the scent of desire is thick around you. So thick I can almost feel it.”
I shook my head. Ranata, I reminded myself. Ranata must be saved! I can’t lose sight of that now. Not when I’m so close…. “You’re wrong,” I said, shaking my head. “I don’t desire any man. I…can’t. And especially not now.”
His purr intensified and he stepped closer, the flared head of his cock nearly brushing against my hand.
“Touch me again, Jacinth,” he purred. “I want to feel your hands on me. We saved each other today: you bought me and freed me, and I kept my old master from killing you. We should come together and rejoice in the knowledge that we are both still alive.”
And suddenly, there it was again: that cloud, that fog in my brain that disturbed my normally well-ordered senses. I simply could not let myself fall victim to it! It could only cause me pain, for I knew he wouldn’t want me again—not once he saw my sister, anyway. No man ever did, and he was no different from all the rest. I could not let myself be destroyed that way, not again, and especially not now.
“Yes, we’re still alive,” I conceded, “and I thank you for what you did for me, but my sister is still a slave and a prisoner. I can’t let myself forget that, not even for a moment.”
And with that, I turned away from him and retreated to the pilot’s chair once more. I was Jack Rutland, I reminded myself. Captain of the Jolly Roger. I had deals to make and a sister to rescue. I didn’t need a big
pussycat to curl up with—no matter how attractive he was, or how good he smelled, or how fabulous he felt beneath my fingers. He would mess up my brain and fill it full of mush. I’d end up blowing everything and probably end up in slavery myself. Not that anyone on Statzeel would want me—though I’d probably be the type of slave that a man would leave at home to scrub the floors while he went out and paraded around town with one of his more beautiful possessions.
Of course, that way, at least I wouldn’t have to fight it anymore. I’d just do as I was told and not have to worry about where I was going, or who I could find to give me information about my sister, or try to find another planet to search. I could simply work my tired fingers to the bone for the rest of my life and then die. I sighed deeply, thinking that it would almost be a relief, even a blessing in disguise. I wondered if Ranata felt the same way, or if she despaired of ever being found, much less of being rescued. Closing my eyes, I could see her quite clearly in my mind. Once more the terror in her eyes haunted me.
No, I couldn’t stop now, couldn’t ever stop. Not until I found her and she was safe once more. Cat would simply have to get over it. I tried to blot out all that I was feeling, resting my forehead on the heel of my hand as though the pressure of it would force all the unwanted thoughts from my mind.
It was then that I discovered another thing about my shipmate that was very cat-like, for without all of those restraints dangling from his body, he could move without a sound. I had no warning that he was close until I felt his hands on my back.
“We will find your sister, Jacinth,” he said firmly, as he began to massage my shoulders. I know I should have insisted that he stop touching me, but it felt so damn good I had to bite my lip to keep from letting out a groan. “Have you any personal belonging of hers?”
he asked. “Something she wore or touched frequently?
Something I could get her scent from? I am not the best tracker that I know of, but it may help us to find her.”
I shook my head. “No, not a thing,” I replied. “Just her photograph, though she probably looks quite different now. She was only nineteen when she was taken and she would have matured some by now. I wonder if she even remembers me.”
“You remember her, do you not?” he inquired. “I am certain that she would not forget you.”
I nodded. “You’re
I shook my head. Ranata, I reminded myself. Ranata must be saved! I can’t lose sight of that now. Not when I’m so close…. “You’re wrong,” I said, shaking my head. “I don’t desire any man. I…can’t. And especially not now.”
His purr intensified and he stepped closer, the flared head of his cock nearly brushing against my hand.
“Touch me again, Jacinth,” he purred. “I want to feel your hands on me. We saved each other today: you bought me and freed me, and I kept my old master from killing you. We should come together and rejoice in the knowledge that we are both still alive.”
And suddenly, there it was again: that cloud, that fog in my brain that disturbed my normally well-ordered senses. I simply could not let myself fall victim to it! It could only cause me pain, for I knew he wouldn’t want me again—not once he saw my sister, anyway. No man ever did, and he was no different from all the rest. I could not let myself be destroyed that way, not again, and especially not now.
“Yes, we’re still alive,” I conceded, “and I thank you for what you did for me, but my sister is still a slave and a prisoner. I can’t let myself forget that, not even for a moment.”
And with that, I turned away from him and retreated to the pilot’s chair once more. I was Jack Rutland, I reminded myself. Captain of the Jolly Roger. I had deals to make and a sister to rescue. I didn’t need a big
pussycat to curl up with—no matter how attractive he was, or how good he smelled, or how fabulous he felt beneath my fingers. He would mess up my brain and fill it full of mush. I’d end up blowing everything and probably end up in slavery myself. Not that anyone on Statzeel would want me—though I’d probably be the type of slave that a man would leave at home to scrub the floors while he went out and paraded around town with one of his more beautiful possessions.
Of course, that way, at least I wouldn’t have to fight it anymore. I’d just do as I was told and not have to worry about where I was going, or who I could find to give me information about my sister, or try to find another planet to search. I could simply work my tired fingers to the bone for the rest of my life and then die. I sighed deeply, thinking that it would almost be a relief, even a blessing in disguise. I wondered if Ranata felt the same way, or if she despaired of ever being found, much less of being rescued. Closing my eyes, I could see her quite clearly in my mind. Once more the terror in her eyes haunted me.
No, I couldn’t stop now, couldn’t ever stop. Not until I found her and she was safe once more. Cat would simply have to get over it. I tried to blot out all that I was feeling, resting my forehead on the heel of my hand as though the pressure of it would force all the unwanted thoughts from my mind.
It was then that I discovered another thing about my shipmate that was very cat-like, for without all of those restraints dangling from his body, he could move without a sound. I had no warning that he was close until I felt his hands on my back.
“We will find your sister, Jacinth,” he said firmly, as he began to massage my shoulders. I know I should have insisted that he stop touching me, but it felt so damn good I had to bite my lip to keep from letting out a groan. “Have you any personal belonging of hers?”
he asked. “Something she wore or touched frequently?
Something I could get her scent from? I am not the best tracker that I know of, but it may help us to find her.”
I shook my head. “No, not a thing,” I replied. “Just her photograph, though she probably looks quite different now. She was only nineteen when she was taken and she would have matured some by now. I wonder if she even remembers me.”
“You remember her, do you not?” he inquired. “I am certain that she would not forget you.”
I nodded. “You’re
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