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spurred Xandros to brush his lips over the retreating man's mouth.
    The wall stopped Shaun's backward progress, and the man struggled to free himself. His hazel eyes were bright and hot. Xandros slid his hand down Shaun's arm to his hand. “Drop the knife."
    "No.” Shaun tensed and tried to throw Xandros off him.
    "Yes.” Xandros squeezed the man's wrist, attempting to force the knife from Shaun's hand. Stars, the man was stubborn. He held on, his face grimaced from the effort. Finally the knife clattered to the street, and Xandros slammed Shaun's hands over his head, then pressed against him. Even though he'd just had Rina, his cock was more than ready to take Shaun's ass.
    Xandros leaned in and kissed Shaun. It was a demand, a quest for something to wipe away the feeling that he'd lost control. Until now, he'd viewed sex as a commodity to be bought and sold. It had to be. Somehow, fucking Rina had loosened something within him, something he had thought was dead and gone. It reminded him of old desires, like the one to go back to his home planet, settle down, and be at peace. He needed to obliterate it by fucking Shaun.
    The kiss with Shaun changed. Suddenly the other man was the aggressor. Xandros could have pulled back, ended it, but Shaun's mouth demanded his participation, and he gave it. They switched places, and Shaun slammed Xandros against the wall. Still Xandros had a death grip on Shaun even as his mouth was plundered by the man.
    Abruptly Xandros yanked his mouth away and stared at Shaun. “The rumors were wrong."
    One of Shaun's eyebrows shot up. “Oh?"
    Xandros grinned. “Yeah. They said you took it up the ass from Leo Eyler. You don't seem the type to bend over for anyone."
    A strange expression flickered in Shaun's hazel eyes. “Ever met Leo?"
    "When I was younger."
    Shaun extricated himself from Xandros's hold as if he'd been there by his own choice. “Let's just say Leo is...unique."
    "How do you know her?” He changed the subject, hoping to catch Shaun off guard.
    The other man blinked. “Who?"
    Xandros shook his head. “Don't fuck with me, Fenway."
    "I thought that's what you were offering,” Shaun quipped.
    "Who is she?"
    Shaun shrugged. “Rina the assassin.” He bent down and picked up his knife.
    "Damn it, Shaun,” Xandros said through gritted teeth. Why was he being so cagey about this woman? “Was she your lover?” And why the fuck did Xandros care? She was just an assignment, a job. Wasn't she?
    Shaun shook his head. “Love had nothing to do with us."
    Xandros narrowed his eyes. “What the fuck does that mean?"
    "It means she isn't who she seems to be,” Shaun answered, his gaze intent on Xandros.
    "You were here to see her."
    "No. I was here to see you.” Shaun glanced down the alley. “Watching the two of you was a bonus,” he said with a smile.
    "Fuck you,” Xandros snapped.
    "Perhaps,” Shaun said. “If you're a good boy."
    Xandros growled and tensed. Shaun's eyes glittered in the dark street globes, and Xandros would have attacked him, but he decided he'd rather get paid. Plus, he wasn't sure what the man wanted, but he was pretty sure Shaun would fuck him to distract him. “What did you want to see me for?"
    "The Brotherhood contacted the princess.” Shaun started to walk toward the street. “She wants to see you."
    "She's here?” Why the hell would Princess Sera Placido come to this forsaken planet?
    "There's a group of Placidian descendents on Muerte. She visits this planet once a year.” Shaun slipped out of the alley, and Xandros followed.
    "You let her come here?” Xandros shook his head. “There's a Brotherhood cell here. She isn't safe here."
    "She isn't safe anywhere."
    Xandros kept moving, his gut churning. There had to be a connection between the arrival of Rina and her team and the princess's visit. Shaun Fenway wasn't stupid. He'd probably thought the same thing.
    Conflicted, Xandros kept pace with Shaun. Going to meet the princess meant he'd probably