Free In the Devil's Nebula (Phoenix Adventures #2) by Anna Hackett Page B

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 fight 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. “Damn it, 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, 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.
    Ria 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.
    “Diablo?” Zayn swore. “Of all the crazy-ass
planets she could have picked.”
    “I’ve never heard of Diablo,” Ria said.
    Dathan grimaced. “It’s not a nice place. Low
tech desert world. Mostly peopled with ranchers and miners but a
whole bunch of scoundrels, bandits and others who want to lay low
live there, too.”
    Zayn paced. He liked tech. He liked things
with engines. He hated planets that rejected technology. “Best to
wear the local gear and not take any tech. Makes you a target for
thieves who’d like it for themselves.”
    “And they love explosives there,” Dathan
added. “If they can blow something up, they will.”
    Ria nodded. “Explains why Lala decided to
call it home. You sure this…weapons dealer’s info is legit?”
    “Sel’s pretty trustworthy.” Zayn kept his
gaze on her face. Damn, he wished she’d had time to change out of
her distracting training gear. “His info’s gotten us out of some
pretty sticky situations.”
    Ria nodded, then her gaze moved back to
Dathan. “Will she be easy to find?”
    “Well, Diablo isn’t a small planet. But a
fifteen-year-old girl with a knack for explosives shouldn’t be too
hard to pinpoint.” Dathan flicked a glance at Zayn. “I don’t think
this mission needs all of us. I suggest you and Ria find Lastite
Lala.”
    Zayn saw the way Ria straightened. A frown
etched on her face. “Sounds good, Dath. Nik, can you help us load
up whatever we’ll need?”
    “Sure,” Nik replied.
    “Eos and I will start prep for our trip to
the Devil’s Nebula,” Dathan said. “When you two get back with Lala
we’ll be ready to go.” Dathan’s