The Price of Pleasure (19 page)

Chapter 14

Damn, it was hot. Jax wiped one arm across his brow. It came away wet with sweat.

Why the hell had Seth’s life mate chosen a planet like Hector Prime to live on? Granted, it was a nature preserve and kind of pretty in its own way. But she could have chosen to live in the north, where it wasn’t so hot and humid.

Looking around him with disgust, Jax studied the small slip of paper one last time.

She was living with a woman named Sarai, a Pilgrim. Sarai probably wasn’t a threat, but Jax wasn’t so sure. Pilgrims couldn’t be trusted. They had all learned that the hard way.

He’d keep a close eye on this Sarai while they were there, because the last thing Seth needed was a knife in his back. From Seth’s descriptions, she was one tough bitch. She had even killed her own husband.

Jax pushed through the door of the hostel. Seth had asked him to check things out before he contacted Calla, which had seemed a solid plan back on the ship. That was before Jax had realized how damn hot it would be. Now he was doing the grunt work while Seth waited for a full report in comfort.

The hostel’s lobby was even hotter than the street outside, if such a thing was possible. He could feel a bead of sweat running down his back–what had ever possessed him to come here with Seth? This planet was a hell-hole … The hostel’s entryway was small, with a counter across from the door where presumably the women served their customers. No one was behind it, though. In fact, there were no signs of life at all in the hostel.

“Hello?” Jax called. “Is there anybody here? I’m looking for a room.”

Thank the Goddess he wouldn’t actually have to sleep here, Jax thought as he looked around them. They had rooms booked in a comfortable inn at the center of town.

Rooms with climate control.

Jax called out again, but there still wasn’t any response. After a few minutes waiting, he decided to go and find someone. There were two choices–a stairway that went upstairs and a hallway behind the counter. The stairs seemed more public, so they probably provided access to the guest rooms. The hall seemed a better bet.

Making his way down the hall, Jax stuck his head in several rooms along the way.

He saw an office and a small living area before the hall opened into a large kitchen. It, too, was empty. Against the back wall was a door, however, and the faint sound of a woman singing. Jax went to the door, pushing it open quietly. A small, walled garden was revealed, filled with lush tropical plants and rows of vegetables. A woman was kneeling among the vegetables, facing away from him. Her song was light and happy, and while her voice wasn’t strong, it was pretty.

What caught his attention, however, was her heart-shaped ass. She wore a long, sturdy gray skirt. In kneeling, the fabric was pulled tight, clearly outlining the shape of that enticing butt. She leaned forward on her knees, pulling the fabric even tighter, and his cock leapt to attention. Jax’s breath stopped momentarily. He felt dizzy. He grasped the door frame to steady himself and his eyes narrowed. The sound of her soft singing wound its way through him, and his gut clenched in excitement.

He was struck by the urge to stalk across the garden, push her down in the dirt and fuck her hard right on the spot. He could just imagine what her tight little cunt would feel like, how that tinkling singing voice would sound when she screamed in pleasure.

He would do her quick and dirty first, then slow and hard. The thought brought a smile to his face. She would be startled, when he grabbed her, but then she’d sigh in satisfaction at his touch. He’d take her home, and they would …

Jax caught himself up short. What the hell was he thinking? For all he knew, this woman could be Calla. Sure, he had stayed at the same hostel where she was a slave back at Discovery Station, but he hadn’t noticed her. She had been one slave among many. If this woman was Calla, he was a pervert, and a bad friend. Shaking his head, he tried to will his erection away and then cleared his throat.

“Excuse me,” he said. The woman’s song broke off and she turned to face him, startled by his presence. Then she gave him a friendly smile, and his teeth clenched as another wave of arousal coursed through him. This was going to be difficult.

“Can I help you?” she called. “I’m sorry; most of our guests come at the beginning of the academic term, so we don’t man the front desk all the time. Are you looking for a room?”

“Um, yes,” Jax said. “I need a room. Do you have anything available?”

“Of course,” she replied. “We’re pretty full, but we almost always have one or two empties. Let me get cleaned up, and I’ll be right in to help you.”

Jax nodded, then moved back into the kitchen. What was wrong with him? It was taking every bit of his control not to run out there and jump the poor woman. Forcing himself to breath evenly, he made his way back down the hall and into the lobby. He waited impatiently, wanting to see her again. Was she Calla or Sarai? The thought of her being Calla, of her lying under Seth’s hard body, send a wave of rage through him. His vision grew red around the edges, and he imagined what it would feel like to drive his fist into Seth’s face. Shaking his head, he caught himself. What was going on?

“I’m sorry you had to wait,” she said, walking into the room briskly. She was relatively tall, with light blond hair tied back loosely in a bun. Her eyes were green and sparkling, and for several long seconds Jax just stared into them. She blushed prettily, then cleared her throat. There was a smudge of dirt on her cheek. Without pausing to think, Jax leaned across the counter and lifted one finger to the smudge, touching her lightly. A jolt went through him as he made contact, and she looked startled.

“You have some dirt,” he said quietly. The woman lifted one hand to her cheek, then blushed again.

“It’s from the garden,” she whispered, then she shook her head a little. Jax felt the spell that was over them lift a little, and they both stepped back. “I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name?”

“I’m Jax Falconer,” he said. “And I need a room for the night. What’s your name?”

“I’m Sarai,” she said, smiling at him. Relief flooded through Jax–this woman wouldn’t be claimed by Seth. “My friend Calla and I own the hostel. Where are you from?”

“Saurellia, at least originally,” he said. She looked up at him sharply. He smiled, trying to look innocent. “I haven’t been there in years, though.”

He looked at her face again, and she caught one light pink lip nervously in her teeth.

She seemed unable to meet his gaze, and Jax knew instinctively that she was every bit as attracted to him as he was to her. But she was scared, too. He was going to have her, he decided. Whatever it took, he wasn’t going to leave until he had her and was tired of her. Seth wouldn’t need him once he had Calla, anyway.

“I’ll take a room for at least a week,” Jax said tightly, trying to control himself. His cocked throbbed with anticipation. “Perhaps longer, depending how things go.”

“It is just you, or do you have a wife or family with you?” Sarai asked, entering his name into her terminal. She wasn’t looking at him, but he could see her hand tremble on the keyboard. Definitely interested, he thought with satisfaction.

“I’m alone,” Jax said, and she let out a breath of relief. Then she blushed yet again, and Jax had to stifle a chuckle. Seducing her wouldn’t take long, which was good. He didn’t know how long he would be able to stand the damned heat of this blasted planet.

He was willing to bet, however, that it wouldn’t seem so oppressive from the comfort of her bed…

“We ask you to pay at least one night in advance, although there’s a discount if you choose to pay for the entire week up front,” she said, looking up at him nervously.

“I’ll pay for the entire week,” Jax said, holding out a credit chit. She reached for it and their fingers brushed against each other. That spark of electricity arched between them again, and she gasped. Both of them were breathing heavily now, and the tension stretched out for several long, silent seconds before she took the chit and slid it into the computer terminal. Once the credits were deducted, she printed out a receipt and handed him an access card.

“Just take this and use it to program your palm print into the room,” she said.

“Climate control is optional, although I think you’ll find that you get used to the heat pretty quickly. We don’t usually even bother with the cooling system any more.”

Jax gave a sigh of relief at that welcome information. He had no intention of sticking around long enough to acclimate to the heat, but he definitely planned to use his role as a guest to get closer to Sarai. A climate control system would go a long way toward making that wait more comfortable. Of course, the passion would burn itself out quickly once he bedded her, he knew that from experience. Until then, things would be very pleasant for both of them. He knew how to please a woman.

“Can you show me the room?” he asked, glancing toward the stairs. Sarai looked startled, then nodded.

“Yes, please follow me,” she said, moving quickly from behind the counter and across the room. She moved lightly up the stairs in front of him, giving him an excellent view of that shapely bottom. The hard length of his arousal stirred in response, and he all but groaned aloud. He needed to get in this lady’s pants fast, he thought. This was ridiculous.

“Here’s your room,” she said, pushing open the third door on the right. Jax followed her in, pleasantly surprised by the accommodations. There was a large bed with a wicker frame, as well as a desk and several chairs. There was a large window as well, and a ceiling fan stirred the air. Sarai walked across to the window, then turned to look at him.

“It’s a rather nice view from here,” she said. “You can see across the garden to the forest. At night, if you open it, you’ll be able to hear all kinds of animals. A lot of the students who stay with us like it here because we’re so close to nature.”

Jax nodded, disinterested. How far was her room, he wondered? Sarai walked across to one of two doors on the wall. She pushed one open and stepped in. Jax followed behind her, then stopped short when he realized the small room wouldn’t accommodate both of them.

“This is the fresher,” she said, turning back around. He was still standing behind her, and she almost ran into him before she realized he was there. She was so startled that she threw up her hands to catch herself, and both palms came to rest firmly against his chest. That exquisite sensation ran through Jax again, and he smiled.

“I can see that,” Jax said, reaching his own hands up to cradle her head with them.

Her eyes, wide with surprise, gazed up at him. Her pink lips were open in a small “o”

of surprise. She was so beautiful that he couldn’t think. He had to kiss her.

His lips closed over hers and her hands clenched against his chest reflexively. She was soft and warm, and Jax slanted his head against hers, hoping to probe her more deeply. He thrust his tongue into her mouth and she moaned. His loins surged in response, and his grasp on her tightened.

Grinding his mouth over hers, Jax pressed her back against the wall. She slid her hands up around his neck and pulled at him, whimpering against his mouth. The sound almost undid him, and he thrust against her lower body with his rock-hard erection.

What would her hot flesh feel like closing around his length? He couldn’t wait to find out.

Continuing to hold her head with one hand, he reached the other down to the rounded globes of her ass, which he’d admired in the garden. Her muscles were sleek and firm, and he dug his fingers into them, pressing her against his body. Wrenching his mouth away from hers, he swept her up in his arms and carried her purposefully across the room to the bed. He set her down, coming down on top of her and kneeing her legs roughly apart. Then he fell on her like a starving man, plunging his tongue into her mouth. She moaned and bucked against him. He felt like he was going to explode in his pants. He had to get into her tight cunt or he was going to die.

“Mommy?” a child’s voice called. “Mommy, where are you?”

Jax stilled at the sound, and Sarai frantically tried to push him off her. “Get up,” she hissed. “That’s my son. I can’t have him find me like this.”

Jax rolled to one side, and she stood up quickly. Running her hands over her clothing, Sarai turned to the door. A small boy was standing there, watching them.

“Mommy, I want to get a snack,” the boy said, looking at Jax suspiciously. “Is that all right with you?”

“Yes, sweetheart,” Sarai said, her voice trembling.

“Will you come with me?” the boy asked. From the child’s glare, Jax knew he suspected something was wrong about the situation. He was trying to protect his mother from a strange man, Jax realized.

“Thank you for showing me my room, Sarai,” he said, trying to sound innocent. The boy gazed at him coldly, then turned to his mother and held out his hand to her.

“Of course,” Sarai said. “Please let me know if you need anything.” Then she walked out of the room with her son. Jax lay on his back for several minutes, watching the fan on the ceiling. Her smell was still in the air, like flowers, and his aroused cock throbbed with frustrated desire. He had never wanted a woman so badly. She wanted him, too, he knew it. It was just a matter of time before he would be able to take her, he told himself. Otherwise she might be the death of him.

Chapter 15

“Calla, I need to take a rest,” Mali whimpered. The little girl had already taken several “rests” along the way, but she was weak. In another six months, Calla hoped she would be strong enough to skip along beside her. Until then, she was content to take as many rests as the child needed.

The gravity on Hector Prime was slightly higher than any of them were used to, but the nature preserve had been the perfect place to start over in every other way. Erika’s aunt had welcomed them with open arms, insisting that they stay with her until they were on their feet. The money from the ship had been more than enough for them to buy a little hostel in one of the many tourist towns hugging the vast rainforests.

All that Erika and her mother had told them was true. Hector Prime was an ecologist’s dream, and it attracted hundreds of thousands of students each year. All of them needed inexpensive places to stay for a few months while they took classes. These young men and women were the ideal guests for their hostel. Many were homesick, and they were happy to be “adopted” into Calla and Sarai’s small family unit.

Calla had even offered a reduced rate to one of them in exchange for tutoring the children. For the first time in their young lives, Mali and Able had started school. She and Sarai studied with them. Things would have been perfect if she could just stop thinking about Seth.

“Come on, Mali,” Calla said, rousing the girl. Mali smiled up at her sweetly.

“Can I get a candy?” Mali asked, pointing to a little shop across the street. They almost always stopped off there on their way home, so the child’s request wasn’t a surprise.

“Will you get one for Able, too?” Calla asked.

“Yes, m’am,” Mali said, trying to hide her excitement. It was amazing to Calla just how much joy the simplest things gave the children. They had never tasted candy before.

“Then yes, you may,” Calla said. She handed Mali a credit chip, trying to push down the twinge of guilt she felt every time she spent money.

They’d made a tidy sum from selling the ship, but she’d paid a high emotional price. She would never forget the sight of Seth standing there on the asteroid’s surface.
I
did what I had to do
, she reminded herself firmly.
We sent someone to rescue him, and someday
we’ll pay him back
. Both she and Sarai agreed on that. From the first, they’d set aside a percentage of every credit they earned in a fund to repay Seth. It might take them years, but they would get him his money. Credits would never be enough to repair the damage she’d done, though. Calla knew that instinctively.

The thought of Seth made her ache, both in her heart and in other places. Every other man paled in comparison to him. Not long after they’d arrived, one of her male neighbors had invited her out for dinner. Just the thought of spending time with him made her long for Seth. Deep in her heart, she knew she’d never get over him. At times, the knowledge was almost too much to bear. She wanted children, she wanted a husband. But at least she had her freedom, and Sarai and her children had gotten a chance at life. It was more than any of them could have dreamed of a year ago.

She and Mali arrived home to find Sarai working in the small garden behind the hostel. One of the students showed them how to plant some vegetables and flowers, and all four of them were still amazed at how the little plants pushed themselves through the dirt and into the bright, natural light of the sun. None of them had ever lived anywhere that plants would grow before; that small miracle of life was just one of many they encountered every day in their new home.

Sarai saw her and rose to her feet, wiping the dirt off her hands on to her apron as she stood.

“We have a new guest,” she said as Calla came up next to her. She blushed as she spoke, piquing Calla’s interest. “Did you get a candy, Mali? Why don’t you take it over to Able.”

Mali nodded her head happily, then scampered off to find her brother. Sarai waited until she was out of hearing, then said, “He’s Saurellian.”

Calla felt a coldness rush through her. Then reason took over, and she fought her panic back.

“There are millions of them all over the quadrant,” she said. “I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about. We’ve checked the criminal alerts–they aren’t looking for us.”

“Well, I just wanted to let you know,” Sarai said, blushing more deeply. “His name is Jax Falconer, and he said he’ll be with us for at least a week.”

Jax. She recognized that name–Dani had had a client named Jax, back on Discovery station. Of course, there were probably thousands of Saurellians named Jax. Don’t let it bother you, she told herself firmly. She couldn’t live the rest of her life in fear.

They were all the way across the quadrant from where she’d left Seth. They’d traveled through ten ports after selling the ship to cover their tracks. She and Sarai would be safe here, in the back of beyond. Hector Prime was so insignificant that neither the Empire nor the Saurellians had bothered to send an occupation force. Then she noticed Sarai was blushing so much she was bright red.

“What’s up with you?” Calla asked suspiciously.

“He, well,” Sarai gave a girlish giggle, and Calla stared in astonishment. “He
kissed
me, up in his room!”

“Who did?” Calla asked in confusion.

“The Saurellian. Jax.”

“Watch your step, girl,” Calla replied. “Those men are hard to handle. Trust me on this one.”

Sarai gave another giggle, then looked away. Calla sighed. What was it about those Saurellian men, anyway?