Home Front (Star Kingdom #7) - Lindsay Buroker Page 0,61

of Viggo’s robot vacuums whirred past behind them—the whirring almost sounded like a cheerful hum.

“That is possibly true,” Asger said.

“And he’s got twenty-some already.” Qin waved into the ship. “Fearsome warriors.”

“Hm, yes.” The last Asger had seen, the bigger crushers were teaching the batch acquired from Jorg’s ship how to play a game that involved spinning a top and gambling with dried fruit and nuts raided from Bonita’s provisions cabinets.

Qin’s pensive expression turned to one of joyous contemplation that seemed more natural for her, and she leaned over and gripped his thigh with both hands. “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if I could get my sisters away from those vile men? That vile life? Being killers with no choice in the matter? No choice in their destiny? They could be free to work as bodyguards or law enforcement officers or bounty hunters—whatever they wished. Or maybe they could even work with us, some of them at least. Sometimes, the captain talks about going back into bounty hunting, not just running freight. With a few of us… no criminal would stand a chance.” Her eyes grew bright with this vision.

Asger heard her words, but his mind was distracted by her touch on his leg. He supposed it wouldn’t be the appropriate time to suggest they retire to one of their cabins to explore some well-deserved time off. What would it be like to sleep with someone who thought he was a better knight than his father, and who always fought at his side when they went into battle? With someone tall and strong yet also sweet and funny, whose eyes always gazed at him without artifice?

They’d only kissed a couple of times, but those times had been memorable, and he well remembered Qin wrapping her arms around him, powerful, intriguing arms that were nothing like those of women he’d been with back home. And he remembered wrapping his arms around her, feeling the blend of feminine curves and raw strength under her galaxy suit. What would it be like to explore her body without any armor or clothing between them?

“You agree, don’t you?” Qin asked, and he realized he’d been silent and staring at her with his lurid thoughts for a long moment.

“Yes. What was the question?”

Her expression grew confused, but when he dropped a hand to one of hers and rubbed his thumb across her warm skin covered with a hint of fur, she seemed to guess what had distracted him.

She smiled gently. “If you agreed that my sisters would be good warriors who could best criminals.”

“I’m sure that’s true. We just have to figure out how to get them away from the Druckers, right?”

“You’re willing to help?”

“Of course.” Even if he had reservations, how could he say no? She’d helped him so many times. To clear his mind from sexual thoughts and help focus, he stood up, patting Qin’s shoulder to let her know he wasn’t rejecting her touch, and started pacing. “We do need a plan. Casmir’s crushers would only help if we got close enough to board.”

“The Druckers tend to shoot down anyone who gets that close. They might not try to take on a Kingdom warship, but the Dragon would be an easy target.”

“The Dragon,” came Viggo’s voice from the speakers, “would not be so foolish as to wander within firing range of a massive pirate warship.”

“What if, instead of us trying to board them, we lured them into boarding us?” Asger mused. “It is a freighter. Could we somehow start a rumor that we’re carrying something of great value? They must need money if they’re salvaging those wrecks.”

“But instead of carrying goods of great value we’re carrying a dozen crushers?” Qin asked.

“Casmir would argue that they have great value.”

“I’m sure.” She tapped her chin with a claw. “I like the premise, using a bait ship to set a trap, but the Dragon is known to them. We used it to meet some of them when Bonita was pretending to hand me off for a reward. Granted, Bjarke was the one leading the Drucker operation to pick me up, but he had other legitimate pirates with him who got away and would have reported back. Also, I’m sure anyone could do a little research and find out I’m working on the Dragon. They would recognize it for a ruse, especially since we tried to trick them before.”

“Another ship then. Maybe Sultan Shayban would lend us one.”

Qin arched her eyebrows. “Lend us a ship to use as bait