didn’t hide before the slave twirled back. Her movements stumbled to a halt. She stared at the
floor in shock and stepped back from the oozing slime of her recently deceased owner. She swallowed
hard.
Makl must have made a noise because up snapped her head. Brown eyes of chocolate – a rare
delicacy he’d tasted more than a few times – stared at him in shock. Wiping his blade, he waited for the female to scream – a sound the guards probably expected. He got a gasp. He then waited for his hug, or tearful thank you. Instead, he got, “You fucking idiot. What the hell did you do?”
Blades sheathed, Makl raised a puzzled gaze to the beauty frowning at him. Hands on her hips,
legs astride, and her eyes flashing daggers, she didn’t look happy with the turn of events. Nor did she look so meek and innocent. Did she not understand he’d given her freedom? From this monster at least. Now, finders keepers, she belonged to him.
“I killed him.” He flashed a slow, seductive grin.
She didn’t seem impressed. “I see that. Why?”
“I was multitasking,” he answered when his formidable smile didn’t send her rushing to take back
her harsh query and throw herself on her knees to thank him properly.
“Multi what?” His answer flummoxed her. “I think we need to back up a second. Who are you?”
Makl puffed out his chest, tilted his chin, and adopted a pose that people – ahem, okay, his
grandmother – assured him made him look positively regal. “I am Makl, first class warrior from the
planet Aressotle. Known as the galactic avenger, I’m here to save you from a fate worse than death.”
“Never heard of you.” She waved a hand dismissively.
“Sure you have.”
“Nope.”
“Well, now you have the honor. Say hello to the greatest acquisitions expert and deadliest warrior
known in the universe.” He executed a perfect bow and waited for her to finally show the appreciation he deserved.
She smirked. At him. “A thief and a murderer. How charming.”
Why did she not seem in awe? “Nothing as common as that. I only deal in high end items and
jobs.”
“Stealing is stealing. And as for killing, anyone can do that. It just takes knowing a creature’s
weakness.”
“Exactly.” He inclined his head to the oozing heap on the floor. “His was letting his cock dictate
common sense.”
“Well, on that we agree. What’s your soft spot?” Her query held a hint of challenge.
Out puffed his chest. “I don’t have one.”
“Of course you don’t,” she agreed, her subtle nod denuding part of a nipple, which drew his eye
like a magnet.
Damn it, he fell for her trap. Before he knew it, the slave – who didn’t act like either a slave or
woman should – held something with a cold metallic muzzle under his chin. How did she acquire a
weapon? He’d seen them scan her himself as he hid in the drapery, his cloak blending him into the
background.
“Males. All the same. Flash a little nip and they lose all common sense. Now what were we
saying, ah yes, how you don’t have a weak spot? Care to recant?”
“I don’t think you’ll do it.”
“Yes, I would.”
Not given the way she’d looked positively faint at the sight of a corpse. “Nope. I think you’re
bluffing.”
“Really? You know, all I need to do is press this trigger,” she whispered, digging the gun into his
skin. “And bam, you’re dead.”
Makl sighed. Really? Did she think him that unskilled? Then again, he had to wonder at her own
attributes. “I am beginning to think you’re not a virgin.”
“What gave it away?”
“For one thing, you’re not sucking my cock in gratitude for saving you.”
She snorted. “Are the women you’re acquainted with really that slutty?”
“Yes. And don’t call them slutty. They prefer the term appreciative.”
“I’m sure they are for the few minutes it takes.”
It took him a moment to catch the insult. “Are you casting aspersion on my