Page 187 of Pets in Space 10
After what seemed an eternity in the quiet container, Tagar let them out and showed them to sparsely decorated quarters. There were several unopened bottles of water and a stack of portable transfer meals on a table for them. Kari grimaced. She hated PTM’s.
For ground troops, they were life savers. You cracked the small container in half and the contents inside heated to the right temperature. Every one she’d ever eaten had tasted like hot cardboard. She reached for one of the waters instead and took a healthy gulp.
“We aren’t far from the station on Pega.
Two days travel at most. You requested a military station as the drop off, but that’s the closest one on my route.
You’ll be able to find a military transport there.
” Tagar spoke to Luka, but his gaze continued to stray in her direction.
“I’ve held my end of the bargain. What do you have on Vita? ”
Luka’s expression didn’t reveal his thoughts, but he shifted his stance slightly to partially obstruct the other man’s view of her. “I’d rather tell you when we land at Pega, but as a show of good faith and the trust I’m putting in you, I’ll share.”
He extended his arm toward Tagar. In his palm lay a small black drive. The pirate smuggler stared as if unsure what to do then snatched the device from Luka’s hand. “Will this tell me where to go to retrieve my daughter?”
“It will give you the answers you seek,” Luka replied vaguely.
Tagar’s mouth tightened, but he inclined his head and left them alone in the room. Luka moved across the space and sat on the bed. He removed his boots one at a time and stretched out on his back, hands folded behind his head.
There had been no conversation, gentle touches or insistence she believe him after Tagar let them out. His manner remained protective, but the connection they’d forged was distinctly absent.
Nibbling her bottom lip, she searched for another bed in the tight space. Through one door she could see bathroom fixtures. The only other piece of furniture besides the bed was a small upholstered chair she could curl up on and that’s where she went.
“We can share the bed, Kari. You have my promise not to touch you. I may run a criminal enterprise, but I’ve never forced myself on a woman.” His words were delivered with an ice-cold bite while he stared at the ceiling.
She flinched. If she touched him, she’d probably get frost bite. The chair would have to work. Once they reached Pega, she’d never see Luka again. She sat in the chair, pulled her legs up to the side and under her hips on the wide seat.
After a few moments, she glanced in his direction. He hadn’t moved a muscle. Guilt over the way she’d let the conversation end in the container filled her. She wasn’t normally judgmental, but she’d done exactly that on discovering his full identity.
It wasn’t his fault she’d fallen temporarily in lust and let her emotions guide her. Sighing, she shoved her fingers through her tangled hair. If nothing else, she owed him an apology. “I’m sorry.”
“No need to be,” he muttered.
She rolled her eyes. “You’re pouting. It’s beneath you.”
His head tipped to the side, finally, facing her. “What?”
Screw this awkward air between them. She straightened and dropped her legs to the floor.
Her mind said to let it go but she was confident she was right.
Everything about him was in your face. They’d known each other a short time, but she’d learned enough about his personality to discern that much. “I said you’re pouting.”
“I’m not,” he snapped.
Yep, pouting. Her gaze narrowed. “Then why aren’t you talking to me, planning or going over our next steps?”
“There is no next step. I drop you off and you return to your precious military. I’ll go back to doing what I do best.”
“Which is?” She was genuinely curious.
He pushed upright, leaned his back against the wall behind him and the corner of his mouth quirked. It wasn’t the teasing smile or lip twitch he’d used with her earlier. This was pure mockery. “Being a ruthless criminal. That’s what you think of me, isn’t it?”
***
Luka didn’t care if he was being an ass. From the moment she’d discovered his true identity, Kari had treated him like a pariah. It hurt in a way he hadn’t expected. Her silence in the container had given him plenty of time to remember all the reasons he should avoid relationships.
And the pretty lieutenant.
“What do you expect me to think?!” she charged, shooting glares in his direction. “By your own admission you’re the acknowledged leader of an organization with a history of crimes to their name.”
He smirked. “What crimes am I guilty of, lieutenant?”
“You’re…you,” she froze.
He waited. Confusion flashed over her face. There wouldn’t be an answer because he had no charges pending against him and neither did the Atoro. That wasn’t to say he didn’t operate on the darker side of the law. He just ensured he and his people weren’t caught.
The Rudurian, on the other hand, weren’t as careful, but then no one said Iban and Gubu were forward thinkers.
They didn’t care how many charges were filed against those who followed them or that it limited their ability to operate in the USF air space. Luka could walk freely into any space station or port and regardless if anyone recognized him, there would be no cause for authorities to arrest him.
Now, had he been held a time or two thanks to overzealous law enforcement? Of course, but once they realized he had no intention of answering any of their questions, he tended to be released within the twenty-four hour maximum time limit for individuals with no charges.
He swung his legs over the side of the bed and propped his elbows on his knees as he stared at her. “I’ll wait. Tell me what charges your military have on me, Kari?
He deliberately softened his voice on the way he said her name and had the pleasure of watching the warm blush spread over her face. She crossed her arms over her chest and said, “Clearly you know more about that than I do and I don’t have the means of verifying whatever you tell me at this time.”
He grunted, his stare unrelenting. “I’ll accept your apology if you tell me what really set you off in that container.”
Not sure what drove him to push the issue, he waited, breath held as she narrowed her eyes. She licked her lips and his gaze dropped to her throat, the taste of her blood a rich memory he wanted to experience again.
Her arms fell to her sides and her mouth turned down at the corners. The sight tugged at his heart strings but he held his silence. “You really want to know?”
His pulse raced even as he nodded. Something told him whatever she shared would change the course of this erratic dance they were doing.
“Despite my better judgment, I like you. My past experience with relationships says not to trust a man, specifically one with your background but you bring out a side of me I can’t resist. I want you.
I want to have more sex with you, but I also want to know what makes Luka Bashir tick.
Learning you’re the head of the Atoro Syndicate brought my fantasy of that crashing down. ”
A part of him soared in exhilaration. He took a breath. Then another. His heart pounded as he forced himself to ask the question at the forefront of his mind. “You wanted more sex? To get to know me?”
No one had expressed an interest in knowing him beyond who he appeared on the surface. She pursed her lips and muttered, “Much to my dismay.”
Suddenly light hearted, he snort laughed and rose to his feet. Her head tipped back, gaze observing his approach until he stood toe to toe with her. He reached for her hands and gently pulled her to her feet. Forehead pressed to hers, he whispered, “Make a deal with me.”
“What?” She jerked in his grasp, but he held firm, caressing the racing pulse at her wrists.
“Make a deal with me and let’s play this out, lieutenant.” He thought over his next words. “I promise it will be worth your while. I like you too. I want to know everything about you. When we get to Pega, it ends. We agree to walk away with neither confused or hurt by what this is.”
Her brows drew together and he could almost read her thoughts. She was considering his proposal and his world tipped sideways in anticipation.
“So, we would be lovers with an end date?”
“Lovers with an end date,” he agreed.
“Alright.”
He stilled, unsure he’d heard her correctly. “Alright?”
She leaned in close, broke free of his hold and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Stars knows it’s probably a bad deal but we’re doing this.”
“Fuck,” he exhaled, tightening his arms around her as he closed his eyes and whispered another curse.
What had he gotten himself into?