he knew how to fly and knew how to do it very well.
“We’re in the clear,” he called softly, leaning back in his chair. “You can come closer, if you like.”
As she approached, the tart scent of her skin grew stronger and Alex took a deep breath, absorbing her arousal into his blood.
The hunger inside him stirred in response. Flying through the Ligerian Ice Fields was always a rush, but it had never been as exciting as when Bree watched him do it.
“That was awesome,” she breathed, her voice low and throaty. “I’m so damn impressed I don’t know what to say.” Coming around his chair, she came to a halt directly in front on him.
Alex gripped the armrests to prevent himself from snatching her close. This time, the first move had to be hers. “Thank you.”
Her eyes sparkled with appreciation and then warmed as she raked him from head to toe. He almost purred with delight. Dressed in short shorts and a tight combat tee, Briana looked ready to take on the world. He’d settle for her just taking on him. And when her lips curved in a slow inviting smile, he knew she was prepared to do just that.
She leaned her hip against the console, showing off her long, lithe legs. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure. Ask me anything.” Ask me to take you to bed, to make love to you for days, to…
“You are the most amazingly gifted pilot I’ve ever seen. Why are you smuggling?”
He sighed. “Why don’t I have a respectable job, you mean? Why am I a criminal?” Alex ran a hand through his hair. “It’s a long story.”
“I’ve got nowhere to go.” She arched her brow and when she did that, he couldn’t deny her anything. Damn, he loved it when she looked like that. That light touch of haughty arrogance made him want to fuck her so hard she wouldn’t be able walk. It was such a sham, that cool disdain. She was all fire and passion under that façade, as he knew firsthand.
“I grew up poor,” he began. “Very poor. My father ran off when I was a kid and my mother could barely scrape a couple of credits together. We were hungry most of the time, and my brother and I couldn’t do the things other kids got to do. It was miserable and I spent a lot of time dreaming about escaping that life. All I wanted to do was be a pilot. Getting out of there, seeing the universe… I would have done anything for that.
“At the time, two hundred years ago, the cost of flight academy was so high it made it an unattainable goal for me and the military wanted advanced schooling that we couldn’t afford. When my older brother said he knew of a way I could make enough credits to support our mother and learn how to fly at the same time, I leapt at the chance.” His lips twisted ruefully. “Of course, there was a price.”
“Uh-oh.” Bree’s lips made a moue in sympathy. “That doesn’t sound good.”
“Depends on how you look at, sweetheart. My brother introduced me to the leader of a local gang called The Crew. They were very successful smugglers. The money was good and steady, and all new recruits were sent to flight academy. The Crew only wanted the very best pilots. In return for the job, the money and the schooling, I had to accept the virus and give up my mortality. I had to dedicate myself to The Crew for eternity.”
“Wow.” She stared at him with wide eyes. “That’s steep for hazing.”
“At the time, it seemed like a dream come true—become a pilot, build up my credits and take care of my mom. Not to be crude, but the women were plentiful and the thought of living forever in the prime of my life sounded pretty good.” He shrugged. “As you said last night, what’s not to like?”
She blushed and Alex laughed. Briana was lovelier today than she’d been yesterday. There was glow to her and a sweet familiarity brought on by their intimacy of the night before.
“And so you’re in this trade forever then?” she asked, trying to hide her disappointment and failing.
“No.” He smiled
“We’re in the clear,” he called softly, leaning back in his chair. “You can come closer, if you like.”
As she approached, the tart scent of her skin grew stronger and Alex took a deep breath, absorbing her arousal into his blood.
The hunger inside him stirred in response. Flying through the Ligerian Ice Fields was always a rush, but it had never been as exciting as when Bree watched him do it.
“That was awesome,” she breathed, her voice low and throaty. “I’m so damn impressed I don’t know what to say.” Coming around his chair, she came to a halt directly in front on him.
Alex gripped the armrests to prevent himself from snatching her close. This time, the first move had to be hers. “Thank you.”
Her eyes sparkled with appreciation and then warmed as she raked him from head to toe. He almost purred with delight. Dressed in short shorts and a tight combat tee, Briana looked ready to take on the world. He’d settle for her just taking on him. And when her lips curved in a slow inviting smile, he knew she was prepared to do just that.
She leaned her hip against the console, showing off her long, lithe legs. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure. Ask me anything.” Ask me to take you to bed, to make love to you for days, to…
“You are the most amazingly gifted pilot I’ve ever seen. Why are you smuggling?”
He sighed. “Why don’t I have a respectable job, you mean? Why am I a criminal?” Alex ran a hand through his hair. “It’s a long story.”
“I’ve got nowhere to go.” She arched her brow and when she did that, he couldn’t deny her anything. Damn, he loved it when she looked like that. That light touch of haughty arrogance made him want to fuck her so hard she wouldn’t be able walk. It was such a sham, that cool disdain. She was all fire and passion under that façade, as he knew firsthand.
“I grew up poor,” he began. “Very poor. My father ran off when I was a kid and my mother could barely scrape a couple of credits together. We were hungry most of the time, and my brother and I couldn’t do the things other kids got to do. It was miserable and I spent a lot of time dreaming about escaping that life. All I wanted to do was be a pilot. Getting out of there, seeing the universe… I would have done anything for that.
“At the time, two hundred years ago, the cost of flight academy was so high it made it an unattainable goal for me and the military wanted advanced schooling that we couldn’t afford. When my older brother said he knew of a way I could make enough credits to support our mother and learn how to fly at the same time, I leapt at the chance.” His lips twisted ruefully. “Of course, there was a price.”
“Uh-oh.” Bree’s lips made a moue in sympathy. “That doesn’t sound good.”
“Depends on how you look at, sweetheart. My brother introduced me to the leader of a local gang called The Crew. They were very successful smugglers. The money was good and steady, and all new recruits were sent to flight academy. The Crew only wanted the very best pilots. In return for the job, the money and the schooling, I had to accept the virus and give up my mortality. I had to dedicate myself to The Crew for eternity.”
“Wow.” She stared at him with wide eyes. “That’s steep for hazing.”
“At the time, it seemed like a dream come true—become a pilot, build up my credits and take care of my mom. Not to be crude, but the women were plentiful and the thought of living forever in the prime of my life sounded pretty good.” He shrugged. “As you said last night, what’s not to like?”
She blushed and Alex laughed. Briana was lovelier today than she’d been yesterday. There was glow to her and a sweet familiarity brought on by their intimacy of the night before.
“And so you’re in this trade forever then?” she asked, trying to hide her disappointment and failing.
“No.” He smiled
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