Zayn Phoenix would always see another woman when he looked at her. She 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 fighting 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. “Dammit, 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 and 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.
She 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.
