On a Rogue Planet (15 page)

The woman scanned the bar, her attractive face dominated by yellow eyes with dark, elongated pupils and a generous mouth.

When she spotted Justyn, she stiffened and strode his way. Her long legs ate up the distance.

“Phoenix,” she growled.

Mal blinked. The woman also had a beautiful voice. Deep, smoky, and smooth as expensive whiskey. She sounded like she should be singing in a jazz club, not working Patrol.

If she were a ship, she’d be a modified Trandlan scoutship. All spit and polish on the outside but with secret modifications that gave the unexpected.

Justyn smiled and lifted his arms up, palms flat. “Captain Sander, a pleasure seeing you here—”

“Cut the crap,” the captain bit out.

“Now if I’m not mistaken, you’re off-duty and I’m not currently engaged in anything…of the less legal variety.” Justyn’s smile stayed in place.

The tension pumping between them was so thick Mal felt like she could reach out and touch it.

“It was you in that little ship of yours that I just chased at the quadrant border three hours ago. You were carrying illegal weapons, my sensors picked it up.”

Justyn tilted his head. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, Captain Smooth.”

At the nickname, Sander’s yellow eyes narrowed. “You are full of shit, Phoenix.” Then the tension dropped away and the tiniest hint of smile flickered. “And you’re right, I’m off-duty and need a drink. It’s been a hellish day.”

Justyn leaped forward. “Let me buy you one.” His grin was set to megawatt charming as he sidled up beside the captain. “I think maybe I owe you.”

Captain Sander snorted. “You owe me about a hundred, Phoenix.”

Mal knew out here on the edge, the lines between the law and those who skirted it got a little blurred. Besides, it was an unwritten rule that in a bar like Moonrakers, rank and file were left at the door.

The captain glanced at the table. “Sorry to interrupt.” Her gaze touched on Justyn’s brothers and she inclined her head. “Dare. Rynan.”

“Nissa,” Dare acknowledged. “Have that drink. It makes him easier to handle.”

“He drives us to drink as well,” Rynan added.

Nissa Sander’s wide mouth moved into real smile. “And here I thought he reserved it just for me.”

“Captain Smooth, I keep a special brand of crazy just for you.”

She rolled her eyes before spinning and heading for the bar. The captain’s wry “Why am I not surprised” drifted back and made Malin smile.

Xander shifted impatiently. “Can we get back to Forge?”

Dare sipped his ale. “Sure.”

“What else do you know…apart from his party-planning skills?” Mal pulled a face. “We aren’t planning to party with him.”

“Well, I heard this morning that invites went out for a ball.” A small smile played around Dare’s lips. “It includes the exact coordinates of Technis and a way to get through Forge’s pretty slick security.”

Mal felt Xander’s muscles tense.

“You have an invite?” Xander asked.

“No.”

Mal’s shoulders drooped.

Dare’s smile widened. “But I know someone right here on Galaxy’s Edge who’s got one.”

Back on the
Infinitas
, Xander listened to the Phoenix clan arguing who would accompany him and Malin to misappropriate the invite to Technis.

Apparently a Galaxy’s Edge denizen by the name of Blon Arar was a regular on Technis. He owned several bars and clubs here on the station. And he liked pretty women and loud parties.

He was holding a party tonight.

And Xander would be gatecrashing.

They’d agreed that all six Phoenix men could hardly attend. They were too noticeable. What they needed was to slip into the party and out of it with Arar’s invite as quietly as possible.

He glanced back toward the cabins, waiting for Malin to appear. She’d gone to dress for the club where Arar’s party was being held.

“Fine, we’ll draw straws,” Dathan snapped. “One of us and one of you guys.”

Dare stared for a second. “Fine.”

Xander wondered just how off-the-charts the testosterone readings in the room would be. He wanted to tell them he hardly needed backup, but he knew they were all more concerned with Malin’s safety and that he couldn’t argue with.

He initially hadn’t wanted her to come, but he knew he’d blend in better with her by his side than alone.

“Damn it,” Zayn muttered. Some of the others grumbled as well.

“Okay, Nik you’re it and looks like Justyn will be with you,” Dathan said. “You take care of Mal.”

“Think I’ll just keep any eye on Xander since he’ll be glued to Mal’s side,” Nik said dryly.

Dare stood. “Justyn knows how to dress the part. Nik and Xander, Arar’s clubs like their clientele to dress up. Slacks, silk shirts, that kind of thing.”

Nik and Xander traded a glance before Nik sighed. “Fine.”

That was when Malin walked in. Xander felt a crazy kick in his chest.

He’d seen her in practically nothing on Rhage, but for some reason her outfit now made his blood heat even more. Maybe because he knew this was something she’d choose to wear when she wasn’t in her salvage yard or workshop.

The dress was a bright-silver color and hugged her body. It came up high around her neck and slicked down to just above her knees. It covered far more than her Rhage disguise and it shouldn’t affect him this way.

“Who won the argument?” she asked.

“Nik and Justyn,” Dathan said from his slouch against the holo-table.

She stopped and turned. “Will I do?”

Every single drop of blood in Xander’s body headed south. The dress…had no back. It left a swath of her beautiful, creamy skin and the delicate knobs of her spine bare. The fabric reappeared just above the gentle curves of her bottom and drew his eye there.

She couldn’t go out in public like that. He didn’t want any man looking at her.

“Well, sweet cousin, Malin—” Dare raised a brow “—you certainly polish up very, very nicely.”

She blew him a playful kiss, then her gaze was on Xander.

“You have to get changed,” he said.

Her face fell. “What?”

“Find something else to wear. With more fabric.”

Zayn shook his head. “Man, for a super-enhanced cyborg, you are dense.”

Justyn grinned, munching on a hydroponic apple he’d grabbed from the galley. “You have a lot to learn about women.”

Malin pressed a hand to her hip. “What’s wrong with my dress?”

“There isn’t anything to it.”

“That’s the point, Xander. To showcase what’s under it.”

Xander’s mind went blank. Vaguely he was aware of all Malin’s cousins drifting away. Either to give them privacy or to get out of the line of fire.

Looking at the fury flickering in Malin’s eyes, he guessed the latter.

“I don’t want other men looking at you. Wanting you.” He didn’t want her to see other men, normal men, who could offer her all the things he was incapable of.

The fire in her face ebbed away. “I’m wearing this for you, stupid man.” She stepped closer and pressed her palms to his chest. “Don’t you think I look nice?”

“No.” He wrapped an arm around her and yanked her up off her feet until her face was close to his. He buried his face in her neck and pulled in the sweet scent of her. “You look incredible. But I still prefer you in cargo pants.”

He had to taste her. When he took her mouth, the way she leaned into him and kissed him back made his cock go rock hard. Giving in to the urge he’d had since he’d seen her damn backless dress, he ran a hand down her spine. And lower, letting his hand dip below the fabric to the upper curves of her ass.

He made an unsettling discovery and stiffened. “You aren’t wearing anything under this.” His voice sounded hoarse.

She smiled. “Nope.”

“I think you want to share more…experiences with me later.”

She licked her lips. “I hope so.”

“Xander?”

Niklas’ voice jerked them both out of the little sensual cocoon they’d woven.

The other man was standing near the corridor to the cabins. “We need to get changed. The party’s starting and we have an invite to steal, remember?”

Xander heard the dry sarcasm in the man’s voice but felt too good to let it bother him. With a nod, he left Malin, his fingers trailing one last time over her bare back and followed her cousin.

Half an hour later, Xander, Nik, Justyn and Malin walked toward the door of Ecstasy, Blon Arar’s nightclub. Loud music blared from inside and at the ornate metal doorway, a large syndroid bouncer stood with his arms crossed over his wide chest.

As they reached him, his fluorescent blue eyes scanned them and he held up a hand. “You are not on the list.”

Xander touched a hand to the droid’s shoulder. He quickly interfaced with the machine and reworked the droid’s programming.

The droid stepped back. “You’re free to enter.”

“Handy,” Justyn murmured.

They stepped into Ecstasy.

Multi-colored lights flew around the room. A heaving crowd shook on the dance floor and the far wall held a huge holo-screen that projected a wild array of changing colors. The room was rimmed by a mirrored bar where people stood, two- and three-deep. At the back, Xander spied some clusters if tables and chairs, and also a doorway guarded by another syndroid.

Justyn leaned in closer. “Private party rooms. Blon likes to invite some of the most beautiful ladies back there.”

“Let’s find out where Arar is.” Xander started forward, and wasn’t surprised when the crowd parted for him. Women cast him appreciative glances but when they spotted his implants, most of those gazes skated away and fell instead on Niklas or Justyn.

Malin twined her arm through his. “You were worried about people looking at me. All the ladies are looking at you.”

He saw her scowl at a tall redhead who was brave enough to edge closer to him. The woman turned around with a flounce.

Xander found he liked Malin’s possessiveness. He slipped an arm around her waist. Because while she might be focused on the women, he noticed plenty of men staring at her.

When they reached the area where the tables were, Xander still hadn’t seen Arar. He looked at Justyn. “Anything?”

The smuggler shook his head. “He’s usually out here lording it over the place. Unless he’s taken some ladies back to the private room.” Justyn scanned the crowd with a narrowed gaze. “Niklas and I will ask around, then can you work your magic with the droid?”

Xander nodded. “Be quick.” He tugged Malin over toward the entrance to the private areas and the droid bouncer.

When they neared the table and armchairs closest to the guard, Xander gave a cool stare to the people sitting there. One look and they scrambled up and left.

He sank into the chair and before Malin could perch on the chair beside him, he tugged her into his lap.

“Hey.” She settled back against him, despite the mock protest.

“I want you close.” And he wanted to stake his claim. If Xenia and his team could see him now, claiming a woman, they’d be shocked. He smoothed a hand down one slim shoulder, enjoyed her shiver.

He teased the hem of her dress, his finger making lazy circles at the back of her knee. He loved how soft her skin was. He pressed his lips to the side of her neck. To that sensitive spot he’d learned she liked.

She squirmed. “I think I’ve created a monster.”

He’d been called a monster before. By enemies, by people who only saw his implants. This time, however, that term didn’t bother him. For her, he was a beast wracked with desire.

He placed one last kiss on her neck before he straightened. “Your cousins are returning.”

Nik and Justyn slid into the seats across from them.

“He’s here. People have seen him,” Niklas said.

“He’s in the backroom,” Justyn said. “A very…helpful brunette told me he took a woman back there. An extremely beautiful blonde with a killer body and multicolored eyes like a nebula.”

Malin went stiff as a board and Niklas let out a curse before he shoved to his feet.

Justyn frowned and stood slowly. “What’d I miss?”

“Darc,” Niklas said in a black voice. “Nera Darc.”

***

Niklas Phoenix watched with monumental impatience as Xander took care of the droid guarding the door to Blon Arar’s private party room.

Nera was here.

With every muscle in his body tensed to breaking point, Niklas shouldered through the doorway and stormed inside.

He wasn’t sure what he expected. He guessed it should be what he saw now.

Arar was sitting on his butt, huddled against the wall, his black hair disheveled, his eyes wide. He had a trim build and was clad in a slick red suit. A bruise was forming on his cheek. He was going to have a hell of a black eye for the medscope to fix.

Jaw tight, Nik scanned the room.

It was empty.

No sign of a tall, pain-in-the-ass treasure hunter.

“Fuck.” He narrowly resisted the urge to slam his fist into the wall.

Justyn also muttered a curse and followed Mal and Xander as they approached Arar.

The man was shaking. “She…hit me. She took it.”

Mal crouched down. “You’re okay now. What did she take?”

“M-my invite. To my friend’s party.” He blinked his eyes, still a little dazed. “She was gorgeous, like a dream. I wanted to fuck her—”

Before he realized what he’d done, Nik grabbed the man around the throat, yanked him up and slammed his against the wall. “Where did she go?”

Arar’s eyes flickered around like crazy, not landing on any of them and avoiding Nik completely. “I don’t know, man.” When Nik shook him, Arar’s voice rose. “I don’t, I swear! She was here one minute, whispering hot things in my ear, the next she hit me, took the invite and was gone. Like a fricking nebula ghost.”

Nik released him and watched him drop back onto his butt.

“Xander, don’t worry. We’ll find her.”

Malin’s voice yanked Nik out of his dark thoughts. One glance and he saw the CenSec was tense as a board and obviously ready to hurt someone.

“I’ve failed.”

For the first time, Nik heard something in the cyborg’s voice that wasn’t just mechanical blankness. Desolation? Despair?