His hold tightened when she pulled back slightly, preventing her from leaving the shelter of his hard thighs. Deserting those soft lips and honey-sweet mouth, he brushed his lips lightly across her cheek.
She was all strong curves, warm flesh, fragrant skin, her breasts brushing against his chest as her hands slid down to rest on his muscular arms, and he drew her closer still, wanting to feel the press of her body against his.
Nuzzling the sensitive area below her ear, he was rewarded by the tilt of her head to the side giving him better access, felt her shiver as his tongue travelled lightly over the pulse that beat erratically within her throat.
For several seconds it was all growing heat and desire, a pleasant haze that he revelled in, but suddenly she tore herself out of his arms.
“Tenia, what-”
“Don’t touch me!” She practically leaped out of reach, the disgust in her eyes plain to see.
He stood quickly. “What did-”
“I’m not a slut to be pawed at!”
Incredulously, he stared at her. “I never said you were.”
She backed to the door. “Don’t ever touch me again!”
“Hang on, lass,” he began, “I didn’t force you.”
“Don’t ever kiss me again!”
“Tenia, I swear, I didn’t mean to-”
“Don’t! I’m not interested in your excuses.”
Startlement turned quickly to anger. “Listen, wench-”
“I’m warning you!” Fury burned in her eyes. “Leave me alone or I’ll kill you!”
“That’s your answer to everything, isn’t it?” Frustrated that she wouldn’t listen, furious that she’d threaten him, he cut her off sharply. “That killing urge must be in your genes.”
“Go to hell, Darvk!” She snarled. “You believe what you’re told, but I know what is real, and that’s the difference between us.”
“There’s a hell of a lot more than that, wench. You haven’t got a single trusting bone in your body.”
“The last person I trusted betrayed me, and men before that killed my mother, so don’t speak to me about trust.”
“You Reekas started it by murdering your men folk,” he replied nastily, anger lending him an unusual edge of cruelty. “I’m surprised you haven’t tried to kill us all in our beds before now.” He could have bitten his tongue off as soon as the words came out. All colour drained from her face, the lovely violet eyes losing all emotion and becoming as dead as the first day he’d seen her on the slaver’s platform. “Wait. Tenia, I didn’t mean it.”
“Now we know how you really feel.” Whirling around, she left.
Darvk followed only to the doorway, watching as she strode rapidly back to her cabin, passing Maverk on the way without acknowledging him. Her door shut behind her. With a sigh, Darvk retreated back into the dining cabin.
“Bit hard on the lass, weren’t you?” Maverk entered, curiosity on his face.
“I didn’t mean it.”
“I’ve never known you to lose your temper like that with a wench before.”
“She’s aggravating, ‘tis all.” Darvk scratched his jaw ruefully. “Aggravating, suspicious, and with a chip on her shoulder the size of a tree trunk. A huge tree trunk.”
“’She’s more than that.”
“What do you mean?”
Maverk shook his head. “Open your eyes, my friend. She might be everything you said, but she’s also beautiful, shapely, and dangerous. But she’s a wench nevertheless.”
“You find her desirable?” Darvk scowled at him, not liking the thought at all, even if it was his friend.
“I’m just pointing out that she’s a little more complex than you first thought.”
“You think I don’t know that? Especially now?”
“Why especially now?” Maverk’s eyes twinkled with a little more knowing than Darvk was comfortable with. “What’s changed? Hmmm?”
Darvk scowled. “Never you mind.”
Maverk grinned widely.
“Shouldn’t you be getting some rest?” Darvk started clearing up the medical supplies. “Work tomorrow, remember?”
“Want to talk about it?” Maverk fluttered his eyelashes. “Little heart-to-heart, mayhap?”
“I’m going to work your arse off tomorrow, Maverk.”
“Oohh.” Maverk feigned a shiver of delight. “I love it when you go all masterful.” His expression grew a little sly. “Did you go all masterful with Tenia and she cut you down?”
Darvk glared at him.
“Ah.” Maverk’s grin widened.
“Here.” Darvk shoved the handful of medical supplies at his friend’s chest as he stalked past. “Clean this up. I’m going to bed.”
Maverk’s chuckle followed him down the corridor.
Bloody friends. Bloody intuitive friends were even worse. And wenches who swung from caution to passion to anger? He didn’t even want to think about it.
~ * ~
As relations between the outlaw and their captain remained strained, the crew amused themselves laying bets on which one would be the first to attempt reconciliation.
As if she didn’t know and couldn’t recognize the knowing winks and nudges. Imbeciles.
Tenia was disturbed by her reaction to Darvk’s kiss, unable to understand how she could have responded. Fear and his kindness - perceived kindness, she amended - had weakened her, it was the only explanation. From now on, she’d be more careful until she could escape.
Nearing the dining cabin, she heard her name mentioned and stopped to listen.
“Notice the way Darvk’s been acting lately?”
“You mean like a lycat with a sore paw?”
“Exactly. Do you think it has to do with Tenia?”
“No doubt about it. Which reminds me, did you know that Darvk spoke to Shari of the Inka Empire?”
“I had heard that, aye. Shari wants to buy her. I think Darvk’s considering…”
The voices moved closer as Borga and Heddam appeared, forcing her to duck into the nearest cabin that was, thankfully, empty.
Her heart pounded and her throat was dry. The Inka Empire. He was going to send her to them. It was her death warrant. Oh, God. Deep inside, she hadn’t thought Darvk would do it. He’d promised her…before she’d rebuffed his kiss and threatened him. Obviously he’d changed his mind.
When will I ever learn? She was a fool to believe him. Escape now was imperative. They were to dock on Kenta in an hour, and she had to find an escape route come hell or high water no matter the risk.
Once they landed on Kenta, she started making plans to try to figure out how to escape. While on her bunk plotting, the lock clicked, confining her in her cabin.
No! Mouth going dry, heart thumping, she tried the handle. Of course, they were on-planet. She was always confined when the crew were coming and going while on-planet. She’d been an idiot to forget. Where was her brain? Now what was she going to do? How was she going to escape?
Lowering herself to the bunk, she chewed her bottom lip. Once everyone was onboard and the ship locked down, she’d be let out. Maybe the chance for escape would rise, maybe…
Maybe it was too late and the Inka soldiers were on their way to pick her up.
And she was on her way to certain death.
~ * ~
The tramping of boots sounded down the corridor.
“I apologize that searching the ship is necessary.” The unfamiliar voice came to her. “But with an escaped outlaw on the loose, we don’t take chances.”
Darvk’s low, rumbling voice answered, “No worries. As I’ve said, the only outlaw on this ship is my slave and she’s in her cabin.”
“Long trips get boring, eh? Always nice to have your own woman aboard.”
Her lips tightened at Darvk’s grunted, “Sometimes.”
“Still, better have a look at her. Open the door.”
The lock clicked and the door opened. Darvk entered, followed by three soldiers wearing black helm
ets that came down below their noses. Eyes studied her through the eye slits.
The sergeant turned to Darvk, long cloak sweeping the floor. “Pretty. Don’t suppose you want to sell her?”
Darvk gaze didn’t waver from her. “I’m not finished with her.”
That sounded ominous.
“Contact me if you change your mind. Now, let’s check the rest of the ship. After you.”
The trader stepped outside, the sergeant on his heels. The remaining two soldiers stared at Tenia and she smiled at them. Oh yes, this was the chance she’d been looking for. When one of them licked his lips, she thrust one hip out suggestively. Holding the end of her long braid, she used it to slowly trace the outline of her breasts.
“Fall in and quit ogling that slave.” The sergeant’s voice barked.
One of the soldiers grunted and left, but the second solider followed more slowly as he continued to eye her lewdly.
Not about to lose the chance, she said softly, “Come back.”
He smiled unpleasantly and shut the door behind him.
Tenia gave a shudder. Hell, it made her sick to play up to men’s lusts but still, if her hastily conceived plan worked, it would be worth it.
She didn’t have long to wait. Within five minutes the lock clicked, the door opening once more to admit the soldier, cloak swirling around him in heavy folds. He shut the door behind him and gazed over at her.
Good, only one soldier. “My, you are big. What’s your name?”
“Hedley.” The voice was young and gruff.
Even better. Hopefully in his eagerness, he’d be careless. “Take your helmet off. I’d like to see the face of the man who will,” she moistened her lips provocatively, “mount me.”
The helmet was off in seconds and discarded on the bunk. He was young, all right, hot eyes sweeping her body. “So, you’re after a real man?”
Swaying toward him, she tugged off his cloak. “Oh yes, a real man.” And, damn it, no laser or dagger. He’d taken the precaution of removing off his weapons. Still, she had the plan, and it didn’t necessarily need a weapon if she could carry it out.
Leering, he clutched her waist and jerked her close, not at all put off by the fact that she was much taller than he. “Then get ready for a hard fast ride, woman, for I don’t have much time. Your master is occupied with my sergeant in the dining cabin, and no-one saw me slip in here.”
His lips clamped onto hers, and it was all she could do not to gag while her skin crawled with revulsion. Battle instincts took over, and with deadly accuracy her knee slammed into his groin.
Clutching his abused genitals, he released her with a strangled cry and fell to his knees. “You bitch!”
“I’ve been called worse than that before. It doesn’t bother me anymore.”
A kick under his chin knocked him unconscious, and swiftly she donned his helmet and cloak. Taking a deep breath, she opened the cabin door and checked the corridor. A small group of soldiers stood at the dining cabin with their backs to her.
It was now or never.
Without hesitation Tenia left the cabin, swiftly and silently shutting the door before heading in their direction, anxiety gnawing at her insides, fear that Darvk would appear and see what direction she’d come from, but her luck held out. The soldiers stepped back just as she neared, enabling her to slide in behind them. The sergeant and the Daamen captain came out of the dining cabin to lead the way down to the cargo hold.
It was getting dark outside and Tenia had hoped that on the walk to the settlement, which she saw in the distance, she’d be able to slip away into the surrounding woods. Her hopes were dashed when she found herself between two soldiers and, even worse, near the front of the line. With no chance to run right then, all she could do was brazen it out.
As they left the ship, a laser was thrust into her hand. “Here, Hedley, hold this if you’ve the strength left.”
A snicker came from the soldier beside her.
“Quiet in the ranks!” The terse order snapped every soldier’s head forward.
Now the only sound to fill the air was the steady tramping of boots on the hard dirt road. As the traders’ voices faded, jubilation crept through her at the knowledge that she’d escaped from the eagle eyes of the Daamen captain and his crew. Now all she had to do was slip away from the soldiers and she’d be free to find her sister warriors and avenge the deaths of those who had died.
No more following Darvk’s orders.
Strangely, her heart didn’t quicken with joy at this prospect. Vivid blue eyes came to mind, causing her fists to clench beneath the concealing folds of the cloak. So what if she never saw him again? He’d bought her, kept her prisoner on his ship, had no intention of releasing her. Yes, he’d been nice, hadn’t assaulted her sexually or physically, nor even verbally, but she’d still been his prisoner. His slave. It didn’t matter that he’d treated her well, she couldn’t allow her emotions to get in the way. How many times had Reya taken her to task over it?
Reya...
The thought brought to mind a horrible memory of she, Reya, and two other warriors cornered by eight bounty hunters. They’d all fought with swords, killing four of the hunters, and Tenia had been sick at heart. Thirteen years old and her first kill.
Her sword blade slashed across another’s chest. Falling to his knees, he’d looked pleadingly up at her. To this day she could remember his big soulful brown eyes as he begged, “Please, don’t kill me.”
Hesitating, she’d lowered the sword. He held out his hand, and slowly she’d reached to take it, her heart going out to him. No sooner had his fingers closed around hers than his grip had tightened, and he’d snarled his hatred at her, eyes hardening, swinging up his bloody sword. “Die, bitch!”
The next second his head had toppled off his shoulders and shocked, Tenia watched his body fall forward into the dirt. Reya stood behind him looking at her out of those glacier eyes. “Never trust a hunter, little sister. They have no soul. This is not the time for emotions, but of survival. Now help us bury these vermin before the carrion-eaters alert passing patrols.”
Drawing a deep breath, she pushed the memory down deep where it belonged. She couldn’t get caught up in the past when there was the future to take care of.
Taking her by surprise after the silence, Hedley’s companion clapped her on the shoulder. “Let’s get some drinks.”
Before she could do anything, the sergeant collected the lasers from the soldiers.
No! She groaned mentally, but was helpless to do more than hand it over along with the other soldiers, for to refuse while in the midst of them all would only end up with her dead or a prisoner once more. All she could do was allow herself to be swept along with the squad into the seedy tavern.
So caught up in memories, she hadn’t even realized they’d entered the settlement. Stupid, stupid! Well, she’d just have to make the best of it and try to slip away. In the middle of a tavern was probably going to be a hell of a lot easier than in the middle of a squad of enemy soldiers, half of whom would like the chance to kill her, the other half rape her.
Setting her jaw, she altered her plans slightly.
Once in the tavern it was easy to separate herself from Hedley’s crony. She eased away from him, placing four soldiers between them.
A tankard of ale was plunked down on the filthy bar, and a saucy tavern maid smiled at her. “Lonesome, soldier?”
Oh, damn. Sternly regaining control over the insane desire to laugh, she growled in a deep voice, “Piss off.”
“Humph! Forget about any more favours, Hedley!” The tavern maid flounced away.
“He’s already had a taste of a beautiful woman tonight,” the soldier next to Tenia called out, and laughter swept through the ranks. “What was she like?” Pulling off his helmet to reveal a craggy face, he leaned across the bar. “Was she as sweet as she looked?”
Somehow, she had to give a reply without revealing her identity. Tenia grunted and took a sip of th
e ale.
“Don’t tell me she was so good you blew your load early?”
Howls of laughter greeted this, the rough patrons joining in.
“Leave him alone, lads.” A young soldier with a crew cut laid his helmet on the bar. “It’s as hot as hell in here.”
“You’re in Hell’s Kitchen, what do you expect?” someone shouted.
Breathing a sigh of relief as attention was turned away from herself, Tenia edged away from the soldiers and moved further down the bar. She stopped halfway down when several patrons glanced at her curiously. Avoiding speculation was her goal, the chance to slip away as soon as she could without causing a disturbance, but meanwhile she had to act normal. Sitting on a stool, she propped her chin on her fist, hoping she appeared to be a man brooding.
It worked. Everyone left her alone.
Scanning the room for possible outlets, she dismissed the padlocked back door. There were stairs in a corner leading to the next floor that were a possibility. Two huge glass windows flanked the front door, barely allowing the glow of street lights to show through the grime. The front door was the obvious choice.
Decision made, she readied herself to push through the crowd, only to have her heart plummet as Darvk and five of his crew strode through the front door. Even from half a room away she could see the tension in his big body, the controlled fury in the eyes that searched the room.
Conversation petered out as everyone stared at the Daamen traders, their evident tension making them appear even more dangerous.
They’re looking for me. For the first time a prickle of fear went down her spine. Without a weapon, she had no chance against these giants.
But that didn’t mean she was ready to give up. She was still dressed as a soldier, still unrecognisable, there was every chance she could walk past the Daamen traders and not even be noticed.
The soldier with the crew cut stood up. “What can we do for you, friends?”
Darvk moved further into the room, his crew fanning out beside him and effectively cutting off the front door as an escape route. “My slave has escaped, disguised as a soldier.”
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