DangerouslyHis (12 page)

“My mother always said, ‘I’m creating memories.’ And she did.
She created a lifetime of memories for us.”

“What happened to your family? Were they taken by the
Loconuist?”

He didn’t reply.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have pried.”

“It’s all right. I really haven’t talked about them to
anyone.”

“We can talk about something else. I don’t need to know.”

He cleared his throat. “My mother was killed by a drunk
driver when my sister and I were thirteen. My grandmother raised us after that,
but she passed away a day before our eighteenth birthday. My sister…moved out
of the country to study fashion design in Paris. I don’t know what happened to
her after the invasion.”

She kissed his chest and stroked his cheek. “Oh Justin. I’m
so sorry.”

“Everyone knew me as a happy-go-lucky guy. They expected me
to be the life of the party. After my grandmother died, when I was feeling my
lowest, my so-called friends didn’t want to hang around me. They said I was
bringing them down. I hated being alone in our empty house, so I pretended I
was over my grief, that I was fine, and kept the house filled with whomever. It
didn’t matter.”

“With females?”

“Yeah. I didn’t like being alone. Saia…I’ve been with a lot
of females. That’s the main reason Taio wants me off Sonis.”

“You don’t have to explain it to me. I know what it’s like
to be lonely. My mother has been the only constant loving figure that I’ve had
in my life and I can’t imagine losing her. I suspect I’ll have my fair share of
very lonely nights too.” She raised her chin to look at him. “Do you think
you’ll ever find your sister?”

“I try not to think about it. I don’t want to imagine she’s
out there stuck in a brothel like Jess was or with some asshole using her in
the vilest of ways. In my heart, I feel like she’s still alive. I don’t know if
it’s denial or if I can really tell. I just don’t want to even think about it.”
He sniffled.

“I’ll pray to the Ancients for her safe return to you.”

“Thank you.” He clutched her tightly. “I never want to let
you go.”

“Then don’t.”

It had been hours ago, but JB couldn’t get the time he’d
spent with Saia out of his mind. They weren’t strangers. They were long-lost
friends, catching up on old times. They’d stayed up the entire night talking.
There hadn’t been any lulls in the conversation. No awkward silences. No fear
of revealing information too fast or too soon.

It had been right.

Perfect.

He didn’t touch her again sexually. He hadn’t needed to.
What he shared with Saia went beyond anything he’d ever experienced before. It
took every sensible nerve in his body to tear himself away from her side. If he
could have kept her in his arms for a lifetime, it wouldn’t have been long
enough.

By the time the suns rose and cast an orange light against
the sky, Saia yawned and his eyelids drooped. JB had descended her balcony
stairs and followed one of the garden paths that led to an unoccupied royal
guest apartment.

That was the easy part.

He worked on the balcony door that he swore he had rigged.
Where was the piece of cloth he had put in the door the night before? He had
stuffed it in the lock, making sure it couldn’t close.

“Justin.”

Shit.
Ship.

He straightened. “Uh, hey. What’s going on?”

“I have secured the door.”

Damn.

“Okay, sorry. I know I should have asked if I could come
through here again, but it was an emergency. If you open the door for me, I
won’t touch or mess with anything.”

“I trust you not to disturb the contents of the apartment.”

JB raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms. “So what’s the
problem then?”

Out of nowhere, a purplish haze appeared in front of him. “I
know where you came from.”

Fuck, fuck, fuck.
“You do?”

“I’ve seen the way you and Saia have interacted with each
other. I’ve noted the increased heart rates whenever the two of you are in the
same room.”

“How?”

“You humans are so easy to read. It’s how Eva reacted when
she began falling in love with Taio. Why did you spend the evening with her?
You have never stayed this long with the other females you’ve visited.”

JB’s mind worked overtime. If Taio knew JB was in love with
Saia and he’d spent the night with her, well…he was as good as dead.

“I like my neck attached to my head, so I plead the fifth.”

“What does that mean, ‘plead the fifth’? I have never heard
that saying before.”

“It means that I’m not talking.”

The air around JB crackled with energy. The hair on his arms
stood up. JB took a step back. “You will answer my question, Justin Blake.”

“Whoa, it’s never good when someone calls you by your entire
name.” A low humming began in JB’s ears and his skin literally vibrated. “Okay,
okay, I’ll tell you, just stop whatever you’re doing!”

The sensations ceased. “If you lie to me, I will fry you
from the inside out.”

You might fry me anyway.
JB squeezed his eyes shut
and cringed. “I love Saia,” he blurted out. When he didn’t feel static on his
skin or his insides burning, JB cracked open an eye. “Did you hear me?”

“Of course I heard you.”

JB straightened. “And you’re not going to kill me?”

“No.”

JB gaze shifted from side to side. “Um, why not?”

“I hadn’t intended too, but if you wish.”

JB’s skin began to burn. “Holy shit! Stop!” He backed away
from Ship, rubbing his arms, trying to stop the pain.

The pain stopped but JB kept his distance from Ship.

“You tried to kill me!”

“I was not trying to kill you. I was merely making a point
that if I wanted to, I could. You seemed overly concerned about it.”

“I was concerned because I
thought
you would when you
found out I’m in love with Saia. Since you’re close to Taio, I figure you have
standing orders to kill me if I got near her. That didn’t mean I wanted you to
actually do it.”

“In my opinion, Saia is an adult, she can fraternize with
anyone she chooses.”

“Really? I got the impression that she was on lockdown. She
has guards following her wherever she goes. Taio and her mom keep a pretty
tight leash on her—she’s not alone often.”

“I agree.”

“I like you, Ship, but I hate when you’re cryptic. Feel free
to elaborate every now and then.” Ship didn’t respond. “I mean now—feel free to
elaborate
now
. How can she be free to fraternize with anyone she chooses
and
be on a tight leash?”

“I said ‘in my opinion’. Fainia and Taio think otherwise.”

JB ran a hand across his face. Ship was giving him the worst
headache. “So am I in trouble or what?”

“Trouble for what?”

JB exhaled slowly. “For spending the night with Saia.”

“I suppose if Fainia found out, there would be repercussions
for both you and Saia. If Taio were to find out, I would have to comfort Jess
and Eva regarding your death.”

“Are you going to tell them?” JB put up a hand. “Yes or no,
please.”

“I have a question to ask first.”

“Shoot.”

“What are your intentions with Saia? You said you love her.
What does that word mean to you?”

“Ship, I don’t know what my intentions are with her. But I
know that she’s special and I don’t want to do anything to hurt her. What does
love mean to me? It means I’d do anything I could to keep her safe from harm.
It means that when she hurts, I hurt. It means I don’t know what I’ll do when
we have to separate. It means I wish I could steal her away. It means—”

“You may stop, I understand,” Ship said. “You may pass.”

“Really? That’s it? You're not going to tell on me?”

“No, I don’t have plans to say anything, but if I am asked,
I will not lie for you.”

The door lock clicked and JB turned the handle and made his
way through the apartment. “So is this our little secret?”

“I do not keep secrets.”

JB stopped before he exited. “But you said you wouldn’t
tell.”

“If this were something that affected the security of Sonis
or well-being of Taio, Eva or Josanis, then I would inform Taio. Two consenting
adults who are getting to know each other hardly qualify as a security threat.”

JB shook his head. “You’re talking like you actually saw and
heard us.”

“I did.”

“That is so incredibly weird.”

“I didn’t stay. I just wanted to confirm something.”

“And that was?”

Silence.

“Great, tell me you’re eavesdropping then take off.”

JB made it back to his room without bumping into anyone he
knew. He got into his bed fully clothed, too tired to undress. Even as he
slept, he missed her. His tossing and turning was proof.

Finally, he threw off the covers. It was no use trying to
sleep any longer. His arms felt empty without Saia.

What he needed was to steal a few more minutes alone with
her.

He reached for his com-link.

Ding. Ding.

JB’s hand froze in midair. He peeled himself from his bed
and went to the door. The monitor showed a picture of Kane standing in the
hallway. He opened the door for him.

“You’re late,” he said gruffly.

JB blinked a couple of times. “Uh, late for what?”

“The bonding ceremony for Jess and Rasha?” Kane replied
sarcastically after JB hadn’t made a move.

Realization hit him. “Is that today?” He’d forgotten about
everything since Saia.

Kane nodded and looked JB up and down with a disapproving
eye. “It looks like you’ve been up all night partying, but since I know you’ve
promised Taio and Eva you’d leave the females alone, I know if you
did
have a party, it was a solo one, because you
would not
go back on a
promise.”

JB ran a hand across his face, feeling the stubble on his
chin and cheeks. “I had a hard time getting to sleep,” he mumbled.

Kane crossed his arms. “Uh huh.”

JB gave a half-shrug. “Well?”

Kane raised a brow. “Well what?”

“Well, are we going to get on with this date or are you
going to spend the rest of the morning admiring my devilish good looks and
boyish charm?”

“Something is so wrong with you,” Kane said, trying to hold
back a smile.

“If you keep talking that way you’ll hurt my feelings. And
just so you know, you don’t want to hurt my feelings.” JB leaned closer. “Truth
be told, I give out on the first date,” he whispered.

Kane threw his head back and roared with laughter. “I’ll
have to keep that in mind. Come on, you idiot.”

JB stepped out of his room and initiated the security. “I
spread my legs for compliments and food.”

Kane flicked his gaze at JB as they began to make their way
to Jess’ apartment. “Truth be told,” he said, mocking him, “I hear you spread
your legs for much less.”

“I think I may have a bad reputation.”

Kane chuckled. “JB, you’ve got a rep from here to Laconia.”

“Huh. I’ve got to do something to change that.” They rounded
the corner leading down a long corridor.

“Like what?” Kane asked jokingly.

“I’m going to find someone who’ll make an honest man out of
me.”

Kane stumbled on his footing.

“What? You don’t think I can do it?”

Kane choked, beating on his chest with the palm of his hand.
“I’d love to see this.”

“I already have someone in mind.”

Kane slowed as they approached Jess’ door. “Here?”

JB nodded and pressed her doorbell.

Kane put up a hand. “Man, I don’t even want to know who it
is. Keep me in the dark for as long as possible. Taio will kill you.”

“She’ll be worth it.”

Kane groaned as Jess’ door slid open—and JB’s jaw dropped.
He’d never seen Jess look the way she looked now.

“Jess, you…you…” Kane said, trying to find his words.

Jess took a step back and looked down at her gown. “Do you
hate it? Do I look stupid?” She picked at the dress. “I knew it. I look
stupid.”

She wore a white formfitting gown. The hem brushed the
floor. It was plain but she was radiant.

JB grabbed her hands in his. “You look beautiful.”

Jess shuffled her feet. “I look ridiculous. I told Eva that
I can’t pull this off.”

Her soft curls brushed her shoulders. Her work boots were
replaced with slippers. And the permanent scowl she’d worn just months before
had disappeared.

She looked like a brand-new woman.

Kane tucked a curl behind her ear. “I wasn’t expecting you
to look so beautiful. You made me stupefied.”

“Really?”

“You clean up good, Jess,” JB said.

She punched him on the arm—hard.

“Is that them?” Eva yelled from Jess’ bedroom.

“Yes,” Jess yelled over her shoulder. She stepped back,
allowing JB and Kane to enter her apartment. “I can’t remember the last time I
even wore a dress.”

JB gave her an approving look up and down. “I always
pictured you in a dress. But in my dreams, your dress was black and a lot
shorter. You usually had on fishnets and red heels…”

“And I’m sure there was porno music playing in the
background too,” she said.

“Of course.”

She rolled her eyes at him.

Sa’Mya came out of the bedroom first. “I think she’s gone
crazy.”

“Who?”

Kane barely had a chance to ask before Eva came out, pushing
Sa’Mya aside. “You guys are late! Come on, time to get dressed.”

“Oh,” Kane and JB both replied.

According to Eva, they could multitask. While they dressed,
she talked to them about the significance of the ceremony and taught them the chants
that were meant to evoke the spirit of the Ancients to bless the union.

Eva talked nonstop and Jess hardly talked at all. Her nerves
seemed to have gotten the better of her.

On the way to the ceremony, Eva made them repeat the chants
over and over again. When JB tried to think of anything else, Eva was right
there, asking him to recite alien words he didn’t know.

Jess had a fine sheen of sweat over her face. “Do you think
he’s crazy for wanting to spend the rest of his life with me?” she nervously
asked Kane.

“Calm down. He knows a good girl when he sees one.”

“No time for bullshit, Jess,” Eva said as she pushed her to
the back and made everyone else line up in front of her.

Jess nodded. “Right, no bullshit.”

Wearing the white robe Eva had given him, JB entered the
empty room behind Kane. Eva and Sa’Mya followed him.

As instructed, they took their seats on the pillows provided
for them on the floor. He watched Jess take her designated seat on an oversized
pillow. The anxiety and self-doubt that had plagued her for years now seemed
replaced with hope. She grinned at him over her shoulder. Excitement and joy
radiated across her face. She was a woman in love and JB couldn’t have been
happier for her. He returned her grin. If anyone deserved a happy ending, it
was Jess. She’d been through hell while enslaved at the brothel.

Turning around, Jess settled on her heels. She straightened
her back and held her head high. Everyone came to attention as Queen Xochis,
Saia, Taio and Jor’Dan—Sa’Mya’s head guard—entered the room through the door on
the opposite side. Jess inhaled sharply as Rasha came through last. Rasha’s
gaze immediately found Jess and his face melted into a smile.

JB watched as Saia made her way to the pillow across from
his. She only had eyes for him. Her hair was twisted into a fat bun and she
wore the slightest hint of makeup, a silver shimmering around her eyelashes
bringing out the lavender in her eyes. Her lips were the softest shade of pink.
He imagined the plumpness in them had been caused by the kisses he’d given her
the night before.

She was one of a kind. He’d been right when he’d told her
Ranuit Pi would take one look and not want to give her up, because JB certainly
didn’t want to.

A pang started in his chest.