Mercenary Abduction (Alien Abduction) (14 page)

missed something alright.”

She met his gaze with a questioning one. “I did? What?”

He reached out to touch her and she automatically leaned away. “That is what’s wrong. We’re

supposed to be a couple besotted with each other. We’d have to be if I am crazy enough to want to give you a ring of such value, but there you are, acting like a frigid virgin, which we both know you aren’t.”

“Never going to let me live that down, are you?”

“No.”

“Okay, so we’re not a lovey-dovey couple. Big deal. Not everyone buying a ring is all over each

other smooching and groping.”

“Says a female who obviously has much to learn. Trust me when I say we don’t look anything like

a couple shopping for something romantic. In order for us to pull this off, we need to make this

believable.”

“What do you propose?” she questioned.

“I need you to look at me like you want to strip me naked and lick me.” Seriously, he did. And

then, if she wanted to act upon her thoughts, he wouldn’t say no.

“That’s just perverted.”

“You didn’t think that this morning.”

A pink stain colored her pale cheeks. “A momentary aberration.”

He snorted. “You are such a bad liar.”

“Fine. I enjoyed it. I don’t need to recapture that moment, though, to make some merchant think

we’re in love.”

“I beg to differ. What is love but another word for lust? Lust with a touch of something more.

Something hot. Passionate.” Ah, there was the flicker of heat he wanted. Olivia licked her lips, a slow, sensual swipe of her tongue that took him from semi-erect to rock hard. “Now I realize we can’t fake the love, but we sure know all about the lust.” Love was for weaklings. Unlike his cousins, Makl would

never fall for it. Never let a female dictate to –

Ooh, there was the look he wanted.
All for me.
The possessive thought didn’t distract him, not in the face of the languorous heat that invaded Olivia’s gaze, a heat he now knew all too well…and craved.

Their eyes locked. She took in a sharp breath. He leaned forward, she didn’t move, but her lashes

fluttered, shuttering her mesmerizing eyes.

She might hide the doorway to her innermost thoughts, but she couldn’t hide the hardness of her

nipples poking through the tight silk of her top. “I thought you took care of my lust? Or have you forgotten I came? I’m afraid I’m all lusted out. Sorry.”

He expected the challenge, something he noticed she enjoyed doing, but instead of replying, he

pulled Olivia onto his lap. Her ornate gown – pulled from one of his crates of stolen goods – might cover her down to her trim ankles encased in soft malleable boots, but he knew the fabric did nothing to hide the erection pressing under her buttocks. Her breathing grew shallow and uneven, a signal of her arousal, or so he’d noticed on previous occasions. He thumbed her lower lip until she parted it from the top with a sigh. How he enjoyed her small sounds of pleasure. He leaned forward and traced the line of her mouth, inhaling her warm breath, tasting the sweetness of the makeup balm making her lips shine. She didn’t pull away – on the contrary, she angled closer, her hungry mouth searching for his.

Yanking on the loose fabric of her skirt, he slid his hands up her thighs, reveling in the silken

softness of her skin, the way she heated for him and her heart rate sped up. He didn’t stop his ascent until he reached her ribs. Unfettered, her breasts were a welcome weight in his palms and he thrummed her

nipples, his mouth salivating for a taste. But he managed to retain enough sense to know he didn’t have time for that. He nibbled her lower lip instead, sucking it then switching to her top one until she clung at him, her fingers tugging at the hair curling over the nape of his neck. Sideways she turned onto his lap, the skirt of her dress riding up over her hips as she straddled him, rocking her core against the bulge in his pants, driving them both wild with need.

Careful not to ruin her stylish coiffure, he gripped the back of her neck, and angled her just right.

She opened her mouth for his kiss, no longer protesting, rather panting and moaning, her earlier arguments lost amidst her rising passion. In slid his tongue to duel with hers, a sensual glide that drew forth a moan from her. She squirmed in his lap. What torture, especially since the car door was flung open in that moment. It took him only a nanosecond longer than he liked to tuck her into his side, pull out his hidden gun, and have it aimed at the face peering within. A dozen faceted eyes blinked as the three mouths,

painted orange, blue, and green, rounded into an O of surprise.

“Ahem. Sorry for the interruption,” the alien stuttered.

Not as sorry as I am.
He should have asked for the scenic route. Makl cradled Olivia’s frame, her muscles already rigid again as she prepared to enact their plan.

Time for the act to begin.

“You should count yourself lucky I’m feeling benevolent, or you’d be dead.” Makl took his time

lowering his gun.

Olivia fluttered her lashes and gasped. “He doesn’t mean that.”

Um, yeah he did. On a job or not, Makl didn’t like rudeness, and interrupting him with Olivia now

rated high on his list of things not to do.

Olivia gushed on. “It’s just… he’s so possessive and passionate. It’s a good thing he’s planning to

marry me, because I don’t know how much longer I can hold myself back.” She pressed her hand to her

chest and batted her eyelids.

A trifle much, but Makl liked her style.
This is going to be fun.

“You have my apologies, sir. Ma’am.” The head bowed submissively. “Your driver assured me

that you were unoccupied.”

Their furry driver stood just behind the alien greeter. Makl tossed a dirty look Ifruum’s way.

Wearing an oddly-shaped black cap with a glossy brim, the shaggy alien mocked him with a salute. He’d get him back later. Makl turned his attention back to the nervous being at the car door. “I’ll forgive you this one time.”

“And you are?” the alien asked.

Angling his chin in the air, he adopted an offended expression. “Like you didn’t recognize me. I

am the great and wonderful Makline’uum Su’perdio. Supreme ruler of seven planets –”

“The richest, most prosperous,” Olivia gushed.

“–in the sixty-ninth galaxy. Don’t let your awe strike you blind. You may address me as your

highness. I am expected.”

“Indeed you are, your, um, highness. If you and the female would follow me?”

“My fiancée has a name,” Makl growled, sliding from the aircar, the arm banded around her waist

dragging her along with him. Before the male could say anything, he added, “However, I forbid you from using it, or referring to her at all. It is bad enough you got a glimpse of her legs. I am the jealous sort and you wouldn’t want me to get the wrong idea. I killed the last male who stared into her eyes.”

“I will do my best to avoid all contact, your highness.” The creature with the spindly arms and

legs scrabbled back, head bowed. “If you will follow me, we have just a few things to do before you may enter the showroom. Trivial security matters that a high-ranking emperor as yourself understands, I’m sure.”

Was there truly a more enjoyable role than that of pompous leader? Makl sniffed loudly. “I was

informed of your
protocols
.” He made the word sound dirty. “And I am going on the record now as saying I am not happy that I was forced to come here without my personal guards or anything more than a gun.”

“Which they will ask you to relinquish, your highness, along with any other weapons. It’s part of

our security procedure.”

“It’s an outrage,” Makl spat. “Treating me like a common thief. If my sweet, delicate sun hadn’t

begged me for this bauble, I would never put up with it.”

“Oh, snookums, don’t let the rude man make you change your mind.”

“It better be worth it,” Makl groused.

“My master makes treasures that are one of a kind.”

“Beautiful pretties,” gushed Olivia. “And I so want one. Please, my royal delight, I shall be ever

so
grateful
if you get me one,” she said, dragging a finger down his arm.

“How grateful?” he asked, leaning in.

“Very. Very. Grateful.” Her voice dropped to a husky whisper and he closed the distance, kissing

her. He could have lied and said he did it as part of their act, but a male could only resist so much. By the universe, she tasted so sweet. Too sweet. Sweet as in stand there all day, sucking on her tongue while his cock seesawed her cleft and wrung a record number of orgasms from her.

Frukx. Enough. He couldn’t get distracted, no matter how pleasurable. He had a mission to finish,

and a pretty bauble to fetch.

Breaking off the embrace, he stroked her full lower lip with his thumb. He almost went in for

another taste. She looked so delectable. A female any male would want to own. In other words, perfect for the role.
Perfect for me.

“Will you get it for me?” She clasped her hands at her breasts, and peered at him with soft eyes.

Damn, how did she make something so simple look so sensual?
I will give you anything.

He coughed. “How can I be assured of my, I mean, my fiancée’s, safety?”

“There is nowhere safer on this planet, nay, the universe, as my master’s shop. Come and you will

see. We are completely impregnable. No one comes without invitation, not thief, or assassin, or even

client. Everyone goes through a rigorous screening, even the staff.”

Makl already knew that. The jeweler made the mistake of boasting to all who listened that he was

burglar proof. Murphy couldn’t resist the challenge, and Makl volunteered immediately because a feat

such as this would make his fame all the greater.

“If anything happens…” Makl let a cold smile with pointed teeth finish the sentence. Three mouths

clapped shut. He tossed his pistol and a few knives on the counter for show. He begrudgingly gave up the hidden stiletto in his boot when the guard frisking him found it, and then passed a detector for complex metals. Olivia, giggling and chiding them for scanning her private lady places, had no problems

whatsoever. Just as they’d planned.

Done with the first checkpoint, she once again linked her arm in his as they strode after the three-

legged alien, Makl’s cloak swirling around his boots.

The second checkpoint dealt with spitting and donating a drop of blood to check for nanobots and

toxins. They passed easily. Leaving that station, Makl twined his arm around Olivia’s waist as they

followed the skittering alien further into the building. She slid her arm past the fabric of his cloak to drape along his lower back. She leaned into him and tilted her face up. “How much longer until we get to see the pretties? I’m getting bored.”

Oh, she was good. “Not long, my precious. We shall find you the biggest ring they have.”

“Forget big, I want the most expensive one. Unless you don’t think I’m worth it.” Her lower lip

jutted in a pout and he almost stumbled he found it so attractive. He kissed the tip of her upturned nose and laughed softly when her eyes crossed.

“Worth every credit this universe has to offer. And if it’s not enough, then I shall go to war again

and conquer you a new galaxy.”

“Just for me?” She batted her lashes.

“Just for you. You know I would give you the universe. All the stars and moons. Every jewel in

existence. I would give it all just to make you happy.”

She tittered. “Oh, purple pookums, I just want you, and that ring. Oh, and maybe some earrings. I

know how you like it when I bedazzle my vault down below.” She winked, and this time, their escort

stumbled.

The more they bantered, falling into their role of besotted rich alien and his doting female, the

more fun Makl had. He’d never had the opportunity to work with a partner, never imagined the enjoyment he could have playing a part, especially the role of lover. The thing that should have frightened him was the fact it didn’t require much acting on his part. Everything he did and said came naturally, and from the heart. Sure, it was couched in more flowery terms than he’d actually use, but apart from the grandiose claims and ridiculous nicknames, the way they touched and kissed as they got into character, it was all too easy to believe.

Yet, as much as he found himself focusing on her, he also paid attention to what went on around

them. He had to. They played a deadly game of chance. One misstep could prove their last. One wrong

move and Olivia could get hurt, or killed. Makl wouldn’t allow that to happen. Why the thought of her coming to harm filled him with a cold rage, he couldn’t have said, but he embraced it nevertheless.

They passed security points with ease – the malfunction in one caused when part of her skirt got

sucked into the scanner, jamming it and exposing her legs – which led to him having a fit, which resulted in them getting ushered quickly, perhaps too quickly, through the next two checkpoints – sealed the

jeweler’s fate. They were in.

And now came the second act.

*

Olivia didn’t recall ever enjoying a heist more. Sure, she and Ifruum had pulled off dozens of gigs

in the past. Big thefts, small ones. Some that required acting, others simply nimble fingers. But the thing she recalled most from them all was the nervousness, the fear of getting caught and concentrating

constantly on not forgetting her role.

None of that proved an issue with Makl. For some reason, having the big mercenary at her side,

even silly as he sounded, acting the role of besotted – and believable – lover, brought her a confidence she didn’t quite understand.

Why did he make her feel so safe? So protected? Why did she know that at the first hint of danger,

he’d act and save them both? Surely she didn’t trust him that much already? Trust or not, though, he made everything flow like an unobstructed breeze. He navigated the twists thrown their way with natural