Sabin caught it with one hand.
“Oh, God,” she cried, slumping.
He held the keyboard up. “You thought this would stop me?”
“I wasn’t trying to stop you. I thought you were a Kantos assassin.”
He arched a brow, then his fingers clenched. The keyboard crumpled.
She sniffed. “Show off.”
“The Kantos would’ve knocked this aside like a twig.”
She moved back into the lab. “You made your point.”
“Do you have any combat training?”
She spun. “What? No, I’m a scientist, not a soldier.”
“Basic self-defense is a good idea for anybody.”
She chewed her lip. She’d taken some classes after her abduction, but she wasn’t very coordinated, and had felt like an idiot. “Said the big alien warrior.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m not very athletic.”
“I think we should add some self-defense lessons to your schedule. Just in case an assassin gets through.”
She didn’t have time for fighting lessons. She opened her mouth to argue—
“Or one manages to take me down.”
Her mouth clicked shut and her mind went blank. No. She couldn’t—and didn’t want to imagine—Sabin going down.
God. She pressed a hand to her stomach. She thought about those moments when she’d been abducted. If she’d known some self-defense, would it have helped? Would Brent and Melody have had a chance?
“Okay, I’ll take some lessons.”
“We can start tomorrow.”
“Actually, I’m not tired. Can we start now?”
He eyed her, then nodded. “Get changed. Kaira showed me a well-equipped gym near the living quarters.”
They walked to the suite they were sharing. It had two bedrooms off a small living area. The furniture was utilitarian and a boring beige, but the space had some interesting pictures on the walls. They were photographs of military aircraft, and close-ups of the landscape around Woomera. A lizard on a rock, a tree growing sideways out of a bolder, a flat, desolate salt plain.
Finley didn’t own much in the way of activewear, but she had some leggings, T-shirts, and a pair of running shoes. She did like to walk when she got the chance, to clear her head when she’d been working too hard.
Sabin was still in his black, sleeveless uniform. He led her to the gym just down the hall. Lights clicked on, illuminating lots of torturous looking equipment, and a large area covered with mats and bounded by a mirrored wall.
She gave a mental snort. Who wanted to look at themselves while they were hot, sweaty and red in the face?
Sabin stopped in the center of the mat.
Why did the man have to look so damn good? She held her arms out. “So? Where do we start?”
“You need to know where to attack a Kantos.” He circled her. “They’re not human. They have different weak points.”
“Okay.”
“Most Kantos are covered in a hard carapace. Don’t bother with a hit to the back—” his hand touched her back “—or chest.” He circled around, his fingers brushing her sternum.
Finley gasped, sensation flowing through her.
“Kantos’ weak points are their soft spots. Underbelly, joints, eyes.”
She nodded.
“If you kick, don’t bother with precision. Just try to kick and connect with your shin. It’s larger. Hit hard, hit fast. And aim for those weaker spots.”
“Shin, hard and fast, weak spots. Got it.”
He waved a hand. “Kick me.”
“What? I can’t.”
A smile curled his lips. “You can’t hurt me.”
Challenge fired in Finley’s blood. She rushed forward and kicked, but he blocked her foot with his hand, his reflexes lightning fast.
His hands stroked her calf, setting off small explosions in her belly before he let her go.
“Try again. Harder this time.”
She kicked again and he blocked again, swatting her away.
“Harder.”
She growled. She swung her leg back and kicked hard. This time she struck his thigh.
“Better,” he said.
Except the blow vibrated almost painfully up her body. The man was made of rock.
Suddenly, he moved fast, his big arms wrapping around her from behind. He pulled her back against his hard body.
“Now what are you going to do?” he said in her ear.
She wriggled, and struggled, but she couldn’t budge him.
“Remember those soft spots.”
With a hard jerk, she got one hand free. She reached up, trying to hit his eyes.
“Good. You’ll always be weaker. You need to use your best weapon, your brain.”
Hmm. She half spun, and pressed her face to his shoulder. His purple-black gaze met hers. Finley bit her lip and his gaze dropped to her mouth, the purple strands in his eyes glowing.
“Finley.” His voice was husky.
Using the moment of distraction, she elbowed him in his gut. It wasn’t exactly a soft spot. Still, he grunted, and his hold loosened a little. She kicked his shin and he cursed.
She broke free and grinned. “I did it!”
He came at her in a rush. She gasped and took several steps backward. Then she tripped and fell on her back. A second later, his big body was on hers, caging her to the floor.
Heat washed over Finley.
“Now what?” he murmured.
“Now you kiss me,” she said.
He made a tortured sound. “Finley—”
“You’re driving me crazy.” She cupped his rugged face with her hands. “Don’t pull away, Sabin. Please.”
“I can’t do this. Shouldn’t risk losing my control like this.”
She closed her eyes. “Of course. I’m sorry—”
His hand closed around the base of her throat and she gasped. The purple filaments in his eyes glowed brightly. “I can’t seem to say no to you. Or stay away.”
His mouth covered hers.
Oh, God. Oh, God. His tongue delved into her mouth, and she wrapped her legs around him. She undulated against him and kissed him back.
Sabin growled and kissed her deeper. Then he broke the kiss, lifting his head. He pressed his forehead to hers.
“You have no idea how much I want you,” he said.
His words cut through her belly. No one had ever wanted her like this alien warrior. Then in a lithe move, he rose.
“Come on. It’s time for bed.” He pulled her up. “Alone. We both need some sleep.”
“You’re afraid of me. Of this.”
He touched her jaw. “No, I’m afraid of myself.”
Chapter Eight
Sabin strode down the red, dusty track. The Australian sun was hot on his skin. It was more intense than it had been at Space Corps Headquarters. A small lizard darted across his path—it was tiny, and covered in lots of bumpy scales.
“See that small, rock outcrop ahead?” Kaira pointed.
He eyed the outcrop. “I see it.” The petite security commander was keeping pace beside him.
“That’s one of the auto turret placements. We have several of them dotted across the complex. They automatically open when there’s an attack.”