Starblind (Starblind #1) Read online

I was already down the ramp and back in the station when Masha’s excited shrieks met my ears. I just shook my head, continuing on to port two. She is absolutely ridiculous about that engine. But it did make her the best mechanic I’d ever come across.

  As the large starship with the name The Phoenix painted on the side loomed in front of me, I couldn’t help but think, My day just took a turn towards interesting.

  Life as a bounty hunter, constantly moving from one place to the next, didn’t allow for much dating or the cultivation of meaningful, lasting romantic relationships. I felt lucky to have my crew, and never expected much else.

  Unfortunately, my body still had needs, and occasionally I felt compelled to seek relief from something other than my battery-operated boyfriend. Ash intrigued me despite my dislike of his character. I didn’t need to like someone to have chemistry with them sexually. In fact, some of the best sex I’d ever had was with men I couldn’t stand.

  I didn’t hesitate before marching up the ramp that led into The Phoenix. I paused once I was inside to inspect things. Ash’s ship was newer than mine—sleeker, too—on the inside and outside. I ran my fingers along the wall as I walked. Everything was smooth. Yeah, definitely a better grade ship than a Chimay. His ship felt sterile, though; too pristine, too perfect. Maybe I was biased, but I’d take my slightly older, beaten up ship over his any day. The imperfections of The Pittsburgh gave it character, and made it my home.

  “Does The Phoenix pass your inspection?” Ash seemed to appear out of nowhere directly in front of me. He stood with his legs spread apart, and his arms hanging loosely at his sides. He wanted me to think he was relaxed, but the tension in his muscles belied his true feelings.

  Is he anticipating his interaction with me as much as I am with him?

  “Do you really care about what I think about your ship? Oooor,” I drawled out as I approached him slowly, sashaying my hips seductively, “would you rather know what I think about you?”

  I reached out my hand to touch him, but he snagged my wrist, holding it away from his body. I squirmed, wanting to yank away, but allowed him to control our interaction. For now.

  “I wondered if you’d actually show up. I had my doubts.”

  As I licked my lips, his gaze followed the movement. “Well, here I am. What are you going to do about it?”

  He shook his head while studying me. “I know what I should do.”

  I quirked an eyebrow. “Oh? What’s that?”

  “Toss you and that sexy little ass right off this ship. I know you’re after the bounty on my head.” Despite his words he pulled me abruptly into his chest. My hands curled into his shirt on instinct and my body hummed with anticipation. He was so warm, and something about that warmth called to me, just like it had the first time I’d run into him.

  “Then why would you keep your seduction mojo going? Why invite me here in the first place? You want me as much as I want you. We can sort the rest out … after.” I hooked my leg around his hip, pressing myself against him.

  “No mojo.” His voice dipped low, rough with desire. “What are you? Besides human, that is? What I think you are … is wishful thinking on my part and that’s all.”

  I swiveled my pelvis, and he hissed in response. “I don’t know and don’t care. What are you?” Gripping his shoulders, I pulled myself tightly into him and dipped my face to the exposed skin of his neck. God, he smells divine. How could someone who dressed in such crappy clothes smell so damn good? On its own volition, my tongue snaked out to taste him. Mmm … he’s delicious, too. His flavor was indefinable, and yet strangely familiar to some part of me. I wanted to lick every inch of him. Twice.

  “It doesn’t matter,” he said, groaning.

  “What?” I muttered. I’d forgotten what we were talking about. Words are overrated anyways. I sucked on the patch of skin I’d just licked. I was hot and achy. I needed … I just needed Ash.

  “Fuck it,” Ash growled, and I found myself suddenly pressed against the smooth metal wall. His lips slanted over mine, his tongue plunging in to take control of my mouth. The kiss only lasted a moment before his overheated lips blazed a trail down my body.

  “Wha—Aaaah!” I tried to speak, tried to ask him what he was doing, or about to do … I was surprised he wasn’t just going to fuck me right there against the wall. But when my skirt was pushed above my hips, my panties ripped from my body, and Ash’s tongue delved inside of me … well, my brain completely short-circuited.

  “You taste so fucking good,” he purred against my sensitive flesh, causing me to moan loudly. I clutched wildly at the wall, sliding down a bit when I couldn’t find anything to dig my fingers into. Ash cupped my ass and lifted, settling my legs over his shoulders so he had better access.

  As he worked me over with his mouth and tongue, I continued making nonsensical noises. I’d never felt anything like what he was doing to me. I didn’t want him to stop, and yet it was almost too much. I tried to push him away, but my actions only made him redouble his efforts. My body heated, and Ash no longer felt warmer than me; we were the same temperature. My muscles coiled tight. I threw my head back, arching against the wall.

  “Holy fuck!” I screamed, convulsing around his tongue. I was on fire. Every nerve ending in my body had gone up in flames.

  Before I had time to collect myself, I was on my feet, and spun around to face the wall. Ash’s rough hands tipped my ass up, and he pushed into me from behind. I whimpered.

  “Fuck,” he growled into my ear, his teeth clamping over my lobe.

  He moved roughly against me—no slow build for him. He started fast, and moved into a brutal pace. He filled me up so perfectly. The friction between us dropped me over the edge into another mind-blowing orgasm. I clawed at the wall, bucking against him. As I quivered around him, he exploded inside of me, which rolled me right into orgasm number three. I was dumb with bliss. Spots of color danced in front of my eyes, and my entire existence seemed to narrow down to focus solely on Ash. Ash. Ash. God, I want more. So much more of him. I ground against him, quivering with need.

  But there was something I needed to do … something—Shit. How did I forget? I fumbled for the laser cuffs on my belt, somehow managing to get one cuff around Ash’s wrist.

  “Un-fucking-believable. My dick is still inside of you.”

  “I’m well aware.” My chest heaved as I tried to catch my breath. “Please … um, pull out.” I winced. I was glad no one was around to witness what was going on between Ash and myself. It definitely wouldn’t help the rumors about me. Not that I really care about anyone’s opinions, except my crew’s. I can almost hear Zula now ... she’d be beyond angry at my stupidity.

  While still holding the other end of the cuffs, I pushed myself off of the wall as Ash disengaged himself from me. Turning around to face him, I tried not to look at his cock, which was still semi hard and hanging out of the front of his pants.

  Ash grinned at me, his blue eyes erupting in flames. “Thanks for that. It was exactly what I needed. And now I have my answers about you.” He leaned forward, smashing his lips against mine before his entire body morphed into flames, the shape only vaguely in the shape of a person. I swore, jumping back as I watched the flame version of Ash slip right through the laser cuff.

  The flame, or Ash, then zoomed down the corridor while laughter echoed around me. I gave chase right off the ship without even thinking. The flame rounded me, caressing my skin, and dissipated into thin air. A moment later the ramp on The Phoenix slid up, and the ship’s engines blazed to life.

  With my mouth hanging open, I stood at port two, as The Phoenix moved away from me, Ash safely inside. I didn’t know what to do or how to react. One minute I’d had the upper hand, and the next I was standing back in the supply space station with no panties, and a skirt that barely covered my ass.

  I cursed Ash to high heaven and back while hurrying to The Pittsburgh. I had lost the battle, but I would win the war. Because clearly, Ash had just declared wa
r.

  I would track him down for free if I had to.

  The bounty I’d collect from the price on his head … it’d just be the icing on the cake of my victory.

  “There is no way that man, or whatever the hell he is, doesn’t have some kind of seduction mojo. No way,” I hissed, stomping my way onto The Pittsburgh.

  Masha was waiting expectantly for me, and when she saw me alone her face fell dramatically. “I thought you said you were going to get the money for my part.”

  “My ship, my part,” I growled. I was beyond pissed. I had gone into the situation with Ash intending to use him for my own sexual gratification, and then to turn him over for the bounty on his head. I’d totally gotten played. He’d known what I was after, and he’d ended up using me instead of the other way around. Sure, I’d gotten off and—

  Goose bumps erupted in quick succession across my skin as I remembered how his body felt pressed up against mine. God he was so good. And he’d filled me up so completely … so perfectly. If only—

  “I hate him. I fucking hate him.” His mojo was undeniable, and despite my anger, I was already craving another taste of him.

  “This ship wouldn’t even run if it wasn’t for me. Maybe if you got me the part I need, and some better equipment, I could do everything that’s needed for maintenance myself. I’m skilled enough to do it, I just—”

  I halted, keeping my back to Masha. At least she wasn’t trying to manipulate me with tears this time. Nope, this time she was going for the petulant teenager routine. Less effective and more annoying by a landslide. “When I have the money, I’ll get you everything you need. It would save me money and aggravation to have you be able to do everything yourself.”

  I heaved a huge sigh, compartmentalizing my anger. I wasn’t mad at Masha, so I shouldn’t take it out on her. “We can at least afford to pay for the maintenance, and hopefully next time we won’t need to go to someone else. I know how much you hate other mechanics touching the engine.”

  Masha didn’t say anything else so I decided to continue on my way. I needed to figure out how to block or control the pheromones Ash gave off. Tamzea was my best bet at finding the information I needed.

  I headed straight to the med wing, and found Tamzea going through her supplies. When she saw me her lavender eyes rounded with surprise. “Uh-oh. What happened?” She hastily shut the metal locker she’d been in, and waved me over to the nearest bed. “Tell me what’s wrong?” Her hands were already flittering around me trying to get a reading.

  I waved her off. “Nothing’s wrong physically. I just need some information.” I grimaced. I really didn’t want to admit what had happened between Ash and myself. I had no problem owning up to my sexual needs, but the fact that I’d let him get the better of me … totally humiliating. “Medical information,” I hedged.

  Tamzea’s head tilted to the side, her gaze assessing. “What kind of medical information?”

  I shifted uncomfortably, flicking my eyes to the ground. “Well, you see …” I cleared my throat. “Is there anything I can do to stave off the effects of some kind of seduction slash attraction pheromones?”

  Tamzea’s eyes narrowed, and she stepped uncomfortably close to me, her nostrils flaring demonstratively. “You had sex.”

  I jumped away from her, scowling. “No … I didn’t.” My cheeks heated.

  Tamzea crossed her arms over her chest. “Don’t lie to me, Jane. I can smell it.”

  “How? How the hell can you smell it?” I sniffed at myself in exasperation. Did Tamzea have hidden sex-sniffing abilities that I didn’t know about?

  “Ha! I couldn’t, but you just told me!” A triumphant grin spread across her face.

  “Oh! I can’t believe you,” I hissed, whirling around to leave the med wing. I suddenly didn’t want to talk to Tamzea anymore. I’d figure everything out on my own.

  “If you storm off then I won’t tell you what I know.”

  I gritted my teeth, turning slowly to face Tamzea. “Do you actually know something or are you going to try and trick more info out of me?”

  Tamzea smiled non-repentantly. “A little of both.”

  “Fine,” I grated. It would be easier to have her just tell me what I needed to know instead of going on a wild goose chase.

  “Hey,” Zula’s even tone came from behind me, “I thought you were out hunting the second bounty? Masha said you came back emptyhanded. What happened?”

  “Well, I might as well tell everyone since I apparently can’t have any secrets around here.” I glanced over my shoulder to see Masha hovering behind Zula. I was being sarcastic, but it looked like everyone actually was there to hear my sordid tale.

  Great. Just fucking great. “I made arrangements to … meet up with Ash … on his ship.” My cheeks heated under the scrutiny of my crew. I’m their captain, damnit. I have nothing to defend or prove. I notched my chin up a few degrees. “I decided that I needed something other than my battery-operated toys. Ash … he intrigued me. I thought it would be a win-win situation for me. I could have my way with him, and then collect the bounty on his head.”

  Zula raised her eyebrows, and pressed her lips into a thin line. Masha ducked behind her, giggling. Tamzea shook her head at me, smirking. “And then something went terribly wrong.”

  I ignored her tone. “Yeah, it did. I had my laser cuffs on him, and then he just poof, turned into flames.”

  Zula’s eyes narrowed, and she shifted forward. “No. All phoenixes were eradicated decades ago. The Denards destroyed their colony planets, and tracked down every last one of them. They considered it a cleansing. The phoenix—”

  “Whoa, hold on. Did I say anything about him being a phoenix?” But it made sense. After all, even his ship bore the name. “Are you sure? I mean, couldn’t the Denards have missed a few?” The Denards weren’t a species I was familiar with, but of course Zula seemed to know everything about … well, everything. It was beyond annoying.

  “No, the Denards wouldn’t simply miss a few. And in the very improbable case that they did, the survivor wouldn’t be flaunting himself around like Ash does. No,” she shook her head, “he’s not a phoenix. He has to be some other fire being. Although I’ve never heard of such a creature, that doesn’t mean they aren’t out there.”

  I won’t lie; I was feeling a bit smug that there might be something Zula didn’t know. “But what if he is a phoenix?” I pressed. Now that my mind had latched onto the idea, the more it made sense. Only a little bit of me was pushing the issue to get under Zula’s skin. Ash actually could be a phoenix. “Maybe he’s hiding by flaunting it. It’s something I would do.” And it was. Hiding in plain sight worked more than people thought. Maybe Ash had figured out that little fact for himself. “Maybe the Denards are arrogant, and that would be the best strategy to get one over on them.”

  “No—” Zula started in again, but Tamzea had obviously had enough.

  “What Ash is doesn’t matter right now. What does is that Jane was about to tell us what happened between them.” Her eyes glittered with curiosity. Despite the fact that Tamzea was a healer, and decidedly overprotective, her emotions were the most human. In fact, some days I thought she was more human than me. She was clearly trying to get all up in my business.

  “I just told you guys what happened. I went to see him and he got away. End of story.”

  “No it isn’t. You came in here wanting to know how to ward off pheromones. Why is that, Jane?”

  I narrowed my eyes at Tamzea for not letting the subject drop. “Because,” I growled, “I just had the best sex of my entire life. We barely had any foreplay either, and even though he played me for a fool, I’m pretty sure I’d do him again the first chance I got. He’s obviously working some kind of pheromone mojo on me to make me want him so much. Therefore, I need to know how to combat it so the next time I see him I’ll be able to bring him in.”

  “Oh no,” Zula interjected. “That creature, whatever he is, turns into flames. How do
you plan on containing him? Plus, if he has half a brain I’m sure he’s already figured out you’re the type that will be gunning for him. Let him go. He bested you. Sometimes you have the pride of a m—”

  I crowded into Zula’s face, my temper flaring. “No. I’m the captain of this ship, and we do what I say. I will find a way to contain him and to combat his stupid pheromones. He will not win.”

  Zula stepped away from me, frowning. “I wasn’t questioning your—”

  “Yes, you were. You were questioning everything. If you’re so smart, like you enjoy constantly reminding me, then you can figure out a way to contain him.”

  I turned towards Tamzea, stabbing my index finger in her direction. “And you figure out the pheromone neutralizer.”

  I glanced down at Masha, who was staring at me with round eyes. “And you, you make sure we’re on time for maintenance.”

  I pushed past my crew, not wanting to deal with them anymore at the moment. “I’ll be in my quarters if anyone needs me. And it better be important if you do.”

  Silence hovered, thick and heavy, as I strode out of the med wing. Sometimes I just need to remind them who’s boss. It was something I was looking forward to showing Ash as well.

  “What do you mean we don’t have enough?” My voice came out muffled from my face being smashed against my pillow. Is that drool? I smacked my lips as I rolled to my side. I’d been having a rather … fulfilling dream, involving me and a certain man who was much more accommodating in my imagination than real life. I’d been ripped abruptly from my delightful slumber when my door had slid open—despite the fact that it had been locked—and Masha appeared over me, blubbering about not having enough money to pay the mechanic who had done the maintenance on the ship.

  “He said we’re short. And it’s not my fault, I swear. He quoted one price, and after he did the work he—”

  “He’s trying to work you over, and by default me.” I punched my pillow, sitting up as rage burned through my veins, waking me fully. I quickly pulled my boots on, and buckled my weapons’ belt around my waist. “Point me in his direction and I’ll take care of it.”