Page 31 of Auctioned to the Convicts
“No, not simple. He’s family now.”
“You are my family. Not him.”And I won’t fail you, as I failed my squad.
“He’s my family as much as you are.”
“This is a unit, not a family.”
“It needs to be a family.”
“Why?”
Her hand landed atop his. “It just does.” She sighed. “I know that’s not a reason, and I can’t explain it. I guess I miss home, Ky’Li. My own family, even though they fought all the time, I still loved them.”
“I’m sorry, sha’vi. But these men here cannot replace your family or what you had with them. They will use you. They cannot be trusted. That asshole proved that tonight.”
“What they want is no different from what you want.”
That hurt coming from her. He’d fought for her. The Gods had put him on that shuttle with her for a reason, to find her. She was his sha’vi, his one. He’d certainly never threaten or harm her.
“That’s where you are wrong, sha’vi. I will claim you in time, when you are ready. He will not.”
She rose again, suddenly anxious. He rose as well. The house had quieted, with two males in the other bedrooms. One had left, though he wasn’t sure which.
“I was scared you’d kill him.”
Scared for the engineer or scared of Ky’Li?
“This can’t be easy for Renzel,” she continued.
“I don’t wish to speak of him. Come to bed.” Ky’Li stripped out of his shirt and trousers. “I report to the mine tomorrow, and you report to the port. You need to be well-rested, on guard against the males on this world.”
Hannah averted her eyes and made no move toward the bed as he slipped under the sheet.
“One bed, Hannah. I will not touch you, if that’s what you fear, but you need to sleep. Come.” He pulled back the sheet for her to climb in, but she shook her head and turned toward the door.
“Hannah?” he said, sitting up.
“You speak as if I’m yours and yours alone, Ky.”
“You gave me your name. I gave you mine.”
She tilted her head in the most adorable way, but he could see she didn’t know the custom. He rose from the bed, his ribs still tender. Her eyes fell to his cock that was hard and ready for her. She stepped back. Afraid? No, she’d fought for him, and he’d fought for her, twice now.
She bit her lip, even as her cheeks turned pink. Her desire was clear, but she wasn’t ready. Despite the attraction between them and what they’d done in the med-center, she was unsure of herself.
He smoothed his hand down her bare arms. Her skin was like ice. She needed warmer clothing. For a jungle planet, the temperature dropped significantly at night. He had no credits to buy her what she needed. Yet. Perhaps one of the other males had a jacket.
Krike, now he was doing it. Thinking of procuring what she needed from the males in this unit, all because they were established here while he had nothing but his name to offer her.
He had noticed several poorly constructed shacks as Vaughn led him here tonight. The doctor had explained that the pathetic housing was typical for miners. Miners like Ky’Li who would work long hard hours for every credit and still not have enough to buy her what she needed, like a proper house and warm clothing. This house was a good shelter, even if they had to share it with the other males. It had an electrified fence and security system along with a sturdy structure that would protect them against storms. Like it or not, she was right. They needed these other men.
“Are you saying you’re not mine, sha’vi?,” Ky’Li said as he warmed her arms.
“I’m saying I’m notonlyyours.”
“You belong to me, no other. Perhaps I should throw them out of this house to prove that.”
“You can’t do that!”
