Page 139 of Silver Elite

“I think you can have friends in the wards. I don’t know if that’s possible here.”

She goes quiet for a moment, but just when she’s about to respond, Pasha returns, a perplexed look on her face. “Shen,” she says with a nod, and the two women disappear through a doorway beyond the bar.

I pull my comm out of my bag and pretend to read something, but it isn’t long at all before Shenise returns. She studies me, and her amusement is unmistakable.

“The captain wants you.”

My eyebrows soar. “I’m sorry. What?”

“He wants you to keep him company.”

“Oh. What if I don’t…want to do that?”

She starts to laugh. A low, melodic sound. “You said you wanted work. Let’s call this a job interview.”

“Um. All right. I guess I could do that.” I gulp. “You want me to just walk over there? Should I say hello?”

Pasha looks like she’s fighting her own wave of laughter. “Hello is a good start.”

Shenise sighs. “You might find more success if you don’t carry yourself like a frightened little mouse.”

I take a deep breath, adjusting the hem of my dress, pretending tosteady my nerves. Then, as if I’ve found a surge of courage from some bravery reserve deep inside me, I square my shoulders and push away from the counter.

He tracks my every move. I’m not trying to walk sexy, but he’s looking at me like he wants to devour me.

When I reach him, I give a quick peek at the neighboring table where three soldiers sit. They regard me with curiosity before continuing their hushed conversation.

I shift my gaze to Cross. “I heard you wanted to see me?”

“Yes.” His eyes gleam with undisguised interest. “Sit. Have a drink with me.”

I’m about to lower into the chair next to him when he shakes his head and chuckles.

“Not there, sweetling.” He pats his knee. “Right here.”

I hear the soldiers snickering behind me. I hesitate for a moment. A glance at the bar shows Shenise watching me like a hawk.

Smothering a sigh, I settle onto his lap.

When my dress rides up, he plants his hand on my bare thigh, the one without the burns. The bottom of the scars on my other thigh is visible, a hint of pink, puckered flesh at the hem of my dress. I catch the soldiers eyeing it, and tug the hem down, ignoring the self-conscious flush that rises in my cheeks.

“Better?” I keep my voice steady as possible, but we both hear the tremble that sneaks through.

“Much better.” His words are like a caress, soft and tempting.

Cross wraps a muscular arm around my waist, pulling me closer.

“What’s your name?”

“Gilly. What’s yours?”

He doesn’t answer. Instead, he reaches for his drink. My face is so close to his that I can smell the alcohol as he takes a sip. The pale liquid wets his bottom lip, and when he licks it away, I remember the feeling of that tongue exploring my mouth.

“Tell me about yourself, Gilly.”

I feed him the same story I gave Shenise about my transfer from G. How I work in Admin. New to the city. Don’t know a soul.

The entire time I speak, he’s touching my leg. Stroking my knee. Squeezing my thigh over the thin fabric of my dress.

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