Page 103 of Auctioned to the Convicts
“What benefits?”
He kicked one eyebrow up at the same time the corner of his mouth hitched. “The house isn’t as lonely. There’s noise, everyday normal sounds like from back home, at all hours.” Another step closer. “Especially late at night.” His lips neared her ear. “I built the inner walls too thin, Princess. I can hear every fucking moan you make.”
Her cheeks heated. She’d been a fool to ask that question, fishing for some sign that he liked her, that perhaps there was some chance they’d iron out their differences.
“Now there’s a source of heat I haven’t figured out how to harness,” he said as his finger traced down her throat, dipping between her breasts.
Her breasts rose just as his finger strayed from its midline course.
“Harness?” Her pussy was throbbing. Maybe she was wrong about him and his penchant for games.
That finger trailed over her breast, circling her harder-than-diamond nipple before moving down to her wrist. Strong fingers easily circled her entire wrist. She could feel the power there as he held her, not enough to hurt, just enough to make parts of her wake up and pay attention.
“Delicate. Too delicate for metal. Fur lined metal maybe. Or leather. Leather’s easier to come by here. Not many furred animals in the jungle, though.”
“I-I didn’t think we were there yet,” she said, her voice showing a little too much interest, like her pussy, her nipples. . .
“Afraid you can’t handle me?”
“Of course, I can. I mean, no, I’m not afraid, it’s just—”
“What? You think I can’t handle myself against soldier boy? He threatened me over sitting next to you for third meal last night. He’s all bark, no bite.”
“Oh, he’s got bite,” she said, sending him a teasing smile. What the hell had gotten into her?
Ren grinned. “You’re not afraid of much, are you?”
Level 5. It didn’t get much worse. Except she was on a Level 4 planet with four amazing guys, so she had nothing to complain about. Her life could have turned out so different.
“I’ve lived many of my fears.” The words spilled out unexpectedly. She seemed to have no ability to censure herself around Ren.
He backed away just then, all the mirth gone from his eyes. “I don’t mind sharing the house, Hannah.”
Hannah? When was the last time he called her Hannah, if ever?
“It might as well get used by people I respect once I’m gone.”
“Gone? What do you mean gone? Where are you going?” And why did it sound so final?
Her stomach clenched. She didn’t like this serious Ren. Gone was the anger, but so was the man who had concern for his friends, though he wouldn’t admit tohavingfriends. She’d seen how protective he was over Sersie and Vaughn. He respected them. They were family to him even when he was a solitary. He just hadn’t recognized it. She had hoped to at least earn Ren’s respect in time too, though now it sounded as she wouldn’t have the chance.
His eyes narrowed again, that intense stare making her edgy.
“Come with me, Princess,” he said, holding out his hand for her.
She breathed easier upon hearing the moniker, but her insides twisted as she took his hand. Did she fear him? No. . . Distrust him? No. . . Then what was making her so jumpy?
Ren led her through a section of the jungle she had never ventured. How he even found his way, she had no idea because all the trees, vines, and flora looked the same, in all directions, and there was no discernible path. The jungle swallowed paths quicker than they could be made. The best paths were the ones the miners trampled over and over every day on their way to the mines, or to the clearing by West Side where maintenance used a compound Sersie created to keep the area vegetation-free.
They reached a wall of rock that stretched as far as the eye could see.
“It’s nice,” she said, not sure what the point of bringing her to see a rock face was.
Ren pushed aside a cluster of large fanned leaves arching from a tree, revealing a narrow hidden tunnel that led into the most amazing glen of grasses and flowers. And one very inelegant spaceship that looked surprisingly like their home.
Now she understood some of the oddly shaped walls back at the house. That house had been a testing ground for designing this spacecraft.
“You’re leaving,” she said, her nausea now full-blown.
