The Bond That Saves Us (4 page)

“I can’t get over how nice everyone is around this place. It’s so not like that where I’m from.”

No, her planet had smugglers bent on fixing the largest race in the galaxy so they’d have a free and easy way to move their shipment of dust. She wasn’t going to touch that shit with an eight-foot beam and would happily suffer another broken arm to keep herself and her crew out of it.

If her lapse of attention was obvious, Sean didn’t say anything. His long fingers, heavy with calluses around the tips, caressed the sweating glass. The repetitive motion lulled her into a relaxed state and allowed her to enjoy his company, let her guard slip just a little bit more. After another moment of quiet, Sean snorted softly.

19

“Yeah, everyone around here is good. Very forgiving bunch.”

Weird thing to think.
“You make it sound like a bad thing.”

When he looked at her next, Amy saw the hurt in his expression. It was only there for a moment, but present nonetheless.

“Sometimes people don’t deserve forgiveness,” he said softly. “They’ve done something so unforgivable that no action they can take after will ever make it right.”

His words sent a chill through her. She knew that feeling, understanding it far more intimately than she would want to admit. Sometimes you screw something up so badly, the last thing you want is a get out of guilt option.

“What did you do?” she whispered, her head bent so close to his she could smell the alcohol on his breath and his heady masculine scent.

Sean didn’t look away, but he didn’t say anything to her either. It was answer enough. Whatever his crime had been, he still wore the weight of the guilt heavy on his shoulders. Instead, she reached out and slipped her hand over his and asked, “Do you want forgiveness?”

“No.”

“But do you deserve it?”

He finally did look away at her question, moved her hand and placed it back on the bar before taking a long drink of his drink.

Amy didn’t push. Knew there wasn’t any point given his frame of mind. She’d been there, still had days where she lived with those feelings. There was no reason they needed to dwell on it tonight though.

Bolder than she’d been in years, Amy straightened in her seat. She could do this, talk to him without letting things go too far. Despite the primal scream of her body, the urge for sex, she wanted to learn more about him. Really, she didn’t have a choice but to keep things under control—the timing of everything sucked. Before she changed her mind, Amy slipped off the stool and braced her hands on her hips.

“I need a tour.”

Sean leaned back, an amused expression on his face. “Really?” He didn’t sound convinced.

“Sure, why not? I’m going to be here for a month, until the race gets started. Best to learn all the hot spots, merchants who give the best deals, you know? My dad promised to show me around, but who wants to hang out with their parent when they have an opportunity to see the place with a native.” A really sexy one for that matter.

That actually earned her a smile. “Both my parents have been out of my life for years. You’re lucky your dad is still around. But there are advantages to going native.

So you haven’t seen any of the colony?”

Amy’s heartbeat increased in rhythm when Sean finally stood to join her. He was tall, but not a lot taller than she was. She hadn’t been paying that much attention to it when he’d helped her back in med bay. Now she had nothing to distract her. His broad 20

shoulders and muscular arms made her shiver and she couldn’t help wonder what it would be like to be wrapped up in his embrace. Shaking her mind from thoughts she had no reason to be having, she walked out of the bar with a final wave to Fallon.

“We landed yesterday. I’ve been in orbit for a few days though, waiting for docking clearance. Dad moved here six months ago, but I was on a cargo run at the time. Didn’t have a chance for a visit before now. How long have you been here?”

“Twenty years.”

Stopping in the corridor, Amy looked hard at him. “No way. How old are you?”

“Forty-one.”

“Don’t believe it. There must be something in the air here to keep you looking young and handsome.” She felt her face heat as she slapped her hand over her mouth.

“Shit, I really didn’t mean to say that.”
Oh yes you did, Amy. Liar, liar.

Whether he was genuinely pleased by the compliment, or simply was taking pity on her, he grinned as he pointed down the hall. “The guest quarters are this way. Have you taken any or were you and your crew planning on staying on ship?”

The crowds thinned out as they walked, giving Amy a greater sense of peace. She hated large groups normally, the occasional trip to the bar the exception. As they passed a large observation window, she stopped long enough to look out.

“We were going to stay on ship. I need every spare credit to buy supplies and parts for the race. The money I’ll make if I win will be well worth any hardships now. I plan on treating my crew to a vacation if we bring home the prize.”

Turning, she leaned up against the window and gave Sean a once-over. He looked far better in the light of day than the shadows of the bar. She would have told him as much too, if two of Tyrell’s men hadn’t taken that moment to turn the corner. They didn’t approach, staying just far enough away to watch, but close enough to give her the intended warning. She wasn’t free from him—they
were
watching. One wrong move and her next trip to med bay would be for something far more dire than a broken arm.

There was no guarantee next time Dr. Fergus would be able to patch her up quite so easily. A safe location where she could lie low for a bit. That’s what she needed.

“Amy, what’s wrong?”

Her attention snapped back to Sean. He hadn’t moved or had given any indication he’d noticed the men, but he’d obviously picked up on her discomfort. Nodding her head very slightly in their direction, she reached out and played with the hem of his shirt.

“Remember that broken arm of mine?”

“Yup.”

“Wasn’t exactly honest with how I got it.”

“Yeah, picked up on that.”

A startled laugh slipped out of her. “Really? See, this is why I could never be a smuggler. Can’t lie.”

21

“Is that what they wanted you to do?”

She couldn’t tell him the truth. Fuck, she didn’t want to put a complete stranger in danger’s path for no reason. That and the fact Tyrell would tear her apart. She moved closer to him, cocking her head to the side.

“Wanted me to throw the race, actually. Make sure their man won so he could clean up in the betting circuit. Though I can’t prove anything, so there’s no point in bringing my complaint to the authorities.”

Sean sighed, and stepped closer to her. She could feel the heat coming off his body, the scent of his skin, sweat and musk, and it all made her dizzy. Damn, if she didn’t get settled soon, he’d start feeling the effects of her pheromones. She had no doubt a man like Sean wouldn’t appreciate being controlled without his knowing. Still, she was fast running out of options. Without thinking she licked her lips, placed her open palm on his chest and leaned forward.

“So, is your place near here?”

“A few minutes away. They still watching?”

“Haven’t moved.”

“And they have a clear view of us?”

“Sure do. Why?”

He closed the distance between them, his mouth hot and firm against hers. The surge of blood through her body made her cunt throb and caused her to move tight against him to rub against his chest and thighs. His tongue fleetingly flicked along her bottom lip, dragging a moan from her. Gods, she had no problem imagining the feel of it lapping at her clit. How his hands would squeeze at her hips, holding her in place while he devoured her.

When he finally pulled back, it was just enough so he could speak. His hot breath tickled her skin. “Okay, now they think we’re going to be heading out for sex. I’ll get us to my quarters and call security from there.”

“No, please,” she breathed against his lips, biting down softly on the lower one.

“They’ll know I’ve had something to do with it. Tyrell said he’d kill my crew if I did.”

“Don’t worry. Taber will think of something.”

“I don’t think—”

“Amy,
trust
me.”

Fuck, she didn’t even
know
the guy, how was she supposed to trust him? Still, she felt safer with him than she did with anyone else. And he was far sight better than the two goons down the hall. Basically, she had no choice.
Nothing like a no-win situation.

“We can discuss the details once we get to your place. Lead on.”

Sean didn’t move away at first, instead letting his hand drift down to the swell of her ass. His fingers dug into her as he kneaded the flesh below the tight fabric of her pants. She shivered again and had to kick herself mentally. This was supposed to be an
act
, meaning nothing.
Don’t let yourself get too turned-on, girl.

22

Easier said than done.

“We’re going now. You stay glued to me, okay.” He nipped at her chin.

“Wouldn’t dream of leaving you.”

Half pulling, half guiding, Sean led her in the opposite direction of the men. They took the first left, which moved them into another hall.

“This is the main section for humans. My place is just down here.”

Turning to suck his earlobe into her mouth, Amy was able to see the men following them from the corner of her eye.

“They still with us?”

“Yup.” She licked the shell of his ear. Fuck, he tasted good.

“Not much longer.” He sounded as desperate as she felt. “Here we go.”

She let out a soft gasp of surprise when Sean spun her around and pressed her back firmly against the wall. The sound was quickly muffled when he covered his lips with her. This wasn’t a soft kiss between friends. Hunger radiated off him as his hands ran repeatedly down her arms, along her lower back and down until he was cupping her ass hard. A tremor of arousal shot from her core, out to her nipples, now hard and pressed against his chest, and down to her pussy. Her moan this time was needy and low, full of the promise of sex. When Sean’s mouth slipped from hers to find her pulse point on her neck, Amy dug her fingers into his hair. It felt too good. She needed more.

“Inside?” she asked, her voice shaking from want.

“Fuck. Let me get the door.”

He fumbled, pressing his hand to the door release scanner, his other hand clutched tight on her hip. Sean bit softly into the crease where her neck and shoulder met before softly laving the abused skin with his tongue. His cock was hard and pressed firmly against her thigh. Gods, if he was as big as she thought it was, she wasn’t sure she’d be able to stop.

“Sean,” she moaned.

They were moving. A stumble as their bodies collided, moving clumsily though the opening and into the room. The soft
whoosh
of the door sliding shut should have signaled the end of their performance. In the back of her mind, Amy knew they needed to stop, pull back before things got out of control. She could already feel her pheromone levels rising and knew they were affecting Sean. Soon he wouldn’t be able to stop. Soon she wouldn’t care.

“So hot,” he muttered against her neck. “I want you.”

“No.” She felt him stiffen in her arms. “Sean, please stop.”

“Amy.”

“It’s not you doing this. I’m not…Gods…I’m not human. You’re not thinking clearly.”

Something she’d said managed to penetrate through the fog of his brain because he 23

jerked his head up to look at her. “What?”

She had to close her eyes, needing a moment to regain her composure, get her body in check. Her throat had gone dry, her skin now covered with a sheen of sweat, the byproduct of the pheromones.

“My dad is human, but my mother was Shay. I produce pheromones when I get aroused, and trust me when I say they are potent. Right now, I’m most definitely aroused. It helps to attract a mate. I’m…sorry, but I didn’t want you to get into something without knowing.”

Sean sucked in a breath, taking in a large gulp of her scent, but still managed to pull back. For a moment, she expected him to kick her out or at the very least yell at her.

What she hadn’t anticipated was the look of panic.

“Are you okay?” She was sure to keep her voice soft and her body pressed against the wall.

He didn’t approach her, instead making his way to a bottle of amber liquid that sat on a small table. Without asking he poured two glasses, snatching one up and downing the contents before pouring another. Amy only waited a moment to see what he was planning on doing, if anything, before finally giving up and cautiously walking toward him.

“I’m sorry,” she said again as she reached his side.

“Wouldn’t be the first time I’ve fallen under alien influence. Drink?”

“Please.” She accepted the glass without question. Nor did she pry any further into his statement, no matter how curious she was.