“Ready to engage boosters if necessary.” Amos turned to her. “You better sit down and strap in, baby. Just in case we have to make a run for it.”
She’d thought it was over. It hadn’t occurred to her that they might be forced to fight or flee from her uncle. She slid into an empty seat beside him and engaged the safety harness.
Angelina chewed on her lower lip as she waited with the rest of them. Rory was strapped in next to Kal. Flynn was the only one still standing. He had his hands braced on the back of his chair.
Amos reached out and took her hand in his. She squeezed it tight. No matter what happened next, this was where she wanted to be.
Chapter Eight
The situation had been too easily resolved for Amos’s liking. But, then again, it was impossible to know the mind of a man like Vaden. Amos watched Angelina out of the corner of his eye. She seemed fairly calm and controlled all things considered.
“Put it on speaker so everyone can hear what’s going on, Kal,” Flynn ordered.
Kal nodded, and seconds later, Vaden’s voice boomed over the speakers. “This is Gravas 3 hailing Demarco Astoferus.”
“This is Astoferus. Do you have my niece?” Angelina stiffened when her uncle responded.
“Negative,” Vaden replied. Amos noted that the man didn’t say if he’d seen her or not, just that he didn’t have her. He was telling the absolute truth without giving anything away.
Flynn sat in his chair and steepled his fingers together as he watched the other ships through the viewing window. Kal held one of Rory’s hands in his, Garth was ready on weapons control, and Amos had his fingers poised over the boosters. Everyone was still, all their attention on the next few seconds that would determine their course of action. Would they have to run, or would they slip away under the very nose of Demarco Astoferus?
“You will return to Gravas with me.” Vaden made it an order more than an offer. “We will decide how to proceed after I speak with the planetary council.”
“I’ll find my niece and bring her to you,” Astoferus insisted.
There was a long silence before Vaden repeated, “You will return to Gravas with me.”
Beside him, Angelina shivered. Amos reached out and covered her hand. She turned her palm inward and closed her fingers around his.
“I think it’s unnecessary, but in the interest of better relations with Gravas, I will follow you back to your planet,” Angelina’s uncle conceded.
Flynn released a low whistle. “You have to admire a man who can get his captive to take himself to prison, because that’s exactly what Vaden is doing.”
“He’s going to imprison my uncle?” Angelina asked.
Flynn swung his chair around to face her. “Only until the trial. I doubt your uncle is going to get out of this alive. The one thing that the people of Gravas never forgive is betrayal, which is why I allowed them to board the Abigail.”
“You know Vaden?”
Amos wasn’t surprised by her question. Angelina was too smart not to realize Vaden knew them, especially since she’d seen the greeting he and Flynn had given each other.
Flynn nodded. “Our paths have crossed on several occasions.”
Garth choked and then began to cough. “That’s putting it mildly,” he muttered.
When Angelina gave him a questioning look, Amos shrugged. “We were both after a certain political fugitive at one time. We discovered the man’s whereabouts and went to collect him only to find he’d pissed off the good people of Gravas as well.”
“What happened?” Her eyes were wide and her skin pale.
“Let’s just say we compromised.” Flynn shoved out of his chair and came to stand beside her. “Since Vaden and his government wanted the man dead, and we needed confirmation that he was no longer a problem for the Alliance, Vaden suggested a compromise.”
“Flynn,” Amos warned. Angelina didn’t need to hear the grisly details.
“Vaden took his head, and we took the rest of him.”
Angelina’s hand flew to her mouth, and she gagged. Amos undid her safety harness and yanked her into his arms. “Flynn, shut the fuck up,” he ordered.
His brother shrugged, totally unrepentant. “Since then, we’ve run across Vaden a few times. Don’t cross a Gravasian and you won’t have a problem. Lie to one and you have an enemy for life.” Flynn paused. “We have enough enemies without adding a bastard like Vaden to the list.”
“Are you okay?” Amos asked her.
Angelina nodded. “Yes, I’m fine.” She looked at the viewing screen. Both ships grew smaller as they moved off into the distance. “They’re really going to kill my uncle, aren’t they?” She shuddered, and he drew her closer. “He’s not a nice man, or a particularly good one, but I never wished this on him. I only wanted to be left alone to live my life.”
“He brought it on himself,” Flynn pointed out. “He was a dead man the moment he decided to betray them. The people of Gravas don’t mess around when it comes to protecting their planet and people. At least you’re not going to die with him.”
“What do you mean?”
Amos cupped her face in his hands. “If you’d been married to Vaden, they would have assumed you were in on your uncle’s plans as well. It would never occur to them that you and your uncle are not close. Family is everything on Gravas.”
Angelina looked appalled. “I see.” She took a deep breath. “I’m glad I’m no longer a part of his schemes.” She pushed out of Amos’s lap, stood before Flynn, and stuck out her hand. “Thank you for everything.”
Flynn appeared slightly bemused but took her hand in his right one. She didn’t even flinch when her warm flesh hit the cold metal of Flynn’s robotic hand. His brother gently shook her hand. “You’re welcome.” Then he added. “Not like I had a choice since I didn’t want to get the Abigail blown out of the sky.”
“Yes, well, I’m sorry about that. It was never my intention to put any of you in danger when I stowed away on your ship.”
Amos was aware of the rest of them watching the conversation with growing interest. There was no such thing as true privacy aboard a ship of this size.
“I have some money and can repay you for your time and my passage.” Angelina crossed her arms over her chest, her gaze never leaving Flynn’s.
Amos had admired her since he’d met her, but it just kept on growing. Not many grown men could meet Flynn’s steely glare. Many a badass of the known galaxies had relented beneath it, but not Angelina.
Amos stood and put his hands on her shoulders. He gave Flynn a pointed look. Flynn growled but then spun away. “We don’t want or need your fucking money. Amos, get us back on course for Eden.”
“Already done,” he informed him.
“What’s on Eden?” Angelina asked.
“Not what,” Amos corrected. “Who. We hope our sister.”
“Your sister?” She looked totally confused.
“Long story.”
She tilted her chin up and gave him a curt nod. “It’s not my business. I understand.”
Amos wanted to curse and shake her. He could see the hurt in her eyes. He’d tell her everything later, just not with all his damn family watching like they were at a galactic sporting event. Some things were better done in private.
Angelina addressed Flynn once again. “I’d appreciate it if you would drop me at the nearest Alliance planet. I’ll be able to make my way from there.”
Flynn shot Amos an exasperated look. Amos knew his brother’s patience was at an end. He’d had to deal with a stowaway, threats, and a boarding party, but Amos knew all that paled next to Flynn’s need to get to Eden. Finding their sister was the most important thing to his older brother.
“I’m afraid that’s not possible right now.” Flynn sat back in his chair and spun it around, giving her his back. “We’ve been delayed enough as it is.”
“Of course.” Angelina shifted her weight from one foot to the other as if not quite certain what to do
next. That was his cue.
Amos took her hand. “Come with me.” He hoped she’d come without asking too many questions. He wanted to talk with her alone. She started to ask him something but swallowed back her question. He held his breath as she marched toward the door.
Garth gave him a thumbs-up. Both Kal and Rory grinned at him like two fools. Amos practically shoved Angelina from the control room. When the door closed behind them, she slumped a little before squaring her shoulders once again.
“I regret that I’m causing you such bother,” she began, her voice stiff and formal.
Amos didn’t bother replying to that little statement. She’d been bothering him since he clapped his eyes on her. He expected she’d be bothering him five years from now. Hell, twenty years from now. He foresaw a lifetime of being bothered by Angelina.
His cock swelled in agreement. It certainly didn’t mind being bothered by her. Amos managed to bite back his grin. He didn’t think she’d find it amusing. He kept quiet until he got her into his room. The others would only intrude if there were a dire emergency. He and Angelina were alone, or as alone as they could be on the Abigail.
She yanked her hand from his and put her hands on her hips. “There was no need for you to come back here with me. I don’t plan on being any trouble.”
When he snorted, she added, “Or at least no more than I’ve already been.” She sighed and shook her head. “What I mean is that I won’t cause you any more problems. As soon as you’re able to drop me on an Alliance planet I’ll be out of your hair. You’ll never have to deal with me again.”
Amos frowned and crossed his arms across his chest, mimicking her stance. “So now that you’ve had your way with me you no longer want me.”
She looked confused and slowly unwound her arms. “I don’t understand. You want me gone, don’t you?” She answered her own question before he had a chance to. “Of course you do. I’ve brought nothing but trouble your way. And what if Vaden changes his mind and comes back?” She shivered and gave a nod. “Yes, it’s much better if I’m gone.”
Amos stared at Angelina. He hadn’t known she existed a day ago, but now he couldn’t imagine a future without her in it. “There’s only one problem with that logic.”
“What?” she asked.
He feathered his fingers over her cheekbone. She sighed and her eyelids fluttered shut before popping open once again. Angelina stepped back, but he followed her. He combed his fingers through her soft, white hair. “I don’t want you to go. You belong to me.”
****
Maybe her hearing was damaged. Angelina was certain she had to have misheard Amos. “You can’t mean that. Not after everything that’s happened.” She’d brought nothing but strife and danger to their lives.
He took her hand and set it on top of the bulge in his pants. “I do mean it. I want you.”
The cold dread that had filled her since she’d set eyes on Vaden dissipated in a flash of sensual heat. A sense of relief filled her as well. She didn’t want to leave Amos. Yet she wanted to stand on her own two feet for the first time in her life, to prove she could make it on her own.
“What is it?” he asked her. “What’s wrong?”
She pulled her hand away from his throbbing erection, and the cold filled her once again. “I don’t want to use you. At least not any more than I already have.”
She shoved her hair away from her face. This was all so confusing. It had all seemed so straightforward when she’d made her plans. Escape. Find a man to take her virginity. Thwart her uncle’s plans. Begin a new life. She’d never counted on forging strong emotional ties with the man who took her virginity. She’d certainly never imagined finding a man like Amos.
“You’re not using me, baby.” He rubbed his hands up and down her arms.
“But what if I am?” she burst out. Better to get everything out into the open. “I’ve never lived alone. Never had to stand on my own two feet. My parents and then my uncle controlled my life. I’ve never had to do it on my own. I had such grand plans and dreams of forging a life of my own. What if I’m not strong enough to make it by myself? What if I’m staying with you because I’m afraid?” That was her worst fear.
“Are you?” he asked.
She scrubbed a hand over her face. “I don’t think so, but how can I be sure?”
He cupped her face in his hands, her strong warrior. He’d been willing to fight for her, to die for her. Her heart ached just thinking about it.
“You’re the strongest woman I’ve ever known,” he told her. “You could have stayed. Most women who’d been raised like you would have lost their courage and simply done what was asked of them. But not you.” He rubbed his thumb over her bottom lip, and the small touch distracted her. Her nipples puckered, and she struggled to concentrate on their conversation.
“You found a way to escape. You had the courage to give yourself to me, a complete stranger, because it was the only way out of your predicament. You made some hard choices and took an incredible risk. Not strong enough?” He shook his head. “You’re so strong, you scare me. The way you stood up to Vaden and Flynn. You realize most women wouldn’t have done that, right? I mean they are two scary dudes.”
“I had to.” She hadn’t had a choice.
“Exactly.” He leaned down and kissed her, gently brushing his lips over hers. Angelina’s breath caught in her throat. Her breasts ached, and her pussy throbbed. She wanted to make love with him.
“You don’t need me,” Amos continued. “You want me. And that’s much better.” He skimmed his lips over hers once again. “Choose me. Stay with me. Give us a chance to find out what’s between us.”
She wanted so badly to say yes, to just toss caution to the wind and jump into his arms. “What if my uncle manages to escape or somehow convince Vaden the documents I showed him is nothing more than a misunderstanding? He’ll come looking for me again. Uncle Demarco has powerful friends who could influence what happens to him on Gravas.” That was a concern for her.
“I suspect by the time your uncle’s allies discover his whereabouts it will be too late, and they’ll be too busy covering their own asses to worry about saving his. They’ll distance themselves from him, not wanting to get in the crosshairs of a Gravasian assassin.”
She hadn’t thought about it in that light before. She nibbled on her bottom lip, and Amos groaned.
“You’ve got to stop doing that, baby. It makes me hotter than hell.” He leaned down and caught her lip in the exact same spot, lightly grazing it with his teeth before stroking it with his tongue.
A jolt of desire rocked her. Her arms ached to hold him. She wanted them both naked with her legs wrapped around his waist as he plunged into her slick, hot channel. Her pussy contracted in ready agreement.
“We need to be logical.” That was what had always gotten her through any problems. It was her rational mind that allowed her to learn languages, and that had enabled her to execute her escape and implement her daring plan.
“Fuck logic.” Amos ran his hands down her back. He cupped her ass and lifted her until her pelvis was flush with his erection. When his hard shaft brushed her mound, she gave a small cry of pleasure.
She ran her hands over his muscular shoulders and arms, resenting the clothing that covered his skin. She wanted to touch him, to feel his heat.
He peppered the curve of her jaw with kisses before arrowing down the slope of her neck, paying special attention to the sensitive spot where the curve joined with her shoulder. Chills raced down her spine when he lightly bit her. Her fingers curled around his thick biceps. The room blurred around her.
She ached for him with every fiber of her being.
“I want you.” His eyes burned with passion. He held nothing back, letting her see exactly how much he wanted her. How could she turn away from him?
She took a deep breath and threw herself off the edge of logic and into the abyss of emotion. “I want you, too.” God, how she wanted him. Her entire
body was on fire. Her clothing was suddenly too tight and restraining. She wanted to touch him and kiss him, to have his cock filling her.
He released her so quickly she almost fell back. He caught her in time to keep her from landing on her butt. His expression was hard and fierce. His gaze narrowed. “We’ll talk later,” he promised her.
She nodded. “Later.”
As though her agreement was what he needed, his rigid control shattered. He tore at her clothes. She yanked at his flightsuit, wanting the garment gone. She tugged the zipper open and then shoved the material down his arms.
Fabric ripped, and then her tunic was in tatters around her. He cupped her breasts and squeezed them in his big hands. Pleasure held her suspended for several long seconds before she was able to fight past it and tug on his flightsuit once again.
He reared back and practically ripped his suit from his body. “Hurry,” he told her.
She meant to remove the rest of her clothes, but her fingers stopped working when she caught sight of his chest and arms. Oh, he was a prime specimen. His muscles glistened as he shucked his boots. He shoved both his flightsuit and battlesuit off and tossed them aside.
Totally naked, he stood before her. Angelina forgot how to breathe. Yes, she’d seen him with no clothes before. They’d already had sex. But this was different. She couldn’t quite put her finger on why. Maybe because her uncle and Vaden no longer stood between them. It was just the two of them—a man and a woman who wanted each other.
“You’re taking too long.” His gaze lingered on her breasts. He opened and closed his hands at his sides, fisting them before releasing them over and over.
She unfastened her pants, but he shook his head. “Too late.” He picked her up, tossed her onto the bed and tore the clothes from her body. It went flying to the floor behind him, and she knew she’d never be able to wear any of it again. She didn’t care.
No man had ever wanted her as much as Amos did. It warmed all the cold, barren places inside her, setting a bonfire in her heart and a sexual fire in the rest of her.
Unexpected Angel Page 8
