Jaida walked away from the shuttle with her back ramrod straight and her nose in the air. The improvised toga swished against the floor, and the metal of the deck plating was cold against her bare feet. She stopped as black clad soldiers surrounded her and looked beyond her to Seth as he emerged from the shuttle. She risked a glance over her shoulder, and he caught her looking as he straightened up.

Her gaze wandered over his tall, broad-shouldered form. Even in unrelieved black with his hair braided into a single tail down his back his noble blood was obvious. Seth didn’t need outward signs of rank or power. He never had.

“Okay, someone give me a sit-rep. What are we looking at?”

Instantly he was all business as he led the group out of the shuttle bay. Jaida walked at the back between two burly looking commandos as Seth fired off orders at the front.

She didn’t know quite what had happened in the shuttle, other than being weak and letting him have her. She ignored the snide voice in her head. The sex had been amazing, more than amazing. He’d been dominant, demanding…and so tender at times her heart had wept. It had been everything she remembered and more. She shivered at the memory as they reached a junction.

“This way, my lady.” Her guards started to bustle her in one direction as Seth headed the other.

“Wait!”

She’d already turned away, accepting that, in this situation, she’d been dismissed. With pirates banging on the door, she wouldn’t expect any military commander to remember the existence of his bed warmer, at least until the battle was over, so the order took her by surprise.

The commandos parted as Seth strode through them. His silver eyes were molten, and the streaks in his hair almost glowed under the overhead lighting as he approached.

He stopped less than a pace away from her. Jaida tilted her head back and met him look for look. The swift intake of breath from all those around them reminded her again of her new station, little more than this man’s sex slave. Seth raised his hand and silence fell.

A small frown creased his brow as he looked at her. He tilted his head, his expression confused for a second. She could almost read his thoughts as they raced through his quicksilver eyes. Confusion chased amusement. followed by deep, dark need as his gaze dipped down to the blanket tucked between her breasts.

He stepped forward half a pace, so close she could feel the heat of his body burning through the cloth that covered her body. He leaned down, his breath whispering against her ear.

“You have no idea how much I want to pull this…”

His finger drew a line inward along her collarbone and downward to the blanket tucked between her breasts. She bit her lip. He wasn’t the only one who wanted to lose the fabric. As soon as he mentioned it, as soon as she heard the pent up desire and raw need in his voice, it was all Jaida could think about.

In one swift move, he gathered her into his arms and took her lips in a searing kiss. Like a match to touch paper, need blazed through her body again.

She loved him. Lady help her, she’d never stopped loving him, despite what he’d done to her. Despite the fact he’d branded her a criminal and chased her across the galaxy, it was like he was there under her skin. Like he’d always been there and she couldn’t stop it, couldn’t even ignore it any longer.

Her whimper was lost in his mouth as he pried her lips apart. His tongue slid deep to explore the soft, inner recesses within. Her breathing hitched, her stuttering in her chest. She needed this, needed him. She had for years, but she’d been too stubborn to admit it.

On impulse, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back. He stiffened in surprise, but then pulled her closer to slide his tongue against hers, teasing and tempting her as though they were in the privacy of his bedchamber rather than the middle of a crowded corridor.

When he lifted his head, Jaida’s breath was coming in soft pants. A small, very wicked smile curved his lips as he looked down at her. His eyes were molten with desire, just one look reducing her to a quivering mass. If he wasn’t holding her up, she knew she’d melt into a puddle right there on the deck plating.

“Later,” he promised in a soft voice. “Wear something nice and come to me.”

* * *

“My lady, our orders were to keep you comfortable in here.”

The guard on the harem chamber door sighed as he repeated himself for about the seventh time. Feet planted apart Jaida braced herself as another explosion rocked the ship. She sighed, wondering how the hell she was going to get out of here.

The courtesans had been ushered en masse into the harem chamber because it was easier to guard them all together. The room was full of the sort of useless, pampered women who set her teeth on edge. To add to her private hell, most of them were in various stages of hysterics, so each new explosion brought fresh screams of terror and more fainting fits.

Initially she’d tried to help them, but any sympathetic feeling had long since worn off. They were playing up the drama to out-do each other, even though there was no one here to impress. Now, if she were lucky, they’d knock themselves out as they hit the carpeted deck plating.

Although her wardrobe in Seth’s suite contained all the same sort of finery the others were wearing she was dressed plainly in tunic and pants, with her feet in comfortable boots. At one time she would have been thrilled with the array on offer, but it just wasn’t Jaida anymore. Now she was more impressed with the sturdy boots and the quality of the plainer clothing. Stuff like this would last for years.

Jaida did stubborn well; it was a gift. Placing her hands on her hips she gave the guard her best mulish expression and went for the throat.

“How the hell can I be comfortable when there are people dying out there?”

As if to punctuate her point, the deck beneath their feet lurched again and somewhere beyond the open door, explosions and alarms sounded in a chaotic symphony. The guard paused, his attention fixed on the sounds coming from behind his shoulder. She didn’t need to be psychic to see his concern; wherever those explosions were, then most likely his colleagues were as well.

“Do I look like one of these brainless bimbos?” She gestured around the room, barely bothering to conceal her look of disgust.

The guard surprised her with a chuckle and a rueful smile as he rubbed the back of his neck. “I know. Why’d you think I’m stuck with this detail now? I was the guard you clobbered last time.”

Jaida’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Oh, my lady. I’m so, so sorry for that. Are you okay?” She bit her lip as guilt assailed her. She didn’t like hurting people, even when there was no other option.

“Yeah. I’m fine. Takes more than a little knock like that to put a section trooper down for good.” His tone was filled with pride, but then he seemed to remember he was talking to a woman who’d gotten the drop on him. He grinned sheepishly. “Only damage was to my pride, my lady.”

“Please, call me Jaida. And you are…”

“Kel, ma’am…ugh. Sorry, Jaida. Kelis Travett.”

She smiled and moved closer to the wall next to the door. She leaned one shoulder against it, her weight on one leg and her hands shoved in her pockets.

“Pleased to meet you, Kel. That’s a nice name. How long have you been a trooper?” she asked, trying to get him to talk about himself. If she could just get him to open up then she might be able to find an in, something to help persuade him she could help. A girl learned to talk fast on the run; the sorts of places she’d been, her life depended on it.

He didn’t get chance to answer. The ship went through its rock and roll act again, and more alarms joined the racket outside.

“Goddess, we’re really getting a bloody pounding.” Kel’s hands tightened on his weapon, his knuckles stark white.

“Look, I’m a certified dock medic. I’m used to dealing with crush and penetration wounds in low and null-gravity.” She tried her best to control the wheedling note in her voice. “Here I’m useless, but in the med bay one more medic, even one like me freeing up someone more qualified, might be the difference between life and death for one of your friends. Let me help. Please.”

Kel didn’t hesitate long. Another explosion, closer this time, rocked the ship and he cracked. “Shit. The boss is gonna have my fucking hide for this.”

Shaking his head at what he obviously considered his own stupidity, he backed up to the door and looked out. “Come on if you’re coming, but don’t blame me if this goes tits up. Now, look sick…okay?”

Nodding quickly she trotted after him before he could change his mind. The door closed soundlessly behind them. The guard on duty outside looked at them curiously.

“Problem Travett?”

Kel shook his head and motioned Jaida forward in front of him. “The lady just felt a little ill. Gonna take her down to the med bay and get her checked out.”

“What? Now? The place’ll be swamped. Can’t it wait?”

Jaida stuck her nose so far up in the air that, had she been any taller, she’d have gotten frostbite. She leveled “the look” at him. “No, it cannot wait. Don’t you know who I am? I’m Lady Jaida, the Prince’s favorite courtesan. Since he has requested my presence tonight, I don’t think he’d be very impressed if I was too unwell to attend him…” She let the sentence trail off and arched her eyebrow.

It had the desired effect. The other guard grunted and jerked his head in the direct of the medical bay. “Best get her down there then. Wouldn’t want to be in your shoes though, Chief Med’s not going to be happy having one of them in her med bay with wounded incoming.”

She walked past him, Kel hot on her heels. It didn’t take them long to get to the medical bay. The double doors were opened wide as people poured in. There were stretchers and wounded everywhere, the shouts of medics for supplies and groans of pain from the patients assaulting Jaida’s ears.

“There. Bleeding’s stopped. Just remember to keep the presser ramped up as you start in on those wounds. You’ll be fine. Just work quick, okay?” A firm voice gave instructions from the other side of the room.

They both turned toward it. A small woman in medical scrubs stood on one side of the bed talking to one of the junior medical officers. For all his youth, she was smaller still, a child-woman with a mass of spiky red hair and small points to her ears that hinted at a heritage other than human.

Interesting coloring. Jaida suppressed the thought as the woman turned toward them. You never knew with non-humans which ones could read your mind. The name badge on her scrubs read “Dr. Sedj Idirianna, CMO.” Clear aqua eyes skimmed over them in a two-second appraisal.

“Okay. You’re not bleeding. No open wounds or burns. If you’re not dying, I’m not interested. What do you want, Travett?” The tiny doctor marched over to them, her stride determined.

“Sit.” She whipped out a small penlight and proceeded to shine it in his eyes, humming under her breath as she looked for a reaction. “You seem to be over your concussion.”

“Charming as ever, Doctor. Actually it’s not me I’m here for—”

She cut him off, her light gaze sliding to Jaida. “Don’t tell me, the lady-bird here broke a fingernail. Sorry miss, you’re gonna have to wait until I’ve patched all these troopers up. I think getting their guts back in the right place is a bit more important than your nail emergency.”

Jaida chuckled and held her hands up. Her nails were short and workman-like. “Sorry, I don’t do broken nails. Can I do anything to help?”

The doctor’s expression was a picture of surprise. She was obviously not expecting that sort of response. “If you’ve got any kind of medical training I think I might kiss you.”

Jaida couldn’t help the smile as she nodded. “Low and null gravity medic certs, basic triage, and first aid. Hell, I’ll even mop blood and vomit up off the floor if it frees up someone more qualified. Just point me where you need me.”

“Hey…” Kel broke in. “If you two are gonna kiss, can you wait for me to get popcorn?”

The Doctor rolled her eyes at Jaida as she reached out and cuffed the trooper around the back of the head. “Pervert. Go do something useful like get”—she turned back to Jaida—“what did you say your name was?”

She didn’t bother with her title. She was a courtesan now; she no longer had one. “Jaida.”

“Go get Jaida a medical cover-up.” She transferred her attention back to Jaida. “I’d like you on bed four over there so I can keep an eye on you at first. No offense but we don’t usually get courtesans with any sort of medical training. Any sort of training, apart from the obvious, if I’m honest.” The smaller woman snorted as she bustled Jaida over to the indicated bed. The medical officer working at it looked up then immediately went back to work, his hands moving swiftly as he applied burn gel to a vicious wound on his patient’s leg.

“Helan, this is Jaida. She’s going to cover bed four while you take a break. I’m assuming you can take over from here for him?” Dr. Idirianna’s eyes were sharp as she watched Jaida slip the medical cover over her clothes and step up beside the tired looking medical officer.

“Yes. What depth of burn are we looking at? Have you activated the gel yet?” Jaida’s voice was calm and professional. Bio-cool burn gel was often used on the docks. A lot of cargo was flammable and the sort of places she’d worked ran antiquated equipment. Being strapped into a loader when it went critical caused some nasty burns.

“Third layer. Gel not activated yet.”

A man of few words Helan finished smoothing the violent pink gel over the soldier’s leg. Tall and well-built, he wore the remainder of a Sector Seven uniform. He was panting, short fast breaths through lips with a bluish tinge. She reached out and placed a hand over his brow. His skin was clammy.

“He’s going into shock.”

Jaida turned toward the cart next to the bed and scanned it with an experienced eye. It was well stocked. Dimly she shoved her awe to the back of her mind as she picked up a med-patch and checked the label.

“What are you giving him?” Helan stepped away from the bed and cleaned his hands off with some disposable towels.

“50 cal of tri-direnalin.”

She ripped open the small packet and slid the patch out. Careful not to touch the active surface with her fingers, she touched it to the soldier’s neck and smoothed it down. “There you go, handsome. Soon have you feeling right as rain.”

He managed a weak smile of thanks. She smiled, doing her best to radiate calm and confidence. She knew from long experience on the docks that a medic who flapped was no more use than a chocolate fire screen.

“Hmm. Good choice.” Helan watched as she retrieved the small, pen-like activator for the gel to set it. He was testing her, making sure she knew what she was doing. Nerves assailed her for a second, but she forced them down. She knew what she was doing. People might see courtesans as pretty, useless ornaments, but she wasn’t.

She set the device to eighty three percent and touched the tip to the gel layer. After a quick check to make sure there were no gaps in the coverage, she pushed the button on the side. Light built up around the tip buried in the pink gel. A small ball built rapidly, then when it reached the size of a pea, started to pulse. Waves of light rippled outwards. With each wave, the gel started to dry and turn opaque until it was a flexible and protective layer over the burn.

Helan grunted in approval. “Good. I’ll leave you to it for a while. I’m dying for a coffee. Yell if you need help.” And with that, he was gone, leaving Jaida to handle the bed on her own.

It was hard work, but that was something she had never shirked from. She lost track of time and the number of patients the porters routed to her bed as the ship rocked and rolled around them. Each explosion brought fresh waves of casualties through the double doors at the front of the med bay. She was reloading her cart with medication and getting her bed cleaned down and ready for the next patient when everything stopped.

Silence settled over the medical bay as all the medics concentrated on the lack of noise from the ship around them. The explosions, the shouts, the distinctive thud-clump of the ships weapons being fired continuously…they were all gone and everything was deathly quiet.

“Is that it? Is it over?” The female medical officer on the next bed asked, her eyes wide as she listened for anything happening outside.

“Err…I think so, perhaps we won?” Jaida ventured. She hoped so; there had been far too many injuries and deaths already today.

As if on cue, the comm cracked and Seth’s voice filled the room. “This is Kai Renza. We have defeated the enemy force, standing down to yellow alert. Good work people, we won.”

Relief shivered through the bay like a tidal wave. Knowing they weren’t going to be facing more waves of casualties, the medics leaned against their beds, exhaustion in every line of their bodies. Jaida snapped her gloves off and ran her hands through her hair. Her back hurt from standing for so long. It wasn’t over though; there was still the clean up to do.

Turning she stopped as several of the newest patients in triage stood. Throwing off their tattered uniforms, they revealed bare chests covered with pirate clan tattoos. They were all armed.

“Oh, I think the Prince is counting his chickens before they’re hatched.” The voice sent shivers down her spine. “At the risk of sounding cliché, everyone down!”