Chapter Three

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Curled into a ball in the corner of the unheated cargo hold, Dani could focus on nothing except combatting the bone-chilling cold. Exhausted by overwhelming fear which had kept her awake these past three days, it didn’t seem relief would be coming anytime soon as she lay on the hard, unyielding floor without a blanket, much less a pillow for comfort.

Bound with her hands behind her back and to the wall by an ankle shackle, she had been this way ever since she awoke groggy from the gas they’d deployed. She hadn’t seen anyone else from her ship. She’d asked about the crew, but her questions had been met by silence from her captors.

Two more attempts to communicate had received the same response with the addition of a filthy rag stuffed in her mouth. It had remained in place, choking her for hours, until she thought for sure she’d die by suffocation. She hadn’t been so lucky, thinking death a better fate than whatever they had in mind for her. Finally, one of them came in with a tray of disgusting food, removed the gag, and untied her. With her throat parched, dry lips sore and cracked, and her stomach in knots, she hadn’t attempted to force a single bite down though she needed to keep her strength up to fight.

They removed the constricting shackle every so often to drag her to the toilet. Everyone gave her a few moments of privacy except Nestor, a disgusting, bug-eyed pervert who leered at her, making lewd comments. She tried to ignore him, but he made it impossible by insisting she beg to be untied. When she refused, he threatened to leave her bound and take down her pants and panties himself, something far worse since it meant he’d be touching her.

Hopelessness assailed her, and she closed her eyes, tired of fighting sleep. Except, in the dark, the sounds in the room grew louder, from the click of her chattering teeth, to the chug of the engines which had to be situated against the wall behind her because it vibrated with a metallic ring. All of it combined to keep her frazzled nerves on edge.

A boot jabbing into her ribs told her she was no longer alone. She flinched, guarding her tender side since this tended to be their typical greeting. Any movement wracked her body with pain. To prevent another kick, she forced her stiff body from its cramped position, a tug on her tender ankle reminding her of the heavy chain and shackle she wore.

When she didn’t move fast enough, an angry curse accompanied another sharp blow. Whimpering in agony, she rolled onto her back, her body weight pinching her hands against the hard floor. At the sight of the ugly, hooked nosed, sneering face leaning over her, she shrank back, although it wasn’t far enough to escape his breath which reeked from his rotten teeth.

If she’d had anything in her stomach, it would have come up all over him, earning her yet another hard boot tip between the ribs.

“Daddy’s time is up, princess,” he informed her, a cold edge to his nasty tone. “He didn’t pay, so you get to.”

She snorted in derision. “My father cares about two things, himself and lining his pockets. I told you he wouldn’t part with any of his precious credits, you fool—”

Another vicious jolt rammed home, this one aimed at her belly. It knocked the wind out of her, making her wheeze and cough until her eyes watered.

Spittle spattered her face when the captain shouted at her. “I told you to stop calling me stupid, bitch.” Hard fingers dug into her arms as he hauled her to her feet, and shoved her at one of his men.

Other rough hands caught her, and the man turned her to face him. With his pockmarked sallow skin, sunken eyes, and one brown snaggletooth hanging down in front, this pirate terrified Dani the most. Because, as cruel as Captain Rondo Cobb ever thought to be, this man, who they called Nestor, was worse. And he had one thing on his mind—getting in her pants.

“Strip the slut,” Rondo ordered. “And get pictures of all her fuckable parts. We’ll upload her profile to the intergalactic slave auction. Her pretty white skin, big tits, and fresh pussy should earn us enough to make this fiasco of a kidnapping worth our while.”

“No, please,” she cried.

The third man, who didn’t say much, grabbed her ankle and released the shackle. He got her feet while Nestor took hold of her under the arms, and, together, they lifted and started carrying her. Sobbing and struggling, she kicked, twisted, and clawed, not caring if she fell and broke her neck. They dropped her on a hard, flat surface, pinning her down with harsh hands. Nestor’s malicious grin filled her vision. He leered at her, licking his lips obscenely which sent a chill racing down her spine. Her reaction didn’t go unnoticed, and he laughed.

Wasting no time, he ripped her already-torn dress down the front, tugged down her bra, putting on a show like he was following orders and stripping her, but, really, he groped what he had lusted after for days.

“Can I have me some before we sell her, Cobb?”

“I don’t give a fuck, and neither will her buyers.” The captain’s orders for her to remain unharmed and the expected ransom from her father had been all that stood between her and certain rape. She had to endure Nestor’s lewd looks and sly touches whenever Rondo wasn’t around, but nothing more, except their rough handling. With her protection eliminated, he was free to molest and rape at will, which he clearly intended to do straightaway.

He tore apart the front clasp of her bra, baring her breasts then began pinching and twisting her nipples. Her cries of pain and pleas for mercy only entertained him. Dani tried to get away. With her hands still bound and his buddy holding her ankles—waiting to be next in line, no doubt—her weak efforts were futile.

They were bigger, stronger, and had probably eaten in the past few days, where she had not. Desperate, she used the one weapon available, her teeth. When he rolled her toward him, to strip off the rest of her clothes, she bit the fleshy part of his arm and clamped down hard.

His sudden shriek of pain startled his partner who loosened his grip. Free, Dani came off the table. Without a plan, other than getting away, she lurched forward. She didn’t get far before a hand caught her hair and spun her back around, at which point, Nestor repaid her by landing a vicious backhand slap across her cheek and sent her reeling.

“Idiot!” Cobb roared. “Her price will suffer if she’s marked. Fuck her all you want, just be careful with the merchandise.”

“The bitch made me bleed,” he spluttered. “She deserves to suffer.”

“Go easy or you’ll get no pussy at all, hear me?”

“Won’t you get more money for a virgin?” she cried out, frantic to stop Nestor, who bore down on her.

“She’s lying,” he accused.

“I’m not. I swear. If my father won’t pay, contact Prince Ivar.”

“Quit spewing stories, cunt,” her would-be rapist ordered. His fingers curled into the waistband of her panties and twisted. They gave way like tissue paper in his grip, leaving her bare except for her shoes.

“Please, I’m telling the truth!” Sobbing and screaming at the same time, she made a desperate plea to the captain. “Do you think the Elzorian prince would consider me for his bride and the mother of the heir to the throne, if I wasn’t pure? He’ll pay. I know he will.”

“Hold,” Rondo called. “She’s right. If Daddy won’t meet our price, maybe her pathetic excuse for a groom will.”

“Aw, fuck, Cobb,” Nestor whined. “I need it bad.”

“And I don’t give a shit. Haul her back to the table. I’ll examine her and see for myself if she’s telling the truth or just lying to keep from taking your disease-riddled cock.”

“You know I took the medicine to clear that up,” he grumbled, though still followed orders, hauling her up by her hair. “Damn. You won’t ever shut up about it. I make one mistake with a whore and I’m tainted forever.”

At the thought of him passing something nasty onto her, she gagged, tasting the bitter gall rise in her throat. Back at the table, he twisted the fistful of hair, pulling her across the top, when a deafening bang and violent shudder rocked the ship. Everything not nailed down went flying, including Dani. When she landed, her shoulder took the brunt of the impact and exploded in agony.

The next instant, the ship shook again, this time listing sharply sideways. Again, she slammed into something hard, this time a shipping crate. Before she could get her bearings, the breath left her body with a whoosh when a heavy weight fell on her back, trapping her beneath it and the floor.

“What the hell?” Cobb growled close to her ear, which explained what had landed on top of her. Another bang and the ship shuddered again.

“We’re under attack,” someone yelled.

The old spacecraft creaked and groaned, then tilted the other way. She and Cobb began sliding. Still bound, Dani only had her feet to try to save herself. She kicked out wildly, hoping, as her world shifted, she could catch herself before she slammed into something for a third time. Clawing with her fingers, she tried to grab hold of anything. Once, she caught a seam in the floor, but couldn’t stop her momentum and she lost her tiny grip, ripping out a nail or two in the process.

Another thunderous boom rocked the ship. She shifted direction, colliding with something soft and warm for a change. It ended up being the pirate captain tossed about as if he weighed nothing, too.

“Someone find out what the fuck is going on,” he roared, making her ears ring more than the nonstop shriek of the alarm.

“We’re taking heavy fire from an unidentified craft,” a voice shouted over the speakers. It was Rylon, the fourth man who had apparently been left in control of the bridge.

“What’s the damage?” Cobb barked while scrambling to his feet, uncaring that he stepped on her.

“Stabilizers are out, and we’ve had a hull breach— Brace for impact!” he screamed right before a bone-jarring thud shook the ship.

“Evasive maneuvers or return fire, dammit. We can’t sustain much more of this.” His words hadn’t faded when a flash of brilliant light filled the room.

When it dissipated, the form of a large man became visible for a split second before the lights went out and blackness engulfed them. After that, all she could see were flashes of weapons firing, red from a photon torch, beams of blue from where she’d last seen the stranger. One of the men cried out in pain.

Terrified, Dani curled into a ball on the floor, longing for her quiet, solitary existence back home. With certain death a heartbeat away, she closed her eyes, covered her head with her arms, and prayed for it to be swift and painless.

“The last hit took out environmental controls and life support, and there’s a fire in the engine room,” Rylon announced, his voice shaky with undisguised panic. “I got smoke on the bridge and nothing is responding. Hellfire, Cobb, we’re sitting ducks.”

“Open communication. Tell them we are willing to negotiate. Find out what they want.”

“I want the girl,” a deadly cold voice stated. “A demand which is non-negotiable.”

“No!” Nestor roared.

The captain shouted, “Take her, but leave us in one piece.”

“The hell with that!” her primary tormentor called out. “He can’t have her. She’s worth a fortune and I haven’t gotten to fuck her yet.”

“Get your mind off your prick, asshole,” Rylon grumbled through the speaker. “It’s give up the girl, or get blasted out of the sky.”

“If we give her up, what’s to keep them from doing it anyway?” Nestor demanded.

“Nothing. It’s a chance we gotta take, like it or not, when he’s the one with the fucking gun and his ship is pummeling us with vortex cannon fire,” the captain snapped. To the stranger, he growled, “You can have her.”

“Smart,” came his low, rumbling reply, barely audible over her would-be rapist who angrily cursed a blue streak.

“Shut up, you idiot,” Cobb raged. “You can’t get any pussy when you’re dead.”

“Enough squabbling!” the newcomer warned. “I’m taking her now. The first one that moves I blast into bits.”

Heavy footsteps approached at the same time the auxiliary lights came on.

“At least something works on this tin can,” the captain grumbled.

Temporarily blinded by the sudden flood of light after total blackness, Dani squinched her eyes shut. She thought she heard someone running and some scuffling. Next, came a ghastly choking sound. Squinting against the brightness, she could make out the outline of two men.

One was huge and made Nestor look petite while holding him with one hand by the throat, his feet dangling above the floor by a foot. Then, with what to her seemed like an effortless flick of his wrist—like the two-hundred-pound man weighed no more than a pesky fly—he launched him into a stack of shipping crates. The nasty pirate fell hard, landing with a sickening crunch of bones, lying in a motionless heap, his head at an awkward angle. Although it seemed wrong, Dani reveled in his death and would have cheered if she hadn’t been paralyzed with fear.

Done with Nestor, the big man turned, his gaze sweeping over the two remaining pirates. “Any other heroes who want to meet their Creator today?” he drawled coolly.

A pulse beat later, Rylon’s voice filled the room.

“Cobb, the ship identifies as the Renegade, and the captain is—”

“Mother fucking Jaylin Sin-Naysir,” he finished for him. “I know. I’m lookin’ at him. He’s the same bastard who’s been a thorn in my side for five goddamn years.”

Dani looked at him, too, which required craning her neck, considering there was a lot of him. Several inches over six feet tall, with thick blond hair reaching past his shoulders, and he had golden-hued skin, indicating he wasn’t human. Although battered and banged up, she could still appreciate all that he was—the most handsome man she’d ever laid eyes on.

In the next instant, he smiled, revealing gleaming white teeth, and her heart fluttered.

“Rondo Cobb.” He chuckled, the huskiness of his laugh washing over her, creating goose bumps across her skin. “You’re the oily pirate whose ass I’ve been kicking all over the galaxy. Even though I have thoroughly enjoyed doing it all this time, I can’t say I’m pleased to meet you.” His eyes flicked to Dani for a split second before sliding back to Cobb, all amusement wiped from his face. He raised his weapon, aiming it dead center at the captain’s chest. “You put the mark on her cheek?”

“No. The backhand came courtesy of Nestor.” Cobb jerked his chin toward where her abuser lay.

His gun hand didn’t waver, only his chin moved, and no more than a fraction. He stared at the lifeless form among the splintered wood for a moment, then he grunted—sounding satisfied. His free hand extended her way. “Come to me, Daniella.”

Startled by his deep baritone saying her name, she didn’t move, unable to. Did she take her chances here, with the devils she knew, or go with him, the devil she didn’t? Trembling with fear, she could only gaze back at him while a cold knot of uncertainty formed in her stomach.

He took the decision from her by moving in and pulling her up with an arm around her waist.

“Please, no...” she whimpered, wishing this nightmare would end.

“Shh, sweetness,” he murmured, and she thought he added, “trust me.”

But she couldn’t be sure because Rylon announced through the speakers, “He’s locked onto all life-forms in the cargo hold. He says to get out or he’ll transport everyone, and vaporize any uninvited guests upon arrival.”

The two remaining pirates scrambled for the doors. A moment later, the prickly tingling sensation of transporting took hold, her molecules disassembling, scattering across time and space, only to come together again in a flash of light moments later. She’d done it twice in her life, and never forgot it, hating the process which always left her dazed and weak-kneed. It also freaked her out, each time expecting to wind up with an arm sticking out of her forehead or her feet facing backward.

Nothing horrible happened this time, except her legs gave way. She didn’t puddle on the floor, however, thanks to the hold the large alien had on her waist. He went a step further and caught her behind the knees, scooping her naked body—save for her shoes—up in his arms.

“I can walk,” she protested.

“You can barely stand.” He stepped out of the semi-circular glass booth.

She peeked up at him. This close, she noticed he had a blond scruff of beard, light next to his tawny skin. She wanted to reach up and touch it, to feel the texture on her fingertips, but that would be insane. No matter his handsomeness, he was a stranger and an alien. She stiffened instinctively, pushing against his chest. “What do you want with me?”

His face angled down to her. When their eyes met, she sucked in a startled breath. His were a stunning silver shade, and, up close, better looking, something she wouldn’t have believed possible. And strong enough to lift her off the floor one-handed, and capable of saving her from the cruel pirates who’d outnumbered him three- to-one. He’d also ended Nestor without batting an eye.

The last fact sobered her. The pirates had called him a mercenary. She didn’t know if it was true, but she had no guarantee she was any better off now than ten minutes ago. Panicking, she struggled to get free, twisting in his arms. “Put me down.”

Her resistance had the opposite effect. Like steel bands, his inflexible hold tightened.

“Easy, Daniella. I’m one of the good guys. You’re safe.”

“I don’t know that.” Struggling, she found she was helpless against his strength. “And you didn’t answer my question. What do you want? Who sent you?”

“Daniel Alltryp.”

His answer stabbed into her heart. Her father meant to sell her to Ivar, like the pirates had to a slave auction, so she’d be no better off. “You work for him?”

“On contract only.” He strode forward. “I’ll explain everything later. Right now, I need to get you secured. Cobb’s rattletrap is going to blow at any moment, and I don’t want you injured from any subsequent shock waves.”

“Brace, Jaylin,” a deep voice called over the com. “Blast wave in five, four, three...”

Her rescuer moved into action. Dropping her on her feet, he pinned her to the wall.

“Not again,” she whimpered.

By the count of one, the floor beneath her feet and everything around her jerked violently. This time, she felt no pain, just the pressure of his big body constraining hers while he grasped the vertical beams on either side of them.

Having been through this one too many times of late, she freaked. Unable to suppress the frightened sob rising from her throat, she clutched at the closest thing within reach. Unfortunately, the only solid thing around was him.

“Easy, Daniella, I’ve got you,” he murmured.

Unlike the pirates’ ship, this one seemed sound. Though it shook, it didn’t creak and

groan, or give the impression it would break into bits at any second. Still, the awful experience brought her phobia about being sucked into space front and center.

Big and solid, even though he was a stranger, she wanted to wrap her arms around his waist and cling to him, like her life depended on it because, as far as she knew, it did. Except she couldn’t, not with her arms bound behind her back. Instead, she leaned into him and buried her face in his chest, hoping he wouldn’t let her fall.

Before long, the shaking stopped, and the same deep voice called the all clear.

“Does that mean...?” Her question came out muffled by his shirt, but he answered.

“Yep. Cobb and the rest of his vile crew won’t bother you ever again.”

She wilted, only noticing a few minutes later, he’d released the beams and curled his arms around her. It felt nice, and reassuring. Tipping her head back, she looked up at him.

“Are you all right?” he asked, his low voice warm with concern.

Sudden tears made his image waver; she didn’t think she’d ever be all right again.

“Sweetness...” He used his thumbs to wipe the wetness from her cheeks, his touch gentle.

Standing naked in his arms, she became self-conscious, well aware she hadn’t washed in days. “I’m fine,” she whispered, hiding her face in his shirt when she really wanted to find a corner to curl up in and lick her wounds. Second on her list, a hot shower. Except she couldn’t do any of those things, not with her wrists tied. Nor did she pull away, or else she’d expose herself.

He leaned away, nudged up her chin, his silver eyes searching. “I doubt you’re fine, Daniella. You’ve been through quite an ordeal.”

With his chin tucked to look down at her, she became aware of how very big he was. Tall, and thickly muscled, his chest at least triple the breadth of Ivar’s, it tested the constraints of his white shirt. With his hair swirling around his shoulders, he reminded her of a pirate of old, the swashbuckling kind from romantic tales, lacking only a sword and a scabbard. And he smelled wonderful, the opposite of the stale fetid breath of Nestor and his ilk.

She breathed him in, having no choice since he surrounded her. When he tilted his head, peering down at her in concern, it came to her she’d been gaping at him like a smitten fool. She racked her brain to recall his last comment.

“Uh, well...yes,” she stammered, before coming up with a response. “It has been a harrowing few days.”

“I bet.” He gave her a squeeze. He also slid his hands down her arms and, with a snap, released her bindings.

Moving her hands in front, she stayed close to him, concealing her nudity while also flexing her fingers, trying to restore the blood. “Thank you,” she murmured. “Much longer, and my shoulders would have been forever frozen in that position.” Her stomach growled, which mortified her on top of everything else.

His full, sensual lips curved upward, teeth flashing dazzling white against his golden skin, and those eyes, they gleamed as he smiled transforming his face from handsome to gorgeous. And it didn’t help her schoolgirl giddiness when he brushed back strands of hair from her cheeks and forehead, tucking the long tendrils behind her ears.

“Things are looking up for you because I see a hot shower and food in your future.”

“Yes, please.”

“After, I’ll have Malik check your injuries. He’s at the helm, right now.”

“Is he your captain?”

“No, I command the Renegade. Malik is my crew.”

“Your crew consists of one man?”

“Yes, he’s my copilot, cooks because I’ve tried and am hopeless, and he’s also our medic. We’re lean on numbers but make up for it in skill and determination.” He slid his long finger down her cheek, and then tapped her nose. “Now, how about a shower.”

Her face flooded with heat at the reminder. After three days, she must really stink. “I’m sorry. This close, you must not be able to stand me.”

“You misunderstood, Daniella. You’re warm and soft against me, and your skin is very silky smooth. I’m trying to be a gentleman and not kiss your tears away, so I need to put some space between us. Your father might frown upon you standing naked in my arms since it’s not exactly part of the first-class rescue and protection service he hired me to deliver.”

“As if my father would care,” she retorted, unable to hide her hurt.

“He’s paying a lot of credits to get you back.”

“Only to hand me over to the Elzorians and certain death.”

A shadow crossed his face. “Let’s take care of your immediate needs. After you’re settled you can tell me all about it.”

When he began to step back, her arms tightened. “Wait! I’m naked.”

“I’m aware, sweetness, believe me. But you have nothing to fear from me, and nothing to be ashamed of. You have a beautiful body, which we, Malik and I, intend to protect to the death to keep that way.” With his back to her, he held his hand bent up behind him. “Grab hold and I’ll take you to your quarters while on the Renegade.”

Reassured by his consideration of her modesty, she set her palm in his, amazed at how its bigness engulfed hers. As he led her out of the transporter room and into a large circular deck, she marveled at what she saw. State-of-the-art, immaculate, and in excellent condition, a far cry from the dirty, dilapidated ship where she’d spent the past few days.

Small rooms surrounded the large center space, some stood open, others had clear double doors which allowed her to see inside. They passed a roomy galley kitchen, an exercise area with all sorts of equipment, and a smaller, darkened room with a thickly padded reclining chair, floor-to-ceiling screens on the walls, and nothing else. Beyond stood a control console in an alcove with a mini observation screen, and on it a multitude of stars twinkled in the black heavens.

He veered right down a short hall with several frosted glass doors.

“These are the crew quarters. Although modestly sized and nothing fancy, I think you’ll find them comfortable. Yours is at the end of the hall. I’ll give you a tour of the rest of the ship later, after you’ve rested.” He stopped in front of the last door. “Here we are.”

He pressed his palm over a sensor near the ceiling, far above her head.

“Will I be locked in?”

“No, why would you think that?”

“I won’t be able to reach the control.”

He raised his hand again and made an adjustment.

“Now it’s set on automatic.”

“I can’t lock it?”

“I’d prefer you didn’t for your safety, but I’ll get you something to stand on so you can if it makes you more comfortable.”

“Thank you.” She peeked around him, taking in the tempting bed with its plush navy comforter, and thick blue-and-white striped pillows. So easily, she could crawl into it, curl under the covers, and sleep for a week. On the wall to her left stood a recessed door which she hoped led to a bathroom.

“You’ll find the shower through there.” He nodded at the door, like he’d read her mind.

When she glanced up, she decided it was because he watched her so closely.

“I don’t have any clothes,” she whispered, crossing her arms over her bare breasts while her gaze swept the room, searching for a robe or a towel, a doily would do, anything to cover herself. Not seeing any of those things, she dashed to the bed and grabbed one of the pillows, holding it longways against her front.

When she turned back, his eyes had become gleaming pools of silver, locked on her.

“We have a facsimulator,” he said after a pause. “It can create whatever you’d like to wear. A dress? Trousers and a shirt? Or, I could order up a tunic and leggings. What shall it be?”

“A tunic and leggings sounds comfortable.”

“What’s your favorite color?”

“It used to be blue.” After Elzor, she hated it. “How about purple?”

“Done.” His gaze moved over her hair. “Mine has recently become red.”

Flushing, she hurried toward the bathroom, not an easy task while walking backward and hiding behind a pillow. She didn’t miss his lips twitching with amusement.

“How about a hairbrush?”

“There is a cabinet inside. You should find everything you need. If not, call me.”

When she reached the door, instead of scurrying through when it slid open as she’d planned, Dani paused. Hearing all was in readiness for her, she asked something that had occurred to her, bothered her actually, though it shouldn’t. “Do you do this often? Rescue women, I mean?”

“We aren’t in the business of recovering kidnap victims, no. This is an all-male enterprise, all two of us. We didn’t have provisions for a woman and wanted to ensure your comfort during your trip home.”

A heaviness centered in her chest at the word home. An hour ago, she’d have given anything to be there. Now, with what her father had done, she couldn’t imagine it. “Thank you for considering my needs and for caring. I don’t get a lot of that.”

“You should.” The sudden sharpness of his tone drew her eyes to his face. He frowned briefly, then his features smoothed out. What had he been thinking? “I’ll leave you to your shower. Should I plan for supper in say, thirty minutes? Or will you require longer?”

“Any longer and I might fall asleep. I’ve hardly closed my eyes since the day I was taken.”

“And I’m sure you haven’t eaten. We’ll get you fed, have those bruises checked out, and, afterward, you can sleep clear on through to morning.”

“Thank you, Captain, that sounds wonderful.”

“I’m Jaylin, please.”

“And most people call me Dani.”

“Thirty minutes, Dani. Or I’m coming in to check on you.” He said it softly, with a kind smile, though she didn’t doubt for a minute he’d meant it as an order.

“Yes, sir,” she replied, snapping off a salute as if one of his crew, and totally forgetting her state of undress. Her pillow slipped. She caught it before she revealed everything, but a blush flooded her face, spreading down her neck to the tops of her breasts which peeked above the blue-and-white makeshift shield. His attention dipped to where she clutched it to her chest, only making things worse.

He didn’t comment or tease her in any way. Instead, with one last intense glance, he strode out the door.