Read Online No Mercy by Jenna McCormick - Free Book Online

he’d used her. Protecting her wasn’t his job, and from what he’d seen the woman could take care of herself.
    â€œIsabella was my wife.” The words came out before he was fully aware of the decision to speak them.
    Her head whipped around. “So that was your dream?”
    â€œMy memory,” he corrected. “Xander had her raped and tortured to death, made me watch the whole thing. We’re in his system, on his planet. That’s why I checked out on you yesterday.”
    She started at him a moment, her expression unreadable. He silently begged any deity that might be eavesdropping to keep her from offering him sympathy. He didn’t think he could take it without losing the tiny shred of control he still held.
    A minute ticked by, their gazes locked. He saw the instant she came to a decision because Gia nodded crisply, then handed over one of the nutri supplements she had clutched in her fists. “So Hosta is his space?”
    Zan took the vial but didn’t drink it. She didn’t need to know the extent of his relationship to Xander, and for some reason he didn’t want to tell her. “Yeah. He’s one of the big baddies I was warning you about, who would kill you because you have my memories.”
    She sat down facing him, rolling her own unopened vial between her palms. Her thermal blanket gaped and he saw her bare legs, pale as the moonlight on fresh snow. Despite the discussion his cock stirred with renewed interest. He downed his own vial and glanced away, sure of the guilt this time. Here he sat talking about his wife who’d been tortured to death and still his body wanted Gia’s. The way they fit together was nothing short of miraculous, and coming inside her gave him precious moments of reprieve when he didn’t have to plot or scheme. Free from worry for the first time in a century.
    No wonder he craved Gia. It wasn’t really her he wanted, only the relief she offered, the first he’d known since the death of his wife. He closed his eyes, apologizing to Isabella for his weakness. He’d loved her, had suffered without her, and was looking down the barrel of only more misery to come.
    â€œWhat do we do now?” Gia’s soft question broke him from his inner turmoil.
    Zan appreciated the fact that she didn’t dwell on his lies or probe at his wounds but focused on saving their hides. “I’m open to suggestions.”
    â€œWe need transportation. On the ground we’re seriously outnumbered, but in space we’d stand a fighting chance.”
    â€œDo you think there’s any hope in retrieving the stinger?”
    Gia popped open her own vial, knocked it back, and dipped her foot in the water. She stared out over the distance at some point unseen. The swirl of her toes was incredibly erotic. He wanted to suck them dry and work his way up.
    She shook her head, her expression tinged with sadness. “I don’t see how.”
    The small starship had been her home. “I’m sorry you lost it.”
    She nodded, accepting his words. The corner of her mouth kicked up. “But not sorry you kidnapped me?”
    Slowly, he shook his head. “Seems as though I’m addicted to you, and I reckon you are getting mighty used to me too. How I make you feel. What do you say, Gia? Ready for your next fix?”
    Â 
    Gia stared into Zan’s golden eyes, totally mesmerized. How could he change gears so fast? She’d felt how much he’d loved Isabella, had experienced his fear for her and the blinding rage at her death firsthand. No matter how nuclear hot the sex was between them, how could he possibly want her when he’d just relived loss like that?
    And part of her, a small, petty part that she didn’t want to fully acknowledge, didn’t like playing at his consolation prize. First Gen and now the memory of a beloved wife competing for his attention. Gia didn’t play games she stood no