by Anna Hackett
They wandered past the vendors. Most had tables filled with an array of items. One stall was full of tiny clockwork fancies—metal bugs that skittered on a multitude of legs, butterflies that fluttered their wings, and miniature clockwork automatons that marched around. Another stall was filled with inexpensive old artifacts like rusted hunks of metal and cracked vases.
At first, Nissa tried to power through all the aisles. Justyn had to pull her back.
“Slow down. Don’t you know how to wander?”
She released a long breath. “Not really.”
He slung an arm across her shoulders. “Stick with me and I’ll show you how to relax.”
She shot him a nasty look. “You may have the lazy charm thing down pat, but I’m not fooled like everyone else in the galaxy, Phoenix. There’s nothing lazy about you.”
He chewed on her words as they walked—more slowly now—through the market. It left him a little uncomfortable that she could read him so well.
When Nissa leaned in closer, all thoughts raced out of his head.
“Why do you think Solomon would come here?” she asked.
“To make contact with someone who can get him an audience with Mackon.”
“Here?”
“Yep. It’s well known that a vendor named Lady Curiosity can organize such things.”
“Lady Curiosity? That’s someone’s real name?”
“Yep. And she is a sight to behold.”
Nissa leaned away from him. “I’m sure.”
He grinned at her. “Wait and see. Her tent’s not far from here. Some people say she’s Mackon’s secretary or lover, or both.”
“What do you think?”
“I think she’s his creation. He owns her and she does whatever he requires of her.”
He saw Nissa’s brow furrow. He wondered if she could understand what it was like to be under someone’s power. To be trapped with no way out and have that prison steal pieces of your soul. His hands curled into fists before he could stop them. He wasn’t desperate anymore but he understood it.
Justyn wanted to walk faster and get to Lady Curiosity’s store, but he forced himself to keep his stride steady. He saw Nissa eyeing the fancies at a nearby stall and tugged her over.
“These are incredible.” She lifted the tiny metal replica of a gyrocopter. “The craftsmanship is extraordinary.”
“Handmade, milady.” The young, whippet-slim vendor fiddled with the untidy orange hair piled on top of her head. Her heavily patched clothes hung off her slim frame.
He watched Nissa touch various items, asking questions of the young maker. He noticed everything about Nissa and it was easy to see the way her gaze kept sliding to the airship at the far end of the table.
But unlike the rest, she didn’t touch it.
The captain seemed to deny herself everything she wanted.
Justyn snatched up the airship. “How much?”
The girl began a vigorous bidding war with him. She started out with an outrageous price, he scoffed and haggled. Nissa watched him silently.
Finally, they settled on a price. More than it was worth, but the girl looked like she needed it.
“For my lady.” He gave Nissa a tiny bow and held out the airship.
“I can’t accept it,” she said stiffly.
“Nissa.” He leaned closer, inhaled that exotic wood scent of her. “We both know you want it. Besides—” he lowered his voice, his lips a whisper from hers “—you’re supposed to be acting like a besotted lover. You should be cooing over the trinkets I shower you in.”
With a harrumph sound, she held out her palm.
He set the airship on her hand, making sure his fingertips brushed her skin.
Her gaze softened. “It really is a gorgeous little thing.”
Justyn felt his cock stir. Damn. He shifted. What he wouldn’t give to see her look at him like that.
A flash of red at the end of their aisle caught his attention.
“Nissa, you need to thank me. Appropriately.”
“What?” Her brow creased. “You’re going to blackmail me now?”
He circled an arm around her waist and reeled her into his chest. “No. But three of Mackon’s guards are headed this way and I don’t like the way they’re looking at us.”
She was too smart to turn and look. She closed her fist on the airship and wrapped both her arms around his shoulders. As her breasts pressed against his chest, Justyn resisted the overpowering urge to close his eyes and sink into her.
Her lips brushed his. “Thank you.”
“That wasn’t a very lover-like kiss.” His voice sounded the tiniest bit hoarse.
Her eyes clashed with his for a second. She looked like she was fighting some internal battle. Then her hands tangled in the hair at the base of his neck and she yanked his head down.
His mouth crashed against hers, stunning him for a second, but then he wrapped his arms around her, yanked her closer and kissed her back.
Jesus. Her tongue slid into his mouth, and all he could think was that her lips were so damned soft. He tried to take over the kiss, so greedy for a taste of her.
But this was Nissa, and she fought him for control. She nipped his bottom lip, then sucked on his tongue, tearing a groan out of him. He pulled her up, needing more…more of everything. Her legs wrapped around his waist, her hips grinding against his growing erection.
The force of his kiss pushed her head back. He knew he was eating her up, devouring her, but he was so damned hungry. He felt her move against him, her nails digging into his shoulders. All he could think about was ripping that fucking corset off her and yanking down those slick pants so he could get inside of her.
Rough male laughter broke through the haze. They pulled apart as the chuckling guards walked past them, offering a few ribald suggestions.
Nissa shoved away from Justyn and took two staggering steps back, her hands pressed to her cheeks.
“Nissa—”
She held up a hand. “Don’t say anything.” The goggles on her head were askew and she turned away from him, working to straighten them. “Let’s just find Lady Curiosity.
***
Nissa just kept her mind blank, a trick she’d learned from her many night shifts aboard ship. When everyone was sleeping and nothing was happening, it was best to let your mind hibernate. In the deep, darkest parts of night it was too easy to fall into the trap of overthinking everything that wasn’t quite right in your life and twisting it into despair.
Right now her brain was screaming a warning at her, while her body was begging her to turn back, grab Justyn Phoenix’s hard body and ride him for all she was worth.
Stop thinking, Nissa.
He caught up with her, grabbing her arm.
She turned. “Look—”
His face was shuttered, an expression she’d never seen on his mobile features. Her words dried up. He was a man who laughed easily and smiled most of the time. The tiny lines at the edge of his eyes were proof of that. But this, this…
Blank nothingness was not his style.
“Justyn—”
“We’re here.” He jerked his head to the tent beside them.
Blinking, Nissa stared up at the hand-woven sign above the flap that acted as a door. Lady Curiosity’s World of Sensual Wonders.
“Justyn—” she tried again.
He sighed. “Look, we have a mission. Let’s focus on that. I get the message. You don’t want to want me. Criminal, smuggler, edge rat, not good enough for the esteemed Captain Sander.”
A lump lodged in her throat. Some of that was exactly what she’d thought, and why the hell did it now make her feel ashamed? He was helping her. She wouldn’t actually be here if it wasn’t for him. Sure, he was hoping to pocket a hefty finder’s fee, but he’d gone above and beyond.
She lifted her hand, wanting to touch him, but he was already turning away.
“Let’s get
this done,” he said.
Her hand dropped to her side. He was right. Get the job done. She followed him into the tent.
The smell hit her first. It was exotic, fragrant, sensual. Helpless against the lure of it, Nissa took several deep breaths. Goddess, what was it? Another two breaths and warmth washed through her, loosening her tight muscles.
The tent was packed with items. There was barely enough room to inch by displays. Tables were loaded with colorful, polished stones, jewelry and other trinkets. Shelves along the walls were loaded with all kinds of things she couldn’t identify. Nissa followed Justyn, but stopped to eye one shelf full of necklaces. They were made of shiny pearls in lots of different colors. Dark, smoky gray, luminous pink and pearlescent cream. Some were all the same size, others graduated.
She reached out a hand. She wasn’t one to wear jewelry, but…
“They aren’t for around your neck.” Justyn’s voice was amused.
Nissa’s hand froze, she blinked. “What are they—” she broke off, staring at the other shelves.
Her eyes widened. The neighboring shelf was covered in dildos of all shapes, sizes and lengths. Some were made of smooth wood, others shiny metal. One was clear and filled with wires.
On the next shelf was a small dome device with a phallus-shaped attachment on top. Cords ran from it to what looked like a control box.
“It’s a Sybian,” Justyn provided helpfully. “A device designed to help a woman achieve—”
“Thanks, Phoenix. I don’t need a blow-by-blow description.” Nissa wasn’t a prude. She had her own vibrator tucked in her bedside drawer. She knew many crewmen had something for the long, lonely voyages. Especially ship’s captains who couldn’t indulge in relationships with subordinates.
“Can we find Solomon?” She pushed ahead to move past Justyn and found herself face-to-face with a row of life-sized pleasure syndroids.
Most were female, but there were a couple of larger male models at the end of the line. They were all powered down, staring blankly ahead. Made of a mix of steel and plas, they weren’t anywhere near as lifelike as other syndroids she’d seen in the galaxy. But they were all anatomically correct.
She stared at the larger male at the end and couldn’t stop herself from glancing down. Well, she’d never seen a male with any…appendages…quite that large, but it was the right shape.
Justyn’s low chuckle sounded in her ear. “Come on, Captain Smooth.” He threw an arm over her shoulder and tugged her deeper into the large tent.
He seemed to have shrugged off his mood easily enough. Instead of focusing on all the…curiosities in the tent, she focused on Justyn. Was he able to keep such a cheerful outlook because he honestly found enjoyment in everything life had to offer? Or was it that he didn’t care enough? She just wasn’t sure.
There were quite a few people in the store, wandering, viewing the offerings.
“Maybe I should get you a gift from here as well,” Justyn said. “Maybe a string of those pearl—”
She elbowed him in the ribs. His oof was music to her ears.
“We have quite a range. I’m sure we have something to tempt you.”
The low melodious voice had them both turning. Nissa barely swallowed her gasp.
This could only be Lady Curiosity.
Half her face was flawless, creamy skin, the other smooth, polished metal. The metal cut along the diagonal, leaving her lips plump and rosy and her nose half-metal, half-flesh. One green eye watched them from her human side while an ocular device sat on the metal side, glowing with a faint blue light. Dark, curling hair was pulled up in a complicated style with tendrils falling down to frame her extraordinary face.
Her torso was entirely metal and not covered with any clothing. She had perfectly shaped breasts of metal and one mechanical arm while the other arm was the same creamy skin as the left side of her face. Her bottom half was covered in a fall of red and black striped skirts. Nissa wondered what was original and what wasn’t beneath the fabric.
“You sure have an…interesting place here.” Justyn shot the woman a smile.
Her red lips tipped upward. “Thank you.” She eyed him up and down, then gave Nissa the same treatment. “What are you looking for today?”
“We’re just browsing,” Nissa said.
Lady Curiosity tilted her head. “Really? Sure you aren’t searching for what you really want?”
Nissa stilled. Had she guessed why they were there?
“We’ll keep looking around.” Justyn tugged Nissa closer. “I’ll see if I can talk my girl here into something a little sexy.” He waggled his eyebrows.
Nissa wanted to smack him.
Lady Curiosity tapped a long red fingernail against her lips. “I don’t think you’ll want the pearls for her. She needs wooing.”
Wooing? What the hell? “No, really that’s okay—”
The woman spun. “Come, follow me.”
Justyn shrugged and reluctantly they followed the swish of Lady Curiosity’s skirts.
“Here.” The woman waved an arm above a small, circular table cluttered with tiny vials and bottles. “Take a look at my sensual oils. Find a scent that appeals.” She eyed Nissa again.
Nissa had the uncomfortable feeling the woman’s eyes—mechanical or not—could see straight through her.
“I think this one—” her long-nailed hands plucked out a tiny bottle made of amber glass that had a long, slender neck. “My own special blend of senawood and geisha blossom.” With a final nod, she walked away, headed for the next group of shoppers.
When Justyn picked up the bottle, Nissa gripped his arm. “What are you doing?”
“I just want to smell it.”
She scowled at him and turned to scan the tent, looking for any sign of Solomon.
“Huh, the woman was spot-on. This reminds me of you.” He sniffed the tiny bottle again. “Strong, sensual, with a hint of vulnerability underneath.”
Nissa stared at him for a moment, a fluttering in her throat. “Can you please get your mind back on the mission?”
“Aye, aye, Captain.” He put the stopper back on the bottle.
Nissa turned away again. Her gaze skated over Lady Curiosity and the group of young men clustered around her, peppering her with questions. A movement in the shadows at the back of the tent caught her attention.
She couldn’t see who was hiding back there, but it was definitely a man. Tall and lean, wearing an outfit similar to Justyn’s but with an outlandish red waistcoat. He shifted, like he was waiting impatiently for something…or someone.
As the man moved, Nissa caught the glint of gold hair in the light from a nearby gas lamp. The description matched Solomon, but she wasn’t quite sure.
Until he turned a little and she saw the cylindrical titanium document holder slung over his shoulder.
Excitement gripped her. “Justyn, at the back, in the shadows.”
Justyn casually turned and while pretending to pluck something from her hair, he looked in the direction.
A grin broke out on his face, but this time there was nothing casual or charming about it. It was sharp and predatory. “Solomon.”
Chapter Seven
Justyn sauntered toward Solomon, his arm linked with Nissa’s. Just a couple out for a stroll through the market.
They neared the young treasure hunter and Justyn felt the flex of muscles in Nissa’s arm.
Three meters from their prey, Solomon’s head snapped up.
The treasure hunter’s height and muscular build had made Justyn forget that Solomon was young. But seeing the clean lines of the man’s handsome face made him remember that Solomon was only twenty-three years old. He’d entered the treasure hunting scene three years back and was steadily making a name for himself. He went after the most valuable, well-known treasures, and took on the most dangerous hunts.
Another young man out to prove himself to the galaxy. No doubt his rich daddy di
dn’t love him enough. Or he was locked in a basement with his brothers as a child and beaten.
But Solomon had dark-green eyes that didn’t just look old, they looked ancient.
And instincts honed very fine. He took one look at them, turned, leaped over a table with impressive athleticism, and ran.
“Fuck.” Justyn lunged forward. Heard Nissa’s muttered curses behind him.
Solomon sprinted through the tent. He crashed through a small crowd of female shoppers, leaving them in a perfumed heap of upended skirts and high-pitched screams.
Justyn dodged around them. Then swore.
Solomon slowed long enough to grab the edge of a large bookcase packed with heavy leather-bound books and tip it over.
It crashed to the ground, blocking Justyn’s path. Books tumbled everywhere and he caught a quick glimpse of hand-painted covers featuring lovers in various embraces.
On the other side the bookcase, Solomon shot him a feral grin before he was off and running again.
Nissa raced up beside Justyn and in a fluid move that had the air catching in Justyn’s throat, vaulted the bookcase.
Shit. Justyn clambered over the top and followed her.
Nissa was damned fast and was gaining on Solomon. Tables, trinkets and sex toys were sent crashing. Justyn didn’t want to run into Lady Curiosity at the end of this.
He saw Nissa’s muscles bunch and she dived. She caught Solomon around the knees and they both went crashing to the ground.
“GSS.” Nissa’s voice was breathless but held a ring of command. “You’re under arrest and I want the damn document.”
Solomon tried to buck her off, but Nissa was well trained and she managed to get on top of the treasure hunter, straddling his hips.
Something hot and nasty flared at the sight of them, but Justyn swallowed the unfamiliar emotion down. As he reached them, he saw Solomon raise his arm. He clutched some sort of sculpture carved from a dark rock in his hand. He hesitated for a second…
Justyn realized what the jerk was about to do. “Nissa, watch out—”
The man slammed her in the side of her head.
Nissa tumbled to the floor. Solomon sprang to his feet, hitching the document holder securely over his shoulder. Then he pulled out a wicked-looking electro-knife. Blue electricity crackled along its blade.