Rogue: A Scifi Alien Romance (Galactic Gladiators Book 8) Read online

  She walked into the room, trailing a finger over the desks. She turned, pretending to study a screen. As she leaned over, Zhim’s cock stiffened. Her short skirt barely covered her bottom, and he had the perfect view of her bare, heart-shaped ass. She wasn’t wearing any panties .

  He hissed out a breath. He was already hard as a rock. Then he realized that Ryan was ticking off the next item on her list. He grinned. His Earth woman was celebrating her new life .

  Their new life .

  He knew he didn’t deserve her, but he was taking her. He’d never wanted anything in his life as much as he wanted this small, smart woman. And he had a few things of his own that he wanted to add to her list .

  He stood up, moving behind her. He rubbed his hard cock against her ass .

  “I hope you’re a fast learner, Miss Nagano .”

  “I’m very diligent.” She pushed back against him .

  Zhim slid a hand between her legs. She was already wet. She shimmied, riding his hand .

  Then she turned her head, and smiled. That smile alone made him happy. He reached out and cupped her cheek, and their gazes met .

  “Before we begin our lesson — ”

  She shimmied again, his fingers working between her slick folds. “Yes.” Her voice was breathless .

  “I wanted to tell you that I’m glad…that is, I’m very pleased…” He blew out a breath. This was harder than he’d imagined. “Ryan, you make me…” Drak, he felt like he had a boulder sitting on his chest .

  She tilted her head. “Are you trying to tell me that you have feelings for me?” Pleasure lit her eyes .

  Zhim took a deep breath. “I’m trying to tell you that I’m falling in love with you .”

  Her eyes went wide and she spun. “Zhim .”

  He reached out and smoothed his hand down one of her pigtails. “You don’t need to say anything back, I just wanted to tell you .”

  “I do need to say something, because I’m falling in love with you, too .”

  Warmth and happiness like Zhim had never known exploded inside him. He’d always thought he never wanted to get close to a woman, never wanted to risk love .

  Now, he knew Ryan’s love was the greatest treasure he’d ever gained .

  He leaned down, kissing her with everything he had. When he lifted his head, they were both breathing heavily .

  She wiggled that ridiculously short skirt again. “How about we celebrate? Why don’t you make love to me, Merchant Zhim ?”

  “An excellent idea, Miss Nagano. I happen to know several different ways to pleasure you that I think you’ll thoroughly enjoy .”

  She grinned. “Well, you are the premier information merchant on Carthago.” As he slipped a hand between her legs, she let out a small cry. “I wouldn’t expect anything less .”

  * * *

  R yan laughed, taking a sip of her fizzy drink. It felt like it sparkled all the way down her throat. Across from her, Rory was laughing uproariously, Regan was giggling, and Madeline was smiling and shaking her head .

  They were on one of the wide balconies at the House of Galen. Harper was standing at the railing, smiling as she sipped her own drink. Mia and Winter were sitting together on a couch .

  Only Neve was missing. And of course, Dayna. Ryan felt a pang, wondering if the poor woman was still alive .

  Ryan turned her head and looked over the balcony at the training arena below. She spotted a whirl of movement. Neve was on the sand, her staff spinning in a display of deadly moves .

  “Has she said anything?” Ryan asked .

  Harper shook her head. “No. She just trains, day and night .”

  Why wouldn’t Neve let them help her? She was hiding something, and searching for something, or someone. She was as bad as Zhim about accepting help .

  At least her man was learning, and getting better at opening up .

  “How’s life with Carthago’s number one information merchant?” Rory asked .

  Ryan shot them a wide smile. “Amazing .”

  Rory shook her head. “I’m glad you’re happy, but I’m not sure I get it. Zhim is…so annoying .”

  “And arrogant,” Madeline added .

  “Yep,” Ryan said cheerfully. And he was all hers. Each day, he did something sweet and perfect to show how he felt about her .

  “He and Galen got into a fierce argument about you leaving the House of Galen,” Madeline said .

  “I know.” Ryan sipped her drink. “I had to remind both of them that I get to make decisions about my own life, not them. And I then told Zhim that I would be doing all of the House of Galen’s systems-work, before I did anything for him .”

  Surprisingly, Zhim hadn’t cared about what work she did, as long as she was with him .

  Everything was perfect…except for one thing .

  She looked at her drink. “We’ve been combing through the Srinar data. There’s still nothing on Dayna .”

  Regan leaned forward and gripped Ryan’s hand. “We’ll find her .”

  “We won’t give up,” Harper added .

  Ryan released a breath and nodded. Movement at the doorway caught her attention .

  Zhim appeared, his face serious .

  She leaped to her feet. “What’s wrong ?”

  “I found something in the Srinar information.” He looked over to Madeline. “Can you get Galen and the others here, please ?”

  The brunette nodded and hurried off .

  Zhim started to pace the balcony and Ryan just watched him, dread sliding through her .

  Soon, Galen and the other gladiators crowded the balcony, their muscled bodies dominating the space. Neve slipped in, too, leaning against a wall at the back. Zhim turned to face everyone, and cleared his throat. Ryan moved up beside him and grabbed hold of his hand .

  “One of my search bugs found something in the Srinar data. Actually, three somethings .”

  “Tell us,” Galen said .

  “The first thing, I found Dayna .”

  Ryan squeezed his hand, and she saw Mia and Winter jump up, hugging each other .

  “Where is she?” Mia asked .

  Zhim’s eyes flashed. “Zaabha .”

  Ryan’s heart fell. “No.” She knew how vicious the desert arena was. She knew that the female warrior who ruled the arena with brutal skill was unstoppable. If Dayna was sent in to fight …

  “It’s a start, Ryan,” Zhim said. “We found her. Now all we have to do is find Zaabha .”

  But Ryan knew that was easier said than done. The desert arena was well protected and well hidden. It was little more than myth and legend to most of the planet’s residents .

  And no one knew its exact location .

  Zhim clasped his hands behind his back. “I also found a record of a manifest belonging to the Thraxians .”

  Ryan frowned. “Manifest ?”

  “It’s a list. Of all the humans they took aboard their slave ship .”

  Everyone gasped. Blaine took a step forward, as did Harper. The women burst into a babble of conversation all at once, and Zhim held up his hand .

  He pulled a small device from his pocket, and set it down on the low table between the couches. He turned it toward the cream-stone wall, and a beam projected information onto the smooth surface. The items were all in alien text, but then he pressed a button .

  The words began translating, the data shifting and moving until it appeared in English. Names began to appear .

  Harper Adams .

  Blaine Strong .

  Madeline Cochran .

  Rory Fraser .

  Regan Forrest .

  Mia Ross .

  Dayna Caplan .

  Winter Ashworth .

  Ryan Nagano .

  Neve Haynes .

  And then another name appeared .

  Ever Haynes .

  Ryan spun to face Neve. “Ever ?”

  Neve’s jaw went tight. “My sister. She was a scientist on Fortuna Station .”

  So that’s
who Neve was so desperate to find .

  “Look, there’s one more name,” Zhim said .

  Harper let out a sharp hiss, and Blaine cursed .

  Samantha Santos .

  “Sam was the head of security on Fortuna,” Harper said, thrusting a hand through her hair .

  “God, she’s been here all along,” Blaine said. He scowled at Zhim. “Where is she ?”

  “All three of them are at Zaabha .”

  Chatter exploded over the balcony. Ryan leaned into Zhim, and he pulled her closer, hugging her tight .

  “We have no idea where Zaabha is,” Ryan said .

  “We’ll find it. You’ve been there, and you’ve been in their system. We’ll find it and we’ll free these women .”

  The solid, sure tone of his voice soothed her and she straightened. “We sure as hell will .”

  Whatever it took, Ryan would help find them. She stared into Zhim’s hawkish face. She’d found a life here on Carthago she’d never dreamed of, and a man who fit her like a missing piece of a puzzle .

  She wanted those women to have a chance for the same .

  Galen clapped his hands, and everyone quieted .

  “There are three women out there, one who already has House of Galen protection. They are prisoners, held against their will, and they need our help. There are also other innocents who’ve no doubt been forced into the Zaabha Arena. They also need our help .”

  Ryan knew that the House of Galen had always worked in the shadows to free slaves and people who should never be forced to fight in the arena. While the high-level gladiators had been busy freeing humans, she’d seen the House of Galen records. Behind the scenes, Galen was still busy directing others to help free slaves from the other houses .

  Galen’s voice was unyielding. “We will bring Dayna, Ever, and Samantha home. We will stop the Thraxians and Srinar once and for all.” His sharp gaze swept across them. “We will find Zaabha and burn it to the ground .”

  Ryan shivered. “Remind me not to piss Galen off .”

  “For honor and freedom,” Raiden called out .

  Everyone in the room raised their voices and Ryan joined them. “For honor and freedom .”

  Determination filled her. They would save their friends .

  Zhim smiled down at her. “Ready to leave ?”

  She nodded .

  “I have a surprise for you this evening .”

  She raised a brow. “Another item to check off my list ?”

  His smile widened. “Yes, but your other list. I’ve booked a table and a show at the Dark Nebula Casino. Rillian runs the best establishment in Kor Magna .”

  Warmth spread through her, knowing he’d done this to make her happy. “Only the best for my information merchant .”

  “Yes.” He reached out, stroking her hair. “Only the best. Ready to head home ?”

  Home . Not Earth, not her space-station job, or her sort-of fiancé. Home for her was a lawless desert world, and a sexy, crazy-smart information merchant .

  For the first time in her life, Ryan had everything she’d ever dreamed about. “Let’s go home .”

  * * *

  I hope you enjoyed Zhim and Ryan’s story !

  Read on for Desert Rogue, Corsair and Neve’s story .

  Desert Rogue

  Anna Hackett

  Chapter One

  S he stood in the shadows, watching the gladiators fight .

  Sweat-slicked muscles, black tattoos, masculine grunts, and the clash of weapons. It was a pretty awe-inspiring sight, she had to admit .

  Neve Haynes studied the tattooed Raiden, swinging his sword, his red cloak whipping behind him. He smacked the huge gladiator he was fighting in the chest with the flat of his blade. Thorin staggered backward, his boots kicking up sand, and scales flickered on his skin. He fell on his ass and his curses filled the air .

  Raiden laughed. “Getting slow, my friend .”

  Thorin stood, dusting off his trousers. He growled. “I’ll show you slow, old man .”

  But then Raiden, Champion of the Kor Magna Arena, clapped the man’s back, and both of them smiled .

  Neve let her gaze sweep over the House of Galen training arena. There were a number of other gladiators training, all honing their skills to fight in the huge arena beyond. Axes, swords, and nets flew and flashed in the sunlight. Everyone fought with fierce, strong, and unrelenting moves. She spotted Harper, a human woman like Neve. The former space station security officer ran across the sand and when she reached Raiden, the alien gladiator swept her into his arms for a hard kiss .

  Neve shook her head as dark memories stirred. They’d all been abducted from space by Thraxian slavers, and ended up on this distant desert world. Remembered screams, panicked shouts, and the guttural grunts of the huge Thraxians echoed in Neve’s ears. She dragged in a deep breath. After their capture, the slavers had traveled back through a temporary wormhole that left the humans stranded here, somewhere on the opposite side of the galaxy from Earth. They had no way home .

  Harper and the handful of other human survivors were making the best of their situation, creating homes for themselves here on the planet of Carthago. They were falling in love with alien gladiators, and finding their places in the House of Galen .

  But Neve’s home wasn’t Earth, or a gladiatorial house, or any place. Her home was a person. And that person was lost here on Carthago. Somewhere .

  She turned, sticking to the shadows. She flicked her hood up over her head, and checked that the short staff she’d borrowed from the armory was still hidden under her cloak. Her long staff, the one she’d made herself when she’d been stuck in the fucking alien hunting ground in the desert, was tucked safely back in the bedroom she’d been allocated .

  Out of view of the training gladiators, she paused and reached up. With a quick jump, she climbed up the cream stone walls onto a balcony above. She crouched and glanced over the rooftops. The imperator of the House of Galen was no idiot, and he protected what was his. Guards in gray-and-red cloaks, with swords in their scabbards, patrolled the roofs .

  But she’d been watching them for long enough to know their schedules and routines. She hurried along the wall, and as soon as the closest guard turned, she clambered up over the stone and onto the roof .

  She quickly snuck across the tiles and then jumped down on the other side. She landed with a soft thud in the middle of the busy crowd below. No one noticed her .

  Neve was used to sneaking around. She’d spent years ensuring she didn’t attract anybody’s attention. It had started during her childhood. Her belly tightened, and she hurried forward. Really, it had been her years as a corporate spy that had helped her hone her stealth skills .

  She passed two young women, with similar dark hair that fell in braids over their shoulders. They were giggling conspiratorially. Sisters. A sharp pain pierced her chest, like an arrow lodging in her heart .

  Where are you, Ever? I’m going to find you . Neve’s jaw tightened. For so long, it had just been her and her sister. Neve and Ever. Always. Their parents had died young, and they’d ended up in the dubious care of their father’s estranged sister. Their bitter, alcoholic aunt had not been very happy to inherit two sad, grieving girls. That’s when Neve had first learned to sneak out. Shimmying out her bedroom window without being noticed .

  When she’d reached her teens, she’d snuck out to a part-time job, stashing away money so she could get Ever the things her aunt refused to buy. And later, so Neve had enough money to get herself and Ever out of that house .

  And now, both of them were here on Carthago, where they’d never expected to be .

  Neve ducked into a tunnel, following some arena workers. She moved into the crowd, listening to snatches of conversation around her. She needed any clue she could get as to the location of Zaabha. Ever was being held prisoner at the vicious desert arena, and Neve was getting her out .

  From everything Neve heard, the place was wild, savage, and dangerous. Her
hands clenched into fists. Stolen fighters were forced to fight to the death. She blew out a harsh breath. Her sister was smart, and also well-trained, thanks to time spent in the Army. She’d be okay .

  Neve stopped at a stall selling drinks. Several workers sat on stools, sipping frothy ales, smiling and talking. Pasting on a smile, she ordered a drink, and began chatting to the lady beside her. Soon, the workers relaxed around her, and she started asking questions .

  But it didn’t matter how many times she snuck out of the House of Galen to gather intel, no one knew anything useful about Zaabha. Of course, everyone knew the myths and legends, but most people didn’t even believe it was real .

  Her belly churning with frustration, Neve slid off her stool, and continued walking through the busy tunnels. The crowd around her bustled, busy doing the behind-the-scenes work for the fights that went on in the arena above. People were selling food, leather, weapons, and other wares. But unlike Zaabha, no one fought to the death in the Kor Magna Arena. Here, the gladiators fought to show off their skills for the adoring crowds .

  Suddenly, a woman’s scream pierced the air. Neve heard the scuffle of people fighting .

  She spun and spotted a big alien turning jerkily in the center of the crowd. He had thick, green-tinted skin, and was huge. Easily a foot taller than everyone else. He wore leather trousers and a matching vest. His head was bald with large, dark, rapidly-shifting eyes. Something about him made her think of an ogre .

  He was holding some sort of metallic device in his huge palm .

  “No one move!” he shouted, his voice booming. “Or I’ll blow everyone to pieces .”

  All around, people froze. Neve heard whimpers, and spotted a group of men edging closer to the alien .

  The big green man swung, waving his weapon at them. “Stop .”

  The men froze .

  “I want everyone’s coins. Put them in a bag. Now !”

  Neve huffed out an annoyed breath. This was really ruining her information gathering. She pulled her staff off her back and strode forward .