He groaned.
More than fine.
She leaned forward and nipped at his neck. Sean couldn’t hold back, shuddering under her delicious assault.
Catherine leaned back and pulled her shirt off before pressing against him again.
He gasped at the skin-on-skin contact. Her soft moan in his ear was almost enough to push him over the edge.
Her breath came in short, hurried pants as she kissed him.
He had to move or be devoured by the heat burning him up from the inside.
Sean grabbed her, dug his fingers into her shoulders as he nipped at her neck. He dropped light kisses along her jaw before returning to the silky white skin on her neck, licking and nibbling.
Catherine froze in place.
* * *
She should have tossed him out of her bed, out of her cabin and off the damned ship. A Mercy man, of all things. On a Mercy ship.
But it was Sean.
Sean who had been so kind to her, treated her wounds, who had almost gotten into a fistfight to protect her honor.
He was no Mercy man. Not here, not now
She reached between them and began fumbling with his jeans, suddenly all thumbs when it came to the simplest actions.
It didn’t help that every time she brushed a hand against him he bucked into her touch with a throaty groan, sending her mind spinning.
“Let me,” Sean whispered in her ear, followed by a gentle tug on her earlobe with his teeth.
Within a minute he was naked. She sucked in her breath at the feel of his chest hair against her hands, the delicious friction heightening her arousal.
A few minutes later she was naked as well, courtesy of his talented hands stripping her with quick, efficient moves.
She still straddled him, her legs locked around his waist as they sat in the center of the bed, but now it was skin on skin without any barriers.
She couldn’t help looking down at what she’d only been feeling through his jeans.
Her eyes widened.
No way that was a product of the Guild.
“There now,” he purred in her ear, “much more comfortable, hmm?”
“Beats sitting on the floor.” Catherine gasped, arms automatically going around his naked waist as he shifted again, sliding against her with a slow, easy rhythm.
Her fingers danced along his back before resting at the base of his spine. She felt his tight muscles flex under her touch, building the tension in her body with each movement.
She’d lost her mind. Totally and utterly lost her mind.
Insanity felt pretty darned good.
She pushed him back, unable to voice her intention.
She didn’t have to.
He laid back with a wide grin, relinquishing control.
I like a man who knows his place.
Catherine’s hands went to Sean’s chest to help balance her as she rocked forward and back, sliding over him with a slow rhythm that had him twisting from side to side.
He groaned and cursed in a foreign language, fingers twisting in the sheets.
The tension began to build, driving her to slide over him faster and faster, teasing both of them to the point of no return.
She wasn’t going to hold back, she wasn’t able to hold back.
His fingers dug into her hips, a gasp escaping from his delicious lips as he tried to control her, shifting his hips from side to side in an effort to slow her down.
“No.” She kissed him hard, enough to silence him. “Don’t you dare try to stop this.”
Catherine rose up over him and slid down slowly, gritting her teeth at the delicious sensations rolling through her. One final push and he was inside her and Lord it’d been so long and he was saying something and she was crying and—
Lightning shot through her, shattering her nerves into a thousand jagged edges each exploding with pleasure.
She screamed into his neck, the volume rising and falling and shifting into a deep gasp before she fell limp in his arms.
“Not too bad to start,” he wheezed.
She pulled up and stared at him, struggling to catch her breath. Her eyes went wide as she realized what he was saying.
He reached up and stroked her cheek. “Are you okay?”
“Yes.” Catherine smiled. “It’s been awhile.”
“Could have fooled me.” Sean ran a finger along her lips. “If you don’t mind me saying so that was good.”
She nodded.
“But I think we can do better.” He grinned. “And a wee bit longer.” Sean rocked his hips with a smirk. “And perhaps even bigger.”
Catherine snickered. “Like to see you try.”
He arched his eyebrows. “Is that a challenge?”
She smiled and nodded.
“Accepted.”
Chapter Thirteen
Sean woke with a start. He looked down at the woman cradled in his arms and frowned.
He never fell asleep in bed.
Not unless he was alone.
It wasn’t allowed. The rules were you satisfied your client, thanked them for their appointment and escorted them out the door. Even if they paid extra you never fell asleep—cuddling was permitted but if you were sleeping you could lose track of time and time was money.
The Guild was a harsh mistress who counted every minute and credit.
He looked over at the digital clock. Catherine Rogers had come onto the Belle less than a week ago.
And undone the walls he’d spent years constructing.
Sean licked his lips. He had no idea what to do or say.
Catherine shifted. Her lips parted as a soft sigh escaped.
He dipped his nose into that honey blonde hair, inhaled the familiar scent of sweat and sex and exhaustion.
From both of them.
This wasn’t on the menu.
This wasn’t even in the same freaking universe.
Belle gave a light chirp, enough to bring Catherine around. She blinked, her pupils wide and unfocused.
“Sean?” The computer AI said in a soft voice.
“Yes, Belle?” he murmured.
“I am sorry to interrupt you with a client but the captain has requested a visit from you and Ms. Rogers. She wishes to update you on the current situation.”
A sleepy Catherine yawned and stretched her arms and legs, sprawling even further across him and threatening to derail his train of thought.
“Why didn’t she come to the door?” Sean asked.
“She did.” The computer AI couldn’t laugh but she sure sounded like she was holding back a guffaw. “I informed her you were busy with your duties.”
Catherine looked at him, forehead furrowed. Her eyes went wide as she absorbed what Belle was saying.
She froze in place, watching and waiting for his response.
“Please inform her we’ll be in the galley as soon as we can.” He cleared his throat. “I’ve completed my appointment.”
He was a Mercy man, after all.
* * *
Appointment.
Her skin itched, the urge to bring her knee up and smash him in the balls almost overwhelming. She kept control and rolled away from him, taking most of the sheets along with the tangled quilt. “I need to take a shower before we see the captain.”
The T-shirt and jeans were at the bottom of the bed where he’d thrown them after stripping them off her body with a killer combination of his fingers and mouth.
I should have known better.
A Mercy man.
Catherine snatched them up and dashed for the bathroom before he could see her face.
It was a replay of her previous shower, with anger replacing the g
rief. She listened to him move about and when the sounds ceased she knew he’d gone to his own quarters to clean up—God forbid he be caught lounging in a client’s bed after he’d done his duty and fucked her into a better mood.
She threw the washcloth against the wall.
Bastard.
She knew no good could come from being on a Mercy ship.
* * *
Sean stumbled into his own quarters, half-dressed and holding his shoes in one hand.
He felt like he’d been run over by a mining transport. The emotional pain ran deeper though and he knew there’d be hell to pay on a variety of fronts.
“Need a hand?” The familiar voice had him spinning around, confused even though he was in his own suite.
Kendra sat in one of the arrival chairs, legs crossed and watching him. She was wearing an off-white long dress covering her legs and arms, reminding him of a Greek goddess.
Diana, Mistress of the Hunt.
He suppressed a shiver.
Hell had come to collect her pound of flesh.
“How did you get in here?” He held up a hand before she could answer. “Don’t tell me. I can guess—you have your ways. I just wish Belle wouldn’t give you free run of the ship.”
“I only use it when I need to.” She glared at him as he strode through the room, heading to his bedroom. “Belle told me you were busy with Catherine.”
“And now that’s public knowledge,” he snarled as he stripped down and threw his jeans into the laundry chute. The shredded shirt went into the garbage. “Wonderful.”
He didn’t feel self-conscious standing in front of Kendra naked. She’d seen him and the rest of the crew enough times.
There was something different this time though. He rolled his shoulders and tried to place the emotion, the discomfort sending goose bumps along his skin.
Embarrassment. Not at being naked but at the situation delivering him to this spot at this time.
He’d been caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
“It’s not. When I knocked on your door and received no answer I asked Belle where you were and she gave me your status.” She walked into the bedroom as he flipped the water on in the shower. “I doubt she’s broadcasting it. AIs don’t gossip.”
“I’ve got a meeting with the captain in a few minutes so forgive me for not setting out tea for you.” The words came out harsher than he’d planned. “Seems there’s been an update on our situation.”
“Good. Hopefully we’re a bit closer to safety.” Kendra crossed her arms. “And she’s made up with Daniel. I get she wants him to respect her status but sometimes she takes it a bit too far.”
Sean stepped under the scalding hot water. “So what can I do for you?”
“How serious is this?” She tapped the transparent wall. “I see that look. I know this wasn’t something you planned or something you’re going to send her a bill for. What’s going on here?”
“Nothing. Nothing now,” he barked. “Go away. I’ve got to see Sam.”
“Sean—” She stopped for a second. “Sean, this isn’t something you can push into a box and lock away. If I can see it everyone else can see it and that’s not good. What happened between the two of you?”
“Nothing. Everything,” he mumbled, not sure if she could hear or not. He tilted his head up to let the blistering stream slam into his face.
He could still smell her, taste her.
Damn it.
“Okay. If you want to talk about it later I’ll be here for you. You know that.” She paused and for one of the first times he could recall Kendra seemed at a loss for words. “But I need to point out if you’re this upset there’s something very much wrong with you. You’re no rookie. You know how to keep your emotions in check. This wasn’t just a one-night stand for you and I think we both know that. Whether you believe it or not is an entirely different matter.”
He watched the blurry image retreat from the room.
Her final words floated in from the arrival suite over the sound of the shower.
“Maybe it’s time for you to think about moving on, Sean.”
* * *
Catherine scrubbed at her already-inflamed skin, not caring about the pain.
He’d played her like a pro.
He’d fucking played her like a damned expert.
In the business world Sean Harrison would be a formidable enemy, picking the weak spot in any company and prying it open like a ripe fruit, an easy acquisition. He’d be on her list of businessmen to avoid at all costs and if she had to face him, she’d have a team of lawyers right behind her ready to pounce on any misspoken words or actions.
If he were on her staff he’d be right beside her using his negotiation skills to give them the advantage in the boardroom. He would have joined her in cutting and slicing their opponents into snail snot and destroying them with their own words.
On a Mercy ship he was nothing but a male whore.
She gave up before the skin cracked and bled and stood under the shower spray to let the hot water erase any traces he’d left on her. Her recently healed skin burned but it was a cleansing pain, one she bore stoically.
She deserved every bit for letting herself be taken in.
“Ms. Rogers?” The computer AI sounded too cheerful for her current mood. “May I inform the captain you’ll be on your way shortly?”
“Yes. I apologize for the delay and I’ll be right out.” She didn’t shout at the AI. There was no point to it.
It was only a computer. A lifeless, emotionally void Guild creation.
Like everyone else on this damned ship.
* * *
Sean looked up from his study of the galley’s floor as Catherine entered. He’d positioned himself against the far wall, arms crossed and keeping as neutral a look as he could.
Sam wasn’t fooled. She’d glared at him when he’d entered, making him wonder how much Belle and Kendra had told her.
If the Belle had barnacles he suspected he’d be out there right now, scraping them off in a spacesuit and praying for a fast death.
“Ms. Rogers,” Sam started. “Can I get you something to drink?”
“I’ve had my fill of the ship’s services,” she deadpanned.
Sean tried not to wince.
“Okay.” Sam sat down at the small table and motioned her to follow. “Your burns look good. How’s the pain?”
“Manageable.” Catherine slid into the chair, ignoring him. “Thank you for asking.”
“Right. News.” Sam pressed her hands palms down against the table. “We’ve been in communication again with the Guild and with the UNS. The Justice base is sending out scout ships to intercept us and provide an armed escort but they won’t be in range for another two days. Until then we’re still on our own.”
“Good news but hardly worth keeping to yourself and the two of us,” Catherine said. “What’s wrong?”
He winced at the simmering anger in her words. Sam didn’t deserve any of it.
It was all on his shoulders.
Sam chewed on her bottom lip before replying. “Belle felt something was wrong with the last set of communiqués bounced between us and the Justice base. There was a lot of static, something she didn’t usually receive when dealing with a high-quality transmission. She dug down under the obvious and found a hidden message, aimed at the crew.” She nodded at Sean. “Yours is probably waiting in your inbox. Jenny got one and so did I.”
“What did it say?” Sean pushed himself away from the wall.
“It offered a million credits to whoever terminated Catherine’s life. Take her out and send a coded message to the Justice base. The killers board the Belle, leave us all alive and take the body and the killer away. Probably drop her or him off somewhere do
wn the line with a fat bag of cash.”
“Sort of like the drone’s message but with more teeth,” Sean murmured. “If you can’t get to your target directly make an offer to the crew to take her out and hope someone gets greedy.” He shook his head. “But that’s not how it would happen. They’d kill the assassin and keep the money for themselves.”
“Of course.” Sam smiled. “Because they think you’ve all got brains like cotton candy and wouldn’t figure that out on your own.”
“That’s—” Catherine shook her head. “That’s insane.”
“It’s more complicated than that,” Sam said. “Now we know there’s a mole somewhere on the base who knows exactly where we are and everything about this damned ship from stem to stern. Right now Daniel’s working on a private link to the UNS, asking for independent assistance from another base or from any UNS ships on patrol nearby. Those scouts might not be coming to meet us—they might be coming to kill us.”
Sean could almost hear Sam’s blood pressure rising.
“Do you think anyone aboard will try to earn the money?” Catherine said.
Sam shook her head. “No. I mean—” She hesitated. “I don’t want to believe anyone would go for the money. It goes without saying that I’m not interested. Neither is Jenny or Daniel.” Sam’s smile was forced. “Our loyalty can’t be bought.”
“It’d be dangerous to even consider it,” Sean interrupted. “The ramifications would be endless. The Guild promises security to all aboard from clients to courtesans to visitors and crew and having one of our own kill someone would be, well—bad for business.”
His inner voice screamed at his choice of words.
“We’ve walked this road before.” Sam wiped her forehead with the back of her hand. “I will not lose anyone on this ship again. I’m activating Belle’s observation status in all quarters, effective immediately.” She focused in on Catherine. “What that means is she’ll be listening in on every one of us, monitoring every suite.”
“You’re not telling everyone,” Catherine said. “Otherwise this little meeting wouldn’t be just the three of us.”
“Correct.” Sam nodded. “If we’re going to watch our own they can’t know it’s going on. Sort of defeats the purpose.”
In the Void Page 20
