Page 20 of Rogue: Planet Athion
Was he asking my permission this time? Seemed like it. “Fine, do it quick.”
His lips curled in a half smile. “I don’t do quick, Rogue. Not when it comes to sex.”
“We’re not having sex, though, it’s just a kiss. Get it over with.”
He arched a brow, and then he claimed my mouth with his soft lips, with just the right amount of pressure to tease and draw me out, to make me want to kiss him back, and fuck, I was leaning into him, opening for him. His chest rumbled. Was he laughing at me? But the thought slipped like sand through a sieve when he nipped my bottom lip and then sucked on it. He drew back, grazing it with his teeth, and then nothing mattered but his tongue against mine. Nothing mattered but the shocks of pleasure that rushed down my neck and over my shoulders. Nothing mattered but his scent, sharp and electric as it enveloped me. His grip on the back of my neck flexed, and his calloused thumb rasped against my skin, sending shivers across my collar bones. A moan bubbled up my throat, but he swallowed it and pushed me into the wall, grinding against me, his hardness hot and ready for me. Heat pooled at the apex of my thighs, and then his hand was on my hip, on my thigh, urging me to hook a leg around his waist, to give him access to rub against my core, until we were practically dry humping. Although, shit, there was nothing dry about this. I was wet for him. The heat inside bloomed to flood my system, to drive away coherent thought until I was the one kissing him and clawing at him to get closer while I sucked on his tongue.
“Fuck!” He tore his mouth away and grabbed one of my hands. He forced it down between us and into the waistband of his pants so it was touching his hard, hot cock.
“Is this what you want?” his voice was a husky rasp. “I can give it to you. I can fuck you right now, Rogue, if you want it.” He inhaled me. “If you need it.”
My hand curled around his shaft, and I swept a thumb over the wet tip.
He sucked in a breath. “Do you want it?”
My body was screamingyes, but my mind … My mind was a resoundingno. This wasn’t what I wanted. Not from him. He wasn’t who I wanted. I released him and pulled my hand free.
He stepped away, his gaze on my face as he adjusted himself.
“At least now you look the part,” he said.
The buzzer sounded, and he sauntered back to the bed and sat with his back to the wall.
It took me a moment to gather myself, and then my hands moved to adjust my clothes.
“Don’t,” he warned.
I dropped my hands to my sides just as the grating opened and Marick’s face appeared. His gaze settled on me, raking over my disheveled state—my torn shirt and mussed hair and my swollen mouth and dazed eyes.
His smile was smug, and then he walked away.
Two bowls of gruel were pushed through the hatch, but my attention was caught by Xavier in the cell opposite. His eyes were shards of ice, and his lips were pressed in a thin, determined line. He radiated rage. Now wasn’t the time to explain the truth. Instead, I dropped my gaze, collected the bowls of gruel, and turned my back on him.
We’d be unlocked soon enough, and then the real test would begin.
* * *
The doors opened a half hour later, and I’d barely stepped over the threshold when Marlon was on me. He swept me into his arms, and Xavier attacked. Vex dodged easily and came up with an uppercut that sent Xavier flying, but the Athion wasn’t done. He was back on his feet in a second and flying at Vex; this time his blow landed, and the Trad staggered back, a crazy glint in his eye.
“Stop!” I struggled in Marlon’s arms.
“It’s okay, you’re safe now,” Marlon said. “We’ll make him pay.”
I looked up at him, but his gaze wasn’t on Vex, it was on something over my shoulder. I followed his gaze to see the two Trads that had hung off Jurak’s every word barreling down the corridor, murder in their eyes, and it was Killion in the lead.
Vex shoved Xavier off and caught sight of the trio headed toward us. A shadow of doubt flitted across his face.
There was no way that he’d be able to fight them all off. No way he’d survive this attack. Marick must have known this would happen? Did he hate me so much that he’d use Vex to get at me and risk House Ryzer losing its winning chip? He had to know the house master would be pissed. But there was no time to ponder his motivations. I had to do something.
Sorry, Marlon. I stamped on his foot, using his momentary pain reaction to slip from his grasp and throw myself into Vex. The momentum took us back into my cell, and then I turned and blocked the doorway with my body.
“Stop. Just stop.”
Xavier came to a halt in front of me. “Rogue, what the fuck?”
I clenched my jaw. “Leave him alone.” My gaze went to the intercom. Was it two-way? Could Marick hear us? Damn it.
“Rogue …” There was warning in Vex’s tone.
