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Wrex bit back a scowl, but their disappointment must have been evident in their expression. A burst of panic surged through their system. That small taste of her mouth was enough to keep them calm. Seduction was the key to their survival here, and Wrex was determined to never force anyone the way the Consortium did.

But that didn’t mean they could trust this intriguing female to help them evade any retrieval crews sent after them. The Consortium held a contract in Wrex’s name, and in this part of the galaxy, that would be legally binding.

“I’m afraid I can’t provide all the answers, lovely one,” they said, delighted by the deepening shades of red on her skin.

She frowned at them. “Whatcanyou tell me?”

Wrex pursed their lips. “That I won’t be going back.” They’d shove themselves out the nearest airlock to suffocate first. That would kill them as surely as any other living thing; their lungs were still flesh and blood.

Kori’s fingers shifted over their pectoral muscles. They grinned. She hadn’t removed her hand from their chest.

Kori didn’t seem to notice where her hand traveled, still nibbling on her bottom lip. “Were you forced into a contract?”

The question made their shoulders go tight, tension spoiling the simmering lust they’d enjoyed until that moment. “My decisions were my own,” said Wrex, dislodging her hand with a shrug. “The contract is all above board, if that is what you’re asking.” They stared, waiting for her to pass judgement.

Her chin lifted. “That doesn’t mean it was a good one. Were you mistreated? I haven’t personally heard of this Consortium, but most courtesan houses adhere to strict rules of conduct for their contracted and their clientele.”

There were rules of conduct? Wrex kept their expression impassive, but the implications of her words wedged an unpleasant truth in their mind. The Consortium might have trapped them after they signed, but this level of ignorance was their fault and that left a hollow ache in their chest. Regardless, their new temporary companion picked up on the inner turmoil, gently gripping their hand.

“I’ve been on the clock too long. Let me show you to my bunk. The report can wait and maybe, after I get some actual sleep, we can work through this mess. Okay?” Her tone coaxed them forward, letting her lead them away from the wrecked escape pod to an offset hallway lined with sealed doors. Kori stopped at the third one, tapping the biometric lock to the unit.

A modest bunk greeted them, the welcome scent of freshly cleansed bedding lingering in the filtered air. The opposite wall featured a desk that spanned the length of the room, cluttered with deconstructed gadgets and tech in various states of repair. Other than that central bit of chaos, the space was tidy. Kori pulled back the fresh sheets for them to climb inside, taking care not to brush against them as she backed out of the room.

“I’ll disengage the bio-lock for the night.” She hovered in the doorway, her expressive face cycling through various emotions without settling on one.

Wrex raised a brow. No bio-lock meant they could roam the ship at their leisure. “That’s an awful lot of trust for a stranger.”

There she went, nibbling her lip again. Wrex wanted to catch her lips between their teeth and take over the teasing.

“I’m a fair judge of people,” she said, letting the sentence hang, an unfinished possibility.

How could she be so sure of a stranger? Wrex sat on the bed, their weight sinking towards the center. “Thank you,” they said. Perhaps cordiality was best for the moment, but they didn’t miss her final lingering glance. A body, willing and receptive, was something they could work with.

chapterthree

kori

Sleep was an evasive bitch.Kori glowered at her ceiling. She’d returned to the cot in the control room hours ago. Unfortunately, her mind refused to stop mulling over her guest. Exhaustion left her loose-limbed and foggy. Coupled with her annoyingly persistent, lingering arousal that left her restless and agitated, it was driving her crazy.

Sex work was a universal profession, one Kori respected as she did any other occupation. And just like any physical job, one that came with risks. The crew knew all the reputable courtesan houses in this quadrant of space and often visited them when shore leave allowed. Their current destination, Vega Surong, was a highly regarded pleasure planet, boasting the highest number of established houses in the galaxy. With no working knowledge of the Consortium or where they were located, she could only guess if and when they would come after Wrex. If Wrex’s intended destination was Vega Surong and their contract holder enforced the terms, then the authority on the planet would turn them over in a heartbeat.

Thoughts of what she would do regarding her guest continued to churn through her mind until she finally drifted off into a fitful state of rest. A mouth-watering aroma teased her consciousness to the surface. She floated, too tired to roll off the cot just yet as she enjoyed the warmth of her bedding.

Not just her bedding. Fingertips danced across her stomach, circling her navel before deliberately dipping southward. Awareness slammed through her. Kori opened her eyes and turned her head. Wrex knelt beside the cot, bracing their chin with their free hand while the other hovered expectantly, low over her belly.

“Good morning, lovely,” they murmured, their husky voice making her shiver. Their presence should have irritated her, but her arousal flooded back in a rush. It didn’t help to have their shockingly gorgeous face in such proximity.

“What are you doing here?” she rasped, keenly aware of all her titillated bits and that hovering hand. In truth, their presence didn’t shock her in the least. The moment Wrex woke in the pod, she’d sensed a magnetic energy between them. Their precarious situation coupled with their seductive skillset explained they kept coming on to her, though that didn’t stifle her body’s reaction to them.

“Would you believe that I crave your company?” Wrex revealed a devastating smile that made her toes curl at the end of the bed. Despite her body’s visceral reaction, she couldn’t stop her small snort at their tease.

“Please. Does that line work on your clients?” Kori eyed their hand, but it hadn’t moved. Waiting for permission.

The smile twisted into something more self-depreciating. “My clients don’t need much convincing.” There it was, that flicker of emotion that had convinced her to break protocol and delay her report.

Kori sighed, wrapping her fingers around their wrist. “Wrex, I know you’re hesitant to tell me why and how you were in that pod, but I’m not going to report this incident. You don’t have to do this.”

Their lips parted, those silver orbs flickering over her features. “No, I don’t. But I’d like to.” Wrex paused. Their elegant throat worked in a nervous swallow. “If you’re interested.”