~ Heart Of The Forsaken ~

by

Angela Verdenius

"I don’t remember all my ports of call, lass. ‘Tis possible." His heart skipped a beat. This might be it! The Trade Base would be concerned. It wouldn’t be long and they’d become suspicious.

"I think we need a little chat, Stud. Right after you put the Base communicator’s mind at rest."

She gestured lazily with the dagger. "Come on, and think fast. He’s waiting."

Casting a reassuring glance at his worried friends, Red left the cabin. He noticed that Sonja walked several feet ahead of him, while Elyse walked well behind, her laser leveled on him at all times. Was there ever a time when they weren’t so on guard?

Pausing just before his cabin door, Sonja turned to gaze up at him. "You better make it good."

"For you, wench, I’d do anything." Mockingly, Red laid his hand on his chest. "You’ve been so kind and considerate towards us, ‘tis the least I can do."

"Cute." She turned and entered the cabin, careful to slide to the side without being in view of the viscomm screen.

Entering the cabin, Red dropped into the chair and faced the viscomm. Behind him he heard the door click shut.

"Where the hell have you been?" The Daamen Trading Base communicator asked in exasperation. "You missed the meeting on Vreken."

"Sorry about that," Red replied. "The ship has had some... complications."

"Complications? What kind of complications?"

You’d be surprised. "Engine trouble. Borga is trying to fix it now."

"Oh. So you haven’t reached the planet yet?"

"Nay."

The communicator’s eyes narrowed. "You passed it, Red. What the hell is going on?"

Red could feel the steady gaze of the pirate on his back, and even though he knew it was his imagination, he could almost feel the prick of her dagger between his shoulder blades. "We’re drifting a little ‘tis all. Don’t worry, we’ll be back on course by morning."

"Are you sure everything is all right?"

"Aye. What could go wrong? Pirates?" Red gave a laugh.

"Oh, aye, as though pirates could board one of our ships!" The communicator laughed as well. "Nothing can get past our security systems now, not since Security had them upgraded."

"You’d think so, wouldn’t you?"

"Anyway, do you need help, anything for repairs?"

"Nay, we’ll be fine. I’ll sort things out, don’t you worry."

"More like your engineer will."

"Oh, I have a few things that are well overdue for fixing." Red grinned mirthlessly. "Something I’ll fix myself."

"Are you sure everything’s all right?" The communicator’s gaze narrowed, flicking past Red to scan what he could see of the cabin beyond.

"Couldn’t be better. You worry too much."

"I’ll talk to you tonight, then." With one last, searching look, the communicator leaned forward.

The viscomm screen went blank.

The silence in the cabin was almost deafening.

In the dark screen, Red watched Sonja’s reflection as she walked into view and came straight up behind him. He wasn’t surprised by the tight expression of her face, but that she chose to come so close was unexpected.

The prick of the dagger at his neck wasn’t unexpected.

The warmth of her body close to his was a shock. By the stars, she felt so warm!

Her breasts grazed his back, and an elusive, soft fragrance teased his senses as she leaned over his shoulder to place her lips close to his ear. "You play dangerous word games, Stud."

Her warm breath brushed his ear, momentarily distracting him. He rallied his senses quickly. "Do you think so?"

"I know so. Don’t play them around me, trader." The blade traced around to lie flat against his opposite cheek, and she used it along with a slight nudge to turn his head so that he faced her.

So close, barely inches separated their faces. He found himself gazing into her grey eyes, and was fascinated by the narrow red line rimming her pupils. The warning he saw reflected within the grey depths brought his frustrated anger to the fore. "Tell me something, wench. How did you get on my trading ship?"

"That’s not your concern at the moment. If you want to live, you better start watching that smart mouth of yours, and start playing this game with a bit more savvy. Understand?"

"Game?" Anger flared into rage, and it burned all caution to cinders.

In a lightning move, his furthest hand grabbed her wrist, pulling the dagger from his face, and with brute strength he swung her around the chair to topple backwards onto the floor. Taking advantage of the momentary surprise he had over her, Red dropped onto the floor as well, straddling her abdomen with his thighs and pinning her wrists to the floor each side of her.

Staring down into her shocked face, he said softly, "So, little pirate, you want to play games, do you?"

Stunned, Sonja stared up at the giant straddling her. Dimly she recognized the mixture of anger and grim triumph in his eyes.

"Nothing to say, little pirate?" One dark red brow lifted sardonically.

His great weight should have nearly squashed the breath from her, but it was obvious from the flex in his powerful thighs that he was supporting some of his own weight, and not letting himself fully rest on her.

Get a grip, Sonja, if you want to get out of this. Experimentally, she flexed her fingers and tried to raise her arms. Immediately she felt his grip tighten on her wrists. Don’t sweat it. There are other ways to get free.

Coolly she gazed back up at him. "I have nothing to say, trader."

"How about begging for mercy?"

"I don’t beg."

"Not a humble bone in your body, hmm?"

"I don’t crawl, either."

"Mayhaps I should teach you to be humble, Sonja. ‘Twould do you good."

The grip of his thighs was almost... hot. Blocking the thought, she relaxed back against the floor. "Do you think I’m your prisoner, Stud?"

"Your position is, shall we say, most submissive." Those bright green eyes flicked down to rest briefly on her breasts, outlined by her mended shirt, before returning to her face with a decided glint in them. "‘Twould appear that our roles have changed, lass. I’m in charge now, and you are my prisoner."

There was no doubting the threat in his words, or the satisfaction on his face, but Sonja merely looked calmly up at him. "Funny thing about appearances. Not all is as it seems."

"Oh?"

"Mmm. You see, you think I’m your prisoner. In fact, you’re still very much a prisoner of the pirates on this ship."

"Is that so?"

"Oh yes. You might as well let me up, Stud. I won’t relinquish command to you. I don’t feel like having a hangman’s noose tickling my throat."

"Whether I turn you over to the law remains to be seen." Red actually smirked. "And your command is already gone, wench."

"How do you figure that, then?"

"With you in my grip, your pirates will surrender, and--"

Sonja grinned up at him.

He eyed her back suspiciously.

"I’ve bad news for you, Stud. You see, I don’t allow blackmail of any kind. They see me in your grip, they’ll shoot me to get to you. If I die, well, so be it. If I live, all well and good. But you... sorry, Stud, you’re a goner."

She saw the words register in his narrowed eyes. "You’re lying."

"Believe what you will. Let’s try it out." She opened her mouth and drew a deep breath.

A calloused palm slapped over her mouth, muffling her call.

Leaning down, Red accused angrily, "You’re bluffing, wench."

She shrugged. He’d soon find out.

"Just as you bluffed the day you said you’d shoot my friends."

She shrugged again.

Lifting his hand away slightly, Red said in a dangerously soft voice, "Don’t play me for a fool, Sonja."

"We’ll see who’s a fool when we’re both shot." Her jaw tightened. "I don’t take blackmail, trader, and my girls know it. They’ll shoot."

"What sort of a person would order her own death?"

Sonja smiled slowly.

For several seconds Red stared down at her, then with a vile curse he pushed to his feet, dragging her up with him. Grabbing her shoulders, he glared down at her.

"Don’t feel bad, Stud," Sonja said softly. "You’re going to live today after all."

For a split second she thought she’d goaded him too far, that he’d hold her before him as a hostage. She raised her brow casually and waited.

"Damn you," Red gritted out. "Damn you to hell, Sonja!"