Worlds Apart (Men of Orion Book 1)

by Laylah Roberts

  Garret stood and strode over to her. Kalia slumped back in her chair, unable to hide her tremble as she saw how furious he was. He placed a hand on each arm of the chair and leaned over her.

  “You got a problem dealing with thieves, princess? What? Does it go against your moral code? Unlike lying, which you seem to be very adept at.”

  Kalia swallowed heavily. “I try not to lie and I have never stolen from anyone.”

  “That’s because you’ve never been desperate enough,” he said starkly, his gaze moving away from her for a moment.

  “Those poor people, as you called them, stole a whole lot of medical equipment from a hospital on Moon 12, they’ve been selling it on the black market.”

  “Oh.”

  “Yes, oh.”

  “You were hired to get it back?”

  “Yes, princess, does that satisfy your sensibilities?”

  “I apologize for jumping to conclusions and offending you.” She unbuckled her belt and slid forward. Thankfully, he moved out of her way. “I think I’ll go back to my room.”

  She turned away, feeling everyone’s eyes on her. Fear and shame crowded her.

  “You didn’t offend me. I didn’t say we never stole, just that we didn’t this time.”

  Stiffening her shoulders, she stepped out into the corridor. As soon as she was well away from the bridge, she took in a shuddering breath and slid to the floor. Drawing her legs up to her chest, she placed her arms around them.

  What had she been thinking? What did it matter if they were thieves?

  Except it did matter. Because she liked these guys, she enjoyed being around them. She didn’t want to worry about them being arrested and thrown in jail.

  She cared about them. All of them. Including Garret. She’d tried not to. Most of the time he terrified her. His moods ranged from grouchy to downright scary. And yet she couldn’t stop thinking about him, watching him. The deadly grace in the way he moved, how he looked at Talon when he thought no one was watching him, as though the other man was his whole world.

  She was a bit jealous. She wished someone would look at her like that. Oh, she knew Talon cared about her, but most of what he said was just flirting. She didn’t think for a moment that he truly wanted her. Not when he had Garret.

  Garret wasn’t a man who was easily dismissed. She couldn’t stop thinking about him, imagining him and Talon in bed together. Talon was gorgeous, sexy and fun. She could talk to him about anything. Garret was striking, intense and there was something about him that she simply couldn’t ignore.

  Voices came from down the corridor and she quickly stood, looking around frantically for a place to hide. She wasn’t ready to see anyone right now. She was embarrassed.

  These were good men; they’d helped save her even if they hadn’t wanted to. She had no right to question how they earned their living.

  Spying a door, she opened it and hid inside. It looked to be some sort of storage room. The voices grew louder.

  “Garret, she didn’t have all the facts,” Talon said. “You didn’t have to be so harsh with her.”

  “That wasn’t harsh. I think I’ve been quite lenient. Keep her out of my way for a while or I’ll show you both how harsh I can be.”

  They moved past her and Kalia leaned her head against the metal door. Maybe she should just hide out here for a few weeks. It didn’t look so bad in here.

  She sat down on a crate. She felt so guilty that Talon and Garret were fighting about her. She’d brought them nothing but problems. What was she doing? She had nowhere to go, nowhere to live. She was relying on charity. She’d grown up never wanting for anything and now she needed to rely on someone else for the clothes on her back, for the food she ate.

  Someone who she’d just insulted horribly. Yeah, she had no business being here. It would be better for everyone if she just snuck away at their next stop. Sad as that made her feel she knew it was the best idea.

  The door suddenly opened and she blinked as light shone in her eyes. Talon crouched down in front of her.

  “Hey, darlin’, you get lost?”

  “No,” she replied, rolling her eyes. It had become the running joke of the crew how easily she became lost.

  “Hiding then?”

  “Maybe, how’d you know where I was?”

  “I have my ways,” he replied.

  “Seemed like as good as place as any to hang out,” she replied. “Kind of cozy and look, there’s plenty of cans of…chocolate pudding? Really?” She glanced around at the shelves filled with cans of the sweet pudding.

  “Ace’s not-so-secret addiction,” he replied. “You’ve got to remember that Garret’s bark is worse than his bite. He feels bad about scaring you.”

  She shook her head. “He shouldn’t. He was right. I have no right to question him or anyone else about what they do. I’m here on your charity, I’m lucky Garret didn’t shoot me out of an airlock.”

  Talon stood and held out his hand. “Come on, darlin’. You can’t sit in here all day.”

  “Actually, I was kind of planning to stay here until we landed, if you wouldn’t mind bringing me some food now and then I’m sure I’d love a break from chocolate pudding.”

  Talon chuckled and leaning in, helped her to her feet. “No can do, darlin’ girl. Come on, now. No one’s going to bite.”

  “I wouldn’t be so sure.”

  ***

  “Go,” she urged. “I’ll be fine. Doc is here.”

  Talon looked at her. “Are you sure? I can stay.”

  “Talon, you’ve been dying to get to the markets. I’ll be fine. Go, have fun.” Twilin, the planet they had currently landed on was known for its markets.

  “I’ll bring you a present.” He kissed her cheek, sending her a wink. Garret, Siren, Tripp and Griz were out on a job. Ace and Talon were going to the market for supplies while Doc was busy doing something in the infirmary.

  This would be the perfect time to slip away. Kalia ignored the pang of sorrow, knowing if she gave into her fear that she’d never do this.

  Thinking it would probably be easier to move around and blend in wearing the suit that Talon had given her, she slipped it on. It was pretty revealing but she preferred it over the ornate gown that Roderigo had given her.

  Kalia left her room, giving it one last look before turning and walking through the ship. Five minutes later she was cursing herself. How was it possible to have lived on this ship for six weeks and still get lost? It wasn’t like the spaceship was that big. There were only two levels. On the upper level, the bridge was at the front, then the crew’s quarters, passenger rooms and common areas. On the lower deck was the engine room, infirmary, airlock and large cargo bay.

  Finally, she found her way into the cargo bay and outside into the heat of Twilin. As she stepped outside, she turned and looked back at the Orion. She was doing this. She was leaving. She had no funds, no friends or family. And a baby to take care of.

  “I am in such trouble.”

  ***

  What the hell was she doing?

  As soon as he got them both back safely to the Orion, he was going to rip her a new one. Garret looked around for Talon but couldn’t see him. Had she come to the markets with Talon and gotten separated from him? Gods knew, she’d never find her way back to the ship on her own, she had a terrible sense of direction.

  Garret saw all the looks she got as she wandered through the stalls. He resisted the urge to leave the alley where he was watching and glare at all the perverts. What was with this possessiveness over her? Why did he care? He should just let her wander around on her own. No, she’d probably get into trouble… He sighed.

  Talon, not to mention the rest of the crew, would kill him if he left her here. They’d all grown ridiculously attached to her—all of them except him, of course.

  She didn’t belong with them. She belonged with someone like Roderigo Lantos, someone with money and breeding. She should be planning parties, and getting her hair and nail
s done. She was not made for their rough life. They would be better off finding her somewhere civilized to live. Someplace where she wouldn’t be under his nose day after day, sneaking her way into his thoughts.

  Unlike Talon, he didn’t believe they needed a third. And if they ever did take a third, they would find someone who was more suited to their life, someone tougher, harder who wouldn’t easily break. If Kalia was their third she’d need constant care and attention.

  As she passed the alley where Garret hid in the shadows, he reached out a hand and pulled her back. A small squeak escaped from her and he quickly placed his other hand over her mouth. He trapped her arms against her body. She attempted to kick back at him, but he widened his stance.

  “Calm down, Kalia.” She continued to fight his hold. “Calm down. Now,” he commanded in a deeper voice, one that brooked no argument.

  She immediately slumped back against him.

  “I’m going to move my hand, don’t make any noise, got it?”

  She nodded and he tried to ignore his body’s reaction to having her so close. Her body felt so good against his, soft and womanly. She’d put on some much-needed weight with Talon’s care over the last few weeks and although she was still a bit on the thin side, there was no mistaking her curves as he moved his hands to her hips and turned her.

  He was slightly worried about how small her baby bump was. But when he’d questioned Doc, the other man had reassured him that everything was fine. He’d ignored the knowing grin Doc had worn.

  Garret turned her to face him.

  “Just what do you think you’re doing out here by yourself?” Garret growled at her, his voice rougher than he’d intended as he stared down at her sternly. He felt her tremble against him and immediately felt like an asshole. He didn’t mean to be such a jerk around her, but he couldn’t seem to help himself. His irritation over his attraction combined with the fact that he didn’t know if he could trust her often made him react harshly.

  But it was better if she feared him, if she kept her distance.

  “You were supposed to stay on the Orion. Did you come out shopping with Talon?”

  “Umm,” she said, looking away guiltily.

  “Kalia, I don’t have time for this. Answer me. Quickly.”

  “Talon doesn’t know I’m out here. I snuck off the ship once he left.”

  Now that surprised him. “Why?”

  “Because I know you don’t want me there. I’m a problem that none of you need. I just create problems no matter what I do.”

  “So you decided the best idea was just to sneak off without saying goodbye, without even letting Talon know that you were okay?”

  Garret thought she’d snuck off to do some shopping when she was actually trying to leave them. He should be relieved to get rid of her, instead he found himself furious. He told himself it was only because Talon would be hurt if she left and not because he was actually growing to care about her.

  “Do you honestly think that Talon would just shrug off your disappearance and go on with his life? Because if you do then you don’t know him that well. No, he’d have insisted that we stick around and find you for however long it took. If I refused, he’d have blamed me. So thanks for being so selfish, princess.”

  “I-I was trying to do the right thing!”

  “And just how were you planning on surviving? You’ve got no credits, no one to help you. Hell, you probably have no skills worth anything. Just what were you going to do?”

  Tears spilled from her eyes and dripped down her face. Yep, it was official. He was going to hell. He was pretty sure there was a special place for bastards who made fragile, pregnant women cry.

  “I-I don’t know. I just didn’t want the two of you to fight about me anymore. S-sorry.”

  Garret cursed quietly, barely resisting the urge to pull her against his chest and soothe her. What the hell was wrong with him? He wasn’t the soothing type.

  His com beeped and he turned it on.

  “We’re all in place, Cap,” Tripp said quietly.

  “Good. Be there soon.” He turned the com off for a minute, looking around him. There was nowhere safe to put her; besides, he couldn’t trust her not to wander off. Not to mention the trouble she could get into on her own. Twilin wasn’t the safest planet for a female alone.

  “I haven’t got time to take you back to the ship. I’ve got to meet with my contact. Which means you’re coming with me.”

  He placed his hands on her shoulders. “You listen to me. You will do exactly what I say when I say, got it? You will not talk to anyone, you will not make eye contact with anyone, and you will stick to me like a well-trained dog.”

  She gaped at him. “You could just leave me here.”

  “No way in hell. You’ll take off and I’ll spend the rest of day searching for you. No, you’re coming with me. But fail to obey me and you’ll be in trouble, understand?”

  “Woof-woof.”

  Brat. She had some spirit, he’d give her that. But he wasn’t about to let her see how much she amused him. Instead, he slapped her ass before taking a firm hold of her arm and leading her away.

  Chapter Six

  Kalia really wished she’d just stayed onboard the Orion. Right now she could be in the rec room, watching a movie. Instead she was being led into some seedy, dark room by a man who was angry with her.

  She couldn’t even say she blamed him. She seemed to cause nothing but trouble wherever she went. The marketplace was huge and yet she’d just happened to walk past where Garret was standing, what were the odds of that? She had the worst luck—she hadn’t even been off the Orion for an hour when he’d grabbed her.

  Kalia brought her hand up to her nose as the scent of the underground room hit her. Sweat, alcohol and other smells that she really didn’t want to name had her nearly gagging, her eyes watering.

  “What is this place?” she asked.

  Garret turned to her, a small grin tilting his lips up. He really should smile more often—it turned him from darkly handsome to breath-takingly sexy.

  “It’s a bar, princess. You have led a sheltered life, haven’t you?”

  “I’ve been to a bar before,” she said. She and her older sister, Bronte had slipped away from their guards once and snuck into a bar. It had been exhilarating and daring or so she’d thought at the time. Garret was right; she really had led a sheltered life.

  “It didn’t smell quite like this one.”

  “Well, it probably wasn’t filled with some of the most dangerous criminals in the universe. Try not to look completely out of place, will you? Whatever you see, do not to react. You never know who is looking and you don’t want to offend the wrong person down here.”

  She trembled. “If it’s so dangerous, why are we here?”

  “Because this is where my contact is.” Garret walked up to the bar and ordered something. She waited by his side, as close as she could manage without being plastered against him.

  He handed her a dirty glass with some bubbly brown-colored liquid in it.

  “Don’t drink it,” he told her. “I don’t know whether it’s safe for pregnant women, but if you’re down here you need a drink in your hand. Come on, I can see my contact.”

  Grabbing hold of her forearm, he began weaving his way through the crowd. Kalia had to work hard not to react as she brushed up against sweaty, hairy bodies. Hands grabbed at her ass, squeezing and she couldn’t help but let out a squeak of shock.

  Garret turned and looked at her, before his gaze went to the gorilla leering down at her.

  “Hands off,” he snarled at the other man, pulling her close.

  The gorilla grinned. “I’ll pay you for her. Forty credits for ten minutes.”

  “She’s not for sale,” Garret replied. He swept his arm around her waist. “Keep up, will you?” he snarled at her. “I can’t afford to get into a bar fight over you.”

  “I didn’t exactly ask that asshole to grab me,” she told him.

&nb
sp; He simply pulled her along. They made their way to a dark corner of the room where a small, brown-haired man sat in a circular booth. A large man stood to his right, watching the crowd. A bodyguard?

  It wasn’t until she got closer that she realized there was a third person at the table, well, technically she was kneeling under the table.

  What was she doing? Kalia gaped at the woman who was openly giving a blow job to the guy sitting in the booth. In front of everyone. Kalia snuck a look around the room, but no one else was paying them any attention. At another booth there was a naked woman laid out on the table with a man standing between her open thighs, thrusting his cock in and out of her. Another man walked up and unzipped his pants. Pulling out his cock he pushed it into her open mouth before leaning over and grabbing her breasts.

  Kalia swallowed heavily. This place was nothing like the bar she and her sister had snuck into. She’d probably have fainted in shock if she’d seen anything like this.

  Now? Well, she was still shocked. But part of her had to admit to being a little aroused. It certainly didn’t look like the woman on the table minded having sex with two men in public, in fact she was thrusting her breasts up into the second man’s hands, her whole body writhing on the table.

  “It’s all consensual,” Garret muttered as though he could read her mind. He stopped in front of the table.

  “Garret, my friend,” the much smaller man said with a wide smile that she thought looked fake. “Have a seat.” He waved his hand at the booth. Garret guided her in first before following her.

  “Your little friend looks a bit shocked. Got yourself a shy one?”

  Damn, she thought she’d managed to hide her reaction.

  Garret pulled her close and laughed. “We’re working on that. She might look like a pussycat but she’s a real tiger in the bedroom, aren’t you, sugar?” He nibbled at her neck and she froze in shock before melting against him. Damn, he was good at that.

  “Don’t give him any reason to suspect you’re not under my command or we’re both in trouble, got it?” he whispered in her ear.