a deep breath, then another, trying to force it under control.
“Why are you laughing?” he asked, still looking confused rather than angry.
“Because I want to believe you so desperately and I know it’s impossible.”
“You doubt me?”
Oddly enough, she thought perhaps his intentions were genuine. Not that it made any difference.
“I don’t know. You seem sincere, but I don’t understand why you would want to rescue me. And even if you did, I just told you it’s impossible.”
“The number of guards is limited. They will not represent a challenge.”
“They’re limited for two reasons. The first is because of the automated gates. The ones leading to the landing field are only open when a shipment is being exported or when a visitor is expected. Could you override that signal?”
He frowned and rubbed his chin. “In time, perhaps, but my technical knowledge is fairly limited. However, I’m sure I can persuade one of the guards to open them.”
She shook her head. “From what I know, they’re set on time locks. A guard couldn’t open them, no matter how ‘persuasive’ you were.”
“What is the other reason?”
“The conditions on the surface. The transition zone is the only area that’s even remotely survivable, but nothing grows there. An escaped slave would have nowhere to go.”
He frowned at her. “How do you know all this?”
“Because I thought of nothing else since I arrived. I’ve investigated as much as I could without arousing suspicion. And I have a friend who’s also investigated.”
“A friend?” His voice deepened, and he stepped closer. “A male friend?”
He almost looked jealous but that was ridiculous. Wasn’t it?
“You met him this morning. His name is Rummel.”
His shoulders relaxed. “Yes, I remember. Perhaps we should consult him. Can he be trusted?”
“You mean he could be part of the escape?”
“I hadn’t considered that,” he admitted. “But I might be willing to consider it if he can help us.”
“Why are you really here?” she demanded, trying to suppress the fresh ember of hope.
“I have a friend who is mated to another human female. She was on the same spaceship as you.”
“There were more of us?” She swayed, suddenly dizzy, and he swore, putting his arm around her and leading her over to the bed to sit down.
She thought about protesting, but he had done nothing to hurt her so far. And if he really wanted to, there’s nothing I could do to stop him, she thought bitterly before she returned to her questions.
“I still don’t understand. Where is she?”
“The two of them are on a planet called Hothrest. An ice planet,” he added with an exaggerated shiver. “It wouldn’t have been my first choice, but they seem to be happy there.”
“And they sent you to find me and take me back to Earth?”
His face softened. “No, little bird. They sent me to find you, but you cannot return to your planet.”
“Why not?” she asked, even though she found she wasn’t surprised.
“Travel to pre-spaceflight planets is forbidden. Only desperate males—such as slavers—would take the chance.”
When she had been on the ship, she frequently dreamed of returning home, but once she was here and faced with the reality of her new life, the only way she had been able to cope was by pushing away her memories of Earth. Sometimes it even seemed as if she had imagined her old life, but as she thought about never seeing her family again, a tear trickled down her cheek. A second one followed and she started to weep silently. Varga swore and hauled her into his lap, holding her against his big, warm chest, and she let herself cry.
When the tears finally subsided, she looked up and gave him a shaky smile. “I’m sorry. I’m not in the habit of weeping all over someone.”
“I believe you.” He stroked her cheek with a gentle finger. “You’re a very brave female.”
The tears she thought she’d exhausted threatened once again, but before they could emerge, he bent down and kissed her.
His mouth was as soft, as gentle as it had been that morning but just as she had that morning, she suddenly wanted more. She wrapped her arms around his neck and tugged him closer, relishing the hard muscles of his chest against her aching nipples.
He raised his head, a reluctant expression on his face. “Sweetheart, I don’t think—”
“Don’t think,” she said fiercely. “I don’t want to think.”
If she had ever had any skill in seduction, it had vanished long ago, but perhaps her determination made up for her lack of skill. She deliberately