitely a humanoid,” Jackson agreed, nodding. He stared at his cards, not giving any emotion away.
“There are more on her ribs and arm.” Reid looked down, frowning. The urge to protect her was strong within him, but he assured himself that it meant nothing. It was his decision to hide her from the Federation, which made her his responsibility. He was honor-bound to protect her. That was all. That is why his stomach knotted with concern. “She told me she ran into something.”
“Yeah, like a fist,” Lucien said softly. His jaw tightened.
“You need to figure out what she’s doing here.” Jarek smiled at his brother. “That is, if not solely to be with you.”
Jarek’s tone said he highly doubted that was the reason. Reid shot him a wry look. “You doubt my charm with the ladies? Why wouldn’t they travel the galaxy in search of me?”
The men laughed.
“Try talking to her, minus the innuendos,” Evan said. Reid opened his mouth, and Evan held up a hand to stop him. “No, don’t ask it. I will not tell you what I felt in her. That’s her business.”
“You stay out of my thoughts,” Reid said. He smiled to lessen the harshness of his warning.
Evan shrugged, unconcerned. “Then stop thinking so loud.”
“What I want to know, Evan, is do you think she’s a threat to our ship?” Jarek asked. Reid knew his brother was worried.
“No,” Evan said easily. “Not unless the Federation discovers we have her.”
“Ah, I’m not worried about the Federation,” Jarek exchanged a look with Lochlann and laughed.
“Yeah,” Lochlann added, sharing a private joke with his captain. “We’ve dealt with them plenty.”
“You saw her bruise. Think about it. Where do you think she got those?” Evan looked directly at Reid.
“A man,” Reid deduced easily. “They were too large to be a woman’s fingers. We’ve determined that already.”
“And why is she here?” Evan continued.
“She’s hiding.” Reid too
k a deep breath, as realization dawned. “She’s hiding from a man. A man powerful enough to send the Federation Military after her.”
“Ah.” Evan glanced back at his book.
“We were at a medical conference. A rich, powerful doctor, perhaps?” Jarek suggested.
Reid took a deep breath. He’d been so preoccupied with his desire for her that he hadn’t stopped to think about anything else. He’d just assumed she’d felt the passion as he did. She was like a magnet, drawing him to her.
“A lover who beat her?” Lochlann added.
Reid met Lochlann’s eyes, not liking his words. The very idea that someone could derive pleasure from hurting a woman was unthinkable to him. Seeing his brother studying him, he forced his tone to lighten, “So, if her last lover was too aggressive I’ll have to be less so if I wish to seduce her.”
Evan grimaced. “Or if you want to help her.”
Reid kept his face blank, taking care to cover his thoughts. He glanced at Evan, willing the telepath to feel his displeasure at the intrusion.
“Don’t worry, Prince Reid. I won’t tell your secret,” Evan said, grinning.
“What secret?” Jarek asked.
“He’s only joking,” Reid dismissed. Jarek nodded but said nothing.
“All of you, keep your ears open. Find out what you can, Reid,” Jarek said. “The Federation was looking for her, but they didn’t say for what. Your cover was brilliant, by the way. I had transport papers on file for a tiger, you know, just in case they ever found me in such a way. I have no problem harboring a criminal. I just want to know about it beforehand.”
“She won’t talk.” Evan grinned at Reid, a mischievous glint in his eye. “She’s closed. You’ll have to be tactful.”
“Are you saying you doubt my charm?” Reid asked, returning the look with one of his own.
Jarek laughed. Standing, he slapped Reid’s shoulder. “I think he’s saying you lack tact, brother.”
“Who me?” Reid winked. “Nonsense.”
The Rogue Prince Page 6
