Free Infiltration (Katieran Prime Series Book 11) by KD Jones Page B

Commander?”
    “How do you even know about him? You weren’t even on Katiera. I didn’t know you then.”
    “I have abilities. I can see images from people I interrogate.”
    “Oh crap! You’re a mind reader?”
    “I don’t really read minds and communicate mind to mind. Leader LarIS from the Colony can do that. I get images and if someone feels strong emotions I might pick up a word or two, such as a location, or a name of a lover.”
    She still wasn’t sure how that all worked. “AshOR was a one-night thing. Neither of us were ready for a relationship and there was something missing.”
    “What was missing?”
    She decided to change the subject. “I want to know more about your abilities. Have you always had them?”
    “Yes, I was born this way. My mother had the same ability but my father didn’t.”
    She jumped down from the boulder and walked over to where he was trying to remove a bolt from the thruster mount.
    “Hand me the twerk wrench,” StrykER instructed her.
    “What’s a twerk wrench?”
    “It’s L-shaped with a round dial in the center. I use it to loosen the bolts.”
    “How do you know how to work on ships?”
    “My grandfather did warrior training but he was a specialized mechanic. He taught me everything I know.”
    She reached inside the tool kit and pulled out the L-shaped tool. She got on her hands and knees and crawled closer to him to hand it to him. Their eyes locked and she felt an electric current go through her whole body.
    “Thanks.” He took the tool from her and their fingers brushed.
    She knew she should move away, but she didn’t. She watched him concentrate on removing the cover over the thrust. “How bad is it?”
    “The good news is that it didn’t suffer a direct hit. If we lost a thruster, we would not be able to get enough speed to leave the planet. Something did break and it needs to be removed so that we can get full power. The problem is—the piece broken off is in small tight space. Every time I reach for it, my hand gets stuck.”
    “Can I see?”
    He moved over a little so that she could move up next to him. Her breasts brushed against his chest and she couldn’t help but shiver.
    “I think I could reach it. I have small hands.”
    “I don’t want you to hurt yourself.”
    She rolled her eyes. “I’m just reaching up to pull something out, right?”
    “Yes, but…”
    “I’m doing this.” She moved closer, reaching up with her left hand.
    It was hard to ignore the feel of him against her. His body heat was seductive. All she really wanted was to curl up against him and snuggle. Well, that wasn’t entirely true. She wanted to rub her body against his—naked.
    “Fuck.” She glanced over at him realizing she had said that word out loud.
    He gave her a sexy smile “Mmmm—there’s that word you like to use.”
    Her breathing was becoming more erratic and she thought his was too. No, she couldn’t think about him like that right now; she needed to get this piece of whatever-it-was out of the thruster.
    She closed her eyes and pushed up as far as she could and stretched. She felt something cold and metal that was loose.
    “I think I’ve got it.” She yanked hard, and it finally broke free, making her fall hard to the ground and hit her head.
    “Ouch!”
    “Are you okay?” StrykER was running his hands over her body, checking for injuries. When he caressed her breasts, she snorted, shoving his hands away.
    “I hit the back of my head, not my boobs.”
    “I must inspect every inch—just to be sure.”
    Melody was about to argue when he surprised her by leaning over and taking her lips. She had no time to think. He nibbled her bottom lip and any resistance she would have put up seemed to just evaporate. She opened her mouth and his tongue was there immediately, claiming her.
    She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed as close to him as she could get. Electrical currents she felt before from his touch just amped up to a fiery need.