The Rogue Prince by Michelle M. Pillow

couldn’t take it. Dev frowned as she cringed away from his touch. She held up her wrist to show her bruise. “I smashed it in a door.”
    Dev barely glanced at it, before stating, “A door with five fingers?”
    “How could you possibly know…? I mean, you barely looked at it.”
    “Put your arms around my neck and I’ll lift you out of there.”
    Jasmine obeyed, wrapping her arms around the man’s thick neck. He scooped his arm beneath her knees. His skin was hot and she realized how cold her metal bed had been. Just then, the door leading to the main part of the ship lifted.
    Jasmine’s wide eyes turned to the entryway. Reid was there. Or was it his brother? She couldn’t see his neck with the way the light fell. His face was shadowed and she couldn’t make out whether he had a tattoo or not.
    She saw just enough to know he wore the same style of clothes he’d worn the day before--black pants with the sides of his thighs and butt exposed, and a tightly fitted dark blue shirt with more cross laces beneath his arms. The pants hung low without the aid of a belt, and she saw the toned, flat ridges of his strong abs. Her heart picked up and she glanced at her bag, wanting to get her pill for the day. She’d brought plenty to last her until she could find a new supplier.
    Something about the arrogant way the Var Ambassador stood told her that it was Reid. She’d actually thought about him the long night before when she couldn’t sleep. He was so big that if she had the money she’d want to hire him as a bodyguard. Maybe she could hire Dev instead? The big, red, demon-looking giant seemed a whole lot safer.
    Reid glanced into the cargo hold, doing his best to control his sudden temper. His eyes easily adjusted to the dim light, as his pupils dilated to those of his cat form. Dev was in front of him holding Jasmine in his arms. Tensing, he tried to calm his raging emotions. His first reaction was to possessively rip her away from Dev’s embrace.
    He narrowed his eyes. All he could see was Jasmine. She looked so much different than before. No longer in an expensive gown and jewels, she wore a pair of black slacks and a tight crimson shirt that hugged her perfectly proportioned breasts--breasts that were not too large and not too small. Her long hair was tied at the nape of her neck, completely bound back. She still looked beautiful, would undoubtedly look beautiful no matter what she was wearing. Reid became aroused, the potent force ofhis desire flaming his blood.
    “What’s going on here?” Reid eyed Dev with jealousy. Dev was bigger than him and a trained fighter, but he didn’t care. Reid had trained for over half a century in combat. He balled his hands into fists, ready to challenge the man if he didn’t hand Jasmine over.
    “We have a stowaway,” Dev answered easily, obviously unconcerned with Reid’s anger. “She needs medical attention.”
    Everything but concern drained from him as he stepped forward. His eyes roamed over her form. He was about to grab her when her pale face stopped him. She was eyeing him strangely. It was then he realized what he was doing. He had no right to be possessive of her. She was a stranger and beyond that, just a woman. He was attracted to her, but wanted no claim on her. The fact that he’d been about to fight Dev for touching her amazed and horrified him. He hardened himself, forcing a calmness to his insides.
    “What are you doing here, Jasmine?” he asked, his voice purposefully hard. “I thought I told you no.”
    “Ah.” Jasmine squirmed against Dev who instantly set her down. “Ambassador Reid. It is my hope you’ll reconsider your decision now that I’m here.”
    “We’ll turn around and take you back.” Reid didn’t like the effect she was having on his senses. He was aroused, sure, but he also wanted to possess her. He didn’t like the feeling one bit. Such things would take him down a path he was unwilling to travel.
    “Please, Ambassador,