RIDE THE STARS
Autumn Dawn
RIDE THE STARS Autumn Dawn (c) copyright December 2002, Autumn Beaudreault Cover art (c) December 2002, Eliza Black New Concepts Publishing 4729 Humphreys Rd. Lake Park, GA 31636 www.newconceptspublishing.com
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Dedication To the mechanics in my family. I’m proud of you. Dad Sean Uncle John Grandpa Buck And of course, John Chapter 1
Lunar Base, 2785 Her tea had gone cold. The control panel beeped. Jaide shot it a look of dislike and closed her eyes. “Your turn,” she told her companion, Sesame. Arms crossed and feet propped up on a box under the control panel, she continued to half-doze. The flight control computer beeped again, and she cracked a midnight blue eye, nudged the sleeping Sesame nonetoo-gently with her booted toe. Sesame came half-awake. “It was my turn last time,” she mumbled. “Don’t try to con me.” Jaide sent her a dirty look but dropped her feet to the floor and sat up. Her nearly empty cup thumped down on the stool next to the console as she stared at the blinking blue light, not entirely sure what to do with it. Swamp stink; after working for two shifts straight, going on three, she wasn’t entirely sure she could still find her own numb behind without help, let alone run traffic control for the entire base. Unfortunately, there was no one else. “Base control,” she snarled into her headset, flipping a toggle like it was a finger. “What do you want?” Sesame muffled a snort of laughter as a surprised male voice answered doubtfully, “Permission to enter.” Grumbling, knowing she was being a grouch, Jaide scanned the readouts, looking for nasty surprises. There had been a rash of terrorist takeovers and sabotage lately, and the respective lunar governments had cracked down on safety protocol, even on remote bases such as this one. The regular controller, Rob Jackson, had drilled her ad nauseam on safety procedures, so fortunately she could do it even in her sleep. Heck, if she was stuck up here in the tower any longer, she might be doing just that. “Great, I’m starting to see things,” Jaide muttered. Sesame rolled her head to stare at her. “What?” She squeezed her eyes shut to clear her vision. “I thought I saw an abnormality on the readouts, but it’s not there now.” A quick check of the data revealed nothing. More animate now, Sesame sat up and double checked her findings. “I don’t see
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anything.” The name and registry of the ship was nothing to get excited about, just a run of the mill transport, and a scheduled one at that. Still, the remote possibility of action left Jaide feeling slightly more alert. “Are we clear, control?” the voice asked again, somewhat impatiently. “Give me a minute, will you?” she snapped. Her hand reached for the release switch. Something stopped her. Closing her eyes, she debated with herself and opened a channel to security. “Whoever’s on duty, I had a blip on my screen. Might be just sleep deprivation, but I’m covering my butt. Send someone to check it out, would you?” She toggled off, changed her mind and flipped it on again. “And send someone to take over here; we’re no longer competent.” Static hissed over the wires. “We don’t have anyone qualified here! Everyone’s still too sick to come back on duty. We can’t just dream up more experienced volunteers!” “Then let them rot outside the doors!” she roared, incensed. “I’m going to bed!” A click of the switch turned off the sputtering protests coming over the wires, another coded open the shield doors. She rolled her neck, popping out the kinks, then rose as the huge doors slid open above her to allow the ship to enter the dim bay. It flowed through the particle field that separated the lunar bay’s breathable air from that of empty space, coming to rest with minimal use of thrusters. The doors sealed shut above it, locking it in the unnaturally still bay. For a moment she stared in appreciative surprise, fatigue fuzzing her brain and making her a trifle stupid. Sleek and black, of military design. Whoever was hitching a ride in that thing had connections. Then enlightenment dawned, and she swore silently at herself. “That’s not a transport,” she muttered under her breath. Sesame heard her and glanced out the window. Her oath was even fouler than Jaide’s had been. One agitated hand shoved back the brown hair that had fallen in her eyes. “Another military ship.” Disgusted, she shook her head. “That paranoid governor is wasting his taxpayer’s money, sending another ship to search for saboteurs in this dinky little backwater hole.” Jaide’s answer was a grim nod. Their visitors had jammed the port’s instruments to gain the element of surprise, just like the last two had done-not that she’d been unfortunate enough to be on duty then. Good thing, too, she thought, snorting softly. Both captains had run riot all over the men who had been. As if anyone on such a small base had the equipment to detect them! “We’d better go while the getting’s good,” Jaide said, snatching her black suede jacket from the back of her peeling, synthetic leather seat. As soon as she shrugged it on over her black t-shirt, she helped lock down the controls. “I’m not going to take a butt chewing for volunteering my time.” “Why do I feel like a guilty kid sneaking away from a lecture?” Sesame complained as she searched in the pocket of her brown and white checked shirt. Finding nothing there, she delved into the pocket of the white tank under it. Gum located, she popped the licorice-flavored stick in her mouth, then punched in her own shut down code. As she finished, Jaide glanced with gritty eyes out the plasglass separating the second story command center from the concrete and steel cavern that was the spaceship
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parking lot. A sneezing volunteer soldier in brown was already making his somewhat uneven way towards the ship. A stab of sympathy hit her for the poor volunteer, who obviously suffered from either the beginning or the end of the horrible flu that had practically leveled all personnel in the compound. If he had been in the thick of the illness, he wouldn’t still be stumbling around. Instead, he was one of the walking dead like her, forced to deal with a job better left in the hands of an expert. With a hiss of compressed air, the ramp opened, smoothing the way for its disembarking passengers. Sesame and Jaide reached the bottom of the grated steel stairs at almost the same time the guard reached the newcomers. The leader turned his head towards her. Murky light shivered off his standard issue blast glasses. Not a breath of air stirred his long black coat. Too tired to wonder at someone wearing shades inside a docking bay lit only by emergency lights, she shuffled off to bed. Skye D’rath glanced at the women making their way out of the echoing docking bay as his captain dealt with the boy soldier. They’d come for Sesame Calais, but it was the woman at her side who drew his attention. At that moment she reached up to free her light brown hair from its tail, causing her jacket to ride up and revealing one of the choicest rear views he’d ever had the privilege of viewing. He couldn’t help but smile as she raked her hands through her hair and secured it back in the band, never noting her appreciative audience. Faded blue pants hugged athletic legs, showcasing shapely limbs every bit as lovely as her backside. He’d only caught a glimpse of her face as she’d descended the stairs but he’d recognized it from her picture. Jaide Calanarre, Calais’ best friend and business partner. Returning his attention to the spot faced boy in front of them, he suppressed a smile as his captain asked in his most pleasant tone, “Is there a problem?” The boy lost two shades of color. “N-no. No, sir. I just need to make a random check of your ship. S-standard policy. Sorry.” He looked sorry. “At your convenience.” Nemesis gestured to the ship, encompassing his two crew mates and the spectral glow of white light emanating from above the ramp. The boy took one look at them and gulped. “Ah, right.” It was the quickest inspection on record. Jaide had her hand on the door controls to her room when a gravely voice called, “Sesame Calais.” Already at her own door, Sesame stiffened, then groaned and dropped her head to the door panel with a soft clunk. Jaide heartily agreed. Within seconds of falling on her bed and already fate conspired against them. Resigned, she glanced at the intruders, gulped. “Uh, Ses?” “Whatever it is, the answer is no,” Sesame mumbled into the cool metal, looking as if she was tempted to fall asleep right there. With a little huff of effort, she straightened up and punched in the security code, not even glancing at her callers. Jaide opened her mouth to warn her, but the leader of the men from the newly arrived starship beat her to
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the punch. “It’s about a job.” Jaide knew how Sesame thought, and she had a good guess what she was doing now. If she didn’t turn around, she wouldn’t see whoever was bothering her, wouldn’t have to deal with another arrogant captain demanding her services. Unacknowledged, the irritant would disappear. Only it didn’t. As Sesame stepped over her threshold, so did the man behind her. Men, Jaide corrected herself, slipping in behind the trio and moving just behind her friend. Using Sesame’s body as a screen, she slipped her ever-present blaster from its thigh holster, gripping it with the barrel pointed up. Her eyes fastened on the leader. One wrong move and he’d find himself without a head. The one on top, if she was feeling nice. Wearing an expression of extreme annoyance, Sesame turned to boot them out. As the door hissed shut behind them and she got her first look at the invaders, she checked. ‘Bout time, Jaide thought, a touch exasperated. Chill fingers of apprehension tripped up her spine. She just hoped it didn’t come down to a direct confrontation. A ninja master she was not. Clad in black denim and long coats capable of disguising any number of weapons, their jet hair gleaming with good health, the soldiers stared at them through dark glasses that hid their eyes. A comforting vision they were not. Seemingly unimpressed, Sesame crossed her arms and stared up at the menacing leader. “I’m listening.” “I’m in need of augmentation for my ship,” he informed her in the deep, gravely voice that was his people’s trademark. “You are the best, therefore I require you.” Jaide’s eyes widened at his audacity. With a great deal of difficultly she clamped her teeth shut against the pointed retort begging to clear her throat. Sesame could handle him better without her interference. Sesame stifled a jaw popping yawn, fiercely blinked her smarting, blood-shot eyes. “Come back after I’ve had a day or so of sleep, all right? I’m in no mood to discuss—” “There is nothing to discuss. I understand you have a standard contract. Produce it and I will sign it.” She narrowed her eyes at him, but before she could open her mouth, he whipped off his glasses in a move guaranteed to unnerve and stepped into her space. For a moment Jaide gaped at his topaz irises. A darted glance at the others, who took the opportunity to remove their own glasses, revealed matching, and very alien, eyes. Draconians! Jaide didn’t know what these three were doing so far from Antarctica, unless... Rogue warriors? She hoped not, but still...Wariness redoubling, she braced herself for action. Before Jaide could tip her hand, Sesame reached around and discreetly gripped her arm, telling her silently to wait. She was still in control. Desperately longing to argue, Jaide deliberately shifted her focus. For the first time she really looked at the others. The first one was a little shorter than his companions,
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though still quite a looker. His short black hair curled like fleece, yet gleamed with the look of silk. Warm gold lights glinted off the ring in his earlobe, matching the unique amber of his Draconian eyes. The second...She got no further. Ruthless topaz eyes with amber facets stared back at her, glowing with an inner fire. Of a height and build with his captain, she couldn’t have said right away why she gaped at him when she should have been watching his boss. Sure, the alien was sinfully good looking. Unlike the others with their cropped cuts, his midnight hair flowed freely to his shoulders, unbound by any tie. Both his jaw and cheekbones were well defined with masculine strength, yet promisingly sensual. So good looking was he, it took a moment to register his bewitching lips held the slightest of amused curves. With a knowing flick of his magnificent gaze towards her hidden hand he told her he knew of the gun. Unnerved, she took a half step back, then set her jaw. So he knew. So what? “I have five captains already standing in line for—” “I’ll double your fee.” That got Jaide’s attention. He was talking about a mind boggling amount of money. Even with the generous salary their customers paid them, she never could get used to that kind of cash. Sesame looked at him, hard. “It’s not pocket change, pal.” His expression didn’t change, and Sesame finally glanced away. Moving towards the desk jammed in the corner of her small living room, she called up the contract on her computer screen, thoughtlessly exposing Jaide and her drawn blaster. The Draconian didn’t seem surprised. The long haired one’s lips twitched. Trying not to feel stupid, Jaide returned a cool look and holstered her blaster. After all, it didn’t seem as if she needed to cook anyone just now. Finished, Sesame moved away from the cheap resin desk, gestured for the leader to inspect it. “Look it over. It’s non-negotiable.” An inclination with her head told Jaide to follow into her room. Without looking at the Draconian, Sesame tossed over her shoulder, “I’m going to get cleaned up.” With a wary glance at Sesame’s uninvited guests, Jaide followed her into the bedroom and locked the door. Then she unleashed her tongue. “Are you nuts?” she demanded, following Sesame as the woman grabbed some clean clothes and headed for the shower. “How can you just hop under the spray like there’s not a pack of crazy Dracs in the next room?” Sesame paused with one hand on the door and gave her a look. “Well, I asked them nicely once, but they just didn’t leave,” she retorted, batting her eyes. Closing the door, she said through the hollow resin, “Besides, I stink.” Jaide heard the water turn on, then Sesame’s moaned, “Oh, yeah. That’s the stuff,” as she presumably ducked under the spray. Since she’d already snuck away for a fast shower earlier, Jaide had other things on her mind. Shuffling over to the bed, she sat down with her back against the headboard, determined to keep an eye on the door. Sesame might be too tired to care what the Dracs did, but Jaide wasn’t taking any chances.
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Sesame’s bedroom was as uninspiring as the rest of her apartment. It was still as un-lived in as the day she’d moved in. Not even a dirty sock marred the serviceable gray flooring, and the walls remained the same boring eggshell white. Even the resin furniture lacked the normal clutter of day-to-day life. Nothing to distract someone of the mind to take a nap. An enormous yawn caught her off guard, and she stifled it with her fist. A memory nagged at her as she sat there, trying not to let the mattress lull her into sleep. Something she ought to remember about a certain Draconian captain. Whatever it was refused to crystallize in her burned out brain. Closing her eyes and making herself comfortable-just for a minute-she reviewed what she did know. The Dragonlords, as the people of Earth had called them when they’d first crashlanded on the continent of Antarctica, roughly twenty-five years ago, were a touchy bunch. Named for their glowing eyes and rough voices, they’d promptly made camp and declared to the horrified Earth governments that they were there to stay. Their homeworld had become uninhabitable, courtesy of a speeding asteroid the size of a small moon, and their supplies had been totally depleted. Bartering technology for foodstuffs and supplies, they’d set to work, making their commandeered chunk of ice a veritable beehive of alien activity. Reclusive and uninterested in human politics, the Draconians had proven themselves surprisingly good neighbors. So long as they weren’t riled. Jaide jerked awake with a start. Grousing at herself for her poor vigilance, she listened hard, just catching the sibilant tones of their uninvited guest’s language coming from the living room. The shower snapped off. The last thing she remembered as her eyes drifted shut was Sesame gloating that tomorrow would be soon enough for the Drac to discover that just because he’d signed a contract, didn’t mean she would. The woman was unforgivably rude. Skye was not used to waiting on women. None of them were. He glanced again at the locked door that hid them from view and around at the unadorned walls of the tiny dwelling. The only furniture in the room consisted of the table and booths built into the bare kitchen and the chair in front of the computer desk. There were no windows. According to her files, Sesame hadn’t been here more than two weeks, but still, one would expect more signs of habitation than this. The faintest haze of electric blue danced at the edge of his vision as he thought of the other woman, Jaide, distracting him with its novelty. It was the first time he could ever remember feeling the remotest desire for a woman not of his own race, and he paused to analyze it. Ever honest with himself, he felt no need for denial, simply strove to understand what was. True, the woman was attractive, but not outrageously so. Latin looks and perfect skin simply added a touch of mystery. He’d always been partial to taller women; black of hair and large of breast. Jaide Calanarre’s gentle curves and slight height shouldn’t have moved him, yet did.
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Perhaps it had something to do with the directness in her gaze, blue as the frigid Atlantic, or the intelligence in her expression. Certainly her courage had impressed him. Not many men dared to stand up to a Draconian, much less women. His lips twitched as he thought about her expression as she was caught holding the blaster. It had been hard not to burst into laughter at her sheepish grimace. It was still difficult to believe such a sweet-faced young woman was capable of shooting anyone. Yes, she was an intriguing little thing. Still, he wouldn’t have believed himself capable of desiring an alien. It seemed his tastes were changing. “Do you think she would dare keep us waiting?” Nemesis asked, glancing at him in irritation. Skye answered with a humorless smile. “I begin to fear it.” His eyes went back to the sealed door, and he considered it, contemplating the damage to his honor if he were to act on his impatience and go through it. He was not going to knock on it like a servant, he thought with a grimace of distaste. Certainly Nemesis never would. Besides, he had the feeling she wouldn’t open up anyway. “This is a new thing,” Lore, short of stature but long on humor, quipped. “The dread Captain Spectere and crew, cooling their heels at the pleasure of a woman.” His slightly elongated canines flashed in a wolfish smile as he shook his head at his captain. “Your reputation will suffer.” Nemesis raised a brow, but before he could reply, Skye added sensibly, “We have no time for pandering to her whims, Nemesis. I say we take the women and go. We have a contract.” His implication that they had the right would likely stand up in court, especially considering their orders. A slow, roguish smile curved Nemesis’ lips. “Women? Our orders concern only one woman. What would we do with the other one?” Folding his arms, Skye kept his expression bland as he studied the walls. Wouldn’t his friend love it if he were to make a fool of himself now and admit to an interest in an Earth girl? After years of extolling their virtues to him, of trying to get him to forget his desire to mate with one of the rare Draconian females, wouldn’t Nemesis gloat to know the girl moved him? “The orders did say to get her assistance by any means necessary,” he said in a bored tone. “She might be more complacent if we bring the other. Besides, they are partners.” Nemesis exchanged smirks with Lore. “Sounds like solid reasoning to me.” Jaide sighed and flung an arm over her head, snuggling further into the soft mattress. It wasn’t a work day, was it? At the moment she didn’t care. With a sigh of contentment she rolled over, causing a warm puff of air to rise from her downy bedding. Something settled on her pillow, touched her hair. For a second she froze. Whatever it was, it hadn’t been invited. With a yell of panic she dived from the bed. Tangled blankets went with her and she landed on a heap on the lushly carpeted floor. Prepared to bolt, she levered up on her arms, pulling her nose out of the blue pile. Dark, beasty eyes stared back.
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Jaide blinked at the lemur in confusion. The wary monkey looked back. What
Powder blue walls trimmed in lavender and plum greeted her bewildered eyes, and she sat up, clutching the fuzzy white blanket over her naked legs. On the wall directly opposite the bed was a large symbol in black, lined with dark purple and touched with gold. Animal? Vegetable? She couldn’t tell. The room was nice, but it wasn’t hers. Where was she? The room’s computer terminal, mounted in the wall over a built-in desk, caught her eye, and she squinted at the only source of light. Blast, too far. Relieved to see she still wore her shirt and underwear, she flung the covers off and padded over to the corner and flicked on the desk light to better see the screen. Sesame’s contract. Signed in an illegible script that might have been Sanskrit, but wasn’t. Jaide took a deep breath. Roast those Draconians! How could she have slept so deeply? Granted, she hadn’t had much sleep in over two days, but still! Had they just carried her off like a sleeping house cat? The door opened, admitting the tall Draconian with the wildfire eyes. His gaze flickered to the bed and then slowly appraised her bare legs and scanty red panties. For a moment she stood frozen, unused to such blatant male scrutiny. Handsome men did not look at her with fire in their eyes. Hey, most men never looked at her twice. He made her feel...something she had no business feeling. Something that should have been impossible, yet obviously wasn’t. She’d have to do something about that. “Did you sleep well?” he asked in the patented gravel tones of his race. God help her, even his voice was sexy! “No,” Jaide answered, just to let him know her frame of mind. She darted a longing look at the blankets, but that was useless, since he was standing on them. Those wicked lips twitched. “Your pants are on the seat there.” He nodded to the tapestry chair beside the bed. “I didn’t think you’d be comfortable sleeping in them.” “How thoughtful of you,” she snapped, snatching her clothes and fumbling them on. She’d never had so much trouble getting into a pair of jeans before, but then, she’d never had an audience. The Drac crossed his arms, the ever-present hint of a smile in his expression. “I’m Skye, by the way.” “Well, Skye,” she snipped, itching to slap him for the tremor in her hands, “I hope you’re enjoying the view.” “Oh, immensely,” he agreed with a slow, wicked smile. Jaide abandoned her attempts to shame him into good behavior. Her back to him as she fastened the fly of her pants, she said with deliberate bluntness, “I need to use the bathroom.” “Right this way.” Skye waited until she’d pulled on her socks and steel-toed boots, then led the way into the hall, stopping before a small door. “It’s all yours.” Checking her watch as she used the facilities, she verified that nearly an entire day had passed while she’d slept blissfully on, unaware of her change in sleeping quarters.
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That would be one of the first changes around here, because she’d be shot before she shared a bed with Mr. Self Assured out there. A traitorous flicker of regret sighed through her mind, but she squashed it. Now was not the time to get stupid over a handsome face. Just because he hadn’t pounced yet was no reason to drop her guard. After all, he had helped kidnap her, hadn’t he? “Are you hungry?” he asked, the moment she opened the door. Yes, starving, her grateful stomach wanted to answer. Instead she said, “Where’s Sesame?” Skye shook his head at her bad manners, but led the way to the bridge. She entered the bridge a bare minute after Sesame. By the way her partner’s eyes were snapping, Jaide knew they were all in for an interesting morning. Sesame spared one dark look for the stars out the window and planted herself in front of Nemesis’ chair, much to the amusement of his crew. “Just in case you weren’t aware of it, one signature does not a contract make.” A touch of his hand flicked off the controls on his lap console and it folded back down into the wide arms of his chair. He stood, throwing her off balance with his nearness. He steadied her with a touch to the back of her arm, turned her with him towards his cabin before releasing her. “We can discuss it in my office.” The moment the doors slid open, revealing his office was also his living quarters, she balked. Jaide took a fast stride in their direction, but Skye’s arm clamped around her middle, pulling her back against the steel of his chest. Body heat soaked through the thin layers between them, burning an awareness through to her unwilling body. “What do you think you’re doing?” he demanded, and for once there was no hint of humor. Instead of answering, she twisted, intending to grab his shirt and head butt him in the nose. To her surprise it was he who wrapped her pony tail around his wrist, pulling her head back at the perfect angle for a kiss. “You have some very nasty habits, woman.” He held her there a bare moment, just long enough to establish who was in control. For the length of two breaths his eyes lingered on her lips, causing a prickling tingle to spread over them like sun-warmed honey. Ever so slightly, her muscles relaxed. His grip on her hair eased, allowing her a little freedom. “No need to look so frightened, girl.” His smile was wry. “I’ve fed this morning.” Nodding at the object of her concern, he said, “Besides, they’ve worked out their differences.” It was true. Sesame and the captain had come to some agreement while her attention was elsewhere. Temporarily satisfied, she turned her attention to her own situation. Skye still had her welded to his side. “Don’t touch me, Drac,” she growled, shoving at his arm. With the danger over it gave easily. Skye’s smile was distinctly unfriendly. “Don’t worry, heartflame, I wouldn’t dream of it.” Challenge glittered in his eyes and his stance spoke of pique. “Though I’m curious what it is you fear. My body?” He cocked his head curiously. “I hate to disappoint you, sweet tempered one, but I don’t need to drag unwilling women to my bed.” Lazy eyes surveyed her with a collector’s detachment. “Besides, I don’t like humans. They’re far too...easy.”
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Jaide’s eyes flared at his insult. With her hand on her hip, she gave him a pointed look and shot back, “I doubt you’d know from personal experience, Drac.” She stressed the last, knowing how much the Draconians hated butchered names. It took a deep breath and a fast scan of the room before he could calm enough to say, “Don’t worry, bonbon. I won’t be testing my theory on you.” With insufferable confidence, he leaned in and whispered in her ear, “It takes a certain amount of stamina to keep up with a Dragonlord. Frankly, bonbon, I doubt you have the drive.” He turned his attention to a computer console, shutting her out. Stunned speechless, she clenched her fists. Was the man always this infuriating? Unable to summon a proper retort, she turned her back on him. “I think he likes you.” Jaide glanced at the other Drac, who eyed her with a speculative light. “Then I pity his enemies.” His lids lowered. “You should. I’m Lore.” He offered her his hand, which she reflexively took. With a mischievous glance at Skye he turned it over and pressed a naughty kiss to her inner wrist. “Quadril.” The muscular Draconian sitting next to him offered, nodding his head. He did not kiss her hand. Business concluded, Sesame strode towards her, the Drac she’d been talking to right behind. “Come on, Jaide,” she said, “I’m hungry, and that makes me bad tempered. So does lack of sleep and waking up in a bed not my own,” she said with a pointed look at their host. “We’re going to finish this discussion in the galley, over.…” she paused and frowned, looking at her timepiece. “Dinner.” Their host gave Sesame a cool nod. “Yes. You can sign the contract there as well as anywhere else, and I can tell you what augmentations I require.” Jaide raised a disbelieving brow but fell in line behind the others just the same. After all, the man had mentioned food, and there was a great empty hollow where her stomach used to be. Still, she was getting tired of thinking of him as the Leader. Since Skye was just in front of her, she asked him, “What’s that guy’s name, anyway?” He paused in mid-stride. She didn’t and ran into him, stubbing her tender nose on his hard back. “Ouch!” she yelled, clutching her offended beak. “Be careful!” “My apologies,” he offered, but an unholy light danced in his unnatural eyes. “Had I known how eager you would be to follow me I would have taken more care.” That dark humor flashed again. “There are not many that do so, you know.” He turned on his heel. Her brows lowered, but she didn’t question him again until they reached the galley. Instead, she surveyed the spotless ship. Of Draconian design, the gleaming walls were etched here and there with indecipherable script and broken by cabin doors and an open portal to what appeared to be the infirmary. It was one of the nicer ships she’d seen, and she’d seen more than her share, including some large military cruisers. Her guide paused before a door and gestured for her to precede him. The interior was a combination galley-recreation room, and was as immaculate as
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the rest of the ship. The comfortable chairs and long lavender and blue couch lent it a homey air. A bunch of large, colorful pillows were stacked beside a handsome cabinet of rosy wood inlaid with a lighter honey-colored grain. It was as beautiful as any home, and it had a lived-in look. The captain gestured to the table and waited until they’d sat down before taking his own seat. Since Skye was still on his feet, rummaging in the kitchen, Jaide got back up. After all, Sesame didn’t need her help to hash out a contract. Jaide hated paperwork of any kind, and was more than happy to let Sesame handle the details. Skye looked up in inquiry as Jaide rested her elbows on the counter, watching him expectantly. “I like chicken,” she suggested, just to be annoying. His brow quirked. “I’ll see what I can do.” While he rummaged around in the roomy kitchen, she pushed her cuticles back with her nails, tamping down her restlessness. Usually she was the one in the kitchen, doing the cooking. In truth, she preferred it that way. Being at loose ends always made her nervous. For a moment she considered offering to help but didn’t for fear he might misinterpret her interest. The last thing she needed was a return of his flirtatious side. Law enforcers of any breed weren’t on her list of popular people. Frustrated with her anxiety, she prowled around the room once and then made herself sit down. A plate of something looking suspiciously like steaming entrails appeared in front of her. Skye slid onto the bench opposite her with a similar plate. Jaide squinted one eye and looked at the mass of white, sausage-like coils dubiously. “Dare I ask?” A glance at Sesame revealed a similar look of consternation. Skye saluted her with a decanter and poured a thick black liquid over the mess on his plate, then added a few squirts of a red sauce. “Nalark. Stuffed pasta coils.” He flashed gleaming white teeth with sharp canines at her. “We eat a lot of it here.” With one sweep of his dark lashes he assessed her and held up one hand, palm towards her. “It’s customary for us to give thanks before meals. Will you join me?” She studied the tanned skin of his wide wrist, eyeing the black stripes that banded his arms to mid-forearm. Another mark of their differences. A slight dusting of black hair covered the natural markings, but the rest of his arm, left bare by the short sleeves of his dark shirt, was no different than any other man’s. Wary but willing to go along for now, she slowly touched her palm to his. The callused skin was warm, the underlying musculature hard. Skye’s long fingers curved slightly, cupping her smaller hand in his. Warmth prickled in the center of her palm as he said the blessing in his native tongue, stirring something long entombed and hidden from the light. She snatched her hand away the moment he finished and stowed it in her lap. Picking up his two pronged fork, he cut off a chunk of...pasta, and put it in his mouth, chewing with relish. Seeing that he didn’t drop dead, Jaide exchanged a wary look with Sesame and reluctantly took up her own silverware. She took an infinitesimal bite. Her eyes widened in surprise. It was good! Looking smug, Skye handed her the condiments. Not a convert yet, Jaide poured a drop of the black stuff on her finger and tasted it. Dark and salty, with a hint of ginger and smoke. The red sauce was sweet and hot with chilies. Impressed, she added both to her
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nalark and devoured every coil. At last replete, she leaned back with a sigh and allowed him to dispose of her plate. The captain handed Sesame an electronic tablet. She gave it the briefest of glances, then did a double take as the data sunk in. She handed the tablet to Jaide, whose eyes widened as she saw the readout. Without looking up or thinking, she demanded, “What is it with you men and bigger is better? Haven’t you heard it’s not the size of your equipment, but what you can do with it that counts?” “If you’d ever had bigger, bonbon, you wouldn’t have to ask that.” She narrowed her eyes at Skye. Choosing to ignore his provocation, she thumped the tablet with the backs of her nails. “Cloaking technology, for a ship this small?” she asked, sending the captain an incredulous look before skimming the tablet again. “A oneeighth increase in velocity, and advanced targeting capabilities?” He gestured to the tablet. “There’s nothing there that’s beyond you. Most of it’s routine, and the cloaking system isn’t impossible.” “You have a lot of faith in us,” Sesame retorted. “The technology’s there,” he answered with a shrug. Sesame sighed and rubbed the center of her forehead. “I’m trying to outrun notoriety, not court it. If I did do this for you-presuming I could-there wouldn’t be a black hole in the galaxy that I could hide in to escape the hoards chasing me for augmentations. It’s not in my best interests to take this job. Why should I?” The light in his eyes hardened, darkened. “Because you thrive on challenge, and you know this will excite you. Because I ask it.” A short laugh escaped her. “And you are....?” Jaide braced herself. A nasty suspicion crystallized in her mind even as he answered without a flicker of mirth, “Nemesis Spectere.” Sesame didn’t even blink. “Did your mother name you that?” Nemesis blinked. Sarcasm was obviously not the reaction he’d been expecting. And no wonder, Jaide thought, doing her best to hide her trepidation. Men did not mess with Nemesis Spectere. Women grew faint at the sound of his name. They did not stare him in face and cut at him without a flinch. But then, most women were not Sesame. Obviously annoyed, he growled, “She’s dead.” And according to popular lore, by his cannibalistic hand. But Jaide wasn’t going to mention it if he wasn’t. Nor was she going to think about the awful rumors circulating about the rest of his crew. Wishing she’d paid more attention to the newscasts so she might have gleaned their names beforehand, Jaide avoided Skye’s eyes and checked out Sesame’s reaction. Sesame raised a speculative eyebrow, her gaze slipping down to consider the table for a moment. Then she gave her head a sharp shake. Leaning forward, she laced her hands on the table top and fixed Nemesis with an unblinking stare. “Well, Captain Specter, let me tell you something really scary. You’re about to trust a multimillion dollar, custom built space craft to our hot little hands. We’ll have our itchy fingers all over the guts of this machine, doing God knows what to its innards and fine tuning things that give laymen nightmares. When you sign her over to me for work, she is mine in
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every way that matters. Are you ready to take that leap of faith with a mechanic who’s butting heads with you?” Never breaking eye contact, he slid the tablet over to her in a silent dare. “Sign it.” For a moment she balked, as if realizing she’d painted herself into a corner with her brash dare. Then her jaw tightened and she reached out and spun the contract around with one finger. “We require additional concessions, besides the double pay,” she told him, bringing the tablet to a sudden halt facing her. “We have the right to visit any place we may stop and to take on private cargo of any nature, barring the illegal, within acceptable weight tolerances.” “You may have an eighth of available cargo space,” he allowed after a moment’s consideration. “One quarter,” she said, entering it into the contract, “and as much help as we require, when we require it, to complete this job as rapidly as possible. We’ll also require complete access to all related systems, cash up front for supplies upon receipt of parts estimate, and we’re not required to be nice.” Nemesis laughed. “You’re actually entering that into the contract?” “Fair warning,” she said without looking up. That changed as soon as his hand circled her fragile wrist. “Fair warning here as well,” he rumbled softly. “Ultimately you answer to me, Calais. That means if I discover you’ve tampered with things you shouldn’t, or that you’ve compromised my ship in any way, there won’t be enough of your meat left to flush.” Jaide saw her shiver, but Sesame’s face was perfectly bland when she returned, “Should I enter that into the contract?” He released her. “Be my guest.” Jaide growled as she looked down at her borrowed coverall. Even with the arms and legs rolled up it made her look like a mouse in a lion’s skin. “You couldn’t have thought to collect my gear before taking off with me, could you?” she asked, darting a furious glance at Skye. Somehow she just knew this was all his fault. “Next time you’ll have to plan your abductions a little better.” Nothing ticked her off like wearing too large clothes. As a kid all she’d ever had were her mother’s worn-out wardrobe, and it hadn’t been much to start with. Her clothes might not impress the fashion conscious now, but by fire, they fit! “It’s not that bad,” Sesame said, trying to keep a straight face. Lore’s extra coverall fit her larger frame much better. Jaide snarled something ugly and quickly shed the baggy outfit, giving it a kick for good measure. “You owe me some clothes, pal,” she snapped at Nemesis, forgetting in her ire that she might have reason to temper her responses. Slinging the tool belt over her favorite pants, she stomped over to the bridge’s weapon’s console. “You can’t dismantle this panel; I’m using it!” Lore protested. Jaide ignored the indignant Draconian, preferring to let his captain deal with him while she unsealed the console and had a good look at the circuitry. It didn’t take long. With a grunt of satisfaction, she closed it back up, conferred with Sesame and eyed the captain’s chair. “You want weapon’s control routed to your console or to tactical?” “Both.”
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She grunted again, peered underneath another console, disregarding the surprised Quadril, who was still sitting there, then rose. “Done. Engine room?” “Just like that?” Nemesis inquired, surprised. “Engine room?” she demanded again, rocking on her heels with impatience. She could see Sesame’s lips twitching, but she didn’t care. Reminders of past humiliations always inspired her to reckless ire. “This is going to take a lot longer if you want to discuss it in committee, Admiral.” He gave her a warning look but led the way. Jaide inhaled deeply of the scent of engine fluids and metal. Ahhh...ambrosia. Expert eyes ran over the engine that was twice her height and acted as the ship’s beating heart. Nothing like a little surgery to bleed off aggression.
Chapter 2 “I can’t look,” Quadril said, turning away from the sight of the woman straddling one of the large tubes running beside his engine. Sesame stayed below, taking notes. “I’ll look for you,” Lore offered generously, watching Jaide bend over and away from them as she inspected something not readily assessable. She muttered something and tossed a part over her shoulder in their direction. Quadril paled, and even Skye grew a little alarmed as it clunked off the deck. “I think I need a drink,” Quadril said, backing away, shooting worried looks over his shoulder at the woman climbing all over his engine. They watched him leave and turned their attention back to the woman. “I have to admit, I was skeptical when Nemesis first told us he was going to hire a female augmenter, but now that I’ve seen her at work.…” Lore hissed as she shimmied around, demonstrating her limber young body as she bent even farther, clinging to the grab bar with one hand. “He definitely made the right choice.” “Technically Calais is the augmenter. Jaide just works with her.” Skye was still torched about her prejudiced remarks. The woman obviously didn’t like Draconians. It shouldn’t have surprised him. It was a common enough reaction. “Does it matter?” Lore asked with an exaggerated leer, baiting him. Skye snorted, crossed his arms and frowned at their new mechanic’s wiggling behind. Did she have to do that? He was close to hissing himself, and the sight was making him more than a little tense. “Don’t distract her from her work, Lore. Their contract penalizes us for harassment on the job. Besides, didn’t you hear her? She doesn’t like Draconians.” His tone come out more disgruntled than he liked.
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“Hm.” Lore smirked at him and glanced downward. His grin turned positively wicked as he noted the hard evidence of his friend’s interest. “A first, to be sure,” he goaded, knowing Skye’s normal tastes. Skye wasn’t about to take the bait. “You know what I think of human women,” he answered with disinterest that bordered on contempt. “I can’t help what my body does if she chooses to put on a show.” Lore waved that off. “Bah! You’ve only seen the space port dregs, my friend. That’s no way to judge.” “Packs of rabid dogs, the whole of them. Not worth the chase.” The idea of actually accepting the ‘favors’ of such women filled Skye with revulsion. As far as he was concerned, such women had morals on a par with animals. His attention flickered to Jaide, who was climbing down from her precarious perch. Jumping off the last foot of toehold, she hit the deck and brushed aside the hank of hair that had escaped from her ponytail, leaving behind a long black streak of grease. Unconcerned, she conferred with Sesame, who listened thoughtfully, then entered more data into her tablet. What things did concern a woman like that? So quiet and watchful one moment, astringent and bossy the next. Which was the true personality? Or was she an improbable combination of both? Skye had to admit, if only to himself, he was intrigued. “All right,” Sesame said, just as Nemesis entered engineering, “I’ve got a rough idea of what I’ll need. We can make a quick stop at Walcha Moon Base 7 for most of it, then we can head back to the shop so we can get started” Nemesis crossed his arms. “We will remain on our present course. I’ll get you whatever you need at the base and you can start work on the ship right here.” Startled out of her self-absorption, she stared at him. “You have no fabricating tools.…” He waved an arm at the banks of tools lining the walls and widened his eyes in mockery. “There they are.” “I doubt that there’s a decent coolant gage among the lot,” she protested. Nemesis walked over to a drawer, extracted an expensive stainless steel gage, slammed the drawer shut, and slapped the gage in her hand. Her eyes narrowed. “I can’t work on a running engine, Admiral.” “We have an alternate energy source we can use while you’re working on this, heartflame,” he answered, giving her an insincere smile. “Besides, won’t half your time be taken up with fabrication and design? I see no reason to pull my ship out of active duty for that.” “What’s your rush?” Jaide complained, unhappy with the idea of being stuck here indefinitely. A long term connection to law officers of any kind couldn’t be good for her health. Her creditors wouldn’t like it. Besides, if she had to remain cooped up with Skye for any length of time she was sure to go insane. The man was lethal to her peace of mind. Rude, too. Nemesis’ voice turned distinctly cool. “I’m on an assignment, and I need the augmentations to complete it before somebody gets hurt.” He didn’t have to spell his
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threat out The implication was there, and by the grinding of her jaw, Sesame heard it loud and clear. “Fine. Make my life difficult.” Sesame slapped the gage to his chest, forcing him to grab it or let it fall, not flinching when his hands clamped over the tool, trapping her hand against him. Instead, she leaned closer. “Just remember this, Admiral, the harder you make this job, the longer I’ll be here, and I promise you, I’m not the most pleasant of shipmates.” Jerking her hand away, she stormed out of the engine room, leaving a roaring silence in her wake. Nemesis’ eyes tracked her exit. Frustration was scrawled all over his face. Lore chuckled. “Now that is one woman who could never be called easy. In any way.” A wicked light lit his eyes and he grinned like a trader scenting money. “This is going to be one nova of a voyage.” Jaide rewarded him with a scathing look for that bit of stupidity. “Why shouldn’t she be torched? There are easier ways of getting augmenters to work for you than kidnapping, you know.” Midnight eyes narrowed with suspicion. “Unless you plan to kill them in the end.” Lore rolled his eyes, but it was Nemesis who answered. “No one is going to kill you,” he assured her. She watched him for a long moment, reading his face, hunting through his eyes, looking for shadows of deception. She found none. But still.…” Why Sesame? Why do you want her?” Nemesis looked away, and this time she saw the lie. “She’s the best. Why else would I want her?” Before she could grill him further, he left, taking Lore with him. Turning her sights on Skye, who watched her through half lowered lids, she asked, “What about you? Are you going to give me a straight answer?” Skye considered the woman standing before him, hands on her hips. “I will if you will.” “What?” Her brows drew together in perplexity. “What are you talking about?” He took a step closer. “What’s your real name, Jaide?” She tried to hide her alarm, failing miserably. It was his turn to look doubtful. “Come,” he chided her, “We both know that’s not your birth name. Who are you really, woman?” Swallowing hard, she tamped down her panic, looking away. “What you see is what you get, Drac. Don’t go looking for hidden meanings. You won’t find them.” A slow, dangerous smile curved his provocative lips. “You think not?” He brushed her jaw with the back of a curved finger, making her look at him. “Bonbon, you have no idea how much I love a game of hide and seek. Be careful what games you invite me to play. I never back down from a challenge.” Now was definitely time to change the subject. She jerked her face away. “You won’t win for wishful thinking, Drac. Besides, I don’t have time for games. I have to find a better place to sleep tonight,” she said with a pointed look. He grinned. “My bed is very comfortable. Don’t you like it?” “Not when there’s a chance you’ll be in it.” “But heartflame,” his rough voice lowered a beguiling octave as he gave her a heated look, “That’s the best part.”
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Jaide was getting mad. Mostly at herself for being turned on by this male. She shouldn’t feel anything; she’d taken care of that years ago. This weakness for men was an intolerable trap and she wouldn’t suffer it again. Never again. Drawing on every ounce of her self-directed rage, she spat at the deck between his boots, drilling home her disgust. His seething look only fueled her determination. “I will find a place in cargo. I will stretch out on the couch in the galley. I will even sleep in here on top of the tool benches,” she paused to give her quiet, black words depth. “But I will never sleep with you, Drac.” Spinning on her heel, she left him there to simmer. “This deal just keeps getting deeper.” Jaide looked up from the hammock ring she was fastening to the wall in the corner of Sesame’s small room. She lowered her hand and leaned against her forearm braced against the wall. Her mouth she kept shut. No one benefited from her thoughts when she was in one of her moods. Sesame tossed her tablet on her bed in disgust and dropped down on the mattress, resting her face in her hands. She slid her hands away to cup the sides of her face, supporting her head while she bent to rest her elbows on her knees. Staring at the floor, she took verbal stock. “We’ve been kidnapped. Bullied into an impossible contract. And now we’re expected to do wonders unknown to modern man with only the equipment available on Captain Clueless’ flying house of torture. Wonderful,” she said with disgust. “What next? A fun filled vacation in the center of a black hole?” Reluctant to break her self-imposed silence, Jaide offered, “It’s not totally hopeless.” A small smile dragged at her lips. “After all, your Admiral still has to hand over his command codes.” That earned her a faint grin. “True. Nemesis would choke if he had any idea what I could do to his precious Black Tide with those.” Jaide smirked. “We could set his showers to run only cold on a rotating cycle.” Sesame raised a brow. “From what I’ve seen, his friend Skye could use some cold dousing.” Mmm. The idea had merit. In a much better mood, Jaide went back to work. “Want to play a game?” Jaide didn’t bother looking up from her calculations. That question, in one form or another, was one she was far too familiar with. Absently, she responded, “I don’t play sheet tag.” If she reduced the curvature of the— “You have a high opinion of yourself, don’t you?” Eyes still glazed with intense concentration, she glanced up at Lore, noting his mocking skepticism. “No, just a low opinion of you space jockeys. I’ve seen the kind of flotsam you guys drag around.” She turned back to her work, but now that her concentration had been broken, her empty belly set up a protest. Putting it off, she sipped at her tea, stretched her legs, crossed them at the ankle, and leaned back with a sigh. It had been a long, but satisfactory day, and she was in a mellow mood as she watched the four man crew of the Black Tide, plus Sesame, gather around a table with a
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deck of cards and a platter of munchies. Her stomach roared at her, and she considered Lore’s request with more interest, eyeing their edibles. It was the sight of the prawns curved over a bowl of red seafood dip that sealed it. “I suppose I could make the time,” she offered, rising with lazy grace and sauntering over to drop into a chair at the round table. She released the magnetism from the bottom of her chair and scooted it forward, then locked it down again. “Do you know how to play poker?” Nemesis asked. Sesame and Jaide exchanged looks. Snagging a shrimp, Sesame dipped it in the red sauce. Assuming a mien of bored confidence, she said, “Of course. My people invented it.” “Perhaps,” he allowed, shuffling the cards with impressive dexterity, “But I’d like to think we perfected the game.” The cards flicked out of his hands, piling with dizzying speed in front of the others. Unintimidated, she gathered her cards, fanning them in one hand and reaching for a pimento stuffed green olive with the other. “Do you play much?” Lore gave the white and brownish-gray lemur perched on the back of Skye’s chair a shrimp as he waited for Jaide’s answer. The pet took the snack, cocked its masked head and eyed the shrimp Jaide held in her hand. The small primate’s ringed tail twitched hungrily. She inched it away from him. Forcing herself not to look at the lemur’s owner, she answered honestly, “As rarely as possible.” If she managed to get dragged into games on almost every starship and in every port, well, she’d just keep that to herself. The lemur, deciding that she needed wooing, hopped over to her chair and rested a delicate paw on her shoulder. She stiffened at the ticklish sensation, growling, “What?” “I love you.” Even Skye smiled a little at her dumbfounded expression. The others chuckled. “It’s his collar,” Lore explained with a grin. “It’s got a speaking device.” Jaide shook her head, then twisted to frown at the furry creature over her shoulder. “My shrimp,” she said in a no-nonsense tone. With luck he’d take the hint better than his master. He purred and rubbed his soft, furry face against hers. “I love you.” A helpless snort of amusement escaped her. “It’s still my shrimp.” She would give him points for cuteness, though. The lemur was no fool. Taking her face between his little paws, his soulful golden eyes looked deeply into hers as he begged, “Please?” He got his shrimp. The galley rocked with laughter. Nemesis grinned as the little charmer munched on his prize. “Another conquest.” A speculative light appeared in his eyes. He glanced at Skye. “It appears our Jeeves has discovered a tender heart.” Jaide blew his comments off with a shrug. “Not here. I’m as susceptible to nagging as anyone.” Rolling her eyes, Sesame discarded and drew another card. “As if. I don’t know how many times I’ve nagged you to give up your more destructive habits.” She threw Jaide’s tea mug an ironic look. “Case in point.”
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“As if you’re such a sterling example,” Jaide retorted, taking a pointed drink. “At least I leave the shop and come up for air now and then. Your lover, my friend, is your work.” Sesame took another card. Without changing expression, she asked, “And yours would be?” Jaide’s eyes glittered. “Cold, hard cash.” As if to prove her point, she won that hand. Disdaining to play with real money, the men used colored glass stones and markers for unpopular chores, assigning them to the loser of that hand. The loser could only return the marker to the pot if he won a hand, gifting the marker to the vanquished of that round. It was an amusing way of assigning duties, and surprisingly democratic of Nemesis to take part. Jaide suppressed a smile at the thought of the Admiral bent over a toilet, scrubbing. Now that was a worthy cause! Nemesis caught the mischievous look passed between the women as Lore showed them the marker for latrine duty. “I wouldn’t be too hopeful of seeing me win that,” he guessed aloud, baiting them. “Women are notorious for their lack of skill with numbers.” With a snort of amusement Sesame tossed back, “Odd that you would worry about that after letting me run calculus all over your precious ship.” Her sideways glance was snake-eye sly. “No telling what I might have done to it.” He didn’t even look at her as he requested and discarded a card. “Nothing that will make me toss you out an airlock, I’m sure.” Sesame’s eyes narrowed. Uncomfortable with the tense silence, Lore said, “I looked up your stats, Ms. Calais. Is it true you developed the technology for anti-asteroid maneuvers?” he asked, referring to the program and hair-trigger thrusters that allowed ships to successfully navigate an asteroid field. It was more often used by injured pilots in battle, though as rarely as possible. It had the tendency to leave even seasoned pilots feeling like a scrambled egg. She smirked at her cards. “You wouldn’t sound so excited about it if you’d ever experienced it, trust me. I thought my brain would never quit spinning after the first test flight.” “Your brain?” Jaide scowled over her cards. “I was the one puking up my guts for the next hour, thank you very much.” “You wanted to fly it,” Sesame pointed out. “Only because I knew what a lousy pilot you are,” came the sweet reply. Fascinated, Lore leaned forward. Light glittered off his earring. “Have you flown all the ships you’ve worked on? The big star cruisers, too?” Sesame grunted. “Not me. Never wanted to. I’m an augmenter, not a pilot. Flying bores me to tears. Every time I’m at the controls my mind starts wandering off to my latest project. It’s a great way to brainstorm but a lousy way to fly. In fact, that’s why I developed the anti-asteroid program, to cover my butt.” She nodded at Jaide. “Flying is her department.” Nemesis glanced at the still silent Skye. “Have you flown all the ships, Jaide?” A wave of her hand dismissed the subject as trivial. “Most of them.”
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“You must be quite a pilot,” he said expectantly, with another look at Skye. “I do all right.” “All right?” Sesame’s eyes opened wide. “You do awesome! Name me one pilot who’s out-raced you in the Canyon Jam Run on Tantalus since you hit twenty-one,” she dared. Smiling at Jaide’s bright flush of embarrassment, she bragged to their intent audience, “Jaide races every year on her birthday. This year will be her twenty-fourth birthday and my money says she’ll have another undefeated year.” Her eyes unfocused as she smiled in fond remembrance. “That’s how we got hooked up. I saw her race when she was twenty. I figured anyone who could fly like that would make a good test pilot.” Bitter memory darkened her eyes. “She would have taken that race, too, if it hadn’t been for V.B. Trell.” “Leave it, Ses.” Jaide’s hands clenched around her cards, bent them. She’d never explained the full extent of the bad blood between her and Trell, and she wasn’t about to start now. Not with four very interested sets of strange ears listening. The sooner the subject dropped, the better. Sesame ignored her. Incensed on her behalf, she leaned forward, arguing, “Your ship was smashed and they had to cut your body out with torches. I know you couldn’t prove Trell caused the wreck, but you could have at least—” “I said leave it!” Scared that Sesame had said too much, upset at the reminder of that awful day, Jaide tossed down her cards. In her haste to leave she forgot to release the magnetism on her chair and slammed her legs on the edge of the table. She cursed as she dropped back down into her seat. A muffled groan escaped her as she cradled her head on the cushion of her forearm, which rested on the offending tabletop. With the other she held her bruised thighs, waiting for the pain to lessen. “Are you all right?” Sesame asked, leaning over the table to look at her with a worried expression. “Peachy,” came the muffled reply. Jaide heard the click of magnetism releasing just before gentle hands eased her back. Concern in his face, Skye asked, “Would you like me to take a look at that? Nothing personal,” he added with a whisper of pained humor. “I’m the ship’s medic, among other things. I can give you something for the bruising.” Conflicting emotions skewered her. Jaide didn’t want him to be nice. It only made her earlier actions more reprehensible, and she didn’t need any more burdens. The rat of guilt had already gnawed a big enough hole in her gut. “I’m fine.” “If you were fine he wouldn’t have asked,” Sesame snapped, impatient with Jaide’s stubbornness. “Let the man have a look. You know how easily you bruise.” When Jaide opened her mouth to object further, Sesame narrowed her eyes. “Let him help you or I’ll dump your entire stash of Seti down the disposal.” Jaide huffed, outraged. Sesame would, too, and be glad for the excuse. “Fine,” she snapped and stalked out of the galley. Too bad her magnificent exit was marred by a pronounced limp. Skye tailed her to the infirmary, wondering about the things he’d heard tonight. Jaide put up a tough front, but melted under the irrepressible affection of his pet. She was modest about her accomplishments, and he couldn’t help but wonder at her supposed skill. As one of the best pilots in the Draconian colony, he had to wonder how she’d fare
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against him. He’d known what Nemesis was trying to do by drawing out that information. Nothing thrilled like a little competition, and Nemesis still thought Skye interested in the human. Of course, he hadn’t been privy to the little scene in engineering. “Here.” Skye handed Jaide a thin sheet. “Take off your pants and drape this over your lap. I’ll be just outside the door. Call me when you’re done.” Ignoring her look of surprise, he stepped into the hall. It only took a moment before she called him back in. One look at the bruises darkening on her thighs and he hissed in sympathy. “She wasn’t exaggerating, was she?” he said, handing her leg with clinical care. “You’re certainly not commando material.” His hands might be clinical, but Jaide’s body didn’t know it. Wondering at the source of her trembling, since she’d made her distaste of him crystal clear, he reached for a healing accelerator. “It’s not my fault!” she snapped, catching him off guard. Pausing in mid-reach, he tilted his head in inquiry. Chagrined at her outburst, she looked aside. “I do well enough,” she said more quietly. For a moment she paused, as if she wanted to say more. When she didn’t, he retrieved the tube of creme and carefully spread it on her legs. Jaide hissed and jerked at his light touch. Looking absolutely miserable, weepy even, she mumbled, “I can do that.” Through being insulted for one night, he paused and pinned her with a look. “I’m sorry if my touch upsets you, Ms. Calanarre, but you’ll just have to suffer my Draconian hands until something better comes along. My apologies,” he said, widening his eyes in mockery. Her gaze dropped, turned dull. “It’s not your blood,” she whispered. Slanting her a jaundiced look, he wondered if she thought that an improvement. “Ah. So pleased to know it’s only myself you object to.” Without thinking, he slid his hand higher on her thigh, maintaining his balance with the lightest of touches as he applied the clear gel. A tortured moan escaped her, and she squeezed her eyes shut, turning her face away as if in great pain. Skye paused. “Did that hurt?” he asked, thinking he might be using too much pressure. “Yes!” she quickly agreed, her eyes flitting about the room, avoiding his face. Suspicion kindled, he kept his eyes on her, waiting until she was forced to look at him. Her chagrined color said it all. Without a word he returned to his task, finishing moments later. “You can get dressed now,” he told her, his expression never changing. Outside the infirmary, he crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. Closing his eyes, he considered the puzzling woman inside. She wanted him but didn’t want him to know. Why? Cultural or personal? Earlier she’d as much as said she had no lover, so it wasn’t that. Was it his reputation? Did she believe the press stories about tortured prisoners and mangled bodies? Well, the mangled bodies part was true. Nemesis wasn’t above killing an armed and resisting criminal who was wanted dead or alive; none of them were. Even though their methods might be efficient, he had to admit they didn’t leave pretty corpses.
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“We don’t torture prisoners.” Jaide looked up at the enigmatic medic. Even leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, he radiated sexual magnetism. “What?” She had no idea what he was talking about. Skye shook his head and straightened. “Never mind, bonbon.” That set her off. A muscle ticked in her jaw. She was getting very tired of that tag. “That’s not my name, Drac.” His mouth twitched. “Would you prefer something more romantic? I’ll make you a deal, bonbon; you tell me your real name and I’ll use that instead.” So that was his game. Very well, she’d withdraw, but not without a parting shot. Turning on her heel, she tossed over her shoulder, “Fine then. Call me what you like. I’ve been called worse by better, Skye.” If she knew men-and she did-she thought as she entered the hall with a dry smile, the insult coupled with the concession of his proper name would paralyze his brain long enough for her to make a clean getaway. “Jaide?” Her stride hitched as she stiffened, then shot a wary glance over her shoulder. Skye had unfolded from the wall and was watching her with the barest of satisfied smiles. “What?” “It’s an improvement.” With an audacious wink, he turned and strode in the opposite direction. Sesame scowled at the jumble of wiring before her, and Jaide couldn’t blame her. Instead of the neatly coded and ordered lines that should have been behind the access panel, wires in odd shades ran every which way. Worse, they were marked with sticker tags scrawled with-what else-Draconian script. “So much for finishing this job in record time,” Jaide muttered. She needed some tea. Clamping down on her temper, which was exceedingly foul after last night’s stupidity, she left the panel open and headed for the galley, Sesame right behind her. The expression on her face boded ill for anyone stupid enough to get in her way. But Jaide wasn’t worried about that. She was far too busy with her mental flogging over last night’s fiasco. How could she have let her body betray her? It shouldn’t even have been possible, not with the measures she took to prevent it. Why did it have to happen now, with Skye? Besides, hadn’t she learned anything from her brother’s friends? Friendly men were dangerous men. She smiled grimly. Ah, yes. Someday she had to thank Chrys properly for the many referrals he’d sent her way to help her pay off “her” debts. A boot to the head would be a good start. Jaide had no more than retrieved a mug when lightning struck. She watched as Sesame found her victim in the middle of breakfast, poised to take a bite out of something resembling orange fish roe on a steamed potato. “Your ship’s wiring system isn’t standard,” she informed Nemesis in dour tones. “It’s as jumbled as a whore’s mores and twice as gaudy. I can’t figure out positive from negative in there.”
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“Caviar?” he asked, offering her his bite. She stared at it, no doubt unable to comprehend his interest in dining-not to mention his taste in morning meals-when his ship was a mess. When she continued to stare, he shrugged and popped the disgusting mass into his own mouth. Jaide shuddered. “It works just fine,” Quadril made the mistake of defending his handiwork. “We’ve never had a problem with it.” “It’s wrong,” Sesame snapped, wiping the complacent expression off his face and replacing it with fury. “And it’s going to slow me down. Not only do I not read Draconian, I’m not about to waste my time learning just so I can fix your screw ups. I want it retagged, in standard, today. I’ll also need a diagram of what’s what in there in the hopes of avoiding electrocution.” She narrowed her eyes. “Electrical burns are not my favorite thing.” There was a moment of crackling silence. Jaide was very quiet as she retrieved her small tea tin from her pocket, sprinkling a pinch of the fine powder into her cup. This was not a scene she wanted to be a part of. “Do it, Quadril,” Nemesis said without taking his eyes off Sesame. Quadril started to protest, but a single hard glance silenced him. Then his molten eyes returned to Sesame, sending a chill of unease to her heart. “I don’t know what treatment you’ve received in the past, Ms. Calais, but I will warn you this once; you are not a prima Dona, and I will not tolerate this spoiled behavior.” She started to open her mouth, but he continued on in that same chilling tone, “You will not interrupt my meals with your demands. Any requests you have will be delivered politely, minus the insults.” Acid burned in Jaide’s empty stomach at her friend’s public set down. True, she had come on a bit harsh, but he didn’t need to be such a jerk about it. Not giving an inch, Sesame tossed down her gauntlet. “I honor my contracts, Captain Spectere,” she said, emphasizing his name in mockery. Green eyes glittering with challenge, she added, “Do you?” Every muscle rigid, Nemesis stared at her, nostrils flaring. “Explain yourself.” A couple of quick keystrokes on her tablet brought up her contract, which she turned so he could see. For a moment he just glared at the screen. Slowly his gaze came up, full of carefully contained temper. “Very well, Miss Calais,” he said, affecting a lazy drawl that just barely veiled his ire. “Far be it from me to break contract.” Relaxing back in his chair, he waved a careless hand. “By all means, feel free to insult my crew and any passing dignitaries you might see while in my employ. After all, who am I to insist on a little common courtesy?” Jaide winced. Put like that.… Without another word, Sesame pivoted and stalked out of the galley. The worst of it was, he was right. Jaide finished her preparations, then took her mug and followed her partner, a troubled frown on her face. Nemesis couldn’t know what forces shaped a woman like Sesame. Jaide did. All too well.
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All her life she’d been an outsider, looking in. Until her late teens, it had been her enormous weight and shy personality that made her a target of contempt, until she’d learned to withdraw into books and data banks, or to hide out in her father’s garage, drowning her sorrow in tinkering. It might have continued on that way indefinitely had her secret passion for a schoolmate not come to his attention, thanks to a dropped poem dedicated to him and signed with her name. To save face with his friends, he’d tormented her about it, telling her that a fat, ugly pig like her would never find anyone willing to “stick it to her”. He’d effectively killed her love for him and turned her feelings for her body, already low, into vicious selfloathing. She’d dropped the weight, and that very day she’d started to drink Seti tea, a passion suppressant, which she still used. Her body would never betray her again. Entering the engine room, she leaned a hip on a tool chest, silently watching Sesame organize the ship’s tools, banging them around and tossing them into drawers. They were so much alike, Jaide reflected, sipping her drink, watching her friend through the veil of steam. For a long time now she’d had the habit of creating a negative space around herself, of pushing others away before she could be excluded. As a defensive strategy it worked just fine, but like Sesame, she’d become a rude snapping turtle, chomping the toes of others and retreating into her own world when threatened in return. Still, she had reasons for presenting her quills. Too many times to count she’d had men take the slightest bit of warmth on her part and interpret it as a go ahead for unwelcome sexual advances. It hadn’t taken long to learn that the freeze treatment dried up their drive a lot faster than gentle, or even vigorous, rebukes on her part. Even though it might go against her true nature, Jaide rebelled against dropping her learned shields. Skye had already dared too much, and she had a feeling that the man could be tenacious if he ever decided to make chase. Protestations of disinterest aside. For just a moment, her psyche sent a blip of protest, quickly squelched. So what if Skye was incredibly handsome? It didn’t matter. That was no reason to possibly encourage any interest he might have. She didn’t need a man in her life. Never had. Never would. After all, she worked with Sesame, who was a wild success by any standards, and certainly self-supporting. She examined a nearby part critically. Worn and scratched, it might yet pass muster, with a little tinkering. So what if she sometimes got a little lonely, she told herself. Better that than suffer with the wrong man-any man, she hastily corrected herself. Maybe she’d get a pet. That little lemur was pretty cute. Without acknowledging the fulminating glare Quadril sent her as she passed him at a console, tagging wires, she retrieved a scooter and a probe and rolled it under the engine to give Sesame, who was already underneath, a hand. Besides, it was a great hiding spot, and a wonderful place to think. Perhaps too wonderful, but really, someone ought to have put that coolant drain plug in more securely.
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Half of her mind was occupied with noting readings while the other side was mapping out a schematic for one of the changes they would have to make when she noticed the loose plug. Peering through her safety goggles at the engine’s belly, lit by the twin beams from her eye wear, she considered the plug. Thinking it merely needed a quick twist to right it, she reached over Sesame, who was directly underneath. The plug, just held in place due to its jammed gasket, gave way, bathing Sesame’s face and neck in a quart of warm, oily liquid before she managed to stop it back up. It was a very unhappy augmenter who scooted out from under the engine’s belly. Peeling off her coated goggles, she whisked the muck off of her face with both hands, slinging it to the deck, and slicked back her hair. “Divine retribution is yours,” she told the astonished Quadril, ignoring the gaping Jaide. She exited before anyone found the presence of mind to laugh. Two days later Sesame was still ignoring Nemesis. Jaide was pretending to ignore Skye as well, but he wasn’t fooled. Even though he chose not to speak to her, he wasn’t blind to her covert efforts to observe him. Although he couldn’t tell for certain what thoughts went on behind her midnight eyes, the fact that she felt compelled to look his way was telling. He wasn’t yet sure what he wished to do about it. Taking a sip of fruit juice, he half listened to the others talk as he thought about the woman. Lore was less subtle. “Could you come here a minute, Jaide?” he called. He had a game in one hand, and he was shaking the unit and muttering. Skye recognized the game. It had been broken for some time. “Trouble?” she inquired after a moment’s hesitation, leaving the counter to approach their table. With a wary flick of her eyes toward Skye, she sat down. He grunted, whacking the electronic box with his hand. “It just died on me, and right in the middle of a space battle. I was just about to defeat the star cruiser, too.” “Mm,” she murmured in sympathy. “Tough break.” She set down her cup, took a piece of fruit from the plate on the table and popped it in her mouth. Selecting a tool from her belt, she held out her hand for the game, crooking her fingers insistently when he hesitated. Game in hand, she set about taking off the housing. Lore pulled her hot mug towards him and sniffed, wrinkling his nose with distaste. “What is this? It smells like fuselage.” He pushed it back towards her. “It’s a tonic, and it’s an acquired taste,” she informed him. It was certainly true; she hadn’t managed to acquire the taste yet. Worse than that, it seemed she was going to have to up her daily dose. Judging by the faint trembling in her hands, she wasn’t getting enough, and she desperately needed it. The last couple of days had brought with them feelings she hadn’t experienced in years, and that was not to be tolerated. “What’s it called?” he wanted to know. “I want to make certain to decline if anyone ever offers me any.”
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She hesitated but saw no reason not to tell him. Not many people would recognize the name, or care if they did. “It’s called Seti tea. It helps me stay focused on my job,” she explained, glossing over its true attributes. “Among other things,” Skye murmured over his own glass, his gaze dark and knowing. Her hand tightened on her tool. She didn’t owe him any explanations. Nor would she try to justify her actions. Sesame gave her enough grief as it was. Meeting him stare for stare, she said with arch defiance, “Time is money, and all that.” “Is it?” he asked, his tone faintly mocking. A trifle unnerved by his perception, she muttered, “Not that I’ve seen.” She grew silent as black thoughts consumed her. Her brother Chrys had broken into her account a couple of years ago and wiped it out. Then he’d used her credit information to rack up a bill with every cathouse and drug den in the sector before she’d discovered the theft and put a stop to it. Unfortunately, as long as his creditors had her name on their bills, the dealers and madams weren’t taking excuses for deferred payment. She shuddered, remembering some of their not-so friendly visits. This job would just about pay them off. Too bad there was nothing she could do for her damaged credit. No bank with a watt of sense would lend her money now. No money, no dreams. It would take her a long time to accumulate enough cash to pay for the home she dreamed of, to buy the stability she craved. She sighed. Sometimes life really sucked. “Sorry to hear it,” Lore commiserated, handing Jeeves a slice of sweet potato. Having no interest in Jaide’s pastry, the lemur made no move towards her, but he did give her a friendly bob of his head. “Pretty lady.” She raised a skeptical brow. “I’ll bet you say that to any woman bearing food.” “Actually,” Skye surprised her by answering, “He’s offended more than one woman by calling her nasty.” He stroked his pet’s small head affectionately. What he didn’t say was that the lemur was very picky about whom he befriended. Only trustworthy sorts with a capacity for great affection earned his attention. Skye decided to trust the small animal’s instincts, especially where Jaide was concerned, since they mirrored his own. Something worthwhile, something hidden, waited for discovery behind her walls of stone-studded ice. When next he spoke his tone held lingering affection. “You should learn to speak Draconian,” he tossed out, looking for a topic of conversation, anything neutral to make her open up. “Why?” He glanced at Lore, seeking inspiration. “So the next time someone curses your flying in Draconian, you’ll know just what he’s calling you?” Her brow wrinkled and she gave her head a slight shake. “What an incentive.” “She’s afraid she can’t do it,” Lore said wisely. Skye nodded in solemn agreement. “It’s a tough language.” “Still, children do it all the time.”
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Aggravated, Jaide sighed. “Fine. Teach me your names. That can’t be less user friendly than Nemesis,” she said, shooting the captain an aggrieved look. The tension between the captain and Sesame was really beginning to fray her nerves. The men exchanged sly looks, then Skye said something in a hissing, clicking tongue. She squinted at him, as if she could see the syllables by looking hard. He said it again, breaking it down slowly for her. “Sep-stluk?” she hazarded, and his lips twitched. With a grin, Lore informed her, “You just called him a cooking pot.” She laughed. Pleased, he told her his name, then broke it down for her. “Clp-sk-tpt?” she tried, twisting her tongue. Lore turned the color of a red dwarf. Nudging him with a canine-baring grin, Skye teased, “You sly one, you. We shall have to watch you.” Jaide waved the subject away, unwilling to be drawn out any further. She gave him back his repaired game. “They have translators for this. Much as it might amuse you to hear me mangle your mother tongue, I do have work to do.” She gulped the last of her tea and rose. “We’ll have a parts list for you by this evening, Captain,” she said, addressing Nemesis. “Walcha Moon Base 7 should have what we need.” The idea of jumping ship there tantalized for a moment, but she dismissed it as both improbable and impractical. Nemesis wasn’t going to let them wander off unescorted, and she needed the money. At least the rest of his crew seemed to be trying to get along again, which was more than she could say for her greedy creditors. Speaking of which.… No one was around in the engine room, so she used the screen there to access her electronic mail. Three of the banks she’d queried had left messages. We regret to inform you...bad credit risk...history of instability.... The last bank had helpfully suggested she find a partner with a solid credit history. “And where am I supposed to find that?” she snarled at the screen in frustration, terminating the connection. “What I need is an investor with deep pockets and iron clad honesty.” An unlikely combination at best. She grabbed a torch, settled her safety glasses on her face, and proceeded to dissect a part so she could rebuild it, still gnawing at her difficulties. In spite of her successes, she didn’t think she could seek a job from any of the big companies, even though that would be ideal. Her lack of formal training and her brother’s legacy would not look good on a resume. Besides, she made good money with Sesame. Jaide quickly rejected the idea of asking Sesame to cosign a loan with her. Friends and money didn’t mix. Still, maybe there was another way? Her work soon blocked out thoughts of finding a partner. In fact, it was well past the dinner hour when she emerged from her haze long enough to hear her whimpering stomach. Skye, Lore and Quadril sat in front of the big screen television, watching sports. The galley was not the empty solitude she craved, but she was too depressed to care as she washed her hands in the sink, getting black grease everywhere. Skye looked away from the Amazon boxing match, watched her grab the first sealed meal that she could find in the pantry and toss it in the flash oven. Grease streaked her face and her ruined pants showed several shiny patches of oil. It wasn’t the first time she’d come to the galley a mess, but he’d never seen her look so tired and morose.
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“Having troubles with the augmentations?” he asked, looking at her over the back of the couch, one arm braced along its edge. It was a logical assumption, considering what she’d been doing all day. “No.” Selecting a chilled beer, she twisted off the top, then took a long draft. Tucking another bottle under her arm, she grabbed her tray and sat down at the unclaimed booth and proceeded to scowl at her ever-present tablet. “You’re allowed to break for meals, you know,” he suggested wryly, eyeing her slumped form. It looked as if her elbows were the only thing keeping her sagging frame upright. “We’re not in that big a hurry.” “I am.” At his warning frown, she sighed and explained, “This isn’t for you. I’m...taking care of personal business.” “Must be heavy stuff,” he offered, joining her and collecting one of her beers. She frowned as he twisted off the cap but said nothing. Instead, she closed her eyes and rubbed the side of her head, smearing a streak of grease. He took the opportunity to nab her tablet. “Hey!” she snatched it back, but he’d already seen it. Leaning back in his seat, he took a swallow of beer and considered her in puzzlement. “An application for a racing syndicate? Why? I thought you already had more work than you could handle.” She glowered but answered him anyway. “I need the money.” She considered her tablet with an unhappy expression. “I haven’t bothered before because I like working with Sesame. Besides, I know how those syndicates work. They’ll make me do things their way and the next thing I know I’ll be just another drone.” She stared at the screen for a moment, then deleted her entry in disgust. Tossing it on the table, she shook her head and went back to her dinner. “It doesn’t matter anyway; they’d never hire me.” He couldn’t disagree with that. Skye had been busy hunting data in the last two days. He now knew all about her brother’s escapades, including his part in her financial difficulties-it was common knowledge in certain select sectors-but the respectable community knew nothing of it. It was hard to say whether she’d given a court battle up out of the hopelessness of nailing her drug runner brother down long enough to sue, or if it was loyalty keeping her quiet. Or fear. Skye decided to take a calculated risk. He wanted to know who he was dealing with; a loyal family member or a fearful victim. “Why didn’t you just sue him?” She gave him the long, sharp look of a cornered cobra. Then her eyes frosted over as she hunted for the one person privy to that private information. Correction was in order, and fast. “I have your brother’s dossier, Ms. Carlos.” His voice dropped to an intimate murmur. “I told you I enjoyed the hunt, Josie.” He held her angry glare without a trace of softening. Josie Carlos’-a.k.a. Jaide Calanarre’s-record had been clean, and he couldn’t blame her for not wanting to share her slime brother’s last name. “The robbery is just one crime out of a long list, but it’s noted that you didn’t press charges. Are you the forgiving type, by chance?” Her jaw clamped shut and he could see her grinding her teeth. “It would seem not,” he observed with a phantom of a smile.
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“If you’re trying to get to him through me, bounty hunter,” she told him with wide, mocking eyes that destroyed his humor, “then you’re wasting your time. I don’t know where he is, so I guess that you’ll just have to hunt for him like everybody else.” He grabbed her wrist as she rose, delaying her. “You can’t protect him from what’s coming,” he warned. The expression on her face was pure contempt. “Why would I want to?” He was just like the others, before she’d changed her name. Get the woman to relax, hey, seduce her if need be, get her to trust, then-wham! Use her to collect the bounty on her brother. The scavenger wasn’t the least abashed about it either. They never were. Slowly she slid her wrist out of his loose hold, never breaking eye contact, letting him know she was not afraid, and never would be. Then, completely disdaining his dangerous reputation, she leaned closer, her smile a parody of sweetness. “I sincerely hope you’re a good pilot, Drac. Chrys runs a fast ship. I ought to know-I designed it.” He leaned back, unimpressed with her attempts to blacken herself. “That would be the Bat, wouldn’t it? The one that you raised such an uproar over last year when you discovered it stolen from under your nose? The one you chased half-way around the system before finding out that your brother had taken it on an indefinite joy ride?” Remembered fury forced her to look away. The Bat had been her baby, and after all the hard work she’d done, it still made her almost sick thinking about what Chrys must be doing with it, and to it. Closing her eyes, she reminded herself aloud, “I can build another ship.” But it would never be the Bat. “I could return it to you.” For a long moment, she could hear nothing but her harsh breaths, see nothing but haze. Temptation teased her, seduced with the image of her ship, her brainchild, safe in its hanger. But it was a lie, and she was too old to believe in fables. “Tell me another one,” she rasped, then turned on her heel before she was tempted to believe.
Chapter 3
her.
“He would, you know.” Lore stood in the doorway to the engine room, watching
Jaide grunted and looked back at the forty pound rod she was preparing to cut. What did Lore know? “It doesn’t matter. I don’t know where Chrys is. He’ll just have to work to find him like anybody else.” She wished Sesame wasn’t off on the bridge, working on her calculations. She’d be a welcome distraction right now. “You would aid a criminal?” She cringed from the distaste in his tone. “That’s not it. We don’t talk, and I don’t follow the news.” She tossed down her scribe with a clatter. “I don’t want to know what he’s doing, and I sure as heck don’t want to know where he’s been. We’ve always got along best when we were ignoring each other.” “Except for when he’s stealing from you.” She took a deep breath, then expelled it with a rush. Was he trying to bait her?
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“He’d have a rough time getting away with that again. I can promise some unpleasant surprises to anyone stupid enough to try it now.” Total system meltdown, for one. Hopefully at a most inopportune time. No one was flying any of her machines again without a release from her. Distracted, she swung the end of the steel around to mark the end. It rolled. She scrambled to stop it, but her hands slipped off the smooth metal as it crashed. “Yow! Oh my—” Jaide grabbed her knee as she rolled on the floor, swearing and trying not to cry. The solid bar had struck just above her knee before rolling off to crush her foot, just missing the steel clad toes. Her entire leg was one mass of throbbing pain. Hands touched her shoulder, maddening her jumping nerves. “Don’t touch me!” she shrieked. The offender snatched their hands away as if she were on fire, and she moaned in relief. She always hated to be touched right after an injury. “What happened?” Skye demanded, running into the room behind her with half the crew in tow. “The bar slipped,” Lore explained, even as Skye knelt to discover the damage. “Let me see,” he ordered, gently easing her onto her back. The pain had died to a bearable level, as long as he only touched her arm, but when he reached for the leg of her coveralls, she slapped at his hands, protecting the injury. “Don’t touch! It hurts.” Skye exchanged an exasperated look with Lore, hiding the fact his heart still raced. There had been no telling what they’d find when he’d ran in here, and his relief was as great as his concern. “A blow from a steel bar will do that,” he teased, trying to relax her. “I promise to be much nicer. Will you let me look?” He made no move towards her, simply remained in a crouch with his elbows on his knees, his hands loose and dangling. After a moment she bit her lip and nodded, turning her face away. Careful not to jar her any more than need be, he carefully unlaced her boot, then cupped her calf in one hand and eased it off. In spite of his care, she hissed in pain. The blood soaked sock he simply cut off. “The bones are cracked, but nothing a little time and an accelerator won’t fix. Two weeks from now and it will be almost as good as new,” he pronounced, staring at the readouts on the scanner Lore had fetched. He sprayed her foot with a analgesic, leaving blessed numbness in its wake. Before she could protest, he took hold of her pants leg and ripped it down the seam. “Hey! That—” He stilled her protest with two fingers to her lips. “Hush.” Sulking, she subsided. “Good bones,” Skye proclaimed with approval, examining the eggplant colored discoloration. He switched it off and put it back in his medical kit. “It’s just bruised to the bone. Nothing’s broken,” he assured her, then numbed that injury, too. “Let’s get you to the infirmary so that I can patch you up. No need to work on the floor.” Instead of helping her to her feet so she could limp to the infirmary as she expected, he picked her up, shocking her nearly witless. “Put me down!” She succeeded in amusing him. “Don’t worry. I haven’t dropped a damsel in years now. You’re perfectly safe.”
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Completely mortified, she held her tongue and tried not to think about the hard male body pressed so close to her own. Great. Not only was her dignity almost completely gone, her tea was failing her. Could it be that after all these years she was developing an immunity to it? She’d have to up her dose. By the time Skye eased her down to the worktable, she was feeling kind of feverish, and it wasn’t from her injuries. She closed her eyes and pretended otherwise. Desire was the enemy, would never again suffer it. No one was ever going to make her feel the fool again. Skye’s hand brushed her hair from her eyes and she flinched, her blood roaring like thunder. No! Curling her lip, she pulled away, rejecting his comfort, rejecting her trembling need. It would have been much easier if he had left her some pain to focus on. To her dismay, he touched her again, gently gripping her jaw to make her look at him. Searching her face as if he could see behind her eyes, he murmured, “Where does it hurt?” asking about so much more than physical pain. For a moment she stared at him, caught by something beyond her ken. Almost it seemed as if an unspoken understanding passed between them. Caught by sudden fear, she closed her eyes tight and pulled away, turning her face to the wall. No. Never again. “Would you like some more crackers?” Jaide’s hackles rose and she opened her eyes warily. Lore stood in front of the couch, holding a wooden bowl of savory crackers studded with crunchy little seeds. No matter what she said, he seemed determined to blame himself for the accident, saying he should have noticed how heavy the rod was and given her a hand. The crackers were just the last in a long line of attempted pampering, and it struck more fear into her heart than a power surge. “I—” she opened her mouth to refuse. “I made them myself. Jeeves supervised,” he told her earnestly. Jeeves cooed in sympathy and stole a long cracker. She shut her mouth and accepted the bowl, along with the glass of vegetable juice he handed her. Never mind that she’d already downed two of the ‘healing’ concoctions. Tasty as they might normally be, for some reason she could barely stand the smell of them. Her vague nausea, combined with her newfound hot flashes and jitters, plus the fact that she was having trouble sleeping, made it difficult not to snap. Besides, she was already nearly bursting with the need to unload what she’d already consumed. Taking a polite bite of cracker and finding it exceptional, yet gut churning, she crunched it hastily down, then set the bowl aside and reached for her crutch. “Those are great, but I need to use the latrine, so if you’ll excuse me” ”Let me help,” he reached to remove Jeeves from his shoulder, but she pointed the crutch at him like a rifle. “No! Don’t even think it.” At his hurt look, she relented enough to explain, “I appreciate your attempts to help, but I can do this on my own. Wouldn’t you feel silly if I tried to do everything for you?” Lore cocked his head, considering. “Yeah, maybe, but you’re a—” “If you value your life, don’t finish that sentence,” Skye advised, entering the room just in time to save his friend from a knot on his head. Still, like any self-respecting
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Draconian male, he easily understood Lore’s sense of guilt and need for atonement for the accident. Natural born females of their race were far too precious and rare, and fiercely protected. It was only natural that those feelings carry over to women of other races. Still, he’d watched Lore carefully, making certain his friend wasn’t developing deeper feelings for the woman. As far as he could tell, there was nothing more than friendship and natural affection there. Lucky for Lore. He watched Jaide carefully as she struggled to her feet and hobbled for the door. “Maybe you should take a couple of days off.” Her answer was a fulminating look and a terse, “No thanks.” Crossing his arms, he said just as she cleared the doorframe, “As second in command, I could make it an order. You won’t heal well if you don’t take care of yourself. Think of the long-range productivity,” he suggested with just a hint of sarcasm. As one of the beneficiaries of all her hard work, he should have been more pleased. Instead, he felt annoyed, faintly....neglected. He frowned as he realized what he was thinking. This was not a good sign, and these proprietary impulses were going to get him in trouble. Still, she wouldn’t see to her health, and he was the only one available to enforce rest on her troublesome self. As sympathetic as Sesame was, she was far too wrapped up in her work to make a good nursemaid. “I’ll be careful,” she allowed after a moment’s consideration. “There’s no reason I can’t work out schematics. I have a few ideas about the cloaking device I’ve been meaning to get down, anyway.” She left him glowering at the empty doorway, highly unsatisfied and itching with irritation. “I don’t think she knows how to relax,” Lore observed, munching on a chip. His gaze turned sly. “Either that or she fears you more than she lets on. Even if she rarely watched the news, she can’t be totally ignorant of your reputation. Could be she really thinks you’ll eat her alive if she missteps?” Perhaps I will. “She fears nothing.” That was her appeal, he realized. Her indomitable will challenged the male in him even as the vulnerable core that kept peeking around her control intrigued. Of course, the sight of her in her work clothes didn’t help. She’d never believe it, but the constant view of her dressed in those faded pants and her toolbelt was driving him mad. There was something very cute about a female in masculine gear. Tantalizing. The streaks of grease that often adorned her face only made her look the scampish little girl and did nothing to detract from her appeal. It also didn’t hurt that she was also one of the most intelligent women he knew. None of that changed the fact that she was not a woman of his race, and there was no reason to suspect she might wish to be. His language didn’t interest her, she was never happy about participating in mealtime blessings, and it was impossible to miss the distance that she forced between herself and the rest of the crew. Why would she care to adapt to a way of life and a culture so completely alien to her? He shook his head at himself. No, he knew better than this. Unless the woman showed some sign of interest in looking over the fence, what he was thinking could never
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work. There had to be more for him in this than lust. Anything else just wasn’t worth his time. Unbeknownst to him, Jaide was looking. At least, one eye was trying to look, but she kept jerking it back into line. They were making it difficult, though. Lore looked in on her constantly, hanging around whether she was in the galley or engineering. Skye was a silent shadow, never interrupting her work or asking annoying questions, but ever in the wings. Even Quadril, whom she knew hated letting her work on the engine he considered his, poked around in the engine room more than necessary. Finally she set him to fabricating just to give him something constructive to do, gritting her teeth and forcing herself not to look over his shoulder until after he’d left. He was a skilled worker, though, and she had to admit he was a great deal of help. She even told him so. Sort of. “You did a good job welding that converter,” she offered, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye. “It wasn’t difficult,” he returned, his tone hovering between annoyance and wary satisfaction. Still, it was the most he’d warmed to her since Sesame had insulted his wiring. Jaide was dismayed to find she cared. It was almost as disturbing as her constant tension headache and resulting nausea. Combined with her restless tossing and irksome, inexplicable sweats, it finally drove her to consult Skye. He assured her that it was nothing serious, gave her some medicine patches, and sent her on her way. They arrived at Walcha Moon Base 7 early the next day. Skye would have expected Jaide to be as enthusiastic as Sesame at the idea of leaving the ship for a while, even if she did need to use a cane at the moment. Instead, she stared out the windshield with a pensive frown, looking more anxious than eager. He locked down his controls, then joined her beside the window. Reaching down, he gently grasped her chin and made her look at him. It was a measure of her distracted frame of mind that she permitted it. “What is it?” Looking down as she made her admission, she said, “I grew up here.” She paused an unhappy moment. “I don’t like coming back unless I have to.” “Because of your brother?” he hazarded. She closed her eyes briefly and turned toward the door. “Because of many things.” It was almost amusing to watch her long-legged escorts, accustomed to fast, free strides, slow their pace to match hers on the short walk to the parts dealer. In truth, they were much more restrained than Sesame, who couldn’t completely conceal her exasperation at the slow pace. A number of pedestrians sent her companions fearful looks, and everyone gave the party a large berth. Jaide couldn’t resist checking Skye out herself, just to see what was causing all the fuss. Along with the others, he’d dressed in black this morning and was again wearing a long, concealing coat. Laser light gleamed off his blast glasses and hard features, casting sinister shadows over his handsome face. In spite of herself, she shivered. Stopping before the big window leading into the parts dealer’s, she demanded, “Are you real?”
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He halted, turned, and considered her for about three tense seconds, his expressive eyes hidden by space black plasglass. Then one strong arm came around her back, supporting her as he cupped the back of her head with his free hand. He kissed her. Gentle yet commanding, warm lips covered her mouth with stunning possession, stealing breath and wits with ridiculous ease. Feminine lips parted naturally, both allowing and asking for more. He gave it to her. Sizzling and sweet, his tongue stroked and dazzled, sending a shower of sparks cascading behind closed lids. As first kisses went, it was a knee knocker. She completely lost track of where they were until her ragged moan caused him to disengage with one last, seductive lick to her open mouth. “What do you think, heartflame, am I real?” he whispered against her lips. As real as it gets, baby. She had trouble maintaining her balance after that mind scrambling interlude, so Skye steadied her with a possessive hand to her back. A small fist remained bunched in his coat and she leaned heavily on her cane, her eyes still dilated with banked passion as Lore opened the door for them. Skye’s own vision was still clouded with an unseemly amount of electric blue, so much so that he almost missed the warning tilt of Lore’s head. He couldn’t miss the high frequency caution, inaudible to human ears, that he sent, however. “Unless you wish to brand her further than you have, my friend, I would disentangle myself. Some....” he raised his brows to convey his extreme doubt, “may have missed this interesting sight, but word will pass quickly that you’ve made her your sstck if you keep such close contact.” Skye sent him a dark scowl, discernable in spite of his dark glasses, at the Draconian word for temporary lover. But what else would he have called her? Even though Lore knew from observation that they hadn’t been intimate, Draconian males did not publicly kiss women they didn’t have serious claims on. Doing so was a certain sign of possession, a statement as public as branding. And wouldn’t she be furious if she knew what he’d done? It was true that the title of sstck would give her some protection as long as she was with him, for his kind was known as possessive, but once she left his company it would be a marker she wouldn’t need. It might even prove dangerous to her health. Bowing to the common sense that seemed to have momentarily deserted him, he pressed a little harder, then took his hand from the small of her back, sliding it down her arm to graze the sensitive nerve at her wrist. She shivered, and her hand relaxed, effecting his release. The action gave him no pleasure. The expression on the shopkeeper’s face as they entered said it had been a useless gesture, anyway. Feeling dangerously bereft at the loss of his touch, Jaide fumbled in her pocket for the parts list, sliding the data chip across the counter to the sour proprietor, avoiding Sesame’s inquisitive gaze. She recognized the man from her teenage years, and desperately hoped he’d forgotten her. “I see that I can stop worrying about you.” Sesame’s gaze remained straight ahead as she leaned against the counter, and only Jaide’s burning ears heard the soft murmur. “If I’m not mistaken,” she added smugly, “our Skye is going to put an end to your lonely nights.” Jaide declined to answer.
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The shopkeeper plugged the chip into his computer, then handed an electronic tablet to his helper, a willowy redhead in her late teens. “Get Ms. Carlos’ parts, Emma,” the man said, dashing her hopes for anonymity. Surprise lit the girl’s pale green eyes. “Josie Carlos? But....aren’t you supposed to be fat?” “Emma!” the owner thundered, and the red-faced girl jumped, squeaked an apology, and scurried around back and out of sight. “Stupid girl has a big mouth,” he muttered, avoiding Jaide’s mortified face. There wasn’t much she could say, so she turned her back on him and leaned her elbows on the counter, pretending to stare out the window with disinterest. She did not want to look at Skye. He’d be chagrined to know what he’d just been kissing, even if it had been borne of too long a stretch in space. Well, he could just take care of that here and she would get some more tea. Something seemed to be wrong with the batch she was currently using. Nemesis, Quadril, and Sesame stayed behind after payment to oversee delivery. The moment they exited the shop, Skye demanded, “What did that flotsam mean by insulting you? It was all I could do not to—” Jaide cut him off, wanting the subject over with. “Grew up here. The locals all remember me as a blob the size of a small asteroid. They can’t seem to forget from visit to visit that I’ve changed.” She didn’t need to see his face to know he was taken aback by the revelation. Nor did she need prodding to answer his next question. “I think I topped the chart at about 275 back then.” Lore gasped, and even Skye faltered in his stride. Wishing that she, too, wore eye protection, she forced down her humiliation and kept her eyes fast forward. Walcha Moon Base wasn’t that big, but the plasglass dome holding in the atmosphere provided a spectacular view of the giant red plant it orbited. Ships ferrying passengers between the closely spaced gas mining stations could be seen coming and going, picking up supplies from the depot or dropping off miners on leave. While Walcha’s entertainment sector wasn’t big, it was growing, fed by the constant influx of bored men and women. Jaide watched the ships coming in, their metal hulls gleaming in the light of the binary suns as they moved into docking position. As a girl she’d spent many hours dreaming of escape and adventure on those ships.... She made quick work of her personal shopping, stocking up on her favorite sour candy and toiletries. Clothes she simply selected from racks and shelves with little thought, sticking with simple styles of pants and t-shirts, plain underwear and socks. After all, this wasn’t a pleasure cruise. She made sure to get coveralls in her size, too. The only annoyance-besides her cane-was being forced to allow Lore to push the cart containing her purchases. Even though he kept his face politely averted from the contents, it was a relief when her menstrual supplies were decently bagged and out of sight. Finished, she hobbled out of the store with Lore trailing her, leaving Skye behind to stock up on groceries and arrange for delivery. The herb shop she sought was nearby, and it only took a couple of minutes of painful hobbling before they were there. The incense scented interior was quiet. Shelves lined with bottles of supplements and jars of loose herbs, all neatly labeled and lined up
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in alphabetical order, filled the small, warmly lit room. Pausing to sniff at a sample of aromatic oils, she waited for the proprietress to appear. It didn’t take long. Wearing a loose fuchsia gown that visually preceded her by at least a yard, Madam Pels entered from a back door. Jaide blinked the violet and green dots from her eyes, caused from the brightness of the dress and the emerald sash that bound the proprietor’s meaty middle. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Lore shake his head as if in pain. “Hello, my darling! How well you are looking,” Madam enthused, cupping Jaide’s cheeks in her damp palms and wagging her head. “Whatever can I get for you and this charming gentlemen?” Jaide cleared her throat and leaned back, sliding her head away. It was difficult enough coming back here, but being forced to deal with the meddlesome, if kind hearted, Madam didn’t help. “Seti tea, please. Two boxes.” Madam tsked. “Still drinking that are we? It’s not good for your happiness to keep on with that nonsense, darling.” She eyed the athletic Lore with appreciation. “Why don’t I get you a nice mood enhancer instead?” “Just tea, please,” Jaide gritted. “I’m kind of in a hurry.” With a dramatic sigh, Madam reached under the counter and produced one tin and a plastic packet of a white cream. She dimpled at Lore, handing him the cream. “See if you can’t get her to use this instead.” Lore slid his shades down his nose to read the packet. His eyes widened, and he hastily stuffed it in a pocket, out of sight, then hid behind his dark glasses. Jaide narrowed her eyes on Madam Pels with suspicion. Pels waved it away and selected a tiny bottle from the shelf behind her and extended it to Lore, who took it gingerly. “It’s a free sample, dear, of cologne. A special blend of mine. Do tell me how it works.” Lore muttered a self-conscious thank you. Picking up a spray bottle of perfume, Madam spritzed the tea tin, then placed it in a small bag. The sweet fragrance went directly to Jaide’s brain with seductive allure, and she stabbed accusing, dilated eyes at the smug Madam. “You could get arrested for selling that stuff in certain sectors, you know.” Madam flashed her a cheeky grin. “Not me, darling. Ta! Do let me know when you need that mood enhancer.” She gave Lore a flirtatious smile. “If you ever do.” Lore handed the plastic packet to a puzzled Skye the moment they met up at the ship. “I believe this belongs to you.” At his friend’s raised brow, he added, “And a word of advice; don’t ever visit the herb woman here.” He slapped Skye on the back and continued up the ramp, tossing over his shoulder, “She’s a shark.” Removing his blast glasses, Skye squinted to make out the fine print on the plastic. Heat streaked his cheeks the moment it registered what he’d been handed. Why in the name of all they held holy would Lore think he needed enhancing creme? Besides, hadn’t he warned him off Jaide just this morning? Shaking his head at the vagaries of Lore’s mind, he stowed the packet away and ascended the ramp, sealing it shut behind him. Jaide suppressed the memory of Skye’s kiss with such ruthlessness that she even
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managed to convince herself it hadn’t felt so good. Mildly pleasant at best. Feeling it was in her best interests to regroup, she made a double strength mug of Seti tea and retired to her room, telling Sesame she was going to take a nap. Taking a mild sedative to ensure she did just that, she emerged later that afternoon feeling pleasantly refreshed and, best of all, remote. Her mind was perfectly clear, but all turbulent emotions were as blissfully absent as if they’d never been. Skye looked at her sharply when she entered the galley for the evening meal. He’d expected her to be subdued, maybe even short tempered. Instead, she radiated unnatural calm as she shared the blessing with Lore, who kept shooting her worried looks. Sesame took one glance at her and spent the rest of the evening glaring at her plate as she dissected bits of steak she didn’t eat. “Maybe you should ease up on the tea,” Lore finally ventured, toying with his food. “You don’t seem quite yourself.” Surprisingly, it was Skye who spoke up. “Don’t worry about it, Lore.” Before he could bristle, Skye murmured in their language, high-frequency, “I’ve got a project that will require your help in the lab later.” Lore frowned at him. Although not happy, he went back to his meal in silence. It was a very quiet dinner. Jaide tossed in the deep hours of the night, dreaming. She’d just finished puffing and sweating her way through gym. She hadn’t been able to run, of course, so she’d walked the mile, pretending to ignore the sneers and jibes. Finally she’d finished and retreated gratefully to the locker rooms and showered, only to discover that someone had stolen her clothes, leaving a pup tent with a slit at the top in their place. The best that the amused teacher could offer as an alternative was clothing from the lost and found. None of it fit. She’d walked through the halls, past crowds of howling students and convulsedthough-trying-not-to-show-it teachers to her locker, collected her things and walked out the main doors, never to return. Once home she’d cried until she threw up, then vowed to slim down or die trying. Discovering that she was sensitive to carbohydrates, she’d taken the necessary steps to cut them out of her diet, then found a doctor to treat her unstable hormones. The weight had dropped like so much rain, almost causing her to cry with the ridiculous ease of it all after so many tears. She’d taken her equivalency exam and vowed never to look back. But she did, didn’t she, she thought later as she lay curled in her hammock, trying not to wake Sesame. Bowing her head in shame, she hid her face in her arms. Ten years later, she didn’t even have a stretch mark to betray her, thanks to corrective surgery. She’d destroyed all known pictures of her fat self; even going so far as to hack into the school computer system to erase those as well. Her body was in excellent shape, and hey, no one had a finer looking butt. Inside, though, she was still that fat girl, tears streaming down her cheeks as her shame was broadcast to all the world by the boy she’d thought she loved. She never dared flirt. In all the years she’d been thin, she hadn’t braved so much as a short skirt. She didn’t own an earring, and her scanty collection of cosmetics rarely touched her face. Trapped in a circle of buried shame and self-doubt, she didn’t know how to change. Hadn’t she been trying? Didn’t she try?
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The next morning she awoke feeling sluggish and exhausted. Sullen and stiff from her excursion with the cane, she limped into the galley feeling like a lower class life form. The first thing she did was make a strong cup of Seti tea, looking eagerly forward to the dousing of emotion. She waited. Waited some more. Nothing happened. She stared at her cup, wondering what was wrong. It was the same tin she’d bought yesterday. The stink and the repellent taste were the same. The color was fine. It took a moment for her sluggish brain to figure out what had happened, but when it did connect the dots, she was hot enough to melt steel. “Don’t worry about it, Lore,” she sneered, dumping the tea down the disposal. Then she broke the mug and shoved it down the hole for good measure. How dare he! “Break your cup?” Jaide whirled around at the calm query, actually snarling at the offender. “You owe me a batch of tea, Skye.” Unconcerned, Skye leaned his hip against the counter. “I was addicted to painkillers once myself, so I’ll ignore that outburst. Let me know when you need help with the shakes.” “I’m not an addict!” Knowing eyes scanned her. “Irritability, fear of going without your hit, nausea? How long have you been on the Seti, years now? When did you figure out that you wouldn’t feel good unless you had some every day?” “You don’t understand,” she protested, beginning to sweat with anxiety. “I need it.” His eyes hardened. “Too bad.” She jerked away from his stare, pitiful excuses, bribes, and threats running through her frantic brain. She was not an addict! He didn’t understand, she just....she just needed it. On the verge of hyperventilation, she forced herself to take deep, calming breaths. If she just explained-no! No one would ever hear about that. Shoulders hunched, she stared at him with hate. This pain was his fault. “I suggest we move this to the infirmary before you get ugly,” he said, straightening. When she didn’t budge, he explained, “I’ve made a non-addictive serum that will give you what you need. It’s in my lab.” He shrugged. “It was the least that I could do, considering.” There was no reason to trust him, but she followed him anyway, just on the chance it might be true. Skye took a prepared injector off his work bench, then turned towards her. “All right. Let’s have your neck.” She closed her eyes and gave him access. Easing his groggy patient down so that she could lie comfortably, the medic put away his injector. The serum would help her to sleep off the worse of the withdrawal symptoms, as well as help her body shed the toxins. Flicking off the lights, he left her to rest. He’d done his good deed for the day.
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Jaide woke twenty-five hours later feeling as if something wasn’t quite right. She felt....different. Opening her eyes, she saw the darkened infirmary ceiling, and remembered. Groaning, she levered her stiff body off the examining table and swung her feet to the floor. In spite of her long sleep, she felt foggy, and for a moment she couldn’t decide what to do. Her clamoring bladder decided for her, and she shambled over to the latrine. That finished, she limped toward the delicious smells coming from the galley. Skye looked up as Jaide lurched into the doorway, holding onto the frame. Immediately he went to her, catching her before she fell. Her light brown hair, barely constrained in its loosened tail, slipped free, swinging down to veil her face as she used him for balance. A little unsettled by his first view of her more feminine side, he asked, “Are you all right?” Not really. Why had she never noticed how delicious he smelled? Whatever scent he used, it made him smell like spring rain and summer nights. Sultry. So good.... Catching herself leaning closer to nuzzle his shirt, she jerked back. “Just hungry.” “Glad to hear it,” he murmured, wrapping his arm around her shoulders as he assisted her to the table. “It’s good to see you up and around,” Nemesis offered, looking her over. “Skye said you weren’t feeling well, and we were beginning to worry.” Oddly enough, Sesame said nothing. Murmuring something soothing, Jaide accepted a huge slice of quiche from Lore and fell on it, devouring every crumb. With every bite her brain cleared, and she felt more human. Skye watched her eat as he chatted with the others. Color flushed her cheeks, and she seemed softer, more vulnerable. That and she kept sneaking looks at him when she thought he wasn’t looking. The third time she did it he deliberately caught her eye, surprising a flush out of her. He wasn’t the only one who noticed. Astonished, Nemesis asked Skye, highfrequency, “What did you say was wrong with her, my friend? She seems....” Skye hid his smile behind his mug. “I advised her to discontinue taking the Seti for medical reasons. She complied.” Nemesis’s eyes filled with a new light and he considered the small augmenter. “So that’s why the blushes and the shy glances. What a difference.” He sent Skye a sly smile. “It should make her more pleasant to be with, yes?” “I’m sure his motives were completely altruistic.” Lore couldn’t quite hide his smirk. Skye ignored them both. Without the Seti, Jaide was very different. The glass veneer was gone, leaving behind a woman both younger and more vulnerable. Compared to what he’d seen before, this Jaide seemed almost defenseless. Unsure and in need of a protector. Anticipation brought a sultry smile to his lips. This Jaide held possibilities. Jaide saw the small smile and a chill raced through her. She looked at Sesame in panic. She returned a bland stare and asked Quadril a question. No help there.
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This was bad. Not since she was seventeen had she felt this vulnerable, this aware of the opposite sex and her own body. Needs she’d buried for years threatened to swamp her. Fortunately there was one antidote that always worked. “That was great. Best quiche I ever had,” she said, using the table for balance as she stood. Lore whisked her plate under his as she reached for it, and she sent him a half smile of thanks. Her hair swung forward, obscuring her vision, and she tossed it back over her shoulder in annoyance. There was little she could do to confine it since one hand was occupied with her cane, but she’d see to it first thing when she reached her room. Loose hair was a nuisance and a hazard on the job. Skye considered walking her back to her room, but she looked so relieved to be escaping that he relented. As he watched her limp away he reminded himself that just because she was now showing signs of interest in him didn’t mean he needed to pounce. There was no telling what the woman was like now that her defenses were down. A smart man would sit back and observe before making any decisions. For all he knew, this Jaide was clingy and grasping, with the morals of space port flotsam. >From what he understood of Seti, withdrawal brought with it a powerful surge of suppressed sensation. She might turn out to be randy as a alley cat no matter what turned its attention her way. Yes, he decided, sipping his coffee and turning his attention back to business. A smart man would definitely wait. “You rigged my tea.” Sesame didn’t even blink at Jaide’s low, accusing growl as the door to their room cycled shut. She tossed her tablet on her bed, then faced her friend and partner, who glowered at her from her hammock. “Actually, Skye rigged it.” Her smile was wide and false. “I just swiped it for him.” Jaide sat up, using one foot to keep the hanging bed in motion. “It happened almost from the beginning, didn’t it?” Her tone was low, savage. “Rather trusting of you, wasn’t it?” Scratching the edge of her nostril with her thumb, a sure sign of rising temper, Sesame replied, “Spare me your temper tantrum, Calanarre. Someone had to crash your pity party. And yeah,” she said with a challenging look, “maybe I thought you could use a good lay.” Her eyes swept Jaide in fast survey. “I’d say the Drac has the equipment to do the job justice, and from what I’ve seen, you think so, too.” Her tongue temporarily immobilized by chagrin, Jaide looked away. Sesame didn’t know the stakes. “You don’t know what you’re talking about, Calais. Maybe you can just hop from bed to bed, but it doesn’t work that way with me.” Her eyes narrowed. “Not that I’ve seen you do any hopping in the time I’ve known you.” It was Sesame’s turn to look away. Sitting on her bed, she fiddled with her tablet. “We were discussing your smoking love life, girl, not mine.” Target sighted, Jaide pressed with the goal of revenge, “I don’t know. Maybe you ought to find a Drac and give him a test drive; then you might be qualified to give advice. The captain looks like a likely specimen,” she goaded. Sesame shot her a dirty look. “Not in this lifetime.” Unconvinced, Jaide leaned back, swinging her legs up on the hammock. “Come on, Sesame. Live a little. Besides, who are you trying to fool? The air ignites every time
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you guys are in the same room. Everybody knows there’s something going on between you two.” Tossing her tablet aside and bending to unlace her boots, Sesame retorted, “Yeah, and it’s called intense dislike.” Sesame got into bed and doused the lights, and soon her soft snores filled the room. Unable to rest, Jaide remained awake, trapped by her own thoughts. No matter what plot Sesame and Skye had cooked up together, she was not going to comply, she thought fiercely, glaring at the darkened ceiling. She was an adult, and she knew what she was doing. The very last thing she needed was an intimate relationship to mess with her mind and screw up her life. Relationships brought complications she didn’t want to deal with. A rebellious, slow throb started low as she thought of Skye, in direct contrast to all her cool logic. Stifling a groan, she curled on her side, drawing her knees up. It didn’t help. Swearing silently, she shifted back. The obvious solution was to get her hands on some more tea the moment they docked. Not an easy task with Skye and Sesame watching her every move. Feeling like a prisoner, she shifted again, resenting this new restlessness. Now even the haven of dream time was lost to her, thanks to her helpful friend and her accomplice. Skye! she seethed. Why did he care, anyway? Surely there were other ways, easier ways, to get women. Why was he messing with her mind? Playing with her heart? Jaide rolled over with a groan at that unbidden thought, slapping a pillow over her head. Enough of this foolishness! She was going to sleep.
Chapter 4 Life without Seti was a great deal more challenging. As her injuries healed Jaide’s spirits returned to normal, but her new awareness did not fade. Often she would catch herself sneaking glances at Skye’s magnificent rear end, or worse, drifting off into a fantasy involving the two of them and unlimited privacy. Avoidance on a small ship was not the easiest thing, but it helped to stay busy. In fact, things were going surprisingly well. Until V.B. Trell decided to make contact. Jaide was on the bridge working on a console when his ship appeared on the scanner. Immediately it began broadcasting a signal to talk. Wary but willing to communicate, Nemesis took the call. “Captain Spectere.” V.B. nodded his shaved head at him with cool respect. Then his pale blue eyes shifted to Jaide. “Calanarre,” he sneered. “Ruining yet another fine ship, I see.” Unwilling to show the icy dread the sight of him stirred, she leaned back in her
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chair, crossing one ankle over her knee. Toying with her screwdriver, she acknowledged him with a curt nod. “What’s your gripe, Trell? I’m a busy woman.” Frigid eyes narrowed. “Too busy to fix your screw ups?” His eyes shifted momentarily to Sesame, who immediately came to stand beside her. His expression was annoyed but dismissive, then his attention shifted back to his true target. Gesturing angrily behind him, he all but spat, “I’ve got a faulty regulator here that cost me my last race. You were the last one who worked on it, and my mechanic confirms it’s your fault. I want it fixed.” His voice dropped a menacing octave. “Now.” Jaide tossed aside her tool. Five years ago she’d vowed never to set foot on one of his vessels again, and she wasn’t about to do it now. “Vent it up your blow hole, Trell. Your mechanic is a liar,” she told him coldly. “I never touched your regulator, and if you’d reviewed your records, you’d realize that. Not that any of that matters to you, since you’re just trying to bum a free augmentation. If I boarded you’d be off for deep space, trailing vapor.” Trell appealed to the impassive Nemesis. “I signed her bloody contract, Spectere. It says she owes me repairs. It would be in your best interest to see that she complies.” Nemesis raised a jaded brow in silent inquiry. Trell was mildly famous as a racer, and galactically known for his rash temper. He’d have to be a little stupid and a lot crazy to dare moving against him, however. “He’s targeting the bridge, Captain!” Lore warned, watching the scanners. A dangerous light entered Nemesis’ topaz eyes. Before the situation could escalate, Sesame calmly called out, “Nexus computer, Sesame here. Switch to auxiliary power.” Instantly the lights on his bridge dimmed. Jaide hissed. This was not good. She’d always wondered why Sesame had agreed to that one job for Trell, shortly after Jaide’s accident. Knowing Sesame thought the man slime, it had confused her greatly. Now she feared she knew. Revenge time, Sesame style. Trell’s face registered astonished fury. “You said you’d taken yourself out of the command codes! I checked.” Sesame widened her eyes at him. “Captain Trell,” Nemesis interrupted, his voice silky. Some of the cockiness fled from Trell’s face, and a fine sheen of sweat popped out on his brow. “I’m tempted to blow your ship to atoms right now, but that wouldn’t be any fun. Instead, I think I’ll leave you to figure out how you’re going to work the bugs out of your system before something more dangerous occurs.” A nasty smile curved his lips. “In the meantime, I give you fair warning. Stay out of my sight, flotsam, or you may find yourself floating in space without a ship. Sesame Calais is under my personal protection, and I will take action if harm comes to Jaide.” Even Trell couldn’t miss the implications of that. With a venomous look at Jaide, he cut transmission. Nemesis turned his attention to Sesame, and by association, Jaide. Sesame was more than ready to match fire with fury. Shooting to her feet, she stalked him, demanding, “Your personal protection, is it? Why wasn’t I informed of this sweeping proclamation? I had the situation under control, Spectere.”
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Jaide groaned and slunk into her chair. Now was not the time for Sesame to get defensive! She was just glad that it was Sesame getting the third degree and not her. By the glimpse she’d caught of Skye’s face, he surely longed to take his turn at her. Nemesis towered over her, his eyes snapping with fury. “In my office, now.” When Sesame didn’t budge, he leaned closer, invading her space. “You wish this to be said in front of all? Very well. What have you done to my ship?” She stiffened, and his eyes chilled. “I am not a fool, Ms. Calais. If you make a habit of tampering with the command codes of others, then you have compromised mine. I want to know what you’ve done.” “I had good reason,” she spat out, chopping a hand through the air. “But just because you’re hot about it was no reason to tell Trell I was your roll.” Any heat still left in his gaze turned to liquid nitrogen. “Had you? I am waiting for this soothing information,” he said, prudently ignoring the last of her words. When she said nothing, he prodded with all the warmth of deep space, “I seem to recall a contract....its last line states something about waste disposal, if I remember right. You do remember, don’t you?” Her eyes narrowed. “Trell was a special case” His answering smile was highly unpleasant. “I’m certain he was,” he said with patent disbelief, looking her over as if deciding whether to annihilate her on the spot or spare her on the grounds of madness. “However, I doubt anyone else will believe it. You want to know why I told Trell that we were sharing a bed?” Nemesis shook his head as if she were the dullest woman he’d ever encountered. “What do you think your life will be worth when Trell tells your patrons that you’ve kept control of their command codes?” His scathing glance took in both women this time. Sesame lost color as understanding finally dawned. A sick feeling of dread settled in Jaide’s stomach. They were dead meat. His face hard, Nemesis said, “I protected you for my own ends, Calais. With luck, it will keep you alive long enough to finish your job. Just pray I don’t decide to tell the truth if anyone asks about us.” Stepping back as if she were crawling with vermin, he crossed his arms and pinned her with a laser deadly stare. “You will finish your work on my ship. You will be watched at all times, and if I even suspect you of tampering again, I will kill you.” He paused a moment, drilling home the utter gravity of their situation. “You’re not the only one who keeps their contracts.” Skye watched Jaide slink away, as furious as he’d ever been in his life. If it hadn’t been for Trell, he might have never known her true character. Manipulative. For all he knew, planning blackmail or sabotage. Swearing silently to himself, he stared out the windshield How many criminals would pay-and well-for a way to cripple the Black Tide? The odds were against them surviving long enough to seek revenge, as she must know. He swore again, mouthing a vicious epithet as he shifted in his chair, ignoring the blinking readouts before him. Beside him, Lore sighed heavily, as though occupied with similar, disappointing thoughts. After a moment, he regained a measure of calm. With it came reason.
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It had been Sesame, not Jaide, who’d tampered with Trell’s command codes. Perhaps Jaide knew nothing of it, though cynically, he doubted it. After all, they were partners. Even if Sesame had only been protecting her friend, any sane man would be wary of giving her free rein. One glace at Nemesis’ stormy expression confirmed he regretted it. This was foolish, Skye told himself impatiently. Speculation wouldn’t bring any answers. Questioning Jaide would. But not yet. His fingers danced across the black console, entering queries, seeking data. First he would find out all there was to know of one V.B. Trell. A crippling wave of fear iced her veins, and Jaide pressed the fist holding her wrench to her forehead. Fight it, she demanded of herself. She wasn’t a coward, and by the galaxy’s black heart she wouldn’t back down now. There was a way out of this mess and she would find it. Skye, his eyes wise and remote, watched them work, leaning against the doorframe. To her surprise he hadn’t tried to question her. Like the rest of them, he treated her like a dangerous stranger. Fine. Let him. No distractions meant better work output. A vicious cramp seized her belly, and she closed her eyes, silently moving her lips as she chanted a prayer. Her cycle had seized her with particular force this time, leaving her head aching and her stomach rebellious of food. It was all she could do at mealtimes to take a few bites and push the rest around on her plate. She wondered if it had anything to do with stopping the Seti. Groping inside a pocket, she fumbled for a pain patch and slapped it on. Remembering how inefficient the last one had been, she grabbed another and used that one, too. Instant relief swept her system, and she relaxed a little, returning to her work. In spite of her exhaustion, if she could just keep up this pace for another week, they’d be out of here. One way or another. Determined not to think about it, she tightened a bolt, twisting hard. The wrench slipped in her hand, and she wracked her knuckles on a sharp edge, splitting the skin. Sesame glanced at her, saw she was all right, and went back to work. Holding her hand, she clenched it tight and gritted her teeth, waiting for the pain to fade. “Why do you do it?” Startled, Jaide turned pain glazed eyes to Skye, who studied Sesame with an unreadable expression. “What?” she rasped, confused. Ignoring her, he straightened from the wall, moving closer to Sesame, watching her wary face. “Why do you retain control of the ships?” Grunting in understanding, she tossed out, “Maybe I’m just a cold bitch.” Her eyes dulled. “Maybe I sell out to the highest bidder.” He seized her jaw, scanning her face with expert eyes. “You’re a bad liar.” Jaide took a fast step toward them and stopped, undecided. He wasn’t hurting her. Still, she couldn’t let Sesame do this for her. “You’re asking the wrong woman.”
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Those predatory Draconian eyes fastened on her, and in that instant Jaide knew she’d blundered right into his trap. Sesame grabbed his arm before he could move toward her, warning him in her sternest voice, “Leave her alone, Skye. We’ll be out of here in a week at most. Nothing she says will change that.” Skye looked down at her hand until she let go. “What she has to say is her choice,” he said in a soft, warning tone. “And anything she does.” “Give us a minute, would you?” Jaide asked before Sesame could object. Glancing between the intense man at her side and her partner, who was intently studying her wrench, Sesame opened her mouth, shut it. “It’s your funeral,” she said grimly and strode out. Jaide remained where she was, staring at nothing. He hadn’t moved, but she was so attuned to him she could practically feel him breathe. Maybe that’s what triggered her lapse in sanity, she thought. What else would inspire her to dare the unthinkable? “When I was younger and more stupid,” and starving, she added silently, trying not to think about what she was saying, and the danger it put her in, again, “I took a job with a captain on the seedy side, thinking I could handle a week working on his ship. After all, it was docked, and he’d be off on business, out of my hair.” She swallowed, amazed again at her own foolishness. “He and his partner cornered me in the ship under the guise of looking over repairs.” Remembered terror thickened her voice. “The only way I got away was telling the computer to set off the fire claxon. I was under contract, so I had to finish his ship, but that night I hired two assistants, the biggest man I could find and a woman. Neither one knew a calculator from a calibrator. I lost money hand over fist on that job.” She cleared her throat, leaning against the workbench and toying with her wrench. “Sesame knows about that, so I guess I’m to blame for giving her the idea.” When he said nothing, she added, “So far as I know she doesn’t make a habit of it.” Silent seconds ticked by. She sneaked a peek at his face, but his expression didn’t show his thoughts. “She didn’t set Trell’s back.” Jaide looked up, squeezing her wrench. “Trell....” her voice cracked. No. She was not going to go into details. The things she’d seen while on Trell’s ship were nothing she’d ever wish to verbally dredge into the light. Instead, she turned her back on him. “I was glad she hadn’t today.” A cough broke the silence, hers. Fiddling with her tools, she waited for his next question. “Do you fear me?” Astonished, she spun around. The words tumbled out with too much haste, without thought. “No!” He took a step nearer, his eyes steady. “Then tell me.” She longed to. Wished with all her heart for the troubles to be over. Did she dare? Was it worth the chance? There was nowhere to run if this backfired. Closing her eyes, she debated a moment, then reached into her tool belt and extracted a chip. Toying with it, she asked, “How long have you been a soldier?” “Fifteen years.”
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Caught by surprise, her eyes mapped him as she thoughtlessly blurted, “You don’t look it.” His answering grin was far too sexy for her good sense. Taking a deep breath for courage and control, she searched the ceiling, then muttered, “If I needed proof I was crazy, here it is.” Handing the chip over with an unsteady hand, she explained, “I gave a copy of this to a law officer two years ago, and again to an official three months back, but I never saw anything come of it. Well, nothing but a couple of attempts to blow my head off.” She tried for a lop-sided smile, but it wouldn’t come. “What?” His tone was quiet, but his expression betrayed his shock and concern. Jaide looked down, shrugged. “Trell’s the brother of a powerful drug czar. He could easily have blocked any action. I think maybe his visit today had more to do with this,” she gestured to the chip, “than any defective parts.” Refusing to see what he did with it, she turned her back on him and grabbed a welding mask. Time to hope these Dracs were on the level. If not, she was dead. “This is the sworn testimony of Jaide Calanarre....” The crew of the Black Tide sat around the captain’s conference table, watching the video footage of Jaide’s evidence. All except Quadril, who was flying the ship and listening in. According to Jaide, she’d stumbled onto the records while trying to access other data. She hadn’t watched all the recordings, just enough to take action and download the files. They didn’t have the same luxury. The clips were long, and it was a while before the last feminine scream began to fade from the charged air. Skye’s face wasn’t the only one leeched of blood when it was through. “She didn’t tell me the name of the official,” he volunteered quietly, wishing he’d known all this a lot sooner. Early enough to have taken Trell in yesterday. “She will,” Nemesis said, his voice flat. “Stupid of him to record his little torture sessions,” Quadril growled over the intercom. Lore shook his head. “Monsters like him enjoy watching their own depravity over and over. It wets their appetite for more.” He closed his eyes and massaged the bridge of his nose. The sound of female voices raised in terror, begging for mercy was going to stick with all of them for a very long time. “Trell was lucky she didn’t cause his ship to self-destruct while she had the chance. I would have.” “I still don’t understand why she didn’t just go straight to us with the chip,” Quadril said. “She had plenty of opportunity.” “Given the situation, would you be so trusting?” Nemesis asked dryly. Speaking almost to himself, he muttered, “And now what do I do? Sesame could have done a great deal more damage than she did, but I still can’t trust her, and Jaide’s become a prime witness. Even if they finished the ship tomorrow, I still couldn’t let her leave, not until this is settled.” He grimaced. “Not if I don’t want to find her with a knife in her back. And somehow I doubt she’ll take kindly to protective custody.” “Jaide took a leap of faith in coming to me,” Skye said quietly, locking eyes with Nemesis. “Three times now she’s taken a chance with her life to see justice done. It’s
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indication enough for me that we can trust her.” He knew it had taken a lot of courage for her to have risked giving him the chip, and he admired her fiercely for it. He couldn’t wait to collect the bounty soon to be posted on Trell. And it would be posted. He knew just where to take it. Five minutes into its viewing and he’d have a contract. And when he had the bounty, he’d give it to Jaide. She’d earned it. Skye wanted Trell badly. They all did. No one schemed against their people and lived. Trell was a dead man. More important to him than the knowledge of where to find Trell was the confirmation of his instincts. Jaide’s actions had proven to him that his concerns about pursuing her were groundless. And given that...“I’ll take responsibility for watching over her.” There was a moment of silence to honor his declaration, though no one seemed surprised. Certainly no one challenged it. “As you wish.” Nemesis made a notation in the log. “For your woman’s sake, we will extend leniency to Calais, though I still want her watched.” His smile to Skye was warm and faintly wistful, as if he envied his chance at happiness. “Good luck with the hunt.” “To the hunt!” the others echoed, and Lore slapped him on the back in glee, gripping his shoulder and giving him a friendly shake. “I knew it!” All stood, and Nemesis gripped forearms with Skye, using his opposite hand to brace Skye’s shoulder. “You chose well,” he offered, joyous and wickedly amused at once. After all, it wasn’t every day a Draconian tamed a mate. This chase promised to be particularly entertaining. “Get ready. We’re going dockside.” Jaide glanced over her shoulder at Skye. “Go ahead. I’m not interested.” “That’s your misfortune. You’re not staying here by yourself,” he said, moving into the engine room. Stopping right next to her, he looked her over with a critical eye. “You’ll want to get cleaned up. Wear a dress if you’ve got one.” Glowering, she set aside her current project and turned to face him, crossing her arms. “I don’t own a dress. I like it that way.” He slanted her a speculative glance. “What do you wear to parties?” “I don’t go to parties. Too busy.” A grunt of disbelief was his answer to that. It was clear from his own dressy pants and flowing black shirt that he had no difficultly turning out for a party. Jaide felt the need to press her point. “Some people have better things to do than stand around and drink away the night. My time’s far too important.” He didn’t look convinced. Taking a step forward, he spanned her waist with his hands, gauging her dimensions. “What are you doing?” she demanded, shocked. She hadn’t been braced for the contact, and the sudden touch of his warm hands did frightening things to her body. Heat lightning streaked from the point of contact, igniting her nerves, and it was all she could do not to gasp.
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Grabbing his wrists, she tried to throw them off, but he wasn’t budging. “Let go,” she whispered, her heart racing at their half embrace. He was so close.... Skye looked down at her, visually stroking her face. He looked at her lips. Half hypnotized by the lights in his eyes, they parted a fraction. His gaze moved to the side, then back. He released her and stepped away. “Wear pants, then. I’m sure we can find you something to go with them.” The natural rasp of his voice had deepened, and there was a warm darkness in his gaze that she hadn’t seen before. “I’ll meet you in the galley.” What was he doing? Skye drummed his fingers as he waited outside the changing room of one of the world Nepal’s largest department stores. Located in a nearby solar system, Nepal was currently one of the hottest vacation spots around, and outrageously expensive. Not that it had impressed their augmenters. Were all humans this reluctant to carouse? It was a wonder they hadn’t all expired of boredom. Lore and Quadril were roaming around, amusing themselves while Jaide tried on some clothes. Sesame couldn’t be pried out of the Black Tide for anything so frivolous as a good time, and so Nemesis had been forced to stay behind and keep an eye on her. Skye suspected he wasn’t as opposed to the plan as he professed to be. He glanced at the changing room. She’d been in there a good ten minutes now, and he was getting impatient. He’d never seen a woman so reluctant to shop. Not that he’d been around many. Still, all women liked it, didn’t they? So why was Jaide so reluctant to search for party clothes? She’d just stood there with her hands in her pockets, eyeing the racks of clothing like dread crusaders. Growing impatient with her hesitation, he’d finally made a selection himself and practically pushed her into a room to change. After all, he couldn’t let her cruise the town in faded denim and a t-shirt, especially not where they were going. If he hadn’t known better, he’d swear she thrived on being contrary. She hadn’t wanted to burn off energy with the rest of them. Even the mention of the exclusive club they planned to visit hadn’t moved her. Still, for her own good he couldn’t just let her cut herself off from life. Granted, it had to be hard to cope with the fear of assassination hanging over her head, but he suspected she’d be reclusive even without it. Who better than he to change all that? The door slowly cracked open. Skye straightened, unconsciously holding his breath. Jaide poked her head out and grimaced at the attendant. “Give me back my clothes. I can’t be seen like this.” Annoyed, Skye held out a hand to stop the woman, then scowled at Jaide. “Let’s see it.” When she balked, he took her clothes from the attendant and held them up by one hand. “You want them? Come and get them.” With a growl of disgust, the door banged open, exposing her glowering form. For a moment Skye only stared, amazed at the transformation. Sleek black leather with silver snake skin panels hugged her legs with loving precision, curving around delicate calves, flowing up her thighs to wrap around a luscious pair of hips. A chain belt held up pants that couldn’t possibly sag, its golden links glinting at her waist. She was wearing a
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sleeveless turtleneck of scarlet lace over silk with invisible support that lifted and shaped her breasts. His mouth watered. Lore returned to Skye’s side. He, too, stared. “Whoa.” Fierce pink color stained her cheeks as she crossed her arms protectively, unwittingly bunching her assets in a very tempting manner. “Give me back my clothes.” Standing in front of two prime males who insisted on looking her over like a rare delicacy unnerved her. Skye in particular reminded her of a junkyard dog scenting steak. Skye slowly shook his head. Handing the bundle to the attendant, he told her, “Put these someplace safe.” Then he swiped his debit card through the teller machine and grabbed Jaide’s hand. “Come on.” “I can’t go out there dressed like this!” she hissed at him, dragging her heels. Skye gave her hand a little tug that brought her skipping after him. Given no choice, she matched her pace to his. “I’m going to kill you for this,” she swore, stinging with embarrassment. Spinning on his heel, he twirled her into his embrace, trapping her against his chest with strong arms. The cheeky rascal grinned. “That would be a waste.” Those gorgeous eyes darkened as he noticed her parted lips and rapid breathing. A knowing chuckle from Lore gained her release. The men continued on in high spirits, taking her with them, willing or no. Collecting Quadril, they hailed a transport and headed for the club called the Bonviet. She felt like a fool. Jaide sat hunched over at a corner table, poking at the ice cubes in her drink with her straw. The deep bass of the music rattled through her feet and up into her brain. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Lore laughing and mingling, dancing with women in the crowd of strangers. Variegated lights danced and spun over the dance floor, adding to the frantic party atmosphere. Skye had disappeared, but the last she’d seen of him he’d been talking to a gorgeous waitress who’d seemed far too happy to see him. Even Quadril was off in the game room. Good riddance, she though, sulking. She didn’t care where they were, or what Skye did. For all she cared he could spend the entire evening boinking his brains out with strange women. Her shoulders hunched. Since she’d flatly refused to participate, they’d left her to her own devices to while away the evening. So here she sat, plunking away at her ice and watching with bored satisfaction as they submerged beneath the fizzing pink liquid. “A pretty lady such as yourself should never have cause to scowl so.” Jaide looked up in annoyance as a stunning male about her own age dropped into the seat opposite her. Alcohol or dancing had flushed his bronzed skin, and the slightest dusting of gold stubble grazed his jaw. Flipping his long gold hair over his shoulders, the stranger settled into a relaxed sprawl. Giving her a rouge’s smile, he purred, “I could make you smile, beautiful.” “She doesn’t need your help to do that.”
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Both of them looked up in surprise as Skye appeared out of nowhere and sat down next to her, draping an arm over the back of her seat. “Hello, heartflame,” he said, kissing her temple, never taking his eyes off the stranger. “Who’s your friend?” Skye could tell from the man’s expression that he’d been recognized. “What are you doing?” she hissed under the music. “Are you ready to dance?” he murmured, winding one of her silky locks around his finger. Still staring at the intruder, he said, “Your friend was just going.” The man’s eyes narrowed, noted Jaide’s acceptance of his rival’s familiar touch. Still, he didn’t stand. With another killer smile and a blatant, heated glance, he asked Jaide, “Are you sure you prefer him, sweetheart?” His rich voice lowered a seductive octave. “I’d never leave you lonely in a corner,” he raised an arrogant brow at Skye, “to flirt with our waitress.” Skye’s answering gaze was scathing, deadly. “I was looking for an empty holoroom.” Grazing the backs of his knuckles against Jaide’s soft face, he murmured, “I’m sorry, heartflame, but they’re all spoken for. Another night, perhaps?” Eyes narrowed, Jaide looked between the two men with growing suspicion. Men did not squabble over her like cats over a solitary mouse, and their teasing was making her edgy. “This is some kind of joke, right? You two know each other?” Patently astonished, the blonde’s eyes widened. He glanced at Skye as if wondering about her sanity. Amazed himself, Skye drew back a little and frowned at her. “What are you talking about?” “Don’t play coy, spaceboy!” she snapped. “I know you arranged this, and I don’t need your pity.” His continued act, this blatant attempt to make her feel desirable by arranging a fake fight for her affections insulted her. Surely she hadn’t looked that miserable? “If I wanted male company, I can hexed well find it myself,” she added, infusing her voice with all the contempt she could muster. At her continued and hostile skepticism, the stranger stood up. Giving her a leery glance, he said, “This doesn’t look like a good time. Another night, beautiful,” he said and melted into the crowd. Skye appeared both stymied and vexed. He opened his mouth to retort, but at that moment the music changed to a slow, seductive melody. His mouth closed, and he glanced at the floor. Without another word, the tall Draconian drew her to her feet and over to a darkened corner. “I’m not going to dance with you,” she warned him, her entire body stiff. He ignored her bitter words and drew her into his arms, rocking her slowly to the beat. “D-did you hear me?” “Mmm.” Closing his eyes, he rested his chin on the top of her head, slowly nuzzling her hair. One large hand stroked her back in a soothing rhythm. After a moment her body relaxed, and he smiled to himself in deep satisfaction as she began to tremble with awareness. Shifting her in his arms, he dared even more, sliding one strong thigh between her legs. Jaide gasped as the action brought her nearly flush against his hard body. “What do you...ohhh.…” she trailed off, as he moved his leg in a particularly wicked caress.
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“Like that?” he murmured and caressed the rim of her ear with his lips, setting her shivering. Closing his eyes, he savored the feeling of holding her body close to his, enjoying the intimate brushing of hot points. Jaide remained speechless, so he murmured teasingly, his voice deep and earthy, “If you’re not enjoying yourself we can leave now and find another source of fun.” “I’m....” her voice lost strength as he rubbed his slightly rough cheek against her hair. No one had ever danced with her, certainly not like this. His mouth brushed her cheekbone, bringing his lips a dangerous fraction closer, and her heart revved. This sudden teasing warmth of his left her reeling. “What are you doing?” she whispered almost plaintively. With a sigh, he brought her closer. “You know.” Yes, she did know, and the knowledge frightened her. It was too much, too fast, and she liked it far too well. “Well, stop it,” she ordered, pushing at him. This had to stop, and now, before she lost all sense. He withdrew a fraction to look at her. For a long moment he searched her face, his wildfire eyes penetrating deep. “That’s not what you want,” he said with utter conviction. Still, his hands relaxed, and he let her go. The world wobbled around her, and the strobe lights only made it worse. Cursing herself for a fool, she gripped her pants, using the thin leather as a ground. She would not reach for him. A careless dancer bumped into her, jarring her out of her torment. Without looking at Skye, she headed for her table. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Lore approach, but since he was headed for Skye she didn’t track his movement further. Just as she was about to sit down someone gripped her arm. “We’ve found your ship,” Skye told her. “The Bat?” Jaide gasped, her pulse jumping. His face was very grim. “Yes. It’s been abandoned in the space port. We just found out this evening.” Jaide stared at him for a stunned moment and then grabbed his arm, as eager to leave now as he’d been a few moments before. “What are you waiting for? Let’s go.” Weaving through the throng of people, she dashed out of the club and grabbed the first transport at hand. Lore informed Quadril of their plans and followed, squeezing into the transport next to Skye. All the way back she could talk of nothing else. “Why did he leave it, do you think? It’s the perfect ship. I don’t understand why he’d just walk away from it after all this time.” Biting her lip, she thought for a moment. “I’ll bet he trashed it. He’s always been hard on equipment. Still, even Chrys would have a hard time hurting the shell with all the reinforcement I used. Did I tell you that I used a platonium carbonate alloy in the hull?” Knowing what he did, Skye found himself a bit stiff with his responses. Still, he couldn’t quite bring himself to break the news to her. An exchanged glace with the silent Lore confirmed that he wasn’t the only one dreading the coming revelation. At least the incident had distracted her from their disastrous dance. Settling back against the stiff bench seat with a sigh, he let the coolness of the seat soak through his
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thin shirt as he watched the transport zip through the heavy night traffic. Thoughts of how she’d felt in his arms tormented him. The woman was amazing, both to the touch and in her response to him, and he’d gotten carried away. What had he been thinking, exciting her to the point a human woman would expect consummation? A Draconian woman would understand the need to wait and enjoy the chase, but he’d seen how it was with humans. It wouldn’t surprise him if Jaide despised him later for lighting a fire he hadn’t planned to quench. At least, not tonight. Closing his eyes, he savored the idea of leading her through several hot kisses. A wicked smile teased his lips at the thought of what would come later. And she would be willing, oh, so willing. He slanted a hungry gaze at Jaide, who stared out her own window. There was a fire in her; he could sense it. She only needed the right man to kindle a flame. Jaide was totally oblivious to his thoughts. All she could think about was the Bat, and her plans for it. A great deal of her enthusiasm drained out of her, though, when she caught her first glimpse of it. With a cry of dismay, Jaide stepped forward, staring at the small fighter’s damaged hull. It looked like acid had burst all over it, eating away at the glossy black paint. Pock marks at least a centimeter deep pitted the surface, showing blistered metal. She ran her fingers over it and they came away covered with black dust. Heedless of the costly leather, she wiped it on her pants and grabbed the ladder to climb to the cockpit. One look inside and she closed her eyes in despair. The ripped seat was the only thing still bolted down. Everything else had been stripped, including her prized engine. An ugly hole was all that remained of what had once been the console. That and a few forlorn, dangling wires. A snag in the metal strip banding the cockpit caught her palm, tearing it. It left a smear of bright blood behind as she slowly descended the ladder. “What would you like us to do with it?” asked the port official who’d accompanied them. “Scrap it,” she answered, her tone flat. “There will be a fee.” She didn’t even look back as she stalked across the hanger. “Bill me.” “But” the clueless official started to follow her, but Skye blocked his way. He glared down at the fat official. “Later.” He wasn’t asking. The self important man backed down. It was a wonder she found the Black Tide. Nearly blind with rage and pain, Jaide stumbled up the gangplank. Chrys had murdered her ship! Hot with rage, she retrieved her sparring gloves and headed for the workout room, locking the door behind her. There she punished the bag with every ounce of fury in her. Punch! Chrys’ face. Kick! Chrys’ ego, by far the most painful blow. Jaide wasn’t terribly skilled, but the exercise was an excellent purge. She didn’t stop until she was coated with sweat and trembling with exhaustion. Then she held onto the bag, panting.
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Slowly the anger leeched out of her, leaving black despair. Nemesis had been right; advanced cloaking technology wasn’t beyond either Sesame or her. And now her brother had it, along with enough jamming equipment to baffle the entire Allied Force. Presuming they could find something fast enough to catch him. She’d gone all out on the Bat, just to see what she could do. She’d been so proud....Then her brother had swooped in and ruined it for her. So what else was new? The knowledge seared like sulfuric acid. The man had been born a user. Long held hope crumpled like so much foil. She put her head in her hands. He never was going to turn it around, was he? Whatever blood they’d ever shared must have come from completely different genes, because that man had no desire for anything finer in his life than a fast ride and plenty of money. Let’s not forget the drugs and the women, she reminded herself. Long ago she’d stopped reaching out to him, but still she’d wished.... Wasted effort. The sweat started to chill on her body, and Jaide stood up. She needed a shower and some sleep. After that she would attack Nemesis’s augmentations with all she had. He was going to need everything they could give him if he was going to catch Chrys. Nemesis blinked in surprise at her new schematics. He looked like he didn’t know whether to be delighted or appalled. “A one quarter increase in speed? How can you do this without tearing the ship apart?” “We could make it almost one third if you docked the Tide,” Sesame told him, gulping her breakfast shake. “Presuming money was no object.” Her eyes skipped over his, avoiding direct contact. Jaide couldn’t help but notice that her friend’s color was high this morning. Glancing at Nemesis, she wondered if he were the cause. Sesame hadn’t mentioned anything about last night, but would she have? There were a few things Jaide herself had left out of the evening’s narrative when she’d discussed boosting the augmentations with her partner. Thinking of those things, she peeked at the unusually taciturn Skye. He raised a brow but said nothing. Apparently he wasn’t going to mention last night if she didn’t. “What pilot could fly at those speeds?” Lore demanded, pulling Jaide’s attention back to the conversation. “Chrys could.” Sesame popped a handful of raisins in her mouth, talking around them as she grabbed her tablet from Nemesis. “I can.” “You said you weren’t much of a pilot,” Nemesis reminded her with a sharp look. She shrugged. “I say a lot of things.” She ignored Jaide’s derisive snort. “Besides, I do daydream. When I’m not traveling with lightning under my tail.” She pointed a corner of spiced toast at her tablet. “Put me in a cockpit with that much travel and you can bet you’ve got my full attention.” “What about you?” Skye asked, looking at Jaide with keen interest. “Can you fly that fast?” Jaide made a negating gesture with her hand. “Maybe, but it doesn’t matter. I won’t be flying it. You will.” Despite Lore’s earlier question, she noticed no one
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questioned his ability to fly at blinding speeds. She raised her brows. “Get ready to break some records, master pilot.” Skye searched her face. Was her sudden change of heart just because of the Bat, or did it have anything to do with what had happened between them? “This is all for Chrys?” She shook her head. “This is all for me,” she said, unknowingly disappointing him. A short, cynical laugh escaped her. “Though you, of course, will benefit.” It was Sesame’s turn to make a rude noise. “Yeah, and I’m likely to be voted Galaxy’s Most Eligible. Can you give us a hand today, Quadril?” If Skye had thought the women had worked hard before, it was nothing compared to the energy they now poured out. They were everywhere, into everything. Nothing was safe from their quest for efficiency. Consoles were overhauled. With Quadril’s help sections of the engine were stripped and reassembled with the speed of a racing pit crew. Quadril even managed to stop cringing when one of the women dug around in his beloved engine. Most of the time. With all that increased industry, it was no surprise that something had to give. Jaide was on the bridge when it happened, running a diagnostic on the weapon’s system with Skye. “Engine alert! Excessive pressure” the computer screeched. Jaide didn’t need to hear any more. She was sprinting for the engine room with Skye and Quadril right behind her before the sentence completed. She was too late. Just as she reached the shut down and threw the switch, a surge of power blasted through the engine, exploding the new component they’d spent so much time installing. Jaide’s face caught the brunt of it. “Hold still.” Skye grabbed her good shoulder, avoiding the burns covering her other shoulder and parts of her arm. “You’re lucky you flung that arm up. Eyes take a long time to regenerate.” His hands were steady and his voice calm, but the set of his jaw spoke of his tension. Jaide glared at him and ducked away as he tried to treat the burn on her forehead and cheek. “A week’s worth of work lost, and you call that lucky?” Since she continued to avoid his hand, he grabbed the back of her head, holding it steady. “Be still,” he warned her sternly when she tried to squirm away. He brought the damp, medicinal smelling gauze to her cheek and began to cleanse the raw wound. It was all he could do not to think about how much worse it might have been. “It’s my fault,” Quadril said grimly. He was covered in smoke residue from putting out the fire. “I was the one who did the welding.” Jaide started to shake her head but couldn’t. “We don’t know that. It could have been-probably was-my new design. I knew I should have widened that aperture. Sesame will know after she’s done looking things over in there.” She sighed and closed her eyes. “Doesn’t matter, anyway. It’s still a lot of hard work gone up in smoke.” “Don’t worry about it,” Skye told her, his deep voice huskier than usual. His insides still shook from the scare she’d given him. “We can fix an engine. There isn’t much we can do for a dead body, though. You’re lucky to be alive.” The silence in the
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room was a testament to that. The ugly burns to her face would heal, but he wouldn’t soon forget this close call. None of them would. “You’re not taking any more chances,” he said, laying down the law. “You’re going to slow down and take more time on this. This vengeance of yours isn’t worth dying over.” She hissed in a breath as he sprayed her face with cool antiseptic. Even though he’d given her a pain blocker, it was still slightly sensitive. “It might help if we land this thing. We need at least a week on the ground to complete the modifications. Besides, you’re the ones in the hurry, remember?” When he said nothing, she mumbled, “There’s something else. We’re coming up on Tantalus, and I....need to pay off a creditor.” Skye’s face smoothed out, and a subtle tension came into his supporting hand. Tantalus was famous as a pleasure planet. Not all of the pleasures of which were wholesome. “Would this be one of the debts your brother accrued with your credit?” Jaide hunched her good shoulder at the deadly note in his voice. “Don’t badger me about it, all right? Unlike you I haven’t got a warship at my back, or the connections to keep these guys off my tail. Much as I hate it, I have to pay them.” “You seem to forget where you are,” he answered with cool confidence. “Don’t get any bright ideas,” she warned him. “Once you’re out of the picture they’ll be right back at my door, only this time they won’t be happy. Your interference will only make it worse for me, and I’ll still have to pay.” Skye slid his hand down to rest at her waist as he moved on to her shoulder. His touch caused a noticeable increase in her respiration. Leaning forward, he murmured in her good ear, “I could give you a more lasting connection with my name, were you agreeable.” She shivered. Chills raced down her spine from his soft breath, so close to her skin, and her stomach tightened. What did he think he was doing, bartering with her like this? Her teeth clenched, drawing the scorched skin tight. “Do I need it tattooed on my forehead?” she said, making certain Quadril and Lore, who’d just stopped by to check on her, could hear her clearly, only too willing to embarrass him in kind. “The only thing of mine for sale is my wrench, Drac. Everything else is off limits.” “Who said anything about buying or selling?” He controlled it, but she could tell he was angry. “I don’t deal in commerce.” Finished with her shoulder, he wrapped a bandage on it, securing the edges. Then he turned on his heel, leaving her to deal with her confusion. She reviewed their conversation. What was he mad about? He’d made a pass at her, hadn’t he? Surely she wasn’t so dim witted that she couldn’t figure out when someone was hitting on her. The way he’d touched her, breathed in her ear....what else would they be but an attempt to get her into bed? Besides, hadn’t he played that game with her once before? Why should she fall for it again? It hadn’t taken long for her to realize that Skye had been toying with her the night they’d danced. It’d had nothing to do with her and everything to do with being dockside after a long stint in space. He’d been venting steam like everyone else. Hadn’t she seen often enough how men changed once their feet hit dockside? That night had been nothing to him, which was good, because it had meant nothing to her.
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Really. “You shouldn’t have done that.” Lore scowled at her. Jaide looked away. “If I’d slept with every man.…” She shook her head. “I’ve seen what happens to women who sleep with one of the crew. Next thing you know, everybody expects them to romp with them.” Old memories darkened her eyes. “Some of them get really nasty when you say no.” “And you think we would?” Quadril snorted in disgust and walked out. Eyes snapping with equal insult, Lore suggested, “Maybe you should make certain of what he’s asking before you turn him down next time.” “What are you talking about? You heard him! What else would he have meant?” He raised his brows in mockery. “As I said, ask him, and listen next time.” A wave of uneasiness curled her toes. A pinprick of an idea flashed in her mind, only to be immediately blanketed before her conscious mind could examine it. Don’t get stupid on me, Jaide, she cautioned herself. You know better than that. That idea had never entered his head, and it wasn’t going to enter hers, either. Still, her fingers curled around the table edge. Suddenly, she found herself wanting the Seti. Wanting it bad. She glanced at Lore, who watched her from gleaming, slitted eyes as golden as the ring in his ear. Even his short curls seemed to hold the glow of Draconian displeasure. Still, Seti was a Draconian introduction, and just maybe.… Clearing her throat, she inquired, doing her best to sound only mildly interested, “So....is there another herb that works like Seti? Something non-addictive?” An expression of fury unlike any she’d ever seen crossed the mild tempered Lore’s face. She gulped at the discovery that Draconian eyes really did glow as if lit from within when riled. Spit! These Draconians could be downright spooky. Still glaring, Lore straightened from the doorway. His eyes flicked her body once, full of contempt. “Someone ought to just tie you up and deliver you to his bed,” he snapped, shocking her into a sputter. “You have enough insecurities to power this ship but not a grain of common sense to even them out. Why don’t you go do something useful with your time and learn something about the man, instead of trying to break the speed of time? You’d save us all a great deal of trouble.” Then he, too, strode out, leaving her shaken and more than a little bewildered. What was it with these guys? Was this one of those incomprehensible man things she’d somehow snarled herself in? All she was trying to do was protect herself, and they acted as if she kept committing some grievous sin. Worse, they all behaved as if they possessed some superior insider knowledge that she ought to grasp, yet no one was forthcoming with the details. How was she supposed to play the game if no one explained the rules? Well, there was always avoidance, she consoled herself, easing off the worktable. She couldn’t be baffled by that which she avoided. Almost as soon as she’d thought of it, she discarded the idea. The effort of dodging four males on a ship of this size was exhausting in itself, and she’d never get any work done.
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Never mind, she thought, shaking her head. There was no point in boggling over it. She’d just have to stick it out until they either got over it or she finished her job, whichever came first. Yep, just as soon as she’d finished mucking around with this ship, she’d be out of here, free as a bat, able to go wherever she wished. Somehow that thought didn’t leave her as satisfied as it should have.
Chapter 5 Tantalus was beautiful in the winter. Unfortunately, they arrived in the middle of high summer. “98 degrees Fahrenheit,” Lore commented early the next morning, looking up from his control panel. “And that’s in the shade.” His eyes gleamed with pleasure. Skye grinned as he locked down his own controls. “Sounds like heaven; for a Draconian at least. Shall we see if Jaide’s awake yet? It’s going to take a while to get her ready, and the supplies I radioed ahead for should be here any minute.” Jaide was indeed awake, though she was rubbing her still pink skin-all that remained of yesterday’s burn-and yawning. Healing accelerators had a way of leaving one tired, even after a long night’s rest. As he’d suspected, she was wearing a white tank top, denim pants, and her sturdy steel-toed boots. Skye shook his head. “You’ll scare the natives if you go out looking like that.” “What?” she glanced down at herself, seeing nothing wrong. “Why?” Tugging the band off her hair, he explained, “Only kept women walk around without beads and braided hair on Tantalus.” Lore produced two brushes and a small ebony box. It was gilded with exotic flowers and animals and bore Draconian script. Skye took her hand and led her over to the couch, seating her on a forest green pillow Lore tossed down. He and Lore both took a seat behind her, brushing out her hair on either side. “You don’t have to do this,” Jaide protested, even though it felt heavenly. She’d been a child the last time anyone had combed her hair, and she’d forgotten just how wonderful it felt. Still.... “I’ll only be here for a couple of hours, if that, so it doesn’t matter what the natives think.” “We’ll be longer than that.” Skye separated his section of her hair and began a tiny braid, weaving in ivory, jade or gold beads where appropriate. Jeeves perched on the back of the couch and watched with interest. “We’ve decided to dock the ship until you’ve finished with the augmentations.” She twisted to look at him, her full lips parting in surprise. “You did? When? What about—” He stole a kiss, and she flushed and quickly turned back around. Smiling to himself, he continued, “We’ve rented a private bay for you to work in. It’s time the rest of us spent a little time in port, anyway, but we’ll still be around if you need us. We’ve taken rooms at a nearby hotel. You’re lucky they had a suite left. It’s peak tourist season.”
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Jaide started to turn around again, then paused, remembering what happened last time. She didn’t need her pulse racing any more than it already did with his fingers tangled in her hair. “You didn’t need to do that. I could have stayed on the ship.” The backs of his fingers caressed her neck, tickling and sending tiny jolts to her nerves. “You’ll be safer with us. Especially after we pay a little visit to your creditor.” “What!” Forgetting herself, she turned, only to receive another highly distracting kiss. This time his hand slipped low, hovering just below her collarbone. Charged lightning sizzled to her nipple, pebbling it instantly. He ended the kiss far too soon, leaving her hungry for more. It was all she could do not to whimper. “For Lore’s sake, turn back around, heartflame,” Skye whispered in her ear, giving her lobe a hidden lick. Stifling a moan, she obeyed, fighting to remember why she’d been upset. “You can’t go,” she muttered thickly, cursing her hopping hormones. There had to be a herb shop somewhere on Tantalus, didn’t there? She’d spent part of last night looking up several possibilities that might replace her forbidden Seti, and there were a few common herbs that might do the trick, if she could just get to them. Well, as long as she didn’t take Skye, it shouldn’t be too hard, should it? She needed something, and soon! “Don’t worry about it.” “Blast it, Skye!” Jaide fought the urge to face him as her fear and temper mounted. “Didn’t you hear a thing I said?” “My hearing is excellent,” he answered calmly. “I just disagree with you.” Cold sweat began to trickle down her back. The man was going to mess with her affairs, then leave her to deal with the fallout. “I don’t believe you!” she hissed. “You’re going to get me killed! What right—” Skye’s hands tightened on her hair. “By Draconian law I am now responsible for you. The moment you signed that contract you gave us control over your welfare. Since I’ve volunteered to watch over you, I take it one step further. I judge this extortion to be a violation of your rights, and will act accordingly. You have no say over it.” Flabbergasted, it took her a long moment before she could protest, “What are you talking about? I’m not a Draconian.” “Doesn’t matter.” He resumed braiding her hair, most of the tension bleeding out of him. “In fact, there’s a number of interesting Draconian laws that apply to you while under my protection. You might like to look them up.” That did it! She made to stand up, but four unyielding male hands forced her to resume her seat. She settled for informing him instead, “Your ship might be an autonomy under galactic law, but only so long as your crew willingly submits to your rule. As a worker under contract, I only have to keep galactic law.” She paused to lend her words weight. “I never promised to submit to you, Skye.” The very idea of swearing to obey a man filled her with dread. No man was worthy of that. He’d take her freedom and squash her spirit like a bug, then go about his merry way, unconcerned with her hurts. She knew enough to take care of herself, to make her own choices and yes, mistakes, and she’d been doing it just fine for years now. What she didn’t need was some bossy alien thinking that he suddenly had the right.
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Embarrassing as it was, she added quietly, “Just because you managed to sneak a couple of kisses in on me doesn’t mean that I wanted them or any other kind of attention from you. When will you men get it through your head that just because there’s a lone woman in your crowd and you haven’t had any in a while, it doesn’t mean you have to prove you’re king of the pack by staking a claim. You can go a while without it, you know.” The hands on her hair froze. Lore murmured something in his language that sounded like a prayer. Skye said nothing, but she could feel the tension rolling off his legs. His fury tainted the air like metal-laden smoke, so potent that it invaded her lungs until she could taste it on her tongue like copper. He’d never been more furious in his life. In under ten seconds the woman he’d been aching for managed to imply not only that she didn’t enjoy his touch, but she’d also insulted his honor by implying that his only interest in her was on the level of an unfed animal. Then she’d mocked his self control, an intolerable insult to the warrior he was. All he could see for a long, hot minute was a blaze of red. The desire to unleash his passion and prove on her willing body just how much she lied wrested with an almost equally strong need to throttle her. The woman needed Seti tea just to resist him, for the love of space! How dare she imply that any lust between them was only one sided? Did she honestly think he was ignorant of what the Seti did for her? With that in mind, he leaned forward and murmured with vengeful purpose, “Pretty words from a woman so in need she drowns her thirst with Seti.” Jaide stiffened, and this time he was the one who felt the hot waves of her mortification. Her shoulders hunched as she bowed her head, and for a moment he thought she’d cry. Instantly he was sorry. “I didn’t mean that.” Lore left as Skye placed his hands on her shoulders, giving them privacy. “Please forgive me.” Shame sickened her stomach, and she could hardly breathe with the weight of humiliation crushing her chest. Oh, how his words had hurt. Worst of all, they were true. No wonder he acted the way he did. Ah, how he must scorn her, thinking she was no better than the lowest skank, willing to take a man even though he loathed her. You’ll never find anyone willing to stick it to you! Fat, disgusting sow. She pulled her knees up and hid her face in them, wrapping her arms over all to keep the pain inside. Skye tried to take her in his arms but she refused him, lashing out with painful intent, trying to punch him, kick him; anything to make him pay for the degrading tears flowing down her face, reducing her to that despised teen once again. “I don’t want you! I never wanted you!” she screamed. But it was a lie. All a horrible lie. Because at that moment, she needed him. Desperately needed to feel wanted, truly wanted for the first time in her life. Needed somebody to need her. Even as she bared her teeth, aiming for his shoulder, her body hummed with the need she fought to deny, fought to the point of psychosis. It was the shock of his body covering hers, holding her down as he pinned her wrists and legs to the floor so she wouldn’t hurt herself that finally got through to her. Her nipples became agonizing points of fire trapped against the wall of his chest, and her hips bucked helplessly against him in a seeking she disguised as fighting with another attempt to bite.
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As Skye held her pinned to the floor, suddenly he knew. Something flashed in her eyes, shooting straight to his soul, calling forth knowledge and need from that deep male part of him attuned to the woman in her. His expression softened with understanding, and her countenance changed to one of fearful vulnerability. She expected his rejection. He would give her something much better. “I want you, Jaide,” he breathed in her ear. She froze. Good, she was listening. Loosening his grasp, he settled his body more fully over her, keeping most of his weight on his forearms and one knee. Nuzzling her with the side of his face, he purred, “Only you. You feel so good.” He took her lobe in his mouth, moaning, and she shivered, her lips parting in a sensual daze. “Oh, heartflame,” he breathed, stirred at the sight. Releasing her wrists, he tangled his fingers in her silky braids, sliding his other hand to her waist. Hesitant hands came up to grasp his shoulders. “Yes,” he praised her, kissing his way down her jaw, her throat, preparing her for acceptance. “Please touch me. I want you. I need you....” Certain she was lost in a dream, Jaide feared some trick. He didn’t mean this, she knew. Lust or pity drove him, that had to be it. Yet his touch was all she’d ever wanted, everything she’d ever dreamed about, and she was helpless in the face of her need, just as she’d always known she’d be. Her breasts ached, and she twisted, trying without seeming to coax his hands to soothe them. One large hand slid up to cover her rib cage, but maddeningly moved no higher. Whimpering, she raised one knee, pressing it against his solid leg. He grasped her thigh just above her knee, pulling her tighter to him, but his touch moved no higher. Then he kissed her. It was even better than the time outside the parts shop. They had no audience. There was no Seti in her blood to dull the surge of pleasure as his lips teased hers. He sipped. He tasted. Drug his bottom lip across her mouth, driving her wild. Only when she seized his hair and brought him to her did he enter, and then it was with a wild passion that sizzled her synapses, bringing forth a surge of pleasure so intense she screamed into his mouth, scratching frantically at his back as her senses spun completely out of control. Space and time melded, and for a moment she feared she’d black out. Tender fingers caressed her temple, the side of her cheek. “Are you all right?” His voice was warm and husky, with just a hint of amusement. “I think I died,” she croaked, unwilling to open her eyes. He chuckled, then brushed her mouth with his, whispering, “Take me with you.” He’d just begun to deepen the kiss when a shadow fell across them. Jaide opened her eyes to see Nemesis peering down at them. “Is this a private entertainment or should I bring refreshment?” he asked, a hint of humor in his dry tone. Skye muttered something unintelligible into her hair, but to her surprise, didn’t tell him to go away. Instead he got to his feet, his eyes darkening as they took in her flushed appearance. Taking her hand, he helped her up, pulling her close a moment before once more seating her before him. Then he took up one of the hairbrushes and continued to dress her hair. As Nemesis moved about in the kitchen, Jaide frowned in confusion. She couldn’t figure out why Skye was so willing to let Nemesis play chaperone, or why Nemesis
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would want to. What had happened to her passionate lover? Heaven knew the man was willing. Heck, she was willing. Eager, even. That thought brought her up cold. What was she doing? Had she completely lost her mind? Here she sat, having just allowed the man who was braiding her hair to kiss her silly, and she wasn’t taking off at a dead run. Where was her self-control? Her hard won street smarts? What in the name of nuclear fusion was wrong with her brain? Perhaps she could plead insanity. There was that one mad uncle on her mother’s side....But no, as Skye’s hand brushed against the back of her neck she knew where to place the blame. Squarely on his wide shoulders. Unseen, a wry smile inched across Skye’s lips. She truly had no idea what he was doing. But then how could she know that in his culture, females were treated with honor, their virtue carefully guarded by their family. Only the basest of men touched a woman intimately without a formal agreement between them, and a fiancée who took his woman’s virtue without immediately announcing their marriage might be spit on in the streets. Shunned, at the very least. Women could not be too protected. By acting as their chaperone, Nemesis was showing Jaide the same honor he would a woman of their people; in essence holding her in trust as a potential bride. It hadn’t taken formal discussion. His actions had spoken for themselves, declaring his intentions to pursue and tame. The crew, his family, had been pleased, and highly amused by the woman’s resistance. A strong woman was always prized, and there was nothing a Draconian liked better than the thrill of the chase. None of them doubted who would win the day. Skye sobered a little. If only she weren’t so afraid. Whatever had caused her to doubt herself must have been powerful indeed to send her running from her need for him. Even now he could sense her fear coming back, feel it in the stiffness of her back against his legs. She still couldn’t understand that he wasn’t playing a selfish game of seduction, but waging a man’s battle for her heart. Odd how moments of fear could clarify the mind, he thought as his fingers brushed the pink skin of her healing face. He’d almost lost her, and he’d sworn it wouldn’t happen again before he could act on his feelings. If he’d been paying attention, he would have realized from their first kiss how he felt. Skye took a bracing breath, remembering how incredible that had been, even with her still self-drugged. Draconians believed that kisses like that held deep significance; that only two people meant to be could share such depth. As a man who’d had his share of kisses, he was more than qualified to say that he’d never felt anything like it. He wanted more. A lot more. Still, convincing her of that might be some trick. Sliding the tawny strands of her hair through his fingers, he enjoyed the silken feel. Smiling, he thought about how wonderful it would feel unbound and sliding across his chest, savoring the image. Someday soon she would welcome him as her forever mate and her lover. Until then, they could share this. The instant they stepped out of the climate controlled ship, heat and humidity slammed into them. Jaide gasped and clutched Skye’s triceps in surprise, causing him to
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halt, too. Liquid air rushed into her lungs, bringing with it an almost instant lethargy. She’d never felt anything like it outside of a sauna. The ubiquitous white of the surrounding domes only made the glare worse, reflecting waves of heat back to them with the intensity of an oven. “Too hot for you?” His knowing grin suggested he spoke of more than the weather. “Don’t worry about it. We won’t be outside for long.” Reminded of their destination, she shook her head, but he spoke before she could. Cupping her jaw gently in his hand, he made her look at him. “I’ll take care of you, heartflame. Don’t worry.” Her throat tightened at his intimate promise. “Don’t call me that,” she rasped. “And don’t make promises you won’t keep.” Don’t make me believe. I can’t take it. “I never do.” He released her with a lingering caress. Jaide squirmed in her new clothes, wishing he would stop. Even though the white gauze of her hooded wrap covered her from head to foot, protecting her from the harsh sun, the ultra feminine clothes beneath were clearly visible. Of all the colors Skye could have chosen, he’d picked white for the Egyptian styled harem pants and midriff baring handkerchief top. The embroidered turquoise, red and gold linen belt around her waist felt out of place, and only served to remind her of the gap between the hem of her top and the waist of her pants. Of course the fact that her entire back was bare except for the strings holding her top on didn’t help to soothe her nerves. She couldn' t figure out how he’d talked her into it. If she’d had any sense she would have stayed behind like Sesame, who absolutely refused to brave the one hundred percent humidity. She was a mechanic, dang it! Mechanics never wore white, or gauze, for that matter. Such silly colors wouldn’t last three minutes around an engine. It was rare enough that she traded in steel-toed boots for woven sandals. She missed the weight of her tool belt, longed for the security of rugged denim. It only made it worse that Skye and Lore were dressed the same as ever, without a single concession to the murderous heat. As far as she could tell, they weren’t even sweating. Now that was a feat, even for an alien. “At least no one will recognize me in this get up,” she muttered. A slow smile of satisfaction tugged at her escort’s sultry mouth. Taking her elbow to steady her, Skye murmured in her ear, “You look beautiful.” Embarrassment shut her mouth, and she was grateful for the dark glasses hiding her from his eyes. No one had ever called her beautiful. Not even her father had ever said she was so much as pretty. She didn’t know how to respond. Unperturbed, Skye just smiled and hailed a transport to take them to their destination. Domino’s club was quiet so early in the morning, and Domino himself was sitting at a corner table, sipping from a steaming mug. For Jaide it was likely difficult to tell anything about his race from the clubhouse door, since she was probably still blinded by the bright sunlight, but Skye’s Draconian eyes had no such difficultly. Domino still wore his black hair to his shoulders. The goatee was new though. The moment he saw them, his face lit up, and he set his cup down. “Skye! How are you, my friend?” he asked in Draconian, gripping forearms with his visitor and
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thumping him on the back with a wide grin. “It’s been too many months. Has hunting been so good?” Skye flashed him a predator’s grin, stashing his blast glasses in his pocket. “The best.” Taking the frowning Jaide’s hand, he drew her forward. “This is my Jaide, our augmenter.” “Watch those my’s, pal,” Jaide snapped, squirming internally at the possessive way he said it to the strange Draconian. Feeling even more foolish for having let herself be talked out of her boots and jeans, she nodded to the stranger. “Jaide Calanarre. Nice to meet you.” She extended her hand. He took her forearm and gently gripped it. “Call me Domino.” His lids dropped a sexy fraction. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Skye’s Jaide.” At her provoked expression, he raised an intrigued gaze to Skye. “What is this that irks her so, brother? Is she your woman or not?” His brother smiled ruefully. “She thinks she isn’t.” “So?” Domino laughed in surprise and delight. “I’m glad for you then.” Gesturing toward his table with one powerful yet elegant hand, he said in Galactic Standard, “Come, enjoy my hospitality. Citrus blossom tea?” He lifted his own mug. “Very refreshing.” When they agreed, he left them to seat themselves as he moved through the round tables and disappeared through a door beside the black marble bar. He was back in moments with a tray bearing mugs, a tea pot and a platter with a generous selection of chilled fruits and meats. “And for the lady.…” Domino presented Jaide with a frosty, salt rimmed glass of pale green liquid. “A little Draconian hospitality.” She tasted it. “Mm! Sweet. Melon and...slightly alcoholic?” When he inclined his head, she smiled and thanked him, knowing she could use a little something to help her relax. Skye waited patiently until they’d finished their exchange, then leaned forward, cradling his tea in his large hands. “Much as I enjoy your company, there is one item of business that must be dealt with first. Have you heard of a man called Aden Box?” Their host’s smile grew unpleasant. Jaide shivered, casting a quick look at Skye. She hoped he knew what he was doing. Domino’s next words reassured her immensely. “The cur comes here on occasion. I do hope you’ve come to collect him. I’m tired of his stench.” “Haven’t found anything to let you dispatch him yourself?” Domino’s expression was pure disgust. “No, and not for lack of hunting. He’s filth, and I know he’s filth, but I’m shot if I can find any proof.” “How about drug running and extortion?” Skye gestured to Jaide, and Domino’s eyes kindled with interest. “Bring him to me, Domino, and I promise to rid you of your problems.” Jaide gasped, staring at him. “What do mean, ‘you’ll take care of his problems’? You can’t just kill him!” Skye raised a brow. “Did I say I would?” “You didn’t have to. You guys aren’t exactly known for your subtlety.” He waved her objection aside. “You watch too many telecasts.”
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“I hardly watch any!” she protested hotly. “And you’re changing the subject. No killing. I’ll just pay him off, end of story. Nobody gets hurt.” “Except you.” His eyes were glowing. “But I don’t have to kill him. All I have to do is take him to an honest judge with sufficient evidence. Unless I catch him in the act of murder, or I’ve taken a license out on him, I won’t kill him.” She relaxed a fraction. “Oh. Well, it’s still a lost cause,” she grumbled. “You know my name’s on his credit voucher, even if I wasn’t the one who made the charges. Legally, I have to pay him.” “Don’t worry about it,” he told her, drawing her to him and kissing the corner of her mouth. She clutched his thigh under the table in warning. He looked at her a long moment, then slowly smiled. “I don’t think you realize the social consequences of that action. Touch me there in any way, and by our laws you agree to my rule.” He lowered his voice, but not enough that the others couldn’t hear. “To my intimate rule.” Jaide flushed and snatched her hand away. “I’m not playing games with you, Skye,” she snapped, incensed at his gall. “I want you to stop interfering.” His fiery look both excited and warned. “We’ll discuss this later.” With a curse, Jaide broke away and stalked to the lady’s room, the only place of privacy he wasn’t likely to invade. This was too much! Pacing the isle between the immaculate stalls, she tried to come up with a plan that wouldn’t get her killed. The sensual heat lingering from his touch, his gaze, made it difficult to think. The man had such tempting, hard thighs.... Jaide caught herself drifting and snarled. That was the first thing that had to go! She had to find a way to sneak past the others and find a herb shop, and then she could deal with Box. A sneaky idea glimmered in her mind, and she smiled at her own genius. With a large enough tip and a good story, why wouldn’t a herb shop deliver? The slight smile turned into a wicked grin as she spotted a communications terminal in the corner. Her fingers paused as they hovered over the selection of herbs listed under a dealer’s electronic shopping site. They had Seti. A sweat broke out on her body, and her hand started to shake. Suddenly her mouth was as dry as the surface of the moon. No one was standing over her. She could get away with it and no one would ever know. Nobody but her. In a sudden panic, she cut the connection, then gripped the blue and red tiled wall. Pressing her forehead tightly to it, she forced herself to get control of her breathing. “I don’t need it,” she chanted, over and over. “I can live without it.” Is this what it’s like for my brother? Jaide hissed at the power of that thought. No! She’d reviled her brother for much of her life because of his drug use. Despised him for his weakness. She was nothing like him. Was she? No! Shoving away from the wall with a silent howl, she bit her lip and began to pace. Back and forth, like an animal in a room with no doors. No doors, but maybe a window.
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Because she wasn’t Chrys. No matter how hard she tried, she could never be like him, could never accept the things he reveled in. Nothing in her craved his life, or ever would. She could choose to be different, choose to be strong. But what did that mean? Clenching her fists, she stared bleakly at the floor. Being strong meant facing danger, facing painful choices without shaking knees and a pounding heart. It meant she’d have to face Skye and the way he made her feel. But that wasn’t fair! She’d already proven that she sucked at making choices involving hormones. Squeezing her eyes tight, she thought as hard as she could, Don’t do this to me, God! I can’t go through this again. Please.... Weary resignation seeped into her. Never mind. If you’re going to do it, just do it and get it over with, please. Either way, she wasn’t going back to the Seti. Anything was better than living the rest of her life on the run. Feeling somewhat better for having made a choice, Jaide unwound her wrap and headed for a stall. No sense in not making use of the facilities while she was here. Skye’s eyes widened as she emerged from the restroom with her wrap draped over her arm. The woman was something else without the gauze obscuring her. “It catches on everything,” she mumbled, sliding her eyes down to the laminate floor. If she hadn’t known better, she’d have sworn it was real wood. “I can’t say I’m sorry.” He smiled, then extended a hand to her, seating her in the chair next to his. They stayed for lunch and nearly to the opening hour for the club, then Skye reluctantly stood, picking up Jaide’s gauze. “You’ll need its protection in the street,” he said, wrapping it around her, making her shiver with his gentle ministrations. “Cold?” he asked, knowing she wasn’t. She mumbled something in reply. “What was that?” He cocked his head, a teasing smile playing on his lips. She cleared her throat. “I said where are we going?” Domino, who’d been eyeing them with amused interest, laughed. “You’re on Tantalus, heartflame. Does it matter?” As it turned out, it didn’t. Everywhere they went electromagnetic, environmental domes filtered out the worst of the heat, leaving the abundant gardens and lush streets comfortably cool. Only pedestrian traffic was allowed inside the domes, and peace enforcers patrolled the blocks of shops and public gardens, making certain the shoppers remained undisturbed. More than one enforcer eyed their group, but none approached them. Lore headed off on business of his own, leaving Skye and Jaide to explore the city alone. Since Jaide had never been there before, Skye took the lead, suggesting they stop for lunch at an eatery he knew of. It was a delightful experience. They were led to a private gazebo in the center of a grove of tropical trees and seated on colorful silken cushions at a low table. All around them exotic blooms scented the air, lending a festive atmosphere. Jaide was in awe. There had been nothing like it where she grew up, and the hydroponics gardens she’d seen in ships and stations since paled in comparison. “It’s so beautiful,” she whispered, drinking in the sights.
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Skye reclined on an elbow, watched her with a smile. “You should see the polar colony on Antarctica. Deep beneath the ice, the continent blooms once again. We use refracted sunlight for as much of the year as possible, and you’d never know that you weren’t outdoors. There are species of plants there you’d see nowhere else. We brought many seeds and plants from our native world.” What he was suggesting was impossible, as only the rare dignitary was ever allowed to view the Draconian home away from home, so she chose to ignore it. “Do you remember it? Your home world?” she asked as she copied his posture, stretching out and resting her head on one arm. A touch of sadness slipped into his eyes, then was gone. “I was very young when we left; I don’t have many memories of it.” “I’m sorry.” She searched for a less painful subject. “What about your parents? Are they still alive?” “My father and his wife live on Antarctica.” >From his tone the subject wasn’t a popular one. Choosing another, she inquired, “So what were you like as a child?” He chuckled. “A terror. Always underfoot or getting into trouble with my thirst for adventure, and barely scratching out with my skin intact. My mother nicknamed me ‘leaps out of danger’.” When she laughed, he continued, “Actually my brother had it worse; he was every bit as bad as I; often wreaking havoc with his romps. My mother named him for an Earth game one carefully set up, then tapped, setting organized chaos into motion.” She cocked her head, thinking. “Domino? Is he your brother?” He said nothing, simply looked at her steadily until she got uncomfortable. “What?” “We do not normally share our family ties with outsiders.” Long lashes swept down, partially concealing his eyes. “It is considered intimate information.” “Skye....” Their food arrived, distracting her. Tropical white meat salad, served in coconut shells, accompanied by a frosty green fruit drink was served in glasses made to resemble crocodiles standing on their tail, balancing a prismatic glass bubble on their noses. Jaide giggled at the unique wineglass, impressed by the wonderful whimsy. Flutes of swirled citrus and white chocolate mousse were offered for dessert. With that as a distraction, it was no wonder she got side tracked. After that Skye took her to a zoo. Although he was fascinated by the reptiles, especially the hundred foot blue snake on display, Jaide couldn’t quite share his enthusiasm. Of course part of his enjoyment might have stemmed from the unconscious press of her body against his in the face of her unease. When the huge snake reared up and looked in their direction, Skye even managed to wrap an arm around her shoulders without a murmur of protest. Equally as delightful was her complete absorption with the tank full of small water mammals, allowing him to enfold her completely as he stood behind her, lightly resting his chin on the top of her head. Jaide closed her eyes, drinking in the feeling of being held by him. His arms surrounded her, supporting her, warming her through the tissue thin gauze of her wrap. Need thrummed through her, drummed in her veins. He felt so good!
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By the time they had dinner that evening and headed back to their hotel, she was completely beat. Before she knew it her head was sagging against his shoulder, and her drowsy mind decided that it was perfectly safe to go one better and slip down to rest her head in his lap, snuggled in his coat he’d wrapped around her to ward away the evening chill. Pleased as Skye was by her trust, and much as he enjoyed the weight of her head in his lap, the ride back was sensual torture. To distract himself, he looked out the window, watching the bright lights of the clubs and casinos flash by. Somewhere out there was Aden Box. By now Lore would have his current address and he and Quadril would be taking turns watching his every move. When he made a mistake, they would be on him. In the meantime, he had to figure out how to secure his own prize. Jaide moaned and wiggled in his lap, seeking a more comfortable position. Being careful not to wake her, he smoothed her hair away from her face and out from under her collar, tucking it behind her ear. She didn’t stir when the transport stopped, so he picked her up and carried her through the quiet lobby to the glass walled elevator. The clerk at the desk didn’t even blink. When he reached her door, just down from his, he punched in the door code, letting himself in. Then he took her to the mattress topped pedestal that served as a bed, laying her down on the silken coverlet, still wrapped in his coat. He stood there for a long while, watching her sleep on a tranquil sea of pale blue. Leaving her alone was not the easiest thing he’d ever done. Jaide emerged from her bath the next morning, dripping bubbles from her naked body onto the plush ermine patterned rug. Since it was the only garment in her room, she donned the black silk ‘dress’ that had been left for her. The abbreviated tank top was pointed at the bottom on the left side, and trimmed in a wide gold braid. A ring through the bottom attached to the corresponding peak at the top of the matching skirt, and that was all that kept the sheath-which was slit to her knee-up. Even worse, the dip on the right side of the skirt’s waist plunged just low enough for a peek of hip bone. It was scandalous. Skye expected her to wear it. Those two things, combined with waking still wrapped in nothing but his coat, were more than sufficient to start her temper simmering. She didn’t even pause when she exited her room and found Skye leaning against the wall, waiting for her with a pleasant expression that grew into a welcoming smile. Instead, she tossed his duster at him and kept on walking. Completely baffled, he tagged her arm, spinning her around to face him. “What’s wrong?” “Let me count the reasons,” she said, curling her lip. “I am not your doll to be dressed at your whim.” A hurt expression settled on his face. “You don’t like it? It looks very beautiful on you.” Unsettled by his unexpected vulnerability, she back peddled. “That’s not it” “I thought it would be comfortable in this hot climate,” he said with the
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hopefulness of a little boy. “W-well, it is, but—” “I didn’t mean to upset you.” Genuine sincerity radiated from his anxious face. Jaide was a goner. Reaching out, she tentatively touched his arm. “It’s okay. I just—” “I’m glad,” he told her, and swept her up into a whirlwind kiss. By the time he finished, all she could do was cling to him, wide-eyed, and pant. “Ready for breakfast?” he murmured against her mouth, giving her one last, tender tug on her bottom lip. “Okay.” she whispered back, still dazed. Skye slipped his arm around her waist and walked with her to the elevator, and she didn’t even think of objecting. After all, he was just being nice. The others-minus Sesame, who’d stopped by Jaide’s room earlier to say she’d be off on business-were waiting for them in the conservatory dining room. No one said a thing about Skye’s physical closeness. To her. “Should we prepare a bridal chamber for you now, or should we wait until after lunch?” Nemesis asked, high frequency, while Jaide’s attention was diverted to being seated. Skye grinned with good humor as the others laughed, full of high spirits. “Do not scare her away with your antics,” he admonished. “I still have to trick her into having me, first.” That brought another round of grins and silent laughter, which was quickly muffled when Jaide looked up. “What’s so funny?” she asked suspiciously as Skye took the seat beside her. “It’s a beautiful day, and we’re enjoying ourselves.” Nemesis excused them, gesturing to the carefully filtered sunlight pouring into the conservatory. “We were going to go to the amusement park today.” Lore chimed in, further throwing her off the scent. “Will you come with us?” Before she could refuse, Skye leaned over and cajoled with just a hint of sexy vulnerability, “I was really hoping you would come.” For some reason, Jaide couldn' t tell him no when he looked like that. The amusement park was truly sensational. Located in the center of town in a huge natural bowl, it could have been a town in itself. The force dome above shut out the worst of the heat and humidity, and many different kinds of plants flourished in the mazes and gardens within. Since most of the trees were edible in nature guests could literally feast from the trees as they walked about, refreshing themselves at any of the many sparkling fountains there for that purpose. “I don’t understand.” Jaide frowned at one of the café-style venders along the streets. “Aren’t they concerned these fruit trees will take away from their business?” “It’s a different kind of park than you’re accustomed to,” Skye explained as he plucked a small blue fruit from an overhead tree. He popped it in his mouth. “The trees are part of the attraction. Many of the plants that grow here grow nowhere else, and tourists love to see them without the annoyance of trudging through the wild. Besides,
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there are always those who desire a drink other than water or prepared foods, and the park is known for the skill of its cooks. We’ll get some ourselves before the day is over.” “Tantalus is a world of sensual pleasures,” Nemesis added, his eyes on Sesame, who’d reluctantly come along. “It caters to every sense, indulges and pampers its guests until they grow addicted to the pleasures it provides. That’s why so many find it hard to resist.” Sesame snorted, unimpressed. “Yeah, but when your money runs out where are you? Back on the streets, grubbing for more in the hopes of earning enough to buy your way in. No thanks. I prefer a more reliable version of reality.” Nemesis shook his head. “You’re afraid to leave your carefully controlled, boring little world to reach for something better.” She bristled. “At least I can depend on it!” “Are we talking about the park?” Jaide interjected, bewildered by this conversational corner. Nemesis and Sesame had stopped and were glaring at each other as if they’d like to go to battle. Sesame had her fists clenched, her stance combative. “Your problem is that you just can’t let a moment’s pleasure pass you by.” His feet spread wide, Nemesis gestured angrily with his hands. “Yours is a complete lack of faith.” “Let’s leave them to their squabbling and enjoy ourselves, shall we?” Skye linked arms with Jaide, firmly clamping his hand over hers on his arm to anchor her to his side. Consumed by curiosity, she craned her neck to watch the arguing pair as Skye moved them along the stone path. “What’s going on?” she muttered to herself. She’d never seen Sesame act so peculiar. “Have you heard about the newest holoride?” Lore asked Quadril as they fell in behind, effectively blocking her view. “It’s a dragon flight through the cloud kingdoms of.…” Distracted by the subsequent conversation, Jaide forgot all about Sesame and her troubles as she demanded more details. She couldn’t remember when she’d been so happy. Being with Skye was bliss. Always the perfect gentleman, he saw to her needs before thinking of his own, lavishing a kind of attention on her she’d never known. He opened doors, seated her at tables when they paused to rest, plucked a flower from a fragrant hedge and tucked it in her hair. He made her feel so safe...so not alone. For one magical day, she felt as light as a soap bubble, buoyed by the breeze. Then came the night. Jaide paused at the ship’s hatch, listening. Lore and Quadril were still talking with Skye, unwittingly distracting him. A pang of regret and guilt hit her, but she ruthlessly suppressed both. Whatever claims he might be forming to her in his mind, Skye still didn’t own her, nor did he have the right to interfere in her business. Denial fluttered in her heart, but she squashed that, too. With a glance at her reluctant accomplice, Sesame, she slipped from the Black Tide.
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It was time to see Aden Box. Sesame nagged her all the way to Domino’s club. “This is stupid, you know,” she complained as they got in the transport. Once inside she scowled at Jaide in the flickering illumination of the city lights. “I say let the Drac take care of Aden. Why should you have to pay your brother’s bills?” Jaide rolled her eyes and clamped down on her temper. “We discussed this, Ses.” “No, we argued about it, and then you went ahead and did whatever you wanted,” Sesame retorted. Eyes narrowed, Jaide said, “You didn’t have to come.” Sesame didn’t dignify that with a reply. Jaide met with Aden at Domino’s club, dressed as usual in her jeans and a plain shirt, boots and her favorite brown and white checked shirt with the sleeves rolled up and the tail hanging out. The braids were gone, replaced by a ponytail. The one new item to her attire was a black metal cuff on her left hand. A necessary addition, since Domino’s security didn’t allow weapons into the club. It was an innocuous looking item, but one capable of-among other thingsshattering eardrums not augmented by anti-sonic implants, designed to prevent hearing damage. The same implants that could detect high-pitched Draconian speech. Too bad she couldn’t understand more than one word in ten of it, but then, she was working on that. She had a feeling that Skye wouldn’t appreciate learning of her ability, especially given his response to that little bombshell with the computer codes. Still, it sucked not understanding what those around you where saying over your head, which is why she’d also taught herself to spell as a small child. Ignorance never paid. Domino himself hadn’t seen her come in; she’d made sure of that. She’d felt it was in her best interests to make this deal on friendly ground, though. If she got into a pinch, Skye’s brother would likely give her a hand, given how much he despised Box. She hoped. Sesame, who’d entered separately, watched covertly from another table, just in case. Box arrived shortly after she did, swaggering into the club like he owned the world, two heavily made up women on his arms. From her dim balcony table, Jaide saw him give one a quick grope on the backside and the other a wet kiss that made Jaide shudder even if the woman did pretend to like it. Then he sent them both on their way and headed up to the balcony. She winced. Dressed as he was in a loud satin shirt and a blinding array of gold chains, she could forget about going unnoticed. Best to conclude their business quickly, before Domino arrived, or worse, called his brother. “So where’s my money?” Box demanded the moment he sat down, his little eyes looking her over as if she might have it on her. “Where’s my brother?” she countered, keeping her expression poker-dead. “I know he’s a frequent customer of yours, Box. Give.”
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Ugliness transformed Box’s face as he grabbed her cuffed wrist with startling swiftness. “You give. Now. I want my money.” Jaide leaned in. “What you’ll get is a bloody stump where your hand once was if you don’t let go.” Her smile turned evil. “Or don’t you know what you’re holding?” Box snatched his hand away and eyed her, then stretched one arm out along the back of the booth, slouching in his seat with a sleazy grin. For a moment he cocked his head, as if listening to the lively beat of the band. Then his gaze slid back to hers. “No one knows where Chrys will be next but him.” “Bat spat! I’ve been tracking the blighter ever since he stole my fighter.” Her tone dropped below zero. “I’ve got some very interesting recordings of some of his transactions, too,” she lied, wishing it were true. What she did have was paltry, but maybe enough for a bluff. “Even now they’re in the hands of a certain governor, just waiting for review. You cancel my bill, tell me what I want to know, and I’ll erase the one with your name on it.” “You haven’t got a thing on me.” Box was no fool. “Name a date and time, baby.” “What’s going on, beautiful?” a sharkskin rough voice interrupted as Domino slid into the booth beside her. Ignoring her sudden tension, he slipped his arm around her shoulders and gave her a quick kiss in greeting. “Skye is going to kill you,” he whispered in her ear undercover of the music, nipping her lobe with a stinging warning disguised as affection. Then, louder for Box’s benefit, “I was hurt you didn’t come to see me right away.” “I had business. Still do,” she growled, telling him with her eyes how much she didn’t appreciate his interference. He flashed a hunter’s grin at the unimpressed Box. “Draconians love difficult women.” He ignored her covert kick. “Last Thursday, between one and two am.” Jaide told Aden, continuing their interrupted conversation. The slight widening of his eyes told her she’d scored. “Would you like to know the place as well?” Box flicked an uneasy eye at the curious Domino. “If you know that much, why do you need me? Find him yourself.” A commotion started at the front door, a buzz of many interested voices. Box looked that way and blanched. “I’ve got to go,” he said, standing up. Jaide tried to lean around Domino to see, but he stood up as well, blocking her view as well as her escape route. She might have been agile enough to dash over the table, but if what she suspected was coming her way, it would do her little good. “Aden Box.” Skye’s voice had never been so cold, his expression so frightening. “You’re under arrest for the rape and murder of Natasha Coalson. Her body was found stashed in your closet early this morning.” Jaide almost gagged. Aden Box was worse than she’d ever imagined. Then Box did a supremely stupid thing. He attacked. Skye tossed him over the balcony so fast Jaide barely registered the event, seeing only the blur of a flying body. Patrons screamed and cursed as the body landed dead center in the clearing between tables with a sickening thud.
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For a moment no one moved; then Box began to moan and squirm. One trembling hand reached up and grasped a tablecloth as he tried to lever himself up. Seconds later the crash of falling glasses sounded as he pulled it off and dumped the iced drinks on himself. Skye turned to her. “You stay here,” he told her, his eyes glowing topaz jewels. Then he went to collect Box. Jaide sat at Domino’s private table and quietly drank herself into a pleasant stupor. She wasn’t drunk, but the evening’s hard edges had acquired a soothing bluntness just the same. Sesame didn’t drink, but she was brooding, and if she downed another bowl of salted snacks she’d swell to twice her size. Both of them would have slunk away hours ago if it hadn’t been for Quadril, who’d been left behind to keep them out of trouble. She was dreaming. Vaguely Jaide registered someone picking her up and carrying her, and that might have troubled her, except that someone smelled like storm winds and night. Skye. With a trusting sigh, she slid her hand inside his coat and warmed it on his chest, curling into his heat. When he lay her down on something soft and giving and took her in his arms, she gave a little moan of pleasure and slipped deeper into sleep. Skye stared up at Domino’s guest room ceiling from his position on his back, holding Jaide to him with one arm. Still fully dressed, he contemplated the transport lights gliding across the walls. It had not been a good night, and he couldn’t stay with her for long, but he needed this time. She’d had no idea what she’d gotten into with Box. When Domino told him of her attempted blackmail, his heart had almost stopped. Box would have left peacefully that night, then followed her when they left the club and carved out her heart. He was only thankful she’d chosen Domino’s for the meeting. That was the only action of hers tonight that gave him hope. Kissing her forehead, he rose to leave, once more leaving her wrapped in his duster. Tonight, as he tried to sleep, it would give him comfort to know that a part of him slept with her. He’d try not to torture himself with wondering when she’d accept the rest of him.
Chapter 6 Mornings were good for resolutions. The first thing Jaide resolved to do was to stop waking up in strange places. The second thing, she thought with a grimace at the foul taste in her mouth, was to stop overindulging. Granted, her head didn’t hurt, but it did feel stuffed with spun glass, which
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wasn’t much of an improvement. Add that to her gritty eyes and general feeling of dread at facing Skye’s wrath, and she was almost guaranteed to have a foul day. Although she wasn’t awake enough to pay much attention, she did get a vague impression of a rather stark room holding little more than a bed and an unadorned window facing a featureless stone wall. It had a tiny bathroom, though, and that was all that mattered. To her surprise, neither Skye nor Domino said a word to her when she strolled into the combined living and dinning area, still rubbing sand from her eyes. Of course, Skye didn’t have to. One darkling look from him was eloquent enough voice his displeasure. Domino handed her a frosty protein shake, and Jaide murmured a thank you. It took a little bit, but finally she worked up the nerve to say, “About last night—” Skye waved an impatient hand, barely glancing at her. “No one owns you.” Was it her imagination, or did she hear an unspoken, yet? Certainly his cool tone did not match his unconcerned demeanor. Domino’s twitching lips, which he quickly hid by smoothing his goatee, further roused her suspicious. “That’s right,” Jaide agreed, a touch belligerent and somewhat unsure. This was not at all the reaction she’d expected. “But—” This time he gave her his full attention for one piercing second. “I said enough.” The edge of steel in his command brooked no refusal. Strangely, his refusal to discuss matters only fueled her desire to grovel, but she bit her tongue. Her pride smarting at his dismissal, she clamped her mouth shut and sulked. There was no sightseeing that day. Jaide went directly to the hangar with the Black Tide, intending to find Sesame and get right to work. “What do you mean, you’re taking a vacation?” Jaide demanded, staring incredulously at her partner, who was lying on the rug in the middle of the Black Tide’s entertainment room. She watched in disbelief as Nemesis, who straddled Sesame’s hips, continued with his massage. “How is this?” he asked solicitously, shifting his hands. “Ohhh, yes,” Sesame moaned, causing Jaide to shift uncomfortably. “Right there.” When Jaide made an impatient sound, she muttered with uncharacteristic unconcern, “Hurt my back. No help for it.” She didn’t sound the least bit sorry, either. “But.…” Jaide began, and then gave up in frustration. Somehow she doubted she’d be able to move either her partner or Nemesis with a crane right now. Especially not with the way Nemesis was hovering. The expression on his face was almost...loverlike. Rolling her eyes, Jaide grabbed her toolbelt and got to work, vowing not to get distracted with personal matters. She’d seen the sights, resolved her business with Boxshe grimaced-and now it was time to finish what she’d started so she could get back to her life. It might take a bit longer without Sesame’s help, but the results would be the same. The hand that held the power drill above her head dropped, and she closed her eyes, hanging her head even as one hand remained braced against the rim of the opened
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service hatch. Did she really want to go back to her so-called life? Sighing, she sat down cross-legged right on the concrete. No one was there to see her. Everyone else was off enjoying themselves while she worked. It had never bothered her before; after all, it was her job, but then she’d never felt alone before. The truth was, she missed Skye. Somehow the man had slipped beneath her guard and stolen her soul, and now he was out there, somewhere, packing it around in his pocket. She toyed with the nose of the drill, sighing again. Last night was supposed to demonstrate her independence, to reclaim it, but now that she had it, all she wanted was to go back to the way things were. The day was long and lonely, and the ship too quiet that night, so Jaide decided to go back to Domino’s. It came as an unpleasant surprise to find it closed. According to the sign on the door, today was an off day. Since she didn’t want to disturb him by calling up to his rooms, she told the transport driver to take her to a small eatery near the space port that catered to off world crews. The dim pub was busy that evening, but she got lucky and snagged a small corner booth just as a seedy looking pair of men vacated it. Slipping in unnoticed behind them, she shoved aside the complimentary hookah with her forearm, grimacing in distaste. Then she looked over the menu on the wall and ordered a hot drink and a platter of assorted edibles on the booth’s electronic selection plate. Nobody bothered her while she waited. Wonderful, she thought with grim humor. I must really look like something this evening if nobody in this bunch is troubling to hit on me. Not that she’d welcome advances, but it was odd-and somewhat disillusioningthat no one bothered. The waiter-a young man with three silver rings in his right ear and glitter dusted skin-brought her order. He wasn’t rude, but his manner wasn’t particularly friendly as he took her money. Since she often had that effect on men, she didn’t pay it much mind. Still, it made Skye’s behavior all the more peculiar in contrast. Why was that crazy Drac so determined to chase after her? It wasn’t her great beauty-she had none. She wasn’t charming, or funny, or sweet. Looking at herself objectively, she couldn’t see one thing that would attract him. A good looking, mostly even-tempered, man such as himself didn’t need to waste time with a woman like her. Impossible to believe he didn’t have other options. Of course, there was that one thing.… Her brows lifted in dark speculation as she contemplated her meal of oil boiled, batter crusted vegetables. Draconians were a private sort, and rumors abounded concerning their race. It was sometimes said that Draconian males were vampires who preferred feminine prey, which accounted for the rarity of their females. Only the most beautiful woman-or so said the rumors-were left untouched for breeding purposes. If such a thing were true, it would explain the universal comeliness of the Draconians she’d seen. Jaide didn’t believe it, though. Only a moron would credit space port talk. Still, the rumors might be damaging enough to interfere with Skye’s love life. Perhaps it was a novelty to find a woman who didn’t run from his advances.
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The more she thought about it, the more sense her conclusion made. Not that it made her any happier. After all, it was hardly complimentary to be pursued simply because she wasn’t bright enough to run away. Irritated with the subject, Jaide shoved it aside in favor of more pressing concerns. Selecting a fat wedge of crusted root, she dipped it in the spicy yellow sauce and munched thoughtfully, considering her options. Thanks to Skye’s barbarian tactics, she now had one less creditor to deal with, but there were two others. Both of them were here on Tantalus. Madam Badberry-smart woman-had already received cash in advance from Chrys for services rendered, but there was the small matter of payment owed for the destruction of one of her best boudoirs. Chrys had been high on something or another when he went in and had slunk out after destroying a fortune in antique glass and floor length mirrors. Jaide’s lips tightened in anger. His partner’s medical bill had been exceedingly high, too. Taking a swig of her spiked chocolate, she debated whether or not to deal with the madam or the gambling bills first. The madam was nastier, but the gambling Don was a close second. Neither of them would be a walk in the sun. “Hello, heartflame.” Yanked from her reverie, Jaide’s head whipped up. Skye slid into the bench opposite her. A fast glance around showed Lore leaning insolently against the bar, a drink in one hand. He saluted her with his glass and went back to watching the crowd. “What do you want?” she asked irritably. Ignoring her question, he looked around, his expression faintly contemptuous. “You could have picked a nicer place to hide in.” “I’ll remember that next time,” she said with heavy sarcasm. “How did you find me?” Instead of answering, he snagged a crispy morsel from her plate, dunked it in her sauce. “Just help yourself,” she offered acidly, glowering at the handsome Drac. “It is very good.” His eyes moved restlessly around the room. She raised a brow at his watchfulness. “Looking for someone?” Instead of answering her directly, he asked, “You have two more creditors hounding you, do you not?” Instantly alert, she demanded, “How would you know?” His answering smile was pleasant, if a bit predatory about the edges. Jaide stared at him stonily. “You broke into my financial files.” Brows raised, he answered reassuringly, “I would never do anything so petty.” His eyes gleamed. “I accessed all your information, not just your bank files.” A quake of dread twisted her guts. To cover it, she asked nastily, “Don’t you have anything better to do with your vacation than to interfere in my affairs?” “Ah, but your affairs are so interesting,” he countered, raiding her plate again. His eyes roamed the room. Exasperated, she demanded, “What are you looking for?” “Your brother.”
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Fully alert, she looked around the pub. Encounters with Chrys were never pleasant. “Why?” “Because I decided it was time he paid his own creditors, with interest,” he casually informed her. She sucked in a breath. “You didn’t! Tell me you didn’t,” she pleaded. He didn’t even blink. Without a drop of remorse, he admitted, “I did.” With a shaking hand she lifted her drink, taking a healthy gulp. It wouldn’t take her brother long to add up the facts, and she wasn’t ready to deal with the consequences of seeing him again. Still, it wasn’t thoughts of her irate brother that made her queasy. What if Skye had unearthed some earlier pictures of herself? She drained her mug and reached for the selection board to order another. Skye caught her wrist. “Wouldn’t you like to leave here first? For all you know an assassin could be watching, just waiting for a chance to take you out.” “How likely is that?” she asked but dropped her hand. Lore fell in behind them as they made their way from the pub. Jaide kept a sharp eye out for anyone making sudden moves, and she didn’t take another deep breath until they’d entered the transport. Shaken, she griped at Skye, “You enjoy putting my life in danger, don’t you?” “I won’t let him harm you, Jaide.” “Maybe not, at least while you’re still around. The problem is it won’t last forever,” she said grimly, trying to drill some sense into his hard skull. “Much good this is going to do me then.” He looked down at her, feeling her tension. For a moment he considered refuting her statement, but he knew she’d just answer him with denials. Now was not the time. Skye turned his face to the window, but his thoughts were elsewhere. Soon.… The next day was slightly better as she slipped back into the pattern of solitude. Lore was about, doing something in the ship, but their paths rarely crossed. She’d even made it nearly to lunch time without thinking of Skye more than once every ten minutes when he and Domino showed up, escorting two very striking Draconian women. “This is Vasha and Belsi.” Domino introduced the surprisingly gracious pair. “They’re local virtual reality stars, and when they heard the Black Tide was in—” “I’ve always wanted to see it,” Vasha said, flipping her glossy black braids over her shoulder and smiling at Skye. “I really admire everything about it and its crew. So dedicated to keeping the rest of us safe from dangerous criminals. You’re very lucky to serve with them,” she told Jaide with complete sincerity. “Ah, sure. Yeah,” Jaide agreed, feeling like a dolt compared to Vasha’s perfection. “Don’t let me stop you.” Pretending that she had urgent business on the other side of the ship, she murmured a goodbye, doing her best not to look anyone, but especially him, in the eye. Safely hidden by the bulk of the ship, she pressed her hot forehead to the metal and took a deep breath, shutting her eyes tight. To her horror, the breath felt dangerously close to a sob. Fearing disgrace, she turned and walked as rapidly as she could to the back storeroom, the only place the women wouldn’t be likely to tour. Poorly illuminated, the storeroom made a perfect place to grieve.
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Jaide chose a crate stuffed behind some shelves and pulled her legs up, then proceeded to wallow in self-pity. As a pastime it wouldn’t win any awards, but she just didn’t have the emotional energy to do anything else, not after the night she’d spent worrying about Chrys’ revenge. She really should have seen it coming. Just because she’d gotten caught up in a fantasy for a time didn’t mean she could hold back the tide of reality forever. Reality was a woman like Vasha, and she could no more be like her than she could load cargo into a soap bubble and fly it to the moon. That’s what Skye would choose for forever, whenever he was truly ready to choose a woman. Not some greasy mechanic. Vasha and Belsi stayed for dinner. It was a strain, but Jaide managed to trot out her company manners and keep from snapping. Hopefully, she gave the impression of shyness and not that of a surly prospector. It wasn’t easy, since the friendly pair did their best to draw her out. Skye she diligently ignored until she’d done her time and was able to escape. Belsi looked at Jaide’s almost untouched plate and tsked. Switching to Draconian, just in case Jaide was lingering anywhere near, she said, “When are you going to tell her we are related?” Vasha grimaced in sympathy. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more miserable woman. Intimacy or not, brother, I don’t wish to go through that again.” “Don’t be so hasty.” Domino admonished them, shaking his head as he eyed the brooding Skye, who was looking toward the door. “The woman is stubborn. How else will she acknowledge her desire for our brother?” Belsi grimaced at him. “She’s a woman, not an animal to be tamed, bug brain.” Domino grinned. “Where is the difference?” She threw a chip at him. Skye agreed with his younger sisters. He couldn’t stand to see Jaide so miserable, and besides, her unhappiness spoke for itself, didn’t it? She was heartbroken without him, just as he’d suspected. Now that he knew that she hated being away from him as much as he did, he saw no reason to delay their union. “They’re my sisters.” Skye’s voice slid across her senses like the finest whiskey, rough, but full of stomach burning power. Jaide sucked in a breath and gripped the engine room workbench, shaking a little with relief. She couldn’t turn around and face him, not just yet. His next move made that obsolete. Skye came up behind her and unzipped her coveralls. She let him. Then he put his hands on her waist and kissed the side of her neck, moving up to swirl his tongue around her ear. Yearning for more, she turned her face to receive his kiss. It scorched her. Slowly and with exquisite friction, he moved his hips against her backside, making her whimper with the need to have him inside. She squirmed, but although he continued to kiss her-such deep, hot kisses-his hands moved no higher, refused to finish what he’d started, to put out the flames. “More,” she begged against his lips, dizzy with
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need. In response, his kiss became absolutely voracious, drugging her with passion, but still he didn’t pet her. “Please!” she groaned, squirming against him, trying to turn in his arms. He held her firm, allowing no turning. In desperation she tugged at her own clothes, intending to remove all obstacles, but he laced her fingers with his and placed them on the bench, holding them there even as he continued to move. “Why?” she moaned, almost in pain from her intense arousal. The need she’d felt almost since the moment they met flared white hot at this slightest touch, burning away all denial. She needed him. She would have him. He lightly bit her neck, drawing at the tender skin. “You are not ready yet,” he murmured, and nuzzled aside her collar, nipped at the tendon. “Not nearly ready enough.” She couldn’t believe her ears! “I’m ready!” she wailed, trying again to turn. Skye captured her mouth and devoured her, torturing her with pleasure until she cried out, screaming into his mouth. Her body sagged, and he wrapped his arms around her, bracing her between his body and the bench so she wouldn’t sink to the floor. For a long, aching moment he held her, then slowly drew her zipper up. She shook her head, mute with emotion. “Shh.” He rocked her in his arms, giving the tension somewhere to go. “Not until it’s right.” “I don’t understand.” Her words were whispered, barely audible. Before he could explain further, a loud rapping came from the hallway, then a spat of quick Draconian. “We’re coming!” Skye called, then reluctantly let go of her, lacing her hands with his. “Come with us. I can’t stay here without the others, and I don’t like the thought of your being here alone. I’d rest easier knowing that you were near,” he cajoled, caressing the inside of her wrist with his thumb. Regardless of what he said, she would not be staying here tonight. She dropped her eyes and nodded, feeling shy. They exited the ship with the others. Chrys and five armed men were waiting at the bottom of the ramp, guns at the ready. Domino’s and Skye’s guns appeared in their hands as if conjured, and they pushed the women behind them. Jaide peeked around Skye’s broad back anyway, since standing on tiptoe would have been useless. “Chrys—” “I’ll have a word with my sister now, if you don’t mind,” he said, his face mirroring his tension. His eyes flicked nervously between the two tall Draconians in front of her. “Alone.” “Are you sure you want to risk it?” Jaide demanded, looking around Skye. “I’m in the mood to strangle you after what you pulled.” Irritated with her protectors, she elbowed them in the sides, and they reluctantly gave her five inches of viewing space. She used it to glare at her older brother, sticking
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her hands on her hips. The best defense was a strong attack. “Besides, I can fight just as well with you from here.” “Fine running mates you’re traveling with these days,” he said with contempt, curling his lip at her companions. “Dracs! Are you bedrocking with him, too?” he asked, waving his gun at Skye. Jaide glared at him. “Not only that, but say hello to your new brother-in-law,” she shot back, just to see him hackle. The surprise in his eyes was truly gratifying. “And by the way, get ready to be called uncle, brother dear.” She batted her eyes at him. “These Dracs are something else again.” Both of her guardians stiffened, likely with shock. Clearly disgusted, Chrys shifted from foot to foot and spat on the concrete. “You wanted so bad to talk to me, brat, so get your flabby butt down here. I haven’t got all night.” He stowed his gun and jerked his head, sending his men backing off to a safe distance, leaving room for her to come to him. Hmm. Obviously he didn’t know about Skye’s little trick with his bank balance yet. And since she’d sent the message before she knew herself...Why not give him a chance to redeem himself? Skye and Domino exchanged looks, but neither one stopped her as she moved to join him. Up close, the evidence of Chrys’ hard living was even more apparent. They’d never looked alike, what with his inheriting his mother’s sandy hair and facial features, and his deterioration made the gap between them wider. “You look like scrap,” she said tightly. He snorted, waiting for her to get to the point. She closed her eyes a second and sighed, wishing things were different. “Call in your own markers. I’m tired of goons showing up at my door, demanding payment.” He crossed his arms and smiled unpleasantly. “Why should I? You’ve got plenty of money.” “Not since you cleaned me out,” she reminded him, barely keeping her temper. “That was five year’s worth of savings you blew on who knows what.” “Hey, your problems are your problems, and your problems aren’t my problems.” He sent an evil glance towards Skye, who watched him like a hawk. “Besides, it looks like you’ve already sold me out.” “You could find a new line of work.” Chrys looked her up and down with contempt. “Why? So I can be as happy and successful as you? No thanks.” He turned his back on her and called to Skye, “I don’t care what you are to her, ‘cause you and I are never gonna hit it off. I warn you now, if I catch you on my radar, little sister here’s gonna be married to a blood splotch in space.” Skye watched him leave, clamping down on his urge to follow and pulverize the cocky piece of trash. Only the need to see the women to safety first stopped him. Jaide stared after her brother, seeming to have forgotten the man she’d just called her mate. His heart skipped a beat. Among his people, the declaration alone was enough to make the deed official. Not only that, but she’d said it in front of his family. No chance they hadn’t heard, either. Domino’s shock had been as great as his own when she’d taunted her brother. Now he had just one more thing to do to seal it. Striding forward, he gently took her arm. “I accept, wife. Let’s go home.”
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So distracted was she that she actually took a step towards the exit. Then she stopped and whipped her head around to demand, “What? Did you just say wife? I’m not your wife, Skye.” He shook his head. “Oh, no. You said it, and willingly. I’m not letting you take it back now.” At her confusion, he explained with a great deal of satisfaction, “A public declaration is all it takes with us.” Her eyes widened with alarm. “But I never said-you know I didn’t mean....” Frustration garbled her tongue. His expression remained polite, yet firm. “Blister it, Skye, I—” “Discuss it later,” Domino advised, propelling her forward with a tug at her arm, letting go once she was moving. “This is not the safest place to stand around talking.” Jaide managed to hold her peace-just barely-until Domino dropped them off at their hotel, but the minute they’d entered the elevator, she held nothing back. Turning to Skye with a frown, she said, “All right, now’s a good time to tell me you were joking about this whole marriage thing.” Slowly he shook his head. “You know better than that.” “I am not married to you!” Folding his arms, he looked down on her with frightening seriousness. “I have at least three witness who would say otherwise.” The elevator doors slid open, and they traded places with a waiting couple, exiting onto the runner-covered marble tiles. Dread-and desire-seized her as they approached her door, making her heart do a crazy tap dance. She put her back to it and braced her legs. “You’re not coming in.” Just inches from her, Skye cocked his head. “What are you afraid of? Not an hour ago you were begging me—” “I’m not afraid!” she snapped. And she wasn’t. Not of the physical intimacy. But thanks to his little declaration, it was no longer just about that. Gently, he took her hand, nuzzling her palm. “Your hands are trembling.” Before she could breathe the denial that fluttered on her tongue, his own tongue darted out and tasted her skin. A shaft of heat shivered down her core, exploding in her belly and bringing instant, aching wetness and a desperate need. He’d primed her too well. “Don’t,” she whispered, almost moaning. “We have to.…” It was so hard to think. “Why? Can you tell me you don’t like it?” he asked, smoothing her hand down his jaw and throat to hook it around his neck. As if possessed, her free hand rose to rest on his lean hip. “Yes,” he murmured in approval, curling his tongue around her ear lobe and drawing it into his mouth when she evaded his kiss. “Oh, yes.” His low, smoky tones sounded as if he were already in the throws of passion, eliciting a whimper of response from her. She felt him smile against her neck just before he slipped his hard thigh between her legs and grasped her behind, pulling her slowly up the incline. It was too much! She went wild, biting the edge of his shirt and digging her fingers into his back and arms, driving helplessly against him, frantic to put out the pleasure-pain. Speech fled, holding thought’s hand, and the only thing to emerge from her mouth were desperate, needing whimpers. “Do you want me, heartflame? Are you ready now?” he breathed hoarsely in her ear, demanding surrender.
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“Yes!” she gasped, muffling a scream as he slowly lowered her feet to the floor, rubbing her aching nerve center against hot male flesh. Her door opened and she nearly fell through, with Skye stumbling in after her. She didn’t have time for second thoughts. Skye lowered her to the carpeted floor and then they were burning. Hungry hands were everywhere; stoking fires, feeding flames already flaring white hot. Concealing clothes were tugged away, though Jaide was so drugged with passion she barely felt them go, or realized her own actions. Then there was skin; hot, hot skin against her naked, burning body, touching her everywhere that needed him most. Skye could not get enough. Driven on by her frantic hands and wild cries, he moved his body on hers, relishing the frantic movement of her hips as her silken breasts and soft feminine belly glided against his hair roughened skin. Rigid nipples teased his chest, and he slid down her body, tangling her legs with his as he took one, then the other, in his mouth. Jaide cried out, grabbed his head and held him to her. “Please! Oh, Skye, please!” Before his wife could think twice about it or feel any fear, Skye moved up, kissed her passionately and slid home. Jaide roared, and not with pleasure. For a long moment she didn’t move, frozen with shock and not a little pain. His straining body twitched in rebellion against its enforced stillness. She was so sweet! Grabbing his shoulders in a death hold, she snarled, “Don’t....you....dare....move.” A bead of sweat trickled slowly down his unbearably sensitive back, making him shiver. He had to move, but he took it slow. In spite of the pain he knew she felt, her heavy panting changed rapidly to whimpers of desire. She gasped and stiffened, her mouth open in a silent cry. That small sign of pleasure was all it took. Skye kissed her deeply and claimed a release of his own. Afterward, he lay on his side, watching his sulking wife. She had not liked their first time, not at the end. Even though he had been as gentle and considerate as possible, there was nothing he could do to take away her discomfort except proceed. As many times as required. Rolling onto his back, he hid a smile he knew she wouldn’t appreciate by flinging one forearm over his eyes. She wouldn’t be able to see around his biceps, not from her angle. “Sure, you can grin about it,” she grumbled. At once he rolled over, all traces of humor gone. “It will get better each time.” She glowered at the ceiling, embarrassed. “I know that.” Still not satisfied, he traced the side of her unhappy face. “I’m sorry I hurt you.” “I know that,” she gritted out. The last thing she wanted to do was discuss it. Her loss of control had been bad enough, especially in the face of what he’d think it meant. Since there was nothing she could do this evening to regain lost ground, she decided to go to sleep. “Sleep well, my wife,” Skye said softly, kissing her brow. You’ll need it. She grunted in moody acknowledgment of the pleasantry, if not the title.
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Sighing, he drew his discarded coat over them, making certain she was fully covered, even though his own feet stuck out. Then he drew her into his arms. The gesture was not lost on her, and even though she couldn’t bring herself to say anything out loud, she cuddled closer. She winced at the soreness between her legs, reminded again of her reason to pout. It was hard not to be disappointed; not in him, but in that the first time had been every bit as difficult as she’d always heard it would be. Skye sighed in guilty contentment as her breathing evened out into the pattern of sleep. It had to be the bane of every man who’d ever loved a woman, that in order to make them complete, he had to first bring her pain. It was not what he wanted, had he been asked. But, oh! The thought of future loving glazed his eyes with a blue haze that deepened as he imagined all the ways he’d bring her pleasure. Very soon she would join him in unimpaired bliss.... But there was one other matter he had to see to first. Waiting until he was certain his woman was asleep, Skye leaned over and very delicately pressed his canines to her carotid artery. Triggered by his feelings of passion, the hollow teeth filled with a very special venom. Tiny, needle-like inner barbs slid out, piercing her skin just enough to shoot the adaptagen directly into her vein. “Hey!” her eyes flew open, and Jaide glared at him. “Cut it out! I’m tired.” “Sorry,” he murmured in apology, kissing her neck and then her temple, soothingly. “Go ahead and rest.” With a mollified grunt, she closed her eyes and snuggled back down, curled into his side. With a smile of supreme male satisfaction, he, too, settled back and went to sleep. The man was far too good looking for her peace of mind. Jaide propped herself up on one elbow, gazing down at her sleeping lover. The sheets had slipped down to his navel, and he slept with one arm flung over his head, revealing a most impressive set of pectorals and a washboard stomach. She had the naughty urge to tug away the covers and see if the rest of him was just as impressive. Sometime during the night, as she fuzzily recalled, they’d moved to the comfort of the bed to resume their long rest. Unbelievable, but even with the lingering tenderness she still felt, she wanted him again. As if summoned from sleep by her interested thoughts, Skye opened his incredible eyes. “Good morning,” he rasped, his Draconian voice even more husky than usual. Without moving, he watched her, dared her with a smile to act on her thoughts. “Morning,” she agreed, surprised at the drop in her own voice. Frowning, she cleared her throat and lightly touched his solar plexus. Topaz eyes half closed in bliss. Encouraged, she inched her fingers down, slowly pulling down the sheet as both their breathing quickened. A loud knocking sounded at the door. “Go away!” Skye shouted, beating her to it. There was a moment of silence, then a shocked, “Skye? Is that you?” Skye groaned and flung off the covers. Headless of his naked state, he stalked to the door, flinging it open to reveal not only Nemesis, but Lore and Sesame and a very
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surprised Quadril. As one their gazes dropped to his erection, still streaked, along with his thighs, with the evidence of Jaide’s past innocence. He frowned and yanked the door closed enough to hide that part of him. “We wed last night.” His terse explanation visibly relieved his audience. Sesame’s shoulders relaxed, and the anxiety on Lore’s face changed to an embarrassed grin. Nemesis lifted his brows, impressed. “That was fast.” “Not for Skye.” Smirking, Lore pretended to try to peer around his friend, calling loudly, “And how is your blushing bride this morning?” “You will see for yourself at breakfast.” He glanced back over his shoulder, his face softening. “Or maybe lunch.” “It’s nearly noon now,” Nemesis pointed out. “Why do you think we were checking on you, or rather, her? We wanted to see if she knew where you were.” Skye gave him a knowing stare. Not likely. “Until later, then,” he said, firmly shutting them out. A man didn’t need his friends looking over his shoulder on his wedding morning. Jaide shut her eyes, enjoying the security of the locked door as she soaked in the enormous bath. Her would-be husband had stopped demanding entrance some time ago, and all was suspiciously quiet in the outer room. Most likely he’d given up in disgust and left. She knew all about disgust. Self-disgust, mostly. A few hot kisses and she’d lost control, given in to a wild night of passion when she’d known that letting him into her room would only complicate matters. Now the dense alien thought they were married, and heaven only knew what it would take to convince him otherwise. The baffling thing was why. Why had he ‘accepted’ her insinuation that they were...involved? Was it some sort of alien thing? A cultural difference she knew nothing about? That made sense. In fact, it was the only thing about the entire situation that did. The man wasn’t in love. That ridiculous factor wasn’t even a consideration, as she knew herself to be completely unlovable. Given the overwhelming evidence, she could accept, tentatively, that he did desire her. A wondrous thing in itself, but it had to be fleeting. She looked down at her body doubtfully. True, she’d slimmed down and maybe she looked a bit better than she had in her youth, but she was no raving beauty. Whatever interest he had in her had to be transitory. So why had he done it? She latched onto the cultural thing again as the only possible explanation. Ok, fine. She’d just find out what the misunderstanding was and clear it up. Besides, what could be simpler than getting a divorce in such an informal culture? After all, if it was that easy to get ‘married’ for a Draconian, then it must be just as easy to get unmarried, right? So all she had to do was ask him. A weak, yet persistent part of her cried out in agony at her decision, but she squashed it, deliberately forcing her mind away from the protest. She splashed the sudsy water, reinforcing her choice with physical action. It was just a momentary reaction, prompted by the memory of last night’s pleasure. Quickly she slammed the door on that thought, too. A smart woman cut her losses before they cut her.
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When Skye returned from showering and changing in his own room, he found his wife waiting, cool and collected, in a chair facing the door. He scowled at her and tossed his coat on the back of the couch. “Why are you looking so grim? I was the one denied my wife.” She studied the floor and raised a brow. “According to the laws I recognize, you have no wife.” Looking entirely too smug, he reminded her, “You were standing on Draconian property at the time. No one forced the words from you. Hence, Draconian rules apply. You are my wife.” That pierced her calm. Uneasy, she shifted in her seat and asked the last thing he expected to hear. “Why? I mean....” she waved her hand in the air, almost heartbreakingly bewildered. “Why would you want to marry me?” She risked a glance at his stunned face. “I mean, you could have said no. Right? Or is there some cultural rule here I didn’t know? Some reason you had to say what you did?“ Two fast strides and he was in front of her, kneeling. “Why would you think I was forced?” he whispered, searching her face for answers, unable to fathom the shadows there. She tried to hide her face, but he cupped her jaw, making her look at him. “Why are you hurting? I wanted to bring you such joy.” “You thought doing this to me would do it?” she demanded tightly, making a short gesture that encompassed the entire situation. “All you can do is hurt me when you go.” “Go? I will never go!” Angry and amazed at her thinking, he glared at her. How could she doubt him this way? Didn’t she know how he prized his honor? Realization crashed into him. Of course she didn’t. Regardless of what had passed between them, she knew little of his culture, and almost nothing about him. Still, he’d thought she’d at least learned to trust him. The knowledge that she hadn’t hurt, but knowledge was power. He could teach her trust, starting now. “You won’t last a month,” she was saying, looking determined. “Four weeks with me and you’ll be begging me to leave. Well, I have my pride, you know. It’s better that I walk out now-mph!” She glared at him over the fingers against her mouth, but he didn’t care. “Is that a wager, then?” His smile was that of a man completely confident in his appeal, and terribly lethal to her resolve. “I should warn you I never make a bet I can’t win.” “There’s always a first time.” His expression didn’t change, and she grew uneasy. In truth, winning would give her little satisfaction, but what other way was there to convince him? As difficult as it would be to keep her emotional distance from him, the time would allow her to finish on the Black Tide. “You’ll have until I finish augmenting your ship. Two weeks, at the most.” For some reason, just saying it made her want to cry. It was too much to hope he’d miss it. He didn’t. With an incredibly tender expression, he touched her face, smoothing away invisible tears. “Four weeks,” he corrected softly, smoothing his thumb over her lips. “Then forever.” He ached to say so much more, to tell her his heart, but he knew instinctively if he did the conflict on her face would turn to panic. First he had to give her an emotional measure of security, to pull her out of the quicksand of her own lonely background onto the bedrock of her new family.
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She was going to need it when he got his hands on Chrys. “Let’s go find something to eat,” he said, pulling Jaide to her feet. As he escorted her to the breakfast room he thought about her brother. They’d never really talked about him. There hadn’t been a reason to before. No one had considered the effect on Jaide when they’d sought out Sesame. Taking Jaide along had been nothing more than a whim, or fate, depending how one viewed it. He glanced at Jaide. So far as he knew, she still had no idea of the true reason they’d insisted on hiring Sesame. There was no telling what kind of explosion they’d get when she did find out. It was just surprising that Sesame had chosen to keep the knowledge to herself for so long. Maybe she knew Jaide well enough to dread the revelation. Unfortunately, it was just one of many shocks his new wife had in store for her. Before it had been a matter of security to keep her ignorant, and then it had been for her own safety. Her startling determination to see her brother behind bars had thrown him off balance. If Chrys had only realized what a fury he’d set loose by allowing her to see the remains of his theft.... The memory of her brother’s shabby treatment last night surfaced, and he sucked in a furious breath, then smiled pleasantly at his wife’s inquiring look. There was no reason to upset her with unpleasant reminders. Still, brother by marriage or not, the next time he had that space scum in his sights....
Chapter 7 It wasn’t her imagination. Even in the bright natural sunlight of the dining area, there still remained an odd tint to her vision. “What?” Nemesis, who was seated across from her, asked. “You keep giving everything the oddest looks.” Jaide shook her head and poked at the food on her plate. “I think I need to get my eyes checked. Everything seems to have a funny tint to it this morning.” The men exchanged looks. “What color?” Lore asked with a sly grin, elbowing Quadril. She looked around, then raked her gaze over Skye, who was trying to contain his amusement. “Blue mostly.” Lore choked, spurting fruit juice out his nose and all over his plate. Distracted for a moment, Jaide watched with concern as Sesame swatted him on the back. Their gazes locked for a moment and Sesame rolled her eyes. She’d already quizzed Jaide in the ladies room while they waited for their order. Oddly enough, she hadn’t been surprised or particularly concerned about Jaide’s hasty wedding. “It was bound to happen,” was all she’d said, seeming almost pleased. “Blue, you say?” Skye asked, recalling Jaide to the present conversation. This
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confession he had to hear. Still distracted, she answered, “There are sometimes other colors, like orange and sour green, but mostly blue.” Her eyes tracked up his body. “A really vivid, almost electric blue—” The table lost it. Lore started snickering, then snorting as he fought to contain himself, then lost. Quadril turned a brilliant shade of garnet and became incredibly engrossed in his flatware. More contained than the rest, Nemesis raised his steaming tea, trying to hide his wide smile behind the porcelain. “Electric blue, you say?” Skye inquired, grinning like a shark with an angelfish in its path. Draping an arm around the back of her chair, he cocked his head, watching her with intense interest. “All the time?” She narrowed her eyes. “What did you do to me?” Topaz eyes widened with patented innocence that must have once really annoyed his mother, but she wasn’t buying it. “Whatever it was, it’s also making my voice sound like a man in drag, so you’d better fix it.” She shook her head. “I wondered why I sounded so strange this morning.” “I thought your voice had a lovely, husky sound to it.” Skye lowered his volume, murmuring in her ear, “Like a woman loved to exhaustion.” At her warning glare, he sighed and subsided. Easing back into his chair, but keeping his arm around her, he said, “No one can take it back. It’s the arskt; my wedding gift to you.” Seeing her changing eyes begin to spark, he explained further, “It’s how we mate with a woman of a compatible race. It enables reproduction.” That little piece of information did nothing for her temper. “You’re changing me into a Draconian?” she demanded harshly, unable to believe his gall. “Without my permission?” Her voice rose, causing several other diners to look their way. “Don’t be frightened,” he tried to soothe her. “I am not scared! I’m pissed off!” she snarled, standing up and staring Skye down. How dare he be so arrogant as to think she’d let this slide? “I was fine the way I was!” Too furious to stand the sight of him another minute, Jaide stormed off, but she hadn’t gone more than two strides before her husband joined her. “You Dracs don’t ask for anything, do you?” “We don’t like hearing no,” he agreed. “Just look where we would have been had we asked permission to land on Antarctica.” Without remorse, he added, “Or if I’d asked you to wed, or to change, or to even work for us, for that matter.” “You are incredibly arrogant, you know that?” she hissed. “Just one of the many reasons why you love me,” came the blasé reply. Stopped in her tracks, she stared at him, appalled. “I don’t love you.” It was very important they both understood that. Undaunted, he snaked an arm around her, plastering her to his lethal body. “As long as you still see blue,” he purred, and sizzled her with a kiss. That set the tone for the rest of the day. Jaide did her best to avoid her amorous new husband by working on the Black Tide. Under the guise of ‘helping’, he did his best to distract and tantalize, and his best was very, very effective. The second time Jaide found herself clinging to a landing strut while her husband loved her with his hands and his dizzying mouth, she decided to call it a day. “You never give up, do you?” she gasped, even as she moved against his driving fingers.
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“Never,” he agreed from behind her, drawing on her exposed neck. Her coveralls were unzipped to her navel and he took shameless advantage of it, shifting his hand from one aching breast to tease the other. His voice dropped to a sexy purr as he suggested, “Come to bed with me?” Was there ever any doubt? “This wasn’t what I expected.” Completely naked, Jaide sat with her equally nude lover as native fire dancers, their athletic bodies gleaming with oil, swirled around the central bonfire. Grass skirts swished on both men and women as the drums beat a wild, joyous salute. As much as she felt on display, not a single head turned in their direction as Skye lay her back on their burgundy rug, teasing her lips with a succulent slice of fruit. “Relax, heartflame.” Skye grinned. “They’re only holograms.” Though he had to admit that Domino’s holosuite was better than most. “I know, but—” her protest was swallowed in his kiss, and the drums changed to the rhythmic sway of the sea. She relaxed and began to tremble as a new tension took over. “Better?” She gave him a small, shy smile and accepted his offering of fruit. His mood shifted to a more solemn regard as his gaze swept her face. “You are beautiful, my wife,” he said, smoothing her darkening hair behind her ear. Soon it would be as night black as his own, just as her eyes would complete the change. She looked away, shook her head, but he didn’t relent. “I’ve always thought so.” “You didn’t like me.” “Like is a mild term for what I felt, heartflame.” He smiled with fond remembrance. “You were so different from what I had known before....and so challenging.” She scowled, poking at his chest. “There’s that word again.” He propped his head up on his elbow as she turned on her side, toward him. “What’s wrong with challenging? You changed my views on human women right from the start. I liked that.” She snorted in amusement. “And what were your views on human women? Let me guess-you thought that we were all a bunch of bed hounds.” Surprised laughter gave him away. “Lore did try to warn me I’d been seeing too much of the wrong kind of women.” All traces of humor gone, she looked away. “I said seeing them, wife. I was not with them.” He stroked her bare shoulder, soothing them both. “You are special in that. I had not wanted a woman outside of my own kind until I saw you.” Still unsure, she asked soberly, “And now?” “And now...” his eyes darkened with rising passion as he touched his lips to her own. “Now all I want is you.” The loving was softer this time, more a joining of hearts then their last frantic mating. He took his time to explore and pleasure her, wringing several climaxes from her before he slid between her thighs. She was still tight, and he coaxed her with soft kisses
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and lover’s words to relax and give herself fully. Only when she was completely aroused and with him did he increase his tempo to the boiling point. With cries of satisfaction, they both plunged over. Panting softly, she stroked his slick back. “You’re a naughty lad, man o’ mine.” He reared back to grin at her. “You liked it.” “I liked it.” She grinned back. “I had no idea you could do that with your tongue.” Brow cocked, he inquired, “Is that a hint?” She just smiled and stretched in a very provocative way. Skye chuckled and slid down her body, trailing kisses. He was good with hints. Two days later, Jaide walked alone among the docked ships of the port, enjoying the last of the late afternoon sunshine. It was a particularly warm day and yet the heat felt almost pleasant; yet another by-product of the adaptagen. She still hadn’t gotten used to hearing a husky alto coming out of her mouth instead of her own voice, and she was getting tired of seeing the others smile when she cleared her throat and tried to bring it back to its normal range. They were leaving tonight. She was a little surprised to find she’d miss this place, or maybe it was the memories they’d made here. It wouldn’t have been nearly the same had she come here alone. Still, at the moment she needed solitude, which was why she’d slipped away for this walk. Too many things had happened, and she hadn’t had a chance to think any of it over. Not to mention that with the way Skye kept her busy at night, her prime hours of deliberation had been pretty much scratched. A heat that owed nothing to the sun warmed her as she recalled the ways he’d promised to occupy her tonight. Movement caught the corner of her eye, flickered a warning to her nerves. As if she were merely adjusting her sunglass, she reached up and pressed the zoom vision on the frame of the lenses. After all, people came and went around here all the time. There was no reason to be jumpy, but.... V.B. Trell and two strangers were coming her way. Hissing in fear and fury, she turned on her heel and ran, discarding all attempts at dignity. Darting around ships and dodging cargo, she wove her way toward the Black Tide and safety. Only three ship lengths from her goal, she darted around a crate bearing alien script and ducked under a plastic tarp, praying they’d run on by and miss her. Racing feet pulled to a stop beside her, and she heard Trell curse. Then they took off in the opposite direction. Puzzled, Jaide held still, unsure what to think but unwilling to give away her hiding place. Then Skye’s voice, as unperturbed as if he’d seen nothing wrong-he likely hadn’t-came into range. Relieved, Jaide started to lift the tarp. “....parked the Bat in slot nine-five,” Chrys was saying. Jaide froze in confusion. What the? “Good. She’ll never see it from here,” Skye said with satisfaction. “Nemesis doesn’t want her to know anything about it yet; not until we finish this mission. Sesame agrees that it’s too risky. There’s no telling what she would do.” Chrys’ laugh was rusty, almost tired. “What can she do? She’ll be on the Black
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Tide by then, and it’s not as if she can get past you....” She didn’t move a muscle as their voices faded out. For several moments she crouched there, one thought pounding in her brain. Skye...had sold her out. Everything, every last touch, had been a lie. Almost worse than that, if she could believe her ears, Sesame was in on it. Memories crashed in on her. Sesame laughing as Jaide fretted over the security measures for their creation. “Don’t worry about it, Jaide. Nobody’s going to steal the Bat. How could they? No one knows about it yet.” Sesame comforting her after the ‘theft’. “Don’t take it so hard, girl. We can build another one.” Fury scorched her as she tossed aside the tarp and ran in the direction of slot ninefive. It was time to steal back her life. “Where’s Jaide?” Skye looked up in surprise from his console. “Wasn’t she in the engine room?” Lore shook his head. “She’s nowhere. I looked.” They were scheduled to leave in ten minutes. Concerned, Skye checked his cabin, then the rest of the ship. Wherever she was, she wasn’t on board. “She didn’t say a word to me,” Sesame insisted, looking worried. “Would she have—” A com signal cut her off. Thinking it might be his wife, Skye answered it, unsure what to expect. “Skye, this is Chrys.” There was a long, awful pause. Chrys wouldn’t risk contact, unless.... ”My sister has the Bat.” Secure in the knowledge that death himself couldn’t find her as long as she had the Bat, Jaide sent Skye a recording of her petition for divorce, adding spitefully that he could pass along the information to Chrys, since he knew him so well. Then she drew a large amount of cash, the balance of her account, and headed towards a remote mining colony she selected at random. With a population of several thousand and the subtle cloak on the Bat, really only a shift in appearance, she’d never stand out. Complete invisibility. That’s what she wanted. It didn’t quite work that way. Thanks to her ex-husband’s infernal ‘gift’, coupled with the fact that Draconian women never traveled alone, anonymity was more challenging than she’d expected. Even with temporary eye dye and hair wash, there wasn’t much that she could do about her altered voice, or her lengthy new canines. All it had taken was one ill-timed yawn and the secret had been out. Giving in to the inevitable, she wore a blaster openly and went about her business like everyone else. It didn’t take long for her to discover the Draconian fetish for dark glasses. It was much easier to concentrate without shades of emotion clouding one’s vision. Besides, all
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she saw anyway was bruised purple and washes of grey. It was much easier to pretend the colors came from the lenses. It was a hard thing to discover that one was a fool. As Jaide lay on her couch in her Spartan room that evening drinking a raspberry beer and watching an old newscast from the library archives, she figured she should have known. Skye’s expression on the screen as he was questioned about his latest kill was remote, cold. Even the hardened reporter thrusting a mike in his face faltered, backing off in the face of Skye’s aura of terror. Any fool could see the man was a killer, that he had no heart. Recent memories tried to flood her vision, blocking out his figure as he descended the steps from the courthouse where he’d just gotten his next assignment. Skye kissing her, telling her she was all he wanted.... Lies! Slamming her empty bottle down, Jaide sat up, massaging her temples. Face it, baby, she sneered at herself, closing her eyes to blot out the fall of glossy black hair obscuring her vision, He tagged and bagged you. You were never anything to him but a convenience. So what if he was good in bed; it’s probably that way for him every time. She laughed bitterly. Hey, for all you know it’s a Draconian thing. Her heart twisted in denial, but she ignored it. She got up, grabbed another beer and dropped back down on the couch, stretching out to watch yet another newscast. She’d play them over and over again, back to back, until it finally sunk in just how smart she’d been to cut and run. Run…and not look back.
Chapter 8 Jaide was crouched underneath the Bat, tinkering with the wiring, when a number of black clad legs and long, flowing coats came into view. Before she could recover from her frozen shock, Skye crouched down, staring her full in the face and radiating fury. “Miss me?” Self-preservation kicked in and she hissed, tossed her pliers in his face and rolled. Before she could complete one revolution he was on her, pinning her face up on the fluid stained concrete with the length of his hard body. “Get off me!” she snarled. Instead, he shifted his hips, deliberately brushing against her in a way that shortened her breath and brought fire to her cheeks, even after all he’d done. “Sure that’s what you want?” he murmured, smiling insolently as he slid a knee between her thighs. Gritting her teeth, she shut her eyes, opening them to a world swirling red-and blue. Brilliant, electric blue. “What are you doing here?” Rolling out from under the ship, he took her unwilling hand and jerked her to her feet, then shifted his grip to her wrist. “Collecting my wife.” “Ex-wife,” she snapped, then noticed Quadril crouching under the ship, closing up
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the panel she’d been working on. “Get out of there!” “Bring it up when you’re finished,” Skye told him, pulling her away. “That’s my ship!” she protested, beyond angry and digging in her heels. How dare he? He didn’t even blink. “According to Draconian law, it’s now my ship, too.” He still hadn’t let go of her wrist. “That figures,” she said bitterly, then added just for spite, “But he’s going to have a real short flight flying your half of the ship without my command codes.” Skye started walking, flanked by Lore. “He’ll get them.” He turned his head to stare at her, his eyes masked by his shades. “I have complete faith in him.” She narrowed her eyes. “Maybe he’s earned it,” she shot back. She didn’t say another word as he towed her the short distance to the Black Tide, his grip just short of bruising. He didn’t let go until she was strapped into a seat, prepared, if not eager, for take off. She toyed with the idea of cutting off the Tide’s power with a command, but his humorless smile discouraged it. “You’re already locked out of the system,” he informed her, his fingers dancing across his console’s controls. “I’m not giving you another chance at it.” Her answering smile was tight. “Ditto.” He sent her a silent warning but went back to work. Sesame was nowhere in sight, which was good, because Jaide was so furious she’d likely stutter over the things she had to say to the traitorous bitch. Almost as if he sensed her thoughts, Nemesis looked at her, but said nothing. The moment they were in orbit, Skye took her to his cabin. One look at the bed and she was ready to bolt. Especially when he noticed her darting glance. “It’s not going to work, Skye,” she warned him. “Not unless you fancy rape.” “I don’t need to rape my wife,” he retorted, half-sitting on the top of his desk and crossing his arms. “I want to know why you ran.” Weariness seeped into her, leeched her dry. “Unless you’re dimmer than I give you credit for, you already know why. What I want to know is why you bothered following me.” She smiled without humor. “The only reason that comes to mind is that you and the others have some other scheme cooked up using my technology.” He was silent for a long moment. “I was not using you for your mind, Jaide.” Again the smile that wasn’t. “Well, I guess I can’t blame a man for getting a little extra.” This time the silence was even longer. “I can’t tell you what we’re doing. Not yet.” He searched her empty eyes. “I’d ask for your trust” She laughed. “But I know you won’t give it. Instead I ask for your cooperation for just a little while, until I can show you....” he trailed off, stymied by her unyielding expression. “You are still my wife,” he said quietly. She rose from her chair. “I’m the woman you helped to rob and deceive,” she said with all the warmth of an arctic winter. “Then had the gall to kidnap to work for you. I’m not your wife. Just because we had an interlude doesn’t mean anything to me. You never shared anything of yourself. I don’t even know your mother’s name,” she tossed over her shoulder as she headed for the door.
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“Ariose.” “What?” She looked at him. His eyes were dark, unfathomable. “Her name was Ariose.” “I could use some help with the engine.” Jaide turned brilliant eyes on Quadril from where she sprawled in an easy chair, watching nasty newscasts of his captain. Giving him a smart salute, she quipped, “Ship’s fool here, I aim to please.” For a moment he looked as if he wanted to beat her. However, he did retreat and leave her alone. Just as well. She snorted and took a swig of hot tea laced with honey. She didn’t need his busy work. Since she refused to set foot in the engine room and she’d been told that Sesame was off on business, Jaide had the galley to herself. Only at night when the others congregated there did she slip away to work out in the small gym or to read in her room. No one bothered her. She liked it that way. For about three days. Soon the silence began to get annoying. Jeeves-the only member of the crew she would speak to-wasn’t much of a conversationalist. She caught herself lingering and listening during their meals, though she pretended to be engrossed in working her way through the movie archives and ignoring the lot of them. Especially her would-be husband, who looked entirely too good for her peace of mind. Worse than that, she caught her mouth beginning to water whenever her traitorous eyes lingered his way too long. Catching herself in the act again, she jerked her attention back to the screen and scowled, popped a honeyed nut into her mouth. The man had conditioned her far too well in the few short days he’d had her at his mercy back on Tantalus. The best thing she could possibly do would be to ignore him. Still...she was bored. On pretext of searching for munchies, she wandered into their circle, reaching around Skye to nab a rye crisp. Skye promptly wrapped an arm around her and pulled her into his lap for a fast kiss. “What—” she demanded, stunned. “Penalty for interrupting the game,” he informed her, holding her firm with one hand and turning his attention back to the cards in his other. Lore smirked and Nemesis chuckled as he discarded a card. Quadril was on deck, flying the ship. Jaide glowered and tried to squirm off his lap, but it was impossible, besides being obviously stimulating. Subsiding with ill grace, she pulled the bowl of thick, creamy dip towards her and scooped up a generous glob with her crisp. Since Skye was unwilling to set her loose, she also confiscated his carbonated juice, finishing it off. He reached over and refilled it from the pitcher. Beneath the table, Skye’s hand began to slowly stroke her thigh. She nudged him in the chest with her elbow. “Be still. I’m concentrating,” he told her sternly, but the hint of a smile played at his mouth. She grabbed his hand. He reversed their positions, trapped her hand beneath his and began a slow trek towards uncharted waters. Shocked, she snatched her hand away. He smiled at his cards and resumed his stroking.
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More than a little unsettled, she glanced around, desperate for distraction. “So when’s Sesame coming back?” “Do you miss her?” Skye purred in her ear, sending chills down her spine. She really didn’t like him. “I have a few things to say to her,” she growled, nearly grinding her teeth to master her reactions. He was not going to do this to her! He didn’t need to say it. His slow smile promised to liven her life, given half a chance. “If you’re lonely for female company I’ll buy you a pet. What would you like?” Before she could protest, his hand moved up to hover menacingly at the top of her thigh. Hardly daring to move, she looked at him out of the corner of her eye. A straight answer suddenly seemed prudent. “I’ve always liked white lynx cats.” Grinning triumphantly, he returned his hand to a less dangerous position. “You have expensive tastes. I like it.” “I’m also fond of bats,” she reminded him. He still hadn’t told her what they’d done with it. “That ship is registered under Sesame’s name, if you’ll recall,” he said, his hidden hand stilling. “She said you insisted on it, since she provided most of the financing for it.” Her answering stare was eloquent enough. This time he hesitated only a moment before letting her up. She looked down on him with cold contempt. “I just love how you guys justify yourself. And they say the female mind is a mysterious thing....” He watched her go, shaking her head in disgust. Even counting her retreat, though, the evening hadn’t been a complete wash. He’d got to hold her, and that could never be counted a loss. “Don’t even think it.” Skye looked at Nemesis’ grim face in inquiry. Slowly he shook his head. “You know the orders.” “I haven’t forgotten them,” Skye said, his tone cool. Nemesis said nothing else, and they resumed the game, but none of their minds were on cards. Jaide froze in the doorway to the exercise room. It didn’t take a genius to figure out what the maneuver Lore and the bare-chested Skye were practicing. Skye turned and noticed her. “Good morning.” A distracting sheen of sweat glistened on his chest and all the way down to his striped forearms. “Would you like to practice with us?” Dismissing him, she headed for the exercise machine. “I don’t plan on ripping out anyone’s heart anytime soon, thanks.” She could really have done without seeing him. In spite of the warm ups she’d done in her room, the sight of him practicing mayhem left her feeling wooden and clumsy. “It’s the unexpected that you have to plan for,” Lore rasped, his breathing a touch ragged as he reached for a towel. He retreated, leaving them alone. Skye set himself up at another machine. Masculine muscles flexed and stretched in a mesmerizing pattern that she was not going to watch. “Well, that’s what I have you for, isn’t it?” she said with more than a trace of spleen as she set to work. “So long as you stay with me and stop running away,” he agreed easily enough, but she heard the underlying temper.
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So what? “As a free woman I have the right to go wherever I please—” “Don’t!” His expression was savage as he leaned forward, radiating menace. “Not unless you want me to prove just what you are and who you belong to.” There was a moment of charged, defiant silence, then Jaide turned her head and ignored him, pretending an icy calm. She wasn’t fooling him, though. Everything from her flared nostrils to her savage movements spelled out rebellion. Skye gave up on the machine. It wasn’t helping to redirect his energy anyway. Nothing could when all he wanted was her. Standing up, he went to her and gripped the frame of the machine she worked at, daring her to ignore him. She tried to pretend indifference, but her eyes gave her away. Her movements slowed down, became weaker. Finally they stopped altogether. With extreme reluctance, she turned her head slightly towards him, not quite looking at him. “It’s only hormones.” Her voice was strained. It couldn’t be an easy thing to admit, considering what she thought of him. “If that’s what you want to believe.” Holding her eyes, he offered her his hand. Almost against her will, her hand rose to grasp it. Her things were moved to his room, although Jaide wasn’t the one who moved them. They were there when she woke up, naked and alone in the cocoon of Skye’s grey silk sheets. Glad she didn’t have to face him with memories of wild abandon and hot demand still fresh in her mind, she lay back and tried to think. Not an easy task when her body still hummed with craving. Drat his hide, the man was addictive! Resigned to the fact that she’d never form a coherent thought if she remained in his bed, she sighed and got dressed. Annoying as it was to find herself moved in, there was no point in raising a stink about it. After all, she’d already given in the only way that truly mattered. Compared to that, what was sharing a room? Even if she was sharing it with a criminal. Wincing at that unwelcome reminder of the depths of her folly, Jaide sat down at the desk and rubbed the bone between her brows. What now? Continue on as the bride of a doting space thug, or do something to set her life back on course? The choice was not as easy as she would have liked. “What are you doing?” Jaide didn’t even look up. “Looking up the data on the Nexus Canyon Race. Trell likes to take a break from space races to test his luck with gravity now and then. He’s especially fond of-hmm.…” Names scrolled on her screen and she shook her head with rye amusement. “Poor, poor Trell. You’re such a predictable little troll.” Skye glanced at her screen, one hand resting on the back of her chair. “I thought that sort of information was classified until the day of the race,” he said, knowing very well that it was. There was something very arousing about watching a woman outsmart a computer system. “All for a good cause,” she said with a shrug and swiveled around to look at him, her expression carefully neutral. “Are you going after him?” After all she’d seen and heard, she wasn’t sure what kind of answer to expect. “We land on Nexus tonight.” He searched her face, but whatever she felt about the
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hours they’d shared was nowhere on the surface. She glanced at the computer thoughtfully. “Are you going to allow me free access to the computer system again?” “Would that be wise?” he asked, just to see if she’d lie. “Probably not.” She rubbed her finger lightly over a key. “Even so, a bored Jaide is a dangerous thing. Any reason I can’t practice flight maneuvers at this station? I can only spend so much time in the galley watching movies before going insane.” He studied her for a long moment. “The Draconian government approached Sesame and offered her an obscene amount of money for the Bat. She was sympathetic to their need for security from the other world powers and sold it to them. They insisted on keeping the deal private, and she knew the both of you could build another ship. The ‘insurance money’ for the ‘theft’ she split with you, remember?” A long moment passed while she studied him with jaded skepticism. She remembered protesting her too generous cut of the ‘insurance settlement’, but that didn’t begin to explain what was going on. “I tracked down reports of witnesses who’d seen my brother flying the Bat directly after the theft. Are you saying he’s part of the Draconian government?” Her expression hardened. “Does your government make its living from drug trafficking, D’rath?” “No.” His tone was crisp and exasperated, as if he couldn’t believe her bizarre deductive reasoning. It got on her nerves. “No, you’re not a bunch of drug runners?” she asked with a sweet, hard smile, “Or no, you don’t employ a criminal with a history of beating women? For that matter, D’rath, what happened to my money?” “He used it to buy your safety.” Jaide stared at him, stunned. Of all the things she’d been expecting, that was not one of them. “What are you talking about? Bought it from whom?” Carefully choosing his words, Skye answered, “What happened after your crash?” Unsure what one thing had to do with the other, she answered slowly, “I went to work for Sesame.…” How horrible! Surely he didn’t mean Sesame took her on out of pity? For a bribe? And all this time she’d been so proud to have made it on her own merits, to have provided for herself without help! Shaken, she insisted, “I earned my way, Drac! Are you trying to say she only hired me out of a sense of charity?” She stared at him, willing him to say what she wanted to hear. “Initially.” Brutally honest, he went on, “But she soon discovered what a great pilot you were. Besides, she didn’t offer you a partnership out of pity. You earned that,” he said, offering what comfort he could. It helped, but it wasn’t enough. Not nearly enough. He knew it, too. A heavy sigh escaped him. “I can’t tell you.... Jaide, I’m not what you think I am.” “Just a reminder, D’rath,” she said, punching in numbers to bring up a practice log, shutting him out. She had no more patience that day for people who pretended to be what they weren’t. Painful enough to discover her partner and only friend had been nothing but charitable illusions. “I’m a poor candidate for the blind faith club.”
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What a stupid, gullible fool she’d been! What had she been thinking, to trust so easily? Nobody truly cared about or wanted her. Why couldn’t she get that through her head? Why did life have to hurt so much? So bruised and furious was she that she suppressed the information that might have given her solace. Chrys wasn’t what she’d thought, or so it seemed. But then, who knew who she could trust anymore? Should she take the word of a man like Skye? Did she even know what kind of a man he really was? They landed on Nexus several hours later. Jaide opted to stay behind with Quadril while the rest disembarked to take care of business. While they were away, she offered to bring him a cup of strong tea, since she was getting some anyway. He accepted the drugged beverage without a clue. Jaide stole the ship, leaving it, and Quadril, at the first convenient stop and buying passage out of there, disguised as an elderly immigrant. She sent Skye another petition for divorce. It was granted.
Two years later. Jaide rubbed the hand holding her stylus against her temple, trying, and failing, to focus. The hunger was coming back, stronger than ever tonight. In another couple of minutes she was going to have to leave the house and take a brisk stroll across the moonlit sands of Dnarth’s second largest dessert. The pleasant chill of the air coupled with the featureless cream dunes were the only things that helped her to sleep, though sleep was not her friend these days. Run away. The silent accusation haunted her as she slipped out the door of the dome she shared with a handful of scientists and a number of ever changing dignitaries. The experimental station where she worked as a test pilot fell rapidly behind as her impatience ate up distance. The station was an outlet for her mind, but it did little for her soul. She made a good living flying experimental ships no one else cared to brave testing. Not that money meant much to her now. She didn’t go anywhere and her pet project didn’t strain her pocketbook. She smiled grimly as she thought of it. Yes, she’d certainly proved she could get by on her own, and then some. The stars winked down at her, cold points of fire. Indifferent, the way she’d become. No Draconians came here. Heck, almost no one came to this little known section of space on the edge of nowhere, unless they had very good reason. She stopped to admire the aurora playing across the stars. Ironically, it had been her...Skye’s gift that had gotten her this far. The station’s sponsors had been intrigued by the idea of a Draconian female joining their researchers. They believed a wide mixture of backgrounds made for better innovations and friendly competition, and thus, better profits. So happy had they been that they hadn’t questioned
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her forged credentials or looked for holes in her story, especially when she’d proven so very capable. And profitable, she reminded herself, sinking down to sit upon the sand. Let’s not forget profitable. They don’t. Jaide grunted and toed a hole in the sand. The urge to chuck it all and grab the next ship out of there was strong. So why didn’t she? It wasn’t as if she were in love with her work. That was the problem. With a heartfelt groan, she dropped her head to her knees. It had taken long enough to admit it. No one else made her feel like Skye. Divorced or not, the rare sexual advances she’d received had held no appeal. She couldn’t, and her body wouldn’t. Just the thought of allowing another’s touch turned her stomach and triggered melancholy thoughts of the one man who’d ever called her his. Instead of fading with time, the reaction only grew worse, because she knew he was still alive. She could feel him inside her heart, growing as if she’d never severed contact, never turned away. It was a burning, intolerable ache, and something told her that even if she waited ten years, twenty, the rest of her life, it would never fade. So what was she going to do about it? Now there was the burning question. All evidence pointed to his guilt. Guilt was bad; it kept her from him. Yet he’d hinted that something different was going on, something he wasn’t able to tell her about. Latching onto that thought, she examined it, looking for clues. If the man wasn’t a criminal, then just what was he? What would it take to get some answers? “Need another waitress?” You are nuts, Calanarre, she told herself as Domino stared at her for one speechless moment, shocked at her audacity, not only in asking for a job, but in daring to invade his apartments in the wee hours of the morning. “Get out of my club!” When she turned as if to comply, his hand shot out and grabbed her arm, spinning her back around. Undiluted fury burned in his Draconian eyes. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done to my brother?” When she looked down, he shook her in outrage. “You ruined his life, you little witch! What madness possessed you to hide for all this time and then show up now? I ought to kill you!” Oh, well. I tried, she thought cheerfully, then stunned the brute with the stinger hidden in her palm. When next he woke, he wasn’t in a position to make threats. “Let me go, woman!” he ordered her, glaring so furiously she was tempted to agree. Instead, she leaned against his breakfast bar as if she hadn’t a care in the world and regarded the man tied to the heavy chair with interest. “Or what, Drac?” She grinned. “You and your brother might be prime pieces both, but neither of you is likely to rip through ropes.” She spread her hands, palms up. “Looks like I have the winning hand.” His jaw tensed. “What do you want, witch?” She cocked her head. “Did you know your brother doesn’t exist? According to the central computer system, he’s a ghost who showed up five years ago and started nabbing bad guys. He was never born, and looks like he’ll never die.”
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“How amusing,” he said, without the slightest trace of humor. “So glad you’re here to provide trivia. And now?” He raised a lordly brow and gestured with his hand for her to release him. Shaking her head in amusement at the man-who was wearing only a pair of pants and strapped down as well-presuming to order her around, she said, “Maybe later, Domino. Or do you prefer to be called Lord Dminis?” She studied him thoughtfully. “Or should I use your military rank instead?” She shrugged. “Ah, well. I was never the formal sort. Domino it is.” When he merely glowered at her, she stroked her chin in thought. “I wonder what the odds are of finding some rather interesting tidbits tucked away in your personal computer system, brother dear.” “You have no right to call me that.” His tone could have cut steel. She tilted her head to him, acknowledging the truth. “Not according to the laws of my people, no.” She scowled at him. “Though I did just discover that’s meaningless among you Dracs.” Deeply disturbed, she began to pace. “I could have used a warning.” “Is that what this is?” he asked with scorn. “I can solve your problems right now, baby. Just tell me as a witness that you’ve spread yourself around, and I’ll happily negate the wedding.” Jaide clenched her jaw and forced herself to hold his fierce gaze. “I assume you want the truth about it?” His smile was jaded. “Oh, please. Just spare me the sordid details,” he drawled. Looking to the side in an effort to hide her ever present longing, she said quietly, “I hate to disappoint you, Drac, but there’s nothing to tell. But that’s not why I came,” she said, forcing a frown to match his own. “I want to know the truth about your brother, presuming that’s what he really is,” she ended warily as his expression turned intensely thoughtful. “What would it matter to you?” he wanted to know. “You ran from him, and more than once.” To his amazement, she blushed. “Yeah. Well.” She examined the toe of her boot. “At the time you would have done the same. But I’ve had some time to think about it” she ignored his rude snort, “and I’ve decided to give him the benefit of the doubt until I’ve thoroughly checked him out.” She flashed him a cheeky grin. “Starting with you.” Completely baffled by her good humor, he said, “I have nothing to tell you.” She raised her brows. “Not even whether or not you’re really his genetic brother?” “I am his brother,” he confirmed warily. “Glad to hear it.” She pulled out a palm-sized device, pointing the flashing red light on the end of the black box at his computer array. She hit a key and gave him another smile. “Data retrieval system. Your data is now my data.” Domino’s nostrils flared, but he said nothing. The box beeped and she checked it, then flicked it off and stowed it in her pocket. “Don’t worry about it, sweet thing,” she said, tweaking him on the ear as she sauntered past. “I won’t share.” He pulled away with a snarl. “The least you could do is hand me a knife.” She slowly shook her head at him, amused he would think her that stupid. “Sorry, Dom. I’m afraid that you’ll just have to wait for your sisters to get here in about—” she
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glanced at her wrist cuff. “Twenty minutes.” Snapping him a salute, she strode out the door. “I had a most interesting visit from your wife today.” Skye’s head whipped up from his steaming mug of Seti tea. Domino watched him expectantly. “Where? Is she there now?” The idea made his heart race and his hands shake as he set the nasty tea far from him. Even though his use of it had been infrequent, there were times when he understood Jaide’s need to drown herself in it. “No.” Domino paused, then added grudgingly, “But I know where she is.” Before Skye could explode, he added, “And I’ve set two men of mine to watch the place. It’s not far from here. A short walk.” Somewhat mollified, Skye asked, “What did she say?” His brother snorted. “She asked if I needed a waitress. When I told her no, the little witch stunned me, tied me up and took off with the contents of my computer drive.” At his brother’s stunned look, he added grimly, “Apparently she’s been nosing around. Somehow she discovered my ranks, but nothing about you, yet. She said that’s why she came to me. Said she wanted to know the truth.” Skye grew thoughtful. “What else?” Domino sighed. “She was surprised to find out she was still married, but she didn’t try to end it when she had the chance.” He frowned. “She says she’s been faithful.” A little of the crazy tension inside him subsided, and Skye sat back and closed his eyes, feeling rather dizzy with relief. “Invite her back. Tell her you want to talk.” Domino hesitated. “I don’t want to see you like this again. The woman is trouble for you.” Skye shook his head. “This time it will be different. I let her go, and she came back of her own free will. What more proof do you need?” “Perhaps you’re right,” Domino agreed slowly. He sighed in resignation. “Very well. I will ask her back.” Jaide had made it her business to know a great deal about Draconians, and even more about Domino himself. That was why, when the carefully worded invitation arrived to meet with him at the club, she dared to go without hiring a small army to watch her back. Dracs didn’t hurt women, ever. He certainly wasn’t going to harm his brother’s wife, no matter how estranged she might be from her husband. Jaide was sitting at a table that evening, twisting her drink and watching the ice clink in her glass when someone sat at the table with her. Expecting to see Domino, she looked up, and froze. Looking even more like his brother with the extra ten inches to his hair, Skye filled her entire vista. With eyes like an exotic, dangerous beast, he still had the power to tint the air blue with his very presence. “Hello.” His husky purr racked her with shivers, made her stare at his lips, framed by a black goatee. He looked like an exotic stranger. A very edible stranger. “You look good enough to eat, wife,” he drawled, as if reading her thoughts. “You granted me a divorce,” she whispered, drinking him in. “Ah...that.” Relaxing back in his chair, he watched her as if ready to spring at any minute. “I signed a piece of paper. It had nothing to do with it.”
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Jaide blinked and shook her head, trying to clear space for thought. “I guess you heard about my visit to your brother.” She offered him a cunning grin. “He wasn’t very happy with me.” When he just watched her with hungry eyes the smile flattened out under the tension. “I want to know what you really are, and what you really do. Who are you, Skye?” “Why did you come here?” he countered. “Why see me again after all this time?” She couldn’t meet his eyes. “I thought that we should...talk.” Skye wasn’t settling for lame excuses. “You wanted to make love to me.” Caught off guard, she fumbled for a moment. Still, as embarrassing as it was, now wasn’t the time to lie, not when he watched her to see if she would. Licking her lips in nervous reaction, she admitted, “That may have been part of it.” “And the second part?” When she squirmed, toying with her glass, he reached over and casually took it. Holding it to his mouth, he rubbed it slowly against his bottom lip before taking a cooling swallow, closing his eyes as he savored the flavored water as if it were the finest wine. Jaide’s lips parted in response. “It’s been a long time, heartflame. I might just devour you.” Quivers started in her tailbone, radiated outward to all the important places from there at his husky warning. “It’s been a long time here, too. I waited.” The words stumbled out, generated by her mushy mind. “No one else was you.” The fire leapt in his eyes, and she scooted back in her chair, suddenly aware this was going too far too fast. “What I meant was…” She swallowed hard. “None of that matters until I know who and what you are. I won’t fly in the dark, Skye.” A shadow masked the fire for a moment, and it was his turn to study the glass. “I swore an oath to keep that to myself, Jaide.” His eyes came up, serious and steady. “At best I can give you my word that my work is honorable.” She groaned and leaned back even farther. “Not good enough.” “I can return the Bat. Had I known where you were before—” Jaide waved an impatient hand. “Forget the Bat. It was a childish fetish of mine, and I’ve already done it one better-though you’d better see it’s taken care of,” she warned, giving him a stern look. “She’s still my baby.” He smiled a little at her admonition. “I will.” Growing more serious, he asked, “But what about us? I want you, and you want me....” His visually traced her lips, her face. “And you are still my wife.” Squaring her shoulders, she took a choke hold on her giddy libido and said, “Until I’m satisfied that I know what I need to, I don’t think that we ought to confuse the issue, do you? I mean, sex is a big conflict of interest right now....” “Making love,” he corrected, then suggested softly, “Sharing ourselves. Giving pleasure. Mating until we both die of exhaustion.” “Right,” she said hastily, cutting off his tempting descriptions before her eyes glazed any further. “Like you said, a big conflict of interests.” One black brow went up in amusement at her ploy. “I said that?” He looked her black suede jacket and leather halter top over with heightened interest. “You’ve picked up some curious habits since last we met, wife.”
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She showed him her palms. “What can I say? I’ve broadened my horizons. Learned a trick or two.” It was difficult to suppress her smile. He had no idea. Mischief danced in his rascal eyes. “Tell me. I’ll trade an honest answer for an honest answer, wife, so long as you don’t ask me again what I do.” Gesturing to the server for another drink, this time one with a slight alcoholic edge, she offered, “Deal. You go first.” Placing an order as well, he returned his attention to her, then asked, “Where have you been? The only reason I signed that paper was so that you’d grow careless and show yourself.” Shocked, she stared at him. “It was? I figured you were finally sick of me, but frankly, I didn’t think my hide was too safe anywhere in your sight.” He became very still. “That was never true. I could not hurt you. Not then, not ever.” He couldn’t know how much that moved her. Daring greatly, she reached across the table and took the hand that rested there, wrapping her much smaller one around it. “I know that now, and...I’m sorry. I was thinking like a green kid back then. Everything was confusing, and I didn’t know where to stick you, mentally. I didn’t have a category to file you in, so I tried to deal with you based on what I knew from before.” She grimaced. “You were a learning curve that defied my feeble brain, Skye, but I’m working on it.” Though he still wore an expression of hurt and annoyance, when he touched her jaw, his hand was gentle. Abandoning his pride, he stroked her jaw with his thumb, and murmured, “I need you tonight, wife.” She had no words to tell him no. Wasn’t this the reason she’d come back? This inescapable hunger for him? She felt his ache, his hurting; it was her own. Right now, at this moment, right and wrong didn’t matter. He did. She needed him, too. Still...If she gave in now, could she ever go back? What about all the things she’d never know? Could she live with that? No. But...Clenching her teeth, she made a fist of her free hand. “Fifteen minutes,” she rasped, afraid she was giving up too much ground, but unable to stop the words. “What?” He gaped at her and grew indignant. “Did I hear what you meant? You offer me fifteen minutes?” A blush stained her cheeks, but she stood her ground. “Are you telling me you wouldn’t have killed for just fifteen minutes a second ago? Besides,” she added before he could explode, “I didn’t say I was moving back in yet. Got business, first. Take me or leave me.” Excitement curled her toes as determination, along with a certain fire, rose in him. “Fine.” He tossed a credit chip on the table, stood up and offered her his hand. She took it. A sudden tug pulled her flush against his hard body, stole her breath. “Get ready for the best fifteen minutes of your life,” he promised just before his mouth crashed down on hers. Then he took her hand, dodging tables as his long legs ate up space. She didn’t know where they were going, and she didn’t care. She was ready. Oh, was she ready!
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Skye backed her up against a row of shelves in a secluded closet, kissing her as if he would devour her whole. Canisters and small boxes tumbled down, but neither of them cared. Gone were their jackets, and in three seconds, so were her panties and pants. The laces on her bustier dangled open. With the snap of a string it popped open to spill the breasts within into his marauding hands. His mouth was everywhere, trailing fire, and he didn’t wait. The moment her body was free, Skye drove home. It was sweet, sweet fire! Hot, aching fulfillment, and only his mouth over hers kept her from screaming her pleasure to the world. Instead, she wrapped her legs around his waist and held on tight to his hard working hips as Skye took control and drove them both over the edge. He’d been right, she thought when her blood finally cooled enough to allow brain function. As with almost everything involving her husband, it had been one of the best moments of her life. Long moments later, when his breathing finally slowed down and he was nibbling on her neck in affectionate and far too stirring after play, he murmured, “Are you certain you don’t want to seek out a little more privacy?” His hot breath in her ear sent interesting shivers through her still-interested body. “Tempting,” she croaked but forced her legs down, pulling away before he could grow any stiffer. She allowed herself a moment to rest her forehead on his solid chest as she relaxed into his embrace, shutting out the stuffy, chemical smells of the cleaners around her. “Very tempting.” Pulling back, she reached for her pants, grimacing to find them inside out with her underwear still on the legs. “But I told you I can’t yet.” You just did. He smiled over her head-safely out of sight, since her attention was on her clothes-but bit his tongue for the moment. Now was not the time to press too hard. Still.... He touched her cheek, gaining her attention, then bent a little to help her with her laces. “I could still stay with you tonight.” He touched her lips so she couldn’t interrupt. “You’d be on your own ground, not under my authority there. I couldn’t stop you from going about your business, and in the morning, I’ll leave.” Slowly, she shook her head, though he could see she was incredibly tempted. “Can’t.” It was difficult to contain his temper, but he managed fairly well. “I could just toss you over my shoulder and run off with you.” He arched an arrogant black brow. “I don’t think you’d mind too long.” She snorted and pushed him back a step. “Don’t make me start this from the beginning, babe.” “Babe?” he demanded, unsure whether to be insulted or amused. No one had ever called him by such frivolous a title. Jaide shrugged. “What else would I call you?” “Magnificent? Unbearably tempting?” he suggested, following her out of the closet. One of Domino’s servers stared at them, surprised. Skye ignored him. “Conceited,” she assured him, a rosy glow on her face and a suspicious twitch to her lips.
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“I’ll walk you to your hotel,” he said, placing a hand at the small of her back. To his surprise, she stopped. “No.” Her face was very serious. “I shouldn’t have gone even this far down this road yet. Don’t give me another battle tonight, Skye. Please.” It was not easy to give in. Every instinct he possessed said to take her now and never let her go, but he’d done that once before with poor results. Swallowing hard, he clenched his fist and stared at the corner leading towards Domino’s second level. Noise and the promise of distraction beckoned. “Not tonight then.” He looked back at her, sliding his hand into her hair. “But very, very soon.” They shared one last kiss, and then he let her go. Refusing to watch her leave, Skye sought out his brother, joining him at his exclusive table. It was spaced a little apart from the others on the balcony. He didn’t even glance at the dancers gyrating below to the rhythm of a very popular band. Domino eyed his rumpled hair, his nostrils flaring as he caught the scent of women and sex. “This looks to be an interesting story.” Gesturing to a server, Skye ordered a drink, then ran a hand down his face, smoothing his black goatee. “She’s determined to sniff out my secrets before living with me.” He blew out a breath in exasperation. “The woman’s as trusting as a rabid ice bear.” “Fiery stuff, though?” Domino asked, toying with his drink. When a rueful grin curved his brother’s lips, he said, “Never mind. Your smile speaks for itself.” He grew pensive. “You know she’ll be in danger if she does become entangled in your affairs.” Not at all happy with the reminder, Skye tapped a finger on the table and scowled. “Protecting her from herself failed miserably the last time. Short of a full time guard....” He shook his head. “It’s a wife I want, Domino, not a slave.” “You could initiate her.” “No!” Skye stared at him in disbelief. “Have you lost your mind? Women have no place in this kind of combat. There would be no chance she’d survive.” When Domino said nothing, he insisted with more force, “She’s not even a full Draconian! Her adaptations are for breeding.” Domino held up his hands, signaling surrender. “I know all this. Relax, brother. It’s not as if I were suggesting she take up combat. I was thinking more of an auxiliary position. She’s good with ships, isn’t she? You know the Star Riders could use that kind of skill.” Skye frowned thoughtfully. “True, but what about the bylaws against women members? Even if she does get a military position, which is likely, I grant you, it still wouldn’t allow me to talk about the Riders. Legally, I can’t even mention their name, let alone tell her I’m a member.” “Unless she were an initiate,” Domino added, leaning back in his chair. “And we’ve been down that road already.” For a moment he watched the band, saying nothing, then his eyes slowly sought his brother’s. “If you let her run unchecked, she’ll find out about the Riders on her own, and not from anyone you’d care to have her meet.” Skye’s blood ran cold. Domino was right. He closed his eyes in acute misery. “I don’t like my choices.”
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“Then we will find new choices,” his elder brother soothed, ever the practical one. “It’s not as if we can’t call on others to work this out. Don’t worry.” He winked at Skye and saluted him with his glass. “We will prevail.”
Chapter 9 There was nothing terribly revealing in Domino’s computer files. Jaide wasn’t surprised. There hadn’t been much of a personal nature in his home, either, decorated as it was in Typical Bachelor Indifference. The main purpose of her visit had been to plant her bug in his system, and that had gone flawlessly. Of course, there had been the small hope that he would cooperate....No matter. Both he and his unsuspecting brother had been fitted with short-lived nano-transmitters, and if all went well, with a little prodding from her, she’d soon know everything she needed to know. It was amazing the things one could pick up after being stuck with a hundred brilliant scientists who had nothing better to do than create. Fingering one of the tiny patches of absorption gel that contained one of the microscopic machines, she considered how she could stick one on her brother. A slap on the bare skin of his arm would do it, if she could track him down. So would a slap on the face, but she might not get away with that. A dart gun would be too obvious, and might even set off a search that could give away the game. No, it would have to be physical contact. To that end, she set about tracking him down. Three dens of iniquity and two slime holes later, she found him holed up with a hot card game and a hard-looking hooker. “Long time no see, brother,” she said, taking the only empty chair at the table for six. The others at the table froze, staring at her. “Aren’t you the one married to that Draconian?” an ugly brute the size of a small house asked suspiciously, glaring at her out of beady eyes. Everyone tensed, scanning the smoke filled dimness behind her. “Don’t mention that slime’s name to me,” Jaide snarled, hoping she wasn’t pushing the edge of credibility. “Divorced him two years ago and glad I did. Couldn’t stand his preaching when he caught me skimming credits from a dead guy’s account.” Working in a touch of whine, she added, “It’s not like he was going to need it.” After an almost baffled moment of silence, Chrys chuckled. “Wish I’d thought of that one.” The others relaxed and play continued as he cocked his head to study her. “So other than a death wish” he flicked his hand towards the rough crowd beyond them, “what brings you here, little sister?” A touch of steel came into his eyes. “I’m not giving you back the Bat.” Snorting with laughter, she shook her head and touched the back of his hand, slapping on the tiny patch and sliding it off, all in one smooth move. “Keep the pile of junk,” she said, making certain her voice carried just enough. “I have something now that makes that thing look like Grandma’s ship. It’s a real bruiser,” she confided, leaning forward, bragging like a fool. It was gratifying to see the look of alarm, quickly shuttered,
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flash in his eyes as he took a frantic look to see who might be listening. Good. No doubt this little bombshell would stir up all kinds of scintillating conversation between her brother and her close-mouthed husband. It was all she could do not to openly gloat. “Not so loud,” he hissed, his eyes shifting to his companions. So, he didn’t trust them, did he? She hid a smile. No doubt his friends would love to get their hands on the Splinter, named for its difficulty to track and shattering capabilities. If she were right, both her brother and her husband would have to pull out all the stops in an unnecessary-but-masculine-attempt to keep her safe, and such an effort was bound to shake loose some fascinating information. But first she had to set the hook. Pretending oblivion to his attempts to warn her, she leaned forward, enjoying the way the others leaned in, playing to their intense interest. “I’ll be racing in the Nexus Canyon Race next week. I want to show off the Splinter.” She smirked. “It’s got an edge so sweet, no one will ever be able to beat me.” “Like what?” the house wanted to know. Chrys gripped her armhard. She ignored him. With her voice lowered to a stage whisper, she glanced over her shoulder, then back at her companions, wetting her lips. “Let’s just say we’ll slip through those canyons like a ghost.” There was a moment of shocked silence at her allusion to phasing technology. The house’s thick lips parted in stupefaction. Two others exchanged furtive glances. “Time to go,” Chrys ordered, the card game forgotten as he stood up, dumping the hooker off his lap. Darting a sulky glance at Jaide, the woman whined at him until he handed her some credit and sent her on her way. “Come on,” he ordered Jaide, taking her arm as two of his companions followed them, keeping their eyes open and their hands near their weapons. “I’ll take you back to your place.” Under cover of other conversations, he hissed in her ear, “You’re either an infant or completely crazy. What do you think you’re doing, pulling a stunt like this? And where’s Skye?” He paused outside the dive, searching the dark as if he expected to see the Draconian lurking in the shadows. She just gave him a cherubic smile. “You didn’t!” he hissed, as the truth that she’d come alone sunk in. His tightened hand told her that he had a great deal more to say, but for the sake of any listening ears, all he said aloud was, “Where are you staying?” “Not where they think I am,” she said, reclaiming her arm and striding into the shadows before he could gauge her intent. A force field sprang up, bouncing him back when he tried to follow. Laughing at his futile curses, she sauntered off, waiting until she was out of sight to activate her personal cloak. Though Chrys searched the shadows, the only sign left of his sister was the echo of her laughter. As she’d suspected, Chrys went straight to Domino’s. The shock came when he expressed much more concern for her than the Splinter, ranting on with enough foul language to leave her with an indelible blush. Of course, that was nothing compared to what Skye said when he arrived a short time later.
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“I knew I should have tied her up when I had the chance! What does she think she’s doing, asking for trouble this way?” There was the sound of something wooden smashing, and an indignant snap from Domino. Sitting in her pilot’s chair with her feet propped up on the navigator’s seat, Jaide rolled her eyes and sipped her drink. So much for cool headed professionalism. “This has to be part of her game to draw you out,” Domino reasoned, and she nodded her head, giving him points for sound thinking. So what were they going to do about it? Chrys had the answer. “Rules or no rules, you’re going to have to initiate her and tell her the truth. I won’t have her killed over this, even if we have spent years trying to bring Carthack down.” Jaide leaned forward. Carthack? Who was Carthack? “And you can bet he’ll be all over her and this new technology she claims to have,” Domino added. “And he won’t be the only one. Knowing your wife, it might be anything. For all you know, this new ship might bend space or stop time.” His tone was only half-joking. Smiling, she ran a loving finger down the arm of her chair. No, she couldn’t quite stop time, but bend space? Hmm. Depended on how one looked at it. Losing interest in their argument, Jaide ran the name Carthack through her database, and was very interested to discover he was a human governor. The computer showed a long list of his sterling accomplishments, but since she wasn’t interested in anything so mundane, she sat back to think. First thing tomorrow, she’d see about finding dirt on Carthack. No doubt the easiest way to do that would be to sneak a peek at Skye’s computer files, but for some reason she hesitated to do that. Sentiment, no doubt. ‘Course, it would be just as easy to nab what she needed to know from Draconian Security, given that she didn’t have his command codes anymore. Heck, while she was there she could also see what she could find on him. Heaven help her if she were caught. The D.S. had been known to shoot first and ask questions later. Stifling a yawn, she turned off the argument since it seemed to be winding down. Who cared whether or not they wanted to ‘initiate’ her? She’d never been into fraternities, anyway. Besides, she’d found out what she wanted to know. Whatever her men were into, it seemed to be on the right side of the law, and she could rest easier. They’d soon be out of it anyway. All they needed was a little help. Not twenty-four hours later, the Black Tide received a call from the very irate admiral of a nearby Draconian starcruiser. “-whoever it was cracked our system, downloaded files on you and your entire crew, Commander Domino, and the high security data on Carthack. We know it was a ship; we weren’t close enough to any stations or planets to establish a link. The baffling thing is that even another starcruiser at close range shouldn’t have had the power to slip a link past our system’s shielding. It’s the latest technology out of Synergy.” As his head began to throb with fury, Skye stroked his jaw, trying to hide his shaking hand. Roast that woman! Nemesis’ face revealed nothing. “Thank you, Admiral. I’ll make finding the
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culprit my highest priority.” He cut the transmission. Somebody, likely Lore, snickered. Skye stared sightlessly out the front window. Now he knew why he hadn’t found his wife at the hotel they’d thought she’d been using. She was on her ship. Causing trouble. “Good morning, good-looking.” His head whipped up at the sound of Jaide’s voice, but she was nowhere in sight. Then her image appeared on screen, seated in a pilot’s chair. The little fury had the gall to smile as her eyes swept down his body. The smile grew. “Mmm. Now that’s a sight worth waking up to.” “Where are you?” he snarled, standing up. He knew his face was savage, and his fists were clenched in a vain attempt to control his temper. Her brows rose. “Are we having a bad day? I could come back at another time.” “Don’t you dare!” he roared. He paced the deck, fighting to control his temper. At least she had the good sense to look wary. It was short-lived. Adopting a polite expression, Jaide tilted her head. “And how are you this morning, Lore? Nemesis, Quadril.” She nodded in greeting. “You’re looking well.” “Don’t push it, Jaide,” Nemesis warned. Skye had heard enough of her mockery. A curse on slowing his temper! He halted and spun around to pin her with a fierce glare. “Are you seeking death? Do you know what happens to people who steal information from the D.S.?” “They send you after them?” she inquired with a sweet smile. Cold flame replaced the heat of his fury. “Where are you?” he demanded, his tone frosted steel. He had the satisfaction of seeing her inch back in her seat. A shadow wavered on their computer senses, then ghosted off. Skye saw Lore frantically trying to get a lock on it again, but nothing else showed up. As far as all senses were concerned, they were completely alone in space. “Neat trick.” He smiled without humor. “But even you have to land sometime. Carthack’s going to have watchers in every port looking for you. He’d happily kill to get his hands on the advantage a ship such as yours will give him. What are you going to do when they find you?” “Ask for a job?” she suggested, completely serious. Nemesis started swearing, slow deliberate curses, and Skye wanted to join him. “Come home, Jaide, and I will tell you anything you want to know,” he said with grim calm. “My word on it, but only if you follow us now.” She stared at him for a long moment and then cut communications. Just as he was about to explode with fear for her, the shadow appeared again, and they received a request for coordinates. Skye resumed his seat and strapped in, holding his breath as he sent them. There was a minor delay and then an affirmative reply as the Splinter shivered out of sight. “Go,” Nemesis ordered, “Top speed, before she changes her mind.” “She’d better not,” Skye growled, pushing the Black Tide to maximum speed. “Or saints help her when I find her again.” Jaide let the Splinter phase into view as they approached the starcruiser, just
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enough to give the stuffy admiral in charge a shock. It amused her to think of the commotion that must be going on at the bridge as an unidentified ship appeared right under their noses without even a sneeze from their sensors. Amusement was the only thing keeping her from panicking as she guided her prized possession right into the belly of the very ship she’d robbed that morning. A very large, very armed warship swarming with Draconian enforcers. She just hoped her faith in Skye was justified; otherwise she was about to be a blood splat. She left the security features on as she exited her ship, keeping the ship half phased to prevent scanning or swiping. The measure made the Splinter look like a shimmering mirage, difficult to track with the eye or easily measure. Even Skye’s grim stride faltered and paused along with every other man in the bay as he got a good look at her shimmering creation. In spite of his displeasure with her, his gaze held respect and admiration as he joined her, lightly touching her arm. He looked so impressed, she didn’t have the heart to tell him that in five to ten years everyone would have the technology. Indeed, the scientist who’d created the phase device was already working on a second generation model. He’d been happy to give her the obsolete prototype, since she’d been brave enough-or mad enough-to test fly it for him. Besides, that information was classified. “It’s beautiful,” he told her, gravely sincere, holding her gaze for a long moment. Then his eyes drifted back to the ship. “You’ll truly make a name for yourself with this.” “If I survive your little tour,” she said dryly, glancing around at the swarm of Draconian enforcers. Skye placed a reassuring hand at the small of her back, guiding her towards a lift. “Don’t worry,” he soothed as she glanced back. “No one is going to touch your ship.” “No one can touch my ship,” she retorted, turning back around and forcing herself not to eye her only escape again. Distress had her breath coming too fast, and she knew he felt it because he took her hand in his steady one, warming her cold fingers. They entered a lift flanked by two enforcers. Raising her small hand, he dropped a quick kiss to her fingers. “Thank you for trusting me.” Trust him she might, but she didn’t feel the same way about his glowering admiral. One look at the simmering Draconian and she knew that she was in trouble. “I suppose I have you to thank for this morning’s data theft,” he said in Draconian, making her feel like a bug under a laser beam. She blinked innocently at him and held her tongue. It seemed the safest course. “This is my wife, sir, the Lady Jaide D’rath. Jaide, this is Admiral Vrsdar.” Skye surprised her by introducing her with his surname and the title she’d just discovered that morning. Just the sound of it left her feeling more secure. Forced by protocol to acknowledge her status, the Admiral favored her with a stiff nod and then gestured for them to proceed to his ready room. That was as far as they got before he demanded in galactic standard, “What made you think that you could get away with that little stunt, my lady?” A slight squeeze of Skye’s hand as he seated her, plus a reassuring nod, told her to be honest. “Could be because you’d never find me without help?”
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Vrsdar’s eyes narrowed. With a snort that might have been amusement or annoyance, he took his own seat behind his desk, gesturing for Skye to join his wife. Then he eyed her, stroking his thumb across his chin. “What’s the matter, woman, can’t a man have his secrets? Why are you so concerned with your husband’s private business?” “In my place, wouldn’t you be?” she returned, looking him straight in the eye. This time his lips twitched in definite amusement. “Hmm. Are you willing to sell the technology for your new ship to us? I’m certain the Draconian government could make it worth your while.” On familiar ground, she relaxed. Leaning back in her chair and lacing her hands across her stomach, she said, “It’s not my technology, but I could put you in touch with the inventor.” “Or I could execute you and confiscate your ship,” he countered, going for the jugular while her guard was down. She stiffened, but again Skye’s calming touch brought her comfort, though not enough to completely relax her. Unhappy with the entire situation, she kept silent and waited warily for him to make the next move. Seemingly disappointed that she didn’t come back at him, he pronounced gruffly, “You are sentenced to protective custody until further notice. No, don’t bother glaring at him,” he chided when she sent a dark look at Skye. “He’s got a job to do, and I don’t want you pestering him while he’s about it. You can resume your roaming when he’s finished, and not a minute before.” Completely disgusted, though she’d expected something of the sort, Jaide prodded, “And just what is his business?” Vrsdar flicked a key on his computer and spun the screen towards her. V.B. Trell’s face looked back at her, frozen in a sneer. “I believe you know Mr. Trell,” Vrsdar said dryly. “Thanks to your little escapade with the Black Tide two years ago, the man escaped. Even then he wouldn’t have gotten past us if he hadn’t had help.” Startled, she glanced at Skye. He hadn’t mentioned anything about it. “There are certain factions that hate Draconians for their current possession of Antarctica,” the Admiral was saying. “No matter that they weren’t using it. More than one human government wants to drive us out. They’ve gone to incredible lengths to discredit us and force others to see us as a threat. At first it was only terrorists attacks blamed on our people. Then they moved up to kidnapping and rape.” He drilled her with a serious stare. “There is at least one traitor working with these governments. He uses racers like Trell to swoop in and steal the wives and daughters of key officials. Then he charges their systems with adaptagen and impregnates them, returning them in the last stages of pregnancy to prevent abortions. Out of concern for the infants of our race, our government steps in to collect the unwanted children-those we get to in time. As you can imagine, our ambassadors aren’t greeted with enthusiasm.” She closed her eyes, overwhelmed by the flood of dark information. Nothing had been said on the news of all this! They must be keeping it very quiet. There was more. “In retaliation, there have been several attempts to seize Draconian women. Only the fact that our women are never without escort has saved them from certain torture.” His eyes flickered over her somewhat suspiciously. “I can only wonder that you are still alive, lady, considering all the trouble you are prone to. But I know this; you wouldn’t have survived much longer. Especially with your new
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technology conveniently wrapped up in the form of a ship. Do you have any idea how much easier such a vessel would make Trell’s work?” She was starting to get a clue. “If this is true....” she said slowly, thinking aloud, “why is it taking you so long to arrest Carthack?” Surely the Draconians weren’t that incompetent. “You saw our files,” Vrsdar returned, displeased at the reminder. “We have nothing solid on the man himself, only his followers. It’s useless to cut at the worm. One must destroy the head or the body will only regrow.” She considered that. “You know, I could be of help with Carthack.” Vrsdar’s eyes opened wide with indignant horror. “Allow a woman to put herself in danger? Not in this millennium!” “Consider it,” she pressed. “Carthack would never expect it.” “Absolutely not.” He stood up, dismissing the issue. “Take your wife for a tour of the ship, Commander. Introduce her to her new home.” High frequency, he added, “Work some of her energy off with a vigorous bedding while you are at it.” Jaide’s eyes narrowed. In perfect Draconian, she returned, “I don’t think it will help.” Her husband grabbed her hand and bid goodbye to the indignant Admiral, beating a hasty retreat before she could say anything else. His face a dull shade of bronze, he said, “I didn’t know you had sonic implants.” One fine black brow arched. “There’s a number of things you don’t know about me, Commander.” Walking helped to bleed off her ire with the Admiral, though she couldn’t summon much enthusiasm for the tour. Seen one starcruiser, seen them all. Still, it did give them time to talk. “So, have you thought much about children?” Skye asked as they exited engineering. She couldn’t know he had a very important reason for asking, because the very next time he got her into bed he planed to ensure they had one. Today, if possible. He felt no guilt over his plan. It was the Draconian way, and the woman needed something to do besides roam around getting into trouble. Best to get her thinking about the idea now so she wouldn’t be too upset later. Taken completely by surprise, since they’d been discussing the cruiser’s capabilities, she jerked to a halt, staring at him as if he’d lost his mind. “I’m not ready for kids yet! We don’t even have a place to put them!” He shrugged, concealing his disappointment as he took her arm, continuing on. “So we will buy a home. You can wait at Domino’s while I’m on assignment, or we can buy a house somewhere.” He needed to know she’d be safe when he couldn’t be with her, and he trusted Domino to see to the task. Besides, Domino adored children. He would make an excellent guardian for his wife and children. Her temper fired at his presumption and she jerked away, forcing him to halt again “Excuse me?” she demanded in disbelief. How dare he plan to impregnate her and then go his merry way? “Do I look like a pet to you? What makes you think that I plan to stay behind while you have all the fun? I want a life, too! Besides, what’s the point of being married if you’re gone all the time?”
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Temper and confusion warred in his expression. “I want you, need you in my life, Jaide, but I can’t have you with me at all times. The last thing I need in the middle of a tense situation is to have to watch my back and yours, too. How do I know that you’ll follow orders and stay put when I tell you to? Your past record isn’t very good, and you’re far too independent to make a good soldier.” The exact streak of mulishness he was talking about struck her. “You could retire.” It was his turn to suffer disbelief. “I’m in my prime!” he said, gesturing impatiently. “Lives depend on what I do, and I love my job. Why should I give it up? There’s nothing else I’d rather be.” “Fine,” she said, walking on. “But don’t expect me to sit at home pretending to be something I’m not while you run off saving the world. I’ve never been homemaker material, and I’m rotten with kids. I can’t just sit at home day after day waiting to see if you’ll come back. Is that what you want? A muscle in his jaw ticked and his nostrils flared as he drew in air, attempting to hold his temper. “You could have some faith in me. That’s what I want.” “I will if you will,” she came back, ignoring the pair of wide-eyed ensigns who passed them in the hall. Skye planted himself in front of her, every line of his body radiating fury. “And just where do you suggest I start?” Three pilots edged past him, giving them strange looks, but he didn’t care. Taking an intimidating step closer, he demanded, “So far I can’t even depend on you to stay in one place! Every time I turn my back I find you dodging out.” Equally angry and a little hurt, she gave him a little push, which had all the effect of tapping a steel wall. “That’s a low blow, D’rath.” “It’s true,” he said grimly, not giving an inch. “Fine.” She nodded her head in angry agreement, choosing to look around at the grey steel walls instead of meeting his gaze. “Just fine! Act as if I’m the only one at fault, here.” She poked him in the chest. “Might I remind you who tricked whom into marriage?” He started to swear, and her voice rose to compensate as she jerked her thumb towards herself. “I’m the one who’s been lied to and used here, but do you hear me griping? I don’t think so. So you better just watch it, pal. If anyone ought to be holding a grudge, it’s me.” For a moment he just stared over her head, his jaw clamped shut. When he looked down, his face was slightly more relaxed, his eyes filled with a touch of pain, quickly masked. “If you’ll excuse me, lady wife, I have things to see to.” Instantly sorry, she caught at his arm as he brushed past. “Skye, wait!” He froze for a moment, freed himself, and walked on. “Skye!” Pain caught at her throat at the sight of him moving away from her. “I’m sorry!” Castigating herself for putting a wrench into it with Skye, Jaide gave herself a mental slap and put Plan A into action. That stubborn Drac was going to get her help whether he wanted it or not. As far as she could tell, there would be no rest until this thing with Carthack was over, and she’d be hanged before she’d just sit around with her finger up her nose waiting for him and the Draconian military to finish it. At the rate
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these guys were going, she’d be old and gray before it ever happened. Patience was not one of her virtues. “How you doing?” she said to a soldier who just ‘happened’ to be loitering near her ship, striding quickly by. Caught by surprise by her friendly greeting, the sentry took a second too long to catch up, ending up a stride behind her as she unlocked her ship’s security with her black box. “Lady D’rath! Where is your husband?” Apologetic, he added, “I have orders not to let you near your ship without him.” She snorted in laughter and gave him a wide grin as the hatch swished open. Gesturing to the sealed cargo bay, she teased, “Why? Does your Admiral think I can fly through walls?” Looking beyond him, she nodded at the far end of the bay. “Look, here comes Skye now.” Slipping inside the Splinter while his head was turned, she swiftly sealed the door, smirking as she caught a glimpse of the sentry’s startled face. Vrsdar really needed a better grade of watchdog. Humming an ancient rock ballad under her breath, she slid into her chair and activated the Splinter’s external sensors. Chaos exploded in the bay around her as she activated hover mode and ran through her pre-flight check. In moments the ship was surrounded. She grinned. She just couldn’t help it. They had no idea. Moments later her husband’s voice exploded over the com. “Jaide!” “Yeah, baby?” she called jauntily back as she shed her clothes and pulled on her special black flight suit. She’d be needing it to equalize the pressure for the phase. “Get out of there, NOW!” She could almost hear him grinding his teeth. “No can do, baby.” Her voice was slightly muffled as she pulled her helmet on, then activated its internal com. “I’ve got some errands to run, but I’ll be back.” As her helmet cycled shut, sealing to the suit, she strapped in. “You just sit tight until I get back, all right?” she added, trying not to laugh. He never would. “Jaide....if this is about earlier” His tone was low and agonized. Hating the guilt in his voice, she injected as much soothing warmth into her reply as she could. “It’s not, hon. We’ll work all that out later, promise. But at the risk of setting you off, I never did plan on putting up with your stuffy admiral’s ‘benevolent custody’. I didn’t build this ship to watch it sit on the line when you needed help.” With her hand on the com switch, she added tenderly, “I love you, sweetheart. See you soon.” “Wait! I have to tell you—” “Cutting com,” she said. Whatever he had to say could wait. Besides, it was likely just a delaying tactic, which wouldn’t do him any good anyway. She had things to do. Skye sucked in a breath as he watched the shifting mirage that was the Splinter rise up and angle towards the door. It was far too late to leave his monitor and pelt to the bay, but he wanted to with all his heart. What was she doing? The bay was sealed shut! The Splinter ghosted towards the massive doors until it just touched the two-foot thick metal. And then it phased through it like water through a sieve.
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Gasps and muffled prayers surrounded him as the stunned crew witnessed an act of engineering that had only been a scoffed-at dream before this moment. No one had successfully mastered the phase technology, rumored to be an ongoing experiment for transporting goods. Certainly not with living organisms. His heart in his throat, he held his breath until the external monitors revealed the shadowy Splinter on the outside of the ship, completely intact. Then it winked out. Before he could howl his fear, a husky, slightly breathless feminine voice came over the com. “Neat trick, huh? I left a private com in your cabin, Skye. Give me a ring later if you like. See you.” “Jaide!” Jaide stared at her screen in disbelief. Leaning forward, she stabbed a finger at the smug image of the Kristol trader. “Listen here, you prissy little—” cutting herself off, she reached for patience. The self-satisfied little twerp was one of the only dealers in the sector, and she’d play havoc trying to find another, short of the black market. Even if he was a turd. Taking a deep breath, she tried to reason with him. “Look, Mavic, you know my money’s good. Why not just take it and run? I’ll even add a generous tip,” she added, trying not to grimace. She’d never liked dealing with the pudgy butterball, not only because of his chauvinistic attitude, but also because he had a habit of skimming money wherever he could. The man was a troll, and it was all she could do to keep herself in check long enough to trade with him. One way or another, she swore to herself, this would be the last time. “My apologies, milady,” he said with far too much satisfaction. “But I’m afraid our trade policy prohibits trading with a married woman without her husband’s permission-in triplicate.” Her eyes narrowed. “How would you like to be a blood splotch floating in space?” The pudgy dealer spread his hands. Too bad his apologetic gesture was ruined by his smirk. “I’m sorry, milady. There’s nothing I can do.” So, her tricky husband had been more creative with his threats. Crossing her arms, she said, “I’ll double your fee.” That should interest the greedy little booger. He tried to look offended. “Are you suggesting that I would take a bribe?” Taking that stupid statement as proof that they were being monitored, Jaide cut the transmission, then sat back to think. Skye must have analyzed the spectral trail on the shield doors, found large quantities of Kristol residue, then taken steps to see she didn’t get her hands on any more. It was very devious, and she gave him points for intelligence. Without Kristol, she would soon be grounded, and the market for the synthetic was still too new to hope for any new sources so soon. Well, spit! Now what? Toying with her earlobe, she considered her choices. Actually, there was only one, short of stealing. She hadn’t wanted to go black market, not only because of the price, but also because of the often inferior quality of the goods. Still, she did have the equipment to purify any bad stones, and it wouldn’t take that long. If she hurried she should still be able to return to Tantalus in time for the Canyon Run.
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Besides, if she worked things right, she might just be able to dig up some information on Trell. Draconian Security might not know it, but the place she needed to go for the Kristol was one of his favorite haunts. With any luck she would be able to issue a private and irresistible challenge to the vain racer. Something that would flush him out in the open, making him easy prey for her Draconian lover. Making up her mind, Jaide set a course for the dark side of Primus II. Even with her personal cloak making her appear to be a hulking black man in his mid-forties, Jaide’s peripheral vision was still colored with the red-shot yellow of apprehension. Sane people would not mess with a man as ferocious as she appeared to be, but then, sane people did not go to the Red District. Bah! Skye probably does this all the time, she told herself, bolstering her courage. She chose to ignore the fact that her husband was also one of the most feared Draconians in the system, and even he never traveled without someone to watch his back in a place like this. Keeping her hand near her blaster, she took a chance and cut through a dark alley, knowing that it would cut her travel time by at least ten minutes. Tendrils of mist curled about her legs, clinging with clammy hands to her body, sucking away the heat. Pale moonlight gleamed off the broken paving stones, showing hints of scurrying vermin. Ten minutes off the streets of the Red District was a very good thing. “I say we rape her first.” Jaide froze as a rough looking felon came into view. Both he and his partner were so engrossed in their fallen victim that neither of them noticed her. Switching her cloak to camouflage mode so that her image blended into the rusty brown bricks, she crept closer. The taller of the men kicked the ball of misery at their feet in disgust. Its yelp of pain was soon swallowed up by despairing sobs. “I doubt we could find its poke hole under all that fat,” he sneered. Jaide stiffened. Eyes narrowing, she drew her blaster, walking silently closer. The shorter one with the braided pigtails snickered. “One hole’s as good as another.” He reached for the terrified woman. His hand disappeared in a puff of vapor. Too shocked to scream, the man stared at his smoking stump, his mouth wide in horror. With a curse his partner reached for his sidearm. Red laser light cut through the night, evaporating his head. Cold fear cut through the maimed man’s stupor, and he took off with a yell. Jaide switched settings and stunned the coward, then strode toward his victim, keeping her weapon ready and her eyes open. “Please don’t hurt me!” The woman lay curled into a rather large ball, hugging her stomach. Tears tracked down the streaks of alley grime coating her bruised face. “I’m not,” Jaide assured her. A touch on her wrist control deactivated her personal cloak long enough to bring a gasp from the girl. Jaide didn’t dare leave it off longer than that. “Don’t worry, kid. I’m on your side.” She reached down and slid her hand under the girl’s shoulder, using the hand that held her blaster to grasp the girl’s upper arm. “Get up if you can. I don’t plan to hang around and chat with any of the local residents.”
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With a great deal of difficulty, the young woman got to her feet, then stood with her arm wrapped around her ribs. “Please, I need to get home.” “Right.” Keeping her eyes peeled for trouble, Jaide escorted the teen out of the dark alley and into the streetlights, keeping pace with her awkward steps. “What were you doing out here alone at this time of night?” “My brother,” the girl gasped out, crouching down to hold her belly. Jaide put a worried hand on her arm. If the girl passed out, there was no way she would be able to carry her. “I was afraid that one of his clients had hurt him again,” she explained, and the pain on her face was more than physical. “They do that sometimes.” Judging from the rundown apartment the girl led her to and the shamed way that she said clients, Jaide had a pretty good idea of what her brother did. Asking no more questions, she helped the girl up the three flights of creaking stairs and into her one-room apartment. “What happened to your parents?” she asked, sitting the girl down and running some water in the sink. “It won’t get hot,” the girl offered, then lapsed into silence. Knowing that her brother wouldn’t do what he did if things at home hadn’t been pretty ugly, Jaide wrung out a clean sock and asked instead, “How old are you?” When the girl just looked at her as if she were crazed, Jaide rolled her eyes. “Come on kid, do I look like social services?” Cradling the back of her head with her free hand, she gently set about washing the various scrapes, carefully wiping the blood away from the girl’s bleeding nose. After a moment the girl finally admitted, “I’m thirteen. My name is Sorcha.” Jaide met her eyes for a moment, giving her a grave smile. “Nice to meet you, Sorcha. I’m called Jaide.” Turning her attention back to her task, she asked, “So how old is your brother?” Another beat of hesitation. “Fourteen.” she looked down at her hands. “His name is Taos.” Jaide nodded and tossed her cloth into the sink. “Ok, let’s see your ribs, kid.” Sorcha blanched. “Don’t worry about it.” Jaide reassured her with a wry grin. It didn’t take a mind reader to know what was upsetting the girl. “Trust me. I was twice your size when I was a kid.” Sorcha didn’t look convinced, but she raised her shirt anyway so Jaide could take a look. “It doesn’t hurt too much,” she whispered. Still, she grimaced when Jaide gingerly probed the bruises. “Well, I’m no doctor, but I don’t think that anything’s broken,” Jaide said at last. She straightened up. “A good night’s sleep wouldn’t hurt, though.” Taking a deep breath, Jaide took a step back, then sold away the rest of her night. “Why don’t you tell me where to look for your brother, Taos? That way I can send him back here and you can rest easy.” The very last thing she wanted to do was to go exploring where the boy was likely to be. It didn’t look like she had much choice, however, if she wanted to preserve her good deed with Sorcha. After all, she’d already invested this much time.... Taos’ corner wasn’t hard to find. After all, the kid made his living by being available to the public.
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Shivering in the brisk night wind, Jaide made her way across the darkened street to the club lights the young man stood under. Taos’s spiked dark hair was misty with condensed fog and he shivered in his thin canvas jacket, but his kohl rimmed eyes surveyed her with cool composure. The ancient eyes made his beardless face look much older than his years. He said nothing as he waited for her to make her business known. Shifting her booted feet on the hard cement in an effort not jog in place, Jaide got right to the point. “Your sister got hurt tonight looking for you.” “What?” Taos came away from the wall, his faux composure completely slipping away as his eyes widened. “Where is she? Is she hurt bad?” Happy to sooth his frantic questions, she nodded. “She’s just a little banged up. She’s at your apartment” Jaide broke off as he dashed by in a swirl of chill air, leaving her talking to nothing. “Glad to be of service.” she muttered as she watched him disappear. She glanced at the club. Not surprisingly, it was an all male establishment, if she interpreted the silhouettes on the flickering sign correctly. Hmm. Fingering her blaster, she considered the sign. From what she remembered of Trell’s home videos, he was just as likely to be found in a place like this as any other. Perhaps the Kristol could wait. The question was, would she be safer appearing in there as a man or a woman? More importantly, she thought with a grimace, what would her husband do if he ever caught wind of her appearing in a place like that alone? Grunting at the answer, Jaide flipped up the collar of her black suede jacket and considered the direction Taos had disappeared in. Well, what the heck, maybe the kid had some useful information. Besides, she told herself as she headed back the way she’d come, someone ought to check up on those two. Taos wasn’t inclined to let her in the door at first, but he finally gave in to his sister’s pleading and reluctantly stepped back, looking her over critically as she stepped inside. “What do you want?” he demanded tersely, shutting the door behind her, but leaving his hand on the knob as if he’d like to boot her out again. “Stop it, Taos!” Sorcha demanded, throwing a wadded up sock at her brother. “We owe her. I owe her.” Jaide blew out a breath and held her hands out. “Hey, I didn’t come here to cause trouble! All I’d like is some information, if you have it.” Crossing his arms over his chest, he stared at her critically. “Like what?” “Have you ever heard of a man named V.B. Trell?” Taos’s face went white, but he said nothing. Jaide reached into an inner pocket and pulled out the cash she’d been planning to use for the Kristol. One by one she laid the platinum coins on the table in neat stacks until a thousand international units gleamed at him. Taos watched in silence, swallowing hard as he stared at the treasure on his scarred table. “It’s enough money to start over, if that’s what you need,” she whispered softly. “Enough to take your sister someplace safer and find a new job, if you like.” Straightening up, she said in a harsher voice, “Or you can just blow it all and go back to life as usual. Your choice.” Assuming a bargaining air, she told him coolly, “All you have to do to earn it is to tell me what I want to know.”
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Jaide picked up Trell and his waiting buddies just past Earth’s moon, as expected. There were four of them, just returning from a raid, and all blissfully unaware of their uninvited company. Good boy, Taos, she thought with fierce satisfaction. She studied Trell’s ship. It was one of the newer fighters from Synergy: a sleek barracuda with a detachable front section, a design that maximized the possibility of escape should the structure be battle-damaged. A trickle of cold sweat slid between her shoulder blades, tickling her back and reminding her how unsuited she was to playing spy master. Still, her sensors had picked up two extra people now on his ship, whereas going in there had been only two. The odds were high that the extra passengers were kiddnaped women. For a moment she hesitated. Her hand tightened on the control yoke as she struggled with herself. She’d come here with the intention of challenging Trell to a race. A confrontation with a ship full of hostages hadn’t been part of the plan. Still, she couldn’t just let him get away with it. Reaching over to her control panel, she programmed the Splinter to send a call to the Black Tide. While she waited for an answer, she sent a cloaked tracer to Trell’s vessel. It magnetized to the hull without a problem. “Skye,” she said, hesitating a beat as he appeared on screen. Thank God he was available. No one else was on his bridge, so she must have caught them during a sleep shift. “I’ve found Trell, and he’s got guests. Unwilling guests.” Again she paused, but those women’s lives were worth more to her than petty revenge. “I’ve attached a tracer to his hull, just in case. You should be getting the coordinates right about.…” She checked her readouts. “Now.” He glanced off screen. “We’ve got them.” She took a deep breath. “I know you want those women back alive, and I’m for that, but...I might be able to mess up his systems from here, or delay him without revealing myself. If I do that, though, you’ll never know where he was taking the hostages. Worse, he might kill them if he figures out what I’m doing.” For a long moment he said nothing. She couldn’t know how worried he’d been. Skye reminded himself of that as he fought not to reveal his anxiety. It had to be enough that she’d sought his counsel at this most critical juncture. For now. “Skye?” she prodded, getting anxious. “What would you like me to do?” An indefinable tension drained out of him as he closed his eyes briefly. When they opened again, he was all business. “Survey at a distance. We’ll be right there. Do not engage. Do you hear me?” Sighing, she nodded her agreement. “I hear you.” She glanced at the ships. “Though you’d better hurry up. Once these guys jump” she broke off as an idea came to her. “Wait!” Her fingers flashed over her control keys, feverishly calling up data. “How long before you can get here?” “We don’t have time—” he started to protest, already hard at work on his end. “How long?” He glanced up briefly. “Three minutes.” Her eyes grew wide with shock. “You’re following me! How—”
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“We’ll talk about it later,” he snapped, cutting her off. “What’s your plan?” She put aside her suspicions for the moment and concentrated on her idea. “I’ll distract him, send a message to him from cloak. While I’m talking, you link your signal to mine and tap into his computer. If you’re fast and lucky, you might be able to tap into his system and separate the sections of his ship. Come out fighting and he’ll leave the tail end behind like a bad dream.” His eyes sparkled with respect. “Do it.” Wasting no time, she opened a link to Trell. “Hello, vermin,” she greeted him, gloating at the shocked expressions of Trell and his partner. “Miss me?” Before he could panic and jump to light speed she sent a stream of data scrolling on his screen, just to the left of her image. “What is that?” he demanded, his hands hovering over his controls. He was clearly torn between leaving in a hurry and curiosity. “It’s the ship that’s going to wipe out every one of your records in the Canyon Run tomorrow. My ship,” she sneered, being as malicious as possible. She had to hold him until Skye was finished and enraging Trell past the point of caution seemed the best way to do it. Trell opened his mouth to retort, but nothing came out. Slowly his expression changed to one of cunning speculation as he stared at the information. “Care to make a bet?” “Why not?” She smirked. “Easy money.” He toyed with the piercing in his left eyebrow and turned his bald head to his partner. The gesture conveniently hid any visual signals he might be sending. When he looked up his expression was smooth, relaxed. “Are you woman enough to wager your ship?” Jaide laughed in his face. “I’m woman enough to beat you, Trell, and then spit in your face as I take your ship.” Neither Trell nor his partner saw the bridge doors silently shutting behind them until it was too late. She didn’t have to say any more. Trell’s face blanked in astonishment as the Black Tide, followed by twelve other fighters, broke out of light speed. They descended on Trell’s ships like avenging angels. More shocking than the number of ships to Jaide was the design of the Draconian fighters. Each one had the same design as the Bat, which flew with them. With a curse, Trell cut their connection and brought his ship about. As he did the back half of his vessel separated from the front half, no doubt leaving him swearing the air foul. Indignation warred with pride as she saw the fleet of Bats swoop and strike, devastating their unprepared target. So swift was the attack that she couldn’t have helped if she’d wanted to, and it didn’t take long to figure out that these guys had been prepared for this. How had that tricky Draconian tracked her? Trell’s was the only ship allowed to escape. Jaide was elated-until she checked and discovered that Trell’s transmitter had been destroyed in the fight.
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Deflated, Jaide watched as the Draconians docked with their captured prizes, taking prisoners and gathering evidence with experienced efficiency. And now what? Trell would be doubly cautious about approaching her now. Was his greed and vanity strong enough to lure him to the Canyon Run? Maybe not, but she’d bet good odds that some of his friends would be there. She glanced out her window at the Black Tide, knowing instinctively that Skye would never agree to her plan. Worse, he’d planted some sort of bug on her-maybe a nanobot-and he’d know exactly what she was up to if she went directly to Tantalus. She had to hand it to him-the man was sly. Still, it was a very good chance to draw out some of Carthack’s thugs; maybe the best. Besides, she missed racing. She played her thumbnail across her bottom lip. It would be tricky, no doubt, and she’d need backup. No problem there-her Draconian friends were sure to be there. Her mind made up, she set course for Tantalus. The day of the race dawned hot and bright. Skye scanned the crowd from the shadows of the upper balconies, looking for and not finding his concealed backup. With a grim smile of satisfaction, he turned his attention to the raceway. Soon the racers, including his unruly wife, would be lining up for the start of the race. Trell was registered, but so far had not put in an appearance. He wouldn’t doubt it if the man pulled up at the last minute. He’d want his revenge, and he was crazy enough to seek it here. If not through the race, then by sabotage. The announcers came over the loudspeaker, signaling that the race was about to begin. His lips curled in a savage smile. Time to move. Jaide sat in tense expectation, waiting for the signal to race. Nine others were racing with her, four ships of whom she recognized. The others were strangers to her. No telling what kind of competition they’d be. The Canyon Run was one of the most grueling, demanding race courses in all of known space. At least once a year a racer was seriously injured or killed or at the very least their ship sustained costly damage. Her hands tensed on the control yoke, remembering the year she’d ended up in a twisted pile of metal thanks to Trell’s sabotage. She’d spent weeks in intensive care as a result, more bones then she cared to count broken. A trickle of cold sweat slithered down her temple. She forced herself to take a deep, controlled breath, and slowly let it out again, regaining her calm. It wasn’t going to happen again. This was the year she’d take back her title. The only one about to suffer humiliation today would be Trell. The claxon sounded. With a roar like thunder, the ten sleek ships shot onto the course, heading almost immediately into a wide canyon that gradually narrowed to a tunnel only wide enough for one. Watching ships hovered above the canyon, ready to disqualify anyone who rose above the top. Jaide had no intention of straying from her course. Adrenaline flowed through her veins, fueling her high as rough sandstone walls flashed by at dizzying speeds. Her senses heightened by danger, she jerked on the controls, twisting through a side canyon too
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narrow for a horizontal ship. Although an acceptable option, the twisting arroyo was rarely used, and for good reason. Only two racers had ever survived the attempt to navigate it. One of those pilots was Jaide. The other was Trell. Two of the racers broke off to follow her through the shortcut. She had no more than a brief glimpse of the silver shadow and his black twin before she was forced to bank sharply, narrowly escaping scraping her hull against the red-streaked stone. In moments they had rejoined the other racers, this time at the head of the line. A series of wind-sculpted stone loops and bridges came next, but before she could take the first one the silver ship shot ahead of her, catching her in its turbulent wake. Swearing, she fought for control, cursing as the other ships flashed by her helplessly spinning craft. Long seconds passed. “Spit! I’m gona die!” she swore through clenched teeth as a ridge of stone loomed in her view port. Instead, whether through divine intervention or blind luck, she pulled out with a whine of engines, leaving only a streak of shiny metal on the sandstone as a reminder of her close call. Breathing heavily, she rejoined the others, this time almost dead last. Somehow the black ship had lost ground as well. It flew just in front of her. Intent on regaining her lead, Jaide tossed caution to wind. It would have been so easy to activate the phasing device, but she was determined to win without it. Granted, it was so new it couldn’t possibly be regulated against, but she didn’t care. She was the equal of any racer here and she didn’t need tricks to prove it. Besides, she was almost certain that lead ship was Trell. The race consisted of three loops and it took her all of the first and much sweat for the second, but she clawed her way back to third place. Only the black fighter and Trell stood between her and victory. Without warning the ship in fourth fired at her, and only snake-like reflexes kept her from exploding in a ball of flame. Furious, but unable to do anything about it without room to maneuver and unwilling to risk hitting the ship behind Trell, she braced herself and gunned the throttle, leap-frogging over the black ship, putting it between her and danger and in the process nearly getting herself killed on an outcropping of rock. The black ship had no compunctions about returning the assassin’s fire. One amazing shot and the rogue ship burned up like a comet hitting atmosphere, showering those who came behind with sparks and debris. Free to concentrate on taking Trell, Jaide sent a silent thank you to the pilot of the black ship and gave the Splinter fuel. It didn’t disappoint. In seconds she was past Trell, who immediately started using her as target practice. Again the black ship saved her. A red streak of deadly fire flashed from its guns, heading for Trell’s ship with fatal accuracy. It hit home, sending the silver ship spinning away out of the canyon with a scream of fury. The race was on. Victory sang through her brain as the finish line came into sight. She was going to take it. The black ship nosed ahead. Jaide gave it everything she had but she just didn’t have the nerve to match the other pilot’s terrifying determination. He was going to win. She’d lost.
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And then, just as they were about to cross the finish line, he pulled up, allowing her to shoot ahead of him and take the race. Jaide was furious. How dare he? The moment she landed she tore off her safety straps, flinging her helmet to the ground. Blight him! He’d let her win! Robbed of her dignity, she exited the Splinter and went in grim search of the blighter. Nobody let her win and got away with it. She reached him just as the jerk jumped down from the last rung of his ladder. He’d left his helmet behind and his ebony hair was tied in a queue at the back of his head and she could see the side of his dark glasses, so similar to her own, as he turned his head to scan the crowd. Almost as if he’d scented her, he turned. “Hello, wife,” he drawled in that deep, sexy voice. His teeth gleamed in a wicked smile. “Did you miss me?” Incensed at his insolence and her intense physical reaction to it, she swung at him. Easily he caught it, pulling her to him for a fast victor’s kiss. Completely dazed, it shocked her when he tucked her to his body and rolled under his fighter. “What? Not here, you idiot!” she hissed. “Stay down!” he shouted, and only then did she realize that Skye was returning fire. Protected by his body-mashed flat, in fact-all she could do was watch as the dozen or so men who fired at them were picked off, one by one, by a contingent of Draconian enforcers. It was as she lay there, barely able to breathe, that realization hit her. Skye had saved her life. More than once. Jaide didn’t move when he rolled off her. Terrified she’d been hurt, Skye searched her body in vain for laser wounds. She was still breathing. There was no blood. It was when he checked her dilated eyes and noticed her chilled, pale skin that understanding dawned. She was in shock, nothing worse. “Jaide?” He tapped her cheek. Her eyes shifted toward him but didn’t really focus. At least she was somewhat alert, if dazed. The smell of scorched metal and hot pavement salted his nose and he peered out from the sheltering shadow of the fighter, searching for danger. Nemesis waved back, signaling the all clear. Careful not to bump her head on the fighter’s belly, Skye helped her up. Immediately Chrys joined them, holding his laser rifle at the ready as he scanned the crowd for enemies. “Is she going to be all right?” He’d completely abandoned his cover of notorious smuggler, and his crisp new image reflected it. No longer scruffy and disreputable looking, he still exuded dangerous vibes. The curious crowd parted, making way for the blond enforcer. “In time. She’s just a little shocked,” Skye assured him, keeping his own eyes open for snipers. If the traitor they’d discovered didn’t manage to kill them all, it wouldn’t be for lack of trying, but he’d be fried before he let the laser bait take his woman without a fight. Skye didn’t think Jaide would even notice when he fished in her pocket and withdrew the lockbox for the Splinter, so he was surprised to find her gripping his wrist as he aimed it at the door. “Relax, heartflame. We’re just going to fly it safely home.” As
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soon as they entered Chrys left to reclaim Skye’s fighter. They would rendezvous at Domino’s later. Jaide fumbled with the harness until her husband slid the straps from her fingers and fastened them for her. So many things were going through her mind, but the first thing she asked was, “Trell? What about Trell? Is he dead?” “No,” he answered, glancing at her as he went through the pre-flight check. “I shot him with a tracer. Nemesis and Lore are tracking him now.” “What about Quadril? Isn’t he with them?” His jaw tightened. “We’ll talk about him later.” By the time they reached Domino’s, Jaide had recovered from her shock, but she didn’t object when Skye ushered her past upper level security and immediately sat her down on the couch. “Let me get you something hot to drink,” he said, touching the backs of his fingers to her cheek in concern. “You’re chilled.” “Great race,” Domino offered dryly from the kitchen bar. “And congratulations on surviving. I didn’t think you’d recover from that spin.” “Leave it, brother,” Skye warned, knowing that Domino had a great deal more to say of his sister-by-marriage’s conduct. It was not his place to correct her. Besides, Skye had a great deal of respect for her flying. There were few to match her. Even if he was annoyed with her independent mulishness. He brought Jaide a steaming mug of spiced juice and joined her on the couch. “Be careful; it’s hot.” “Thank you.” She took the mug and leaned back with a grateful sigh, totally drained. “I could learn to like this.” “Try sticking around and you might get more of it,” Domino suggested, sipping his own drink. “I might,” she returned sweetly. “But it won’t be because of your nagging.” “Enough,” Skye growled, close to losing his temper with both of them. Domino might just be trying to protect his younger brother from further pain, but Skye didn’t need his dubious help. Whatever anger Domino held would just have to be dealt with in another way. “We have other concerns right now. Has Nemesis made any progress?” Domino glanced aside at his communications panel. “Still in stealth mode. We won’t hear anything until he’s found Trell’s hidey hole. Too much possibility of being picked up on a scan.” “And then what?” Jaide wanted to know. Was it too much to hope that this thing would soon be over? She was getting very tired of these games. The more she played the more she discovered this wasn’t the kind of life she wanted to lead. But what about Skye? What did he want? How would she fit into his life if this was what he wanted to do for the rest of it? “And then we go arrest him,” Skye assured her with a smile, brushing his lips across her temple, setting off sparks. Distracted, she murmured, “And what about me? Do I stay here?” He sighed and rested his forehead against her temple. Ignoring his brother’s aggrieved snort, he said, “Could we have a moment?”
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After Domino was gone he pulled back, watching her carefully. “Are you saying you wish to go? Is that what you want?” Her answer would help him to know what direction to take with her. He suppressed a groan, wearied just by thinking of the argument to ensue when all he longed for was peace. Why couldn’t he have fallen in love with a sweet-natured, biddable woman? She was silent a moment. “I don’t think I’d be much help with that kind of thing,” she said slowly. She searched his eyes. “I’m getting rather tired of running around. Lately all I’ve been wanting to do is work on an engine. I think I need to unwind.” Skye’s shoulders slumped in relief, and she laughed. “Woman.…” He shook his head at her but hugged her to him in relief. “You don’t know how relieved I am to hear you say that. I thought for sure I’d be forced to tie you to my bed to keep you out of danger.” When she snorted, he sobered. Taking her face in his hands, he gave her a tender kiss. “Tell me you won’t leave me again. Don’t go.” Tears pricked her eyes. Pain shimmered in his gaze and she realized just how much she’d hurt him. She touched his face, willing him to see her sincerity. Softly she said in Draconian, “I won’t leave you. I’m not afraid of loving you anymore, and I want to trust. Would you help me do that?” “Always,” he swore, moved. His lips brushed hers. “Always.” “But what about Quadril?” she asked, breaking away. “You made it sound like there was some kind of problem with him.” Though he didn’t move, she felt him distance himself. “Quadril is our traitor.”
Chapter 10 She stared at him in disbelief. “Are you sure?” “Yes. We might never have known if I hadn’t seen him talking to a known agent of Carthak’s.” His jaw tightened. “Unfortunately he saw me and escaped before I could do more than wound him. Had you seen him before I could warn you...." Jaide stilled. If Quadril had approached her before Skye got to her, she’d have been dead or worse. Her willfulness had nearly cost them a steep price. The guilt worsened as she thought of the way she’d been shot at after the race. She hadn’t even dreamed she was in danger after she landed, not with all those people around them. Had she been shot and the Splinter taken.… Things could have gotten very ugly. “I’m sorry.” It was inadequate, but Skye deserved the words. More than that, he deserved a wife who wouldn’t force him to risk his life to protect her. It was time she grew up. They shared a quiet lunch with Domino. No one was very interested in talking as they waited to hear something from Nemesis. Finally the com signal sounded. Domino practically leapt on it. “Go ahead.” “Got him.” Jaide relaxed and smiled as Skye hugged her. “It’s about time,” she said. Maybe
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now they could relax and seriously consider what to do with the rest of their lives. “No sign of Quadril.” That dampened the mood a bit. Quadril knew far too much, was a danger to all of them until he was caught. Still, it was the first break in the case against Carthack-if they could get Trell to talk. Vasha and Belsi joined them for dinner that evening. Irrepressible and impish, the pair chased gloominess away with their bright chatter. “Oh, you should have seen him!” Belsi giggled, gesturing dramatically with her fork. “The new director is absolutely in love with our sister.” Vasha blushed and studied her meal with intense interest. “It will pass.” Her brothers exchanged looks. “Maybe we should meet him.” “Don’t you dare!” She glared at them. “I’m not a little girl anymore, and I know more about how to handle men than you know about being one. I’m tired of you intimidating any man who even smiles at me. I can handle them without your dubious help.” “Maybe, but it’s been a long time since we visited you at the set. I do enjoy watching you work,” Domino said casually. Belsi snorted. “You just like flirting with the other actresses. Admit it-you’re bored silly every time you come.” “Impossible.” Skye beamed gallantly at her. “How could we ever be bored watching our favorite sisters in action?” “Your only sisters,” Vasha observed dryly just before she popped a crunchy fritter in her mouth. “Was your brother ever this difficult, Jaide?” “Chrys? Are you kidding? He must have been even worse,” Belsi insisted. “I mean, look at the way he hovers around us now.” She rolled her eyes. “I’ll bet Jaide couldn’t get a date for all the boys living in terror of him.” Jaide held very still. There were many answers she could give to that, but something held her tongue. Maybe because she knew no one would benefit from the pain and rage in her heart for her brother. Instead, she answered in an admirably even tone, “True, I had no dates.” Let them assume it was because of Chrys. Aware of the rawness of the subject for her, Skye changed the subject back to the original. “Regardless, you know it’s because we care, Vasha. What kind of brothers would we be if we let just any suitor near you? Besides, this director you’re talking about isn’t even Draconian.” Vasha raised her brows. “Neither was your wife.” “It’s completely different and you know it,” Skye said, an edge to his voice. “Our laws—” “I know the laws,” she said, her face tight. “But I disagree with them. Just because our females are much rarer than the males—” “We have to maintain purity” Skye tried to override her, his voice rising. “-doesn’t mean we should be forced to mate within our race. You men don’t.” “We usually can’t,” Domino was quick to point out. “Not enough women.” Vasha gave him an insincere smile and blinked rapidly. “Has it occurred to you that an infusion of fresh blood might make a difference?”
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“Come on, Vasha!” Domino’s face was incredulous. “Think. What do you think our men have been bringing into our race with our alien wives? Face it; it’s simply the limitations of our race.” “I don’t see what you’re complaining about,” Skye added with a concerned scowl. “It’s not as if you’re not hotly pursued among Draconians. Any one of them—” Vasha threw down her fork. “I refuse to marry a man who views me as a prize! I’m not a piece of art to be appreciated for my rarity, Skye! At least with an alien I know it’s for myself.” “Not always.” Jaide was surprised she’d spoken, but this argument was truly getting out of hand. “Men of my race desire women for many different reasons, few of them because they care in any lasting way. Look at how they use us and discard us. We have little value to some of them. A good many of them are simply looking for a good roll, and they don’t care where they get it. Some of them would view an alien as a sort of trophy, something different to brag about to their friends. Skye’s the first man I’ve known to think of me in terms other than a potential quickie.” Taken aback at her bluntness, Vasha subsided. It was clear she wasn’t happy, but Jaide had given her something to think about. Belsi wasn’t so easily dissuaded. Watching Jaide closely, she asked, “What about Chrys? Isn’t he different?” It was too much. Jaide stood up. “Not that I’ve ever seen. Excuse me.” Skye followed her into the guestroom. “Jaide.…” She waived him off. “Not now, please. I really don’t want to talk about it.” With a sigh she sat on the bed and rubbed her forehead. Respecting her silence, he joined her, propping his head up on his hand as he halfreclined. “A woman of few words. How unusual is that?” he teased, trying to lift her mood. He counted it a success when she scowled at him. Encouraged, he flopped back with as dramatic a sigh as he could manage and rested his wrist limply against his forehead. “I may just expire with joy.” “You’ll expire, all right.” With a playful growl, she leapt on him and pinned his wrists to the bed. “Now what are you going to do, tough guy?” Her stern tone was ruined by the grin curving her mouth. “Oh, don’t hurt me!” he squealed, falsetto. “Big, bad woman; have mercy!” Helpless with laughter, she shrieked as he flipped her over. Growling in mimic of a fearsome beast, he nibbled her neck. “Now who’s on top, bonbon?” They wrestled over the bed. She needed to burn off tension and he was glad to help her do it. There was really no contest, but it stimulated both of them to pretend there was. Their match ended predictably, with him on top and fire in his eyes. It was a long while before they left their room. The club that night was quieter than usual due to a sold out performance at a nearby arena. Since Domino and Skye had business to attend to and Vasha chose to stay at home, Jaide accepted Belsi’s invitation to attend the laser-hunter demo. Excited by the chance to see her favorite performer in action, Belsi wouldn’t stop chattering. “He’s so amazing,” she gushed as they entered the private transport Skye had secured for them.
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“Hm.” Still distracted by Skye’s inexplicable unconcern for security at the stadium, Jaide barely heard her. Had he insisted on bodyguards or security she wouldn’t have argued, not with Carthack and Quadril still on the loose. Yet he’d said nothing, only kissed her goodbye and told her to have a good time. Passing odd, to say the least. She blinked as a hand suddenly waived in front of her face. “Hello? Anybody in there?” Belsi grinned at her. “Come on, we’re here!” Unable to completely relax, Jaide paid sharp attention to the multitude thronging into the stadium with them. If there was going to be trouble, she’d be ready. “Why are you so jumpy?” Belsi asked as the line inched toward the toll booths. “You look like you’re expecting to be attacked or something.” Her grin was definitely mischievous. Jaide’s eyes narrowed. “What do you know?” Belsi laughed. “You’ll never see them, but we’re surrounded by bodyguards. Trust me, my brothers would never let us out of their sight without at least six men trailing us. They’re just staying out of sight so we won’t feel hemmed in.” Uncertain how she felt about that, Jaide scowled and searched the crowd. To her mind it would be preferable to have the men in plain sight. The whole idea of unseen guardians made her nervous. She’d always preferred to depend on that she could see and touch. Still, it made her feel better to know Skye hadn’t been as cavalier with their safety as she’d thought. Not that she’d ever admit to it. With a big smile for the ticket taker, Belsi paid and impatiently grabbed Jaide’s hand to be stamped when she continued to look around. Still holding it, she took off at a trot, towing Jaide behind her. “Come on! We need to hurry up if we’re going to get our refreshments in time.” Snacks in hand, they settled into a private balcony box to enjoy the game. “How much did you pay for these seats?” Jaide asked as she looked out the reflection-proof, one-way glass. Grinning like a cat, Belsi winked and propped her feet up on the empty seat in front of her. “Don’t ask.” The lights suddenly flicked on in the arena and dimmed over the audience. There was a muted spate of conversation from the audience and a sudden roar as six laser hunters swooshed out on hover boards. “That’s my favorite,” Belsi breathed reverently, pointing to one of the helmeted hunters as he rounded the concrete bowl of the arena. Various ramps and loops had been set up in the center. He was the only one not showing off in some manner. “He’s unquestionably the best.” Amused at Belsi’s obvious crush, Jaide smiled. “Bet he’s cute, huh?” “Mm.” “Single?” “Presently unattached,” Belsi confirmed. “And dying to be mine.” Jaide raised a brow. “Well, he would be if he wasn’t good friends with my brothers.” She pretended to pout. “And guys don’t hit on their friend’s sisters. It’s a stupid guy thing.”
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Laughing, Jaide just shook her head. A buzzer sounded in the pit below. Suddenly the men broke into two teams. Barely had they joined up when the signal came to fight. Jaide jumped as live fire exploded in the pit below. She’d been expecting harmless practice lasers, not the red beams leaving scorch marks on the concrete. Suddenly the light, black body armor-yellow on the opposing team-didn’t look so theatrical. “Is this a death match?” Never taking her eyes off the action, Belsi shook her head. “They only score points when they hit the red sensors on the armor. Chest is a winning shot, but the elbows and knees get higher points, as does the forehead and neck. Marksmanship is very prized. My man always hits a marksman shot before he takes down his opponent.” Although a mean shot herself, Jaide still couldn’t see how the men below could hit anything as they sped through the loops and whizzed off the walls. Could be it was something like flying a ship, but still...just the thought of it made her feel dizzy. Without warning one of the yellow hunters shot the board out from under Belsi’s hero. Belsi gasped and sat up straight. “No! Did you see that? Why didn’t they call a foul?” Six feet off the ground at that point, it was amazing how he recovered in mid-air. Twisting like a cat, the man managed to land on his feet, breaking his fall against the sloping wall before tucking into a roll. When he reached the first looping ramp he sprang upright. Using it for cover, he fired at the one who’d destroyed his board, striking the chest target head-on. The crowd cheered. On her feet now, Belsi pumped her arm in victory. “Go! Go!” Taking advantage of his opponent’s distraction, the dark hunter leapt up and ripped the board out from under the yellow cheat, sending him tumbling. Mounted on the cheat’s board, he saluted the crowd as he once again rounded the arena. Much impressed, Jaide watched with a wide grin as the black team went on to win the day. “Wow! I’m glad we came. I can see why you’re impressed with him.” “Want to meet him?” Belsi’s eyes sparkled. “He promised me he’d come up here to say hello after the demo.” “Sounds fun.” The moment the door to their balcony opened, though, Jaide knew she’d been had. “Chrys.” To his credit her brother seemed just as surprised to see her as she was. The warm smile he had for Belsi faltered when he saw Jaide. “Belsi...Sis.” Jaide turned her back to stare blankly out at the arena. There was silence behind her, then, “Belsi, could you give us a moment?” There came the sound of a door opening and a click as it closed. More silence. The adult thing to do would be to turn, face him, and pretend nothing was wrong. To deal with him as she would any other untrustworthy male. Too bad her emotions wouldn’t let her do that. If she turned he’d see the brightness of her eyes, the tense set of her jaw, and men didn’t like that. None of them enjoyed feeling guilty.
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She shivered and crossed her arms for warmth. Belsi-and Skye, she suspected-had a lot to answer for. “Did you enjoy the match?” Relieved to have a neutral topic, she nodded. “I presume you’re Belsi’s hero?” He snorted. “Belsi just likes me to defy her brothers. Nothing will come of it. They’re smart enough not to push her away from me. They know contact is the best way to convince her I’m definitely the wrong guy for her.” His voice was full of selfdepredation. “Smart,” she agreed dryly. “How did she get the idea you were some kind of hero, anyway?” Cold rage simmered just below her surface. Chrys had hurt her. He had a lot to answer for. There was an awkward pause. “I’ve been under deep cover for the past few years, Jaide. I couldn’t have called, or explained.” “And we didn’t have anything in common.” She faced him but kept her gaze expressionless and trained on his chest. “Don’t worry about it. I took care of myself just fine.” “You’re my sister.” “That’s no fault of yours.” He winced. “I had that one coming, I guess. I know I’ve been an ass.” Jaide raised a brow. “All right, a royal pain in the butt and an insensitive jerk. Do you think you could forgive me anyway? I’d like to start over.” His eyes filled with pain. “You’re the only family I’ve got.” She maintained her stony silence. Chrys took a deep breath, shifted in place. “Skye said he’d told you about the money, if that’s why you’re still mad; that I’d taken it to bribe Sesame into looking after you.” He ran a hand over his face, almost as if he were trying to wipe away the growing anger there. “I was broke and undercover. I figured your life was more important than the money. Was I wrong?” “How very sweet.” Her lip curled. “So nice of you to provide a babysitter with my money. But let’s not pass by the real issue here. I’m still dying to know how I ended up paying your bills. Pimps, drug dealers…a hooker’s hospital bills. I wonder what Belsi would think about that.” He stared at her. “I only took a few hundred from your account, sis. I didn’t leave you broke, and I haven’t been spending your money on hookers. I’m sorry. I thought Skye told you who had set you up.” After everything that had happened to her, she was ready to believe almost anything, and nearly too numb to care. “Obviously not.” He sighed. “I used the theft to boost my rep with some of the creeps I was investigating. They thought it was a grand idea and broke into my files, stealing your account and credit info. I didn’t know what had happened until Skye tracked me down and demanded answers. I took care of it then. I’m just sorry I didn’t know sooner. I’m so blasted sorry, sis.” His eyes shown dark with pain. It figured. Just call her Galaxy’s Most Gullible. It was so typical of her life at that point, it didn’t even raise the anger it should have. Maybe she’d get mad later. Just then,
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all she could summon was annoyance at the state of the universe and a perverse sort of acceptance. Fine. Let the past stay in the past. At least it hadn’t been Chrys who’d turned on her. Frustrated in her attempt to despise him forever, she glowered at his knees. Deny it all she wanted to, his behavior over the last few days had softened her considerably. He truly did seem like a different person from the boy she’d known. Maybe she was going soft, but somehow she thought if he were forced into the same situation again he’d do things differently. Even so, she couldn’t change her emotions overnight. “I still don’t like you.” “Does that mean I can come and visit sometimes?” She sighed. It was difficult, but giving him permission was the mature thing to do. Even if her emotions still responded to him on the adolescent level, she didn’t have to act like it. “I guess.” “Thank you,” he said quietly. He shifted as if uncomfortable. “You want to join me for something to eat? Belsi already said yes.” “Why not?” As reluctant as she felt, she had to admit, if only privately, that she was glad. Cautious, but glad. Chrys broke out in a relieved smile. “Great! That’s great. Just follow me.” He opened the door for her and Belsi tumbled through. “Sorry.” She smiled sheepishly. “I thought I’d hear you coming first.” Their transport stopped in front of a plain brick wall set with a single giant pearl. Emblazoned in letters of gold above it was the title, “The Edge”. The pearl swirled open as they entered and solidified once they were within. Sparkling stalactites and stalagmites formed support columns in between the booths separated by demi-walls of milky crystal. The benches were upholstered in brilliant jewel tones reflecting the different sparkles from the rock. The floor was crystal clear and appeared to cover a fathomless depth. All manner of odd aquatic life swam underfoot, including the shadows of huge beasts that must have been holographic. At least Jaide hoped they were computer generated. The idea of a sea monster rising up to yawn at her wasn’t very comforting. “Mr. Carlos, welcome.” Their hostess, a pretty brunette in a sparkling green dress, smiled at Chrys. Her voice just a touch too husky, she said, “We’re always happy to have you.” “Mesaide.” Chrys was careful not to look at Belsi. His tone pleasant, he said,” This is my sister, Jaide, and our friend Belsi. This is their first visit to the Edge.” Her smile just a touch too bright as she turned it on Belsi, Mesaide nodded. “I’ll tell the chef. He’ll want to impress them with something special. You know you’re his favorite laser hunter.” “Mm. Thank you.” Jaide watched her brother all but squirm as animosity subtly thickened between their hostess and Belsi. Amused, she thought it was just like a man to forget an exgirlfriend was on duty and bring a pretty woman along for dinner on her shift. Fortunately for him, Mesaide was a professional and quickly seated them at a corner table. Still simmering, Belsi said little while she pointedly studied the electronic menu. Jaide caught Chrys’ eye and smirked. Words were unnecessary.
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Rolling his eyes, he turned his attention to the menu. They placed their orders. In no time a waiter was bringing out platters of raw vegetables and meats and a large, simmering pot. The flame underneath kept it steaming. “You skewer the meats and things and stick them in the broth pot.” Belsi demonstrated. “When they’re done you take them out and put on the sauce you like. Here, taste.” She lifted the covers of the ornate stone sauce pots and spooned a dab of each onto Jaide’s plate. “I like the green stuff the best.” Jaide tasted it. Her brows rose. “Mm. Good.” Chrys popped the tops off their drinks and handed each woman a fruity beverage. Belsi downed hers in one draft. “Easy on that,” he admonished her with a frown. “Your brothers won’t like it if I bring you home smashed.” She gave him a flirtatious smile. “What about you?” “You know I don’t like it.” She set her bottle down with a smile. “In that case I’ll be careful.” Chrys flicked his thumb over the label on his own bottle. “So how’s married life, Jaide? Your Drac treating you good?” “Can’t complain.” She fiddled with one of the skewers sticking out of the pot. “He’s good to me.” “Then you’re happy?” He watched her closely. Her lips quirked up. “Why? Would you beat him otherwise?” “I might.” He took a long drink. It was her turn to study him. “I wasn’t serious.” “I was.” His eyes locked with hers. “You deserve better than you’ve got. I’d like to see you get it.” Unsure how to deal with this new Chrys, Jaide fell silent. Pretending rapt attention to her dinner-it really was delicious-she listened to Belsi flirt and Chrys gently rebuff her. The old Chrys would never have been so patient. What had happened to him? “So what did you really do after you left home?” she asked, nibbling on her dinner. Chrys smiled. “I attended military academy. Hard to believe, huh? From there I was recruited to work with the Draconian Security. They liked the way I flew. As you’ve probably figured out, I’m now an officer with them.” “And in his spare time he kicks tail in the laser hunter arena,” Belsi added with a grin. “What a man!” Jaide laughed with Chrys. Belsi truly was irrepressible. They dropped Belsi off first before Chrys took Jaide home. On the way she asked him, “So what about Belsi? She’s cute.” “She’s Draconian,” Chrys answered dryly without taking his eyes off the road. “I’d have better luck winning the lottery than hoping for her brother’s permission. You have no idea how protective they can be. Besides, she’s too young.” “Twenty to your thirty-two.” Jaide mulled it over. “You’re right, you’re too much of an old man for her.” Chrys shot her an irritated look.
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She rubbed her jaw to hide her smile. “Besides, in a couple of years you won’t even notice women. I’ll have to buy you a cane and find you a nurse.” He grinned. “Make that a pretty nurse and you’re on. I’ll be happy to show her my cane.” When she choked, he added, “Besides, your husband is older than I am. Is he losing interest in you?” His knowing look caused her to blush. “None of your business!” “I’m just curious when I’ll be an uncle.” He eyed her. “You’d tell me if you were expecting, wouldn’t you?” Face on fire, she slouched in her seat and stared firmly out the window. “I’m not.” “Why not?” She stared at him. “What’s your rush? I just got back. Maybe I’d like to think it over first.” “No rush. I just like kids, that’s all. I’m looking forward to being an uncle. I’ll bring your kids presents, take them in my ship, turn them into brats and then send them home.” He grinned. “Can’t wait.” Jaide grunted. “To hear my husband talk, the moment I have kids he’s going to try and lock me away someplace ‘safe’ while he continues to roam all over the universe. Maybe I’m not willing to give up my freedom.” Chrys sighed. “Talk about it with him. He’s not as traditional as he’d like to think. These years away from the core of the Draconian society have changed him. Tell him what you’d like to do with your life and how you’d like to run the family and I’m sure he’ll work with you. One warning, though. Don’t think he’ll agree to allow anyone but the two of you to raise your kids. He’ll agree to let Belsi, Vasha and Domino help out with the kids now and then, won’t be able to stop them,” he said with a grin, “but no day care, no nannies. He’ll hire a ship load of servants to run the house if you like, but as for kids, you produce them, you’ll raise them.” “Huh.” In a way she agreed with that philosophy, but on the other hand she’d go crazy if she never had the time to work on her own projects. She needed a creative outlet of her own. “I’ll think it over.” “How was your evening?” Skye asked as she came in the door of Domino’s suite. “Did it go well?” He pretended nonchalance, but she wasn’t fooled. Unwilling to go into it just now, she said merely, “Fine.” Nonplused, he nodded. “Good. Did you go out to eat?” She shrugged her jacket off and hung it in the closet. “Yep. I’ll have to take you there sometime.” Frustrated, he frowned and set down the mug he’d been sipping from. “What about your brother?” Jaide plopped down on the couch. “What about him? By the way, I think we ought to talk about kids.” Thrown off balance, he crossed his arms and stared at her from his seat at the bar. “What about them?” “I was thinking about them tonight, about how much care they needed when they are little and stuff. I also know that while I like to cook and don’t mind doing housework,
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ships are my first love. It seems like we could hire someone to take care of the house while I took care of the kids. We could build a playroom off my garage so I could work while they nap and stuff. If it had a clear wall and I carried a portable monitor it wouldn’t be a problem. Maybe I could even hire help to do stuff while my hands were full of baby, if need be. I’d have the best of both worlds.” His brow knit as he studied the floor thoughtfully. “It might work.” A little relieved to have so easily solved that problem, she launched into the next. “I still have a problem with you being gone all the time, though. You’re so worried about me staying home and being a good mom, but you don’t seem to think twice about chasing off for weeks after criminals. Isn’t there something else you could do closer to home?” Instantly on the defensive, he opened his mouth to list the reasons it wasn’t possible and never would be. The tension on her face made him shut it. She’d been very reasonable and willing to compromise for him. The least he could do was think about it. “I’ll consider it,” he said reluctantly. Surprised, her eyes widened. “Wow! Thank you.” She’d never expected such a concession from him. A little soothed at the sight of her smile, Skye joined her on the couch. One arm slipped around her back and he nuzzled her neck. “When did you wish to conceive these children?” Jaide shivered as his canines teased her skin. “I think we need more practice, first.” “You’re sure?” He gently nipped the skin, making her moan. “Um...” That was the end of the conversation for a while. The next morning Jaide walked into the common room and received a shock. A woman sat at the bar. Her hair was darkened to Draconian black and her eyes were the color of gold coins, but Jaide would know those features anywhere. Two black haired toddlers sat at her feet, nibbling on biscuits. “Sesame?” “Hello, Jaide.” Sesame smiled. “Miss me?” One of the toddlers looked up and smiled a cookie-crumb grin at Sesame. “Mama.” “Mama?” Disoriented, Jaide blinked. Sesame, a mother? Sesame smiled gently at the little girl and cooed in agreement, “Mama.” Before Jaide could recover the use of her tongue and inquire about the father, Nemesis walked in. “Jaide,” he nodded at her. He took Sesame in his arms and gifted her with a long, hungry kiss. “Miss me?” “Definitely.” Sesame sounded a little breathless. That did it. Overwhelmed, Jaide sat down hard, half falling on the couch. Her brain just couldn’t process the change in Sesame. What else had happened in the two years she’d been gone? “Don’t mind them,” Lore counseled as he entered behind Nemesis. “They get like that when they haven’t seen each other for, oh, about half an hour.” “Jealous,” Nemesis accused smugly.
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“Much,” Lore agreed with good humor. “Where’s the food?” Mute with astonishment, Jaide spent most of the meal trying to absorb the changes. Much of her time was spent staring at the children. “Is it that shocking?” Sesame finally asked. “I still can’t believe it. You, the mother of twins?” “Twin girls,” Sesame said smugly, causing her husband to color and Domino and Skye to shift in embarrassment. They were still not used to the human penchant for talking openly about things their culture considered personal. “Not bad for a cranky human, is it?” A grunt was Jaide’s only answer since she’d already offered her congratulations. It was nothing short of astonishing how thrilled the once-independent Sesame was about her motherhood. Although she understood the smugness-Skye had explained to her how rare the birth of females was among Draconians-she wasn’t so sure she could handle twins herself. Nor could she imagine walking around with a swollen middle. “Did you enjoy the pregnancy?” “Are you kidding?” Sesame glared at Nemesis as if it were all his fault. “I was so miserable I wanted to die half the time. This goon didn’t even ask my permission first.” Nemesis raised an arrogant brow. “I didn’t hear any complaints at the time.” Sesame snorted, but otherwise ignored his comment. “Just beware of biting Dracs,” she muttered. “Biting...?” Confused, Jaide looked around at the suddenly and unanimously embarrassed males. She fingered the tiny pinpricks she’d found on her neck that morning. Last night Skye had nipped her a little hard during the love bite he’d been giving her. At the time she’d felt so good she’d had no interest in protesting, especially when he’d soothed her by.…She shook her head to clear her brain. “What do you mean?” Instead of looking at her, Sesame’s eyes narrowed on Skye. “You didn’t.” Her tone was hard and flat. “Not after seeing the strain it put on me and Nemesis’ relationship.” Skye cleared his throat. “It’s not your concern, Sesame.” She half rose. “The heck it isn’t! She’s still my friend. When are you Dracs going to learn to ask first?” Jaide’s eyes darted warily between the combatants. “What are you talking about?” “Skye bit you, didn’t he?” Hot color rose in Jaide’s face. “So?” Sesame shook her head in impatience. “He injected you with hormones to trigger pregnancy. You’re pregnant, Jaide.” Stunned, Jaide stared at her. “But it’s not that time of the month.” Or was it? Her cycle had been a bit irregular since she’d come back. “It’s always that time when you’re married to a Drac.” Sesame glared at Nemesis as if it were all his fault. “The stuff will stay in your system until your body is ready to receive it. It’s tenacious stuff.” Ire began to replace surprise. Jaide stared at Skye. “You did this without asking?” “You brought it up last night. Nor did you specifically say no when I asked.” “You distracted me!” Lore and Domino quietly left.
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“I apologize.” He didn’t look apologetic. “I’ll ask next time.” Incensed, Jaide stomped to their room and slammed the door. It crashed back open a moment later as Skye entered, his face thunderous. “I hate it when you walk away from me!” “You’ll get over it faster than I' ll get over this!” She gestured to her stomach. “I’m not ready, Skye! We’re not ready. We don’t even have a house.” “We’ll look today.” Robbed of that argument, she paced. “I don’t know anything about kids.” “Spend time with Sesame. She’ll teach you everything she knows.” She clenched her fists. “Stop being so reasonable! Can’t you see I’m trying to fight with you?” Skye sighed and went to her. Lacing her resisting hand with his, he rested his forehead against hers. “I’m not going to walk off and leave you, Jaide. We can do this.” Much of the battle went out of her. There was no point in fighting with the blockhead. He’d only wear her down. “I want a house as soon as we can find a good one,” she said grouchily. “Done.” “And a housekeeper.” She wanted to make sure he wasn’t going to expect her to be Harriet Homemaker. “Two if you like.” He rubbed her back. “Garage?” “I’ll enjoy working with you out there in the evenings. We just have to be careful not to expose you to toxic chemicals.” Mostly mollified, she subsided. She was surprised she wasn’t more mad at him. Oddly enough the idea of having a baby didn’t sound so bad. “I hope it’s a boy.” He pulled back and looked at her askance. “You do?” “Sure. How many girls will want to do the things I like?” Skye just shook his head and took her in his arms again. It took nearly a month of searching before they finally found a place that satisfied their requirements. Equipped with its own landing pad, a rooftop garden, attached conservatory, garage and five acres, it was more than satisfactory. Skye didn’t even blink at the price. “We’ll take it,” he told the realtor as they stood within the spacious living room. “But this white carpet has got to be colored. I’ve seen what Sesame’s daughters do to her floor.” “It’s specially treated, sir. Guaranteed not to stain,” the realtor assured him. “So was Nemesis’,” Skye returned, unimpressed. “Trust me, kids can destroy anything.” “It has holo systems in all the rooms,” Jaide reported in amazement, returning from her re-inspection of another part of the house. She’d never heard of such an extravagance. She looked at Skye anxiously. “Are you sure we can—” “We can.” He took her hand and kissed it. “As soon as we sign the papers we can begin shopping for furniture.”
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For a woman who claimed to want a boy because she wasn’t good with girl stuff, her eyes sure lit up. They returned to Domino’s that afternoon. They’d barely walked in the door when Jaide got a call from the man who’d designed the Splinter’s technology. Surprised, Jaide flipped off the answering mechanism and flipped on the view screen. “Hey, Doc. What’s up?” In his early thirties, dressed in a lab coat, Doc’s hair was shorter than she remembered it. The brown locks stood up in unruly spikes. “I’m not sure how to tell you this.” He looked grim. “But I think there might be a problem with the phase technology. I’ve found some suspicious signs in my lab animals. I’d like to run a few tests on you to see if I’m imagining things.” “What kind of signs?” Skye demanded, coming closer. Doc’s gaze flicked off to the side. A tiny bead of sweat rolled down his temple. He blotted it with his sleeve. “In your cells. Cellular damage. It’s best if we treat it right away.” Skye’s frown smoothed. “Then we’ll be there right away. I won’t have my wife’s health jeopardized by delay.” Strangely Doc didn’t look relieved. He sent an almost angry look off screen. “Good. We’ll see you soon.” The screen went blank. Jaide frowned at it. “That was weird. Doc tested everything obsessively before he allowed me to try it. I wish I could say the same about the others. To discover a problem at this late date.…” “There’s nothing wrong with you.” Skye keyed in a number. “I want you to stay with Sesame while I’m gone.” “What!” “You’re not flying into a trap. Especially not now.” Nemesis’ image came on screen. “Nemesis? We have a problem.” Foot tapping and arms crossed, she waited impatiently for him to finish his call. “It might not be a trap, you know.” She didn’t outright say that he could be paranoid. “Besides, what do you think will happen when the Splinter doesn’t show up, but a Draconian warship does?” If this was some sort of scheme of Quadril’s, he wasn’t going to take kindly to the arrival of his erstwhile companions. “We’re not taking a known ship in close, Jaide. We know what we’re doing.” She followed him to the bedroom and watched as he packed a small bag. “Fine. It still doesn’t mean I can’t do something to help.” “You can.” He sealed the bag and gave her a quick kiss as he walked past. “You can stay with Sesame and keep her out of trouble.” Jaide pulled a face. “Gee, thanks.” Reluctance aside, she was packed and ready shortly after he was. Sesame was no more thrilled to see Nemesis leave than Jaide felt. For a long moment she scowled at the door after the men left. She sighed and attempted a wicked grin. The effort came out half-hearted. “So, what kind of trouble do you think we can get into while they’re gone?” Not much, it turned out. Draconian security closed tightly around them in their husband’s absence. Everywhere they went arrangements were made ahead of time to
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secure private dinning rooms or accommodations. Crowded situations were completely off-limits. After three days of tinkering in Sesame’s workshop, Jaide had had enough. “I’m going to go visit Vasha and Belsi,” she declared, tossing a tool in the chest and slamming the drawer. She stripped out of her coveralls and tossed them on the chest. “Want to come?” Deep in a project, Sesame shook her head. Every minute of her children’s nap time was strictly set aside for the execution of her newest idea. “Suit yourself.” The ride to Belsi and Vasha’s studio was relaxing. Jaide hadn’t realized how cooped up she’d felt. Odd, she used to be able to work for days on end without noticing the passing time. Now she’d become restless, unable to concentrate. Is this what love did to one? How was she supposed to cope with Skye if he persisted in chasing off all over the galaxy without her? Determined it wasn’t going to happen like that, she exited the transport, feeling somewhat like a reluctant celebrity with the corridor of black clad security around her. Not only that, they were making her paranoid, too. If Belsi was bothered by the increased protection around herself she didn’t show it. She bounced right up and gave Jaide a big hug. “Hi! How are you doing, sister?” Jaide gave her a rueful grin. “As well as I can be given I can’t sneeze without an audience. How do you do it?” Belsi linked arms with her and led her toward the set. “I just be myself and let them do their job.” Leaning closer, she confided, “The only people who really ever annoy me are my brothers.” Jaide laughed. “I can see why.” Stage lights shown on the blank screen behind the stage area. In the more shadowed place behind the lights, Belsi introduced Jaide to her director. Tall, thin and good-looking in a Latin sort of way, he had a quick energy about him that made her understand his appeal to Vasha. “Lady D’rath,” he bowed slightly over Jaide’s hand. “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Would it please you to watch Belsi’s performance today?” He gestured to a nearby chair. “Thank you. I’d like that.” The crew took their places and turned on the holo projectors. Soon Jaide was caught up in the drama of the action adventure being filmed. Belsi truly was talented. Perhaps it was the colors. She’d been seeing colors at the edge of her vision so long she barely noticed them now, but occasionally some strong emotion would bring them sharply into focus. Lately Jaide had even begun to detect subtle signatures in the colors she saw around individuals, a key note as plain as a mole or a scar. Presuming this to be normal, she’d never mentioned it to anyone. It was perhaps a quarter hour into filming that Jaide saw a familiar flash of color out of the corner of her eye. For the first time in her life her body acted without consulting her brain. In an instant she was out of her chair and flinging herself at the startled Belsi. Both of them went down with a crash as blue laser fire speared the screen behind where Belsi had been.
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Pain cracked in Jaide’s side as she shattered a ceramic pot at the side of the stage. Stunned by the force of the blow and momentarily unable to draw breath, she stared in numb horror as Quadril appeared from the edge of the stage and lobbed a small object at them. It was a bomb. They were going to die. Even as she thought it the silver ball was shot out of the air. Grenade fragments disintegrated into so much dust. Less than a second later another shot vaporized half of Quadril’s head. Shaken, Jaide searched for the source of the shots. From the shadows stepped Chrys. Without sparing a glance for the body, Chrys ran to where Belsi crouched beside her and gently lifted Jaide off the broken shards. She hissed and nearly blacked out. Blast! That hurt. “Easy,” Chrys soothed as he picked her up. “We’ll get you to a doctor.” “Not that bad,” she gasped. She hated doctors. “Why did you do it?” Belsi asked tearfully, following them. “The baby—” “Will be fine,” Jaide assured her even as a strange lethargy came over her. Great. She was going to faint in front of her brother. How embarrass.... The world went black. “How did you know to be there just at the right time?” Chrys smiled at her from his chair beside the hospital bed. He’d been there ever since she’d woken up. Darkness had fallen outside, but he showed no inclination to leave. Somehow the idea of him playing bodyguard didn’t irk her quite as badly as it once would have. The chair creaked as he leaned back. “We didn’t. The plan was for me to be there in the background just in case Quadril decided to seek a little vengeance.” “But what about the Doc’s call?” “A ruse by Quadril to get Nemesis and Skye away. Most likely Quadril planned to kill Belsi and then try to get to you and Sesame. He thought no one would look after you the way your husbands could.” She smiled and squeezed his hand, ignoring the aching protest from her torn up ribs. “He was wrong. We make a good team. Maybe we should go into business.” “Don’t even think it,” Chrys warned her with mock sternness. “You’re going to be on your best behavior until after the baby’s born.” Jaide made a face but didn’t argue. “Don’t worry. I’ve had enough excitement for a while. I wouldn’t doubt that Skye is planning to stand over me for the rest of the pregnancy just to make sure.” “If he doesn’t, I will.” She shook her head in mock sorrow. “There is no trust in the world today.” Something troubled her, though. “What about the Doc? Quadril must have forced him to go along with his plan. Is he all right?” When he didn’t answer right away, her eyes narrowed. “Tell me. He was my friend.” “He’s missing. Quadril never left this planet, so we think his accomplices must have him.” He left unsaid the possibility that the Doc might be working with them.
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Jaide bolted up, grabbed her ribs as pain tore through them, and slowly sank back down. She swatted at Chrys’ helping hands and pinned him with a glare. “He would never willingly do something like this, Chrys! I know him. There aren’t many people I trust in this galaxy, but he’s one of them. You’ve got to help him.” “Trust me, we’re doing everything we can to recover him.” He gave her a grim smile. “Your friend is one of the most brilliant scientists in known space. Rest assured we don’t want anyone who would resort to kidnapping harnessing his brain.” “He won’t comply. He’d sabotage anything they made him build. I would.” Chrys’ expression never changed. “We’ll find him.” Jaide couldn’t remain content with that. Someone, probably Carthack, had kidnapped her friend. She could tell Chrys thought he might be guilty. Probably Skye thought so to. She needed to help him but could do nothing from this hospital bed. “Any thoughts on where they might be?” He watched her warily, but must have decided she wouldn’t dare try anything dangerous in her condition. “We checked. They have to still be on the station. No one meeting the Doc’s height requirements has left the station, nor has any cargo. Skye and Nemesis already wasted time tracking down a decoy ship. Whatever they’re up to, they chose to hide in plain sight.” His use of the word “they” clinched it. Her men thought the Doc was working with the bad guys. She didn’t know what made them so sure, but with that attitude they might shoot first and ask questions later. The Doc was in trouble.
Chapter 11 Jaide eased into the Splinter’s pilot chair, hissing as the movement pulled her torn muscles tight. The injury wasn’t life-threatening, but it was painful. She’d taken just enough pain medication to remind her to take it easy. She fired up the engines, keeping her eyes on the monitors. Chrys was going to be furious when he woke up, and worried. She’d hated to knock him out, but he’d have never let her leave. The hard part had been wrestling his shirt off him to replace the one she’d trashed earlier. By the time she was finished, sweat had trickled into her wound, stinging the blazes out of it. The man weighed more than a small shuttle craft. It had been ridiculously easy to lure the guards inside and stun them with her brother’s gun. She’d simply walked out like any other visitor, intent on going home for the night. The guards at the shuttle bay had been surprised to see her arrive without escort. She grimaced as she recalled the pair’s insistence on calling her bodyguards. Skye was going to be furious at the number of men she’d stunned on this mission. Best not to think about him. As the lights of the city merged behind her into one of many bright dots on the shadowy continents of Tantalus she tried to think of a plan. Skye couldn’t know where
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she was lest he bubble wrap her to keep her out of danger. It would be harder, since Chrys would tell him she was coming, and she’d have to stay on her toes. Good thing she’d have help. Doc had many friends on the station, scientists who’d be eager to help rescue him, men and women who’d be angry that anyone would dare bother one of their own. There was nothing more dangerous than a mad scientist. “Jaide? What are you doing here?” A stocky, middle-aged man dressed in paisley looked up from his bubbling experiment in surprise. A curled glass tube guided the blue vapor from the top of the beaker through a series of chambers. Multicolored liquids with similar condensers crowded the work table. She knew better than to ask. His twin, wearing a long tie-dyed lab coat, raised his protective glasses and left his place by a hissing, clattering hinged box. “We’re honored. The queen of all pilots has returned.” He gave her a playful leer. She grinned at the infamous albino twins, Marx and Paulo. “How could I resist? You know you have my heart.” Marx snorted and crossed his arms. “What would we do with a rock like that?” Jaide sobered. “Have you heard from the Doc?” Two pairs of eyes, keen with intelligence, fixed on her. “No one has, not for days.” The men glared at each other, disgusted by their unanimous and simultaneous answer. “No one has seen him,” Marx finished with a frown. “What do you know?” “What?” Skye came out of his chair, stared at Chrys’ guilty face on the Black Tide’s monitor. “She what!” “I’m sorry, Skye. I never expected her to do something so rash in her condition.” “I don’t see why not,” Lore muttered, but averted his face when Skye glared at him. Taking a deep breath to calm his racing pulse, Skye thought about the danger. Carthack was somewhere on this station. He knew his time was limited. He was making a run for it, dragging key hostages with him. Since no intelligence had been received from within his close circle of followers and paid thugs, it was impossible to know who was with him willingly, including Dr. Trad Mezinley, or Doc, or as he was known. “Why is she so concerned about him?” Skye asked, following up one of Chrys’ earlier statements. Jealousy tried to lodge in his mind, but he fought it. He knew well enough his wife hadn’t slept with anyone else. He was the one she’d come back for. Uncertainty nagged at him. So why did she risk so much for Mezinley? Chrys’ eyes narrowed. “He’s her friend. Would you do less for me?” Relieved to hear someone talking sense, Skye admitted, “No. I wouldn’t. But she still has no business taking a risk like this. What can she do that we’re not already doing?” Nemesis spoke for the first time. “She knows this place, these people. She lived
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here. I don’t think she’ll take more risks than she absolutely has to.” Skye’s fingers flew as he brought up the data for the private landing strips. “It’s her idea of acceptable risks I’m worried about.” There! She’d snuck in behind a test ship and landed the Splinter inside a sealed bay. There was no way they could get to her without going through the scientists. Before he could decide which one to contact first, an incoming message beeped. “Hang on, Chrys. I’m switching you to audio only.” He pressed a button. “Yes?” A rotund, grandmotherly type smiled at him. “Hello. My name is Dr. Kaal. I’ve called to offer you the services of myself and several of my colleges in finding Dr. Mezinley.” Skye exchanged cautious looks with Lore. “What do you know of our search, Doctor?” “Your wife told us all about it.” His jaw clenched, he forced himself to ask calmly, “Is she there?” Kaal laughed merrily, winked at him. “Would you like our help, Commander? We have a very good idea where they’ve taken Dr. Mezinley, and we’d very much like to help retrieve him.” Nemesis nodded at him. Skye grudgingly admitted, “You’ve made us an offer we can’t refuse. What do you know?” Jaide studied the blueprints of the science station’s underground waste recycling system as she munched on a piece of pale lavender cheese. It really wasn’t bad, if she ignored its origins in one of one of Marx’s beakers. “So this chamber here,” she pointed with her cheese to the one in question, “has been closed for nearly two years? What did they do with all the waste?” “T-the contents would have c-composted by now,” Squiggly, a thin biologist, pointed out. “T-they c-could walk on it.” Marx shrugged when she sent him a questioning frown. “It is earth by now. The microbial digestion is very complete. It wouldn’t be any different than walking on garden loam.” He cocked his head thoughtfully. “Might even be pleasant.” Doubtful, she shook her head. “You’re the experts. It’s certainly large enough, but I never would have expected them to hide there.” “Exactly,” Marx agreed. “Besides, it’s mathematically the most likely place for them to hide.” Kaal scratched her nose with her glittering pink stylus. “There’s no other place big enough to hide the number of men reputed to be with Carthak that isn’t either accessible to the public or soon to be noticed.” Jaide nodded. They’d used the Splinter’s instruments to confirm their speculation. Sure enough, several moving heat sources had been discovered inside. “And the distraction we’ve planned? How’s it coming?” Everyone looked at Paulo, who was busy at his workbench. “It comes.” Jaide fell silent as her companions talked. The ventilation ducts into the chamber had security beams. Skye had insisted he and the Draconians could take care of them, but her team had come up with a way to cut the power to the room while making it seem to
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be a system-wide failure. The ruse would provide only a seconds long window for the Draconians to act, but it was enough. If all went well this would be the end of Carthack. If he was here. They still weren’t sure of that. Frustration and a sense of unease gnawed at her. Everything they’d done so far were things Skye and Nemesis could have done without their help, though maybe not as quickly. All she’d accomplished so far was to make her husband very tense, something he didn’t need right now. If she helped save the Doc it would be worthwhile. If not.… Failure was not an option. “Don’t touch the door!” Nemesis froze, his hand centimeters from the handle. Flanked by their backup, he’d been about to slam it open. “Why?” “It’s rigged.” Grim with realization, Skye showed him the readouts on his handheld sensor. “This still shows someone inside, but I’m not certain they haven’t figured out a way to send a false signal. The vital signs are too regular. Chances are Carthack has bolted.” “We have to check. See what you can do with it, Lore,” Nemesis ordered grimly. As Lore brushed past Skye to get to the door Skye contacted Jaide’s team, thinking furiously. “What projects is Mezinley working on right now?” A moment of silence followed. After a moment Marx answered, “An advanced Splinter type prototype. Detachable technology, I believe.” “Where is it?” “In his—” A loud exclamation in the background cut him off. “Jaide? Where are you going? Jaide!” A cold sweat chilled Skye’s body. At that moment one of the soldiers with him said, “Commander? The tower is picking up some odd signals. It’s a ship launching-they think. The doors to Dr. Mezinley’s lab just opened, but they can’t detect anything coming out.” Skye headed for his ship at a dead run. Forget Carthackhe had to stop his wife. Jaide barely paused to toss Marx’s newest invention in the ship’s locker before sealing her helmet to her pressure suit. Frantic fingers flew over the controls as she prepared for lift off. Carthack was not getting away; not this time! Her condition would prevent her from engaging his ship, but she could follow and— A noise behind her made her freeze. Very slowly, she turned. Looking a little more unkempt than the images she’d seen of him, Carthack stood behind her, a groggy, bloody and weaving Doc at his side, held up by a second man with a gun. Carthack smiled unpleasantly and aimed Marx’s bulky rifle at her. “So sorry to meet like this, dear. I’ve heard so much about you. But if you don’t mind, I have to borrow your ship now.” Unable to hide her grin of triumph, Jaide spread her arms wide. “Please.” Carthack shot her. A big blue bubble shot out of the barrel, thumped against Jaide’s chest and spread
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to envelop her in a blue plastic sphere. As Carthak stared in consternation, she reached out, kicked him in the knee, snatched the gun from him and whacked him with the butt. He dropped like a brick. Ignoring the beam that glanced harmlessly off her armored bubble from the other man’s gun, she slammed the butt into his face. Bone crunched and blood spurted out as the man screamed. Another blow to his temple put an end to his misery. Nearly overwhelmed by sudden nausea, she hunched over, trying not to vomit. Pregnancy could be so hard on a woman. As soon as she’d recovered somewhat, Jaide knelt beside the Doc. Barely conscious, he nevertheless gave her a faint grin. “My hero.” She snorted, relieved to see him mostly in one piece. “Very funny. Just be glad Marx decided to protect you with a force field instead of inventing something more deadly.” She charged the shield with a mild jolt of electricity from the gun and set it on the floor. The blue bubble evaporated. “I see Marx is about to win another patent. Blast! Now we’ll be even again.” He groaned as she helped him to the co-pilot’s chair and called security and the paramedics. Amusement at their friendly rivalry made Jaide smile, but it was temporary. Skye would not be pleased when he heard how she’d been in danger. Skye’s golden eyes glowed with cold anger. They had just arrived home on separate ships, giving his anger plenty of time to fester. “Are you truly so convinced of my incompetence that you feel the need to risk our child to prove it?” Jaide flinched. It hadn’t been about that. “I—” “Enough!” His chest rose and fell with the force of the adrenaline rushing through him. Never in his life had he been so angry. “Never again. Do you hear me, woman? Never again!” He glared at her for a moment, then stalked off before he did some damage. Part of him wanted nothing more than to stay and shout at her until she was reduced to a quivering puddle, but there were other, better ways to deal with his anger. Once outside he hopped in his cruiser and took it for a drive. Every time he replayed Jaide’s actions in his head his hands tightened on the control yoke. Such foolishness, and for what? So she could play the hero? It took a good hour, but gradually he accepted that she might not have had that intention, though the wound to his pride went deep. He did not need his wife to help him do his job! No man would take what she’d done lightly. Why couldn’t she understand that? What would it take to keep her from doing it ever again? The answer flashed in his mind and his jaw tightened. At first he fought it, but it was the only solution he could see. Grimly determined, he put in a call to Nemesis. Jaide poked at her solitary dinner, more depressed than she’d been in a long time. Skye hadn’t come home-again. It was the fifth night this week, and she was sick of it. To her surprise he’d had little to say to her since the incident, though he did double the security around their home. Most of his time was spent away from her, doing whatever it was he did. Night after night he came to bed long after she was already asleep. He was usually gone before she got up.
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It hurt. She knew she’d screwed up and wanted to make an apology, but he was never home. Nor was she ever able to track him down during the day. Wherever he went, he didn’t want to be found. She was more than willing to concede to his wishes that she stay out of his business. Had her friend not been involved she wouldn’t have gotten mixed up in it this last time. But this was it. This wall he’d built between them had to go down. Even the loneliness of days or weeks without him while he was out on missions would be better than living with him, but apart. It was time to end this, but how could she tell him so when he wouldn’t stay put? Just as she was about to explode from frustration, Skye walked in the door. “Hello,” he told her as he shut the kitchen door and opened the refrigerator as if nothing had happened. Annoyed and hurt by his behavior, she scowled at his face, outlined by the light spilling out of the cooler. “What’s the occasion?” she snipped, “Don’t tell me, you’re only home to get some gear so you can run off and chase another criminal.” He straightened, leaned against the doorway and popped the seal on his beverage. “No.” He regarded her coolly, but without rancor. “I’ve resigned my commission on the Black Tide and accepted a local position. It’s not as exciting, but with the promotion it pays just as well and—” Nothing he could have said would have shocked her more. Before this moment she would have sworn that what he’d done was exactly what she wanted. “No.” She couldn’t let him do it. “What?” He frowned at her and straightened up. “What are you talking about? I thought you wanted—” Tears blurred her vision as she went to him. Her smile wobbled as she placed a tentative hand on his chest. “I love that you’re willing to do this for me, but I can’t let you. You love what you do, and it was wrong of me to try to take that away. Forgive me, for everything. I’ve wanted to ask you to for days, but you were never home. Call Nemesis and tell him you’ve changed your mind.” Bewildered by her reaction, Skye wrapped his arms around her. “Are you sure?” He placed his hand on her belly. “I need you to be sure.” She knew what he was asking and smiled to reassure him. “I’m a strong woman, Skye. If you’ll just promise to be home as much as you can, I can do this.” She let the love and respect she felt for him shine in her eyes. “You’re needed.” More relieved than he could say, Skye hugged her back. “You’re an amazing woman, my love.” The kiss he gave her was too jubilant to be passionate, but it communicated his joy nonetheless. “Thank you.” His exhilaration was infectious. “Does this mean I’m forgiven?” she gasped when he let her up. Skye’s mouth quirked with mischief. “Definitely, though I may have to hide the Splinter until after you have the baby,” he teased. “Why you—” A quick kiss shut her up. She’d taught him well what it took to make her happy.
