The Pirate Prince (8 page)

Bide your time, Mei, bide your time. Keep your wits about you and try to discover what you’re up
against.

Her body tingled.

And keep your thighs closed as well!

“What happened to the ship that was following us?” she asked, her stomach knotted. Unable to keep moving, she stiffened, looking at Jarek as he answered. “We escaped their attack by flying into a magefeld,” he answered.

Mei shivered. Her voice was soft, but she couldn’t help it. Images of Haun dying floated in her head. She turned back to the food, but didn’t move as she stared at the sizzling pot. “And the other ship?”

“Unharmed,” Jarek stated, his tone suddenly very stern and serious. Mei glanced up and nodded once. Relief curled inside of her at his words. She sensed he told the truth and felt as if a weight of stress and fear was lifted off her stomach. The devil-may-care attitude had faded from his expression only to quickly return.

“Where are the other women?” she asked, turning back to her food. If he didn’t want it there’d just be more for her. Let him have his disgusting ESC rations. Jarek shared a look with Evan and laughed.

“You find kidnapping us amusing,chûnrén? ”

“Ah,fea , you break my heart. At least get to know me first before you think me foolish.” Jarek winked.

Mei paled. He understood her. “I know all I want to know about you, captain.

And my name is Mei.”

“Mei,” Jarek repeated softly, a strange look on his face as he looked at her. If she didn’t know better she would’ve thought he was enamored of her. “So, Mei, are those women friends of yours?”

“Yes,” she lied. “And I want to assure their safety. I demand you let me see them.”

“Demand?” He laughed, shaking his head in amusement. “Mei, you remember Dev don’t you?”

The big red guy came out from behind the door as if he’d been standing guard all along. Mei shivered. She’d thought of running and was glad she’d decided against it. Dev lifted his jaw. He was undoubtedly their most fearsome warrior.

“He’s going to keep an eye on you,” Jarek said, motioning to Evan to follow.

Giving his cocky grin, he whispered to her. “Be good,fea . Don’t get into any trouble.”

Mei made a face at the captain. Jarek grinned and the look shot through her like lightening. Just wonderful. Now her body was moist as well as aroused. It took all her effort not to wiggle in frustration. The last thing she needed was to have burning desires for her arrogant captor.

“Dev,” Jarek said, as he and Evan stepped out, “you know what to do with her if she misbehaves.”

Dev nodded once. Mei shivered, wondering just what that punishment would be.

She quickly turned back to cooking, doing her best to ignore her giant bodyguard as she silently cursed the pirate captain.

* * * *

Jarek strode from the dining hall. He couldn’t help the grin that spread over his face. That woman was entertaining, he’d give her that—so easy to tease. There was just something about her, something that made him want to trust her even as he knew she was lying to him. There was a subtle change in her smell when she lied, like when she had said she was a cook. The fragrance was faint, but he was so in tune with her that he had caught it easily.

When they were down the corridor, far away from hearing distance, Evan said,

“You did well taking her off guard by insulting her cooking. It was the first clear read I got from her. She is very disciplined. I can’t tell if it’s because she suspects me reading her, or if she is always so guarded. I can barely even feel fear.”

“Maybe she doesn’t fear us,” Jarek said.

“Perhaps.” Evan stopped walking and glanced back. “She has no problem lying to us though.”

“Claiming to know Viktor and Lucien,” Jarek answered, knowing that was what Evan was speaking of. There was no way Mei knew the two men. She was bluffing.

“Yes. And about being a chef. Was her food that bad?” “No,” Jarek chuckled. “It was actually quite good. It was all I could do to keep my stomach from growling for more.”

Evan smiled.

“But, that woman is no chef. I’d bet my life on it. I could smell her lie when she said it, same as when she said she knew Vik and Lucien.” Jarek sighed. “She’s nobility, or at least has some sort of elected power. That man she was with was probably a brother or husband.”

“You’re certain?”

“Oh yeah. She has that attitude about her. Servants don’t demand, don’t look at people the way she does. That kind of thing is bred into a person. She’s too regal in her movements.”

“I agree. But then why did she come after us?”

“Perhaps it was to save the two women.” Jarek swallowed.Or to escape her duty

and position.

He knew all about escaping his princely title. It’s why he’d cultivated his easy demeanor, that way no one could tell what he was unless he wanted them to.

“Unfortunately, I can’t get a good enough read on her to recommend showing her the map. I might be able to sense her lie if she tried to mislead us, but I can’t be certain of it.”

Jarek took a deep breath. “What do you recommend?” “Time. She’s different when you’re in the room.

You know I hate revealing what I read, but....”

“Rick’s life is on the line. Time is something we don’t really have.” Jarek placed his hand on Evan’s arm.

“I know.”

“What did you sense?” Jarek wanted to shake the man, desperate to hear what he had learned about the woman.

“She’s not immune to your charms. You confuse her, but you also interest her.

She didn’t have that reaction to me, or to Dev. It was unique when you walked into the room. I think she likes you. A lot.”

Jarek grinned. How could he not? Evan’s words boosted his male vanity greatly.

“I don’t say this because I want you to take advantage of her,” Evan put forth sternly, pointing at Jarek in warning, “but out of necessity. Out of any of us, she might come to trust you the soonest. I will continue to study her. With time I will learn more.

But if she were to develop an attachment to the crew, to....” Evan gave him a meaningful look.

“To me,” Jarek finished. Evan was telling him to seduce her, to make her love him. His gut tightened. “I hate lying to her like that. I’m not so cold to pretend to love when it’s not there.”

“I know, I hate it too.” Evan’s smile was sad. “There is a fine line between lust and love, but if you’re careful maybe you can walk it.”

Jarek knew Evan never used his gift to harm others. He often went out of his way

not to reveal what he knew, unless it was to judge someone’s intent against the crew. He could see by the look on his friend’s face that it was hurting him to even suggest this course of action. Though, if Evan said it, he truly believed it the only course for them to take. It wasn’t like Rick left them with too many options.

“I just wish we knew if he was alive or not,” Jarek sighed.

“If anyone can charm a kidnapper, it’s Rick.”

“This is our only option, isn’t it?” Jarek glanced back down the corridor to where Mei was in the dining hall. It’s not like it would be hard to force himself to bed her. In fact, his body was more than willing to jump into it. He closed his eyes briefly, picturing her. She had her long, gorgeous hair down, but she still wore the gown she arrived in.

The silky locks made him want to run his fingers through them, just as her smooth skin beckoned his hands. There were many things he’d like to do to her. He reined his imagination in.

“I’m afraid so,” Evan agreed, frowning. “You got any ideas on how you’re going to do it?”

“Seduction is the last thing I need help with.” Jarek stretched his arms over his head. Part of him liked the idea of seducing Mei. The other part of him still liked the idea, but was sorry that it would come about with such deceit. He hated the plan of purposefully breaking a woman’s heart for that was surely what would happen if Mei fell in love with him. Usually, he was honest about that fact from the beginning. With her, he couldn’t risk it. The more she cared about the fate of his crew, of him, the more willing she’d be to help them. It was this or risk losing their friend forever.

“Rick would sacrifice for us,” Evan said.

Jarek knew the man was picking up on his emotions. He nodded once in agreement and understanding.

“People do mend from a broken heart,” Evan whispered. “Trust me. In time she will heal.”

“Not all people.” Jarek took a deep breath. “But there is no cure for death if we

don’t find Rick. I’ll do it. I’ll seduce her tonight. It’ll be the fastest love story in history.”

* * * *

Mei frowned across the table at Jarek. He ate her food with relish, as did everyone else—Dev, Evan, Lochlann and Jackson. Why in the world was the pirate captain enjoying the meal if it was so horrible? He looked at her, grinning impishly at her as he chewed. Her heart leapt around in her chest and her stomach fluttered, as if the wings of theqizajian beat inside her. The winged creatures were often seen in the gardens of the Zhang palace. Their bodies were small compared to their large black wings. What made them sacred was the fact that their wings formed the shape of the old Earth character ‘’. Seven was an unlucky number. It meant death. Her people believed to kill them was to bring death and so they were allowed free reign over the palace. But, just like everything, theqizajian were necessary to the life of the garden. Life and death, two necessary opposites. Without one, there could be no other.

She couldn’t help but recognize the comparison of theqizajian and the feelings inside her. If she killed her feelings for Captain Jarek, did she risk hurting part of herself?

Don’t be foolish and sentimental. Of course I should deny feeling anything for
him. What about Lok? What about great-grandmother’s prediction? I am meant to marry
Lok. To even mess with Captain Jarek is to mess with fate.

However,a tiny voice whispered as if brought up from the heating of her lower stomach,
you are not betrothed to him yet. You are free to enjoy the attentions of other
men. Lok has not proposed. Only fate has been laid out. Perhaps taking the pirate as a
lover is fate’s way of apologizing for the necessity of taking Prince Lok. Perhaps he is
fate’s gift.

Wasn’t that why she flew through the air to fight the pirates? She wanted a last adventure before marriage. There was no doubt in her mind that she was meant to marry

Lok. However, no moment of intimacy had passed between them. And, if fate had her marrying the Song prince, surely that meant that she would arrive safely back on her planet. As soon as she got there, would she be engaged to him? Would something happen in her absence to make their marriage a necessity? Could Lok be proposing marriage to her father even now, provided she was returned unharmed? Would that proposal be out of a sense of guilt because she was kidnapped going after theirpu ren ? Prince Lok hadn’t seemed interested in her, but what if she’d misread him? What if she’d wanted it not to happen so badly that she’d ignored all the signs of his attraction?

Was Jarek her last chance at tasting freedom?

Would her mind ever stop with all the questions?

Mei shivered at her new train of thought, unsure if she was just making excuses to justify her attraction to the man. Nothing more could ever come between them, but he was a man and seducing him would be very easy. If the looks he gave her weren’t any indication, the stiff erection he’d gotten earlier in her presence was. He wanted her, maybe as badly as she wanted him. Chewing thoughtfully, she clamped her legs together.

Jarek’s gaze jerked to hers, suddenly serious. His nostrils flared slightly, as if he could smell her sudden burst of longing. One of the men said something, drawing his attention back, but she couldn’t understand them through the blood rushing in her head. Mei took a hurried bite, doing her best to hide her reaction.

Those thoughts led to more and she again forgot to eat as she stared at Jarek’s mouth. It moved slowly, taking small bites of the meal. What kind of lover would he be?

Bold and wild like a pirate’s ways? She squirmed in her seat. His mouth stopped and his nostrils flared once more as desire ran rampant inside her. It was as if her body had just been waiting for permission to want him and, now that it had it, it was going to take full advantage to make sure she didn’t change her mind.

“Out,” Jarek barked. The men turned to him in mid-conversation in stunned surprise. Mei didn’t even hear their response, only their grumbling protests. They looked at Jarek, not moving. “I said out. Leave us. Now.”

The men instantly stood, taking their plates with them as the left the dining hall.

The low murmur of their voices followed them, growing quieter the further away they got.

Jarek breathed heavily. Mei felt the animalistic power in him, thedòngwù, the beast waiting to get out. His untamed ways excited her. Slowly, he stood. Her eyes traveled down his tight, thick body to the prominent erection bulging against his pants.

He crossed over to the dining hall door and ran his hand over the sensor, shutting it. The clank of metal against metal seemed soft compared to the heartbeat echoing in her head.

He stood several steps away. Mei rose to her feet, swallowing as she tried to keep from leaping on him. It was a strange feeling. The more she desired him, the more heated she became, the more he seemed to emit some sort of powerful pheromone she couldn’t resist. The smell of food disappeared, replaced by the heady scent of man.

No one will ever know my secret. This pirate will be my secret.

Mei took a deep breath. Every nerve she had focused on him. Her eyes traveled his frame. He was so big in size compared to the lovers she’d had. The thought thrilled her. She had wanted an adventure and here he was.

Part of her felt bad for using him in such a way, but surely he wouldn’t get too attached. He was a pirate after all. They were used to taking what they wanted. Selfish motivation would drive him to her bed and when the time came, it would take him out of it. There was no risk in this for either of them. And, if he did come to enjoy her company just enough, perhaps he’d take her home in exchange for a clean getaway. The plan had merit. Mei gave a slow grin, feeling very wicked and naughty. The plan included her