Read My Man Michael for Free Online

you while you’re in this odd confrontational mood. It would be best if we got back to business.”
    “First things first.” He didn’t feel a single ache in that moment. “Come here.”
    She breathed harder, and said in desperation, “I can not. What you do, whatever you plan, it is not proper, not for me.”
    “How so?”
    “I told you,” she said on a high, nearly hysterical note. “I am forbidden involvement with a male. I must focus on my duty alone. I am here to gain your agreement for assistance, nothing else. If I fail at that, I fail at everything that is important to me. I fail my colony. Please, can we not come to terms?”
    Mallet saw her urgency, her near-pleading, and changed his direction. “All right, just calm down.”
    “I can’t!”
    He did his best to look neutral. “Come sit by me and we’ll talk about everything.”
    Caution kept her entrancing hazel eyes glowing gold. “ Only talk?”
    He didn’t want to scare her. He knew she believed everything she said. Hell, a tiny part of his mind was beginning to believe, too. “I promise.”
    She inched closer, then drew a breath, summoned up her nerve, and walked bold and brave to sit beside him. “Thank you, sir.”
    “So what exactly would you need me to do if I accepted your proposition?”
    Before she could answer, the door started to open, and right before Mallet’s eyes, she disappeared.
    Again.
    Damn it.

CHAPTER 3

    “ T IME for your bath, Michael.”
    Damn, damn, damn. Alesia, a cute little nurse’s aide who took her time with a sponge, wheeled a cart into the room. Red lips curved in a smile and bright eyes shone with anticipation.
    It didn’t move Mallet at all. “I don’t want a bath.”
    “Now don’t be grumpy. You know it’ll make you feel better.” She glanced at him in sultry invitation. “I promise to be very gentle.”
    Frustration mounted until Mallet thought he might shout. “Leave that shit and get out.”
    She blanched. “But, Michael, I can . . .”
    “Look, Alesia, I haven’t fucking moved, right? I haven’t sweated or gotten dirty. You spent an hour washing me last night and I’m still clean, I swear. I know my leg is shot, but my arms are fine so I can damn well clean my own face and brush my own teeth, and I don’t need any fucking help to do it.”
    By the time he finished, frustration turned his face an angry red and sent his voice into a shout. With a sad, wounded nod, poor Alesia turned tail and ran out.
    The door hadn’t quite shut behind her before it was shoved open again.
    “You’re fucking kidding me, right?”
    Drew Black! Mallet hadn’t expected to see him.
    Everywhere the SBC president went, he brought loads of presence with him. Muscular and fit, he stood several inches shorter than Mallet, and still the room felt smaller with him in it.
    Brown eyes mocked Mallet, and that perpetual smile flickered over Drew’s face. “You turned down that chick for a fuckin’ sponge bath?”
    Flustered, Mallet said, “Yeah.”
    “What? You went blind in the accident?” He walked into the room. “Did you see the ass and legs on that girl?” Drew clutched his heart. “Are you out of your fuckin’ mind?”
    “No, it’s just—”
    “Did that truck smash your balls as well your leg? Hell man, she was steaming.” Drew laughed. “Call her back. I’ll let her wash my fuckin’ back.”
    Mallet couldn’t help it; he grinned. “I’m sure you could charm her into doing it, too.” Known as the guy with the foulest language in the biz, Drew used one adjective more than any other. Somehow “fuck” found its way into his every sentence.
    Holding out a hand to Mallet, Drew said, “You crazy motherfucker. How the hell are you?”
    “I’m okay.”
    “No fucking way. The Mallet I know would have had that chick in the bed naked already. You made her cry, you heartless bastard.” Being a little heartless himself, Drew grinned as he said it.
    “It’s not easy to get it going when my leg is