Page 42 of Auctioned to the Convicts
“Then I can touch you?” he asked, hopeful that she’d say yes.
She nodded.
He took her wrist in his hand gently and caressed where he’d held her roughly moments ago. She was more delicate than she looked, and yet she had a strength to her that he lacked. He needed someone like her in his life. He just had to figure out how not to screw up—again.
“I’m sorry I pulled away,” she said. “It’s just that I don’t like being touched in anger.”
“So it’s not because of me? Or even Ky’Li’s jealousy?”
“No,” she said softly. Hannah was quite shy, he realized. For as much as she stood up to them, she was still figuring them out.
“You’ve been at my side this past week,” he said. “Why?”
“You were going through withdrawal.” She shrugged, even as her expression eased. He was gaining a sense that he could ask her just about anything and she’d answer it.
He’d have to rethink his approach with her.
“Unfortunately, I know how hellish that process is. Watched my sister go through it often enough.”
That explained it. Her sister. He’d done more than several rounds of throwing up in the bathroom followed by yelling out in pain and then finally suffering through the inability to sleep for two days. He’d probably kept the entire unit up two nights ago as he was bouncing off the walls trying to release the sudden burst of energy that earned JL539 its nickname of Flight. He was sure he’d scared her off, but here she was, walking with him, talking to him as if he mattered to her.
“Let’s start again, Hannah. The paddadou. . . Why didn’t you ask me if it was safe?”
“I didn’t want to disturb you, and I needed food to take to the port. There’s no commissary there, at least not for colonists, just Narkos’ security and staff.”
He was starting to understand her. Hannah was a giver, not a taker, a rarity on a planet full of prisoners.
“From now on, ask. About anything you need to know. And you can purchase food from the commissary in West Side. They have travel meals for the miners and anyone who can’t make it in during a shift.”
“That cost credits that I don’t have.”
“Payday was three days ago. You should have received partial pay given you arrived mid-cycle. Either way, I have plenty of credits, even after forwarding enough to Vaughn to pay for Ky’Li’s medical expenses.”
She lowered her eyes. “I know.”
He tipped her chin up. “You think I care about the money? That any of us do?”
“Ren does. Vaughn, well, he should care. Maybe then he wouldn’t take risks.”
Yeah, Vaughn took risks. They all did, in their own way. This was Narkos, which meant taking risks was necessary. Except for the type she’d taken. That was not necessary, and it angered him to think she was cutting corners to save credits to pay him back. They reached the transport stop where a dozen men waited for the railcar.
“We’re a unit, right?” he asked.
“Yes, but—”
“We’re supposed to support one another.” He couldn’t care less about the others, but he was starting to care about her and she believed in this forsaken unit. “If you need credits, then ask. We’re talking about food, for Targon’s Sake, a necessity.”
Warm lips captured him without warning as two very determined hands locked behind his neck, holding him in place. He wasn’t going anywhere, not with how her tongue pressed against the seam of his lips.
He opened to her, nearly melting in ecstasy at how sinfully decadent she tasted. Her tongue slowly explored his mouth as if she truly wanted to get to know him. Hannah drew her body closer, tightening her hold on him as his hands drew down the graceful slope of her back to the top of her ass.
Damn, she tasted good, and she felt even better. Firm breasts molded against her chest as his fingers sifted through the hair at the back of his head. He’d never been kissed like that, not even by Rissa who’d been willing to hop into bed on the first date. He’d slept with Rissa a few times, but that kiss with Hannah was more sensuous than anything he had ever experienced with Rissa.
“And here I thought I had been too forward holding your hand that first day,” he said.
“You don’t know how much what you said a moment ago means to me.” Her smile would light up a room, an entire building.
She gave him another quick kiss and then pushed his hair off his forehead. He loved when she did that. Any touch from her was a gift, but he’d never forget that kiss as long as he lived.
