Chapter 4 #2
He was a man who was easy to watch. Tall, broad across the shoulders, but with a rugged face that had a studious edge to it. His intelligence radiated off him like heat waves.
What was it about him that kept drawing her to him? Nera fought the unfamiliar urge to fidget. Aside from the good looks and a sharp mind, he had a tendency to brood. And there were billions of men in the galaxy who were more handsome, and easier to deal with.
She watched him bend his head over the document laid out before him on the desk.
A lock of his dark hair fell over his face.
Steady and true. That’s what she saw when she looked at Niklas Phoenix.
She hadn’t met many people in her lifetime who she’d describe that way.
He had an encyclopedia of a mind, admirable dedication to his brothers, commitment to his craft.
Nera remembered when she’d first seen him.
She’d only just moved into the treasure-hunting game, and had spent a lot of time watching the number one players.
And that had been the infamous Dathan Phoenix and his brothers.
The camaraderie between the men had been apparent…
even when they were bitching at each other.
It had left her confused. She’d never in all her life had that kind of solidarity with anyone.
She watched Niklas tap notes into his Sync. His brow was creased, and he rubbed the back of his neck. She’d been trained to interpret the smallest facial expressions and read someone’s needs. He was intrigued but frustrated by what he was reading.
After a few more minutes, he put a call through to the ship’s galley and ordered tea and a snack.
She could watch him for hours, she decided. There was something so soothing about this man’s intense concentration. It made her wonder what it would be like if it was focused on her.
Nera shifted in her seat. Not somewhere she was ever going to go. Niklas was a fascination, but she would never, ever change the strange relationship they had. She couldn’t seem to break off her contact with him, but couldn’t risk anything else.
Niklas’ Sync chimed.
“Phoenix.”
“Nik.” Avril Luma-Smythe’s voice.
Nera frowned. She did not like the woman. She was too…perky. All earnest enthusiasm and flattery for Niklas. And the way the woman looked at him, and smiled at him. Nera sniffed. No, she did not like the astro-archeologist.
“I just wanted to check how the work was going,” the woman said. “Maybe you want to bounce some ideas off someone?”
“No, but thanks for the offer. Nera’s here with me. If I need to bounce anything, I’ll bounce it off her.” He politely ended the call.
Nera sat there, frozen. How had he known she was there?
He didn’t acknowledge her in any other way, just went back to his work.
Soon, a staff member came in. The man wore a crew uniform and kept his head down over the tray he carried.
She didn’t pay him much attention, except to note his uniform was pulled too tight across his stocky shoulders. Sloppy of the Institute.
The man set the tray on a side table with a mumble, and shuffled back toward the door.
Niklas turned over two cups and poured the tea from the pot. Fragrant steam filled the air. He pulled one cup closer and pushed the other one in her direction. She shot him a wry smile and breathed deep. She caught the scent of berries and citrus oil.
Then, she noted movement at the edge of the room.
The man had never left. Instead, he was pulling out a disruptor pistol and sneaking up behind Niklas.
Gunn.
She should have recognized him, even wearing that ill-fitting uniform. God, Niklas messed with her senses. She rose, pulling out three of her shuriken throwing stars.
Niklas was staring at the documents again, completely oblivious.
Gunn got closer, raising the pistol. Nera’s hand tightened on the throwing star.
Suddenly Niklas moved. Fast. He spun, shoving his chair back into Gunn.
Gunn stumbled and Niklas landed a hard punch to the man’s face.
Gunn hit the floor, and a second later, Niklas pressed the chair over the downed treasure hunter.
One chair leg was pressed against Gunn’s throat, making him choke and splutter.
“Attacking from behind.” Niklas’ voice was calm and controlled. “Why am I not surprised?”
“Fuck you, Phoenix.”
“Ah, and there’s that sparkling intellect of yours.” Niklas pulled the chair back and set it back at the desk. “Get out of here.”
Gunn rose and Nera saw his hands flexing, forming fists. Niklas was already turning away when Gunn let out a short roar and ran at him.
Gunn rammed into Niklas, driving him into the wall.
Nera had had enough. She shimmered out of her camouflage and tossed the shurikens in quick succession.
“What the hell?” Niklas fought against the two throwing stars pinning his shirt to the wall. He shot her an angry glare.
She ignored him and focused on Gunn. He was cradling his hand. Her third shuriken was lodged in his palm. Blood flowed down his arm.
“You nearly cut my thumb off!” he yelled.
“Just be grateful I didn’t slice it off…like I did your finger.” Nera walked toward him and reached back over her shoulder. She pulled her Tauvi sword from its scabbard on her back. It looked like a black baton…until she shook it and the long, silver blade extended.
She had the pleasure of seeing every drop of color drain from Gunn’s face. She held the tip of the blade to the man’s throat.
“If I see you attack anyone on our team again, I’ll gut you.
” She let the blade kiss his skin before moving it downward.
She sliced two buttons off his shirt and let the point rest against his belly.
He gasped and she took a step closer, the sword end putting uncomfortable pressure on him.
“And if I see you come after Phoenix again, I’ll hurt you so badly, you’ll be sobbing for me to kill you. ”
A large drop of sweat rolled down Gunn’s forehead and down his scruffy cheek. “You his guard dog, then?”
“No. But if anyone is going to cause him pain, it’ll be me.” She stepped back and lowered her sword.
Gunn stared at her for a second before he dropped his gaze. Muttering, he stalked out.
Nera strode over to Niklas and yanked one star out. Niklas poked a finger through the hole in his shirt and shook his head. “I had it under control.”
This close to him, she smelled his scent. That dark, masculine essence that she found intoxicating. “Gunn doesn’t like you.”
Niklas snorted. “He hates you more.”
“But he’s scared of me.” She pulled the second star out.
“And he underestimates me.” Niklas grabbed her arm. “I did have it under control, Nera. I’m hardly helpless.”
Oh, she was very aware of that. “You shouldn’t underestimate Gunn, either. He may not be smart, but he’s mean, and you aren’t.”
“And you?” Niklas said.
She lifted the star to his neck and pricked his skin. “I’m the meanest of all.”
He reached up, closing his hand over the star. He leaned closer to her, which pushed the star harder against his skin. His lips came very close to hers. Just a few short centimeters that could be crossed in one tiny movement.
“I seem to find your brand of mean attractive.”
Her stomach clenched and she felt a low, warm heat move through her. “Maybe you aren’t as intelligent as I thought you were.”
His blue eyes burned with an intensity that threatened to steal her breath. “I will have you, Nera. We both know it’s coming.”
Her heart was beating so hard it hurt. “No.”
He leaned in another centimeter, his breath brushing over her lips. “You’ll scream my name.”
She had to work hard to keep her voice cool, controlled. “I thought you were the least arrogant of your brothers. Clearly, I was wrong.” She hid her shaking hand by her side.
He stepped back, and she gratefully pulled in a breath.
“I have a proposition for you.”
She looked up, her pulse tripping. “Niklas—”
“I suggest we team up. Work together.”
Oh. “I’m not into teamwork.”
“Just for this mission to Earth. You watch my back, and I watch yours.”
She’d already planned on watching his back…and very fine ass. “I see the benefit in that. I don’t have any friends on this ship.” She didn’t have any friends, full stop.
He extended a hand. “Shall we make it official?”
She shook it, and felt a frisson of something hot and electric skitter up her arm. With his palm pressed against hers, she felt the calluses on his hand, the warmth of him.
Now she raised a brow. “Are you going to let go of my hand?”
He pressed his thumb against her pulse point. “Your skin is so much softer than I imagined.”
Her lips parted a little, and she tried to pull her hand back, but he held fast. “My skin isn’t relevant to the deal.”
“No, but I still plan to explore it.” He pulled her closer, until her chest brushed his.
“No.”
“Let me in, Nera.”
She swallowed. “I…I can’t.”
Frustration crossed his face. “Dammit, I don’t want to hurt you.” The words burst out of him.
Seeing his control snap made her belly clench.
“I want to get to know you, Nera.” His fingers flexed on her skin. “I want to pleasure you.”
She dredged up some much-needed willpower from somewhere. “A business partnership, Phoenix. I’ll watch your back, you’ll watch mine. That’s it.”
He scowled. “And if I want more?”
Nera stepped away from him. He was asking for the impossible. It was time for her to go. “I don’t have more to offer.”