Taking Liberty Read Online Free PDF Page B

general rapped his cane against the cracked cement and his guards scurried in the direction of the carts crammed in front of Quarrel’s main headquarters.
    Giving one more clomp of his cane, the general shuffled across the tarmac. “Come on, I don’t have all night.”
    Imperious son of a bitch . Grinding his molars, Lucus stalked after Quarrel. A stiff breeze kicked up, blowing a tattered scrap of packing material over his boot. He reached to pluck the paper free and the sweet, cloying essence of lilacs drifted to his nose. Jerking his head up, he scanned the surrounding area. Why the hell couldn’t she stay put? Straightening, he quickened his pace until he was running the final distance to the star cruiser. He skidded to a stop outside the rear cargo doors. His pulse drummed in his ears—his mad jog only partly to blame. The true source of his high blood pressure stood on the top step of the lowered ramp.
    â€œWho the hell is she?” Quarrel wheezed from behind.
    â€œMy copilot.” Lucus kept his gaze trained on Rini, silently commanding her to keep her yap shut.
    â€œYour copilot’s a woman?”
    Lucus caught the scornful disbelief in Quarrel’s voice and rushed to ease the general’s suspicion. “Female copilots have their advantages.”
    A robust laugh chuffed from Quarrel. “Ah yes. I can see the benefit of having available pussy during those long flights.”
    Outrage glimmered in Rini’s eyes. She descended a step, her body tensed for confrontation. Lucus grabbed the rail and blocked the ramp’s exit. Her lips whitened as they flattened but she remained planted in place. Good. If she behaved the next fifteen minutes, they might get off the planet in one piece.
    â€œSweetheart, why don’t you join me inside while I get the general’s shipment ready?”
    Apparently reading the demand beneath his gritted request, Rini spun an about-face and stormed into the darkened confines of the cargo bay.
    Quarrel’s chuckle resembled rocks being dragged through a tumbler. “You have a feisty one there.”
    Lucus stifled a grunt. There’s the understatement of the century.
    â€œI bet she fucks like a wild creature.”
    An image of Rini screaming her throat raw, her wild hair streaming over her shimmying breasts while she bounced on his cock flashed across Lucus’s mental big screen. He shook his head. Four months without sex—it was killing him. Clearly his hand was a poor substitute for the nirvana found between a woman’s legs. Soon as this job was finished and he paid Rini, he was flying to Shiarta and taking the first prostitute with the wickedest proposition. So long as she didn’t have red hair. He didn’t need his brain conjuring any more fantasies of Rini.
    Turning to Quarrel, Lucus noticed the guards approaching with the transport carts. He took his cue and hurried up into the bay. Rini was waiting for him on the other side of the doors. Judging from the flush gracing her high cheekbones, she’d overheard the general’s crude assumption regarding her bedroom skills.
    Head held high, she led the way to the nearest crated pallet. Her curvaceous hips moved with an unintentional, sexy sway. At least he assumed it was unintentional. The possibility of it being anything else was pretty damn slim. Particularly when he had better chances of winning the super-galactic lotto than having Rini deliberately tempt him with her luscious booty.
    She plopped down on the edge of the crate that held a collection of raw silk from Jhiordan. “You don’t have to do this, you know.”
    Yeah, he did. That was the problem with striking a bargain with the devil—you did as told or ended up flame broiled. “Sweetheart, you’re gonna have to move. You’re sitting on part of the shipment.”
    Rini crossed her arms over her chest. “What if I don’t?”
    â€œThen I guess you’ll