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“I’ll be right up.” He shoved the communicator back into his pocket and turned to Opal. “Sorry, we’ll have to cut our walk short.”
     
    * * * * *
     

 

Chapter Four
     
    Hawk arrived on the bridge in time to see the brownish red planet come into view. “Set orbit,” he said. “Mars and Fallon, you’re with me. Reaper, I want you and Lex to prepare the women for market. Make sure they’re bathed and dressed properly before we return with the buyers.”
    “Aye, Captain,” Lex said.
    Reaper just nodded.
    “Orbit obtained,” Fallon said.
    “To the shuttle,” Hawk said.
    Planet Farn was a dusty, reddish-orange piece of rock with an artificial atmosphere that had been established as a trading post over five hundred centuries earlier.
    Other than traders, no one lived on the planet. In fact, only one side was inhabited at all. He stared at the massive credit exchange that rose like a mountain in the center of a flat plain. Over a thousand tents of various shapes, colors, and sizes surrounded the pyramidal structure.
    Several shuttles were parked on the outside perimeter of the tents. The sheer number spoke to the amount of craft orbiting the planet.
    “Looks like we have a good crowd,” Fallon said.
    “Yeah,” Hawk replied. “Let’s hope they’re ready to part with their credits.” He glanced at Mars. “I want you to lead negotiations.”
    “Yes, Captain.” Mars grinned. Echo’s furry head popped up from beneath Mars’ collar. “Get back inside. There’s nothing here for you to see.” He stroked his familiar, then gently pushed him back down into his shirt.
    Hawk wandered through the stalls, checking out the merchandise while Mars rounded up potential buyers. His ship didn’t need anything, but it never hurt to look.
    Rare jewels and fine swaths of fabric draped one of the stalls near the credit exchange. Normally, with items like this there’d be a force field around them, but the merchant obviously felt safe to display such expensive goods without one because of the nearness to the guards positioned around the credit exchange.
    Hawk ran his hand over a particularly vibrant red fabric. He pulled it off its hook and held it up to examine the length. The color would look good on Opal with her dark hair and fair skin. The unbidden thought had him shoving the fabric away.
    Fallon glanced at him and arched a green brow in question.
    “What are you looking at?” Hawk snapped.
    “Nothing, Captain,” he said, but amusement lit his yellow eyes. “Think they have any horn sharpeners here? I could use a new set.”
    Hawk pointed down one of the rows of tents. “Cas normally carries them. If he’s here, he’ll be in the last stall on your left.”
    “Thanks,” Fallon said, then wandered off.
    It bothered Hawk that he’d become so attached to his Little Cat. He should sell her and be done with it before it was too late.
    His beast yowled inside his head, reminding him that the time to dispose of her had already come and gone. Besides, he wasn’t about to let her go anywhere until they’d lain together.
    Hawk noticed the changes happening in Opal’s body whenever he was around. They’d always been there, but the few days she’d spent in the pleasure chamber had increased them.
    Opal could deny their attraction all she wanted, but Hawk hadn’t missed the anticipation in her eyes or the heavy cream that flooded her channel whenever he was near. It wouldn’t be much longer before she offered herself to him. And when she did, Hawk would be ready.
     
    * * * * *
     
    The door to the pleasure chamber opened and the two men who’d brought her here a few days ago stepped inside the room. The blond one pressed the button to loosen the chains while the Sorce crossed the room to release her.
    “What’s going on?” Opal rubbed her hands and feet.
    “Captain wants the cargo prepared,” he said.
    Opal frowned. “Prepared for what?”
    “Market,” he said as if that were obvious.
    Opal’s