Alex Wales: Promise

hussy’s hands off him so she could have her turn at some fun. Ulric had even suggested having company in their bed several times, but Alex didn’t swing that way.

She was only into men, humanoidmen.

So, what had changed, or was Ulric trying to manipulate her into something she wasn’t aware of yet?

“How about that drink, huh?” Sackor asked. His thin lips spread into a grin, making him look downright scary.

Alex plastered a tight smile on her face. “I don’t think so. I really have to get going. There’s someone else waiting for me after I get your cargo across.” Maybe it wouldn’t be a bad idea to try and play the charm game with insect-man every now and then. Her female charm got her pretty far in this business. A low-cut top and tight pants mixed with a seductive smile had scored her more than one repeat customer. This guy, ugh. Just being this close to him made her skin crawl, even with a small table between them.

“Oh, come on. I’m a king, you know?”

“So you’ve mentioned a thousand times before.”

“That doesn’t impress you?” Those big, black eyes looked like oversized goggles on his dark and shiny face.

She shrugged. “Not into royalty.”

“No, you’re into scum like Ulric Cale.”

She lifted an eyebrow. Now, this was interesting-a lowlife like Sackor was calling Ulricscum? “What makes you call him that?”

A raspy sound, vaguely resembling a sigh filled the air between them. She caught a sniff of his rancid breath. It smelled like a corpse permanently resided inside his stomach. Maybe one did.

Alex shook her head and exhaled to clear his stench.

“Everyone knows the guy’s into some very bad things. It’s why he can afford to sit on his ass all day and still be one of the richest pricks in the galaxy!” Sackor said every word with obvious dislike. Hell, it sounded more like hate.

“He inherited this space station and everything else-”

“Spoken like someone who’s fucking him.”

“How dare you!”

“What? You don’t think your affair’s a secret, do you?” Sackor laughed, making her skin crawl, again. His tiny teeth were all spikes inside that big, rigid mouth of his.

She wasn’t stupid, knowing a lot of people were aware of her on-again-off-again thing with Ulric never bothered her. Yet, she suddenly didn’t like the idea of every scumbag in the galaxy judging her because of it. Did they laugh behind her back or just assume she was an easy lay who’d eventually weaken and let them in, too? It sounded disgusting to even think about it, but sex and love could make or break a person’s entire life. Reputations were made and ruined after one-night stands with the wrong people or if the performance didn’t live up to the expectations.

What the hell was she thinking? Sackor would say just about anything to try and snare her into his web. It’s never going to happen.

Alex took a deep breath. “It’s not meant to be a secret.”

“Of course not. Fucking the owner of a space station can only work for your rep. It doesn’t mean you have to stay exclusive to him, does it? I’m more than equipped to deal with satisfying a humanoid female.” Sackor licked his lips and slowly extended his spiked tongue to insinuate exactly what he was offering, if she chose to accept the challenge.

The gesture had the reverse effect on her. Alex cringed at the thought of his putrid tongue anywhere near her body. “I’m a one-guy-at-a-time kinda girl,” she lied.

She had to stop this exclusive arrangement she’d set up for herself with Ulric, especially now that she knew he was getting confused. If something came up on-or off-this space station, Alex would take advantage of the situation. She couldn’t continue to mull over his offer and risk eventually taking him up on it.

A distraction’s what I need.

“You’re lying. I know all about your other lovers.”

“I don’t have other lovers,” she snapped back.

“I’m growing tired of your resistance, Alex Wales.” Those black eyes peered into hers. “One of these days, you’re going to have no other choice but to accept at least one encounter with me.”

She doubted thatday would ever come but chose to keep her mouth shut by biting down on her tongue. Just because she didn’t want to have sex with Sackor didn’t mean she had to jeopardize their working arrangement. “Who knows? Stranger things have happened.” She offered him a wink.

A smile teased the edges of those very thin, hard lips as his eyes shone. “Yes, they have…but for now, I’m going to have to be happy with keeping this strictly business.” He patted her left hand with his.

It took all of her willpower to keep from dragging her hand away from his grasp. The feel of his harsh insect skin made her want to vomit.

“The cargo’s ready to load and needs to be delivered within 24 hours.” Sackor held her hand steady under his. “As soon as it’s signed for, the credits will be automatically deposited into your personal account.”

“I know the procedure.” Alex pushed the tall stool back and stood up. His skin against hers made her itch all over. Insects had this effect on her, no matter how big or small they were.

He didn’t budge when she made a move to pull her hand away.

“Alex, I may even be able to add a little extra to the usual fee, if you meet me back here in 48 hours to fulfill your promise of intimacy.” The excitement made his shell glossy with moisture.

She glared at him for a moment. How dare he? I might be a little impulsive with sex and get involved with men a little too quickly, but I’ve never accepted payment in exchange. She wasn’t about to start now.

“Sure, whatever.” Alex managed to pull her hand out from under his, but not without cutting the skin between her thumb and index finger on the spiked edges. Damn! It stung like hell.

Sackor looked down at his fingers, noticed a few drops of her blood, and lapped them up with his long tongue. “Delicious. I can’t wait to taste your other liquids.”

Alex didn’t even acknowledge the disgusting comment. She hadn’t realized a sexual encounter with this thing could sound even worse, but it did. She would no doubt have nightmares about the insane imagery, but for now, she had a new job to focus on. With some luck, she wouldn’t need to sleep again for several days and could forget this encounter.

She lifted her left wrist and set the countdown on her digital timepiece. Every planet and space station in this galaxy still used the 24-hour system of telling time. No matter what race, the humans were able to entice everyone into using it. Wasn’t bad, either-especially for someone who had deadlines for every single delivery she accepted.

“You don’t have to worry. I’ll meet the delivery time,” she said.

His eyes were shiny and creepy. “I’ve no doubt you will.”

As Alex stepped away from Sackor, she veered to the other side of the room, ignoring the burning pain from her hand.

She stopped in front of the booth where Michaela still seemed out of it. Then again, on closer inspection, the idiot might actually be enjoying this. The brute now had her on his lap-her back pressed against the wall and her legs dangled over the edge of the seat. He had an arm around her waist, and his other hand keyed in numbers into the handheld device sitting on the table.

The sleazy pimp sat across from them, leaning forward as he stared hungrily at the digits he’d soon receive as payment for something he didn’t own. He was also the first one to notice Alex standing there. He