The Pirate Prince (9 page)

getting the very handsome Captain Jarek into her bed.

She glanced around the room. Bowls of food were still on the table, what was left of her cooking. Or would that be, getting the very handsome Captain Jarek into her

‘dining hall’?

“Tell me, Captain,” Mei said, giving him a seductively modest look from beneath her lashes as she lifted her hand to the thick belt at her waist. With a single pull, she untied it. The embroidered silk slithered to the floor, landing at her feet. The gown she wore loosened from her waist, but still covered her fully. “Is it true what they say about space pirates?”

Jarek took a slow step forward, his eyes leisurely looking her over. They lingered on her hips and breasts, as he licked the corner of his mouth. “What is it they say?”

“That you have insatiable appetites for all things—food, thievery, women.” Mei wiggled her shoulders, causing the gown to fall. It exposed her collar bone to him, but did not fall beneath her breasts. Jarek’s breath caught, as he stared at her neck. A tremor worked its way over her at his hot look. The golden flecks came back to his eyes, burning with desire. Her thighs clamped as her body stiffened. Anticipation made her rigid as she kept herself back from him.

“Are you asking to find out?” A low growl had taken over his words. He was breathing as hard as she, the sound harsh. He licked his lips, drawing her eyes to their firmness. “Or are you looking to negotiate?”

“You know I want my freedom.” Mei didn’t bother to lie. “And I’m willing to be very good in exchange for it.”

Jarek’s breath caught and he seemed to struggle to concentrate on her soft words.

Mei purposefully kept her manner meek and mild. Big, strong men always liked meek women. It made them feel powerful and she had no problem using his male vanity to manipulate him.

“That isn’t necessary,” Jarek answered after some length. He took a deep breath and then another. Mei was too stunned to talk. Was he rejecting her? It was clear that he wanted her. Why in the world wasn’t he kissing her right now? “You don’t… I should…

Dev will show you to your quarters.”

Jarek spun on his heels, leaving her to stare after him as he opened the door and walked out. Mei didn’t move. Did a pirate, a man who by design had no morals, just reject her?

She stood so long that Dev was in the doorway looking at her by the time she shook herself from her stupor. As regally as she could muster, she picked up her belt and hurriedly tied it around her waist. How could he do this to her? How could Jarek reject her when it was clear he didn’t want to? And, more puzzling was, why?

“My lady?” Dev said. “I’m to take you to your room.”

Anger built inside her as she nodded. Rage was easier than the hurt of rejection.

Stiffly, she let Dev lead her back to her quarters.

Chapter Five

Jarek took a deep breath and then another. It was late, but they were making steady progress on the ship repairs. The shockwaves from the Líntianese spacecraft had fried many of their circuits, but Dev was able to dig up replacements for most of the damaged parts out of their cargo hold.

“Good thing we found that ESC shipment,” was all Dev said as he handed the parts over.

The first thing to repair had been the life support systems. Once they were on line and tested, the crew worked on the engine. Jackson wasn’t having any luck matching the Líntianese map Viktor and Lucien had stolen, but at least they knew where they were.

Lochlann found their current location in the star charts. Unfortunately, they were adrift in space, far away from any ready port. Until they could risk turning on the thrusters without burning off the oxygen in the air supply, and in the process themselves, they were adrift in space—almost completely helpless.

“Bloody nova!” Jackson swore, sitting back. He threw a tool on the ground. It clanked against the metal floor, skidding across the small engine room. “I hate this stupid hunk of metal ship!”

Jackson kicked the wall several times, growling loudly each time his foot bashed metal before storming out. When he was gone, the rest of them laughed. Though, truth be told, they all felt the man’s frustration. After a vigorous walk and maybe a drink, Jackson would come back and get to work.

“So,” Jarek said to lighten the mood, and to get his mind off of Mei. Mei, lying all alone in her room. Mei, dropping her belt in the dining hall. Mei’s dark, exotic eyes glancing up at him through her thick lashes. “Uh-hem, so Vik, Lucien?”

“Yeah, Cap?” they said in unison.

“How did you get the map?” Jarek asked, pretending to study his laser wrench carefully.

Viktor and Lucien shared a look.

“Ah, come on guys, you’re not ashamed of anything you had to do, are you?”

Evan teased. “We’ll understand that you didn’t enjoy it and it was all in the name of friendship.”

“Yeah,” Jackson added from the door, holding a red bottle of Qurilixian rum that Jarek and Lochlann had stocked the last time they were home. He looked as if he’d never thrown the tirade. “How come your clothes were all disheveled?”

Jarek set down his laser as Jackson handed him the opened bottle. He took a quick drink. The liquor was thick and went down hard. He wiped his lip on the back of his hand and gave it to Dev, who took a swig and passed it over Viktor’s head to Evan.

“Nothing happened,” Viktor said, his eyes following the bottle.

“We saw the map and we took it,” Lucien added.

“In and out, really simple.” Viktor started to reach for the bottle, but it was passed by him again.

“In and out, eh?” Jackson teased.

The men laughed and the bottle was passed back around to everyone but the two brothers.

“Come on, give us a drink,” Viktor said. “You should be thanking us. We were the ones that risked our necks by going into the Líntianese palace. It was dangerous in there and you all know it.”

“Are you sure it was your necks you were risking?” Jarek teased. He passed the bottle to Viktor.

“Ha ha, very funny, space cadets,” Viktor mumbled, before drinking and passing to his brother.

“You’re the one who said in and out,” Lucien laughed. “I don’t remember any such thing. Though, I do recall a time when I was looking for the map and you—” “Eh!” Viktor frowned and swiped the bottle before Lucien could have any. Jarek laughed with the others. It was all good natured teasing.

“It’s getting late,” Jarek said. “Let’s work in shifts.”

“If you leave the bottle of rum, I’ll go first,” Lochlann said.

Jarek nodded.

“I’ll stay,” Viktor offered. “I’m not really tired.”

“Me too,” Lucien added. “I want to check out the communications system just in case we find ourselves stranded.”

“Good idea,” Jarek agreed. Dev was the only one who kept working without comment. “The rest of you, go get some sleep. We’ll work in four hour shifts.” “What about you, Captain?” Jackson asked, slowly running a dirty rag over a pipe he’d been working on.

“What about me?” Jarek asked.

“You going to, ah, go rest?” As he said the last two words, Lucien wiggled his eyebrows.

“Yeah, Captain, you going to check on the prisoner?” Lochlann asked, nudging Evan in the arm. He

grinned mischievously, trying to hold back laughter. “She’s not a prisoner,” Jarek denied. “We rescued her.”

“Mm-hmm,” Viktor said unconvinced.

“Dev, you saw it. She practically attacked me to get away from that man.” Jarek motioned to Dev for help.

“Looked like she was trying to fight you,” Dev said, ever stoic. He stopped working to look up. “To me, that is.”

“You all are impossible,” Jarek grumbled. “I’m going to bed.” At the laughs, he added, “Alone.”

“That’s nothing to be bragging about.”Jackson patted him on the arm as he moved to join him. “I’ll sleep in the cockpit with my ears open, just in case we get any company.”

Jarek growled mockingly at their knowing looks, letting the tiger he could become enter his voice, and shook his head. “Four hours and then we switch. Send someone around if everyone doesn’t get up. Without the computer, we can’t set the alarms.”

As he went toward the engine room door, Evan joined them. They walked in silence through the corridor untilJackson veered off toward the cockpit. “I hope you have a plan,” Evan said.

“I do,” Jarek lied. He thought of Mei, still smelling her desire for him lingering in his memory. The wild cat in him wanted to shift, go after her and lay claim. The urge was strong, too strong for his liking.

“That was almost convincing,” Evan said. “The slow courting is nice and all, but we don’t have the time. Maybe you should go see if she needs anything. Make sure she’s warm enough, safe enough.”

Jarek chuckled softly, though he didn’t feel amused. Every nerve burned to possess her, to make her his. That scared him. The passion was too much, too hot. With every blink, he saw her long hair flowing about her slender body. She was so delicate, so tiny. Her face was so beautiful, exotically so. Even her smell appeared sweeter than other

women he had known. In all his sixty two years, he’d never reacted so strongly. “Fine. I’ll go to her. If you truly think that is best.” Jarek wondered why he was hesitating.

“By the way you were looking at each other over dinner....” Evan paused, grinning. “Let’s just say a person doesn’t have to be telepathic to figure out what’s going on between you two. I was surprised you didn’t finish what was there.” “Of course I desire her. She’s beautiful.” Jarek motioned his hand in dismissal, as if it was no big deal.

“All right,” Evan agreed.

“It’s been awhile since we had leisure time,” he continued.

“Mm-hmm. It’s been a bit.”

“And the fact that she desires me is to be understood. I do not lack in charm.

Many women find me attractive.”

“Okay.”

“Oh, Sacred Cats! Shut your mouth, Evan. I wish to hear no more of your nonsense.” Jarek walked faster.

Accursed telepath! Thinks he knows everything.

Jarek suddenly stopped, finding himself at Mei’s door. He lifted his hand toward the scanner, hesitated, took a deep breath and then lowered it again. Staring at the hard steel door, he didn’t move. He let his senses shift and enhance so he could sense her beyond the metal. Imagination helped as he pictured her resting on the bed, her dark hair fanned out around her face, her eyes closed, those dark lashes against her cheeks.

Her smell wrapped around his senses. It called to him. He again lifted his hand.

One peek to make sure she was all right was all he needed. Just to make sure she didn’t need anything. Running his hand over the sensor, he waited for the door to slide open.

His eyes shifted with the power of the Var and they instantly went to the bed.

An empty mattress was all he saw before a fist swung for his face. It smacked his nose. The blow was hard, taking him off guard. He’d been so focused on keeping his desires at bay, that he’d dropped his defenses. Falling back, he grunted as a knee hit his

gut. He smelled Mei without seeing her. She struck his back, knocking him over to the floor with surprising force.

Jarek growled as he heard her run down the corridor. Her steps were light, but he detected her direction easily. Leaping to his feet, he ran after her. “Mei!” he said harshly, rubbing his jaw. Her punch had hurt.

He was impressed. “Stay away from me, pirate,” he heard her whisper. Suddenly, her footfalls stopped.

Jarek ran faster, sure he was about to reach her.

Frowning when he didn’t immediately catch up to her, he stopped, sniffing around. He hadn’t heard any of the doors lift. Catching the faintest trace, he looked up.

One of the panels was removed from the top of the corridor. Wires hung out. It would be a tight fit, but Mei was tiny. Jumping, he grabbed the edge and pulled his weight up so he could look down it. The narrow space was dark, but his eyesight cut easily through the blackness. There was no trace of Mei, except for her scent. She’d jumped up into the corridor ceiling and scurried away. Since he was too big to fit up there, he’d never explored that part of his ship. Lucien and Viktor might be the only guys he could send after her, but he needed them to work on repairs.

Angry, he slowly lowered his body down to the corridor floor. Mei could be anywhere on the ship and unfortunately he couldn’t access the system to find her. Well, if she wanted to sleep on cold metal, tangled in wires, he would let her.

It’s not like she can go anywhere.

Rubbing his sore jaw, he went back to the engine room. After telling the guys to watch what they said because Mei was on the loose, he took the map fromJackson and went back to his own quarters. Sure, he could spend the entire night searching for her, but he had a feeling it would do little good. He also didn’t sense a killer in her, so there would be no harm to his crew. Besides, they could handle themselves. Touching his face, he chuckled. Maybe he should worry about it just a little bit.

* * * *

Mei grunted, biting her lip as she tried to wiggle though a tight spot in the ductwork along the corridor ceiling. Wires, pipes, circuits, computer access panels and a few things she was sure they’d just stored up in the dusty place, crowded her in.

Sneezing, she cursed silently as she paused to make sure no one heard her.

Men! Couldn’t they be bothered to get the ship cleaned? They had droids for this
sort of thing! It’s a surprise this hunk of tin flew at all with the way they take care of it!

Seeing a broken cleaning droid through a thin band of light coming from below, she chuckled. It seemed the dust was too much for even it to handle. She pushed the little unit out of her way and crawled forward on her stomach. The fit might be tight, but she had to laugh as she thought of how perfect it was. There was no way Jarek was coming up after her. Though, it would be funny to watch him get stuck trying. Hearing clanking, she followed the sounds. A soft murmur of voices grew steadily. It was the crew. Peeking through a seam in the ceiling, she saw a blur of movement followed by laughter.