Fallon's Fall (3 page)

Cooper’s soft brown gaze warmed. “I thought for a minute that I might have some competition,” he said.

“There is no competition,” she said. Fallon would win hands down, but Dora wasn’t about to add that. “You have nothing to worry about.” She looked at Fallon. “Nothing at all.”

Fallon’s sensual lips flattened into a grim line as she stared at him and his hands curled into fists. Anger radiated from every green inch of him. What did he have to be mad about? She’d apologized for the roping incident.

He didn’t have the right to be angry about anything else. Fallon had lost that right, when he’d left her behind. She might not have been good enough for him then, but Dora’s current position put her above him. It was her turn to walk away.

Cooper stroked her shoulders. Normally, Dora would’ve found the caress pleasurable, but the gentle touch only added to her discomfort.

“Are you sure his arrival isn’t going to be a problem?” Cooper’s hand stilled.

Dora gave him a genuine smile. “Yes.” She wouldn’t allow it to be.

Fallon was part of her past. A painful past she had no wish to relive. Dora glanced at the horned man who once held her future in his hands and felt a pang of regret. Stark, cold, and confident, he was nothing like the dreamer who’d wanted more out of life than what their families intended for them. This was a true Morean male. The kind of male she wanted nothing to do with.

You’re over him.

To prove it, she said, “Let’s have a drink, then get out of here. Okay?” Dora slid her fingers over Cooper’s hand.

Cooper’s grin turned feral. “Anything you want.”

Something bumped Dora’s foot. She squealed in surprise and looked under the table. “How’d you get here?” She picked up the gray whirl and stroked it under the chin. Its suckered feet clung to her hand and it cooed.

The restkeep noticed and hurried over to her table.

Dora gently handed the thorny creature back to its owner. The sooner she got out of here the better.

Fallon watched Dora’s crew close rank around her at the table. It was no surprise, since his would do the same once they stopped laughing at him. The man who'd whispered in Dora’s ear had slipped his meaty arm behind her back and gently stroked her shoulders like it was his right to touch her. Fallon's vision faded to red and a wave of possessiveness struck him.

“I’d be angry, too, if she’d embarrassed me that way.” Mars sounded nothing like the peacekeeper he was. “You going to take our bet or what?”

“Thought you were the diplomat of the bunch,” Fallon said to deflect the real reason he was mad.

Mars chuckled. “Not when it comes to seeing a woman kick your ass, even if she does have a way with whirls.”

Dora had always had a way with everyone and everything. She’d taught him to see past appearances, to respect lowly merchants and royalty alike. She had viewed the world through a lens of compassion and forced him to do the same. Dora saw him for who he truly was. Seeing himself through her eyes had made Fallon want to be a better man, made him want to live up to her expectations. This had nothing to do with embarrassment and everything to do with the past coming back to punch him in the throat.

“Just drop it,” Fallon said.

“Not going to happen,” Reaper said. “This is the first time in months that I’ve seen you excited about anything.”

“Yeah,” Lex said. “It’s nice to have the old Fallon back. We were starting to get worried that you might leave us.”

“What?” Fallon’s face heated. “Where’d you get that idea?” Leaving wasn’t an option. He had nowhere to go.

“Doesn’t matter,” Reaper said. “Just know we’re here to help.”

Fallon’s gaze slid to Dora. “I don’t need your help.” Not with this.
Not with her.

Lex’s violet eyes narrowed. “Then why are you hesitating?”

Why indeed?

“We could always take her,” Reaper said casually. “Sell her at the next stop.”

Fury swept through Fallon. He grabbed hold of Reaper’s collar and slammed him against the bar. “We aren’t taking her anywhere,” he snarled. “Keep your hands off her. Got it?”

Reaper’s black eyes widened. The surprise in them was quickly replaced by speculation. “Told you she wasn’t just some random female,” he said to the crew. He pulled another orange credit out of his coat pocket and slapped it down on the bar. “A hundred credits says you can’t bind her.”

Fallon shoved him away and glared at his crew. What was he doing? These men were his family. And like typical siblings, they’d goaded him into reacting. The smart thing to do was back down, but that wasn’t an option, especially now that he’d revealed so much.

Reaper hadn’t been serious when he’d suggested they take Dora. They’d gone legit. Hawk had made that clear. But now that the suggestion was in his mind, Fallon couldn’t help but consider it.

He couldn’t kidnap Dora.
Could he?
If he did, what then?

Could he make her listen to him? Maybe even get her to give him another chance?

Both those thing would take time to accomplish. He’d need to get her alone. Taking her might be the only way to buy him the time he needed. He glanced across the room.

Dora and her crew settled their charges and gathered their things, then headed toward the entrance. She glanced his way and a myriad of emotions crossed her face.

Warning bells went off in his head. Fallon silenced them as panic overtook reason.

“Do you want to say goodbye?” the handsome man beside her asked.

Dora met Fallon’s gaze. “No need,” she said. “He said his goodbyes a long time ago.”

Pain sliced through Fallon and his gut clenched. She was right. He had. He saw his chance to explain the past disintegrate before his eyes and something inside of him wailed in anguish. Fallon turned to Reaper, not bothering to hide his desperation.

“Follow them,” he said. “Let me know where they go.”

Reaper gave him a savage grin and nodded once, then disappeared in a puff of smoke.

F
allon did
his best to wait patiently at the bar for Reaper’s return. Hawk and Opal had headed back to the ship on a transit shuttle, opting to stay on it, instead of at one of the many accommodations scattered across the weigh station. They’d left the ship’s shuttles behind for the crew.

It felt like an eternity had passed by the time Reaper reappeared. His form solidified, then he picked up what was left of Fallon’s drink and tossed it down his throat. Reaper hissed, then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

“What happened? Where’d they go?” Fallon asked. If they went back to the
Anemone
, then he was screwed.

Reaper held up a finger.

Fallon shoved it aside. “Did you find them?”

Reaper’s dark gaze locked on him and he hesitated. “I did,” he said.

“And?” he asked impatiently.

Reaper ordered two more drinks. “And I don’t think you’re going to like what I found.”

Fallon gripped the side of the bar to keep from punching Reaper in the face. “Just tell me.”

Reaper paid for the drinks, then slid one in front of Fallon. “You’re going to need this.”

Fallon automatically grabbed the glass, though he didn’t take a drink.

“They went into the accommodations at the far end of the weigh station,” Reaper said.

That wasn’t anything unusual. Anyone familiar with Terraless Firma knew that the quietest rooms were at the end of the station. Most uninformed travelers booked space nearest the shuttle and the fuel pods, so they wouldn’t have far to walk. They didn’t know how noisy ships fueling all night could get. Why was Reaper being so cagey?

“The woman and the big male who was with her are sharing a room.” Reaper lifted his drink and took a long pull from it.

The glass in Fallon’s hand shattered, sending his drink spilling across the bar.

“Knew you weren't going to take the news well,” Reaper said.

Lex and Mars noticed the commotion and came over to where they stood.

“What's going on? Did you find the woman?” Lex asked.

“I found her alright,” Reaper said. “She’s bunked up with the dark-haired humanoid.”

“Uh-oh.” Lex’s violet eyes widened and he took a step back. “You going to be okay?”

Fallon brushed his hands over his pants to remove the moisture and sharp shards from his skin. Already his implanted tech was pushing them out. Soon smooth skin would return. “I’ll be fine.” His gaze slid to Reaper. “Just as soon as you tell me what room they’re in.”

This proved that they were through, but Fallon was going to have his confrontation. Even if he had to toss Dora’s companion out of the room and provoke her into one.

“Let’s go,” Fallon said. There was no time to lose.

T
he second
the door closed behind her, Dora knew she’d made a mistake inviting Cooper back to her room. She had always been pleased with the man’s lovemaking. Hadn’t thought she needed anything more…until she’d laid eyes on Fallon.

Dora had no intention of going back for the green-skinned Morean. He’d never come back for her. But she could no longer fool herself into believing that what she had with Cooper was enough. Would ever be enough. It didn’t help that she couldn’t stop thinking about Fallon.

Cooper sat on the cushioned pallet and pulled his shirt off. The move left his dark hair disheveled. He tossed his shirt onto the floor beside his shoes and ran a hand over his broad chest.

It gave him a seductive look that Dora had seen before, but it normally came after they’d spent a few hours rolling around a pallet.

Cooper caught her looking at him and grinned. “What are you waiting for?” He patted the spot beside him, then reached for the closure on the front of his pants to release his shaft.

Dora liked Cooper’s cock, but she wasn’t in the mood to see it right now. She opened her mouth to send him away. Before she could utter a sound, the metal door to her room came crashing down. Dora screamed and her heart jumped into her throat. She glanced around her for anything that could be used as a weapon, but other than a pallet and a couple of chairs there was nothing in the room. Unfortunately, due to gravitational concerns, those seats were bolted to the floor.

She patted her pockets. A rope wasn’t much of a weapon, especially against a blaster. Dora looked to Cooper for help. He hadn’t moved a muscle. He stared at the door with his mouth open.

“Cooper?” she said to jolt him into action.

He didn’t even turn his head.

“Cooper!” she shouted his name again.

A large shadow fell across the room. Dora trembled and took a step back. She had heard stories about people being taken from their rooms and sold on the dark market, but had never thought it could happen to her.

She glanced out the porthole at the flashing neon outside. People scurried from building to building. Dora waved her arms and shouted, forgetting that you could only see one way through the thick, soundproof glass. She turned back to face the threat.

The shadow grew, filling the room. “For Goddess sake, Cooper, do something!”

Cooper trembled and the color drained from his face, as Fallon stepped through the doorway, chest heaving, veins bulging and horns lowered like some sexy demi-god beast. He inhaled deeply and let out what sounded like a snort. His yellow eyes narrowed as they locked on Cooper’s half-naked form and his muscles tensed.

“Fallon, don’t!” Dora yelled, but there was no stopping him.

He crossed the room in two strides and grabbed Cooper by the throat, yanking him off the pallet.

“Get out!” Fallon growled.

Cooper seemed to finally snap out of his shocked stupor. “What do you think you’re doing? Release me this instant or I’ll call the Authority.” He struggled, attempting to break Fallon’s grasp.

Fallon laughed in his face. “Do I look like I care about the Authority? Call them.” He tossed Cooper into the waiting arms of his crewmates. “Lex, you’re up.”

A fair-haired man stepped forward and looked into Cooper eyes. He whispered something Dora couldn’t hear. A second later, Cooper slumped in his arms.
Was he dead?

“What in caldron fires is wrong with you?” Dora shouted. “You can’t just barge into a room and kill someone.”

Fallon stepped into her space, blocking her view of Cooper and the other men. Heat poured off his body as he crowded her and a rich spicy scent emanated from his skin. “I can. And I have.”

Who was this man? He was a stranger.

A stranger that made Dora’s heart race with excitement and her lower lip tremble with fear.

Fallon’s gaze locked on her mouth and his eyes widened. “Don’t!” He swallowed hard.

The barked command only made her lip tremble worse. Had Dora not been watching him so closely, she wouldn’t have seen Fallon flinch. She also wouldn’t have glimpsed the pain roiling beneath his angry exterior. Maybe there was more to this arrogant Morean than she thought.

“Your lover will be fine,” he muttered, then nodded to his crew. They lifted Cooper off his feet and carried him into the hall, then pulled the broken door back into place as they left.

“His name is Cooper,” she said.

“His name is unimportant,” he snarled.

In all the years she’d known him, Fallon had only lied to her one time. She didn’t think he’d lie about this, especially after seeing the look on his face when he had Cooper by the throat. Fallon had
wanted
to kill him. If Cooper was dead, he’d tell her.

Her anger ignited. “Explain yourself!” Dora put her hands on her hips to hide the quivering and glared at him. “You have no right to be here. You were not invited.”

All Fallon wanted to do was kill the man, especially now that he knew how much Cooper meant to Dora. He could still smell the male’s scent in her room, on her pallet. The stench seemed to be in every breath he took. It stroked his fury, fueled his rage.

Why him? Why take him into her bed, into her body? Fallon belonged there. Not some weak male who didn’t even have the decency to fight for her when challenged.

It didn’t matter that Fallon hadn’t given him the chance. What if it hadn’t been him at the door? What if it had been someone else? Another slaver?

Anything
could be happening to Dora right now. The thought terrified him. It was a good thing that his crew had taken the man away or Fallon would’ve hurt him.

“Are you going to explain what you’re doing here?” Dora asked. “I don’t appreciate having my plans interrupted.”

Fallon’s lip curled in disgust. “If a male isn’t willing to fight for you, then he doesn’t deserve to bed you.”

Her expression turned thunderous. “On that, we can agree. So get out!”

He’d walked right into that one, but Fallon wasn’t about to give up. “You can’t tell me that you feel nothing for me,” he said.

Dora’s gaze leveled on him. “Yes, I can,” she said.

“You lie,” he said. “I can smell your desire.” Fallon snarled and closed the distance between them. He grabbed Dora by her shirt and yanked her into his arms.

“What do you think—”

His mouth came down upon hers in mid-protest. The second their lips touched, the heat simmering between them went supernova. All the years fell away and they were once again Dora and Fallon, two hungry kids who could never get enough of each other.

His grip on her tightened and he deepened the embrace. The sweet taste of her mouth went straight to his head. Oh how he’d missed this, missed her. Fallon savored, unable to get enough. His fingers brushed her shirt, grazing the soft swell of her breast. There were too many clothes between them. Fallon wanted to strip her bare, to see what he’d been missing for the past ten years. He touched her again and felt her nipples plump beneath his hands.

Flames shot down his abdomen and settled into his shaft. His flight suit material stretched to the breaking point. Fallon had never been so hard in his life. He swirled his tongue around hers. Her body melted against his and Dora moaned.

The sound sent spikes of joy through him. Fallon hadn’t heard the luscious noise in forever. Yet, he had never forgotten it. The tightness in his chest eased and he felt like he could breathe for the first time in forever.

“I want you,” he murmured against her kiss-swollen lips, then cupped her sex and squeezed.

“No!” Dora shoved him away and took a step back.

Her rejection burned like acid. Fallon could smell her need. That particular savory scent hadn’t been in the room when he’d arrived. The thought brought him up short. Why hadn’t it been? Dora and the male had been about to have sex. Yet, desire had only emanated from one of them. Why? The truth hit him upside his head.

“You want me,” he rasped.

“That was never an issue. All that wanting you entailed was the problem,” she said. “Besides, my body’s response doesn’t mean anything. I wanted Cooper, too. Would’ve had him if you hadn’t interrupted.”

Her barb struck its target, even though he knew it was a lie. Pain blossomed in Fallon’s chest. He shoved the agony aside. Coming here to try to talk to her had been a mistake. The damage he’d done all those years ago was irreparable.

Fallon inhaled, preparing to apologize, and caught the rich aroma of aroused female. Dora’s desire should’ve faded with her anger, but if anything, it had increased. Was it due to his essence or something else entirely? Fallon needed to know. His resolve hardened.

“We need to talk,” he said. There’d be plenty of time for fucking later.

“There’s nothing left to say.” Dora crossed her arms over her chest, but not before he caught sight of her hard nipples. “You made your feelings clear long ago.”

Fallon shook his head in frustration. “You need to listen,” he said. “You haven’t heard the whole story.”

Dora balked. “I am done listening to you,” she said. “The last time I did, I found myself rejected by my village and labeled a pallet warmer. Do you have any idea what it is like to be an innocent with that kind of reputation? Of course you don’t. How could you? Nobody cares how many pallets you warm.”

Heat flooded Fallon’s face and his hands curled into fists. A pallet warmer? How could they think such a thing about Dora? She’d been so sweet. So naïve. He’d had no idea his cowardice behavior had caused her village to turn on her. No wonder she hated him.

Had Fallon known, he would have… Would’ve… Would’ve what? There’d been a good reason why he hadn’t come back for her when he’d said he would. Those circumstances hadn’t changed.

His jaw clenched. “Sorry.” The word sounded rusty in his throat. Fallon couldn’t remember the last time he’d apologized to anyone.

Dora gave him a bitter laugh. “Too late.”

Fallon licked his lips. Dora’s gaze followed his tongue’s progress. He could still taste her sweetness. He did it again. To his surprise, her pupils flared.

“You claim to hate me but your body weeps for my touch like mine weeps for yours,” he said.

“Do not entwine sex with emotions. I don’t,” she said. “It’s a lesson I learned a long time ago.”

“Will you at least let me explain what happened?” Once he did, Fallon would leave her in peace, though it would be hard to walk away.