Dating Outside Your DNA (13 page)

He set his cup in the sink beside her glass. "It's inside, but grab  a jacket. It's still a little cool out."

She was actually getting to do something. Target practice--firing  a real gun. The only gun she'd ever held was on a video game an  artist's kid had left behind. Her mother had confiscated it when she'd

seen Lyraka firing at bad guys. Aasera said it was too violent.

She hurried to her room and opened her closet door,

excitement building inside her. The rush of adrenaline running

through her right now made her giddy. She reached for her jacket, but

it flew toward her, the hanger slapping her in the face.

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"Ow!" She jumped back a step.

What just happened? She looked at the jacket still on the

hanger, then back at the closet. Whoa! This had never happened

before. She put the jacket back, then reached for it again. Nothing

happened.

But it had flown to her before she even had a chance to touch

it. Now it just hung on the hanger. She backed up a few steps, and

raised her hand.

"Come to me!"

Nothing happened. She moved a step closer.

"Come to me!" She lowered her voice.

"Usually, people just reach in and take it off the hanger," Roan

said from behind her.

She jumped, whirling around to face him. He stood in the doorway, hands crossed in front of him. Heat traveled over her. This was so embarrassing.

"You did want to try some target practice...today, that is?"

She gave him her best glare. "I reached in to grab my jacket, but before I could touch it, it flew out to me."

"Maybe it really likes you."

"Not funny, and it did happen."

He sighed. "After what I've seen you do, I wouldn't doubt it." He walked farther into the room. "What  were you feeling when you

opened the closet door?"

He was right. Her emotions usually caused most of her abilities.

When she was calm, she could blend in. When she was emotionally

charged up, she ran faster.

"I was excited about going to the firing range ."

"Then try being excited again."

She faced the closet and held out her hand.

Nothing.

"Concentrate."

"I am."

She closed her eyes. Yea, she was going to the firing range.

Nothing happened.

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She took a deep breath. Wow! She was going to the firing

range.

"Are you sure it flew out to you?" Roan said.

"Yes, I'm sure. I can't do it with you watching me. Besides, I

think it was my initial reaction. I don't feel that same thrill."

He stepped closer, running the back of his hand down the side

of her cheek. Her nipples immediately hardened and there was a

tightness in her belly.

"Maybe I can get you excited," he murmured.

Her jacket didn't jump out at her, but she could feel the

pounding of her heart. She closed her eyes, surrendering to his

touch.

"I  can feel the heat coming off your body," he whispered close

to her ear.

Heat. Burn. Incinerate into a pile of ashes.

She stepped away, reaching into the closet to get her jacket. "I thought we were going to the firing range."

"I'd rather make love to yo u."

"Are all instructors this...this intent on taking their students to bed?"

He casually leaned against the chest of drawers. "Only when they're as sexy as you."

"I think you're trying to scare me away from being an agent."

"That too, but I wouldn't mind taking you to bed, either. In fact, I think I'd enjoy it."

"You admit you're trying to run me off?" She couldn't believe he was actually admitting it. "Less than ten minutes ago, you said I'd impressed you."

"Just because you can make it through a po rtion of an obstacle course doesn't mean you're cut out for this line of work. You and I both know you're not agent material. You've practically lived the life of a nun. You wouldn't know a bad guy if he stepped out in front of you.  All you'll accomplish is getting yourself killed, and that would be a damn shame."

"Oh!" She stomped her foot, anger rushing through her.

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The hangers inside the closet trembled, then clothes and all, flew out, landing on Roan's head. He didn't move, just stood there with her clothes draped over him. Her hand flew to her mouth.

"It would seem you've discovered another talent, but I don't really think throwing clothes at the bad guy will be a sufficient deterrent." He pushed the clothes off. They landed with a plop on the floor.

She raised an eyebrow. "No, but then, I can always shoot

them." She turned and walked out of the room.

Roan watched the swing in her hips. She had a sense of humor. He liked that in a woman, but he still wasn't so sure about her making a good agent. Agents were supposed to be ultimate fighting machines. So far, Lyraka could hide from them, outrun them, and throw clothes at them.

She had yet to prove her worth as one of the best. Sure, there had been a few people who came in off the streets without a bit of experience and they'd made it. They'd had to work harder, though. It all came down to how bad she wanted to be an agent.

He left her room and started down the stairs. She waited for

him at the bottom.

"I will make a damn good agent. Just watch and se e." She

turned on her heel and walked to the door.

Agents didn't walk like she did, either. Even the female agents.  And it was getting harder and harder to keep his hands to himself.  Maybe she was putting off some kind of pheromones that made him attracted to her. Now that would be a good weapon to have. An agent that could bring men to their knees-- Lethal Lyraka.

He closed the front door and walked to the Jeep. Maybe that was another reason why Joe had wanted the one-on -one training--to keep her away from other men.

She was already sitting in the passenger seat when he climbed in. Very prim and proper. But he knew different. She wanted him as much as he wanted her. So why did she hold back? It wasn't as though it was against the rules. In their line of work, death could be right around the corner. You lived hard, you played harder. As long as

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it didn't interfere with a mission.

Man, what was that scent she wore? It was driving him crazy.  He'd never smelled anything like it. It was a little musky, and sexy as hell.

They were silent on the way to the firing range, each lost in their own thoughts, and he lost in inhaling the fragrance she wore.

When he pulled up and parked, she turned to him.

"I have some allergy pills back at the building," she reluctantl y told him.

"And?"

Her forehead puckered. "And what?"

"And why would I need allergy pills?"

"Because you've been sniffing since we got inside the Jeep. I thought maybe you were having allergy problems."

He started to laugh. Her frown deepened.

"I don 't see a thing funny about me offering you some relief."

"Oh, baby, it's not allergy relief that I need."

She opened her door, slamming it closed after she got out, except it had almost looked as if her hand hadn't touched the door. It might pay to not make her angry when he gave her a gun with real bullets.

Sometimes the Nerakians discovered they could do more the longer they were training. They were pushed past the normal point of their endurance level and that had a way of bringing more of their abilities to the surface. It would be interesting to see just how much  Lyraka could do.

He caught up to her before she could open the door to the firing range. "Don't wear that perfume again. Too distracting."

"I'm not wearing perfume. It must be the soap."

He doubted it since he'd used the same soap. They went inside. Mike Avery sat behind the desk, but looked up when they walked in. Mike was older, an ex-cop adding a little to his retirement by manning the firing range.

"Hiya, Roan. Haven't seen you in a few days."

"Been busy."

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Mike let his gaze wander over Lyraka. "Yeah, don't blame you."

"Lyraka is an agent- in -training. Lyraka, this is Mike. I heard he's a ladies man so watch yourself around him."

Mike shook his head. "I never got so lucky as to have  a partner who looked quite as pretty as Lyraka. Nice meeting you ma'am."

Lyraka focused her smile on the older man. "Hello, Mike. It's nice to meet you."

Mike leaned his elbows on the counter and grinned like a fool.  "If you ever want someone with more experience, then I'm your man."  His face immediately turned a dark shade of red. "I mean to train you...uh...to be an agent."

Roan had never seen Mike this flustered. It was like he'd

thought. Lyraka was going to be more trouble than any of her abilities

were worth.

"Want me to get you both a gun?" Mike asked as he cleared his

throat.

"Sure, Mike. How about a three-fifty-seven mag and a nine mil."

"Coming up."

Roan walked to a door on the right. Lyraka followed. One side  was lined with stalls. He flipped on the lights and walked to the end  stall. In case someone else came in, it would give them a little privacy  from prying eyes, although, at some time or other, Lyraka was going  to need to be integrated with a team.

Mike brought the guns, laying them out on the waist-high shelf  of the stall. Roan watched as Lyraka warily eyed them. If she couldn't  fire a weapon, she'd never make it as an agent. She met his gaze  after Mike left, then took a deep breath, and picked up one of the

guns.

Good girl. He had expected her to do no less. Hell, maybe she would make an agent after all.

He pushed a button. A light came on at the end of the stall away from where they stood. He pushed another button and a paper target appeared.

Sweat beaded Lyraka's upper lip. "I'm ready. What do I do?"

"Point and shoot. Try to hit the target."

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She nodded, pointed, and pulled the trigger. Nothing happened.

She looked at the gun, then at him.

"It's broken."

"The safety is on."

"Oh, what's the safety?"

This was going to be a very long day. "The little switch on the  side. If it's on, the gun won't fire."

She slid the switch to the other side, then pointed. He stepped  behind her. She pulled the trigger. The gun fired, her arm jerked up,  and she slammed into him--just as he'd known she would.

"I didn't expect that," she said in a breathless whisper, then  looked up at him.

All he could think about was how much he wanted to kiss her,  but she moved away from him.

"What did I do wrong?"

He proceeded to show her. After an hour of practice, Roan had  to admit she impressed him. She hit her target more often than not,  and she even seemed more comfortable holding the gun.

She fired, hitting the heart on the paper target dead center, then  looked over her shoulder and grinned. "I bet you didn't think I'd be

this good."

"I thought you'd never fired a gun before."

She shrugged. "I haven't, but there was a woman who came to  the colony and sometimes she brought her daughter. The daughter  was more into video games than painting. One of the games  had a  gun. This is way more cool, though."

He started to say something, but stopped when the door  partially opened and he heard someone talking to Mike. Damn, Roan  had hoped they'd be out of there before anyone else arrived. Maybe  they could slip out in a few minutes when the agent was busy.

The door opened the rest of the way and Roan immediately  knew they wouldn't be sneaking out. Damn, of all the people to stop  by the firing range today, it had to be him.

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Chapter 11

L
yraka fired the gun, hitting the silhouette of a head that was on the paper target. Ha! She'd nailed it.

"Roan, I'd wondered where you were hiding."

Lyraka looked up. She'd been so absorbed in hitting the target that she hadn't even heard the door open.

Good Lord, where did they get these men? Hotties R Us? The man was delicious--thick, light brown hair, beautiful caramel -colored eyes, and shoulders almost as wide as the door. And he was looking at her as if she was the only woman in the room. Which technically, she was, but he was  giving her a slow, sexy appraisal that was a huge boost to her ego.