You didnt do anything to her? she demanded. Tear her open or put a tracking pod on her?
Your ship is exactly as it was when you last saw it.
Mara planned to run a scan later, just to be sure. Shed configured some black market tech so it could detect even the most hidden tracking devices. Her hatred of being monitored or tetheredlike a Pabu dog on a leashwas another relic of her old life.
She began to walk toward the Arcadia , drawn by the irresistible pull of everything the ship represented. Her steps faltered and then stopped when a man walked around from the other side of the ship.
Sweet meteor candy. Mara had been back and forth through the galaxy more times than most people changed their socks. Shed seen everything from the Fire Caverns on Tawhiri Rho to the Ice Ghosts haunting the cliffs of Janxa. Shed been to every inhabitable planet and done business with their natives. Seen species both hideous and beautiful, miserable and sublime. Nothings appearance shocked her.
This man amazed her.
No way around it. He was one of the most physically attractive men she had ever seen, including the famed Halu pleasure slaves bred specifically to be the most aesthetically appealing creatures in the galaxy. Broad shoulders, powerful arms, long legs. His immaculate 8th Wing uniform brought into gorgeous display his lean, tight muscles. A plasma pistol was strapped to his thigh. Even simply walking, his movements radiated power and strength. His body was hard, lethal. A warrior, this one.
And his face. Far too rough to be considered handsome. He had the face of a man who had lived toughand nothing appealed to Mara more. The clean delineation of his jaw contrasted the curves of his mouth. Thick, dark hair cut very short. Dark brows, dark eyes. Dark all over. And gazing intently at her as he strode toward her.
Her life danced along the edges of respectability, often straying into outright dishonesty. When she took a man to her bed, she picked him specifically because he was equally shady, the kind of man who wanted nothing more complicated than a night of physical pleasure before they went their separate, nefarious ways. Then she could go back to her happy solitude until her bodys demands for release had her searching out a new, very temporary partner.
She avoided men in uniform. Too much stability, too many expectations of reliability.
Looking at this man in uniform, Mara began to seriously reconsider her policy.
Yes, please .
Whoever he was, he stopped just a few feet from her, and the two of them stared at each other as if the captain, the bay, the station and the entire galaxy didnt exist. The heat of his gaze went through her like a solar flare, lighting up parts of her that had been cold for eons. Dimly, she was aware of the commanders bars on his uniforms shoulders, and beneath that, the patch indicating he was a member of the 8th Wings elite flying squadron. Up close she saw the tiny crescent of a scar at the corner of his eyebrow, and she suddenly wanted to lick it.
Maybe when she returned from her mission, she would find this man. They could share a bottle of Raijin whiskey and lock themselves in his quarters for a week. With that kind of incentive, she would be sure the mission went well, and quickly.
The forgotten captain cleared his throat. Mara Skiren, this is Commander Kell Frayne, of the 8ths
Black Wraith Squadron.
Automatically, she stuck out her hand. She was a scavenger, but she still had manners.
The commanders warm hand enfolded hers. At his touch, breathing became suddenly difficult.
She saw his pupils widen, heard his quick inhalation, and knew her touch affected him too.
Commander Frayne, she said. She smiled. Ill definitely remember your name for my return trip to the station.
The commander pulled away and frowned. He turned to the captain. You didnt tell her, sir. His voice was gravelly, deep.
Even though the older man outranked the commander, the captain reddened with embarrassment.
The opportune time never came up.
Something wasnt right here. Unease chilled Maras spine, cooling her immediate response to the commander. Tell me what?
Im your partner.
The scavengers eyes widened, and Kell couldnt help but feel pulled toward their ice-green depths.
Extraordinary, her eyes. Filled with intelligence and heat and cunningand anger.
No, she said. Impossible. She glared up at him. I work alone .
Not on this mission, he answered.
She scowled and folded her arms across her chest. Even furiousor maybe because she was furiousKell had never seen a more stunning woman. Hed read her file, slim as it was. Seen her on the holovids. Those images had shown her to be attractive, and hed gotten some ribbing from others in the squad about what a hardship it was going to be, spending many hours in close proximity to such a beautiful criminal. Kell had laughed, but said with complete confidence that it didnt matter if Mara Skiren was the reincarnation of the love goddess Oshunthe mission was everything. Not once in his whole decorated career had he strayed from his objective, which was just another reason why he was considered the best in the squad.