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“It was before I met you. What gives you the right—?”
“Because I was the man who had his cock lodged in you just a few hours ago. So deep we couldn’t be separated.”
She sucked in a breath.
“The man who spanked that pretty ass of yours until it was pink and made you come harder than you ever have before. The man who is so crazy possessive, the thought of you with that cretin drives me crazy.”
They stared at each other.
“I know you’d do anything for the treasure, Dakota—”
She jerked away from him. “Even whore myself, right?”
“Dakota—”
“The truth is, I never slept with Korrdo. Never wanted to.” She wrapped her arms around herself, staring out the window. “But I let him think I would. I’m a good liar, remember?”
Dare’s arms came around her, but she stayed stiff.
“I’m sorry.” He sighed against her ear. “Down on Sulla, I’d held you, touched you, gotten close to the beauty you keep hidden under your prickly exterior. And then he acted like you were his, and he put you in danger. I want to keep you safe, it’s the way I’m built, and it makes me a little crazy.”
The fight drained out of her and she turned, eyeing him. “That was pretty honest for a man who I’m guessing doesn’t apologize or explain himself that much.”
“I am sorry.” He ran a finger along her cheek. “And I can make it up to you.”
“Oh?”
“Eos sent through some images of the Atocha Treasure.”
Dakota gasped. “You’re forgiven. Gimme.”
He shook his head and grabbed a Sync off the desk. “You are so easy.”
“Only with you.”
He held out the Sync, and she studied the images. She felt Dare’s gaze on her as she took in the pictures of silver coins, gold artifacts, and amazing green emeralds.
“Incredible.” She stroked the screen.
“This treasure means more to you than just e-creds. What will you do with it once you have it?”
“Whatever I want.”
He frowned. “That’s not very exact.”
“I’ve never had anything before—no family, no home, no things. I just want to know that I don’t have to scrape and fight for every little thing. That no one can come and take everything away from me.” Silence fell in the office. She couldn’t make herself meet his eyes. She’d never told anyone anything like this before.
“You can’t risk-proof life, Dakota.”
“I can try. I grew up never knowing if I’d survive one day to the next.”
“Mase is a crap world for adults, let alone children.”
Her head snapped up, something hot burning in her belly. “You know where I’m from?”
“Of course. You tried to steal from me, so I ran all the searches on you that I could.”
He reached out, but she knocked his hand away. She hated knowing that he knew about the hellhole she’d come from.
