In the Devil's Nebula (Phoenix Adventures #2) (9 page)

Ria stilled, her arms dropping to her sides.
“I’m
not
her.”

Idiot
. “Right. I’m sorry.”

She started the moves again, this time with
a little less grace.

He stepped out onto the mats. Damn, he
wanted to make it right. “I figured the Guild would prefer
cross-fighting.” The mixed style of fighting used elements taken
from all the galaxy’s different methods of hand-to-hand
fighting.

“They teach us. I can show you if you’d
like.” Her smile was sharp. “One kick and I could break your
neck.”

Right
. “I’ll take your word on
it.”

She moved her hands, her body bending like a
slim tree in the wind. “Taiji isn’t so much about killing, it’s
about settling the mind, balancing your energies.”

“Sounds very Old Earth.”

“It has its origins there, although they’re
murky now. We don’t know exactly where it came from.”

“So, you’re feeling the need to balance your
energies?”

She looked over her shoulder. “Yeah. Being
hunted, stealing things, and dealing with you, it’s left me a
little…out of balance.”

He stepped toward her. “I came here to
apologize. I didn’t kiss you because you remind me of Vik. I
just…wanted to kiss senseless a hot woman who I’d just enjoyed a
brilliant hunt with.”

Ria stopped and stared at him. “Jesus,
Phoenix, you have no pretty words do you?”

He shrugged. “I’m just a simple pilot.”

She huffed out a breath. “There’s nothing
simple about you. And for some crazy reason, it works for me.”

He smiled. “I rub off on everyone after a
while.”

She gave a choking laugh, then the humor
bled from her eyes. “I’m not just angry at you. I’m angry at myself
because there’s something I haven’t told you.”

His muscles tensed. Damn. Now what?
“Okay.”

“I dream about you.”

He blinked. What?

“I mean—” she clenched her hands together
“—your face is in my dreams. It started a few months ago. That’s
why I came to you. Not just to help me steal the derringer.”

Zayn’s entire body tensed. Vik. It had to
be.

This woman
was
Vik.

***

Ria hated confessing to him. Not because
she’d lied but because he would just continue to believe she was
someone else.

She saw it all over his face. The bright
spark of hope.

Her heart contracted, hard as a stone.
Someone else wanting her to be something she wasn’t. The assassins
wanted her to be a killer and Zayn wanted her to be Viktoria.

Why did no one just want her for her?

“There’s some explanation for this, Ria.”
His words were slow and steady. Like he was worried he’d make her
skittish.

She’d told him because it was the right
thing to do and because maybe it would stop this inexorable drag
she felt toward him.

Zayn Phoenix would always see another woman
when he looked at her. Ria couldn’t let herself forget that.

“Maybe there is. I suspect the only way
we’ll find out is inside the Guild Headquarters.” Suddenly she was
angry. Angry at Zayn, the Guild, at the perfect Vik and at herself.
“You know what, why don’t I show you some of that cross-fighting
now?”

His blue eyes turned wary. No doubt he read
her mood perfectly.

She sank back into a fight stance and waved
her fingers. “You can make the first move.”

Zayn studied her for a second before he,
too, moved into a similar stance, his hands raised in front of his
face. He waited for so long she thought maybe he wasn’t going to
fight her.

Then he moved.

Fast.

His kick didn’t quite make contact. He was
holding back.

She didn’t hold anything back. Her kick hit
hard abs. He staggered back with a grunt. “Damn it, Ria.”

“I want a workout, not a dance.”

The blue of his eyes ignited. “Fine.”

This time his hit was harder. They circled,
kicked, struck out. Ria ducked and spun. She fired back with kicks
and blows of her own.

Once, he took her down to the mat, but she
leaped back to her feet in an instant and the next time he was the
one skidding across the mat.

Soon they were both breathing hard. He was a
good opponent. His lean body had strength but it was his speed that
he used to his advantage.

One second she was kicking him, next he
gripped her leg, forced her back. She fell and a second later his
lean body followed, pinning her to the mat.

“I win,” he said.

His face was close to hers. She smelled
healthy male sweat and her gut clenched. How could she want him so
much?

His mouth inched closer to hers. “I’m going
to kiss you again.”

She quivered. She shouldn’t want this, him.
“Do you know who you’re kissing?”

His lips nipped at hers. “Ria.” Then he took
her mouth.

Ria was helpless against the onslaught. She
wanted his kiss. She wanted him.

They rolled across the mat, tearing into
each other. Ria clawed at him, wanting to tear his clothes
away.

“Hey, Z? Dath and I…shit.”

Niklas’ voice froze them both.

Zayn stared down at her for a second before
he looked up. “Bad timing, Nik.”

“Yeah, I got that. Sorry.”

Ria pushed at Zayn until he moved off her.
She sat up.

Nik studiously avoided looking at her.
“Dathan’s back from Souk. He found Lastite Lala’s location.”

“She’s on the desert world of Diablo in the
Frontier Sector.” Dathan leaned back in his chair. Eos sat balanced
on the arm and Dathan slid an arm around her.

“Diablo?” Zayn swore. “Of all the crazy-ass
planets she could have picked.”

“I’ve never heard of Diablo,” Ria said.

Dathan grimaced. “It’s not a nice place. Low
tech desert world. Mostly peopled with ranchers and miners but a
whole bunch of scoundrels, bandits and others who want to lay low
live there, too.”

Zayn paced. He liked tech. He liked things
with engines. He hated planets that rejected technology. “Best to
wear the local gear and not take any tech. Makes you a target for
thieves who’d like it for themselves.”

“And they love explosives there,” Dathan
added. “If they can blow something up, they will.”

Ria nodded. “Explains why Lala decided to
call it home. You sure this…weapons dealer’s info is legit?”

“Sel’s pretty trustworthy.” Zayn kept his
gaze on her face. Damn, he wished she’d had time to change out of
her distracting training gear. “His info’s gotten us out of some
pretty sticky situations.”

Ria nodded, then her gaze moved back to
Dathan. “Will she be easy to find?”

“Well, Diablo isn’t a small planet. But a
fifteen-year-old girl with a knack for explosives shouldn’t be too
hard to pinpoint.” Dathan flicked a glance at Zayn. “I don’t think
this mission needs all of us. I suggest you and Ria find Lastite
Lala.”

Zayn saw the way Ria straightened. A frown
etched on her face. “Sounds good, Dath. Nik, can you help us load
up whatever we’ll need?”

“Sure,” Nik replied.

“Eos and I will start prep for our trip to
the Devil’s Nebula,” Dathan said. “When you two get back with Lala
we’ll be ready to go.” Dathan’s gaze was direct. “Sure you don’t
need any help?”

“Nope, I think we can handle it.” Zayn
looked to Ria. She gave a short nod.

It took two hours to get showered, packed
and space-bound. Zayn maneuvered the
Infinitas
away from
Khan and set course for the Frontier Sector.

“Diablo isn’t far from here at interstellar
speed. Three hours, tops.” He looked at Ria sitting quietly in the
chair beside his, staring ahead at the spread of stars. “Only thing
that might slow us down is the Helio.”

“What’s that?”

Zayn fidgeted with the controls. “Well, it’s
an area of space filled with cosmic radiation.”

Ria’s eyes widened. “Is it dangerous?”

“Not physically. But it seems to affect
space travelers in different ways.”

“How?” her tone was wary.

“Well, last time we came through here, Nik
was dancing a Latanian salsa and Dathan…well, he was dancing, too.
Naked.”

Ria smothered a smile. “And you?”

Zayn shrugged. “It didn’t seem to affect me
much. I managed to get us through the Helio in one piece. Of
course, I took some photos for posterity.” He grinned.

A smile tweaked her lips. “Of course. So it
affects inhibitions?”

“Yeah.”

“Then I suggest we stay strapped in our
chairs. How long to pass through it?”

“Fifteen minutes.”

He didn’t bother to tell her that while he’d
managed to keep his clothes on and not dance a set with Nik, he’d
wanted to. It had been fifteen minutes of torment. And he was
guessing that fifteen minutes with Ria in the Helio was going to
feel like a lifetime of temptation.

He straightened in his chair. “Strap in.
We’re coming up on it now.”

Ria clicked her buckles in and leaned
forward. “I don’t see anything. Wait…over there. There’s a patch of
space with no stars.”

“That’s it.” He adjusted the ship controls.
“Welcome to the Helio.”

They crossed into the area. No matter how
many times he saw it, it was eerie to see no stars.

He glanced at Ria. “Feel okay?”

“Fine.”

But after a minute, Zayn started to feel the
subtle effects. He felt like he’d had one too many ales followed by
some kila shots. He smiled. It felt pretty damn good. Only thing
that would be even better would be Ria’s mouth on his.

Shit. Get a grip, Phoenix.
He glanced
her way again. Found her gripping the armrests of her chair and
gritting her teeth. “Ria?”

She made a hissing sound. “Don’t talk to
me.” She closed her eyes, her hands going to her temples, rubbing
at her ridges. “No, talk to me. I want to hear your voice.”

“Another twelve minutes and we’ll be out of
here.”

She groaned. “Not sure I can make it that
long.”

Zayn heard a click.
She’d unbuckled
.
“Ria? What the hell?”

She came toward him, a little unsteady on
her feet. “We both know we’re attracted to each other. Why not do
something about it? Get it out of the way.”

He wasn’t sure this thing he felt for Ria
was something that would go away any time soon. “Get back in your
seat.”

She planted herself in front of him. “No.”
She toyed with the catch on her shirt. Unzipped it far enough that
he caught a hint of cleavage.

God, save him. He let his head fall back
against his chair. Only ten more minutes. But there was a lot they
could do in ten minutes.

“Zayn, I want you to touch me.”

His pulse spiked. “If I do, you’ll hate me
in about ten minutes.”

“Fine.” She moved, straddling his lap. “I’ll
touch you.”

“Fuck.” He clamped his hands on the armrests
. “I’m not going to touch you.” It was all he could do. He wanted
to strip her bare and fuck her right here in his chair. But he
respected Ria, so he dredged up the very last wisp of his
control.

She undulated against him. All temptation.
“I love your body.” Her hands smoothed over his shoulders. “You’re
built for speed.”

And she was built to drive a man mad.
Athletic curves and strength. Irresistible.

She leaned down and nibbled at his ear.
Zayn’s whole body shook. He wouldn’t survive this. Eight more
minutes. May as well have been eight years.

Her mouth moved down his neck. Nipping, just
a little hard, so he felt it all the way to his swelling cock. Her
hands slid inside his shirt, nails scratching over his pecs and
nipples.

“Don’t you want to get rid of all these
clothes?” She toyed with her zipper again. It slid down another few
centimeters and he saw the generous curves of her breasts.

“Ria…you’re killing me.”

She brushed her lips against his, giving him
a hint of the sweet taste of her. Then she nipped him, tugging on
his bottom lip. He groaned.

“Kiss me, Zayn. Kiss me.”

Just a small taste wouldn’t hurt, would it?
His fingers dug into the armrests. He’d keep their clothes on,
wouldn’t touch her with his hands. Just a kiss. No harm, no
foul.

He opened his mouth. She dived into the kiss
eagerly. Tongues tangled and thrust. God, she smelled good. Nothing
flowery, something clean and fresh with a hint of citrus.

Her hands slid down his arms, coming to rest
over his wrists, and she tugged. She moved against him, her hips
grinding against him and making him growl.

Zayn fought his body’s urges. He wanted to
strip her clothes off and get inside her as fast as he could. Feel
her body hot and tight around him.

“Ria—” his voice was a rasp “—you’re playing
with more than fire here. I’m not known as a gentleman.”

“No, you’re known for going fast.” She
undulated her hips. “I like fast.”

***

Wild abandon felt good. Outrageously
good.

Ria rocked her hips again and enjoyed the
feel of male hardness beneath her.

All her life she lived by the strict rules
and protocol of the Guild. Now she wanted to take the things she
wanted. Everything. For no other reason than that it felt good.

And one of those things was Zayn
Phoenix.

Her gaze hit Zayn’s heavy-lidded eyes. Color
lit his face and his muscles were tight. Desire, hard and hot, was
there for her to see.

“Touch me, Zayn. Please.”

With a groan, his hands slid up to cup her
shoulders, then travelled down. Warm hands shaped her breasts and
she thrust into his touch. He leaned forward and took her mouth in
a rough kiss that sent a shot of sensation to the damp place
between her legs.

“More,” she urged.

“No.” A whisper against her lips. “I’m
trying to do the right thing here.” Once again, he gripped the
armrests. “Exactly why, I’m not sure, but I am.”