The Colonel's Man by J. William Mitchell Mina Carter Read Free Book Online

you’re all mine.”
    She waited as they both pressed on the correct place.
    “All yours? That sounds good, Colonel.”
    He winked as he slid the datapad back over the table, and wondered just what it would take to make her his.

Chapter Four
     
    “Ugggh.”
    Arita spun on one foot, flexed her body and delivered a powerful kick to the side of the bag. The meaty smack echoed through the gym, empty at this time of day. It was too close to the end of one shift and the beginning of another for anyone to be in here, which was the way she liked it, particularly when she wasn’t operating at full capacity.
    The punchbag spun and danced on the short chain, the seam on the left releasing a small puff of sawdust and packing material. For all the technology on Alliance ships, the gym was reassuringly low-tech.
    “Fuck it, too slow,” she muttered as it settled, aware that the hit to her side had taken down her response times. And she couldn’t have that; she needed to be at full operational status before she headed back tomorrow with her two new boys. Swinging into action again, she laid up for a punch-kick combination as thoughts of Jason Scott filled her head.
    The epitome of tall, dark and charming, he was handsome in a scruffy, edgy sort of way. His quick fire comments made her smile, even as she answered to slap him down but there was something else about him…something calming in those blue eyes of his. And the protective way he’d held her in the medbay, displaying strength and speed to grab her before she fell…
    “Rhade, you’re getting old. No time for romances, you know that,” she told herself as she delivered a fast volley of blows. Patched and worn, the bag gave up the fight, tearing with a loud rip and dumping its stuffing guts onto the floor.
    “Fuck it.”
    “Aww come on. What did you do? I was waiting to use that.”
    Arita spun at the complaint and the sound of approaching footsteps. She knew who it was before she saw his face and those same blue eyes that had just filled her thoughts.
    Contrary to his words, he was smiling that charmer’s smile as he approached. The black mesh sports shirt emphasized a sculpted chest and the short sleeves showcased his powerful arms, muscles rippling with every movement.
    Stopping next to her, he scratched his head like a gorgeous doofus as he surveyed the damage to the punching bag. “I guess this means you’re all better now. I’d hate to think who you were thinking of while you were beating the crap out of that thing.”
    “My ex-husband usually.”
    She rolled her neck and something clicked. She’d taken a hit to the shoulder years ago and the damn thing still tightened up at times. She flicked a glance over him. He was in good shape, better than she expected.
    “Since I broke your toy, come on… I’ll let you try and rough me up.”
    “Cool. I guess this means today’s my lucky day. Ladies first.” He gestured towards the sparring mat at the middle of the large room.
    She arched an eyebrow, shooting him a glance over her shoulder as she passed. “Lucky day? You think you’re that good, do you?”
    “Well I think I have some skills but at least it’s a chance to get my hands on you.” His quip was followed with a wink as he followed her.
    She’d barely reached the mats when she dropped, one hand on the floor for balance as she spun and swept his legs out from under him. He went down with a curse, rolling to try and pin her but she was already up and moving.
    “What was that? Something about hands?” she taunted, dancing out of reach and ignoring the pull in her injured side. Adrenaline and something else coursed through her as she danced lightly on her feet. She’d seen Scott in action and he was fast. She could beat him, but it would be a close-call. When she’d trained him he’d be amazing, and she’d probably have to play dirty to keep beating him.
    “Oh-ho-ho…you fight dirty.” He quickly recovered his feet. “I like