Page 15 of Auctioned to the Convicts
There was a warmth in his eyes that battled with his words. He wanted to be in her unit as much as she wanted him. She didn’t know what his reservations were, and they didn’t have time to discuss them.
“Please.” It was the only thing she could think to say. She needed him, and if he didn’t say yes soon, Dresden could force her to take Marconi, the man whose eyes didn’t leave her chest long enough to meet her eyes, not even once.
“Yes,” Vaughn said, short and sweet, though he didn’t seem eager.
“She’s mine. You can’t take this away from me!” Marconi screamed over and over as two guards escorted him away.
Dresden, the manager who played god here, didn’t give Marconi another glance. He didn’t care who he screwed over, who he got riled up, or if the prisoners ripped each other to shreds.
“Care to share her, doc?” one man called out as the guards began dispersing the crowd.
“Five credits for five minutes, Vaughn, and I won’t leave any marks,” another yelled out.
Vaughn sucked in his breath, even as Ky’Li’s arm wrapped around her chest from behind, reassuring her, making her feel safe at least for a brief moment. She rested her chin against Ky’Li’s muscular forearm and turned her cheek to lay it flush against his skin. His heat, his strength warmed her. She wanted to speak, to thank him, but she couldn’t stop shaking just yet.
“You’re safe,” Ky’Li whispered in her ear, his warm breath cascading over her in a way that drew over her entire body like a blanket.
“Everyone, get back to work,” Dresden shouted to the few dozen men still waiting, the men who still thought they had a shot at her.
Hannah’s knees buckled, but Ky’Li held her up, letting his warmth seep through her thin dress. The shaking had returned. She suspected if she let her mind wander too long on Griggs and Dresden’s hands on her, she’d curl up into a ball and have to be carried away by her new unit. She couldn’t let them see any weakness in her. Four mates. Convicts. She prayed they wouldn’t harm her, or rent her out.
Another shiver racked her body at that thought.
“No one will touch you,” Ky’Li whispered in her ear.
She let out a slight whimper as relief swept through her. She believed him. In her heart, she knew she could trust him.
Dresden tapped his datapad several times. “Unit 475, you’re officially registered. Work assignments for Ky’Li Okaav and Hannah Raines will be sent to your unit inbox by third meal.” A few more clicks on his datapad. “You’ll live in Satterley’s domicile. It’s large enough for five.”
“It has only one bedroom,” Renzel argued, his eyes displaying a storm of rage and defiance.
“Shall I write you up for wasting resources, Mr. Satterley?”
“I paid for the materials with my credits and built it on my own time,” the engineer argued.
More clicks of the datapad. Hannah was really starting to hate that datapad as much as the man who wielded it. She’d already stolen Renzel’s freedom and now Dresden was forcing the engineer to give up his home to house their unit.
Hannah gently squeezed Ky’Li’s arm as she readied herself to confront the man she suspected would be her biggest challenge in this group of men.
When she left the safety of Ky’Li’s arms, Hannah lightly touched Renzel’s elbow. “We don’t have to use your home,” she said.
“Yes, you do,” Dresden barked. “I’ve already issued reassignment orders for Mr. Campós and Dr. Caster. They have until third meal to clear out their belongings from their current domiciles.”
“You mean Sersie and Vaughn?” Hannah asked, feeling like a fool. She didn’t even know the full names of the men she’d chosen. She knew virtually nothing about them.
The scowl on Renzel’s face said otherwise. She hadn’t even said two words to him and already he hated her.
“I’m sorry,” she said to him, in as soft and sincere a voice as she could muster. The intensity of his bright blue eyes took her breath away. She had no business losing herself in them, not with how he felt about her. She’d made a quick decision because she’d had no choice. Now they were stuck with one another. She’d find a way to make it right for him. Somehow.
Renzel’s eyes narrowed as if he were about to say something. She almost felt a connection there, but then he tore his gaze away from her. He had no desire to acknowledge her, much less speak with her.
“I’m on shift in an hour, way until past third meal,” Vaughn objected to Dresden’s edict to vacate his place by third meal.
“Not my problem,” Dresden said as he walked away.
“Vaughn!” Sersie called as Ky’Li passed out, nearly pulling Sersie down with him.
Vaughn rushed past Hannah and eased Ky’Li to the ground. “Ren, help me get him to the med-center. Sersie, you accompany Hannah.”
