The Huntress Read Online Free

that?”
    “She told me your story. It seems only right for me to help.” She eased back a bit more until her shoulder blade touched his chest, and tipped her head back slowly. “She shouldn’t be out here with the masses. It’s dangerous.” He had relaxed his grip to the point where she could move her head and she rubbed her sore scalp against his knuckles with a sigh. “Besides, I find you both—” she turned her head to meet his gaze, “—intriguing.”
    The last word came out a bit strangled. This was the first time she had seen him up close, face to face, and without goggles. The effect was devastating. His eyes were dark as velvet night and his face had a strength that sent chills dancing along her skin and heat uncoiling in her abdomen. It wasn’t just lust, though there was plenty of that—a deep exhilaration told her that this hunt was over. She was staring but couldn’t seem to help it, feeling as though her world had just tipped precariously on axis. If souls had twins, she felt certain hers was standing a hint away, heating the very air that she breathed.
    When she realized that he was also just staring into her eyes and his warm hand now cupped the back of her head, she let a slow smile curl her lips.
    That didn’t last long.
    “Not interested,” he muttered and shoved her away from him, stepping back into the darkness.
    Her smile turned predatory as she spun languidly and sauntered into the dark after him. Her instincts told her he was lying—and she always followed her instincts. “Now, don’t dismiss the idea out of hand. Think about it awhile,” she murmured low in her throat.
    She could see his shadow, but not much else. He, on the other hand, could see her more clearly. She let her eyes travel down and then back up, taking in every muscular inch of him. “I could always sweeten the deal.”
    The point of his knife at her chest stopped her forward momentum. Eyeing it for a moment and then grinning up at him, she stepped to the right and began circling. “By that I mean if you haven’t found transport by the time I’m done here, I could take you myself to a destination of your choice.” She was pleased to see that he didn’t turn with her, just watched her when she moved behind him. “Think about it. Good food, hot shower, soft bed…”
    On the last two words she ran a nail across the back of his neck. He reacted instantly, knocking her arm away and grabbing her throat. Slamming her up against the wall, he pressed the cold edge of the blade to her jugular. Stifling long years of training, she relaxed in his grip.
    “I said, not interested.” His deep, inscrutable voice didn’t sound the least bit unnerved, but his actions said otherwise.
    She chuckled low in her throat. “All right, stubborn. If your mind is made up.” She ran the backs of her fingers along the inside of his wrist.
    He immediately released her and stepped back.
    She had to bite her lip to keep from laughing.
Oh, what a tasty treat you are, tiger,
she thought with hungry humor.
    Mea headed for the stairs with remarkable restraint, speaking over her shoulder as she went. “If you change your mind, my ship is the
Starfire,
berth twelve at the spaceport. If anyone asks, just tell them Mea Brin sent you.”
    He didn’t answer, but she hadn’t expected him to. Bemused and unsettled by the encounter, she paced through the settlement for a while before reactivating her transceiver. “Warren, I’m in trouble.”
    Despite the humor in her voice, he reacted with alarm. “Do you need an evac?”
    “No, not that kind of trouble.” She told him what had happened and what offer she had made, and then laughed into the dingy sky to hear him squawk.
    *******
    Terrik stared into the darkness. Her scent lingered on his fingers and his hand still tingled from touching her. Absently he rubbed it on his thigh. Everything about that little episode had been wrong. He knew instinctively that she wasn’t going to hurt the kid,