Free Steamlust by Kristina Wright Page B

hollow of his throat and revealing a few wisps of chest hair.
    “I ran and reran the scenarios, making sure the formulae were correct. There is no doubt in my mind that the French will send at least thirteen airships and ten hoppers over the channel in two days time. We’ve caught glimpses of the ships on the coast, preparing for the attack.”
    “Lady Miranda—”
    She wanted to press her hands to her ears to block out the ticking. It grew louder with each step closer she took, but she continued. “The weather patterns will be in their favor then, giving them the advantage of both wind and cloud cover.”
    “Lady Miranda —”

    “We will only need seven ships, each carrying twenty tons of drop explosives to cripple their fleet. With the spy information about their landing field—”
    “Mandy!”
    She snapped her mouth shut. Frederick stood only a few inches away, his blue eyes flashing with anger and concern. “Yes?” she whispered.
    “It wasn’t your fault.” Each word was said deliberately. They felt like screws being wound into her chest.
    “Yes, it was. The calculations were all wrong, the timing was all wrong. I should have realized the intel I’d received was a ploy to pull the fleet and soldiers away. I hadn’t anticipated them sending their assassins for me . Lord, how do they even know who I am?” She let out a shuddering sigh.
    They’d made love that night for the first time. Her pussy had throbbed from the sweet torture his body had inflicted and her nipples ached from where his mouth had nipped and sucked her until she could take no more. She’d been pushed to the limits, exhausted by too many late hours bent over her calculations and reports. Their night of lovemaking had left her wrung dry, mind floating and body blissfully numb.
    “Mandy, look at me.” When she didn’t move, he lifted her chin with the crook of his finger. “I’m still here.”
    “But you’re dead .” This time she couldn’t stop the tears, didn’t want to. A single stream rolled down her cheek to catch on the edge of her jaw. “You should never have been where you were. Dammit, why did you step in front of that bullet? Your heart…”
    For the first time since Frederick’s rebirth, Miranda reached out and pressed her hand to the metal plate that comprised half his chest, barely concealed by the thin fabric of his shirt. He covered her hand with his, pressing down so she could not escape.

    “As we flew, we could barely make out the ships flying in formation with us. The fog made it impossible for us to see the ground. That was the only indication I had there was a problem, that the French had lured us away to go after a different prize. There was nothing wrong with your information or calculations.”
    “Why you?” Why us was what she really wanted to know, yet dared not vocalize. “It’s not fair.”
    “The rules are there to keep our society sane.” He reached up and brushed her hair from her forehead. “It would be chaos if people lived forever, built on parts that never wore out. There must be consequences for the gift. But never doubt that I would step in front of a thousand bullets to save your life. No hesitation.”
    Without warning, Frederick caught her by the back of her head and kissed her deeply. Their last kiss had been nearly two years earlier, three nights before he took a bullet to the chest to save her life.
    Their teeth clacked as she fought to get closer, soak his warmth into her body and make it a part of her. Her pussy pulsed with need as she spread her legs, inviting him to press his thigh between.
    “Ah, darling,” he muttered against her lips.
    “No!” Miranda gasped and backed away. She’d almost let herself go, carried away with her desire. Lord, I must be mad! She pressed her fingers to her lips. “I must go.”
    “Mandy, please.”
    “You’re reborn . They will take your heart if they suspect you’ve resumed our relationship! I won’t have your death on my