“They know who you are. The hair doesn’t help anymore, unless you want to go blonde. Do you?”
“No. I don’t.”
“Then grow it out.”
“I don’t want to have half of my head brown and the other half black and red. It looks terrible.”
He sighed. “I’ll take you.”
Jurek left her at Jaylen’s and they decided to make her a brunette again so she wouldn’t have to keep up with the coloring.
Putting the last bit of color on her hair, Jaylen mentioned, “Jurek sure is a grump today.”
“He’s always a grump.”
“Interesting. I think it’s you.”
“What do you mean?”
“I think he’s playing Mister Protector.”
“I know that. Here’s the strange thing. I probably shouldn’t even be talking about this but it’s driving me nuts. I ... we ... well, I want to have sex with him.”
“And?”
“He won’t do it!”
“Oh please Liasare. You expect me to believe that? I know that man and he’s not one to go without. He’s been around here plenty of times so I know what kind of sexual appetite that man has.” When she noticed Liasare’s widened eyes, she said regrettably, “I probably shouldn’t have said that. Me and my big mouth.”
Liasare ran her hand across her face and replied, “No, it’s okay. I figured that out. But I swear what I’m telling you is the truth. The man hasn’t touched me. Well, not in that way. He gives me really lame excuses but nothing understandable or concrete. I’m about to combust too.”
Jaylen chuckled. “I can only imagine. Gee, I’m really amazed at that. It doesn’t sound like the Jurek I know.”
“Maybe it’s me.”
“Oh it’s you all right. He looks at you like he’s going to devour you right here and now. And I know what I’m talking about. I make my living dealing with men, honey. The way he looks at you ... it’s like you’re his. I pity any man who tries to even so much as talk to you. Jurek will take them out. I swear Liasare. I know the man.”
“Hmmm. I wonder what his deal is then. Ugh, now I’m running my mouth and I need to shut up. Thanks for listening though.”
***
That evening, they were assembled in the meeting area getting ready to hit the streets. Jurek and Liasare were going to Raunch. She wasn’t pleased about that, because it was her least favorite club in Center City. At least Jurek would be with her. They would go out around ten and then after one, they would start hitting the streets, taking out Xanthians and looking for information, hopefully leading to clues to the whereabouts of some of the missing people.
Liasare had just finished dinner when Marik came to her with a teleporter. “I had this designed to strap onto your wrist.”
He showed her how to wear it so it would be on the top of her left hand so it wouldn’t interfere with her fighting. She’d only have to tap it with one finger, as it was preprogrammed to take her to the meeting place where someone would join her to bring her back here.
“Thank you Marik. This will be great.”
At ten, Jurek joined her and they left for Raunch.
“I hate this place,” she said as he flashed them to the alley behind the club.
“Not your kind of place is it?”
“Ugh, no. Those stinking ...”
“Don’t say it. I don’t want to hear your tirade. It’s enough we have to smell them, but to listen to you only makes it worse.”
“You really think so?”
He grabbed her arm and turned her to him. He adjusted her collar and straightened her jacket. “Yes, I do or I wouldn’t have said it. I hate them as much as you, but complaining about it only makes it worse. Doing something about it is what helps. Now come on and let’s give it a go.”
Raunch was filled with people. All sorts of people from the lowest of the low to the upper echelon of society. Liasare marveled at how such a blend of people could be squished in a club, all sweaty and half drunk from liquor. That was most likely the ticket, she thought. They had to be liquored up to endure this.
She tensed as she saw how many Xanthians were in the joint.
“Relax. You’re safe with me. Remember that. Try to look like you haven’t a care in the world while I trance some of the women to see if they know anything. Stay close to my side.”
That was easier said than done. The place was so packed, she felt herself being constantly swept up by the crowd. It was a constant effort to stay within Jurek’s reach. What was even worse was when they were surrounded by women. Not just a couple of them, but a dozen. They crawled out of the woodwork like mice, and came from all corners of the room.
What the hell is this? If he thinks I’m just going to stand here while he lets these women drape themselves around him, he has another thing coming.
She started to walk away from him and his hoard of chicks when she felt his fingers clamp around her wrist, sending a tingling current of heat straight up her arm and directly to that place between her legs.
I’m going to kill him. How the hell can he do this to me, and every damn time too? One touch and I turn into one of those women who are panting after him. I probably have drool running down my chin right now.
Liasare had been so focused on her inner turmoil, she hadn’t been paying attention to Jurek and his harem. Her anger had taken her mind off her task at hand and she hadn’t noticed the group of Xanthians that were about fifteen feet away from her, staring.
Suddenly, she felt his arm reach around her and pull her into him and he abruptly began kissing her.
Don’t stiffen up. Melt into me and act like you’re enjoying this. A whole group of Xanthians is watching us and I want to keep your face hidden.
Her arms went around his waist and she tucked her hands into the back pockets of his pants, grabbing his ass as she did.
I hope you’re enjoying yourself, you naughty girl.
She rubbed herself against him, grinding her hips into him. She felt his response and heard him groan.
Liasare, you’re playing with fire. Now stop that!
Enjoying herself too much, and paying him back for her earlier discomfort, she moved one of her hands from his pocket and slipped it down the back of his pants. Much to her satisfaction, she found he was commando, giving her free access to his glorious ass.
That’s it, and don’t say I didn’t warn you.
He hoisted her up, still kissing her and backed her into the closest wall, where he rammed himself against her. Placing his knee between her legs, he slid his hand up her shirt where he found exactly what he was looking for. As he began to roll her hardened nipple between his fingers, she moaned into his mouth.
Do you want more, little girl? Here in this bar?
He took his hand and cupped the apex of her thighs and began rubbing her there in sync with his hand.
Do you want me to make you climax in front of all these people?
That snapped her mind back to the present and she opened her eyes to see the corners of his mouth turned up. “I thought that might bring some sanity back to you.”
When she tried to move, he wouldn’t release her. “Not so fast, tease. Do you think you can rev me all up, put your hand down my pants and then hop off this train?” he whispered in his throaty, sexy voice. She was nearly melting in his arms, her breath coming in short puffs as she listened to him breathe the words in her ear.
“Now that I have your attention, let’s get one thing straight. Don’t you ever pull this kind of shit on me again little girl,” he growled in her ear. “We’re here to do a job and you start getting all sexed up on me, throwing yourself at me like some tramp. Who the fuck do you think you’re playing with here? And don’t answer that. I kissed you for a damn good reason. Those Xanthians were checking you out like a dog looks at a hunk of meat. I was trying to hide you from them and what do you do? You make a fucking spectacle out of yourself. Christ Liasare, what do you want? Do you want them to take you ca
ptive? Is that your goal, because you’re doing a damn good job of heading in that direction?”
His eyes were nearly glowing, the silver in them was so bright.
“I ... I’m sorry. I don’t know why I did that. No, that’s not entirely true. I do know why I did it. I did it because I wanted to. I was pissed off at you.”
“Why?”
“Because every time I looked at you, all those women were ...”
He stopped her before she could finish her. “I told you what I was going to do. I tranced them into giving me information. You knew what was going to happen here.”
“I didn’t think they’d come out by the dozens!”
“There weren’t dozens, dammit!”
“Yes, there were. Okay, maybe not dozens, but they had their hands all over you and I was just standing there looking like a loser.”
“I was trying to get information out of them,” he insisted. Then he looked at her and said, his lips curving slightly, “You’re jealous.”
“I am not. I just didn’t want to be around all those skanky women. They had their hands all over you. Besides, I wanted to ... to touch you Jurek.”
“Well, la-tee-fucking-da. Pick another place to do it Liasare, not while we’re working and we have a troop of bloody Xanthians breathing down our necks. Godammit I have a mind to send you back to Vesturon. You drive me bat shit crazy! We need to make a hasty exit. Every fucking eye in this place is glued to your ass right now and jonesing for a piece of it.”
He grabbed her hand and dragged her from the club. He didn’t stop until they were several blocks away and the street was all but deserted.
“Go ahead,” she said.
“Go ahead and what?”
“Yell at me some more about how I fucked it all up.”
“You certainly did a spectacular job of it.”
“I know. It seems that’s my specialty. Look, maybe I should work on my own. I can’t do anything right where you’re concerned. I ruin everything and make a total mess of things. You’d be better off without me around.”
“You’re right Liasare, I would.”
She didn’t expect him to say that and when he did, it felt like he drove a knife straight through her heart. Stumbling back a step, she pressed her hand to her throat, for it had become impossible to breathe. She never imagined his words could hurt her so badly. She spun away from him and began walking, then running down the street.
She should have expected as much, but she didn’t get very far before he was in front of her, grabbing her and flashing them to his room in the new headquarters.
“You can’t run from me Liasare and you didn’t let me finish. You were right. My life would be easier, but you play a role in it somehow. I’m not quite sure how, but I know you do. I can’t, nor will I let you leave. I can keep you here against your will or you can stay willingly, whichever you choose. I’d like for it to be the latter, but I’m willing to do it either way. I’ll figure the why out eventually and we’ll go from there, but you’re not going anywhere. Now dry your damn tears because we have a job to do.”
“You expect me to work? After this?”
He gave her a long hard look. “I expect a lot more than mere work from you. You’ve been trained to kill and that’s what I expect. You had the opportunity to go home, many times I might add. That’s gone now. You’re armed and dangerous and a killer. Do what you’ve learned. Take back what they’ve stolen from your brother, or have you already forgotten that?”
She narrowed her eyes and pressed her lips together, nodding. “Let’s go.”
Her head spun from all the clubs they hit, until it was finally two in the morning. They began searching the alleys and came upon several groups of Xanthians trying to abduct women. Liasare cut them all down, while Jurek stood by and observed. He was impressed with how she fearlessly fought them, quickly taking them down one by one. He didn’t tell her that; instead, he pointed out her errors and how one slip could have ended her life. He reminded her of things she had forgotten, especially focusing on eye movements and how she let down her guard a few times, which could have been very costly for her. Her speed and agility with her sword is what saved her in the end.
The last group they came upon made Liasare the angriest. The five Xanthians were lewd and gang raping two women. Liasare heard their whimpers and when she saw what was happening, her blood ran cold. Two Xanthians held each of the women, locking their arms behind them, while the men took turns raping them. They had torn off their clothing and Liasare could tell by their swollen and bloodied faces, as well as the bruises forming on their bodies, that they must have beaten the women before they began raping them.
Taking them by surprise, Liasare descended on them like one of the Furies. Instead of causing madness, vengeance was her goal. Sword slicing through muscle and bone, she dropped every one of her enemies, until they lay slain at her feet.
Dripping in their blood, her body was sagging from exhaustion by the time the sun began its ascent. Jurek flashed them back to headquarters and stripped her clothing off. Running the shower until it was steaming hot, he helped her inside. She scrubbed herself clean and was half asleep by the time she was finished. Jurek carried her to her bed and tucked her in.
Chapter Twenty-One
Liasare entered the kitchen, where she started rooting around for something to eat for breakfast. She wished she had a transmuter in her room. She was beginning to miss Lare-Stell more and more every day.
“Good morning Brownie. I heard you gave a pretty good show last night at Raunch,” Tak taunted her.
Liasare rubbed her face. Is nothing sacred anywhere here?
“No, not sacred anywhere close to here, and I’m surprised you haven’t figured that one out yet,” he chuckled. “What are you doing, by the way?”
“I’m starving. I miss the transmuters. I’m trying to find something to eat,” she grumbled.
“Why are you looking in there? That’s where we store lab specimens.”
“Ew! That’s so gross. Why didn’t anyone tell me?”
“Because we don’t tear through the kitchen like you do, prowling around for food. You’re like an animal that doesn’t think it will eat again for several weeks.”
Liasare’s jaw hit the floor. “I am not. I can’t help it I get so hungry. Don’t you ever get hungry?”
“Apparently not like you. I’ve never seen anyone with quite the appetite as you have.”
“Thanks Tak. That’s what every girl wants to hear ... that she eats like a sow. Speaking of food, why isn’t there anything to eat around here?”
“There is. You just have to know where to look.” He pointed her in the right direction where there was a plethora of things to choose from. Liasare felt like a kid in a candy shop. She started to grab things, her actions becoming frenetic.
“Whoa there Nellie. No one’s going to steal it from you.” Tak angled his head in that odd way of his and scrutinized her.
“Like I said, I’m starving. Now quit bugging me.” She began stuffing items of food into her mouth, like she couldn’t get enough, fast enough. After polishing off several bagels smothered with gobs of peanut butter, two bananas and two containers of yogurt, she leaned back with a sated smile on her face.
Tak gave her a puzzled look and shook his head. “Are you having, what’s it called? Oh yes, your period?”
“What? No! Not that it’s any of your business. And stop staring at me like that, dammit!”
“I can’t. With everything you just stuffed your face with, you should weigh five hundred pounds!”
“Well, you obviously don’t know what you’re talking about. I must have a super high metabolism. I’m telling you I was starving. Can’t we just leave at that? Why do you have to analyze my appetite?”
“Because it’s not normal, Brownie. You should eat maybe a bagel and a banana, tops. You just ate enough for four! Are you pregnant?”
“Okay, that does it! You know what? You’re an assh
ole Tak so why don’t you go screw yourself!”
She stomped out of the room.
Of all the things. Pregnant! Huh! Hell, I can barely get Jurek to first base, let alone that! Fuck!
Liasare headed back to her room to shower, now in a rotten mood from her little chat with Tak. Damn those men. They always seemed to put her in a bad mood. She wished she had a girl to hang out with on a regular basis, someone she could share her troubles with.
She turned the shower on, hopped in and lathered up when she realized she’d forgotten to grab her shampoo. This day was not exactly starting out great. Cracking the door open she reached out her arm to try to grab the shampoo when the bottle suddenly flew from the sink into the shower, crashing into the wall and hitting her on the shoulder.
“What the hell was that?” she yelled.
Did that shampoo bottle just fly over here, or am I now starting to hallucinate?
Bending down, she picked up the bottle and rubbed her shoulder. There was a red mark where the bottle had smacked into her. Well, at least she hadn’t imagined it. Now what the heck was going on? She finished showering and dried off, while she tried to figure out what happened.
Her best course of action, she decided, was to forget it ever happened. It was probably just a fluke, a one time occurrence. She quickly dressed and went to hunt down Jurek.
He was in the main area, chatting with Tak, and she almost decided to avoid both of them. She wasn’t up for any more of Tak’s comments about her huge appetite, but before she could retrace her steps, Jurek called her name.
“Davidson, how much food are you consuming each day?”
Crapitty crap! Can’t that pain in the ass called Tak keep his big mouth shut for one minute?
“I don’t know. I don’t keep a running log of what I eat.”
“Then I suggest you start.”
“Why?”
“Because I said so.”
Liasare decided to bite her tongue on that one.
“Can you take me to Jaylen’s?”
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