Page 26 of Rebel
The expanse of space is serene and desolate all at the same time as we drop out of hyperspace. She could already be on Athion by now, and that is where we are headed, but I order frequent stops to scan space for ships.
An Athion took her. A spy, and they have something the head of the acquisitions department on Tradacyh wants. There is no doubt in my mind that if I return empty-handed, then it will be a prison sentence if I’m lucky, or death, if I’m not.
Failure is not an option.
The controls on the bridge are simple, the ship is small—enough to carry a troop of soldiers loaned by the inquisitor and a shuttle.
The pilot scans for other ships. The net has been cast wide, but it’s unlikely we’ll find her now; they must know that, so why send me?
“Sir, we just picked up a distress signal.”
My pulse quickens. “Where from?”
“A small planet called Limira.”
“It’s inhabited?”
“Sir, our covert records claim it to be an Athion satellite station.”
My lips curl in a smile. “How quickly can you get us there?”
He grins at me. “We can be in orbit in three hours.”
“Do it.”
Rogue, it has to be you. I feel it in my bones, and I’m coming for you.
14
Finding out that Tide had planned to serve me up to his government as a guinea pig should have kept me awake, but my body was still recovering from the venom and the exertion, and basically, this planet’s oxygen sucked, so sleep was a blessed diversion.
But I’d barely slipped under when I woke in a sweat, the kind of sweat that had me aching all over. Aching down there.
Oh, shit. Not now.
Not here.
The urge to touch myself was almost too much. In fact, my hand was already cupping my pubic bone. I pulled away as if burned because … bad idea. If experience had taught me anything, it was that touching myself wouldn’t be enough, it would only fuel the heat and make it worse. I needed release, but I couldn’t give it to myself without spiraling. It was the curse that fell on me every month and one I’d been battling ever since the Trad fertility drug had changed me.
The heat was there, and it had a grip on my throat and cut a simmering passage through my bloodstream.
I sobbed softly into my pillow, cursing everything.
A cool hand skimmed up my back. “Rogue?”
Xavier? When had he come in? Didn’t matter, he was there now, so he could help.
I rolled onto my back. “I need you.”
He pushed back the hair stuck to my clammy forehead, pale blue eyes darkening as he scanned my face.
“Xavier.” His name was a husky prayer on my tongue.
He peeled off the covers wrapped around my torso. The cool air was delicious and taunting as it played across my bare thighs. “Xavier, please.” I tugged at my sleep shirt, stuck to my skin here and there with perspiration.
He knew about this. Had told me it was similar to what had happened to the women of his tribe. He’d make it stop. He’d soothe the ache.
He climbed onto the bed and slipped his hand down my pants, his long slender fingers parting my folds to find the wetness. I bucked up to meet his fingers, opening for him, unashamed and wanton as I rubbed against him. His fingers played the tune, round and round, in and out, but the tightening was almost painful. The ledge just out of reach. I turned my head into his chest, mouth parted to taste his skin. My breath fanned across his pectoral as I pushed for more because it wasn’t enough.
