Page 19 of Her Cyborg Commander
Once she was on the ground, it was a simple enough matter to orient herself to the correct landmarks and then count her steps so she knew when to avoid the traps she’d placed. Both of them could see well enough without an additional light source, but when she got close, Edge drew a small cube out of his pocket and shook it. The resulting amber light was barely bright enough to illuminate the area directly around him.
River walked to the edge of the light but didn’t enter it. “Follow me. Step where I step. You know the drill.” The moment she finished speaking, she turned and moved back the way she’d come.
“I do.” Edge paused. When she didn’t hear him following her, she turned back in his direction. He hadn’t moved his feet, but his head was cocked to one side and he wore a grin that softened his features in a way that made her pulse race.
“What?” she asked.
He waved at her with one hand, still grinning. “Interesting choice in combat gear.”
“Huh?” She glanced down, confused, and then realized what he meant. She’d only put on the top half of her body armor and her boots. Apart from a pair of panties, she was more or less naked from the waist down. She hadn’t had time for her to put the rest on.
It wasn’t that she was embarrassed by her quasi-nudity. Modesty was a luxury none of her kind had ever been permitted. She, Edge, and every other survivor of Reamus had seen each other naked countless times.
This, though. This felt different. Her bare legs made her feel vulnerable. Not to bullets, but to something—or more accurately—tosomeone.
He shouldn’t have come after her. And she shouldnotbe happy to see him again.
11
In the interminably longdays leading up to his arrival, Edge had imagined what would happen when he found River. A thousand different scenarios had played through his mind, but in none of them had he imagined River greeting him with sarcasm and a smile. The lack of pants was a pleasant surprise, too, as were the lacy black underwear.
He repressed a chuckle and several indecent thoughts about how easy it would be to tear that scrap of lace off her body. That was something else he hadn’t expected. Being near her had triggered a fresh onslaught of desires and dark thoughts.Why?
He kept enough of his attention on River’s feet to ensure he didn’t make a wrong step, but the rest of his focus shifted to River herself. He allowed himself a chance to look at her. Not a passing glance but a long, assessing gaze that let himseeher while she was too distracted to catch him doing it.
At first, he only saw what he expected to, but then he registered small differences. Her long legs were still as shapely as ever, but they had more muscle tone than he remembered. Most of her upper body was covered by her body armor, which was also a new look for her. More than that, she lookedcomfortable in the heavy gear, wearing it like it was a second skin. That was how it had felt to him, too, back when he’d worn it every day.
She moved differently, too. With a longer stride, straight back, and a general air of confidence. Gone was the meek female who always gravitated to the shadows and rarely met anyone’s eyes. Even her hairstyle had changed. She’d always worn her dark brown hair short and swept back from her face. Now, it fell in tousled waves he wanted to touch.
He crushed that thought like all the others, determined not to let them take root in his mind. Only, he wasn’t sure why he was still fighting this. This new, stronger River was so different than the female he’d thought she was.
She carried her rifle with the easy manner of someone accustomed to using weapons—a soldier, a killer, just like him. The traps were another indication he’d been wrong about her. She wasn’t hiding away in hopes of avoiding detection. She was prepared to fight for her life on this harsh, kill-or-be-killed world she’d chosen.
The camp itself brought back memories of past campaigns, though he’d never had equipment as nice as what River had. Where thefraxxhad she found it all? He assumed some of it must have been liberated from the warehouses on Haven, but not all of it. She couldn’t have been here long, but it had the feel of a permanent encampment, with everything she needed to survive as long as needed.
The thought made him growl softly as he accepted that River truly meant to stay away from Haven until she thought it was safe. If he hadn’t come after her, how long would it have been before he saw her again?
“Welcome to my camp.” River opened the door and stepped back, gesturing for him to go in first. The doorframe was low enough he had to duck his head to avoid a crack to his skull,but once he was inside, there was enough room for him to stand comfortably. It took him a moment to find a spot to put his duffle bag because space was tight. He had to move backward a few steps to give River enough room to join him.
“I would have killed a dozen quartermasters to get a hold of a shelter like this during the wars. I like it.”
“Back then, we didn’t have scrip to spend. Now?” She gestured around her. “Money can buy pretty much anything you can imagine.”
Anger slammed into him as understanding dawned. “You spent the compensation the corporations and the IAF gave you? On this?” He flung out a hand, inadvertently smacking his fingers against the wall.
River raised her head to glare at him, her eyes narrowed and jaw tight. “I did. They said it was intended for us to use to improve our lives and our futures. This is my life now, Edge. What else would I use it for?”
He closed the distance between them, crowding her against the door. “How about something on the planet we’re not supposed to leave? Do you have any idea of the shitstorm your departure has caused?”
“Says the cyborg who also left Liberty,” she shot back. “I did it to protect the colony. What’s your excuse?”
“I don’t need an excuse.” The words were out before he could think them through. As retorts went, it was as weak as aJeskyran’ssense of honor.
“Yes, you do. Because if you are here, Haven isn’t as well-protected as it could be. Who else is with you? And for that matter, how thefraxxdid you even get here?
“I came alone, same as you.”
She scowled. “How? You’re not a pilot. There’s no way you could have gotten here without help.”
