Survivor: Survivor's Heart, #3

By Debbie Cassidy

Freedom comes at a price. I just hope it isn't too high.

 

We've run, but how long can we evade. Our pursuers aren't going to quit. The only option is to put distance between us and them. No easy task without a ship.

 

Stuck on a space port, the guys and I need to figure out a way to raise enough credits to buy a ride.

 

It's only a matter of time before the Athion government or our Trad pursuers find us. And if they do, there will be nowhere to run.

 

Time to get creative.

 

Time to use the skills I was forced to cultivate.

 

Time to fight.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Debbie Cassidy
• Release date: Jan 16, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393095002

Book preview

1

Vex was sprawled out on my mattress. He’d crept in last night and woken me with tongue and teeth and the delicious bite of his fingers. My body still thrummed from his attentions. In the heat of the moment, there was no censoring our moans and gasps. No muting the slap, slap of flesh on flesh.

I knew the other guys could hear us, but I didn’t care.

Sharing was caring, right?

I ran my gaze over his muscular frame, sitting up to look down into his beautiful face. Fuck, the Trad was gorgeous. And he was mine. I straddled him, and rolled my hips against his, gasping at the hardness that swelled almost immediately to greet me. His hands came up to grip my hips, and he opened amethyst eyes to sear me with rising heat.

Fuck, Rogue. He growled. You’re a torturer.

I grinned, leaned in, and pecked him on the nose before sliding off him, eliciting a ragged moan. Nope. I’m your alarm clock.

He groaned and threw an arm over his eyes.

There was a soft rap on the screen that separated us from the rest of the room. Vex, we got to leave in five, Xavier said. Kellon will fire us if we’re late again.

Vex sat up and rubbed his face. Coffee?

Yeah, half a cup, Xavier said.

Vex stood, showcasing a body to die for and a butt that begged to be caressed. Every inch of him was muscle and velvet. The Trad was a honed fighting machine.

He pulled on his clothes in quick, economical movements and then leaned down to brush a kiss across my forehead.

See you later. His voice sent thrills through me.

He rounded the screen and was gone.

Xavier popped his head around the screen with a cheeky wink. Have fun last night?

I smiled lazily. Did you?

He held up a hand and wiggled his fingers. It was good, but I think I’ll take the real thing next time.

There was heat in his gaze.

I sat up and tilted my chin for a kiss. Tonight?

He brushed his lips over mine and then swept his tongue over my bottom lip. My pulse picked up even though I knew this kiss wouldn’t be going anywhere right now.

He pulled back, his pale blue eyes dark with desire. Tonight.

Xavier. Let’s go, Vex called out.

I lay back and closed my eyes. It was warm, and my vest and sleep shorts felt constricting, but taking them off wasn’t an option. Not right now.

Ten minutes passed as I drifted, and then the doors slammed open and Tide and Lore stomped in. I was suddenly wide awake.

I stood and rounded the screen. How was work?

They were sitting on their bunks and pulling off their boots. Tide’s hands were covered in grease, and Lore had streaks of it all over his face.

He was also wearing a dirty bandage on his hand.

Shit. I rushed across the room and crouched at his side. What happened?

He smiled wryly. I got clumsy.

No, Tide said. That bastard, Chambers, shoved you. He wants your prime spot.

The extractions?

Lore nodded.

Our plan had been to buy a ship and move on, but when we’d landed on the spaceport two weeks ago, there’d been nothing for sale. Tide had sold the shuttle immediately to the shipyard, which dealt in parts. The thing was dismantled, no way to trace us now. But it didn’t change the fact we were stuck here, because even if a ship for sale did become available now, the Athion government would be monitoring the guys’ accounts. The shuttle hadn’t fetched much, and we didn’t have enough funds to buy a ship.

Tide and Lore had taken jobs at the chop shop, but the pay was shit. Anything more prominent was asking for trouble. Vex and Xavier were hauling space trash down at the depot that dealt with the spaceport waste. Shuttles passed every few hours, and they loaded the waste to be dumped into the local asteroid belt, Minerva X.

The guys had kept me off the grid. The owner at the chop shop had given us use of one of the rusted ships that was practically welded to the ground, and this had been home for the past two weeks.

I studied Lore’s hand, turning it over and wincing at the bloodstains. Extraction was dainty work, the work that required a steady hand. And no one’s hands were steadier than Lore’s. He was a scientist, a surgeon of sorts.

I peeled back the edge of the bandage. We need to clean you up. This bandage is filthy.

I need to shower first, Lore said.

With that hand? I’ll help.

He blinked up at me. What?

You’re going to need help washing with that hand.

She’s right, Tide said with a small smile.

Twin spots of color appeared high on Lore’s cheeks. Um … I … I can manage.

Maybe, but we have limited water, and it will be quicker if I help. I headed out of the room. Come on.

There was a short corridor and a sharp left to the washroom that Vex had customized to suit our needs. The whole room was a shower now. The toilet was in a separate cubicle.

Now that I was here, my pulse was pounding. I hadn’t been alone like this with Lore before. I felt him enter the room behind me.

Rogue, I can manage. You don’t have to do this, he said softly.

I turned to face him. Maybe I want to.

His throat bobbed, and his gaze dropped to my mouth. He closed the door.

I bridged the gap between us. We should get rid of this bandage first.

He held out his hand, and I unwrapped the dirty, yellowing fabric. There was a cut underneath, deep but no longer bleeding. I wet a washcloth in the sink and wiped away the dried blood.

He sucked in a quick breath.

Shit, I’m sorry.

It’ll be fine by tomorrow. His voice was soft. I can just shower then.

I locked gazes with him. I know you, Lore. That would drive you crazy.

The guy was a semi-germophobe.

He cracked a smile. Yes, yes, it probably would.

I grasped the hem of his shirt and slowly tugged it up to reveal his slender, muscled frame. Tight abs and dark blue skin, pectorals speckled with dark blue hair. He was perfect. And then the shirt was over his head, and he was bare-chested and glorious. I moved on to his trousers.

Wait. He gently grasped my hand with his unhurt one. You’ll get wet if you stay.

Most definitely. I licked my lips and then peeled my vest off. I wasn’t wearing a bra, and my nipples were instantly hard.

He exhaled sharply. Rogue …

I stepped closer and unbuttoned his trousers before inching them down over his hips, taking his briefs with the cargo pants. They snagged on his arousal.

Fuck. Lore stepped away and turned his back on me. Rogue. I’m sorry.

My neck heated. He was hard for me. So fucking hard. Don’t be. I kicked off my trousers. He wanted me, but he wasn’t ready. Let me touch you, Lore. Please.

He didn’t speak, but he nodded.

I hugged him from behind and reached round to find his desire. My fingers wrapped around him, and the muscles in his lower back tightened in anticipation.

Slowly, leisurely, I began to pump.

He was breathing fast, heaving breaths as I worked him, and then a low groan spilled from his lips. Rogue. Stop or I’ll—

Come for me. I picked up the pace, hugging him close as sounds of his release accompanied the hot spurt of his seed over my fingers.

He turned to face me, his unhurt hand slipped around my throat to tilt my head back, and then his mouth was on mine. Hungry and desperate. He kissed me thorough and wild, backing me up until my skin met tile, and then the water was gushing down on us. He pulled back, lashes lowered to shield his ember eyes, mouth parted as water skimmed down his face, and then his hand slid down between my breasts, down my abdomen toward the lip of my panties.

I gripped his hand. Not today. I offered him a crooked smile. Our time isn’t today.

I wanted him, but I wanted our first time to be off this rock. On a ship, safe and away. I wanted it slow and leisurely, and I wanted all of him.

I grabbed the soap and lathered up. "Lean forward so