Taking Liberty

by Jodi Redford

  “I’ve been punishing you all these years for my own sins.” He plowed his fingers through his hair. “I’m sorry. Go ahead and call me an asshat, fucktard, or whatever inventive name you’ve got in store for me.”

  “Nah, I’d rather not ruin the moment. But remind me later.”

  Dropping his hand, Lucus grabbed the half-empty Flyboy and drained the remaining beer in the sink. “If you truly want out of the partnership, it’s okay.” He tossed the can into the garbage, his thoughts once again circling around to Rini. “I won’t shackle you to a job you hate. Plus it’s not like I can’t find someone to copilot her if it comes down to it.”

  “That reminds me. I stopped by the repo agency this morning. Turns out the chick with the big hooters was pocketing the payments. Scammed a whole bunch of people, not just us.”

  The least important part of Chase’s statement was the one part Lucus paid attention to. “You went to the repo agency?”

  “Yeah, and I met Rini. She was the one who got it all straightened out. Why didn’t you tell me what a fox she is?”

  His head was reeling too much to give his brother’s smart-mouthed retort its proper due. “You talked to her? How is she? Did she say if she’s been sleeping all right? She looked so damn tired earlier.”

  Chase frowned, and too late, Lucus realized his mistake. “Earlier? Wait a minute, is that where you’ve been? With Rini?”

  “No. I saw her from a distance. That’s all.”

  The lines burrowed in Chase’s forehead slowly smoothed and the corners of his lips tilted. “No way. You’re in love with her.”

  “Don’t be a moron.”

  “You are!” Chase lunged forward and playfully punched Lucus in the stomach. Unfortunately, with the queasy shape his gut was in, it nearly made him barf. “Dude, you should go after her because she is one hundred percent babe-a-licious. And nice too. The total package.”

  “I can’t.”

  His brother gaped at him like he was the biggest asshat fucktard in the universe. Expelling a heavy breath, he explained the nature of his and Rini’s relationship, minus the gratuitous details.

  “So you decided to do the noble thing? God, you’re an idiot.”

  He brushed off Chase’s unflattering remark. “It had to be done. Rini deserves better than the little I can offer her. Not to mention what would happen if the media got a hold of our story.”

  “You think they give a rat’s ass about that? Hell, the general is practically old news now. Once his trial is out of the way, the broadcasters will move on to the next scandal. And what about Rini? She doesn’t strike me as the type that’d care what a few stupid jack-offs think of her.”

  No, but she’d care for her family’s sake. “Just drop it, all right? What’s done is done.”

  Chase didn’t look thrilled by his request but he thankfully honored it. “I still think you’re a fucktard.”

  Me too.

  Chapter Nineteen

  “Damn it.” Grimacing, Rini rammed her foot into the uncomfortably tight sapphire blue satin pump balanced in her hand. “Explain to me again why I’m going to this stupid fundraiser with you guys?”

  Her mom held out the other shoe. “Darling, you’ve been cooped inside this apartment for weeks.”

  “What are you talking about? I’ve been coming into work every day.”

  “Exposing yourself to sunlight merely for work purposes doesn’t count.”

  Rini sent her dad a pleading look. The doorbell suddenly rang. Wearing an expression like he’d been saved from a forced skinny dip in Hell’s lake of fire, he dashed from her bedroom. “I’ll get that.”

  Fluffing the skirt of her cocktail dress, Rini craned her neck, trying to get a clear view of her backside. “Is it my imagination or is my butt huge? I really shouldn’t appear in public looking like I’ve got a couple of basketballs stashed back there.”

  “Darling, your derriere is fine. Now stop trying to find excuses to get out of tonight.” Her mom snatched the tiny compact of powder resting on the nightstand and dabbed some on Rini’s cheekbones.

  “Were you in labor with me for forty-eight hours or something? Is that why you’re torturing me now?”

  Raised voices filtered from the living room, breaking through Rini’s disgruntled musings. She slashed her focus to the doorway and got a nose full of powder courtesy of the brush clutched in her mom’s fingers. Sneezing, she walked into the hallway to check what all the ruckus was about.

  “I told you she’s not available right now. If you don’t leave this minute, I’m calling security.”

  Hurrying her pace, Rini rounded the corner. “Dad, what’s—” Her heels dug into the plush carpeting, jerking her to a halt. “Chase?”

  Lucus’s brother glanced her way. An appreciative male smile stretched his mouth. “Whoa, that is some dress. Babe, you look killer.”

  Despite the strangeness of the situation, she couldn’t help feeling a spark of feminine pride. Guess my butt isn’t too ginormous. “What are you doing here?”

  “I had this brilliant idea of helping out my pigheaded brother. But now I’m wondering if I’d be the fucktard for not making a play for you.”

  An indignant sputter came from her father. “Rini, who is this foulmouthed individual?”

  Rini made the introductions just as her mom entered the living room.

  “You’re the pilot’s brother?” Her face paling, Rini’s mom fidgeted with the pearls wreathing her neck.

  “Yes, ma’am, and judging from your expression, I suspect you know why I’m here.”

  “She’d have to be a mind reader because even I have no clue what’s going on.” Planting her hands on her hips, Rini peered at the three faces in front of her. “Maybe one of you could fill me in?”

  “My brother is in love with you.”

  Blood pounded in Rini’s ears. “I don’t know where you got your information, but you’re wrong. He corrected that lie when we were in the hospital.”

  “No, he lied to you then.” Chase’s gaze slid to her parents. “He wanted to protect you. Apparently someone convinced him he’d be screwing your life up if he didn’t walk away.”

  Both Rini and her father stared at her mother, but it was her dad who spoke first. “Gwen, what the devil have you done this time?”

  Tears crowded her mother’s eyes. “I only wanted to save Rini from those horrid broadcasters. We all know how cruel the media can be.”

  “Oh God.” A groan tumbling from her lips, Rini crossed to her mother’s side. “I’m a big girl. You can’t protect me from everything. It’s time to clip my wings.”

  Her mother’s chin quivered. “But you’re my baby.” Sniffling, she reached up and cupped Rini’s cheek. “I want the best for you.”

  “Lucus is the best. He’s the man I love.”

  “Shit, am I happy to hear you say that.” Chase’s grin broadened. “Even though you do look wicked hot in that dress and I’m kicking my own ass for not being the one you found naked in the Liberty.”

  “What?”

  Rini squeezed her mom in a hug before the poor woman could crumple in a faint. “Look at it this way—it’ll be one heck of a story to tell your grandchildren.”

  Lucus tuned out the insistent drumming on his bedroom door. If Chase didn’t knock it off, he was going to be minus a hand real soon. “Go away. I’m trying to sleep.”

  “We just got a call for an emergency shipment pickup on Helix Prime. Their coolant systems have gone wonky and they’re losing produce left and right. A warehouse in Jhiordan has offered to make space for them.”

  “Let someone else take care of it.”

  “There is no one else.”

  Grumbling, Lucus shoved from the bed. “Fine, I’ll be out in five minutes.”

  “Better make it two. We don’t want a thousand pounds of rotting lettuce giving us a bad reputation.”

  Lucus snorted as he tugged on his flight pants. “Since when do you care? I thought we’re no longe
r partners.”

  “The ink’s not completely dry on our dissolution papers yet.”

  Rolling his eyes, Lucus yanked his shirt over his head and opened the door. Chase stood on the other side, the Liberty II’s keycard pinched between his thumb and index finger. Lucus gave the card a quick glance before giving his full concentration to the task of buttoning his cuffs. “Why don’t you go fire up the ship? I still have to find my boots.”

  “Uh, think it’d be best if you took care of that. Besides, I’m not joining you for this job.”

  Lucus jerked his head up. “The fuck you’re not. I’m not moving a thousand pounds of produce on my own.”

  “Don’t sweat it. I’ve already lined up a replacement copilot to take over for me.”

  A growl snuck from Lucus. “Did it occur to you I might want a say in the hiring? Particularly since I’m the one who’ll be working with them?”

  “Pretty certain you’ll approve of my choice. Course, she does have this weird obsession with antibacterial wipes and she’s kinda bossy.”

  Lucus’s heart stuttered.

  “Clock’s tickin’, bro. Might want to speed things up.”

  His senses surging back to life, Lucus swiped the keycard from his brother and ran towards the exit.

  “Dude, you forgot your boots.”

  Slamming out of the arro hut, Lucus cut Chase’s laughter short. Oblivious to the rough gravel scraping his bare feet and the anxious howls coming from Roscoe, he tore inside the hangar and barreled to the star cruiser. Fingers shaking, he jammed the card into the slot and jumped onto the ramp before it completely lowered. A pair of satin high heels lay discarded in the middle of the debarking station, their toes pointing in the direction of the bridge. Stepping over the shoes, he walked slowly down the corridor. A fancy blue evening dress blocked his path. Shortly after that piece of clothing, he encountered a lacy bra and panties. By the time he reached the bridge, his heart was pounding and his cock was at full mast.

  One bare arm—the only body part he could see—dangled languorously over the edge of the pilot’s seat. “Sheesh, took you long enough.”

  “I know. Three weeks, eight hours and fifteen minutes too long, if you want to get technical about it.”

  Rini climbed from the seat and turned to face him. He swallowed hard. “You usually make a habit of making shipment drops naked?”

  “It’s what my boss prefers.”

  “Wise man.” He closed the distance between them in four long strides and crushed her tight against him. Burying his nose in her hair, he breathed deep, the scent of lilacs making him dizzy with longing. “I’ve missed you, baby.”

  She grasped his jaw and pulled him down for a luscious kiss. Their tongues collided, each seeking for that elusive something that only the other could give. Emotion thick in his chest, he angled his head back. His fingers touched her everywhere. He couldn’t get enough. “Rini, I love you.”

  “I love you too.” She smiled tremulously. Eyes bright with the same incredible passion shimmering through his veins, she took his hand. “Now how about we properly christen that pilot seat?”

  About the Author

  At the ripe age of seven, Jodi Redford penned her first epic, complete with stick figure illustrations. Sadly, her drawing skills haven’t improved much, but her love of fantasy worlds never went away. These days she writes about fairies, ghosts and other supernatural creatures, only with considerably more heat.

  She has won numerous contests, including The Golden Pen and Launching a Star.

  When not writing or working the day job, she enjoys gardening and way too many reality television shows.

  Currently residing in Michigan with her husband and overgrown lapdog, she is a member of RWA national and Greater Detroit Romance Writers of America.

  She loves to hear from readers. You can email her at jodiredford@jodiredford.com and visit her online at www.jodiredford.com.

  Look for these titles by Jodi Redford

  Now Available:

  Lover Enslaved

  Taking Liberty

  Sometimes love is the only prize worth stealing…

  Lover Enslaved

  © 2009 Jodi Redford

  Thieves of Aurion, Book 1

  Mara Sheppard has no love for the Fae, but to free her brother from prison, she’ll do whatever the treacherous Queen Nalia asks. Even kidnap Dashael Rhyder, a womanizing thief.

  She should have known the deal would go sour.

  It’s almost too easy to bait and trap Dashael. Resisting his potent Fae allure isn’t. Especially since Nalia’s unexpected demand for a missing magical rune means Mara will have to hold strong far longer than she’d planned.

  Dashael’s best shot at escaping? Seduce her. If he can survive a few dozen of his closest enemies out for blood and the queen’s scheme to make him her personal stud…he might just make it.

  Then his game of seduction trips over a snag named Mara, and he falls. Hard. For a commitment-phobic thief, love might as well be a prison sentence. Yet the idea of losing her makes him miserable.

  Mara can’t deny that her enemy has stolen her heart. But their love is about to be tested by a lifetime of secrets. The risk may not be worth it. Especially if a life together means death for one of them.

  Warning, contains one or more of the following: Hot, sexy thieves, pain-in-the-butt sprites, handcuffs, intriguing new uses for a silk bed curtain, and scorching, shake-the-ceiling-tiles sex.

  Enjoy the following excerpt for Lover Enslaved:

  Hidden path lights blinked on when they approached the wide front porch. Dash pushed aside the antler-like foliage of a stag fern sprouting from the porch’s center support beam, revealing a keypad. He punched in a code and the house’s massive oak door swung inward. A cozy glow spilled across the threshold.

  Mara swore the incessant thudding of her heart drowned out the trills and chirps of the resident firewing crickets. For the sake of Gideon, her brother, she wouldn’t chicken out. Her jittery nerves were inconsequential compared to the daily cruelty he must suffer inside Zalan’s fairy prison.

  Taking a deep breath, she stepped inside and more lamps clicked on. She stopped and surveyed her surroundings. Centered in the room, weathered leather couches grouped around a circular stone fireplace. Dash snapped his fingers and fire instantly crackled in the pit’s grate.

  “You must be handy on a camping trip.”

  Dash laughed before stripping from his jacket. She stared at the interesting ripple of muscles beneath his white linen shirt. He tossed the jacket over a nearby armchair. “Hungry? I’ve some excellent filet in the cooler.”

  Her stomach flipped at the thought of food. She shook her head. “Not unless you want some.”

  The firelight reflected in his dark eyes. “It’s not steak I’m hungry for.”

  Okay then. Swallowing past a lump of apprehension, she fumbled with the satchel, needing its reassuring weight. Dash noticed her awkward motion and stepped towards her.

  “Here,” he said, holding out his hand. “Let me put that somewhere for you.”

  She shifted the bag behind her. “No.”

  “Don’t worry. I won’t steal it.” His lips curled in a half smile.

  Very funny. “Um…there are a few things in here I’ll need later.”

  “Really?”

  Mara realized there’d be no deflecting his curiosity this time. With a sigh, she hauled the satchel forward and unzipped it. She hooked a finger around the object settled on top and pulled it out.

  Dash’s jaw went slack. “That what I think it is?”

  She lifted the handcuffs and eyed them. Giving her finger a little twirl, she nodded. “Yep, believe so.”

  The breath expelled from Dash’s lungs in a whoosh. “Sweet goddess.”

  Wariness stole across Mara’s face. He groaned, battling the urge to bite his cursed quick tongue. Did she worry he’d ridicule her desires? Mentally head-slapping himself for his lack of gentlemanly tact, he strode
to Mara and cupped her chin. His thumb brushed beneath the little dip in her bottom lip, tempting him, but first he needed to ease her mind.

  “Don’t fear shocking me. It’s impossible. Besides, whatever you have in mind, I’m more than game.” He punctuated the fact by sliding his mouth over hers. With some work, he coaxed her tongue into play.

  “Delicious,” he whispered, nibbling along the sweet curve of her lips. His mouth lowered, discovered her neck’s graceful slope. Her breathing sped up. Ah, he’d found a sensitive spot. Murmuring in appreciation, he suckled her there, laving her skin. His hands glided along her shoulders. He brushed the sides of her breasts and she slumped into him. The handcuffs clattered to the hardwood floor, their metallic ring jostling them from their sensual reverie.

  “Damn it.” Mara ducked and scrabbled for the handcuffs.

  He hunkered next to her. Looking to halt the frantic motion of her hands, he cupped her chin again, tilting it until she revealed the vexation in her eyes. “Don’t worry, it’s just a floor. Far worse punishment has been thrown its way.” He gave her a teasing grin. “Though your handcuffs win top prize as the most interesting.”

  The flush in her cheeks deepened. “You must think I’m a clumsy oaf.”

  “No, I think you’re beautiful…” his fingers traveled down her neck and grazed the delicate ridge of her collarbone, “…sexy…” he stroked the vee between her breasts, watching them rise and fall with the sharp intake of her breath, “…and far too overdressed.”

  He reached for the leather bustier’s center hook. She jumped and her elbow went flying into his chin. Grunting, he thudded onto his ass.

  “Oh gods,” Mara groaned, leaning over him. “I’m worse than clumsy—I’m a menace.”

  He shook his head, trying to clear the spinning stars. “Not at all.”

  Well, maybe a little. To be on the safe side, they should probably stick to the missionary position. Much as he loved the sight of a woman riding him, he didn’t need her falling off and breaking her neck.