Ricochet by Sandra Sookoo Read Free Book Online Page B

mess around, unless the guns are just for show.”
    “Aw, little Willa’s worried about me. Don’t go developing a crush.” He chucked her under the chin as if she were a child. “The guns aren’t for show, but I can handle myself.”
    “Fine.” Her gaze skittered from his while her brain whirled in too many directions to follow. “At least I get first call on the shower.” Without looking back, she stuck her chin in the air and stalked out the jade doors.
    Stupid men. Males across the galaxy were all boorish oafs who never grew up and apparently had some hidden compulsion to beat the tar out of each other in a display of power. Too bad they both knew the Caringa wouldn’t kill him in such a public place. Sure, he might get roughed-up, but that was his problem. She didn’t care if he came back bloodied and broken. It would be his own damned fault. There was nothing in the rules that compelled her to play nursemaid. She’d drag his lacerated carcass into the hold. At least then he’d be on board, which would loosely comply with the handbook.
    Thrusting Stratton from her mind, she gazed at the façade of the Arms of Aga. Truly, it was one of the greatest sights she’d ever seen. Made in the image of a naked woman, the jade structure boasted four pairs of arms. From the little information she’d gleaned from a brochure at the front desk, the statue was said to represent a once-worshipped deity from one of the first settlements on Aga. With the religion now defunct and the religious followers extinct, the government had decided to remodel the statue into a luxury hotel. Each outstretched hand held a suite module with standard rooms filling the woman’s body. Private, glass turbolifts ran from the ground to each of the suites.
    Willa grinned even as her shoulders ached with fatigue. Racing always keyed her up, locked her muscles with tension, and dealing with Stratton had exacerbated her anxiety. The first-place finish was great, but a tiny niggle of doubt wedged itself into her heart. It wasn’t good enough. They could have made better time, could have done a better job of utilizing the wormhole. She blew out a defeated breath. Why can’t I just be happy in the moment? A hot shower and dinner was all she needed. After that, she’d take the bed. Stratton could sleep outside for all she cared.
     
    Two hours later, Willa stepped out of the pleasantly warm and steamy bathing area only to encounter the second most beautiful sight of the afternoon—now evening. Stratton stood in the center of the room, contemplating the large bed. A frown pulled at his sensual lips while his slick-gear top hung loose about his waist, baring his chest.
    “Uh, I didn’t hear you come in.” She pulled the sash of a plush robe tighter around her waist, very conscious of her naked state.
    “The shower was on when I got here. I intended to go straight to bed, but then became distracted by the remains of dinner.” His gaze flicked down her body in such a leisurely fashion, she felt every inch of the inspection. “I assume you enjoyed yourself in my absence? From the looks of things, you had a hearty appetite.”
    She nodded. Shortly after her arrival into the suite, a huge four-course dinner under glass and silver domes had been delivered. She’d eaten her fill, Stratton’s hunger be damned. “Any time away from your barbaric attitude is well spent.” Unable to glance away, she drank in his semi-dressed state as if she’d never seen a man before. Black curls made a light mat over his pectoral muscles, and a thin, black ribbon of hair trailed down the middle of his chest, past his belly button to continue into his waistband. Her mouth watered at the sight of that creamy, brown skin. Her fingers itched to explore his perfect abdominal planes.
    By the time her gaze jerked to his face, he was openly smirking. “Like what you see? I’d be happy to uncover the rest if you want to check out my lower half.” His fingers drifted to