Bargain With the Enemy (6 page)

Forget his bargain with her. Forget how little Mia would cry for her.

For I have no use for a mate who lies. I could never trust her.

The fabled “pull” has made a mistake.

She is not my one.

Patting Mia's back, Stephanie, dressed in the beige flight-shirt and pants she'd been given by Ursa, ambled back and forth on the observation deck.

‘Look, Mia. See that cloud of space dust? It's so pretty: gold, blue, pink and silver. See how it sparkles.'

The sound of the door behind whooshing open, made her falter. She stopped, keeping her back to the ship and continued to stare through the transparent plexi-glass bubble protecting the deck. The unhurried, firm tread announced Ice Man had tracked her down.

Heat flared over her skin, a torrid reminder of their last encounter and the way she had stood there and allowed him to touch her as he pleased.

Who does he think he is? I should have pushed him away.
I may be lonely but I'm not desperate.

The footsteps stopped.

He stood by her side, silent for the moment, seemingly content to gaze at the vista of vast black nothingness interspersed with the faint flare of distant stars and the glittering space dust she'd been admiring. His hands were gripped behind his back and he frowned as if his thoughts were just as far away as those stars. Navy blue flight pants and shirt of some shiny, silky-looking material clung to every sculptured muscle he possessed. He looked dark, dangerous and oozed power from every pore.

The man was a menace to every woman over the age of sixteen.

Snapping her gaze back to the view, Stephanie did her best to block out the way her body wanted to lean in towards him, press against his hard strength, beg him to give her a respite from the worry weighing her down. She wanted to run her hands over every inch of his clothes, relish in the slide of cool silk over his heated hardness. Her mouth dry, she shook her head, willing these silly, erotic fantasies to vanish.

Damnit, it looks like I must be desperate. Four years is a long time between lovers.

Her chest seized
. Not lovers: what am I thinking? Ice Man could never be my lover.
But would it hurt to pretend for a little while?

‘The ceremony will begin in thirty sectons.'

The funeral, of course. So that's why he sought me out. Thirty minutes and I have to say goodbye to the closest friend I've ever had since John died.
Coldness crept over her, chilling down to her bones, effectively freezing her bubbling lust with the harshness of reality.

I can't even bury Janeen properly. She'll be classified as me, Stephanie Roberts, and I'll cease to officially exist in this world.

The temptation to confess, to take the chance he wouldn't renege on his bargain, wrest Mia from her arms and cast her out through an air vent or maroon her on the closest planet, whirled through her mind. Could she appeal to his logic? Would he understand how she'd believed her hands had been tied and she'd no other recourse? Would he understand the value of promises made to loved ones?

In the end, all that mattered was Mia's safety.

A man with his standing in the Darkon world and from what Steph understood to be the case, fairly wealthy, he'd be able to provide for Mia far better than she ever could. If only he could love her too.

‘I think we started off on the wrong foot,' she blurted in a shaky voice.

‘Foot?' He swung round to stare at her boots. Eyebrows raised, he raised his head.

Cautiously she stared into his expressionless face. The way those eyes of his glowed was down-right discomforting.
I feel like I'm dinner.
She stuttered, ‘Err, um, I mean, we may have misunderstood each other.'

‘Continue,' he prompted when Stephanie hesitated.

She rubbed her cheek against Mia's, hugging the little girl closer, while doubts and fear chased each other like a dog after a cat.

‘Um, you know, forget it.' Head down, she whirled round and hastened to the door.

He followed, his hand on her arm halting her progress.

She attempted to shrug it off with little success.

‘I wish to hear your words.'

‘Very well, then.' Steph lifted her chin and met his gaze. ‘My only concern is for Mia's well-being.'

He nodded slowly. ‘I accept this as truth.'

Her mouth dropped open. Frowning, she snapped it shut then said, ‘That's a big turnabout for you. What's made you change your mind?'

‘You do not believe me?' He stared down his nose, all haughty disdain that she dared to question his integrity.

Stephanie said drily, ‘It wasn't that long ago you were threatening to haul me in for desertion.'

‘This is true and the charges remain against one, Janeen El Boeka.'

‘Yeah, that's me.' Steph gave a shaky laugh. Has he guessed? But how?
Shit! Do something. Say something. Piss him off.
‘Your brother's wife, mum to Mia, that's me alright.'

‘Is it?'

Moving swiftly, he stepped behind her and pulled her close until she stood with her back against the heat of his chest. With his arm locked around her waist, every hard muscle seemed to imprint against her skin through her clothes. Her fingers twitched with the need to touch his hard-ridged abdomen, feel his rough skin under her palms.

What was he doing?

She didn't have to wonder for long.

He nuzzled her ear, flicking his tongue over the contours and her heart jolted at the fiery contact that sent her blood pumping heavy through her veins. When he drew her lobe inside his moist mouth and sucked on her tender flesh, her knees buckled.

‘Brace yourself,' he growled before returning to nip and lick her ear.

Blindly obeying, Steph widened her stance, biting down hard on the whimper of need in her throat as she clutched little Mia tightly in her arms.

His other hand slid down her stomach and between her legs. With quick, hard strokes he rubbed his fingers back and forth, the movement pressing the crease of her pants upwards in erotic torment. His mouth continued to explore her ear then the line of her neck in hot, moist kisses. Heart racing, her lungs heaving, she squeezed her eyes shut longing with every cell in her body to turn towards him and demand he take her, here and now.

But with a wide-eyed baby in her arms that was not an option she could take.

‘Stop it,' she ground out.

Surprisingly he obeyed, cupping his hand over her mons with his long fingers resting on her pulsing nether lips.

‘You wish to join with me.' His voice had deepened and had a husky edge to it that skittered like a gypsy moth-caterpillar's feet over her nerve ends.

I'm so tired of being alone.
Feeling as if she was about to jump from a perfectly good spaceship out into the cold embrace of outer-space, Steph gulped and whispered, ‘Not here and not with Mia present.'

‘Agree. But know this, little female.' His hands on her body felt suddenly hard, almost cruel. ‘I have no tolerance for those I cannot trust.'

After he'd delivered that cryptic statement, Ice Man indicated it was time for them to leave with the murmured reminder of the ceremony. Feeling shattered, Stephanie tottered off on shaky legs, following him as they made their way through the ship to the Main departure bay.

Her mind whirled with conjecture and confusion and a whole bunch of stupid wishful fantasies. He desired her. Could it be the
“pull”
? Did it mean she was his destined mate? Like Janeen and her beloved Neo?

And like Neo, would he turn from his Traditionalist upbringing for a different life? Would he claim her? Would he ask her to be his one?

Loneliness aside, I don't know that I want to be a part of his life! I hardly know him. But one thing is certain; he either suspects or knows I'm not Mia's mum.

That had to be the reason behind his comment about
trust
.

What will he do to me?
She shivered as she recalled the dark promise in his voice then realised they'd passed through the wide blast proof doors that protected the belly of the ship.

Still without speaking, Ivo led her up onto a viewing platform and in full view of what appeared to be the major complement of the ship's crew, he indicated she stand beside him. Most of the ceremony passed in a blur. She was too busy staring at the coffin that held the shell of her best friend, the mother of the baby Steph held in her arms. The reminder of the harsh reality of this life so far from her home effectively washed away her disjointed thoughts.

Grief pricked sharp thorns of anguish deep into her soul as she acknowledged this was it.

The final goodbye.

There'd be no more shared memories of the Earth they'd left behind. No more girly moments, no more teasing, no more shared excitement at the wonders of this new world. No more emotional support.

No more laughter.

She juggled Mia about until she held her cradled in her arms. The baby gurgled and gazed at her with her big eyes.
At least she's here, at this moment, even if she doesn't realise that's her mummy and daddy down there.

Neo's life and achievements, his character and even small anecdotes of him as a young boy were recalled by his brother in measured, deep tones that captured the baby's attention. She sucked on her fist as she stared unblinking at her uncle.

Ivo paused and Stephanie glanced up to find his intent eyes looking down at her.

With his gaze holding hers, he said, ‘Beside him, lies his mate. His chosen one, Janeen El Boeka, a female of great courage and fortitude who travelled here from a distant galaxy. A female who chose to stay and fight by his side in his last battle. We give her equal honour and trust in the goddess, Cercis, to light her passage into the next world. Claudo, begin the cycles for the dead.'

Aww man. How generous of him to say such lovely things about Janeen.

And then it hit her;
he knows
. Her secret exposed but at least and more importantly, Janeen could be mourned for who she truly was; a loyal and loving friend, a wife and mother.

Regardless of what would come next, Stephanie suddenly felt as if a vast weight slothed off her back and she stood taller, lighter.

In the vast cavern, drum beats pounded out and echoed in the respectful silence, counting down the years of life of both Neo and Janeen.

As the last beat lingered, the two coffins which contained Stephanie's friends were carried past lines of soldier-straight Darkons and placed on the conveyor belt. Claudo, the Keeper of the Dead, strode to the control panel near the vast hangar doors. The coffins burst into flames and still burning were jettisoned out into space.

Stephanie switched her gaze to the screen behind her. Side by side as if even in death her friends still remained joined, the tubes rolled slowly in the darkness. The flickering light diminished and was soon lost in the vastness as the space ship continued to cruise along her allotted flight path.

‘It is over,' said Ivo, placing a hand in the small of her back and propelling Steph forward.

Her eyes blurred with tears and with grief clogging her throat, she walked from the departure bay and out along the passage. They stepped into the closest chute together and the door closed.

‘It may please you to learn, I have arranged for the charges against my brother's mate to be cleared,' he said.

How best to answer that?
‘Thank you,' she said simply and heaved Mia up against her shoulder.

‘If I may carry her?'

Wow, a request for once, not an order.

Unable and not wanting to find words, to express her grief in front of this man who was not only a stranger but a potential enemy, Stephanie nodded. She watched him carefully as Ivo gently positioned the baby in his arms. There was no trace of his usual mockery when he looked down into Mia's face.

He glanced over at Stephanie, his harsh features softened and shaking anew all her prejudices about his character. And bringing to mind all her silly, wistful thoughts.

‘She is truly beautiful.' He cleared his throat. ‘My brother wanted one thing in this life and that was for a family. I am glad and proud to know he realised his dream.'

‘They were happy together,' Steph whispered, fishing a handkerchief out from her pocket and mopping her face.

‘This is good.'

Blinking to dispel the fresh tears stinging her eyes, she rallied her thoughts. ‘What happens now? Mia was entrusted into my care. I won't let you take her from me.'

And like that, his haughty demeanour closed a protective barrier over his face. ‘Did I say this was to occur?'

‘No, at least, not now but all along you've been saying how I was to have no contact with her.'

‘I was not in full possession of the facts,' he admitted. ‘I had reason to believe you were her birth mother and had deserted my brother.'

‘I could have told you, if you had hinted you wanted to hear. But no, you preferred to think of me as some kind of enemy.'

‘Not an enemy.'

The door opened onto the living quarter's level and Ivo indicated she was to precede him.

Stephanie emerged and when he joined her, she fell into step at his side.

‘You are far worse than an enemy, you are a threat. One that I intend to ensure is kept controlled and in submission.' He stopped outside a hatch and keyed code into the control panel.

What could he mean? Is it me he intends to subdue?
There'd been underlying shadows to his well-modulated voice and her flesh prickled in response. Her mind flashed back to their bargain. To the words he'd spoken on the observation deck and she trembled deep inside. Appalled, she realised her anxiety was overlaid with her heightened arousal. Her flesh tightened as if already she could feel his possessive hands exploring her body.

Come on, get a grip! This is no time to be thinking of sex. Remember John.