“I want to know more about you,” she said with complete honesty.
“Okay. Yes. Xaber and I have both done it. Not at the Nova Club. Not even on this station. It pays well, but neither of us wants to fight anymore.”
“I can understand that.” She reached across the table to take his hand. “I can’t imagine what you’ve endured. I know it doesn’t mean much, but I’m sorry. The corporations have a lot to answer for, but so does everyone who never questioned what was happening.”
Mace’s hand closed over hers, gripping it tightly. “I…fraxx.” He blew out a long breath. “No one has ever said that to me. Not once. It does mean something, Tix. I know there wasn’t anything you could have done, but thank you.”
Life was not fair. She knew that, but the knowledge didn’t quell her sudden surge of outrage and anger. The corporations had used Mace and his brethren like tools instead of living beings. Hamish had tried to do the same thing to her. He’d seen her as an object he could use however he wanted. She wished she could tell Mace her story. She wanted him to know that she understood, at least a little, what they’d survived.
She couldn’t take that chance, though. Not yet.
They held that silence for a few more seconds. Then Mace leaned over and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. He drew her closer, and she allowed it. More than that, sheneededit.
“Whatever you’re feeling, you’re not alone right now. I’m not good with feelings, but if there’s someone who needs punching, you just point ’em out to me.”
Warmth filled her, part attraction and part appreciation for what he’d said. “I thought you didn’t fight anyone else’s battles anymore?”
He twisted in his chair and released her hand to cup her face, coaxing her to turn and face him. “Your battlesaremy battles. Don’t know how it happened, but it did.”
Her throat tightened, and her heart sang as he closed the distance between them. He didn’t stop until his mouth was a whisper away from hers. “Say yes.”
His breath caressed her skin, and his eyes stared into hers as he waited for her answer.
She was more aware of him than she’d ever been of another person. The weight of his arm around her shoulders. The warmth of his touch. A hint of musk and spice that might be his soap or his natural scent.
“Yes,” she whispered. The single word changed everything.
His lips slanted across hers, the contact sending flames dancing across her skin. She leaned into him, her hand closing on the collar of his vest. When her fingers brushed bare skin, he groaned, the sound rolling up from his chest.
Her lips parted, inviting him to take the kiss deeper. His hand moved from her cheek to cradle the back of her head, holding her in place as he claimed her mouth. Needs she’d ignored for far too long ignited into a blaze that consumed her from the inside out.
By the time he raised his head to break their kiss, she’d forgotten where they were. Dazed, she slowly recalled that they were in public. Worse, they were in hisworkplace.
She sat back in her chair and glanced around them surreptitiously, hoping to the nine hells that no one had seen them. The place wasn’t open yet, but some staff members were still around. Thankfully, a quick check confirmed that none of them were looking their way.
She exhaled in relief and then froze when she saw a single human female behind the bar. She had long gray and white hair plaited into dozens of braids, and she was grinning as she stared back at Tish.
Fraxx.
“Uh, I think we had an audience for that very public display of affection,” she informed Mace.
He turned to look in the direction she pointed and chuckled. “That’s Rain, and I’d say she approves.” He shifted his gaze back to her. “Not that it matters. I’m going to kiss you again, anyway.”
“Rebel,” she teased.
“Guilty,” he replied. Then he lifted her out of her chair and onto his lap. It happened so fast she only had time to make a soft squeak of surprise. Then he kissed her again, and her brain short-circuited.
She cupped his face in her hands, her fingers stroking his face as their tongues tangled.
He growled as her fingers touched his scar. The sound made her insides quiver, and part of her wondered if he’d make that noise while he fucked her. Was it too soon? Maybe. Or maybe it was as inevitable as the heat death of the universe.
She wanted this. It would be complicated. It might get messy. She didn’t care. This was the first good thing to come her way in years. It might be the only shot at happiness she ever had, and she was going to take it.
This time, the kiss didn’t stop until she was breathless and trembling. “I think dinner has arrived.”
She lowered her hands and looked around, confused. “But we haven’t ordered yet.”
“We didn’t. I think Rain did it for us.”
