The love reflected in his eyes made her catch her breath, made warmth trickle through her.
"And now you have me,” Simon said softly. “Me and mine."
The silence was warm, the love almost tangible in the air. Des smiled back at him, and Simon started to lean down to kiss her.
Creed cleared his throat.
Simon jumped, a red tinge flashing through his cheeks as he straightened quickly.
Des laughed. “Dad!"
"Don't want him thinking he can do God-knows what with you when I'm around,” Creed grinned, though his eyes now held a softer light when he looked at Simon. “I'm hungry."
The rest of the evening went better. They ate the delicious meal Simon had prepared, and Des, taking pity on him, kept Creed talking about general subjects, mainly about places he'd been, the outlaws he'd captured, old friends he'd visited along the way.
Creed helped her do the dishes, and Des smiled to herself when she saw Simon shake his head. Obviously he'd never seen a hard-eyed bounty hunter wash dishes and talk about the lycats like they were his own children.
Creed left soon after and they were alone.
Returning to the living area after seeing Creed off, Des found Simon leaning against the wall. Looping her arms around his waist, she leaned into him. “Are you all right?"
His big hands settled in the small of her back, and his eyes were grave as he looked down at her. “I find it hard to believe how well-adjusted you are, knowing Gracie...” He couldn't finish the sentence.
"Dad made sure I knew how much he loved me. Honestly, Simon, I had a good life. Yes, I'm a bit harder than some women you're used to, and I have a foul mouth and bad temper at times, I admit that. But I'm happy with who I am.” A sudden though struck her. “Are you worried that if we had kids, I'd treat them like Gracie treated me?"
Simon's eyes met hers steadily. “Nay. We might not have known each other for a long time, Des, but I've seen you around children."
"You have?” Blankly, she looked at him, unable to remember an incident with children in the past week.
"I notice how the kids walk past you without flinching. You don't even know how the kids played tag around your legs the other day, when you were questioning some of the settlers. You don't yell at the children, you don't get annoyed with them."
"I didn't notice they were there."
"Des, you were stroking the hair of that little boy standing next to you."
"I was?” She blinked, trying to remember.
He laughed softly. “Aye, you were."
"I don't remember. Anyway, I want you to know that, to me, kids are important. They need to be loved and protected. I won't hide that I'd be a strict mother, but I'd be fair. No kid of mine would ever suffer from lack of love and care."
"I never doubted it for a second.” Leaning down, Simon kissed her gently. “I would be honored for you to bear my babes and be my partner in rearing them."
"We couldn't hire a nanny to deal with them? Creed, perhaps? Moresby?"
"Wench, if you're going to tease me, you'll have to hide it better than that. I can see the devil in your eyes."
"Ohhh. Well, trader, guess you'll just have to punish me for being bad."
Reaching up, he gently tugged the ribbon from her hair. “I have something better in mind. Something I want to do for you."
"Can we do it together?” Sliding her hands into the waistband of his pants, she flexed her fingers against his buttocks, savoring the feel of silk skin over hard muscle. “Or do I just watch?"
Pale eyes holding a mixture of amusement and tenderness with a touch of heat, Simon caught her wrists to still her hands. “Just be good and see."
Never in her life had Des felt so at ease with any man. It felt like she'd known Simon for a lifetime. He infuriated her, made her laugh, made her aroused with just a wicked glint in his eyes, and he had the knack of making her relax.
He was special.
He was also making her walk backward.
Caught up in contemplating the man before her, she was totally unprepared when he suddenly swept her up into his arms, but she had to admit the power that resided in the bulging muscles of this man had the unheard effect of making her stare in awe.
No man had ever been able to simply sweep her up in his arms since she was thirteen years old, and that was a good fourteen years ago.
"You look surprised, lass.” Simon's gaze was warm, his steps sure as he headed towards the bedroom.
"It's been awhile since anyone was able to carry me.” She couldn't help but add anxiously, “Don't hurt your back. I'm too heavy."
His laugh was a genuine boom of amusement. “Lass, you weigh hardly anything!"
"Now I am in shock."
He grinned but said nothing further.
Once in the bedroom, he lowered her feet to the floor beside the bed, but kept his arm around her waist. His other hand slid into her hair, long fingers tunneling into the thick fall to hold her still for his kiss.
Unlike the kisses of the night before, these were unhurried. Long. Lazy, almost.
And yet it still set her on fire, only of a slower burn.
He allowed her to touch him, to smooth her hands up his chest, but when her moves got more urgent, he took his mouth from hers. “Slow down, sweet lass. Tonight we're going slow."
"We are?” She kissed the side of his neck. “Why?"
The deep rumble of amusement was so typically him. “Because I want to show you another side to making love."
"There's another side? All righty.” She grinned up at him. “I'm game if you are."
"Naughty wench. Normally I'd take you up on that, but tonight..."
"Yes?"
His eyes became serious. Softer. “Tonight I want to make love to you. Slowly."
"I don't know if I can go slow,” she replied candidly. “You have this way of making me go on fire."
"Just what a man wants to hear.” He kissed her cheek. “Lass, tonight I'm going to show you some gentleness."
Gentleness? She couldn't honestly imagine a slow, gentle loving with this giant, not after tasting the hot burn of his passion the night before.
But he was gentle. Every touch, every caress, was light. His kisses were slow. Her clothes were slipped off her without a tear or a tug. When he lowered her onto the bed, it was done with a tenderness that made her feel cherished.
Following her down onto the bed, he braced his weight on his arms, settling himself into the cradle of her bent thighs with care.
Simon's foreplay might have been gentle, but every long, slow suck on her sensitive nipples had her gasping. Every lazy stroke of her tender flesh had her squirming. His calloused fingers smoothing over her skin left sputtering sparks of desire.
She was whimpering his name long before he'd finished tasting her.
And when finally he slid into her, his stroke long and deep, she nearly fell apart in his arms.
Kissing had never been so gentle, yet so hot. The gentlest movement so carnal in its thoughtfulness.
The muscles in his arms bunched and flexed as he supported his weight above her. A fine sheen of sweat was all that betrayed the intensity of the feelings burning inside Simon. She could see he was determined to give her nothing but pleasure, slow and sweet.
So she gave herself up to it, losing herself in the erotic laziness of the carefully measured thrust of his hips, the feel of his hard thighs between her own, his lean hips on hers, the full heat of him pressing on her, into her, his kisses becoming more carnal, his thrusts a little faster.
Des came apart in a shower of stars, slipping higher and higher before she came floating back to earth. It was so beautiful. So sweet.
Opening her eyes, she could see the strain in his beautiful, pale eyes. He had not yet climaxed, seeing first to her pleasure. And she smiled.
"Des..."
"Come with me."
With those few words, she lifted her legs and wrapped them around his hips, opening herself mor
e so that he slid home. As the base of him came to rest full against her own body, she rocked her hips.
And tipped him over the edge.
Throwing back his head, he hissed her name out between his teeth, and pumped faster. Harder. And she welcomed him into her body, wanting to give him what he'd given her.
Seeing the burst of ecstasy on his dangerously handsome face was amazing. The hot spurt of seed deep inside her, the straining of his body against hers, his hips still pumping as he emptied, was almost a gift on its own.
At that last second, he tipped his head forward, his eyes burning with a pale fire, and her name slipped past his lips once more.
She caught him when he fell, enclosing him in her embrace, feeling his heart thundering against her breasts, his hot, gasping breath against her ear. Holding Simon as he floated down from that same pinnacle he'd taken her to earlier, tenderness flooded her. Tenderness and love.
Love.
She loved Simon.
There was no shocking revelation, just a quiet contentedness.
Turning her head, she kissed his cheek.
With a groan he rolled onto his back, taking her with him so that she lay half atop his chest.
Lifting her head, she watched his face as he slowly opened his eyes. Pushing back a lock of fair hair from his damp forehead, she smiled down at him. “Thank you."
His grin was crooked. “You're more than welcome, lass."
"Lights out,” she said softly.
The room went dark, and Des rested her cheek on Simon's chest, feeling his arm slip around her waist to hold her close to him. The last thing she remembered before sleep claimed her was his other hand smoothing her own hair back.
Thirteen
Standing by the ramp pole in the cargo hold, Simon watched in surprise as Des strode directly up to him, her expression unreadable. They'd spent yesterday much was they had the previous days, separating in the morning to attend their own work, then meeting in the evening for a meal, a quiet evening, and a night of hot loving before falling asleep in each others arms.
When they'd parted this morning, he'd kissed her thoroughly, and she'd returned it with eagerness. He'd said his goodbye, both of them knowing ‘twould be a week before they saw each other again.
So why was she coming over now?
Concerned, he straightened as she strode up the ramp, her quick gestures making his friends leave the cargo area with raised brows.
"Des, what—” his words were stopped in his throat by Des placing a hand on his chest and shoving him behind a large crate, effectively cutting them off from view. “Wait up, lass. What have I done wrong—"
His words were cut off by her going up on tiptoe and kissing him thoroughly. Carnally. The lick of her tongue in his mouth was rapacious, hungry, leaving her taste.
About to return the kiss enthusiastically, Simon was disappointed when she released him.
"Consider yourself branded.” Patting his vest into place with an air of propriety, she stated, “You're mine."
Amusement and heat blossomed inside him. “Why, lass, I didn't realize how demanding you were going to be.” He reached for her. “I find ‘tis quite a turn on—"
With a taunting laugh she stepped back quickly. “Oh, no, trader. That's just a taste of what's waiting for you when you come back."
With one saucy wink, she swung around on her heels and strode back down the ramp, leaving him staring after her with his mouth open in astonishment and heat burning low in his groin.
"Wow!"
Looking around, Simon saw Mikal and Torkra standing in the doorway of the stairwell, their eyebrows raised high.
Feeling quite pleased, Simon grinned at them. “See, boys, I'm irresistible."
"Wow,” Mikal mumbled again.
"I'd never have guessed what that peacekeeper was hiding beneath her tough façade,” Torkra said.
"Hidden depths, lads. Hidden depths for me only."
"I don't think Simon's grin can get any wider, Mikal."
"He's starting to strut, too, Torkra."
"You damned well bet,” Simon retorted.
The rest of the traders came up the ramp, their expressions serious, and Mikal and Torkra had a great time filling them in on what they'd inadvertently witnessed.
"Damn.” Heddam whistled.
"I think I need to visit the tavern once more—” Torkra began.
Simon laughed. “I don't think so, you horny young hound. Get your arse topside, we're leaving."
Disappointed, Torkra went back up the stairwell.
Half an hour later, Simon sat in the Control Cabin beside Shamon. The planet was just a small dot on the radar screen, and already he felt a sense of loss.
It would be a week before he saw Des again. He wondered how Aamun managed without seeing his wife for several months at a time. He knew that most of his other friends took shorter trading trips once they wed, preferring to remain in the Lawful Sector where they could be home in a shorter time than if they traveled to the further reaches of the Lawful Sector and into the Outlaw Sector. Most of the traders who traveled so far were single, though a few, like Aamun, seemed quite content to travel the greater distance.
Turning his mind to other things, Simon concentrated on the upcoming trip. There was a heap of trade goods and sales items in the cargo hold, enough to keep them busy as they covered four planets and twenty different settlements. The week was going to be a busy one.
* * * *
Canute studied the radar screen.
"Military are nowhere near,” Zared reported. “The bounty hunters left a day ago."
"Good. Very good. Is there anyone scheduled to visit? Other hunters?"
"Bounty hunters don't go by a schedule,” Zared stated.
Canute drew in a deep breath. “True. We'll have to take anything like that head-on when the time comes."
Waiting quietly in front of the desk, Zared watched Canute.
Bringing up the full image of the large, sprawling Tyron settlement on the big screen on the side wall, Canute folded his arms and studied it.
The Enforcer Building was more towards the middle of the settlement, right where the peacekeepers had a good range of the settlement in case of trouble. Their docking bay was behind the building. The Head peacekeeper's home was well away, opposite the major docking bay outside the settlement.
"We come in from the top,” he stated. “The equipment is too heavy, too big, to hide. Loud. We're better off to drop it directly where we want it. My operators will go to work, and Ruan's men will cover them. Meanwhile, Tyson's men can cover the four sides of the settlement. Levi's men will be up in the fighters. Our own men will cover the main street."
"Ruan's men?"
"Back-up. They'll be in range in case the military, bounty hunters or law shows up unexpectedly."
"Scanners and communications in the settlement are ready to go down as soon as you say the word,” Zared said.
Picking up the glass of wine, Canute took a mouthful, swirling the red liquid in his mouth appreciatively before swallowing. “I doubt the peacekeepers will go down quietly. I'm expecting a fight.” His eyes gleamed. “A good fight."
"Yes, sir."
Draining the contents of the glass, he placed it on the table. “Call the outlaws for briefing, then the mission proceeds."
* * * *
Missing Simon after such a brief time together should have surprised Des, but it didn't, she realized. In such a short time, he'd become a part of her life. There when she got home, sleeping beside her in the big bed, sitting on her sofa and raiding her cooler. Laughing with her, teasing, sitting in quiet contentment.
A part of her life.
And if she kept mooning around, she'd be the laughing stock of the settlement, all of whom no doubt knew of her liaison with the big trader.
Well, bugger them. She'd never been concerned about peoples’ opinions of her, and she wasn't going to start now. And she had other things to do. Such as her job.
Frowning, she went through the current files again. Nothing new on the murders, and the killer of the janitor was still a mystery. The mystery ship was just that—a mystery and unseen. The mystery box was another bloody blight on her day, with no news from the military.
"Afternoon, Boss,” Marcel said cheerfully.
"Is it?” She scowled at him. “Have you any news for me on these murders and disappearances?"
"No."
"Then it isn't a bloody good afternoon, is it?"
"I guess not.” Unfazed, he poured himself a cup of hot una.
"Geez, you just got here and you're already guzzling drinks?"
"Boss, I'm preparing myself."
"For what? A toilet run?"
"The settlement is starting to move again.” He gestured to the partially open front door. “With no hunters or military here, the self-important trouble-makers are starting to rear their ugly little heads."
Clicking off the files screen, Des leaned back in her chair. “Oh, goody."
"And I wouldn't be surprised to see a bit of an influx of a little higher class of outlaws."
"Oh?"
"Back to normal."
"Yeah.” Stretching in the chair, she smiled grimly. “Back to normal."
Normalcy was well and truly proven to be back after a brawl at her mother's tavern had Gracie shrieking about her furniture and cursing the peacekeepers roundly for not keeping the peace. One of the stores was robbed, and by nightfall, an uneasy peace had descended on the settlement.
Looking out the door into the night sky, Des rolled her shoulders. “You boys are going to have to be on your toes tonight."
Raf looked up from where he was checking his laser. “You're not kidding. The jerks are making up for lost time.” Holstering the laser, he moved over to stand beside her and peer out into the night. “I think there's something brewing over at the Outlaw Tavern. I heard a few heated exchanges, but no actual blows. The bouncers were onto it pretty quick."
"Don't take crap from anyone,” Des said. “The first sign of trouble, slam the troublemakers. I don't care if the cells are full to bursting. I don't want them thinking they can just break loose because they have lost time to make up for."
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