Molten by Viola Grace Read Free Book Online Page A

narrowed his eyes and the fire that was burning him pulled into position, and he was still warm but no longer hot.
    She sat up and looked at the power crackling along her skin. She went against her own long practice and pushed the power out and up, away from her body. It ceased to snap and twist on her hands and arms as it lost contact with her. Nanette could still feel it though, and she pulled it back to her for a moment before settling it around her again. Electricity around her, fire inside her and an alien under her. This was not something she could put on her resume back home.
    She was surprised into giggling, and Rand opened his eyes in surprise. “Is this a time for laughter?”
    Nanette pressed her hand over her lips, and she laughed again. “I think this is the perfect time for laughter.”
    He ran his hands through her hair and smiled, “Bright sunlight and joy. You are right, this is perfect.”
    A knock at the door interrupted their kiss.
    She lifted her lips from his. “Perhaps slightly less than perfect after all.”
    Drovin came in with his head averted. “We need to return to the city to help the repair effort. If you could wrap up your activity and get dressed, we leave in ten minutes and Wren has food waiting for you.”
    The door closed a moment later.
    Nanette wrinkled her nose. “I am guessing that it is time to go to work. How are we going to work the commute?”
    She slid away from him and rolled off the bed. He lunged for her, but she was out of his reach and scorching away the sweat and stains of sex and blood.
    “You can do that?”
    Nanette laughed at his amazement. “Of course. Taking showers takes too long. Since I rarely sweat, I use a wave of fire from foot to scalp. It makes your hair all flippy.”
    He got to his feet next to her and he tried to mimic her. It nearly worked; he set the flooring on fire.
    She absorbed the flame and stood with him, palm to palm. “A light ring of fire that starts at your toes and simply rises up your body. Let the fire do the work, and let it touch you. I promise you won’t burn.”
    Fire ringed his feet but he held it.
    “Fire wants to rise, so let it.”
    It moved upward, picking up speed until it passed the crown of his head with a whoosh, sending his gleaming hair in all directions.
    She grinned and then scowled. “I still don’t have anything to wear.”
    As if answering her need, the door opened a crack and a suit came flying in, tossed by an unseen hand. It continued all the way to land on Nanette’s head. She let go of Rand’s hands and peeled the suit away from her face.
    He chuckled and turned to go to the wardrobe, getting his own clothing and leaving her to hers.
    The suit she tugged on was red, orange, white and blue. It was not the most soothing of combinations, but in the ombre blend, it seemed to work.
    “It is a very striking suit. Wren must have been working all night on it.”
    Nanette ran her hands down the suit and felt a pang of guilt. “I don’t want her to have lost sleep over it.”
    “Don’t worry. She doesn’t sleep much. It is something that Toyo both loves and is irritated by. He wakes up and she is gone. He has the same ability to stay awake, but he doesn’t use it, he likes his nap time too much.” Rand sealed his suit and returned to her side.
    “Come on, Wren makes an amazing breakfast and she doesn’t even use her hands.”
    They made their way through the halls of the base and finally spilled out into the kitchen, dining area and common space.
    Beryl and Drovin were sitting at the table with Loesh. Wren and Toyo were in the kitchen, and there was room for Rand and Nanette at the table next to the others. They settled in and congratulations ensued.
    Wren and Toyo took their seats and the food floated in to settle for a fortifying meal. It was the most important meal of the day, after all.
     

Chapter Eight
     
     
    Nanette’s little repair squad came flocking to her the moment that she was out of the