“Good? Good!” His amber eyes gleamed with affront. “I expect to hear words likemagnificent. Wondrous. Unequalled. Notgood. ”
“It was missing something, okay? Don’t be a baby.”
“It was missing nothing.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Mind if I give you a piece of advice, Devyn?”
“Yes.” He still sounded offended. “I do mind.”
“Don’t force your way into a woman’s life. The kiss would have been a whole lot better if I’d wanted to give it to you.”
“There would not have been a kiss if I hadn’t pushed you for it.” He shifted in his seat. “You will not think I am missing something when we have our night together.”
I gave no reply. I didn’t know what to say, really. I’d give him his night because I’d promised it to him. That didn’t mean I’d enjoy it or be an eager participant.
At last we reached our destination. We slowed, then stopped altogether. There was a long, long line of cars ahead of us, awaiting the valet, I supposed. Facing the window, I cast my gaze to the dusty, spacious warehouse. A crowd of people, other-worlder and human combined, ambled inside, nearly busting the building at its seams.
“We have the other warehouse under surveillance. Why aren’t agents all over this place?”
“Your surveillance cameras are easily rigged. Isn’t that the reason they were outlawed without license?”
My lips dipped in a frown, and I tangled a hand through my hair. “All right. This is what we’re going to do,” I told Devyn on a sigh. “When we get inside, I want you to pretend to be eager to take part in the auction. I also want you to pretend to be my master.”
“Pretend?” He caressed his thick fingers over the program box and grinned at me.
“Yes, damn it. Pretend,” I said, purposefully mistaking his meaning. “You can act, can’t you?” The car eased forward a bit.
“Oh, I know I can. But can you? You will have to act the part of my slave.”
His enjoyment irritated me. “I will.” I hated to rely on him so much, but it couldn’t be helped. I couldn’t do this without him, and we both knew it. Not successfully, at least. First Lucius, now Devyn. I’d always been a woman who prided myself on getting the job done right all on my own. Admitting I needed help left a bitter taste in my mouth. Right now I was too concerned with saving the man I loved to give a shit.
Loved?
I almost groaned. I did, I realized. I loved him. Somehow, during this mission, he’d become everything to me. He was smart, resourceful. Intense. Sarcastic. He was everything I’d needed in my life, but hadn’t known until just now.
The car moved another inch. “Once Lucius and the others are safe, I’ll need you to get me close to EenLi. He will be here tonight, won’t he?”
“He has attended every auction in the past, so I expect him to be at this one. Are you going to kill him?”
“Yes,” I answered without hesitation, relish dripping from my tone.
Devyn’s head tilted to the side as he considered my words. “I do not think I want him dead.”
“Why the hell not? He’s evil.”
“Yes, but he supplies my women.”
I rolled my eyes. “Why do you enslave women like that? You’re a handsome man. Females of every race would willingly come to you if you only asked.”
One of his brows arched. “You wouldn’t. Youdidn’t. ”
Good point. “I’m an exception to the rule.”
“Not for long,” he said cockily. As he spoke, he reached over and traced a fingertip over my thigh. His skin was callused and surprisingly cool, a sweet contrast to the heat outside.
“Get your hand off me before you don’t have a hand to remove. Your night hasn’t started yet.”
His mouth stretched wide in a grin, but he did as I’d asked and removed his hand. “Touchy, touchy. You should be rejoicing, little Raka. One day soon, if not this very night, you’re going to be lying in my arms. Where is your joy? Your words of thanks?”
“Your other women got to scratch you and draw your blood. That’s the only thought giving me joy right now.”
“Silly woman.” His grin slowly faded. His expression became deadly serious. Gone was the man of easy humor, and in his place was the king of Targon. I didn’t know what had brought about the change, but I could guess. He’d actually begun to enjoy the intrigue and danger of this mission, and he wanted to win.
“When we get inside,” he said, his tone as cool as his touch had been, “you need to walk two steps behind me. You will sit at my feet when I take a chair.” His gaze flicked over my black pants and shirt. “You’ll need something sexier to wear. I would never bring my slave out in public like that. What happened to your pink clothing?”
“I trashed it. And I have nothing else to wear.”
“Then strip,” he said, as if it was a perfectly natural thing to demand of me.
Scowling, I ripped off my shirt and threw the material in the back seat, leaving me in my bra. It was black, not particularly sexy, but it did showcase my golden skin in a nice way. Several blade handles poked above the waist of my pants. Without the shirt, my guns were also visible. I had to remove most of them.
“Take off the pants,” Devyn ordered.
“Go to hell,” I said, but withdrew my knife and cut the legs off of the pants until I wore the tiniest scrap of material—barely covering the curve of my ass.
“Much better. Now release your hair from confinement.”
I ripped the band from my hair, and the silky strands instantly fell over my shoulders, down my back.
“I cannot wait to have you,” he said on a breath of desire.
Well, he was just going to have to.
Our car finally moved to the front of the line and stopped. A cowboy-clad human opened my door, and I emerged. The midnight air boasted the scent of hay and car fumes. The human’s eyes drank me in, his expression lighting with awe. I don’t think he even realized he was reaching out to me, to caress a hand down my bare stomach. I stepped aside, not wanting his fingers anywhere on me.
Devyn came around the car and moved in front of me, looking sexy as hell in his moss green kilt and white shirt. His glossy brown hair was pulled back in a ponytail. His amber eyes were alive. Without a word, he began walking, expecting me to follow. I did. The crowd parted automatically for him as we entered the building. I felt many stares but I didn’t acknowledge them.