by Autumn Dawn
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.
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 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...lover-like.
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 Box-she 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 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 whil
e 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 disillusioning-that 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.
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.”
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.
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 anythin
g 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.”