them. They’re all in custody or dead and being taken back to Sicar by the police. The captain of this ship is dead.” She read sadness and knowledge in his eyes. He knew what had happened to her? “The Finatar is now mine under salvage law.”
All good then. Except for one thing.
“Why am I here with you?” She’d had enough of being taken places she didn’t want to go.
He paused before answering and she had time to register the strength in his jaw and the way the darker browns in his hair set off the blond colors. How his tousled hair fell over his ears. The size of the hand engulfing hers. He had such kind golden gray eyes too.
Like maybe he’d give her his last piece of bread when starving?
Uh-huh. Let me spew now. Was her natural soppiness coming out under the influence of drugs?
She struggled to sit up, finding yet again that her feet didn’t quite touch the ground. The bunks here were too high. The sheet had fallen away, revealing she had on shorts and top still, except this was her green pair.
Clean clothes.
She’d been changed? By who? Suspicious, she eyed him, then she swayed and had put her hand out to stop herself toppling. Torgeir caught her first, by her shoulder.
Damn , he had nice biceps too.
“Are you okay?”
“Fine. I’m fine. Why am I here? On this ship?”
“I thought you’d rather be on a new planet. We’re going to Riptide.”
“Good.” Best be firm. “You can leave me there.”
“You think you can find work there, without even knowing what sort of place it is?”
She looked at the floor. Would her legs function? “Yes. You can tell me all about it. When do we arrive?”
“In about six days.”
At least he hadn’t tried to claim her again. “I never said thank you for what you did on Sicar, and now this... Thank you. I guess I owe you one, only not money.” She laughed without humor. “I don’t think I can afford that. Maybe one day I can pay you back?”
“Sure.” He smiled. It could have been an innocuous piece of body language except something hinted at a depth of emotion that shouldn’t have been there.
Ella nodded. Be careful around this man , her internal, female alarm seemed to be saying. Maybe the danger was minor, but with Torgeir, she could never let down her guard.
She swallowed as the grip of his hand on hers tightened, a fraction. A tingle unfurled, spreading, warming her everywhere with an awareness of how close they were physically.
Her breathing deepened and she had to clamp down hard to calm herself.
The man versus woman world of sexuality never went away.
For the first time, she went farther with those thoughts. What was so wrong with that? Torgeir attracted her. Why not explore a little? He’d released her on Sicar. What he’d just done for her was incredible. If not for him, she’d be a slave and in the hands of some stranger.
The pain and horror of what the captain had done would never leave her entirely.
She smiled back at him, feeling it liven her eyes. The man had beautiful lips. Her toes curled as she imagined kissing him.
Did he even want her? She was pretty sure the attraction went both ways.
He’s different though. Not from Earth. Whatever he thought normal, it might horrify her. Did they even have one-night stands? She’d need to spell this out, make certain they were on the same page. No confusion.
“How did you know? To rescue me?”
“Kalfa is my friend. He told me your captain had asked him suspicious questions about your buyer.” He shrugged. “I thought you were in trouble, so I helped you.”
Said so nonchalantly and yet again, in the narrowness of his gaze and his stillness, she sensed he wasn’t telling her everything. He’d gained a whole ship doing this. That would be motivation enough for anyone. It didn’t matter though if he wasn’t some pure white knight sort. He’d still helped her.
A memory surfaced. Mimi!
“Your pet, Mimi. Did you know she was here? Is she supposed to be
All good then. Except for one thing.
“Why am I here with you?” She’d had enough of being taken places she didn’t want to go.
He paused before answering and she had time to register the strength in his jaw and the way the darker browns in his hair set off the blond colors. How his tousled hair fell over his ears. The size of the hand engulfing hers. He had such kind golden gray eyes too.
Like maybe he’d give her his last piece of bread when starving?
Uh-huh. Let me spew now. Was her natural soppiness coming out under the influence of drugs?
She struggled to sit up, finding yet again that her feet didn’t quite touch the ground. The bunks here were too high. The sheet had fallen away, revealing she had on shorts and top still, except this was her green pair.
Clean clothes.
She’d been changed? By who? Suspicious, she eyed him, then she swayed and had put her hand out to stop herself toppling. Torgeir caught her first, by her shoulder.
Damn , he had nice biceps too.
“Are you okay?”
“Fine. I’m fine. Why am I here? On this ship?”
“I thought you’d rather be on a new planet. We’re going to Riptide.”
“Good.” Best be firm. “You can leave me there.”
“You think you can find work there, without even knowing what sort of place it is?”
She looked at the floor. Would her legs function? “Yes. You can tell me all about it. When do we arrive?”
“In about six days.”
At least he hadn’t tried to claim her again. “I never said thank you for what you did on Sicar, and now this... Thank you. I guess I owe you one, only not money.” She laughed without humor. “I don’t think I can afford that. Maybe one day I can pay you back?”
“Sure.” He smiled. It could have been an innocuous piece of body language except something hinted at a depth of emotion that shouldn’t have been there.
Ella nodded. Be careful around this man , her internal, female alarm seemed to be saying. Maybe the danger was minor, but with Torgeir, she could never let down her guard.
She swallowed as the grip of his hand on hers tightened, a fraction. A tingle unfurled, spreading, warming her everywhere with an awareness of how close they were physically.
Her breathing deepened and she had to clamp down hard to calm herself.
The man versus woman world of sexuality never went away.
For the first time, she went farther with those thoughts. What was so wrong with that? Torgeir attracted her. Why not explore a little? He’d released her on Sicar. What he’d just done for her was incredible. If not for him, she’d be a slave and in the hands of some stranger.
The pain and horror of what the captain had done would never leave her entirely.
She smiled back at him, feeling it liven her eyes. The man had beautiful lips. Her toes curled as she imagined kissing him.
Did he even want her? She was pretty sure the attraction went both ways.
He’s different though. Not from Earth. Whatever he thought normal, it might horrify her. Did they even have one-night stands? She’d need to spell this out, make certain they were on the same page. No confusion.
“How did you know? To rescue me?”
“Kalfa is my friend. He told me your captain had asked him suspicious questions about your buyer.” He shrugged. “I thought you were in trouble, so I helped you.”
Said so nonchalantly and yet again, in the narrowness of his gaze and his stillness, she sensed he wasn’t telling her everything. He’d gained a whole ship doing this. That would be motivation enough for anyone. It didn’t matter though if he wasn’t some pure white knight sort. He’d still helped her.
A memory surfaced. Mimi!
“Your pet, Mimi. Did you know she was here? Is she supposed to be
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