The Bargaining Read Online Free

stud stallion the prince kept in his stables and allowed out only for ceremonial parades. Kili had always empathized with the animal and admired the image of caged power he presented as he trotted through the crowded streets.

    Maybe if she treated the prisoner as another beautiful animal, it wouldn’t be so difficult to touch him. Either way, she had to do it. If the guards looked in, all her frantic planning would be for nothing.

    Her hands trembled just a little as she laid them on either side of Deacon’s spine. They looked pale and small resting there. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes for a moment, gathered her courage, and began the kneading motions of a massage.

    His body amazed her. Compared to the prince’s soft, pampered form, he felt like solid rock, his flesh barely shifting under the pressure of her hands. He grunted and she gave a little jump.

    “You’re gonna have to do better than that,” he growled from where his head was pillowed on his forearms. “Go ahead and put your back into it, or I won’t even feel it. Trust me, I can take it.”

    “Yes, D-Deacon.”

    She did as he asked, leaning forward and pressing with more strength, the heels of her hands digging into the planes of muscle and kneading out some of the stiffness. As she worked, she started to realize that some of what she’d assumed was the natural hardness of well-developed muscle tissue was actually stiffening caused by tension and injury. She worked hard to find those pockets of stress and work them out with the pressure of her hands.

    Kili worked in silence for several minutes before she flicked her glance up to the prisoner’s face and saw his dark eyes watching her over his shoulder.

    “Not that I don’t appreciate the spa treatment, muffin,” he said, “but I thought you said you wanted to talk to me about something. You want to get around to talking?”

    She felt the blush staining her cheeks. “I’m sorry. Yes, I do wish to speak with you. I arranged to do something worthy of punishment so that I would be sent to the kitchens and I would have an excuse to see you when I was sent to deliver your food.”

    “What did you do?”

    She hesitated, then shook her head. “It’s not important. What is important is that you listen to me very carefully and know that the bargain I am offering you should have much value in your estimation.”

    His shoulders shifted beneath her hands in a shrug. “I’m listening. What did you have in mind?”

    Kili took a deep breath and forced the words out before she could lose her courage. From this point on, there would be no turning back. “I can help you escape from the prison and from the city. I can help you break free.”

    One of his dark eyebrows quirked. “Well, I guessed that much. When you came in here and instead of feeding me like a good girl, you offered me a bargain, I didn’t think you were talking about discount hull patches for my ship.”

    She frowned. “If you knew what I would say, why did you ask me to say it?”

    He snorted. “I guessed you were going to offer to help me out here, but I didn’t know what you wanted in return. Still don’t.” His mouth twisted wryly. “It’s not like I’ve got credits to burn at the moment.”

    Kili shook her head impatiently and her long hair fell forward to spill against Deacon’s back. She thought she saw him twitch. “No, I have no desire for money.”

    Deacon lifted his head a little to look at her more closely. “Then what?”

    Kili closed her eyes and dove off the cliff. “I want you to take me with you.”

    “Shit. I fucking knew it.”

     

    Chapter Six

     

    Deacon ran through a quick mental list of swear words in seven languages and then made a mental note to learn at least seven more. How the fuck did he always manage to end up in these messes?

    Growling, he twisted onto his back faster than she could blink and grabbed her by the arms, trying not to notice how soft she felt in his