Janus' Conquest by Dawn Ryder Page B

their production level instead of utilizing her ability.
    Well…they would have to learn to get by without her. The hours crawled by as her eyelids drooped from lack of rest. She had spent the night torn between nightmares of her father’s arrest and passionate recollections of being pressed down by Janus. She’d witnessed the dawn because sleep was no friend of hers. At least she would drop off tonight, if for no other reason than the flesh had needs that could only be put off so long.
    45
    Dawn Ryder
    There was no reason to linger at her workstation. She was gone the moment her duty allowed. The afternoon was warm, and her robe clung to her back as perspiration broke out on her skin. Fay didn’t care—she kept her pace quick as she hurried home and pressed her hand to the door to seal it shut. She tossed her robe over her head before heading towards a shower. She left the water cool, and laughed at the stark contrast as she stepped into the cool spray of water. Cupping her hands, she splashed water up into her face. A chill shook her body, but she wiped the water out of her eyes and giggled again. The tension knotting her shoulders began to loosen as she relaxed.
    Stepping out of the water, she rubbed a length of fabric against her hair. It removed some of the water and she took a brush to it before frowning at her robe. Her skin was still alive with little tingles of awareness, a lingering memory from Janus she couldn’t banish. Her nipples began to tighten as his face rose in her thoughts. There was no denying that the male was to be admired. A little wicked grin covered her lips as she considered turning his demands against him. Oh yes, it might be worth kneeling in front of him just to hear his reaction to her when she reached forward and handled his cock. Not because he demanded it, but because she simply wanted to upset his perfect control by surprising him. Fay let her eyes close as she considered shocking Janus. It was a pleasant idea that tempted her, but her body was tired and she fell asleep while she schemed, arousal stroking her body gently.
    * * * * *
    “You are driving me insane.” Janus snorted and Hawk glared at his partner. “I suppose you believe I deserve it as a payback for tolerating me while I subdued my mate.”
    Janus smirked and Hawk snorted at him. They moved forward through the penal sphere, their gazes roving over everything in sight. Patrolling the convicts was not a duty to take lightly. More than one Hunter had learned that lesson at the expense of his life. Hawk considered the female casting them a worried look. The male beside her spat on the ground but looked back at her breasts with a leer that was unmistakable.
    46
    Janus’ Conquest
    Prostitution ran rampant in the sphere. Everything that might be sold, was. There were very few exceptions. Even the innocent who chose to follow their convicted family into imprisonment often became as greedy as the convicts. Hawk’s mate was an exception.
    He’d found Tova on these streets and inspected her wristbands only to view an argument between her and her sibling over her refusal to prostitute her body for money. She had snared his interest with her solid strength in the face of so much lawlessness around her. Like a single blossom that grew up between stones.
    Transplanting her had been his greatest deed.
    “Tova is expecting my child.”
    Janus grinned. The news spread through him like heat on a cold morning. Maybe they were mellowing with their age because a baby had never interested him before.
    Sure, he made the expected responses when his comrades announced births. He looked at the images of their families and smiled, but children had never really impacted his life before.
    Tova was different. He and Hawk shared each other’s lives. Hawk viewed each and every inspection he did to ensure that Janus was dealing fairly with the convicts they patrolled. He did the same to Hawk. When Hunters were assigned any command or penal sphere