Corsairs: Adiron (Corsair Brothers, #1)

by Ruby Dixon

Shirtless is just watching me through that window. And grinning. Like he's proud.

What a magnificent female. She's set us a trap.

Then I sober, because I think Zoey might like Jade. That's important to me, because I plan on keeping Jade. Not as a slave, of course. As my female. My mate. Jade doesn't know it yet, but she's stuck with the dumbest keffer in this system…which doesn't say much, because this system is pretty deserted.

She's just so…alone. She's in charge, but it's clear to me that other than the three equally fragile females, no one's looking out for her in the universe. That's gonna be my job from now on, I decide.

"Well, boys," my “friend” announces, grinning. "How do we punish? I vote spanking."

I wonder if this is true. "So…we're like sisters to you? Us humans?" Adiron leans against the wall, giving me a heavy-lidded look. "Oh, make no mistake, Jade. I'm sure your friends are nice and all, but as for you? I am not interested in you in a brotherly way. At all." His smile is slow and confident. "But I'm pretty sure you guessed that already."

I'm not afraid of her shooting me. It'd probably just make me fall more head over heels for her. I do love a difficult female.

Jade just shakes her head at me. "Are you ever serious?" "Not if I can help it. That's Mathiras's job." "One of your brothers?" "Tallest one," I agree. "Looks constipated." "Probably because he's dealing with your shit," she quips. Aaaaand I'm in love all over again.

I purse my lips, studying him. "Is this a trick?" "Is what a trick?" I gesture at him, standing in the middle of my room. "You acting like you're half in love with me after we just met." Adiron beams at me. "Glad you noticed. And I'm not acting."

I lean in and press a kiss to the inside of her knee. "I have to admit, I'm new to kissing, but you don't have to worry about the rest. I can lick the paint off a starship."