Both men stopped to stand right in front of the booth. Their eyes gleamed when they looked at Mara. Kell contemplated how the men might appear without their heads, and decided it would be a flattering look.
Mara, the blond one said, pleasure in his voice. Good to have you back.
Very good, seconded the man with the shaved head.
Why? Why was it very good? Did she sleep with these preening asses, and they want a repeat performance?
Leyon. She tipped her head toward the man in the enlightening jumpsuit. Bern.
The men narrowed their eyes as they stared insolently as Kell. It was all he could do to keep from launching himself across the table and ripping out their throats.
Whos this? spat Leyon.
Kell opened his mouth to speak, ready with a story that he was Maras new partner, but she spoke first.
Hes my Halu pleasure slave.
Kell barely resisted the impulse to gape at her. He had to nod and appear perfectly calm.
Looks a bittoughfor a pleasure slave. Bern gazed at Kell as if he was something that should be washed off the hull of a garbage scow. We all saw how he took down Jorgo.
Mara gave a careless shrug. You can get whatever kind of pleasure slave you want nowadays.
Besides, she added with a slow, hot smile, I like them tough.
Anger, confusion and arousal all battled inside Kell.
The two smugglers muttered their disappointment. Damn, Mara. Leyon grumbled. Weve been trying to get you into bed for years. You dont have to buy something any of us would give for free.
Half the men in here would kill to fuck you, Bern seconded. And the other half are gay.
Kell had no doubt the half to which these polished turds belonged. He wasnt anticipating the rush of relief he felt when he understood that Mara hadnt slept with any of them. He could not condemn her for having a sexual history, having one of his own, but knowing she never had sex with anyone in the club made his impulse to kill a little less demanding.
Again, Mara shrugged. I like things uncomplicated.
And I keep her well satisfied. Kell draped an arm around her shoulders.
Only he heard her stifled laugh. Then, turning imperious, she said, Kell, get me a drink.
His teeth ground together. She knew very well he couldnt refuse or be riled by her haughty tone not in public, at least. Yes. He started to slide from the booth.
Yes, what?
Yes Mistress .
A flare of heat in her eyes, then she waved him off. Make it a good one too. None of that cheap Hanako liquor like last time.
Yes, Mistress. He stood and forcibly shouldered his way past the two smugglers. He felt a mild satisfaction when they stumbled a little, but it wasnt quite enough as he stalked toward the bar.
As he approached the bar, people scattered out of his path. He scowled at anyone who had the misfortune of meeting his gaze. Mutterings and murmurings congealed around him as word already spread that not only did he take out that thug Jorgo, but he was Mara Skirens pleasure slavethe lucky bastard.
He
reached the bar and ordered two Deianeiran whiskeys. While the bartender hurried to fill his order, he glanced back at the booth. The smugglers Leyon and Bern had made themselves pretty damned comfortable, sandwiching Mara between their large bodies, and the three of them laughed at some story. She was so beautiful in her laughter, everyone in the club turned to look at her, as if drawn by the gravity of a pearlescent moon.
He was no different. His gaze stayed firmly on her the entire time the drinks were being prepared.
He hadnt felt this tightly wound, his control at the breaking point, for a long, long time. The mission was always in his mind, but he knew the real source of his tension, and she was sitting between two overly-friendly smugglers, gleaming brightly.
The price of the whiskeys amounted to nothing less than extortion, but he paid it and walked the drinks back to the booth. When he returned, he sent Leyon a look so cutting, the smuggler leapt up and made room for him next to Mara.
Your Deianeiran whiskey, Mistress. He set it down in front of her before sliding in close enough so their legs pressed against each other. Just for good measure, he put a proprietary hand on her bare thigh, well in view of the smugglers. Partly it was for show, but mostly it was for himself, and he felt no shameonly pleasurein stroking her silky, warm flesh.
She started to speak, but her voice came out a husky rasp, so she took a sip of her drink. Lets cut past the gossip, boys. Im here for profit, not friendship.
Theres a shipment of stolen plasma rifles that needs a pilot for transport, Bern offered.
Kell could only wonder from whom the rifles had been stolen.
Mara, however, looked unimpressed. What else?
Three tons of sherica looking for a buyer, said Leyron.
That amount of sherica could power a fleet of PRAXIS patrol cuttersand Kell couldnt do anything to keep it out of their hands if someone wanted to provide it to them.
Thats all small shit. Mara sighed. Im looking for genuine profit. Really top-of-the-line tech to move. She glanced over at Kell, her expression sultry. Had my eye on a lunar villa for a while.