“But Riana,” Arin said, her voice taking on a teasing note, “you’re the best genius hacker I know, and besides, they’re guests on our planet. It’s our job to show them around, make them feel comfortable, make sure they don’t kill anybody-”
“Arin,” Riana protested, “I amnotgoing to help you with this mission anymore if you force me to work with one of them.”
“There’s that small matter of all that illegal porn that was mysteriously downloaded on Fortuna Tau and sold for significant profit. I have witnesses.”
“But Sergeant-”
“I’m not ‘Sergeant’ anymore, Riana. They DD’d me as soon as I set foot on sweet Earth soil.” She’d been expecting the dishonorable discharge, but the speed with which the military had dumped her had stung a little. She hadn’t even been able to put in her resignation notice, and just like that, her dream of a military career had been over. At first, all she’d ever wanted was toproveherself in the military; to walk in her mother’s shadow and become a brilliant officer, so that the high-flying General Varga would finally acknowledge her. But life had a funny way of changing direction when you least expected it. Not that Arin was so bothered about it now. She had bigger and better things to look forward to, and she’d won the biggest prize of all.
Her tone softened. “Don’t worry, Riana. It’ll be fun, trust me. Kordolians aren’t as bad as they look. Well, they are, but they aren’t. You’ll see what I mean.”
“Arin!” Terror flooded Riana’s voice. “You can’t-”
“I’ll let you know when he’s coming over. Thanks again, Riana.” Arin terminated the comm as the door flew open, revealing a vortex of wild red dust whipped up by the hot desert wind.
Sand was streaming into the foyer.
And on the threshold stood a familiar black figure.
He was in full warrior mode, his helm concealing his features, his body bristling with weapons. He was a terrifying sight against the murky, shadowy red backdrop of the dust storm.
“Shut the damn door,” Arin yelled, struggling to be heardabove the howling wind. “You’re letting sand into the house again.” The figure inclined his head and slammed the door shut, dropping all his weapons and stalking across the floor to where she sat.
He loomed above her, a menacing figure in his obsidian exo-armor. He peered down at her through his impenetrable black visor, his features completely concealed.
Of course, there was a good reason for his appearance.
He’d been fighting Xargek again.
Arin glared at him, even though heat was pooling between her thighs. “You do that on purpose just because you know it irritates me, don’t you?”
Little by little, the black armor started to melt away, fading into minuscule particles that were swallowed up by his skin until he stood before her in all his naked silver glory.
“Don’t you, Rykal?”
He didn’t say a word. His expression was deadly serious, his golden eyes glimmering with dangerous heat.
“Rykal?” He was starting to make her nervous, and completely fucking aroused.
Arin yelped as he scooped her up in his powerful arms and carried her to the bed.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
He still didn’t speak. He just lay her amongst the disheveled sheets and started to strip her, fumbling with the zipper of her pants until he became too impatient and justtorethe damn thing.
Arin would have grumbled, because that was the second set of trousers he’d ruined this week, but she was too fucking horny to be irritated by his enthusiasm.
He tore off her white t-shirt, too, until she was just lying there in her bra and undies, her pussy throbbing with need.
His eyes burned into her. He moved over her, poised like a big cat about to devour its prey. He brushed the sand from her forehead and cheeks and kissed her lips. At first, he was gentle, but it didn’t take long for him to become savage with his kisses.
He kissed her for a long fucking time, probing her mouth with his strong, naughty tongue.
One of his hands dropped to her pussy. He trailed his fingers over the thin fabric covering her sex. It was soaked. He growled in approval and tore at her panties, unable to control himself any longer. With her bra, he did the same, not being one to bother with delicacy and fastenings and all that sort of nonsense.
Arin lay on her back, staring up at him, unable to believe her good fortune. She’d been stressing over secret organizations and dishonorable discharges and covert government agencies when he’d come in with the storm, a dark, menacing, beautiful tempest.
And all he wanted was her.
