Page 32 of Tempting Jupiter
She chuckled. “I’ll say. Looks like the standard nutrition processor units have been ripped out and replaced.” She narrowed her eyes. “Is that real meat?”
Jupiter chuckled. “We found packs of them in the ship’s supplies.”
“Yes.” Seneca turned to offer the server of food and the motion shifted the shirt he’d pulled on when he’d crawled out of bed. He hadn’t bothered to fasten it and the movement gave Fee a fair view of his chest. It surprised him to realize she noticed. He’d been ogled by humans plenty, but her momentary fascination didn’t bother him. Especially after she realized she’d been caught looking and her embarrassment showed on her face. He smiled pleasantly to let her off the hook then handed the server to Jupiter.
His pack mate took the food, but his gaze was fixed on Feeona. He was still shirtless and he quickly captured her attention. She seemed to find it hard to keep her concentration on Jupiter’s face. Seneca understood the temptation of Jupiter’s body, buthefound Jupiter’s face even more fascinating. Those broad, masculine features and brown eyes warmed as he soaked in her appreciation.
“Sorry,” she blurted out. “You’re both just damn distracting freaks of nature. In my experience, men don’t look like you.”
Jupiter’s eyes flashed and she threw up a hand to stop his anger. “No,” she said firmly. “Thatwas a compliment.”
Seneca swallowed a chuckle at her bluntness.
“Less compliments,” grumbled Jupiter. “More eating.” He dropped into one of the seats and forked a piece of meat into his mouth.
Seneca set Feeona’s portion on the table in front of her. She peered down at the meat he’d cut into small strips for her. She poked at the pieces of a purplish root vegetable he’d heated and mixed in. He thought she might push them aside, but then she popped one in her mouth and chewed.
“Good,” she said to no one in particular.
Seneca sat down with his own portion and they ate in a peaceful silence. They were too busy filling their bellies to talk.
By the time the woman leaned back and pushed away her plate with a happy sigh, he and Jupiter had already started on a second round.
Jupiter grabbed her plate. “More?”
“Nope,” she answered, sounding well contented. “I’m good. Besides, we should talk.”
Jupiter made a noise of agreement then pushed another strip of meat in his mouth.
Feeona watched Jupiter intently. Seneca couldn’t decide if she’d caught a glimpse of Jup’s fangs or if she’d been caught up with the way his tongue smoothed across his lips to catch every bit of flavor or maybe it was the way his throat worked as he swallowed.
When Jupiter stopped chewing to raise a questioning eyebrow, her cheeks pinked. “Uh, assuming we make it to Karona Station, we need to figure out how to keep you safe.”
Seneca kept his voice low and fluid. “Will Captain Fitzhew follow us there?” He wanted her attention. He wanted her to look away from Jupiter.
She glanced his way, and he saw that the pink had left her cheeks. “He won’t be able to actually follow us. But he could easily guess where we’re going. It’s the closest station and that’s where he was headed next. We don’t need to worry until we come out of skipspace.”
“How long will that be?” Jupiter added a subvocal growl of reassurance that only Seneca could hear.
Damn it. How did his pack mate always know? Jup had picked up on the fear he tried to hide. Hopefully, he’d take it as a fear of recapture. He hated the idea of recapture, but it was the woman sitting at their table that fueled his deepest fear.
“About twenty-four hours.” Feeona answered, showing no sign that she’d picked up on Jupiter’s subvocal communication. “Before we arrive, I’ll see if I can bounce a com signal out to the station. I’d like to have a tug-tow waiting to pilot us to a landing bay. The faster we move the better.”
She pulled her knees up under the tunic so it covered all but her bare feet then wrapped her arms around her legs. “I have some business to do on the station, but I want to leave again as soon as possible. I’m already behind schedule.” She looked from Jupiter to him and back. “Do you have any idea what’s next for you?”
Master Owens’ words came back to Seneca. They would try to use the ship to find the freed Arena Dogs. The room they sat in was proof that they existed. “We need to ensure this ship doesn’t get back to Roma.”
Feeona smiled at him. “I remember. Consider that taken care of.”
She made it sound easy—of no concern. He knew so little about how that could be done. He had many questions.
Before Seneca could form a query, Jupiter spoke. “Is there a way we can find out what has happened to the other members of our pack?”
Feeona rested her chin on her knees. “I can try. How many are in your… pack?”
“There are three others.” Jupiter’s voice shifted low with worry.
Seneca noticed he hadn’t counted Hera as pack. She was mate to a pack brother, but she did not fight at their side and she’d only been with them a short time. Still, they had both made the pack bond with her.
