Nik, Dathan, and Zayn watched as the remainder of the Institute crew boarded and the shuttle took off.
“What the hell was that all about?” Dathan said. “The Institute wanting to hire treasure hunters? Galaxy’s gone crazy.”
Nik kept his gaze on the shuttle. “Yeah.”
“You made the right choice, Nik,” Zayn said. “Getting involved in Institute business would only get sticky.”
Z was right. But still…Earth. The chance to set foot on her soil, to see the remnants of the world that had seeded so much life in the galaxy. It was a hard thing to turn down.
Cranky, hot, and aching, he turned away. “Come on, let’s get back to theInfinitas.” He wanted a shower, and then to lock himself away in his cabin to sleep.
No snakes, no booby traps, and no Institute.
Nik snapped awake,a hard pressure bearing down on his chest.
A dark shape loomed over him. Someone was straddling his chest, pinning his arms to his sides. He started to move, but then he felt the prick of a blade at his throat.
He focused on his attacker, just a dim shadow against the white blur of stars at interstellar speed outside the window of his cabin on theInfinitas.
A long, lean shadow wearing full-body, black light armor.
And he smelled her. Synth leather and steel.
“Nera,” he growled.
She tilted her helmeted head, then pressed a button on the side of her neck. The visor retracted, leaving a clear view of the most stunning face he’d ever seen.
Nera Darc—beautiful woman and deadly treasure hunter.
Her platinum-blonde hair was cut short, feathering around her face. High cheekbones, lush lips, and eyes of innumerable colors—like a multi-hued nebula.
She had a long, gently-curved body to go with the face, and he’d given up trying to work out all the ways she was trained to maim and kill. He’d seen her use Tase stunners, laser pistols, sniper rifles, throwing stars and, of course, her signature sword. She favored her throwing stars and sword, though, and was dangerous with both.
“Niklas. Heard you had an eventful day.”
Her voice was cool. She could have been talking about star charts for all the emotion in her.
But something told him there was heat in her, buried deep.
“Why are you here?” he asked. He managed to look around her to the desk built into the wall. Above it was a small mirror that covered up a high-tech safe where he’d stashed the Incan idol. Thankfully, the mirror and the safe appeared untouched.
She moved her knees and they jammed harder into the sides of his chest, making it hard to breathe.
“I’m curious. I want to know what the Institute wanted with you.”
His gaze narrowed. Nera was not curious. She was smart, calculating, and cunning. If she was after information, she had something planned.
“None of your business.”
She increased the pressure on her knees again, and he hissed.Dammit. He could feel the warmth of her through the skintight suit she wore. His cock was hard as a rock. Anytime she got near him, it went out of control.
He’d tried to tell himself about a thousand times—she was a rival, she was dangerous. Hell, she’d tried to kill him and his brothers numerous times. He frowned. He knew her well enough now to know that if she really wanted him dead, he’d be dead. He let his eyes close. He was so wrong in the head when it came to this woman.
The blade was back at his throat. A slight prick. His frown deepened. No, it wasn’t a knife—it was her nails.
“I want to know, Niklas,” she said silkily.
His cock jumped and he cursed mentally. Why her? Why couldn’t he be attracted to some easy, comfortable woman? He liked them smart, sure, and Nera was definitely that, but someone like Avril Luma-Smythe would have been a far better choice. A safer choice.
