“Phoenix, my eyes are up here.”
Her tone made him snap his gaze up. Ordinary brown eyes met his. She’d used contacts to hide her elongated pupils and derma-patches to hide her reptilian scale pattern. He hated that her beautiful markings and eyes were concealed. A pair of goggles sat on top of her shapely, bare head.
“Nice…goggles,” he managed.
She flashed him a look that lasered right through him. “I want an outfit like yours.”
“That’s what women wear on Alchemia.” He waved at her. “Or huge dresses with enormous skirts. Didn’t think you’d appreciate that.”
“I don’t understand why they have outfits that are so…so…archaic.”
“Alchemia was started by a mad scientist called Nigel Magellan Rowbotham. He had collections of steam-powered technology and manuscripts talking about a time on Earth when airships ruled the sky and steam was king.” Justyn shrugged. “Most astro-archeologists don’t believe Earth ever went through a period like that, but no one knows for sure. Maybe it was just fiction, but Rowbotham believed enough to emulate it. And Alchemia was born.”
“And now?”
“And now, Ulysses Mackon won’t let it change. By the way, I have something else for you. I had Luciana help me with it.” He held out his offering.
Nissa frowned. “An old gun?”
“No, a perfectly modern Patrol laser pistol disguised to look like an old weapon.”
“Thank you.” She checked the pistol, then slid it into her belt.
He noticed a buckle at the back of her corset was loose. He stepped up behind her. “Let me tighten this for you.”
He yanked the strap and did up the buckle.
She sucked in a sharp breath, her breasts rising. “Easy!”
Taking a peek over her shoulder, his gaze locked on those curves of flesh. They weren’t large, but not small, either. He wanted to shape them with his palms, flick at her nipples until they were tight little peaks. He settled a palm on the nape of her neck and felt the heat of her skin through the fabric.
She froze under his touch.
“Nissa.” Just a tiny taste of her. That’s all he wanted. Needed. He kneaded her skin, lowered his head, and pressed his lips to the delicate spot beneath her right ear.
She shivered against him. “Phoenix.” A breathy whisper. When he flicked his gaze up, he saw her eyes were closed.
“All this golden skin…it gives me so many ideas.” He slid his fingers along her shoulder and dipped beneath the white fabric, feeling the toned muscle beneath. She was strong as well as sexy, and to him, that made her even more attractive.
She arched her back, pushing those gorgeous breasts up.
He had to touch her.
A chime sounded. Justyn ignored it.
Then Allard’s voice filled the cabin. “Captain Sander? Mr. Phoenix? We’ve just hit the galaxy boundary and are crossing over into uncharted space. One hour until we reach Alchemia.”
Nissa hissed out a breath and stumbled away from Justyn.
He thought for a second that she’d refuse to look at him, or race for the safety of her bedroom.
But she didn’t. Of course, she didn’t. That wasn’t Nissa’s style.
She straightened her shoulders, any remaining hint of the woman beneath the uniform vanishing. “Do whatever else youhave to do to get ready. I’ll meet you in the teletransportation room in an hour.” Her eyes narrowed. “And Phoenix?”
“Yeah?”
“Keep your hands to yourself.” She swiveled and left the cabin.
