Page 24 of Prospecting

“When I realized you were on the station, I was terrified of losing you,” he said. “Do you know how many ships leave every hour? I’d been in the hold for two hours. I didn’t know when you left. I had the list of vendors but anyone could have taken you and gotten you off the station before I could even start tracking you down.”

“It’s like mom and dad yelling at me when they were worried but I come home safe,” Sheridan said.

“Yeah,” he said. “I kept my hands off you so I wouldn’t… I want you beneath me, wanted you safe and to make sure you knew ... It wasn’t overly rational.”

“I see,” Sheridan said. “Maybe next time you should explain, and I shouldn’t be defiant and cranky.”

“A good idea,” Cade said. “We can go on the station. I don’t want to keep you trapped in here.”

“No. I don’t want to,” Sheridan said with a shiver of fear.

“I’ll protect you,” Cade assured her.

“I know,” Sheridan said. “I’ve been reading. I don’t want to go on the station.”

“Are you sure,” Cade asked.

“Yes, can we go,” Sheridan said.

“Because,” Cade asked holding her close.

“I don’t want to be here,” Sheridan said. “It sounds stupid but after reading all the reports on the missing women and the few they’ve found. I don’t want to risk it. Look at Mia. She went with a guy who was supposed to love her. He messed her up.”

“I’ll put in for clearance,” Cade said. “Come with me.”

“Do we have a lot more stops,” Sheridan asked.

“No, next will be the sectors I’m prospecting,” Cade said.

“Can we talk about what happens then,” Sheridan asked.

“Sure,” Cade said. “You know you don’t have to do anything.”

“I’m back to being a sex toy,” Sheridan asked.

“Never,” Cade said.

“I’m not sitting around doing nothing. Teach me what to do. I want to help you,” Sheridan said.

“All right,” Cade said considering. “I can do that.”

Chapter 5

“Cade,” Sheridan said.

He grunted looking at the screen. He sensed it, knew it was here but this field was hiding all the good stuff. Every sample he took was a bust.

“Cade,” Sheridan said again.

“I’m busy,” he growled.

“Enough,” she said wrenching his chair around.

“I’m working,” he growled at her. She dragged him out of the pilot’s seat.

“You’ve been working for thirty-six hours,” she said. “You need a shower, some sleep, and some…”

“Sex,” he growled grabbing her.

---