Page 36 of Stars in Umbra
He finished her unspoken sentence with a dry, sarcastic voice, reading her mind with that uncanny ability of his.
She smiled despite herself. ‘Naam, you are one hell of a headache but afokkin’ good defense strategist and an even better Commander, so I’ll take your lead on this.’
‘Why,sante. Can’t wait for what you come back with.’
Rina hit the lobby at a pace, her boots tapping on the polished obsidian tiles, her thoughts churning.
She reminded herself of her titles, her roles, and responsibilities as Chief of Defense for Dunia, seconded to the United Pegasi Military.
Now also head of the fragile, fractured Pegasi Galactic Peace Corps.
She wore each designation like armor, proud that she’d earned each stripe and scar, but some days, the strain of it all grated.
As for Kainan Sable?
Fokk, he had a way of pushing her buttons.
He meant well. She knew that.
She was furthermore confident that he trusted and respected her, even when he was riding her ass like a wild banshee over the tiniest slip-up.
She was grateful for that respect, if nothing else.
Given how her week was kicking off, she was developing a pounding headache.
She was halfway to the exit, scrolling through mission reports in her neural interface, when a voice cut through the noise.
‘Thought that was you, Colonel.’
Timbered, growled, and rough, graveled, laced with fire and smoke.
Freakin’ sensual to the core.
Her stomach flipped.
She turned, and there he was.
Leaning against the reception desk like he owned the damn building and street to boot.
Thick thighs encased in form-fitted trousers.
A crisp white shirt hugging that trim, flat, rippling torso, with buttons open partway on his chest, showcasing the mesmerizing ink on his torso.
Higher, the material stretched and bunched over shoulders so broad you could rest a boulder on.
His ensemble was so simple, yet so freakin sensuous.
Her eyes flicked over him, face still sculpted, and bejeweled as ever, and finally on that gleaming gaze of his fixed on her.
Her pulse kicked up a notch.
‘Meeting the grand wizard, huh?’ he rasped, those lush lips curling with lazy amusement.
She gave a dry laugh, rubbing a hand over her temple. ‘Fokkyeah. This sure as hell ain’t no yellow brick road.’
He chuckled, stepping closer, filling her space without ever really touching her. The air thickened between them in an instant.
Mo shot her a grin, thumb hooked in his belt. ‘How are you?’
