Zayn stared at the empty doorway. She was still mad at him. Which wouldn’t be good for their mission. You couldn’t take all your emotions with you, or they’d get you killed.

  Without thinking, he followed her.

  Moments later, he stood in the doorway to their spacious gym, watching her move.

  She’d switched her casual clothes for form-fitting leggings in electric blue and a black tank that molded to her skin. She was moving her arms through the air, bending her knees deep and doing sweeping movements that looked like a cross between martial arts and a dance. The graceful moves were almost hypnotic.

  Then she spun and kicked high in the air before moving back into the slower, controlled moves.

  “You just going to stare?” She turned slowly, leading with her hands, palms open, her gaze hitting him.

  “What is it?”

  “The Guild call it taiji.” She turned again, lifting a leg, extending it up in an awesome display of flexibility.

  “I imagined you doing cross-fighting. Something deadly, high impact. You used to like that.”

  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.”

  Chapter Eight

  “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.”

  She snagged his mouth again, taking in all the flavors of him. Enjoying the way he kissed her back, not a dance or a seduction, just a hard, fast race of sensation.

  Ria let her hands slide between their straining bodies. Her hand cupped the large bulge beneath his cargo pants. He thrust into her palm but at the same time his entire body stiffened.

  “You’ll regret this later.” He swallowed. “I don’t want you to hate me.”

  She stroked the hard cock beneath the fabric. Desperate to see it. Taste it. Feel it. “I won’t.”

  He let go of the armrests and for a second, she thought he’d stopped fighting. Then one of his big hands grabbed hers, while the other tipped her chin up. He rubbed a thumb down her ridges, making her shiver. “I see more than an easy lay when I look at you. I don’t want to hurt you.”

  Ria stared at him. A strange warmth washed through her, followed by an intense cold that left goose bumps across her skin. She blinked. Reality was like a bitter wind washing over her. The heat that had driven her the last fifteen minutes dissipated.

  She glanced over her shoulder and saw that the space ahead of them was dotted with stars once again.

  Oh, God. She wanted to scramble off him but she was tougher than that. She took responsibility for her actions…always.

  She lowered her forehead to his, dragging in some deep breaths.

  “You back with me?” he asked quietly.

  “Yes.” Another deep breath. “Zayn, I’m sorry—”

  “Don’t apologize.” His hand brushed her hair back from her face.

  She’d thrown herself at him. Thank the cosmos he’d retained the slightest thread of control. “Thank you for not…taking advantage.”

  “Look, you don’t have to say anything—”

  She straightened. “Lucky for both of us you want someone else when you look at me.”

  “Hey.” His voice held an edge now. He gripped her arms. “Don’t for a second think this was easy for me.” He blew out a breath. “I was tempted, Ria. You stir something in me.”

  “Vik does.”

  His hands tightened. “I see you, Ria. You.”

  Everything in her stilled. His blue stare was direct and she found herself falling into it. No one had ever seen just her before. She’d always been a tool, a weapon, a soldier. Not just Ria.

  A chime echoed through the cockpit and BEll’s cheery voice filled the ship. “If you two lovebirds are finished dancing, we’re approaching our destination.”

  Zayn set Ria on her feet. “We’re coming up on Diablo.” He reached out and zipped up her top. “You should buckle in for landing.”

  Chapter Nine

  Ria thought Diablo looked like the homemade marbles she’d seen the street kids on Lucifa playing with. It was shades of brown and red, without a single hint of green or blue to break the monotony.

  Beside her, Zayn handled the ship with a finesse that continually impressed her. She stared at his hands as he manipulated the controls. Hands she was all-too-aware had been touching her not long ago.