Beyond Galaxy's Edge (6 page)

Vendors had set up stalls and tents across the platform with disorderly walkways winding between them. There was already a small crowd wandering the market. Mostly the city’s middle and upper class. Their clothes were richer and their bodies plumper
than the working class.

He leaned in close to Nissa and lowered his voice. “We’ll wander. We need to look like lovers out hunting for a keepsake.”

She scowled at him. “Lovers? Why?”

He made a tut-tut noise and cupped her face with his hands. Felt her stiffen. “Because we don’t want to look like two off-worlders chasing after a treasure-hunting thief.” He leaned down and nuzzled the side
of her neck. “Loosen up, Nissa. Or the game’ll be up before we get started.”

Her hands clamped around his wrists, but after a second, loosened by the smallest degree. “I still don’t see why we have to be lovers. Why not buyers out hunting for bargains?”

“Quit arguing.” He turned them slightly and pressed his mouth to her ear. Anyone looking at them would see two people entranced with each
other. He inhaled the rich scent of her. She used something on her skin, some oil that made him think of a fragrant wood. “See those two men dressed in black with red sashes around their waists?”

She angled her head so she could look over his shoulder. It also brought her lips against his temple. Justyn barely swallowed his groan. He was so hungry for a touch from this woman that the barest
brush of her lips made him hard as a rock.

“I see them.”

“Mackon’s guards. They have sharp eyes and even sharper swords.”

She turned to look at him, their lips just a breath apart. “Okay, lover boy. Let’s go find ourselves a keepsake.”

Unable to stop himself, he nipped at her lips. Just the tiniest touch, but he got a hint of her taste and it electrified his blood. “Something to celebrate
our love.”

A laugh burst out of her before she could control it. She slapped a hand over her mouth but he was already smiling. He grabbed her hand and tugged her into the maze of stalls.

They wandered past the vendors. Most had tables filled with an array of items. One stall was full of tiny clockwork fancies—metal bugs that skittered on a multitude of legs, butterflies that fluttered their
wings, and miniature clockwork automatons that marched around. Another stall was filled with inexpensive old artifacts like rusted hunks of metal and cracked vases.

At first, Nissa tried to power through all the aisles. Justyn had to pull her back.

“Slow down. Don’t you know how to wander?”

She released a long breath. “Not really.”

He slung an arm across her shoulders. “Stick with me and
I’ll show you how to relax.”

She shot him a nasty look. “You may have the lazy charm thing down pat, but I’m not fooled like everyone else in the galaxy, Phoenix. There’s nothing lazy about you.”

He chewed on her words as they walked—more slowly now—through the market. It left him a little uncomfortable that she could read him so well.

When Nissa leaned in closer, all thoughts raced out
of his head.

“Why do you think Solomon would come here?” she asked.

“To make contact with someone who can get him an audience with Mackon.”

“Here?”

“Yep. It’s well known that a vendor named Lady Curiosity can organize such things.”

“Lady Curiosity? That’s someone’s real name?”

“Yep. And she is a sight to behold.”

Nissa leaned away from him. “I’m sure.”

He grinned at her. “Wait
and see. Her tent’s not far from here. Some people say she’s Mackon’s secretary or lover, or both.”

“What do you think?”

“I think she’s his creation. He owns her and she does whatever he requires of her.”

He saw Nissa’s brow furrow. He wondered if she could understand what it was like to be under someone’s power. To be trapped with no way out and have that prison steal pieces of your soul.
His hands curled into fists before he could stop them. He wasn’t desperate anymore but he understood it.

Justyn wanted to walk faster and get to Lady Curiosity’s store, but he forced himself to keep his stride steady. He saw Nissa eyeing the fancies at a nearby stall and tugged her over.

“These are incredible.” She lifted the tiny metal replica of a gyrocopter. “The craftsmanship is extraordinary.”

“Handmade, milady.” The young, whippet-slim vendor fiddled with the untidy orange hair piled on top of her head. Her heavily patched clothes hung off her slim frame.

He watched Nissa touch various items, asking questions of the young maker. He noticed everything about Nissa and it was easy to see the way her gaze kept sliding to the airship at the far end of the table.

But unlike the rest,
she didn’t touch it.

The captain seemed to deny herself everything she wanted.

Justyn snatched up the airship. “How much?”

The girl began a vigorous bidding war with him. She started out with an outrageous price, he scoffed and haggled. Nissa watched him silently.

Finally, they settled on a price. More than it was worth, but the girl looked like she needed it.

“For my lady.” He gave
Nissa a tiny bow and held out the airship.

“I can’t accept it,” she said stiffly.

“Nissa.” He leaned closer, inhaled that exotic wood scent of her. “We both know you want it. Besides—” he lowered his voice, his lips a whisper from hers “—you’re supposed to be acting like a besotted lover. You should be cooing over the trinkets I shower you in.”

With a
harrumph
sound, she held out her palm.

He set the airship on her hand, making sure his fingertips brushed her skin.

Her gaze softened. “It really is a gorgeous little thing.”

Justyn felt his cock stir.
Damn
. He shifted. What he wouldn’t give to see her look at
him
like that.

A flash of red at the end of their aisle caught his attention.

“Nissa, you need to thank me. Appropriately.”

“What?” Her brow creased. “You’re going
to blackmail me now?”

He circled an arm around her waist and reeled her into his chest. “No. But three of Mackon’s guards are headed this way and I don’t like the way they’re looking at us.”

She was too smart to turn and look. She closed her fist on the airship and wrapped both her arms around his shoulders. As her breasts pressed against his chest, Justyn resisted the overpowering urge to
close his eyes and sink into her.

Her lips brushed his. “Thank you.”

“That wasn’t a very lover-like kiss.” His voice sounded the tiniest bit hoarse.

Her eyes clashed with his for a second. She looked like she was fighting some internal battle. Then her hands tangled in the hair at the base of his neck and she yanked his head down.

His mouth crashed against hers, stunning him for a second,
but then he wrapped his arms around her, yanked her closer and kissed her back.

Jesus
. Her tongue slid into his mouth, and all he could think was that her lips were so damned soft. He tried to take over the kiss, so greedy for a taste of her.

But this was Nissa, and she fought him for control. She nipped his bottom lip, then sucked on his tongue, tearing a groan out of him. He pulled her up,
needing more…more of everything. Her legs wrapped around his waist, her hips grinding against his growing erection.

The force of his kiss pushed her head back. He knew he was eating her up, devouring her, but he was so damned hungry. He felt her move against him, her nails digging into his shoulders. All he could think about was ripping that fucking corset off her and yanking down those slick
pants so he could get inside of her.

Rough male laughter broke through the haze. They pulled apart as the chuckling guards walked past them, offering a few ribald suggestions.

Nissa shoved away from Justyn and took two staggering steps back, her hands pressed to her cheeks.

“Nissa—”

She held up a hand. “Don’t say anything.” The goggles on her head were askew and she turned away from him,
working to straighten them. “Let’s just find Lady Curiosity.

***

Nissa just kept her mind blank, a trick she’d learned from her many night shifts aboard ship. When everyone was sleeping and nothing was happening, it was best to let your mind hibernate. In the deep, darkest parts of night it was too easy to fall into the trap of overthinking everything that wasn’t quite right in your life and
twisting it into despair.

Right now her brain was screaming a warning at her, while her body was begging her to turn back, grab Justyn Phoenix’s hard body and ride him for all she was worth.

Stop thinking, Nissa.

He caught up with her, grabbing her arm.

She turned. “Look—”

His face was shuttered, an expression she’d never seen on his mobile features. Her words dried up. He was a man
who laughed easily and smiled most of the time. The tiny lines at the edge of his eyes were proof of that. But this, this…

Blank nothingness was not his style.

“Justyn—”

“We’re here.” He jerked his head to the tent beside them.

Blinking, Nissa stared up at the hand-woven sign above the flap that acted as a door.
Lady Curiosity’s World of Sensual Wonders.

“Justyn—” she tried again.

He sighed. “Look, we have a mission. Let’s focus on that. I get the message. You don’t want to want me. Criminal, smuggler, edge rat, not good enough for the esteemed Captain Sander.”

A lump lodged in her throat. Some of that was exactly what she’d thought, and why the hell did it now make her feel ashamed? He was helping her. She wouldn’t actually be here if it wasn’t for him. Sure, he was hoping
to pocket a hefty finder’s fee, but he’d gone above and beyond.

She lifted her hand, wanting to touch him, but he was already turning away.

“Let’s get this done,” he said.

Her hand dropped to her side. He was right. Get the job done. She followed him into the tent.

The smell hit her first. It was exotic, fragrant, sensual. Helpless against the lure of it, Nissa took several deep breaths.
Goddess, what was it? Another two breaths and warmth washed through her, loosening her tight muscles.

The tent was packed with items. There was barely enough room to inch by displays. Tables were loaded with colorful, polished stones, jewelry and other trinkets. Shelves along the walls were loaded with all kinds of things she couldn’t identify. Nissa followed Justyn, but stopped to eye one shelf
full of necklaces. They were made of shiny pearls in lots of different colors. Dark, smoky gray, luminous pink and pearlescent cream. Some were all the same size, others graduated.

She reached out a hand. She wasn’t one to wear jewelry, but…

“They aren’t for around your neck.” Justyn’s voice was amused.

Nissa’s hand froze, she blinked. “What are they—” she broke off, staring at the other
shelves.

Her eyes widened. The neighboring shelf was covered in dildos of all shapes, sizes and lengths. Some were made of smooth wood, others shiny metal. One was clear and filled with wires.

On the next shelf was a small dome device with a phallus-shaped attachment on top. Cords ran from it to what looked like a control box.

“It’s a Sybian,” Justyn provided helpfully. “A device designed
to help a woman achieve—”

“Thanks, Phoenix. I don’t need a blow-by-blow description.” Nissa wasn’t a prude. She had her own vibrator tucked in her bedside drawer. She knew many crewmen had something for the long, lonely voyages. Especially ship’s captains who couldn’t indulge in relationships with subordinates.

“Can we find Solomon?” She pushed ahead to move past Justyn and found herself face-to-face
with a row of life-sized pleasure syndroids.

Most were female, but there were a couple of larger male models at the end of the line. They were all powered down, staring blankly ahead. Made of a mix of steel and plas, they weren’t anywhere near as lifelike as other syndroids she’d seen in the galaxy. But they were all anatomically correct.

She stared at the larger male at the end and couldn’t
stop herself from glancing down. Well, she’d never seen a male with any…appendages…quite that large, but it was the right shape.

Justyn’s low chuckle sounded in her ear. “Come on, Captain Smooth.” He threw an arm over her shoulder and tugged her deeper into the large tent.

He seemed to have shrugged off his mood easily enough. Instead of focusing on all the…curiosities in the tent, she focused
on Justyn. Was he able to keep such a cheerful outlook because he honestly found enjoyment in everything life had to offer? Or was it that he didn’t care enough? She just wasn’t sure.

There were quite a few people in the store, wandering, viewing the offerings.

“Maybe I should get you a gift from here as well,” Justyn said. “Maybe a string of those pearl—”

She elbowed him in the ribs. His
oof
was music to her ears.

“We have quite a range. I’m sure we have something to tempt you.”

The low melodious voice had them both turning. Nissa barely swallowed her gasp.

This could only be Lady Curiosity.

Half her face was flawless, creamy skin, the other smooth, polished metal. The metal cut along the diagonal, leaving her lips plump and rosy and her nose half-metal, half-flesh. One
green eye watched them from her human side while an ocular device sat on the metal side, glowing with a faint blue light. Dark, curling hair was pulled up in a complicated style with tendrils falling down to frame her extraordinary face.

Her torso was entirely metal and not covered with any clothing. She had perfectly shaped breasts of metal and one mechanical arm while the other arm was the
same creamy skin as the left side of her face. Her bottom half was covered in a fall of red and black striped skirts. Nissa wondered what was original and what wasn’t beneath the fabric.

“You sure have an…interesting place here.” Justyn shot the woman a smile.

Her red lips tipped upward. “Thank you.” She eyed him up and down, then gave Nissa the same treatment. “What are you looking for today?”

“We’re just browsing,” Nissa said.

Lady Curiosity tilted her head. “Really? Sure you aren’t searching for what you really want?”