Page 119 of Auctioned to the Convicts
She knew him, so well. He liked his eggs scrambled with raw onions stirred in, and he sang in the shower, exceedingly off-key, but he had the heart of an angel. Her angel, except he didn’t feel anything for her, not as she felt for him. He led the men with quiet confidence, and yet he didn’t assert himself as a leader.
If only she could recall his name. He was a doctor here on. . . another name she couldn’t recall. Why was this so hard?
“Darkos,” she said out loud. No, that wasn’t right. . .
“Ren, get in here,” the doctor called over his shoulder, toward the main section of the house.
She remembered the house. There was a kitchen table large enough for five now, so they could all eat meals together. Ren had built it. He liked to design and create functional furniture, art really. So very talented, so very angry, her Ren. He needed to go home, to find peace.
The others in her were treasures. Her soldier, who’d nearly given his life for her. Ky. . . something. . . Ri or Di maybe. And her sweet botanist who like to make her laugh. Sersie! Yes, she got a name right!
“Wake Ky’Li too,” the doctor added.
That’s right! Ky’Li! How could she forget his name? “Don’t tell. . .”
“Don’t tell what?” the doctor asked.
Don’t tell Ky’Li I couldn’t remember his name. He’d be hurt. Promise?
The doctor didn’t reply to her. Had she even spoken out loud? Her head felt so fuzzy.
A warm hand cupped her cheek. She really loved the way he looked at her as if she were his. She wasn’t though. Just Ky’Li’s and Sersie’s. She could see being with Ren too. After all, her heart already was. But physically. . . no, he was leaving. He didn’t want to be with her. No, that wasn’t fair either. He’d asked her to go with him, so he must like her, right?
“Everything will be fine, Hannah. The drugs are wearing off.”
“D-drugs?” Somehow she pushed the word out, past the memories, past her overly parched lips.
“Sha-vi,” Ky’Li said from the doorway.
The moment she met his eyes, his face relaxed, except for the corners of his mouth pushing upward into a rare smile. Her soldier didn’t smile much, though she suspected she hadn’t given him much cause if she was lying in bed in the middle of the day and the doctor was saying something about drugs.
Had she used drugs? No, that was Amelia.
The doctor moved aside, allowing Ky’Li to sit on the edge of her bed. Thick lips pressed to hers. She couldn’t resist the impulse to slip her tongue between his lips, even though she suspected he meant the kiss to be innocent, a greeting. He allowed the invasion, languidly swiping his tongue along hers, letting her know in that brief moment that all was right with the universe.
“You are not yourself yet,” he said as he ended the kiss.
“I’m me.”Stellar, Hannah. Brilliant reply.
“She’ll get there,” the doctor said. “Ren, get in here already.”
Tall and handsome as ever, with those blue eyes she loved so much, Ren slipped into the room and kept his back to the wall. The worry on his face alarmed her.
“What’s wrong?” she asked. When he said nothing, she added, “You’re scaring me.”
“Shit,” Ren said. “Didn’t mean to scare you. I’ve done enough damage.” He disappeared out the door.”
What was he talking about?
“What do you remember?” the doctor asked.
“Third meal with Sersie and Ren.”
Ky’Li brought her hand to his lips and kissed her palm. “That was three nights ago, sha’vi. Do you remember working at the port overtime and then Ren—” Ky’Li growled the name, actuallygrowledit. “Met you at the railcar?”
“No.”
“You don’t remember him forcing—”
