Too bad he would secure the Gravasian tech and then track the seller back to find his brother.
But they were here now. Maybe he was a bastard for even considering this, but he didn’t care.
His course charted, he pushed out of his seat and walked over to her. A smile curved the corners of her lush lips, but her eyes were watchful. Bracing his hands on the arms of her seat, he got close enough to feel her breath on his face. “It will take us almost two days to get to Oasis. Any idea what we might do to pass the time?”
Chapter Four
Sass wanted to heave a sigh of relief but relaxing was impossible with Spear hovering over her. Adrenaline from the fight and fast getaway flooded her system, searching for an outlet.
He was clean-shaven now, as opposed to how he’d been on Oasis. His hair was black as deep space, his eyes golden. But his features were still mostly hidden behind a mask.
“Call me picky, but I like to actually see a guy I’m considering having sex with.”
His lips compressed in a thin line, but he made no motion to remove the mask.
His choice.
She glanced around the small control deck and sucked in a breath. It had the requisite consoles to manage all aspects of the small vessel, but the way it was configured, and even some of the equipment, was different from anything she’d ever seen. And she’d seen and trained on it all.
He caught her chin between his thumb and forefinger and turned her face back to him. She swallowed every question that wanted to trip off her tongue. No need to give him a reason to kill her.
“So you want to have sex?” Not only wasn’t she opposed to the idea, but she also wanted to see him naked. Intimacy wasn’t something she risked often in her line of work. And no way was she getting involved with anyone back at Artemis’s lair. That woman had spies everywhere.
His lips turned down in a frown. Had her forthrightness put him off? Too bad. “Hey, you were the one who brought it up. I’m good either way.” Not quite the whole truth, but it was close enough.
Giving a grunt, which could mean just about anything, he straightened. “Come with me.”
“Okay. Sure.” She grabbed her bag, not willing to let it out of her sight, and followed. The twinge in her chest was only from the adrenaline crash. It had nothing at all to do with Spear. She wasn’t looking for romance or soft words. Sex was as close as she could get to anyone. Still, it would give her the contact she craved and allow her to believe she mattered to someone for a few short minutes without risking her heart or safety.
It was enough.
It had to be.
“So where are we going?” Not far, because the ship wasn’t that big. Just beyond the control room, he pressed his hand to a computer plate built into the wall and a door slid open.
“After you.” He held out his hand.
She shook her head and took a step back. “I don’t think so.”
The corners of his mouth twitched. “Suit yourself.” He entered, leaving her to follow.
It was a sleeping chamber with a large bunk. One wall had built-in drawers and cabinets from floor to ceiling. A small desk area with a communications console was on the wall opposite the bed. Like most areas on a ship, it was compact with little room to move around. Spartan, it contained no signs of anything personal. A door occupied the wall across from the bed.
“That’s the bathing chamber if you’d like to use it.”
“Sure.” Not only did she need to use the facilities, but it would also give her a few minutes to herself. “Be right back.”
With him watching every step she made, she forced herself to saunter across the space and into the other room. As soon as the panel slid shut behind her, she set down her bag, closed her eyes, and gripped the countertop.
Breathe.
The mission was back on track. She would win the auction items and save her family. Maybe. If Spear was right and the items were Gravasian, they were all as good as dead. No one knew much about the elusive people of Gravas, other than that they were ruthless when it came to protecting their technology.
What should I do?
Would it be smarter to contract Gravas? Would they help her free her friends in repayment of her good deed or would they simply kill her because she knew about the auction?
She couldn’t take the chance.
Thankful for once that her communicator didn’t have video, she contacted Artemis.
“Well?”
So much for greetings. “I know where the auction is going to be held. I’m on my way there now.”
“Excellent.” Excitement tinged her boss’s voice. “Did they confirm the details of the items?”
“You knew?” Artemis had known it was Gravasian tech and hadn’t told her? Of course, she hadn’t.
“Details,” she snapped.
Praying Spear’s info was good, she pressed on. “Gravasian blaster and knife, as yet unconfirmed,” she added. “I’ll try to find out where the items are being stored before the auction.” If there was enough time.
“See that you do. Failure is not an option.”
Sweat beaded on her forehead and she nodded, even though Artemis couldn’t see her. “Let me talk to them.”
“You’re making demands now.” The note of warning turned her guts to ice, but she wasn’t backing down.
“If the information is correct, I’m a dead woman.” Even if she accomplished her mission, a Gravasian assassin would come for her.
Artemis laughed. “You always were a clever girl. But make no mistake.” All humor fled. “Betray me and I’ll make them suffer.” There was a click.
Sass gripped the communicator so tight the cover began to crack. Had that bitch just cut her off? Her death was inevitable, had been since Artemis had found her. She’d already lived longer than she’d figured she would. All that mattered now was keeping her family safe.
“Sassy.” The male voice was deep and worried.
“Zaxe. How are you? How is Delphi?”
“We’re good. Don’t worry about us. You need to take care of you.” The finality in his tone made her heart skip a beat. Without saying the words, she knew he was telling her to run, to get out and let them take the consequences.
Did they know what the items of the auction were? Maybe. Hard to tell. Zaxe had a way of getting information, no matter the situation. Even being locked down wouldn’t stop him. They’d still train and share meals in the communal dining hall.
“I’ll see you as soon as the mission is over.” No way would she abandon them. She’d succeed or die trying.
“Sassy.”
“Talk soon.” Rather than risk him saying something he shouldn’t, she ended the call. Her lungs constricted and her chest ached, but tears refused to come. She hadn’t cried since she was a child. They changed nothing and only weakened a person.
But she felt them deep inside where no one could see.
After returning her communicator to her pocket, she stared into the small mirror over the sink. She was pale and her eyes looked too big for her face.
“Think sexy,” she muttered. She scrubbed her hands over her cheeks, used the facilities, and tidied herself up a bit. She glanced longingly at the gel cleansing unit but used a cleaning cloth on her face and neck.
She was surprised Spear hadn’t pounded on the door and demanded to know what she was doing. Maybe he’d gotten tired of waiting and returned to the control room.
A part of her was relieved. Another part was disappointed. A man like Spear came along rarely in life. Maybe she was making him out to be more than he was, but he’d been fair with her, his word good. He could have run for his ship and left her behind during the fight but hadn’t. Sex with him would have been memorable, something good to summon on the dark days.
Straightening her shoulders and donning the armor of a professional assassin, which she wore with ease, she touched the panel and waited for it to slide open.
****
Spear tucked his communicat
or into his pocket, feeling not the slightest twinge of guilt over listening in on Sass. He’d assumed she’d contact her boss as soon as she was alone, and she’d proved him right.
The conversation also confirmed her story. She was protecting someone. Who was Zaxe, the male she’d spoken with? There’d been a familiarity there that irritated him. And who was Delphi? What did they mean to her? What was their relationship?
He had questions, but they could wait. It would take a day and a half to get to Oasis, as long as everything went according to plan.
The panel slid open, revealing Sass. “Oh, I figured you’d gone back to the control room.”
“Why would you think that?” He leaned against the wall and crossed his arms over his chest. Her eyes appeared overly bright, but other than that, she was as calm and composed as always.
This was a woman used to keeping secrets, to hiding her true self.
They were similar in that way.
She shrugged, walked to the bed, and sat on the edge. “Most men don’t like to be kept waiting.”
The talk of other men stirred the embers of fury deep within him. Women on Gravas were protected by their father and brothers. Purity was prized in a bride. No man wanted to know a woman had taken other lovers before him.
It was archaic according to most other cultures, but it was the norm on his home planet. He’d traveled the known worlds, observed how others lived. While he might agree that women had the right to chose their lovers—an opinion he kept to himself—having that freedom hadn’t given them status or safety. Too many of them were abused in their societies, having to sell their bodies to feed themselves or stay alive. It disgusted him. And the plight of the children without families was even worse.
Where was the honor of their males, their governments? No woman on Gravas had to worry about being abused. Her family would kill the perpetrator of such an act. If by some unlucky happenstance a woman was without a father, brothers, or husband, the government would act on her behalf. Any child left orphaned would be taken in by family and cherished.
Family and honor were all on Gravas.
So while he understood the lengths Sass would go to in order to protect those she cared about, he didn’t like her talking to another male.
“I’m not most men.”
Her gaze went up and down his body, heating his skin and making his cock swell. “No, you’re certainly not.” The husky tone to her voice and the slight flush of her skin were signs of her desire.
A master tactician, he knew that physical contact would weaken her guard around him, help win her trust. He’d done it before. On a mission, the only goal was winning, whatever it took.
This time, he wanted to have sex, not because of the advantages it would give him, but simply because he wanted to.
He pushed away from the wall and lowered his arms, trying to appear as nonthreatening as possible. “What’s it going to be?” It had to be her choice. She’d relax quicker if she felt as though she was in charge.
She’d left her duffle bag in the bathing chamber. If the opportunity arose, he’d search it. The more information he had, the better. And not just because they were adversaries.
Sass was unlike any woman he’d ever met. She kept him on his toes, making him constantly adjust his strategy in dealing with her.
Tension crept into every cell of his body and his lungs constricted. He’d never wanted a woman so badly in his life. Only his training allowed him to present a calm appearance.
When she brought her hands to the fastening in her leather shirt, he wanted to roar to the heavens. Instead, he swallowed hard, his gaze locked on the ever-widening opening she was creating.
Her skin was pale and smooth. Her fingers lingered at her breasts before she continued downward. She knew the effect she had on him and was playing with him.
A smile twitched at the corners of his lips. They were both playing a game, but in this one, they’d both win.
When she was done, a pale line of flesh was exposed. She was bare beneath. Where was her protection? He wore a battlesuit under his dark flightsuit.
He frowned, not liking the idea of her being so vulnerable. What if one of their attackers had gotten in a lucky shot?
“You change your mind?” Her voice was flat, and she began to refasten her shirt.
“No!” He went to her, stilling her hands. “Just anticipating.”
Something like relief flickered in her eyes. “You want to anticipate a little faster?”
He gave a solemn nod. “I can do that.” That got him a grin that brightened her entire face. She really was lovely. He brought his hands to her face and traced his thumbs over her cheeks. “Your skin is so smooth.”
A slight pinkish tinge rose under his hands. She was blushing. Had no one ever told her how lovely she was?
She raised her hands to his face. “It’s not fair that you can see me and I can’t see all of you.”
He tensed before forcing himself to relax. If he didn’t remove his mask, she might still have sex with him, but she’d never trust him.
Anyone who ever saw him when he was on a mission? They died. Protecting his identity and his home world were all that were important. Could he end her if it came to it?
Just being involved in the auction was enough to have her life sanctioned by his father, the king of Gravas.
Spear removed the mask and tossed it aside, leaving him totally exposed. For once, he wasn’t wearing any other disguise. She was seeing him as he truly was.
“Wow.” As he’d done with her, she trailed her fingers over his bare skin. “Your eyes are incredible.”
He grunted, not comfortable discussing his looks. It was his skills that mattered, not his appearance.
She ran her thumb along his bottom lip. He nipped at it, catching it between his teeth before sucking it into his mouth.
Her breathing hitched, and she released a soft groan. She was so responsive. He pushed his hands inside the opening of her shirt and traced a path up her warm torso to her breasts.
“They’re not very big.” Her tone was nonchalant, but he wasn’t fooled.
“They’re perfect.” She was long and lean, her breasts small, but firm. He flicked his thumbs over her pert nipples. They tightened under the small caress.
“Glad you like them.” She was panting harder now. “You need to take off your shirt. Just to keep things fair.”
“You do it.” He wanted her hands on him.
Rising to the challenge, as he’d known she would, she dragged down the tab on his flightsuit and shoved it open.
“Is that a battlesuit?”
“Yes.” And for the first time in his life, he wished he wasn’t wearing one, because then she’d already be touching him. Most women would be put off by the reminder of violence, but not Sass. She ran her hands lovingly over the thin, almost indestructible material.
“It’s incredible. They cost a fortune.”
The ones made by the Alliance did cost more than most people could afford. His had been free, a modified piece of Gravasian technology that was unsurpassed.
“Why don’t you have one?” As a professional assassin, it only made sense.
She shrugged. “I’ve never worn one. Never even seen one. How does it open?”
Blood pounded through his veins, pooling in his cock. There would be time for questions after his hunger had been sated. He stepped back and shucked his boots and flightsuit.
“You first,” he told her.
“That hardly seems fair.” Yet, she slipped her shirt off, letting it land on the floor. The sight of her bare breasts with their pink-tipped nipples made his mouth go dry. Her abs were tight, her arms muscular. Not as bulky as his, but sleek and hard.
She removed her boots, leaving her in her leather pants. “Now you.”
Spear eased apart the hidden closure and peeled the battlesuit down his arms, letting the fabric fall to his waist. Her throat rippled when she swallowed. Most women found his body pleasin
g. It was honed from a lifetime of training into a killing machine.
“The rest.” She gave a nod of her head, indicating he should continue.
He wasn’t worried about her overpowering him. Even naked, he was deadly and could snap her neck before she could hurt him. She likely had a knife or two secreted in her pants, but that just added spice to things.
He shoved the battlesuit down and kicked it away.
Totally naked, he faced her.
Chapter Five
He’s going to kill me.
Not this exact moment, but eventually.
There was nothing hiding him—no disguise, no mask. She knew what he really looked like.
And holy Vusarian cave snake! The man was a work of art.
Breathe, Sass. Just breathe.
There wasn’t an inch of fat on the man. His shoulders and arms were massive, his pectoral muscles perfectly defined, and his abs ripples of strength. His skin was slightly darker than hers, not hard considering she was pretty pale.
Those amazing eyes of his never stopped assessing, trying to figure a way to turn the situation to his advantage. He wasn’t just gorgeous but intelligent and skilled.
Yup, he’s definitely going to kill me.
There was no other explanation for him allowing her to see him in all his primal glory. Not when he took such pains to hide his identity.
She was no femme fatale, no siren to lure a man into forgetting his purpose. Sure, she was pretty enough, but too tall for most men’s liking, too muscled, and not bountiful enough up top.
“I’m waiting.” His deep voice vibrated through her. There was no hiding her arousal. Her nipples were taut, her breasts heavy.
“I’m still looking.” There was so much to see. His cock jutted out from a nest of dark curls, tall and proud, much like the man himself. She knew she should be more worried about the fact she would likely die in the next couple of days, but honestly, the threat of death had been a sword hanging over her head for so long, she’d learned to live with it.
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