Page 13 of In a Dangerous Orbit
Those jewel-green eyes seemed to glow in the low light. “I don’t need your help.”
CHAPTER FOUR
Relda felt a deep disquiet all the way to her bones.
She didn’t like it. She was used to being in complete control of her life.
Hunt made her feel things she hadn’t felt in so long. And didn’t want to feel.
“You do need my help,” he growled. “You’re in danger.”
He should have looked wrong or at least uncomfortable in her feminine space. It was filled with the little things she loved—candles, small crystal collectibles that caught the light, and vibrant, silk fabrics. Instead, her room just underscored how…male he was.
“Look Marshal, I’ve been getting along just fine without you in my life.” She set the ice down.
“But you don’t have anyone to protect you.”
No, not for so long. “I can protect myself.”
He cocked his head. “You don’t let anyone close, do you, Relda?”
Damned perceptive, pushy man. She gave a scoffing laugh. “I have a houseful of girls…”
“And yet you’re lonely.”
She pushed to her feet. “I’m going to change. You can see yourself out.”
In the bathroom, Relda forced her breathing to slow, and once her hands were steady, she took off her clothes and placed them in the hamper. She fingered the rip in her shirt. Damn, it wouldn’t be salvageable, and it was her favorite.
She forced herself to set it aside. She was going to have to give up a lot of her favorite things when she moved on. She’d let herself care about too many things this time around. It was a valuable lesson.
With brisk strokes, she washed the remnants of blood and makeup off her face. Then she took her time and smoothed lotions onto her skin.
She tugged on her robe, a soft, dove-gray silk that looked like moonlight, and then moved to one of the tiles on the wall. Touching the hidden pressure sensor, the tile swung open to reveal a state-of-the-art Rendarian safe coded to her biometrics. She’d paid a small fortune for it.
She touched the biopad and waited while it checked her DNA, then it opened. She pulled out what she was looking for and slipped the long silver chain over her neck.
The blue-gray diamond dangling from the bottom was a perfect orb about the size of one of the over-large marbles she’d seen Bindi and her friends play with in the street.
As the diamond sat against the skin between Relda’s breasts, absorbing her energies, the blue-gray color deepened at the edges, swirling like a storm, no doubt picking up on her mood. Tugging her robe closed so it covered the jewel, she left the bathroom.
Hunt was sitting on one of the low couches popping olives in his mouth.
“That’s my dinner,” she snapped.
“Figured there was enough to share.”
She ignored the way his gaze traced over her, from her bare feet to her even barer face. Without her makeup and clothes she felt…exposed. The thought made her spine stiffen. She headed to the couch opposite his and snatched a juicy, red berry from the platter.
“Is the Moon here?”
He just didn’t give up. Damned if she didn’t find that trait attractive. She didn’t respond.
“I did some research. After excluding the many references to objects orbiting bodies in Lagranian points—” he shot her a look “—I found a few obscure references to an artifact called the Trojan Moon.”
Her heart beat hard in her chest. She took a bite of the berry, and watched Hunt’s gaze move to her lips.
“It’s said to be a Vega-Lyran artifact.”
