by Anna Hackett
Rillian’s hand slipped up her thigh, and she felt it go under the hem of her dress, bunching the fabric of her dress up. “Is that right?”
She gasped and grabbed his wrist. “Yes.”
“You’re already shaking me up and all I want is more.” Hot lips pressed against her neck.
She arched back against him. Then she released his hand. His clever fingers continued moving under her dress. He stroked the weapon strapped to her thigh. “This is sexier than seeing Friskan diamonds against your skin.”
Dayna swallowed. She hadn’t bothered with panties. The dress was cut too low at the back. “No one ever says no to you or pushes you.”
“It’s dangerous to push me, Dayna.” His fingers slid between her legs and when he realized she was bare, she heard him groan. He stroked her folds.
Oh, God. He was stroking her right here in the middle of a crowded room. “You don’t frighten me.”
“I should,” he growled against her ear. “And I shouldn’t want you this much.”
“But you do,” she panted.
“Yes.” One thick finger slid inside her.
As the music thumped around them, Rillian worked her. She leaned back into him, and a second finger joined the first. She stifled a moan. His fingers found a rhythm and then his thumb rubbed her clit.
Jesus, she was going to come. She felt her body tense, and she gripped onto his wrist. He tilted her head back, his mouth covering hers. He kissed her deeply, and with another stroke, Dayna came. Sensation flooded her, making her body shake. He swallowed her cries with his mouth.
She collapsed against him. God, little shivers of pleasure still coursed through her.
“I shouldn’t be touching you.”
“I know what I want.”
“You have no idea what I want to do to you.” His dark voice made her shiver. “I’m trying to do the right thing. For both of us.”
She spun to face him. “Rillian, I am not some weak damsel in need of protection. I can make my own decisions.”
“Enough.” He stepped back from her. “Go to your room and—”
“Like a child? The all-powerful Rillian always knows best.”
“Don’t push me, Dayna,” he warned.
“I told you, I think you need it.”
He leaned in, his voice harsh. “I know what I need.” Then he turned and stalked off into the crowd.
Dayna closed her eyes. She didn’t feel like dancing anymore. She climbed the steps to exit, but something made her look back.
Rillian had been mobbed by the crowd. He stood in the center of the club, and had two women clinging to him. On one side was a voluptuous blonde, and on the other, a svelte blue-haired woman.
Dayna’s belly clenched. She watched him lean over, a faint smile on his face, as he touched a strand of the blonde’s hair and tucked it behind her ear.
And then without lifting his head, his gaze flicked up and met Dayna’s.
Bastard. If he wanted easy and safe, he could have it.
Lifting her chin, she turned and walked out. But as she strode down the corridor, she fisted a hand and pressed it to her aching chest.
Rillian had slept badly.
He finished dressing, fastening his shirt. He’d forced himself to stay at the club long enough not to have people gossiping over his departure. He’d smiled and listened, but all his thoughts had been focused on Dayna and what they’d done on the dance floor. Finally, he’d shaken off the partygoers and left.
Dayna had pushed at him, challenged him. And he’d snapped and taken his bad mood out on her. In the morning light, he was feeling better physically. His symbiont had settled, and his anger had cooled.
He stared at his reflection in the mirror. It was easy to see the scrappy con artist and smuggler he’d once been. He realized he looked a lot like the mother who’d essentially abandoned him and left him to rot. She’d died a bloody death several years ago, but he guessed she lived on in the son she’d mostly ignored.
He’d fought hard to get where he was, and it had been a long time since anyone had made him react on instinct.
Leaving his room, he went looking for Dayna. He figured he owed her an apology.
He knocked on her bedroom door and didn’t wait for an answer, but just pushed it open.
Her room was empty and her bed was neatly made. His gut clenched. His efficient cleaning staff wouldn’t have been in yet. Drawing a breath, he picked up Dayna’s scent—faded and several hours old.
She hadn’t slept in her room.
He spun, panic trickling into his veins. Where was she? Where had she spent the night? His jaw tightened, remembering the furious look she’d shot him at the party. Who had she spent the night with?
Storming into his office, he went to his screens. She had to be here somewhere. She was still afraid of her symbiont. She wouldn’t have left.
Then he scented her.
He turned and walked through the adjoining door to the conference room. He pulled up short.
She was asleep in a chair.
Slowly he walked over and sat in the chair across from her. There were papers spread on the table, and the comp screen was glowing. He saw Illiana’s autopsy report, and the text of the Zaabha map. He’d had Tannon translate everything into Dayna’s home language for her. Looking back at Dayna’s relaxed face, he sat there for a moment and watched her sleep.
Those pretty, intelligent eyes were closed, but even in sleep, she still had a stubborn tilt to her jaw.
“Dayna.”
She startled awake. “I was just resting my eyes.”
He smiled. “Really?”
“Yes.” Her gaze came into focus and landed on him. Then it cooled. “Did you enjoy your evening?”
He ignored the venom in her voice. “No.”
She leaned over to shuffle the papers on the table.
“I spent most of it in the security room,” he told her.
She shrugged, like she didn’t care.
“I’m…sorry for yesterday evening.” Her gaze met his again. “I was angry and I took it out on you.”
She stared at his face before her tight shoulders relaxed a little. “I was planning to stay angry at you a while longer yet.”
“I didn’t enjoy any of those women. I worked with Tannon most of the night and we learned that the Thraxian had left his biomatter on a dagger. He had someone sneak it into the party and leave it behind.”
“Toying with us.”
Rillian nodded and raked a hand through his hair. “I warned you that me losing control is not a good idea.”
She tilted her head. “Because of your symbiont.”
He nodded. “I was never supposed to survive my symbiont. They almost always kill their hosts and they are very powerful.”
She tilted her head. “If you lose control?”
“Then my symbiont will go on a feeding rampage.”
“Oh.”
“Yes, oh. So you see why I don’t lose control. Plus, I don’t like it.”
She managed a small smile. “You’re going to have to accept that you’re mortal like the rest of us, Rillian.”
He smiled. “Shh, don’t tell anyone.”
That startled a laugh out of her. Then there was a knock at the door and one of the kitchen staff rolled in a tray covered in food.
“Breakfast, sir.”
“Thank you, Drast.”
Dayna groaned. “Feeding me again.”
The man set the food on the conference table and left. Rillian loaded up a plate and set it in front of Dayna. “I’ve spent a lot of time working out what suits the human palate best.” He smiled. “And what you like.”
She plucked up a piece of fruit. “I know. No one’s ever looked after me before.”
“What about your parents?”
She shrugged. “After my sister died, they were pretty messed up. I took over a lot of the household chores. And after my mom died—” another shrug “—I just kept doing them.”
They ate together, Dayna pulling sheets of paper for perusal as she popped various bits of food in her mouth. She paused, her eyes fluttering as she absorbed the tastes.
He watched her lips. He could watch her eat all day.
“We need to find Zaabha.” She leaned back in her chair. “If we want to stop the murders, we need to stop the reason the Thraxians are killing people. We need to be on the offense, not the defense.”
Rillian sipped some zava juice. It was tart and sweet. “I prefer action. To find Zaabha, we need to solve the witch’s map.”
“You said Galen’s had people go over it?”
“Yes. Nothing.”
“Maybe we should talk to Neve and Corsair? They found it, and might know more if we ask the right questions.”
“A good idea. I’ll contact them and ask them to come here.”
He saw that she was now picking at the food, where moments before she’d been eating with gusto. A grimace crossed her face, and she dropped a hand to rub the spot where her symbiont lived.
“You need to feed,” he said quietly.
She pushed her chair back. “Maybe. Probably. Yes. But I’m not quite ready, yet.”
He nodded, seeing the glow in her eyes. “You can’t leave it for much longer.” He stood. “I’ll contact Corsair.”
Back in his office, Rillian asked his assistant to contact the caravan master. Then he started taking care of some business that had been building up. He made several calls, gave lots of orders, and arranged some meetings for his Dark Oasis Project.
As he stared out the window, his gaze moved to the edge of the desert, and he thought of the human women still lost out there—Ever and Sam. He hoped they were still alive. Still the same as they had been.
He pulled his sleek comp screen closer and tapped it. Immediately, it filled with camera feed of Dayna sitting in the adjacent conference room.
She was rubbing her lower back. He knew that the chairs weren’t made for extended use, and made a mental note to order a more comfortable one for her. But she ignored her aches, leaned over and jotted down some notes. Resilient and tough. Beautiful and smart. His fingers curled around the screen. By the stars, he wanted her.
His communicator beeped. “Sir?” His assistant’s modulated voice. “Caravan Master Corsair for you.”
“Thank you, Tarin. Put him through.”
Time to find Zaabha.
Chapter Nine
“What’s a girl got to do to get some food around here?” Dayna hitched herself up on the glossy countertop in the casino’s main kitchen.
“Go, you’re invading my space.” Chef Derol brought down a knife, chopping open a bright-red fruit called heppla.
Dayna grinned at him. “We both know you like it.”
He made a harrumphing sound. Then he handed her a piece of the fruit. “The boss ordered more heppla for you, even though it’s out of season. He noticed you like them.”
Hmm. She took the piece, popped it in her mouth, and moaned. “He notices everything.”
A wide smile graced Derol’s narrow face. “He does. Especially when a beautiful woman is involved.”
She snatched up another piece of fruit and shot the chef a sour look. “He has lots of beautiful women around him.”
Another deft move of the knife. “I should have said a beautiful, smart, and interesting woman.”
She grinned. “Charmer.”
“Preparing a big feast for the party tonight.” Derol started chopping again.
“My friend is singing.” Dayna fiddled with a slice of heppla. God, she hoped Mia had truly forgiven her after the episode at the fight. She blew out a breath.
Then the chef looked past her, going quiet. She turned her head and spotted Tannon, looking grimmer than usual.
“Dayna, Rillian asked me to find you. Caravan Master Corsair and Neve are here.”
Her heart leaped, and she jumped off the counter. “Thanks, Derol.”
“Chef Derol.”
She blew him a kiss, watching his cheeks turn dull red and his chest puff up. Then she was headed for the elevators with Tannon. As usual, the ride was silent. Tannon was not a stunning conversationalist.
Soon, she was striding down the hall to Rillian’s office.
When she stepped inside, she instantly saw the couple standing on the other side of Rillian’s big desk.
Rillian sat back in his chair, as elegant and controlled as always. Instead, Dayna focused on the visitors. Their pale, desert clothes should have looked out-of-place in the Dark Nebula, but they suited the pair.
Neve Haynes was a striking woman with an athletic body, long, black hair, and skin many shades darker than Dayna’s. She turned, her gaze settling on Dayna. She had pale-green eyes that didn’t miss much. Dayna knew the woman had been a corporate spy prior to her abduction.
“How are you, Dayna?” Neve asked.
“Alive,” Dayna answered. “Free.” Mostly. She ignored the tightening in her chest, and moved forward.
Dayna looked at the man at Neve’s side. Compared to Rillian, the two men were night and day. The casino owner and caravan master. One was long, lean, and dark, the other was tall, muscular, and tawny. One was elegance personified, while the other one had a rough, wild edge. Suave and polished contrasted against roguish adventurer.
“Dayna, it’s good to see you looking so well,” Corsair said with a smile.
“Thank you,” she said. “And thank you again for rescuing me from the witch.”
He inclined his head, his hand reaching for Neve’s. “No one deserved to be left to that drakking sand sucker.” He looked to Rillian. “Galen informed us that the map can’t be decoded.”
Rillian nodded. “Unfortunately, it’s missing some sort of key.”
Neve made a growling sound, and Corsair brought her hand up to his lips. “We’ll find her.”
“Galen also informed us about the murders,” Corsair added.
Rillian leaned back, placing his threaded hands on the desk. “The Thraxians are warning me off.”
Neve tensed. “Will you stop helping us find Zaabha?”
“I don’t cave to pressure from anyone, Ms. Haynes.”
Neve blew out a breath. “I need to find my sister.”
“And I need to remind the Thraxians that they were unwise to mess with me and mine. I’m planning to help Galen find Zaabha. And I will help destroy the Thraxians.”
Neve went still. “You’ll ensure my sister is safe before you burn Zaabha to the ground.”
“Of course.”
“You’ve had no success with the map, either?” The woman’s voice was ripe with frustration.
“No.”
“We’ve been asking around,” Corsair said. “We have nothing.”
Rillian steepled his fingers. “Galen has had Zhim and Ryan working on it. I’ve had some of my security team, some of the best on the planet, take a look. So far, we’ve had no luck deciphering it. They assure me that without the key, the map is worthless.”
“The witch was sly, cunning,” Neve said. “Hungry.” She glanced at Dayna.
Dayna felt her muscles tighten. “Yes, I feel that hunger. The symbiont…requires feeding.” She blew out a breath and looked at Rillian. “Which is something I’m still working on.”
“So the witch is still toying with us from beyond the grave,” Neve continued. “There is another piece to the map, a missing key. She wouldn’t have made it impossible to find.”
“So where’s the rest of it?” Dayna asked. “Where is this missing piece?”
“What if it died with her?” Rillian suggested.
Corsair slid an arm around Neve. Dayna watched, fascinated, as the tough woman melted into the man’s touch.
“We won’t give up,” Corsair said.
Neve looked up at him, a soft look on her face, and nodded.
&nbs
p; She trusted him. Dayna blinked. They’d clearly been through a lot, if a woman as tough as Neve trusted this man so completely.
Suddenly, Dayna felt a twinge through her belly. A pang of hunger.
She shot Rillian a panicked look.
Black and silver eyes took her in and immediately understood. All smooth charm, Rillian rose. “Thanks to both of you for coming in. I’m sorry it’s been a wasted trip. Rest assured, we aren’t giving up, and we’ll be in touch as soon as we have news.”
Corsair nodded. “If I get anything from my desert contacts, I’ll pass the information along.”
“Please, I’d love to extend the entertainments of the Dark Nebula to you both.”
The pair stilled, and then Corsair grinned. “A crowded, noisy casino full of people. Ah, maybe next time.”
Clearly a casino wasn’t an attractive prospect when you spent your life in the vast quietness of the desert. Dayna clenched her hands together, fighting the rising sensations inside her. She could hear the pair’s solid heartbeats.
“How about a plush, private suite, including a plunge pool?” Rillian said with a faint smile.
Corsair cocked his head. “Well, that—”
Neve elbowed him. “Not today.”
Corsair grinned. “Goodbye, Dayna.”
Neve gave her a nod. When the woman’s perceptive gaze skated over Dayna’s face, she mentally urged the couple to hurry.
“Someone will meet you at the elevators to escort you out,” Rillian said.
Once Corsair and Neve left, Dayna let her hands fall to her sides and pulled in some sharp breaths.
Rillian skirted his desk. “Dayna—”
The pain was growing—in her gut, her chest. It twisted hard, and God, it was horrible. She bent over, tears pricking her eyes.
A warm hand wrapped around the base of her neck. “You need to feed.”
She couldn’t let this keep happening. It was time to face her new reality. On her own terms.
She looked up at him. “Help me? Please, help me feed.”
Rillian felt a ripple of heat through his body. His symbiont stirred.
He nodded at Dayna. He saw unease in her gaze…but also trust. That was something he knew she didn’t give easily.
Satisfaction flooded him. He realized he wanted this woman’s trust more than anything.