Chapter 26

Chapter

Twenty-Six

S omething warm was pressed to his side, and Rixx wondered if Pog had snuck into his bunk again. The little, shape-shifting pet had an incredible talent for sneaking into places, and more than once, he and Zaandr had found the bright green puff curled up next to one of them while they slept. Of course, Pog only snuck in their quarters on the bounty-hunting ship if he couldn't get into Tori's quarters. Despite the security chief pretending to despise the glurkin, Pog loved nothing more than cuddling with her.

Rixx reached down to pat the ball of fluff, but his hand did not touch fur. The warm body pressed against him was not a glurkin.

He stiffened, his brain whirring. It wasn't uncommon to sleep rough on the sands and for Dothveks to sleep side by side, but as he lazily blinked his eyes, he knew he was not on the sands. He rubbed his hand over the soft form curled next to him, and it all rushed back to him—the escape, the house, Myrria, the night before. Everything.

Instead of panic surging through him as he remembered that he was on the run from the Zevrians and his ship had left the planet, he let out a deep breath. If he could continue to hide out in bed with Myrria, he would not mind being stranded. If he had more nights like the one before, he might not want to leave the Den of Thieves at all.

He remembered her breathy sounds and his cock twitched to life. What were the chances that he could outlast the Zevrian search parties and remain with Myrria? There were less pleasant ways to spend the rest of his life than with Myrria and Zala. For the first time ever, he did not mind the idea of staying in one place and putting down roots.

He might have taken to the skies for adventure, but being abducted by the Zevrians had provided him with enough excitement for a lifetime. He would gladly trade in adventure for contentment. And at that moment, Rixx was as content as he had ever been.

He hummed as he rolled over, pulled Myrria so that her ass bumped his thickening cock, and buried his face in her tousled hair. She matched his humming sound and wiggled her back closer to him, which did nothing to stop his cock from hardening.

"Good morning," she said, her voice soft and sleepy.

Rixx moved her hair to one side and kissed her neck. "I know what would make it even better."

She laughed and swatted playfully at him. "The sun is up, which means Zala will be waking soon."

Rixx stilled and listened, but he heard no sounds of footsteps on the ladder. "She is not awake yet."

"You making sounds like you made last night would be sure to wake her," Myrria said with mock severity.

Rixx pulled back, his laugh deep and resonant. "Me?"

Myrria laughed again, and the sound warmed him, sending pleasure bubbling through him as if he'd swallowed Karrilian giggle wine. "Are you claiming you were silent?"

"No, but how could I be silent when you were so hot and tight and—?"

Myrria swatted him harder this time, twisting her head to give him a scandalized look. He loved seeing the flush in her cheeks and sparkle in her eyes, knowing that he was partly responsible for bringing joy back into her life. He no longer regretted being taken by the Zevrians or even almost dying in a raging inferno. Not if all the pain had brought him to Myrria. She was worth all of it.

Just as he was about to roll her over and prove to her that he could be quiet if the occasion called for it, a sound from the outside room stopped him.

Myrria went rigid in his arms. "Was that a knock on the door?"

The sound repeated, but this time it was a distinct thump, and it was coming from her front door.

"Do you think your landlord has returned?" Rixx asked as Myrria jumped from the bed and dressed in a frenzy.

"Maybe, but she would just as soon have walked in." Myrria kept her voice low then pinned him with a look. "You should dress and hide, just in case…"

Just in case it was the Zevrians looking for him, Rixx thought, as he got out of bed and pulled on his pants and shirt. He started for the attached bathroom, but Myrria waved for him to follow her.

"Not there. Anyone could find you in two seconds." She pushed the curtain aside and pointed to the ladder. "Go up there. Worst case, you can use the hatch that leads to the roof."

Rixx eyed the darkened loft area where Zala still slept. How had he not known there was a hatch to the roof?

As if reading his thoughts, which he did not think she could yet do, Myrria shrugged. "I didn't think you were healed enough to get up there until, well…"

Her words drifted off, but it was obvious that she meant last night. It was only when they were in bed that Myrria had known that his injuries were healed, although if Rixx was being honest, he would not have felt his leg snapping off while he was inside her.

A heavier thump on the door made him scramble quickly up the ladder and scoot to the shadowy recesses of the loft, as Zala sat up groggily and rubbed her eyes. Rixx put a finger to his lips as Myrria crossed the room downstairs and opened the door.

Her gasp made Zala's eyes pop wide and Rixx's body tense as if readying for battle.

"I'm back, Myrria!" The man's rough announcement was followed by a raspy laugh. "Did you miss me?"