“You like that?” he asked quietly.
She gave a small nod.
The adrenaline of the fight mixed with the desire in his gut. She reached out her own hand and touched the tears in his shirt.
Then her hand dropped, touching the slash through the tough, supple fabric of his trousers. Her fingers stroked his thigh.
Jax groaned. Sensations cascaded over him. He’d always felt, but nothing like what Quinn stirred up inside him.
He moved, yanking her to him. He crashed his mouth down on hers. She flung her arms around him, her toned body pressed against his. She kissed him back without hesitation, her tongue plunging into his mouth. He reached up, cupping one full breast in his palm. By the sword, she felt so good.
A noise echoed down the alley.
Drak. He lifted his head. Jax was never unaware of his surroundings, and yet he’d lost himself in Quinn and forgotten where they were. Forgotten that they’d just defeated an attacker and were standing exposed in the center of Kor Magna.
“We need to go,” he said.
She nodded and stepped back, inhaling and exhaling loudly. “Who do you think sent this?” She kicked the robot’s remains.
“We’ll find out,” he said darkly.
“It reminds me a little of the robo-cat that Sleeja kept.” Her churning gaze met Jax’s. “It was an Edull creation.”
Yes, he’d heard the scavengers were skilled at creating robotic constructs. “Then perhaps this Gaarl has heard that we’re looking for him.”
Quinn’s face hardened. “And if he attacked us, then he has something to hide.”
Together, they headed down the street, back toward the arena. Jax wanted her off the streets. He scanned the rooftops. He wanted her back in the safety of the House of Rone.
He was still getting to know Quinn, but he already knew that she was never going to let him keep her locked away.
As they entered the tunnels beneath the arena, Quinn cleared her throat. “Are we going to talk about the kiss? Or should I say, kisses?”
Jax stared straight ahead. Of course, Quinn wouldn’t avoid the topic. “You’ve been through a traumatic experience.”
She stopped and Jax glanced back at her. She shot him a sharp smile and he tensed.
“So, you think my mind is confused? That I don’t know what I want?”
Jax had limited experience with women outside of bed—and even there, it wasn’t extensive—but even he knew better than to open his mouth.
“Good choice, cyborg.” She strode up to him until the tips of their boots touched. She rose up on her toes and brushed her lips over his. His hands curled into fists, and she finished with a sharp bite to his bottom lip.
Cursing, he touched his lip, blood welling.
“I know exactly what I’m thinking and feeling, Jaxer.”
“I can’t afford to be distracted, Quinn. My loyalty is to the House of Rone, and my focus needs to solely be on finding your fellow humans.”
“If there’s one thing I’ve learned recently, it’s that we all deserve something for ourselves.” With that, she spun, her blue cloak flaring, and strode down the corridor.
Jax watched her, that fluid, athletic way she moved her body. He couldn’t look away. Shaking his head, he followed her until they both stepped through the double doors into the House of Rone.
Quinn immediately disappeared, and Jax went to find Magnus. He slammed through his imperator’s office door.
Magnus sat behind his desk. He straightened, his gaze taking in Jax’s torn shirt and trousers. Then he pressed a finger to his lips and pointed at the floor.
Asha was asleep in a small chair that cupped her tiny form.
Jax still had trouble seeing Magnus as a father, but he knew better than anyone just how deep the man’s capacity to care for others ran.
“Your lead didn’t pan out?” Magnus asked.
“We have a name. Gaarl. He’s Edull.”
Magnus nodded. “And?”
“We searched for him at the metal market, but he’d vanished.” Jax touched his torn shirt. “Quinn and I were attacked by a robot. It looked like Edull construction.”
Magnus rested his hands on the desk. “Quinn’s okay?”
“Fought like a gladiator.” Jax couldn’t help but smile.
The imperator grunted.
Jax leaned a hip to the desk. “Gaarl must know something. He was asking about disposing of a broken female slave.”
Something flashed in Magnus’ eyes. “Contact Zhim and Corsair. I don’t care what it costs, find this Gaarl.”
Jax blew out a breath and nodded. Then he dropped into the chair in front of Magnus’ desk. “How did you win Ever over in the end?”
Magnus arched a dark brow. “You’re asking me advice about women? You have a different woman in your bed every few weeks.” The imperator frowned. “This is about Quinn?”
Jax gave a small nod. “I’m fighting my attraction, but I feel this pull.” He shot to his feet. “I know I should leave her alone. She’s been through so much.”
Magnus stared at his desk for a moment, then raised his gaze. “She has. And the imperator in me wants to tell you to back off, to let her heal. But if Ever has taught me anything, it is to respect her own feelings and thoughts, to not make decisions for her. You need to let Quinn decide what she wants. She’s had so much forced on her or taken away.” Magnus cocked his head. “You like her?”
Jax sighed. “Too much. I don’t have room in my life, or the skills, to give her what she needs. I have responsibilities here at the House of Rone—”
One of Magnus’ rare smiles appeared.
Jax pressed his tongue to his teeth. “You’re enjoying yourself?”
“Absolutely.”
“Like I said, I’m too busy to offer anything to a woman.” And despite the fact that he felt emotions, he didn’t have the first clue about being in a relationship.
Magnus’ brow creased. “You’re entitled to a life, Jax.”
“You have Ever and Asha now, and—”
Magnus sat back. “That’s why you’ve been trying to take on more and more work? To give me more free time?”
“You deserve it.” You saved me and I owe you.
“So do you.”
Jax looked away.
“You should woo her.”
Jax frowned. “Woo her?”
“Give her what she needs, Jax. You’re good at looking out for everyone at the House of Rone. Focus that attention on Quinn.”
Hmm. It wasn’t a bad idea. Then he shook his head. “I need to stay away. I have too much work as it is.” He wasn’t sure he deserved a woman like Quinn. So strong, so brave. “She deserves time to acclimatize to her new home, to help find her friends, and then decide what she wants from life.”
“Jax—”
He shook his head. “I need to contact Zhim. I’ll keep you updated on the search for Gaarl.”
* * *
Quinn finished her workout at the gym. She’d pushed herself, and her muscles felt loose, with just the tiniest bit of an ache. But it was a good ache.
As she headed out into the corridor, she spotted Ever.
“Hi,” the other woman said. “Are you all right? I heard that you and Jax were attacked in the city.”
“I’m fine.” She fell into step with Ever. “We’re both still standing and the other guy isn’t.”
“A robot?”
Quinn nodded and gave her a brief rundown of what had happened.
Ever scowled. “I am liking these Edull less and less.”
“Where’s Asha?”
Ever smiled. “I’m working today, so she’s with her daddy.”
Quinn’s brain still stuttered every time she tried to see Magnus Rone as a daddy. She studied Ever’s smiling face. “You’re truly happy here?”
“Ecstatic. I never knew happiness like this existed. I mean, I miss Earth sometimes, but this is home now.”
Quinn nodded. She missed it, too.
Every time she remembered that she’d never see her family or friends again, never buy a hot dog from a street vendor, never watch a baseball game…it left a dull ache below her heart. God, she really wanted to talk with her family soon.
“And… how is it to love a cyborg?”
Ever’s eyes flared. “Exhilarating. It’s not always easy, but he loves me and Asha completely.”
They stopped in front of the door to Quinn’s room. “I am truly happy for you, Ever.”
The woman pressed her hand to Quinn’s arm. “Any time you want to talk, my door is always open. Give yourself time to adjust, Quinn, and I think you’ll be happy here, too.”
As the woman walked away, Quinn’s head crowded with thoughts of another cyborg. One with a handsome face, who fought with deadly, lethal precision.
When she stepped into her room, she hesitated. Someone had been in here.
She spotted a small box sitting on the low table near the armchairs. Warily, she approached it. She quickly flicked it open and peered inside.
Then she gasped. It was filled with metal wire—different sizes, lengths, and metals. She touched them carefully, sifting through the pieces. Some were almost rose-colored, others a dull gray, and others bright, shiny silver. Almost every color of the rainbow was in the box.
Her chest hitched. She pulled one long piece out, testing it. It was flexible and easy to bend.
There was a note in the box and she pulled the card out. It had one letter written on it in English—J.
She dropped down into a chair, her fingers immediately moving and bending the bright piece of gold wire into a shape. She grabbed another one, working them together. She kept twisting and bending, losing track of time.
Finally, she held up her little creation—a tall gladiator with a cape.
Jax had given this to her. Somehow, he’d noticed that she enjoyed working with wire, and he’d given her a gift.
Damn the man for making her insides quiver.
Shaking her head, she set the wire down and headed into the shower. After she was clean, she changed into fresh clothes. Unable to resist, she selected more wire from the box. The cool metal slid through her fingers as she twisted it. This time, she made a flower.
There was a knock at her door and her pulse kicked. She hoped it was Jax.
But when she opened the door, it was to Toren’s expressionless face. His blond hair was pulled back and secured at the base of his neck.
“Jax has a lead on Gaarl,” the cyborg said. “He’s requested your presence.”
Her pulse spiked and she nodded. “Give me a second.” She snatched her blue cloak off the bed and tied it around her shoulders.
Without any conversation, she strode with Toren toward the front of the House of Rone. Jax was waiting for them.
Her gaze instantly went to his lips and her body came painfully alive. Damn, she wanted him badly.
“Zhim, the information merchant, said Gaarl was spotted in the underground market,” Jax told her. “Toren will come with us, and we’ll see if we can find him.”
“Great.” She straightened. “Let’s go.”
Quinn almost had to jog to keep up with Jax and Toren’s long strides. They left the arena and strode through the streets, forging a path through the crowds. Before she knew it, the cyborgs led her down a fascinating spiral ramp cut into the sides of a stone sinkhole.
Then they entered Kor Magna’s underground markets.
Quinn’s eyes widened. The large, cavernous space was filled with stalls and people. It was lit by low lights embedded in the walls, and several more natural sinkholes in the rock above acted like skylights. The stalls were loaded with goods, the store owners calling out to hawk their wares. Some sold food—most of which she couldn’t identify—while others sold clothes, jewelry, and other everyday goods.
“Toren, you head to the southern part of the market,” Jax ordered. “Ask if anyone has spotted this Gaarl.”
The blond cyborg gave one short nod and strode away, disappearing into the crowd.
Quinn studied the space, taking in all the different species of beings moving back and forth, some locked in fierce battles as they bartered for goods.
She was amazed and so very curious to explore. But today, there was no time.
“I’ll bring you back another time,” Jax said.
“Are you reading my mind?”
The faintest smile. “Not a cyborg skill, I’m afraid.”
“Well, I would like to come back here again.” She paused. “And thank you for the wire, Jax.”
His gaze shifted away and he gave a quick nod. “I thought you’d like it.”
She reached up and cupped his cheek. His gaze met hers. “I do.”
She saw heat in his deep blue eyes and her blood stirred. It seemed this man, this cyborg, only had to look at her for desire to sing through her veins.
Suddenly, a group of kids ran through the crowd, laughing and shouting. Some shop owners barked at them, but then several kids slammed into a jewelry display, knocking it over.
The display landed right between Quinn and Jax. They both leaped back to avoid getting knocked over. Beads and other items skittered across the floor.
One of the kids was tangled in a whole bunch of jewelry, and Quinn laughed. Store owners yelled, and others crowded close to help.
Quinn glanced up, but couldn’t see Jax in the commotion. Shaking her head, she took one step forward and helped untangle a struggling boy who couldn’t have been more than ten.
But suddenly, she was grabbed from behind. Quinn stiffened, and then she was dragged backward.
“What the fuck?” She started to fight her abductor, without much success.
Whoever it was, was big and strong, and was moving silently. She struggled harder, twisting and turning. But those strong arms around her just tightened.
Whoever he was, he dragged her out of the center of the market. Quinn twisted her head, and spotted several side tunnels off the main market area.
Her attacker towed her into a quiet tunnel, the hubbub of the market dimming.
When he finally released her, she spun, anger searing her nerves. Then she sucked in a breath.
She was facing down three masked Edull.
Chapter Eleven
Cursing, Jax untangled the child from the goods spilled across the market floor.
“Let me go!”
“I’m trying to help you.” Jax set the boy on his feet.
Nearby, the storekeepers were busy trying to tidy up the mess. Shaking his head, Jax scanned for Quinn.
He stilled. The market heaved with people, but there was no sign of her. He drew in a breath. Even inundated with the scents of so many people, he should be able to detect her. But his enhanced senses came back with nothing. Absolutely no sign of her.
Spinning, Jax grabbed the child about to dart away.
“Hey!” The young boy glared at Jax. He had dirt streaking his cheeks, and his ragged clothes were stained, as well. He’d spent time on the streets of Kor Magna.
The boy tried to kick Jax, and Jax lifted him off the ground.
“Who hired you?” he demanded.
The boy’s black-and-brown eyes went round. “How did you know? Did you read my mind?”
“No.”
“But you’re a cyborg. You can crack my head open like a shell and pull out all my thoughts.”
The boy had a colorful imagination. “Don’t make me show you what I can do.”
The kid looked more intrigued than afraid.
“Who hired you?” Jax repeated.
The boy shrugged. “Some guys. They were pretty weird. Wore full masks over their faces, so you could only see their eyes.”
Edull. Ice moved down Jax’s spine. “Where did they take the woman?”
“No idea. But they paid us a lot of credits, so they must really want her.”
“Hey, let Ton go,” a voice cried out.
Jax turned his head and saw another kid, this one s
lightly smaller, looking at him belligerently.
The kid kicked Jax’s cybernetic leg, then winced, hopping on one foot. “Ow.”
“I don’t plan to hurt you.” He looked at Ton. “But those aliens will hurt my friend.”
Ton’s face twisted. “Drak, I don’t want no woman hurt. But I don’t know what they had planned.”
“I saw them.” The younger child muttered. Jax suspected it might be a girl under the dirt and tangled hair. “They went that way.” The child pointed to the other side of the market.
Jax set the boy down. “If you need food and shelter, go to the House of Rone. Tell them that Jax sent you.”
Two sets of huge eyes looked at him.
“Really?” Ton asked.
“Really. I have to go.” Jax whirled, jogging across the underground market. He elbowed through a crowd, and several people rushed to get out of his way.
With each step, blood pounded through his system.
He had to find Quinn. He’d promised to protect her.
He barreled into a side corridor. A group of people was huddled nearby, talking in low voices.
“A woman?” he called out. “Did you see some men taking a woman?”
The people looked at him for a moment, sullen and suspicious. Then a woman with a mass of dark curls stepped forward and pointed. “She didn’t look very happy.”
He nodded his thanks and spun. He sprinted down the corridor, accessing his system communicator.
“Toren, several Edull took Quinn.”
“I’ll track your location,” came Toren’s cool response.
Jax turned a corner, and spotted Quinn, her blonde ponytail flying out behind her. She was fighting three men.
Three Edull.
Anger igniting in his veins, hotter and stronger than he’d ever felt it before, Jax strode into the fight.
The closest Edull had his back to Jax. Jax lifted a boot and kicked him.
The man stumbled forward, and the other two looked up. Tight brown masks covered most of their faces, with just a small valve in place over their mouths. Dark eyes, with the tiniest pin-prick of a silver pupil, looked over the top of the masks. As the men breathed, the mask made a harsh, rasping sound.
Sentinel: Galactic Gladiators: House of Rone #1 Page 9
