For the first time in ten years, the Catallian race was being held. It had been one of Kamran’s pet projects over the past year, a chance for the colony to host the event and bring some much-needed life back to this sector of the galaxy. With the threat of war between the Briel and Ecada finally gone, pilots from nearby planets and colonies jumped at the chance to take part. The influx of people to Eurus didn’t hurt the economy either.
A sly smile spread across Amy’s face, a sparkle flashing in her eyes despite her obvious pain. “Oh yeah. My ship may not look like much, but she’s a monster under the engine panel. I plan on kicking serious ass in this race.”
Sean couldn’t believe the dramatic change in her demeanor. It was like someone hit a sensor, turning every light in the room on. Her eyes grew impossibly wider, her lips moist as she unconsciously licked the bottom one, her back straightening with pride.
The sight of her pink tongue across her skin sent a shiver of arousal through to his cock and he could almost feel the moist heat against his shaft. Her lush lips were perfect for giving a blowjob—plump and moist. Shifting his body so she wouldn’t see his now painfully obvious erection, Sean cast a glace toward the surgery door.
“Well, if they don’t get out here soon, I’ll go looking for them. Don’t want you to miss out on any time. You’ll need it to get back to tweaking your engine.”
“It would be nice to try to pick up a few additional people for my crew. My boys are good, but I like to have a few extra, just in case.”
There was something in her voice that told him there was more to the story than she let on. It wasn’t like he had the right to push, so instead of doing what he knew most other people would, Sean ran his hands across the tops of his thighs and ignored the urge to pry.
“You’ll find someone. There are enough wannabe space jockeys out there for you to have your pick of.”
“No way. I need experience and someone with a backbone. Anyone less will have a heart attack the way I fly.”
13
He chuckled and was about to respond when Sara poked her head out from the surgery. “Sean?”
“Yeah, still here.”
The doctor frowned and came the rest of the way through the door. “I thought Davin fixed you up?”
The smile lingering on his lips fell away dead. “He wanted me to get the all clear from you. But Amy here has a more pressing need. A broken arm and a pilot’s impatience to get back to her ship.”
Sara smiled, rocking on the balls of her feet as she looked at Sean then Amy. “I’ll get Rachel to come take a look at you. She’s just cleaning up inside.”
Sean’s throat tightened as his mouth dried. “How is he?”
“He’ll live. Stupid duster almost bled out on me though. Between the drugs and the wound, he’ll be in recovery for a few weeks at the very least. How are you feeling?”
Grabbing a scanner, she made her way to his side and took a quick reading of his head.
“Looks like Davin repaired the crack to your thick skull.”
“Still dizzy, but I’ll live.”
“Good, go home and rest. Check in if that head doesn’t get any better by tonight.
I’m not clearing you for active duty for at least two days, though. Don’t want you passing out in the mines on me. I hate trying to patch people up wearing an EV suit.”
He felt Amy stiffen beside him. “You work in the mines?”
“This stupid fool runs the place. Been down there longer than recommended too,”
Sara cut in before Sean had a chance to respond. “You, my very stubborn friend, need a change in profession. And soon.”
“I’ll take it under advisement, Doctor.”
Sara chuckled. “Oh, we’re back to doctor, are we?” She leaned closer to Amy. “He only says that when he’s annoyed with me. I have no intention on sucking up to him though.”
Ignoring Sara’s good-natured ribbing and his throbbing cock, Sean slid to his feet.
Sara’s presence served as enough of a cold shower so he wouldn’t completely embarrass himself. “I’ll leave you to look after your patient, Dr. Fergus.” He waited for only a second before marching toward the exit.
He’d almost reached it when he heard Amy call out. “It was nice to meet you, Sean.
Maybe I’ll see you around.”
A chill of awareness raced through him, making his balls tighten. Keeping his back to her, he turned his head, catching sight of the woman from his periphery.
“Maybe you will.”
Not wanting to dwell on the possibility any longer than he should, Sean bolted from med bay.
14
Amy’s arm no longer throbbed, the doctor having easily knitted the break back together. She was lucky Dr. Fergus was more interested in trying to dig up information on her as a person than in paying attention to the facts of her story—none of which really rang true. She’d sustained a clean, single fracture, not the splintering break that would normally be associated with a crushed limb. Because, of course, she hadn’t been crushed by the drive capacitor. Tyrell’s men had taken great pleasure in snapping her arm, using just the right amount of pressure to cause the injury. They could have done worse—would do just that if she doesn’t give him an answer very soon.
Never in her life did she think she’d find herself involved with smugglers and drug runners. Shit, she’d taken great pains to avoid them ever since she took ownership of her father’s cargo hauler. It had meant limiting contracts to only known businesses, fewer credits and an increased risk of her ship getting damaged when in dock, but those were all sacrifices she was willing to take. She’d do nothing that would put her ship or her crew in jeopardy. No matter what Tyrell or his men tried to do to her, she wasn’t about to start going against her principles now.
Her mind drifted back to the man in the med bay—Sean—as she moved through the crowds. She’d been thankful and yet freaked out by his presence, a welcomed distraction for her given the situation. Any man around her right then would react to her strengthening pheromones and she could tell from the sight of his bulging crotch he’d been affected. Really, he wasn’t a complication she needed just then. While she wasn’t about to repeat past mistakes by seducing strange men before knowing who they were, there was something about him she’d have been more than happy unraveling. A low moan of need slipped from her lips, drawing several strange looks from passersby, before she snapped her mouth shut and pushed her way through ahead.
Focus, girl.
Not wanting to invite any more attention to herself than she already had, Amy made her way quickly to the bazaar to get the supplies they’d needed. The crowds were heavy, people laughing and talking in front of the vendors. It slowed her progress, leaving her more exposed than she wanted to be. Tyrell told her they’d be watching, keeping tabs on her movements, just in case she decided to go to the authorities with a complaint. It wasn’t a threat she took lightly. Not anymore.
Settling into the queue for the prepackaged rations, Amy found her mind drifting back to Sean. It had been a while since she’d let herself to feel any sort of attraction toward a man. What the hell was it about him? A core of strength under a layer of hurt she recognized, something she could relate to. He was a survivor, that much she was certain. And really fucking hot.
15
“Can I help you?”
Snapping out of her thoughts, Amy smiled and handed over the data pad with her list. “Could I have the following sent to my shuttle? I have credits to pay upfront.”
The woman scanned through the list, frowning as she tapped the screen. “I can’t help you with the last item. Not sure if anyone can. Not much call for inhibitors like that here.”
Shit.
“Okay, thought I’d take a chance.”
Smiling, the merchant nodded and entered the rest of the order into the computer.
Amy tamped down her panic, forcing the muscles in her shoulders to relax. She’d gone without her pheromone inhibitor in the past, but not for the length it would take for this race to complete. It would mean her pheromones would be wild by the end, affecting her crew, shit, anyone who came anywhere near her. She’d have to stretch out her remaining supply as much as she could, taking only the bare minimum every other day to lessen the effects. She didn’t think Gaz would mind turning into a sex fiend, but the rest of the galaxy might.
Once the order was confirmed and the credits were transferred, Amy made her way down the hall back in the direction of the lift and the colony’s docking bay. She needed to get back on the ship and out of sight. And while she hated playing a coward, the thought of another trip to med bay with an injury wasn’t appealing.
The throngs of people thickened as she passed by one of the bars on the colony. The steady beat of music pulsed out of the dark room, chased by laugher. It was tempting to slip inside and enjoy a drink. If Gaz was with her, he’d have pushed her into the dark recesses of the room already, claiming she needed to relax and to pull the piston out of her ass. Gods, how long had it been since she let herself go? Months? Years?
The pleasant noise was such an attraction she hadn’t realized she’d stopped moving until someone bumped into her from behind. It had been so long since she’d taken the time for herself she knew she deserved. Too long since she’d lived her life instead of planning out the next cargo run or trying to make sure she had enough credits to pay the crew and keep the ship running. She was only thirty-three and the life she’d been living over the past few years was strangely devoid of anything resembling fun or social activity. If her pheromones were going to be an issue now due to her inhibitor running low, then this was most likely her last chance to indulge.
Not wanting to talk herself out of it, Amy pushed through the crowds until she was standing at the bar, fingers clutching the edge of the counter. Shit, she’d forgotten how much crowds freaked her out, having spent too much time in isolation on her ship. The press of people, the mix of scents from the mass of bodies, all beating down over her, making her head spin and her senses roar to life. The skin exposed to the air began to tingle, tendrils of pleasure and desire curled out from the center of her body to warm every inch of her insides. Amy began to sway to the music, feeling her arousal begin.
“Can I get you a drink?”
The amused, feminine voice snapped Amy back to reality. She felt her face heat and 16
hoped she didn’t look as thrown as she felt. “Do you have a house special?”
The woman grinned. “Do we ever. Called the Afterburner and it’s guaranteed to knock your socks off or your credits back.”
It sounded perfect. “I’ll take one please.”
“Awesome! Seeing as you don’t look familiar, that leads me to the assumption this is your first time at Hyper Dive. Means you get the full treatment.”
Amy watched as the woman twisted her long red hair into a loose pile on top her head, cracked her knuckles and began flipping bottles in the air. Everyone close to her began to clap and chant and several let go a torrent of whistles and shouts of encouragement. Tossing the shaker high in the air, the woman spun a three-sixty turn and caught it easily. The group cheered as the bartender took a practiced bow before pouring the contents of the shaker into a glass.
“As requested, one Afterburner. I’m Fallon, by the way.”
“Amy. And that was the most impressive thing I’ve seen in ages.”
“Oh, wait ‘til you taste it. Go on, I’m not moving until I see you drink up.”
Amy laughed, but made sure to take a sip. She immediately began coughing as the liquid burned a path down her throat. “Holy Gods. What is
in
that thing?”
“Too strong for you? I can get you something else, free of charge.”
Amy may have been many things, but a lightweight wasn’t one of them. Now that she knew what to expect, she rolled her eyes at Fallon, picked up the glass and downed the contents in three swallows. The burn in her stomach was a small price to pay for the cheers she received from the people at the bar and the look of pride on Fallon’s face.
“I like you, Amy. I’ve only met one other person who downed their first Afterburner like that and I ended up marrying him.”
“Well, since that position is taken, I’ll have to look for someone else to hook up with,” Amy said, trying to sound serious and failing miserably. “I have to say, the men on this colony of yours are quite something.”
“You’re here for the race, I take it?” Fallon began to wipe down the bar top in front of her.
“Yup. I plan on winning a piece of those credits so I can retire. Maybe even follow my dad’s example and move to Eurus.”
Not that Andy had been here long, but it was the happiest she’d seen her father in ages.
“This place does seem to draw all types, humans and natives to this sector. Lots of Briel here.” Fallon reached up and touched the side of her neck before she shook herself out of her thoughts. “So, who here caught your attention? One of the other pilots? Oh!
Was it Simon down in the docking bay? Fuck, that boy needs to get laid.”
Amy suddenly had the feeling Fallon was about to fit the stereotype of a colony bartender by inserting herself into Amy’s affairs. Then again, she had no doubt the other woman knew who Sean was. Drumming her fingers on the bar, Amy leaned in 17
and lowered her voice.
“Do you happen to know a man named Sean?”
Fallon blinked once, twice, before leaning her elbows on the bar, her face now only a few inches from Amy’s.
“Might do. There are a few of them on the colony. Did you get a last name?”
“No, but he was a few inches taller than me. Blond hair, hazel eyes. The doctor in med bay said he worked down in the mines.”
That must have been the missing piece of the puzzle for Fallon. She gasped, her hand late in covering her mouth. The twinkle in her eye set warning sirens off in Amy’s head.
“Ah, our Mr. Donaldson. He’s actually a friend of mine. Well, me and my husband.
How did you meet him?”
Without dwelling on the details of her own injury, Amy quickly relayed the events in the med bay. There was something comforting to know that it was his injury that had caused him to be unsteady on his feet, otherwise she’d have been concerned that her pheromones had activated. He was attractive and most definitely her type. Amy pulled her attention back to Fallon as she fed her details on the man who’d caught her eye.
“He’s had a rough past few years. Almost died a while ago. Twice. Since then he’s been pretty rough on himself. I haven’t known him as long as Taber, but he says Sean used to be fun. A lot of fun. I keep trying to get him drunk, but so far he won’t give in.”
“Feed him a few of these,” Amy held up her empty glass, “and I’m sure you won’t have any problems.”
Fallon opened her mouth to respond, until her gaze locked onto something over Amy’s shoulder.
“Speak of the devil…Sean! Come here.”
Amy wrenched around so fast on her stool, she felt several muscles in the back of her neck tighten. There, as sexy as ever, was Sean. He’d changed from the khaki pants and miner’s jacket into a pair of tight black pants and a loose-fitting button-down shirt.
He still wore a tight expression on his face, like he held back everything except what he wanted others to see. When his gaze landed on Fallon, a part of the stillness melted.
Hands in his pockets, Sean came to stand by Amy. She tried not to react, but a warm heat radiated out from low in her stomach until her clit throbbed and her nipples hardened.
Shit, this was poor timing.
She needed to focus on getting supplies for the race, not getting laid. Trying to distract herself, she twirled one of her black curls around her fingers.
He opened his mouth to say something, pausing when he saw the empty glass Amy held in her hands. “Tell me she didn’t get you to drink that concoction of hers?”
Fallon laughed. “Hey, I’m here to provide a service. The lady asked for the house special and I was more than happy to provide. Another, sweetie?”
“Only if Sean here will join me. I hate to drink alone.”
18
Gods, this was such a bad idea. She couldn’t afford the distraction from preparing for the race and really needed to keep her attraction and pheromones down. She should say something, stop Fallon, but it was too late. Sean slipped onto the stool beside her and nodded.
“You win,” his low voice managed to cut through the racket of the place. “But give me a hydro beer. Not that poison you mix.”
“Everyone’s a critic.” Fallon sighed dramatically. “Give me a second and I’ll dig one up. Right after I make Amy here a
real
drink.”
Left alone with a man she’d just met, Amy couldn’t help but feel a new rush of lust roll through her body, intensified by his proximity. Really, she should start a conversation, as awkward as it might be. Normally, she was better with engines and flight plans than carrying on conversations with men she wanted to screw. Not that it appeared Sean was in any great rush to fill the silence. She shifted a bit closer, twisting the glass in her hand.
“How is your head? You’re still not feeling dizzy, are you?”
Mind if I take you back to
my ship and tie you to my bed and fuck myself stupid on your cock?
His lips twitched into a soft smile. “Head’s fine. Too thick to do much in the way of permanent damage. How’s the arm?”
Holding out her arm for him to see, she wiggled her fingers under his chin. “Your Dr. Fergus is a genius. She had me up and out the door about ten minutes after you left.”
“Sara is something else. I’m surprised she didn’t talk your ear off.”
“She gave me some history on the colony. I don’t know a lot about the place, but figured I should learn since my dad moved here.”
Two drinks were placed on the bar in front of them, with a smirk and a wink from Fallon. Before she had time to thank the other woman, Fallon was off to serve a new customer. Now if that wasn’t a setup, Amy didn’t know what was. Message received loud and clear—flirt with Sean. Casting a quick look at him as he lifted the lip of the glass to his lips, Amy couldn’t stop her sigh from escaping when his tongue flicked out to capture a drop of beer left on the rim.