Hot Redemption (8 page)

“I bet you do.” I got up right next to them, leaned toward Mr. Lip-Licking McIntyre, and in a blur, wrapped my hand around his neck. “Make sure that tongue remains in your mouth and those hands stay to the side the whole trip. My nose is full of enhanced sensors. I smell you on my . . . sister and I spend my first day in glorious Trinity wiring you to an opened electric socket with your intestines.”

“Let him go. Now, dammit.” Nix beat against my arm.

I looked at her and tightened my grip on his neck. “Let go of who?”

The poor guy struggled to breath. His brown skin darkened. He pushed at my fingers with his hands. The people around us turned away, no doubt pressing an emergency button or signaling for robotic security.

“Epic, stop,” Nix snarled.

I released him and backed up. “Sorry.”

McIntyre bobbed his head. “No. No. That's okay.”

“It's just when I think of my sister's virginity being taken, I worry.” I shrugged.

The fool cleared his throat and massaged his neck. “Of course. I understand.”

Nix jumped up and smoothed down the silk material with her hands. “We need to talk, brother dearest.”

“Where?”

“Bathroom.” She marched off to the end of her aisle. The green leather shined in the transport's light as it trailed behind her. Even pissed off and rushing away, she hypnotized me.

“And what are we going to talk about, dear sister?” I called after her as I strolled her way.

She glared at me, yanked open the door, and hurried in.

I stifled a chuckle and covered my dick with my hands, knowing that would probably be the first thing she'd strike. It took me long enough, but I was slowly unfolding this puzzle of a woman.

First rule: if you piss her off, then cover your equipment.

CHAPTER 8

Phoenix

I stared up into Epic's chiseled face as I pulled the door shut behind us in the tiny transport bathroom. He looked slightly nervous, like I might hit him or something. The thought made me smile. I jerked my arm suddenly and laughed out loud when his large hands cupped his crotch protectively as he flinched away from me.

“What's so funny?” Epic grumbled while eyeing me warily.

“I'm not going to hit you.” I bit my lip and smirked. “It's no fun when you're prepared for it.”

Epic grimaced as my words sank in. “You're one sadistic bitch.”

“I've been called worse.” I frowned. “What was that about out there?”

“Just a brother taking care of his sister.” He spit the words out like they disgusted him.

“Don't do that again.” I waved my hand toward the door.

“I won't promise you that I won't. In fact, I probably will do it every time I see a piece-of-crap guy near you.”

“Why? We're just friends.” An exasperated breath left my lips. I had a sinking feeling I already knew. My little intimate thank you to him the other day had him feeling possessive. Maybe I should have cuddled him. Nothing like a clingy woman to send a guy like Epic running for the hills. He only wanted me because he couldn't have me. I knew his type. Teddy had been the same way.

Fresh anger rolled off Epic as he glared down at me. “You really going to whore yourself out to the likes of
him
?”

I moved close enough to Epic that we were only separated by a hair's width. I wasn't about to tell him I don't whore myself out. I'm a grade-A first-class tease. When things got too serious, I bounced. “It's none of your business what I do. You have no claim on me. Business is the only type of relationship between us.”

“Business?” He spat. “If what you did to me the other day was business, then I don't want you doing business with anyone else.”

“You have no claims on me,” I hissed before letting a saccharine smile settle on my face. “And besides, that was just a friendly little mouth hug.”

Epic's jaw dropped. “A-a mouth hug?” he sputtered, causing me to laugh.

“Yes, a mouth hug. It was a thank you for that wonderful ride home you and Diamond gave me.”

“You hug a lot of guys with your mouth?” Epic asked with a scowl.

“It's none of your business what I do with my mouth, or any other part of my body, for that matter.” I couldn't resist the urge to press myself against his large frame while running my hands up his muscular arms. “If you stop being an extreme thug trying to control me, then maybe you'll be gifted with another mouth hug.”

His body tensed.

“You want another one, don't you?”

“Yes, and I'd rather that sexy mouth not hug anyone else.” He glared at me and tugged me toward him so my whole body smoothed against his. I inhaled his cologne and my eyes fluttered shut briefly.

Damn, he smells good
.

“We're not together. You don't get to tell me what I do with anyone else.”

He slid his hands down the sides of my body. Goosebumps rose wherever he touched. “Then leave this guy alone and just hang with me until the hit is over.”

“Two months?”

“Not that long at all.” He cupped my ass and groaned.

“It's not in my plan, Epic.”

He dipped his head and whispered in my ear, “But it could be.” His lips brushed against the lobe. Pleasure blossomed in my chest.

I can't do this.

“No.” My eyes snapped open and I pushed away from him.

“What do you mean
no?
” He sucked on the curve of my neck and dove his hands into my corset. His fingers seized a nipple. I slapped his hand away.

“Not going to happen,” I stated flatly, even though my nipples pebbled from desire and hardened. “I'm sorry if you got the wrong idea, Epic, but there's nothing but business between us. So stop fucking around and leave me to attend to Mr. McIntyre. Go back with your family, where you belong.”

“Oh, that's rich. You actually think you belong with these people? Like you could fit in with them.” Anger seeped from every pore of Epic's body, causing his skin to flush.

“I do fit in, in case you haven't noticed. I—”

Epic's hand slammed above my head, causing me to flinch involuntarily. “You don't fit in. They just want to fuck you.”

“All men just want to fuck me. That never changes where ever I go.” I wasn't clueless. Men were men, no matter their station in life.

Epic's hand slid down the wall and fisted in my hair. “It doesn't have to be that way. I could take care of you.”

Arrogant man
.

“I don't need you or anyone to take care of me. I can take care of myself.” I was seething. How dare he think I needed him or anyone to take care of me.

“Yeah, you were doing so well in that shitty-ass place you were living in.” Epic's other hand came to rest on my hip, his fingers pressing into me. I inhaled sharply, resisting the sudden urge to press myself into him. “You don't need someone to take care of you, but you're out there pushing yourself up on some ugly rich guy.”

“He's a means to an end and I was doing fine without you. Especially once you provided me with all that money.”

“See, I'm already providing for you.” Epic's hand slipped from my hip to cup my ass. I wasn't sure why, but I didn't protest when he pulled me back snug against him.

“Is that what you call me ripping you guys off?” I asked breathily.

“Yeah, sure, whatever you want, Nixie baby,” Epic rumbled distractedly. “You've been on my mind every moment of these past days. I've been thinking of you and dreaming I'd get a chance to be near you. You think of me, Nixie baby?”

“A little.”

“Just a little?” He groaned as I undulated my hot core against his thigh. God, I loved it. His firm muscles tightened against my throbbing center. The hand he had in my hair moved to cup the back of my neck and he brought his forehead down to rest against mine. His other hand began pulling my skirt up, one slow merciless inch at a time.

What is it about this man?

Everything in my mind said no, but everything in my body said yes. Hadn't I learned anything from my relationship with Teddy?

“I think about sitting down and just talking to you and looking into those amazing green eyes of yours.”

“Epic,” I moaned as his fingers finally slipped along the bare skin of my thigh.

“But most of all, I think about slipping inside of you.” He then pulled me roughly to meet his lips. His tongue dove into my mouth to take control and I let him. I reached up and tangled my fingers in his long blond hair, sighing because it was as soft as I had imagined. But something was wrong. A familiar tang washed over my taste buds, one that I could never forget.

No way. Not Epic too.

I ripped myself away from Epic's embrace. “Quake!”

His eyes widened with surprise and his expression confirmed what I already knew to be true. “Why'd you say that word?”

“Because you're a fucking drug addict.”
Just like Teddy
! I mentally screamed.
How could I be so blind?

“No, I'm not an addict I'm just—”

“That's what they all say,” I spat at him. “But I can assure you, whether that's your first or thousandth snort, you're already an addict. Quake isn't a social drug. Junkies prefer it most of all because it hooks you at the first snort and never lets go.”

“That's not true. I'm no junkie,” Epic growled.

I pushed at him, my stomach clenching with disgust.
How could I have let him touch me?
Another Quake addict. “Get out of my way. This was a mistake. I shouldn't have agreed to work with you.”

Epic grabbed my arm roughly as I tried to push past him in the small space. “I can stop anytime I want.”

I closed my eyes and shook my head, not wanting to look at him. “If you think that, then it's already too late for you.”

“No it's not.” Epic's grip loosened at my words and I pushed out of the bathroom. I hurried back to my seat beside Mr. McIntyre and hoped Epic wouldn't follow me.

As I sat, Mr. McIntyre looked up at me and frowned. “Problem, my dear?”

“Yes.” I pushed down a sob. “My brother, well he…” I leaned forward and whispered in his ear, “I think he's on drugs.”

“No.” He gasped, wrapping his arm around me as I laid my head on his shoulder. “I'm so sorry. Do you know what kind?”

Oh, I knew exactly what Epic was on, and I knew exactly what quake would do to him too. With each snort, it ate away the user's mind. In a year or less, twisted delusions would swim through his brain. He would need it all the time, every minute of every hour. He wouldn't be able to do anything without it—eat, walk, shit, or sleep. And then the rage would overtake him. Anger merged with delusions would mean that someone would have to handle him before he killed or injured anyone.

Do his brothers know?

“Darling, I'm so sorry.” Mr. McIntyre hugged me some more. “What can I do for you? I'd do anything. I know we've only known each other for a day, but I feel a connection between us.”

“Me too.”
What can he do for me in regards to Epic? Nothing.
But if I was going to play off Epic's erratic behavior to my benefit, I had to not break character. “I-I'm not sure,” I stammered. “I can just tell—I've seen it before.”

Mr. McIntyre patted my back and slid his hand down much too close to my ass. I stiffened for a moment and then began to sob. My breakdown stopped his roaming hand in its tracks. “I don't know what to do.”

“Now, now, I'll take care of everything.” He patted me.

I continued to sob even though a small smile played on my face. I tilted my head just in time to see Epic come to stand in my line of vision. He scowled. I narrowed my eyes at him, hoping he wasn't stupid enough to bother me here again. He met my gaze, his jaw clenching, before he turned and stalked back off toward the omega section.

That's right. Take your junkie self back to where you came from. I can only dedicate my heart to one junkie in a lifetime. Anymore and I would crumble into nothing.

Getting involved with Epic was the last thing I needed. Yeah, he was hot, scorchingly so, but him and his brothers were thugs and he was a quake addict. Even though it looked like we'd have a brighter future with this hit, if I hung around with Epic and his quake habit, I'd be broke again before I knew it.

My days of being poor are done.

I'd grown up in a broke family on a dusty planet at the end of the galaxy called Voldun. My ancestors were Italian and the first to leave earth for Voldun once the planet was deemed safe to live on. In those times, babies hadn't been automatically inserted with extra air passages that allowed for survival on other planets with a nonexistent supply of oxygen, at least not enough for humans to live on. Skin graph cells weren't even being injected into newborns, which now is a normal part of the labor procedure. Therefore, my ancestors served as guinea pigs. Many of them died, my mother had said. The few that survived the surgeries lived in pain on Voldun for many years.

Additionally, the Voldunese population wasn't too excited about having a mass of earthlings flooding their planet and bring with them disease. Earthlings could only get the jobs that no else wanted—cave scrubber, metal miner, and service to the lower-class Voldunese.

Things hadn't changed by the time I was born. Poverty lingered throughout childhood, but I always knew I was meant for more. Jewels and fine clothes made me comfortable—at least it did in the secret dreams I had late at night, far away from my father's spying eyes and my mother's disapproving expressions.

My dad and mom were strict, religious fanatics. They prayed to the Duchess of Light once she was re-elected into office as the head of the galaxy. She'd claimed she was immortal and a reincarnation of the Omni goddess, who created stars and life within the universe. I never bought it, even though she'd been the head of the galaxy for over a hundred years. She looked twenty and appeared like she would never die. Rumors spread that she was an android. People caught spreading that message were swiftly killed.

My dad was a Duchess of Light enforcer. He killed with no mercy if people didn't obey her. His relationship with his religion meant everything to him, so much that when he'd discovered me, as a teen, reading a magazine that was forbidden by the Duchess of Light, he beat me to a pulp. My mother stood by as he pounded his closed fists into my face. He kicked my stomach until blood spurted out of my mouth. And still he didn't stop, he yanked me up by my hair and forced me to sing the five hymns of illumination over and over until my throat was raw and my knees buckled under me. When he was satisfied, he threw me back on the ground. My mother stepped to me and relief swept over my body. Surely she would comfort and hold me, wrapping me in a mother's love.

She didn't. Instead, she whispered, “You're a disappointment to us all.”

I left that night, hitchhiking from the roof of an abandoned building so that drivers on the aerial highway could see me. My first ride carried me to an abandoned section of Mars and told me that in order to leave, I had to put my mouth on his shriveled dick. That was my first blow job. I hadn't even known what I was doing. Not that the sick pervert cared. The second ride, I met Teddy and figured he was my salvation.

“Let's get you a nice glass of wine,” Mr. McIntyre said. “Call me Pappy, by the way.”

“No problem.” I sniffed and wiped at a few fake tears that lingered.

“Shall we have some lobster brought up too, as well as sang shells from the coast of Longoria?”

I nodded. I'd heard of sang shells. They were supposed to be the most expensive seafood in the universe. I'd never tried it, but now I wanted to, if only to get my mind off Epic.