No Quarter (Bounty, Book One) by Christine d'Abo Page A

with Jason’s betrayal apparent, but there were other places and people who would be more than happy to pay a fair price for his services. Places where he would be safe once the Guild came after him for taking Jason out.
    “Gar!”
    “Once I install this on the escape pod, we’ll make the next jump. Then you can contact your ship and arrange pickup.” His life would get back to normal soon enough. Gar just needed to live through the next few days.
    Two days. He could do this.
    “Will you wait ?”
    Gar stopped short and spun on his heel. Faolan wasn’t expecting it and stumbled, his body nearly crashing into Gar. The surprised look on Faolan’s face would have been amusing if Gar wasn’t as angry as he was.
    “Look, Wolf, just forget about it. Despite what you think, there is nothing here. You were a mark I had to bring in. I should have killed you on the spot and saved myself a shitload of headaches. Instead, the man I thought of as another father just tried to have me killed and you want me to lie down and let you take advantage of me. Well, fuck that and fuck you. We are going to place this tracker on an escape pod, launch it into the next sector, jump and call your ship. This time two days from now, I expect you to be so far away from me I won’t remember your face. Understand?”
    Whatever the emotion was on Faolan’s face faded into nothing the moment the final word left Gar’s mouth. To say the older man’s face was blank wasn’t entirely accurate either. He was clearly trying to work out the best thing to say. What Gar wasn’t expecting was the sincerity behind the words when Faolan finally spoke.
    “What did they do to you to make you so scared?”
    Rage and indignation fired Gar’s blood, but he couldn’t voice it. He was scared—terrified if he was willing to admit it out loud. His whole life he’d run from the comfort basic human connections offered him. Every single person he’d ever loved had been stripped from his life in one way or another. He wasn’t willing to risk his heart again, no matter who was the offered prize.
    Ignoring the pounding of his heart, Gar clenched his teeth. “Two days. Then either your ship gets you or you can wait floating in space in an EV suit.”
    Faolan’s eyes bored into his, but he didn’t say anything else. A single nod was the only confirmation Gar received.
    “Then let’s get to work,” Gar ground out before turning and marching away.

Chapter Eight
     
    Faolan had encountered many crazy and fucked-up people in his life, but no one as much so as Gar Stitt. Sure, he could completely understand the other man’s reluctance to spread his legs and let Faolan fuck him. It wasn’t an easy thing to let another person take control like that, even if that other person was one fantastic lover. What could he say that wouldn’t sound like a pathetic attempt to woo the younger man? Not a whole hell of a lot.
    A change in his tactics was required.
    When a direct attack didn’t work, often the best course of action was to avoid the situation and work with more subtle undertones. Gar was scared. Gar wasn’t used to someone else being in control. Gar was a stuck-up ass who needed to relax before his head exploded.
    Faolan wanted to be the one to help him.
    Which was why he had to be smart about his next move. Too much and Gar would shoot him. Too little and he would simply ignore the offer Faolan was waving in front of his face. Maybe he could split the difference and hit Gar over the head.
    “Pass me the transceiver.” Faolan held out his hand and waited for Gar to respond. He didn’t look at him, no matter how much he wanted to stare at the way the muscles moved in the young man’s forearm.
    “How much longer?” Gar’s voice was soft, the words the most he’d spoken since their earlier blowup.
    Faolan had no idea he’d miss the sound of the other man’s voice, but Gods that was the sweetest sound he’d heard all day. “I’ll be done once I get this