flimsy pallet and flat pillow. The meager cover did nothing to warm him against the biting chill. After ten minutes, he heard her rhythmic breathing. He listened for a few minutes more before deciding she had finally fallen asleep.
Chapter Three
Rising early as always, Kane dressed and sat on the uncomfortable metal chair he had pulled from his dinette table to watch the princess sleep. She had curled into a tight ball, undoubtedly to avoid any more late-night touchy-feely on his part. The thought made him snort. That wouldn’t have stopped him. That’s if he wanted her, which he didn’t.
Every time he had shifted on the hard floor, he heard her jump slightly. From that assessment alone, he guessed she’d gotten just about the same amount of sleep as he had. None.
He watched her intently. He could make out a tight round butt and luscious full breasts. Gold hair, almost the same color as wheat, fell just above the swell of her ass and had become tangled all around her. Her hair fanned across her face, obscuring most of her features. The highlights gave the illusion of sparkles.
He was almost certain she was from the Zaronna System. The dark-gold skin suggested she came from one of the sand planets this system was famous for.
Her skin shimmered as though it were a million bucks. He would bet his left nut she was worth at least that much. He couldn’t tell her height but he guessed somewhere near his own six foot, five inches.
She yawned and stretched, revealing a small, shapely waist, curvy hips and long, lean legs. He’d been nestled between them a few hours before. And it had felt good.
Her eyes fluttered open. “Eek!”
Yeah, Anna had always teased him he resembled death in the morning but she had never screamed when she saw him.
He leaned back in the chair and stretched his long legs out in front of him. To hide his growing crotch, he folded his hands over it. “Chill out, no one’s going to hurt you.” Yet.
She rested a hand on her heaving chest. Her gaze darted wildly around the room, taking in all the surroundings before finally settling on him.
She caught him staring at her breast and pulled the blanket up to her chin.
He groaned. Aw, don’t do that.
Where the hell had that come from?
“ Sa liet fa soeil? ”
Kane inhaled sharply. He hadn’t imagined the lyrical tone of her voice or the mesmerizing coloring of her eyes. They appeared more slanted today than they had last night.
“I can’t understand you,” he said. For good measure, he pointed to his head. “No translator.”
“ Sa liet fa soeil? ” she asked again. This time she pointed to her chest then pointed toward the port view.
He wasn’t exactly sure what she said but… “Can you understand me?”
Her head dipped slightly. “ Alo. ”
He assumed that was a yes. At least the communication part wouldn’t be as hard as he’d first imagined. “Where are you from?”
She stared at him in silence. Her luscious lips were pursed into a straight line. She wouldn’t be opening her mouth anytime soon. Pity. He could imagine a lot of things she could do with that pretty little mouth of hers.
Shit, what’s coming over me?
He shook the invading thought from his mind.
First things first. Find out which planet she hailed from. Maybe one rich in gold? This could be the jackpot they hoped for.
The only reason they had even traveled to this remote system was because of the rumored gold planets. If he and his crew played their cards right, they could highjack a vessel or two transporting gold. Hell, they would all be able to settle down on some remote planet and finally live in peace.
“What planet are you from?” he repeated, slowing his words.
“ Nes ,” she replied. Her perfect lips pursed defiantly.
“No?”
She nodded her response.
“I’m sure my crew explained everything to you last night. We’re ransoming you back to your home planet.”
She shook her head slowly.
Is she trying to play hardball? He stood
Missy Tippens, Jean C. Gordon, Patricia Johns