Chapter Four
Rhykar tore his gaze from the door to pace the plush carpet in the Castillo Hotel room Madam Eve had reserved for him. When he’d checked in, the girl at the desk alerted him that his companion had confirmed her reservation. Any moment, he would see Selea, her shoulder-length dark curls framing sharp indigo eyes and a wide, sultry mouth.
He paused to stare at the door again. Would she storm in, shove her pistol in his face, slap a pair of engetic bonds on his wrists, and haul him off to trial? After their last encounter when he’d jerked her against him and kissed those lips he’d been obsessed with tasting, he couldn’t blame her if she tried.
He swallowed. Gods, he’d regretted having to tranq her. But there’d been no other choice. She’d had her gun jammed against his chest.
Drek, maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all. Maybe he should take his chances. If he could make it to his ship—
Two sharp raps sounded against the door, and his hand moved to his weapon. Too late to run.
“Yeah?” he called out.
“It’s me.”
Selea. Her voice washed over him. Would she listen to him?
The sound of the door unlatching rattled through the air, and he tensed. She slipped inside, pistol in one hand, the other setting the lock behind her. Three long strides brought the business end of her pulsegun closer to him, carried by a beauty he couldn’t deny wanting to possess. Standing his ground, he knew he should be worried about the bounty on him, but all he could do was stare at her. Gods, she was even more gorgeous than he remembered.
“It’s over, Rhykar.” Her voice held finality.
“What, you’re not even going to hear me out?”
“They’ll sort it out at trial.”
He tightened his fingers on his gun grip.
“Uh-uh” She lifted her pistol a fraction higher. “On the table. I’d rather take you in alive.”
He turned and set his weapon where she’d requested. “So, how’ve you been, Selea?”
“I’ll be better when I’ve got you on my ship and heading back to Vitrion.” She moved closer, and the sharp snap of her engetic bonds unclipping from her belt met his ears. “Hands behind your back.”
He complied. She moved closer, and he imagined her heat encompassing him. “Thought I meant more to you.”
She snorted. “You’re just another bounty.”
While she set the bond against one of his hands, her cool fingers brushing against his, he noted her slight pause before the electric band snicked around his wrist, locking in place with her thumbprint.
Not waiting for her to finish the job, he reached back, jammed his thumb behind her pistol’s trigger while wrapping his fingers around her wrist. Pivoting toward her, he twisted her hand, and she yelped. Selea jerked and tried to spin away, but Rhykar stepped forward and gathered her against him from behind.
Her dark hair brushed over his face and he inhaled. Sex and pulsefire—an irresistible combination. He tightened his embrace and pressed her print against the genetic encoder. The engetic bonds clattered to the floor.
“Miss me?”
She growled and struggled to break free. Her body wriggled against him, and he stifled a groan, pressing his pelvis against her firm bottom. Oh, how he wanted her.
“No, I didn’t miss you,” she spat. “Why the frick would you think that?”
He nuzzled closer while keeping a firm grip on the gun they both fought to gain. He skimmed the tip of his tongue along the edge of her ear, and she shivered.
“After the way you kissed me last time, it was clear you wanted me.”
She jerked her head to the side, catching his gaze from the corner of her eye. “Kissed you?”
He grinned. “Yeah.”
“You kissed me. Right before you jabbed that dart in my neck as I recall.”
“And you liked it as I recall.” He snugged her closer. “The kissing part, that is.”
“Arrogant—”
She rammed her heel on the top of his shoe, and pain jolted up his leg. A second later, she snaked her foot behind his knee and yanked while simultaneously shoving backward. They tumbled to the floor, the impact loosening his hold on her and the gun.
Selea twisted free, rounding on him with her weapon in hand. Slamming his forearm against hers, he jolted the pistol free, and surprise lit her eyes as she watched it arc through the air and bump across the carpet. She lunged toward it, but Rhykar grasped her shoulders and rolled, pinning her to the floor.
She glared up at him, and he paused, realization thundering into grim clarity.
“What?” she snapped.
“You’re really planning to collect a bounty on me.”
“Of course I am.” She tried to pull her hands free. “You’re wanted for murder.”
“What, you really believe that?” He stared in utter shock. “I didn’t kill anyone.”
She stilled. “Then let me take you in. The courts will sort it out.”
“It’s a frame.”
“Of course it is.” She sighed. “Everyone’s after you.”
He shook his head. “Only VI.”
She shrugged. “You killed one of Vast Innovations’ top scientists. What did you think would happen?”
“No.” He gazed into her bright indigo eyes and willed her to believe him. “I swear to you, I didn’t kill anyone. But it does explain the inordinate number of crazed hunters tracking me.”
She arched an eyebrow. “Does that number include me?”
He smiled, leaning closer. “No.” Unable to stop himself, he brushed his lips over hers. “You’re the right kind of crazy.”
He noted the spark of desire in her eyes, and satisfaction filled him. Duty might dictate she take him in, but she wanted him, too. He crushed his mouth to hers and when she parted her lips, her tongue darting against his, he moaned. Lust careened into his veins. She was the only one who could save him, the only one who could condemn him.
She shifted beneath him and raised up, devouring his mouth in a kiss that sent his head spinning and his groin aching. With a sexy whimper, she dipped her chin and bit his lip. Caught off guard, he pulled back, and at the same moment, she jerked her hand higher and bucked her hip, throwing him off-balance. He rolled to the side, and Selea scrambled for the pulsegun.
Rhykar lunged after her, snagged her ankle, and dragged her back. Kicking, she fought to best him, but frick if he’d let that happen. He shoved her to the side and grabbed the pistol. Rounding, he drew a bead on her.
She froze, meeting his gaze with wide eyes. He snorted at her mock surprise and swiped his mouth with the back of his hand, coming away with a streak of blood.
He glared at her. “Really?”
“Call it recompense for the dart in my neck.”
He laughed. “Fair enough.”
“So, what’s the plan here, Rhykar?” She glanced from the huge window to the door and back to him. “No way out.”
“I came to you for help.” He allowed his gaze to wander over her, taking in her rumpled clothing, disheveled hair. The package was more alluring than the daydreams of their first kiss. Gods, he’d hoped for more than this. “I go out there, I’m dead. I stay here, you’ll have to shoot me cause I’m not going in willfully. Seems either way I’m finished.”
“So, what then?”
His attention landed on her swollen, wet lips and his body answered for him. “Strip.”
Her eyes widened, astonishment surfacing on her face. “What?”
He brandished the pistol. “Strip.”
She frowned, but with a slight shrug, her long coat slipped from her shoulders and crumpled to the floor. Beneath, dark pants hugged her hips and a tight, green shirt accentuated delicious dips and curves. Rhykar stared. Oh scret, she was really going to do it.
Stepping toward him, she gave him a sexy smile that sent his heart pounding and his body pulsing. He could forgive that she wanted to take him in, that she’d bitten him. At this moment, he could forgive her anything.
Pivoting, she bent her knees in an evocative pose. He watched, mesmerized as she licked her lips and then slapped her hand against her rounded bottom. She smirked, and with a quick twist, she spun around, her foot connecting with his wrist, sending the pulsegun flying. Before he could react, she snagged the weapon midair and pointed it at him, a cool smile gracing her lips.
He tilted his head and grimaced. “Now what, Selea?”
She arched a brow. “Strip.”