Free Stripper: The Fringe, Book 4 by Anitra Lynn McLeod Page B

her nipple with a quick twist, then slid his glove-clad hand lower. “What say we call a truce, have our fun with her, then split the goods on the ship?”
    “Sounds good.” Duster smiled as he considered. “Who gets to go first? You, me or Phil?”
    “Phil?” His head came up over Diane’s shoulder as he looked around.
    Duster pulled his last draw-right blade and thunked it to the man’s eye. As he slumped dead on impact to the floor, he took Diane with him.
     
     
    When something cool and wet pressed to her forehead, Diane opened her eyes. She was in her bedroom, in her bed, with Duster sitting beside her. Never in her life had she ever been so happy to see someone.
    “Have a nice nap?” Duster searched her face. “No, no, don’t get up.” He held her down with one big hand to her shoulder. “You hit your head on his knee and knocked yourself out.”
    That would explain why her brain felt like it would explode out of her skull. The only reason she had left her bed was to make sure Duster was safe. “Are you okay?”
    “I’m fine.” Duster held the cloth to her forehead. “Relax.”
    “Are they gone?”
    “Dead and. Tossed them back into their ship, then sent the ship away from us after turning on their distress beacon. Someone will eventually find and salvage the thing. Did it scare you when I threw the blade?”
    “No.” When she’d looked up and saw Duster standing wide and steady, she’d been relieved. “I knew you wouldn’t miss. You were an expert seven years ago. I imagine you’ve only gotten better.” Judging by the calluses on his hands, he still spent a lot of time practicing. She was grateful she had not stripped him of weapons when she’d had the chance. “What—who were they?”
    “Probably traders.” He kept his voice low. “They got hit by Randoms and needed a quick score. Guess they thought your ship was an easy target.”
    Diane realized it would have been if Duster had not been here. “You saved my life.”
    “Not really. I just protected what’s mine.”
    Uttering a disappointed grunt of frustration, Diane closed her eyes. “Only you, Duster. Only you could take a potentially sweet moment and make it sour.” Pushing his hand away, she sat up, holding the washcloth to her forehead. Sitting upright made the pain swell with a pounding that forced her to lie down again. Curling to her side, Diane fought back tears. “Just leave me alone.”
    “What gratitude.”
    “I tried to be grateful, but you just wouldn’t let me.”
    Duster put his hand on her hip. So huge, his hand spanned her entire hip and part of her buttock. Caressing her with deliberate intent, he asked, “Just how grateful are you?”
    “You sick fetch.” Diane shoved his hand off, even though the movement made her head throb anew. “Now you expect me to show you my gratitude by spreading my—”
    Very gently, Duster rolled her over. “Don’t even say it, Diane.”
    “Right. You don’t want me to speak the truth, not when it involves the darkness in you.”
    Scrutinizing her with incisive eyes, Duster nodded. “Truth time, Diane.”
    “You mean where you considered that other fetch’s offer?” She still felt the man’s hand at her breast. Bile rose when she remembered that ugly hand seeking lower. “Do me and split the goods on my ship?”
    “You know I only considered it to distract him.” Duster looked deep into her eyes.
    “Of course.” She glared at him, wishing she could literally throw daggers with her gaze. “When you lie, you have a good reason. When I lie, I’m just being a big fat liar without a conscience. Isn’t that called a double standard?”
    He flashed her a tight, what’s-your-deal wink.
    “Don’t you dare look at me like that. I despise that expression. You want to know what my deal is? I’ll tell you. I want you to take whatever it is you want from me, then leave.” Diane had to forcefully keep her tears at bay.
    “I want my life back.” Duster tried to