Chapter 7 #2
She remembered what he’d told her, though, and quickly began acting submissive. It was an amusing version of Amelia, who could only manage to look meek because her life literally depended on it. She must hate this, he thought, as he struggled to keep a grin off his lips.
A little while later, he found himself in a metal hut, alone with Amelia.
The moment the door closed behind them, she began talking.
Without his chip, it was a jumble of bubbly noises that sounded terribly urgent.
He took his time sliding the chip back in his head dock.
Her noises shifted into focus, like a switch being turned on.
It came with a wave of vertigo and a moment of confusion.
“What did you and that big guy talk about?” she wanted to know.
“We can stay here for the night, and we will have access to their communication station in the morning.”
“Why not tonight?”
“Something about how the star’s rays hide their transmissions and keep this location secret.”
“I’ve never heard of stars doing that.”
“Me either,” he said, “but neither of us are scientists, so who the fuck knows?”
“That’s true.” She chewed her bottom lip. “Were they nice to you?”
“They tried to recruit me, so I’d say so. Maybe they’re looking to increase their numbers.” He frowned down at her.
“What?” She spread her hands. “What did I do now?”
“Their leader wanted me to share you.” He shook his head. “Why didn’t I think of that? We should have made you look less appealing.”
“Oh, please. Look at me. I’m the opposite of appealing right now.”
He took a long look at her. “I can’t agree with that.”
She rolled her eyes and pointed to a closed off room at the back of the main chamber. “What’s in here?” She went inside. “Wow! Taron, it’s a bathroom.”
“Good,” he murmured, knowing what was coming next.
“How do you work these things?”
He smiled and went in to help her. As expected, it was a very simple system to clean the body and a waste removal system.
Once activated, a circular apparatus would come up and blast whoever stood inside with a cleaning oil or steam.
Interesting that they bothered with this.
It made him wonder if the raiders were handling chemicals that required them to wash regularly.
Most drug production operations needed these systems. Not that he cared.
He showed her how to operate the toilet and “shower,” as she called it, then left her to it.
A part of him thought about stealing another kiss and seeing where it could lead, but they were both filthy, hungry, and exhausted.
He relaxed on the bed and thought about their next steps as he listened to her hum.
It was downright delightful. He could listen to her happy noises all day long.
It made him think about what other noises she made, and his stupid dick hardened.
Thankfully, he was interrupted by two males of a species he knew, but had forgotten the name of.
They had bony ridges along the middle of their skulls and dark green skin.
They came in with two metal cases and a tray of food.
Taron discreetly removed the English chip and eyed several flasks filled with a green liquid.
“Is there any water?” he asked the raiders.
“Fresh water is too far below ground to pump out. We pull it from the air, but most goes to the cooling of fuel cells and…other things.” The raider shrugged. “We drink the juice of fruit.”
So, it was drugs, then. “No liquor?”
“Nitto does not permit liquor. Nor are we permitted drugs.” They just produced them.
“He’s a wise leader.”
One raider narrowed his slitted eyes at him. “Most of the time.”
Taron grinned as the raiders left, appearing light and unworried by the raiders’ obvious suspicion. He wasn’t concerned. The necklace Amelia had given him had been a hefty price for one night’s stay.
He peeked inside the trunks. Each contained clothing.
One was evidently meant for Amelia, and the sight of the contents made him laugh out loud.
The garments for Amelia were such skimpy, sexy little scraps, she would die before she wore them.
He was sure of it. If only he could get her to wear them for him.
She came out a little later, wearing the flight suit, which was now somewhat cleaner. She stopped short at the sight of the open trunk and its contents. “Hell no.”
“That’s what I figured you’d say.” He chuckled. “We are in a raiders’ camp.”
“There are seriously no female raiders?”
“Maybe. But they would dress like the males. Raiders are tough and ruthless. A female who wanted this life would blend in.”
She gave him a considering look. “You know a lot about raiders. Want to tell me why?”
“Not really. Let’s stick with the problem at hand. Getting off this planet. Alive.”
“Okay, I—is there food?” She made a beeline for the tray, which he had placed on the bed. “Can I eat this?”
“Of course. At least, I think so. We’ll find out quick enough if it’s poisoned.”
She gave him a sour look. “Do you think it is?”
He smirked. “I think it’s fine. The drink is juice from a fruit. Apparently, the fresh water is too far below ground to collect.”
She dug into the food, tasting this, nibbling on that.
He watched her with disguised fascination.
It would not be wise to let her know how captivating she was becoming to him.
Instead, he checked each window, noting where guards could be stationed and scoping out potential escape routes.
“The camp is well designed. They placed us centrally, where we will be seen if we try to leave.”
“What difference does it make who’s watching?” she asked around chewing. “We’re not going anywhere tonight.”
“Hmm.” He made a mental calculation of how long it would take to sprint to the tree line. “Hopefully not.”
Her brow furrowed. “Did I miss something? We paid them, right? Is there something you’re not telling me?”
“Amelia, you can’t trust raiders,” he said. “And I’m still uncomfortable with the fact that a Stealth Battleshot blasted us out of the sky. They want us dead. How badly will depend on how much follow-up they do.”
“They wanted Kimberly,” she said. “We were loose ends.”
“Story of my life,” he muttered.
“Really? Is it?” She was looking up at him inquisitively.
She didn’t miss a thing. “One of them.” He shrugged. To distract her, he peeled off his shirt and unhooked his belt. “The version depends on the day.”
“Um.” She made a show of looking away. “And what version is today?”
“I’m filthy,” he said, striding to the washroom.
“Going to get clean. Leave me a bite to eat, will you?” He wanted to get away from this line of questioning.
If she knew that he had once been one of these criminals, she would never trust him.
She wouldn’t look up at him with those big soft eyes. She certainly wouldn’t kiss him.
There was no point in dredging up the past. His Sifter days were behind him.
If only he had had some forethought, all those cycles ago, he never would have followed his brother and joined in the first place.
At the time, he hadn’t considered that it would cost him access to his home planet and probably break his father’s heart.
Just thinking about the smells, sights, and sounds of Tagja City made his heart ache. It was best not to think about them.
He stepped into the cleaning ring and turned it on.
He closed his eyes as warm, cleansing oil blasted his skin.
It felt good to get the grime of the previous day off his body.
He cleaned off his clothes with hot steam, but only put his pants on.
He liked the look on Amelia’s face when she was aware of him as a male and unmistakable arousal loosened her expression and flushed her cheeks.
At this point, it was ridiculous to ignore it. They wanted each other. They had tasted each other and liked it. In fact, what was the point in all this restraint? His cock twitched at the thought of fucking her. There was one bed in this small hut, and he wouldn’t be sleeping on the floor.
He strode bare chested into the room. As he expected, Amelia paused mid bite and stared at him. “No shirt?”
He strolled to her, gazed down at her and casually picked up a piece of meat from the tray. “I don’t sleep in a shirt,” he said. “Or pants.”
A flush rose up her neck and up her cheeks. “Oh.”
Progress. She wasn’t demanding he dress or asking him to step away from her.
She was gazing up at him with those eyes.
He hated to admit the power she held with just a look.
His cock, which was at her general eye level, hardened.
His pants were snug, made of a unique leather that could withstand the heat of a Virilian’s rare primal form, if it emerged.
They also stretched, which made his increasing thickness difficult to miss at close range.
Her gaze stayed locked on his, despite the awareness that darkened her eyes and flared her nostrils.
Taron took a deep breath. He could wait. They wouldn’t stay frozen like this forever. Amelia would either tell him to back off, or she wouldn’t. She would invite him to touch her, or push him away.
Maybe it didn’t matter if they gave in to this.
They could die here, on this miserably hot and bright planet.
If they got off it, they still had to survive whoever was determined to kill them to keep the kidnapping a secret, but eventually they’d return to their own lives.
Either way, there was no point in not fucking. At least, that was his rationale.
He couldn’t begin to fathom what was going on in Amelia’s head. That was a place of pure mystery.
She licked her upper lip, sliding her tongue along in all of its pink, wet glory.
Stars, it took so little from this female to turn him raw and aching.
He hoped she was willing to just do the deed and get it over with, even if just to end this excruciating need.
Surely sex would put an end to, or at least dampen, this desire he had for her.
“Taron?” Her voice was a sultry rasp.
“Yes?”
“It’s possible—I mean, I’d rather not, but.” She swallowed hard and tried for a reset. “But we could die here. It would be silly not to…”
Yes! His cock engorged to the point of pain. “That was my thought, exactly.”
She cleared her throat. “Well, then.” To his utter relief, she reached out and put a hand over his aching bulge. “Let’s get to it.”