“Let me know. I can’t wait to talk with them.” Quinn’s gaze flicked to Zhim. “Do you have any new information on Bari Batu? Or the Edull?”
“We’ve already been running some deep searches for any references to this Edull city.” Sympathy moved over Ryan’s face. “Nothing’s popped yet.”
“We’ll find it,” Zhim said darkly.
“Gaarl,” Jax said. “That’s the name of an Edull who came to Kor Magna. He tried to snatch Quinn at the underground market.”
“Fucker,” Ryan bit out.
“Well, he’s short three henchmen.” Quinn dragged in a breath. “And we also recovered a human hand suspended in solution from their rented quarters.”
Zhim’s head whipped up and Ryan’s eyes went wide.
“What?” Ryan breathed.
Quinn tucked a stand of hair behind her ear. “We suspect it’s Jayna’s.”
Zhim’s jaw tightened. “Sandsucker. We will find him, and we’ll get her out.”
If she was still alive. Jax saw emotion spasm on Quinn’s face and stepped closer. She pressed her shoulder against him. Jax prayed that Jayna was holding on.
“Find him,” Jax said.
“Let’s input the data now.” Ryan’s voice was filled with determination. “We can hook up to our system at home from here.” The woman pulled a set of gloves from her pocket. They were crisscrossed with silver wires.
Zhim pulled a slim comp screen from his pocket and swiped the screen. “If there is anything on this Gaarl, we’ll find it.”
Suddenly, data streamed into the air, projected from the comp screen. Ryan lifted her glove and started moving her fingers through the data.
Quinn gasped. “Wow.”
The data moved around Ryan’s fingers. “I know. The tech here is amazing.”
Ryan’s hands started moving so quickly even Jax couldn’t keep up. With Quinn, Jax watched the pair work. Zhim and Ryan traded small insults and teased each other. It was easy to see that they enjoyed working together. That they loved each other.
“Nothing from the first-level searches.” Zhim’s brow creased, his fingers tapping a beat on the screen.
Ryan heaved out a breath. “Nothing. It’s like this guy is a ghost.”
“We’ll need to visit some…associates,” Zhim said. “We need more powerful systems, where we can run deeper searches.”
Jax cocked his head. As far as he knew, Zhim had the best equipment in Kor Magna. But the man obviously had access to other resources.
Zhim caught Jax’s gaze. “As soon as we have something, we’ll let you know.”
“Thank you,” Quinn said.
Ryan moved forward and hugged her. “Stay strong, Quinn.”
After the couple had left, Jax saw Quinn staring at the floor, lost in thought. He didn’t want to leave her, but had no idea how to make her feel better. “I have a meeting with Magnus.”
She nodded, looking lost. Again, he wanted to soothe and comfort. He pressed a finger under her chin and tilted her face up.
“We won’t give up.” He flooded his voice with as much command as he could.
Her eyes flickered. “We won’t give up.”
Chapter Thirteen
Quinn stepped off the Carthagoan version of a treadmill in the House of Rone gym. She snatched up a drying cloth and swiped it across her sweaty face.
She ground her teeth together. Not even a long run could make her stop thinking about that damn hand.
“I’m going to find you, Jayna,” Quinn whispered furiously. “Hang in there.”
She slung the cloth around her neck. At least she hadn’t collapsed in an exhausted mess on the treadmill. She was starting to feel stronger, her muscles moving better, and the annoying feeling of weakness was fading. She strode out of the gym and into the corridor.
As she passed some house servers rushing along, she nodded at them. They waved at her and offered smiles. Everyone who worked in the place seemed happy enough. She felt a pang inside. She truly wanted to belong here.
But first, she was driven to find and save Jayna and the other survivors. After that, she’d have to find herself a job. She couldn’t do nothing, couldn’t be aimless. But first, she had to find her people.
She heard a commotion in the hall ahead and paused. As she rounded the corner, she saw Jax giving orders to a group of cyborgs. They were holding an injured girl on a stretcher between them. The teen was covered in blood and sobbing. Quinn took a step forward, her heart leaping into her throat. Wild emotions seesawed inside her. The girl’s leg was mangled. Oh, God.
“We’re going to help you.” Jax’s voice was calm and soothing. He smiled at the young girl, brushing her hair back off her cheek.
“My parents?” she said shakily.
“They’re safe. They weren’t hurt badly in the accident. They’ll be waiting for you after our healers have finished healing you and giving you a new leg.”
The girl bit down on her lip. “I’m scared. I’m scared of a new leg.”
Jax crouched and rolled up the bottom half of his pants. “You’ll look like me.”
“Wow.” The girl blinked.
Jax knocked a fist against his metallic thigh. “You’ll clang like me as well.”
Now, the injured girl laughed.
Jax touched her cheek, then nodded at the gladiators carrying the stretcher. They moved off down the corridor toward Medical.
Quinn’s throat tightened. Jaxer had a good heart. He’d clearly suffered when he was younger, suffered abuse in the military program that had created him, but under his strong cyborg exterior, there was a good man.
And Quinn wanted him.
She was tired of him fighting this pull between them. She was doing fine. She felt stronger and better every day. She knew what she wanted.
She wanted the man who put his House, his cyborgs, and everyone else ahead of himself.
She wanted Jaxer Rone.
In her head, she started planning her battle strategy.
Swiveling, she headed for her quarters. She took two steps inside, and her steps faltered. Resting on the bed were several lengths of fabric and another pile of wire.
“Jax.” She touched the fabric. It was silky and impossibly soft. Lifting it, she rubbed it against her cheek.
She reached out and grabbed a piece of wire. It was a lovely silver metal shot through with filaments of blue. She bent the wire in her hand and moments later, she was holding another small figure of a gladiator, a sword in hand.
Determination filled her. She was going to get her man.
* * *
Jax stepped out of the shower and swiped the drying cloth over his damp skin. Next, he moved it over his cybernetic leg.
The girl had come through surgery just fine. He was pleased. She should recover well. After sorting out her recovery, he’d had some Rone weapons shipments to organize for Magnus.
Now, he just needed a lead on Jayna, Gaarl, and the Edull. And a way to keep his mind off the woman who was driving him crazy.
He wrapped the drying cloth around his waist, and strode into his bedroom. He tensed.
Someone was in his room. He scanned the space. He scented someone, just as a figure rushed out from the shadows beside his bed.
As soon as she hit him, tackling him to the floor, he knew who it was.
“Quinn,” he growled.
They rolled across the floor, and ended up with him on his back and her on top.
“It’s not a good idea to surprise a cyborg,” he told her.
“I had to do something to get your attention.” She leaned forward, pinning his arms down beside his head. They both knew he could push her off with the smallest thrust.
But he didn’t.
“I’ve been desperate to get you under me,” she said, her voice husky.
Then she leaned down and nipped his neck.
The feel of her teeth made him groan. “Quinn.”
“You want me.” Desire danced in her eyes.
Jax couldn’
t deny it. His hard cock was throbbing and swollen against the drying cloth.
“And I want you,” she said firmly. “I’m crazy with it. Desperate.” She lowered her head again and licked a drop of water off his chest.
As she did, her hips undulated against him, the soft core of her rubbing against him. He ground his teeth together. He had to fight this.
“I ache, Jax.”
That made him pause. Jax wanted Quinn, and he also wanted her happy and healthy, not hurting.
He lay there, not moving, his gaze glued to her strong face. She reached out and touched the metal on his shoulder, stroking it.
Then she scooted back, sitting on his thighs. She lowered her head and dragged her teeth down the center of his chest. He couldn’t control his response, arching up to her mouth.
She moved lower, shoving the cloth downward, and licking across his abs.
“Will you be all mine?” Her gold-flecked green eyes met his. “To do with as I want?”
Jax couldn’t fight it anymore. He nodded.
She moved, her hands shifting behind her to stroke his cybernetic leg.
“I love all of you. The flesh and the metal. It’s powerful and very sexy.”
“Quinn.” His voice vibrated with need.
She lowered her head again, and kept stroking, licking, and nipping. Pushed to the edge, he reared up. He pressed her back onto the floor, glad they’d landed on the rug. He lifted his hands and cupped her breasts.
“Yes.” Her back arched.
Pounding need roared through Jax. He wanted to see pleasure explode on Quinn’s face. He gripped her leather trousers and with one yank, he tore them off her.
She gasped.
Then he reached over, cupping her between her legs.
“Jax.” She moaned.
He tore the silky panties off her next, leaving her bare. He stroked. “Soft. Wet.”
The scent of her arousal rose in the air, musky and tempting.
“I get that way around you,” she murmured.
She was watching him, her lips parted, and her cheeks flushed. He’d done that. Affected this strong woman so much. She stared at his face, and he knew that she saw all of him. She saw the man, not just his power and influence, or his metal parts.
“Are you sure you want this, Quinn?”
“Yes. Yes.”
He lowered his head and licked between her thighs.
She cried out, tugging on his hair. He sucked, then stabbed his tongue inside. Her spicy flavor tasted delicious, a delicacy he could lap at all day. But as he drove her closer to her release, he realized that he didn’t want her coming without him inside her.
He lifted his head. “Avarn gave you an implant?”
She nodded desperately.
Jax scooped her off the floor. It was too hard for her back, especially when his control was so shaky. Quinn stripped him bare.
He strode toward the wall and her shoulder blades hit it. Her legs wrapped around his hips. They were both mindless, tearing at the last of her clothes.
Her hands worked between their bodies, ripping at the drying cloth. His cock sprang free.
“Come inside me, Jax.”
“You don’t want to look? See if my cock has metal?” He was far too accustomed to women’s morbid curiosity.
Her eyes met his. “I don’t care. I just want you.”
Need roared through him. He shifted, the drying cloth slipping away, and his cock brushed between her legs. She cried out.
Then he thrust inside her.
She made a strangled sound, her nails cutting into his skin. “Big. Give me a second.”
He stayed inside her, body quivering. Perfect. She felt perfect. The muscles in his neck locked, and he flexed his ass. She was so tight and warm around his hard cock.
Holding himself still was torture, but he refused to hurt her.
Warm lips nipped his ear. “Move, Jax.”
He pulled back and thrust in again. Then again. He found his rhythm and her husky cries filled the room.
“Jax.”
He loved his name on Quinn’s lips. He shoved her thighs out wider, driving deeper. He felt her body start to clench on his cock.
A second later, she started shaking. “Oh, damn. Jax!” She started coming.
Jax kept up his heavy thrusts, his gaze locked on her face. She was the most beautiful thing Jax had ever seen.
* * *
Quinn tried to catch her breath after what had been—hands down—the best orgasm ever.
She turned her head, nuzzling against Jax’s neck. She heard him groan, then felt the hard flex of his muscles as his cock moved inside her.
Damn, he was still hard.
She gripped his broad shoulders and tightened her legs around his waist. She liked his body. A lot.
“That was pretty awesome,” she said.
He lifted his head, his eyes glowing as he studied her.
So damn handsome.
She licked her lips. “So, you’re still hard.”
“I’m a cyborg.”
She stilled. “You saying you can…stay up for a while?”
“Definitely.” He gave a slow thrust.
Quinn moaned.
Jax’s hands shifted, clamping onto her ass. He spun and carried her to the bed.
“I want to be on top this time,” she demanded.
He swiveled and dropped backward. She rode his delectable body down onto the bed. Straddling him, she pressed her hands to his chest.
“You feel so good, Jax. You make me feel so good.”
His hands kneaded her ass. “I like watching you above me.”
She lifted her hips, riding him slowly. God, he filled her up. She enjoyed the way his cock stretched her.
He sat up with a flex of muscle, pulling her closer so his mouth closed over one of her nipples.
“Yes.” She rocked against him. His mouth felt so good. “A little less pressure.”
The suction decreased. Perfect. She moved faster on his cock, her gaze locked on him, watching as he lavished her breasts with attention.
She liked seeing the flush along his cheekbones, the desire in his eyes. One of his hands slid down her belly, sliding between them. He touched where her body stretched to accommodate him.
Then his finger brushed her clit and she jerked.
“You like that?” he asked.
She nodded. “Oh, yeah.”
He thumbed her clit again, pinching the nub between his fingers.
Her moans increased, electric pleasure shooting through her. A second later, another sudden orgasm spiked, crashing over her. “God, Jax.”
He held her as she trembled and panted. Before she could catch her breath, Jax moved, spinning and slamming her onto her back.
Quinn looked up and her chest hitched. The tendons in his neck were strained, his face set in harsh lines. His eyes burned.
Her cyborg had reached the end of his control.
He thrust hard inside her, and started a rhythm that was out of control and punishing.
She grabbed his arms, then cried. He froze, his muscles straining.
“Did I hurt you?” His voice was a deep growl
“No.” She thrust her hips up. “Move, Jax. I can take you. All of you.”
It was like her words dissolved some barrier inside him. He hitched one of her legs up high and started thrusting inside her—hard and fast.
She held on for the wild ride.
A second later, she was coming again, and this time, her orgasm triggered his.
“Quinn.”
“I’m here.”
Jax groaned, his body shaking as he poured himself inside her.
In the aftermath, Quinn wrapped her arms and legs around him.
“Thank you.” She nipped his ear. She felt loose, languid, and happy. Several things she’d thought she’d never feel again when she was a captive, suffering Sleeja’s harsh treatment.
“For being weak against your charms?” Jax asked
.
She laughed, but then seriousness pushed out the humor. “For letting me decide what I needed.”
His gaze moved over her face, then he lowered down and pressed a soft, slow kiss to her lips.
“Any time you want my body, I’m all yours, Quinn.”
She slapped a hand to his very firm ass. “In that case, tonight I’m taking full advantage.”
Chapter Fourteen
The next morning, Jax walked through the House of Rone with a spring in his step.
He passed some house servers, and smiled at them. “Morning.”
They gave him odd looks, but smiled back.
He was happy and he didn’t care who knew. He’d spent the entire night wrapped up with Quinn. Exploring every hidden secret of her body, loving all of her.
Best night of his life.
By the sword, that toned, flexible body of hers was pure delight. She hadn’t held back, taking just as much pleasure in her exploration of his body.
Jax had always known that something had been missing from his past sexual encounters, and now he knew what it was. Having a connection to the person you were with made everything a hundred times deeper, a thousand times more meaningful.
He turned down another corridor. He’d had an early-morning training session with his fellow cyborgs. He’d been sorry to climb out of his bed, and leave Quinn sprawled there among his pillows and sheets. He liked seeing her there. A lot.
Stretching his injured shoulder, he could feel it already healing. Mace had gotten in a few hard hits during their session. The big cyborg had frowned when Jax had just smiled at him.
He needed to check in with Magnus, see if there was any news on their search for Gaarl, then he planned to track Quinn down, and lure her back to bed.
Reaching the door to Ever’s lab, he knocked and heard Magnus’ deep voice. When he entered, he saw Magnus glance at him.
But Jax’s gaze went straight to Quinn. She was laughing and it was such a gorgeous sound.
She was holding baby Asha in her arms, and smiling down at the child. Sunlight streamed through the windows, lighting up the golden streaks in her hair. Beside her, Ever was talking and Quinn was nodding.
Then, as though she sensed him, Quinn looked up and their gazes met. Her smile widened.
Sentinel: Galactic Gladiators: House of Rone #1 Page 11
