Rough male laughter broke through the haze. They pulled apart as the chuckling guards walked past them, offering a few ribald suggestions.
Nissa shoved away from Justyn and took two staggering steps back, her hands pressed to her cheeks. “That was a massive mistake.”
The words cut him. Of course she’d think that. “Nissa?—”
She held up a hand. “Don’t say anything.” The goggles on her head were askew and she turned away from him, working to straighten them. “Let’s just find Lady Curiosity.
Nissa just kepther mind blank, a trick she’d learned from her many night shifts aboard ship. When everyone was sleeping and nothing was happening, it was best to let your mind hibernate. In the deep, darkest parts of night it was too easy to fall into the trap of overthinking everything that wasn’t quite right in your life and twisting it into despair.
Right now, her brain was screaming a warning at her, while her body was begging her to turn back, grab Justyn Phoenix’s hard body, and ride him for all she was worth.
Stop thinking, Nissa.
He caught up with her, grabbing her arm.
She turned. “Look?—”
His face was shuttered, an expression she’d never seen on his mobile features. Her words dried up. He was a man who laughed easily and smiled most of the time. The tiny lines at the edge of his eyes were proof of that. But this, this…
Blank nothingness was not his style.
“Justyn—”
“We’re here.” He jerked his head to the tent beside them.
Blinking, Nissa stared up at the hand-woven sign above the flap that acted as a door.Lady Curiosity’s World of Sensual Wonders.
“Justyn—” she tried again.
He sighed. “Look, we have a mission. Let’s focus on that. I get the message. You don’t want to want me. Criminal, smuggler, edge rat, not good enough for the esteemed Captain Sander. I get it.”
A lump lodged in her throat. Some of that was exactly what she’d thought, and why the hell did it now make her feel ashamed? He was helping her. She wouldn’t actually be here if it wasn’t for him. Sure, he was hoping to pocket a hefty finder’s fee, but he’d gone above and beyond.
She lifted her hand, wanting to touch him, but he was already turning away.
“Let’s get this done,” he said.
Her hand dropped to her side. He was right. Get the job done. That was what they needed to do. She followed him into the tent.
The smell hit her first. It was exotic, fragrant, sensual. Helpless against the lure of it, Nissa took several deep breaths. Goddess, what was it? Another two breaths and warmth washed through her, loosening her tight muscles.
The tent was packed with items. There was barely enough room to inch by displays. Tables were loaded with colorful, polished stones, jewelry, and other trinkets. Shelves along the walls were loaded with all kinds of things she couldn’t identify. She followed Justyn, but stopped to eye one shelf full of necklaces. They were made of large, shiny pearls in lots of different colors. Dark, smoky gray, luminous pink,and pearlescent cream. Some were all the same size, others graduated.
She reached out a hand. She wasn’t one to wear jewelry, but…
“They aren’t for around your neck.” Justyn’s voice was amused.
Nissa’s hand froze, she blinked. “What are they—” she broke off, staring at the other shelves.
Her eyes widened. The neighboring shelf was covered in dildos of all shapes, sizes, and lengths. Some were made of smooth wood, others shiny metal. One was clear and filled with wires.
On the next shelf was a small dome device with a phallus-shaped attachment on top. Cords ran from it to what looked like a control box.
“It’s a Sybian,” Justyn provided helpfully. “A device designed to help a woman achieve?—”
“Thanks, Phoenix. I don’t need a blow-by-blow description.” She wasn’t a prude. She had her own vibrator tucked in her bedside drawer in her cabin. She knew many crewmen had something for the long, lonely voyages. Especially ship’s captains who couldn’t indulge in relationships with subordinates.
“We need to find Solomon?” She pushed ahead to move past Justyn and found herself face-to-face with a row of life-sized pleasure syndroids.
