Read My Man Michael for Free Online Page B

instincts had saved her many times in the past. With Michael, she felt she lost some of her advantage, but not so much that she’d fail her colony.
    She couldn’t.
    Too many people, men and women alike, depended on her.
    Finally, after she’d waited in silence for an extended period, Drew Black decided to take his leave. He stood, clasped Mallet’s hand. “She’s a strange broad, isn’t she?”
    Mallet flicked a glance her way. “That’s putting it mildly.”
    Withholding her acrimony wasn’t an easy task, especially when Drew continued with a grin, “Never knew one to be so quiet so long, especially when she’s already made it clear she disagrees with my motives for dropping in.”
    “Don’t worry about it.” Mallet’s expression sent a clear warning. “She’s not going to cause any problems.”
    Kayli kept silent, but she knew that she would cause a problem—several problems—if Drew Black got in the way of her mission.
    “She’s a looker,” Drew said. “Go easy on her.” And with that, he took his leave.
    Standing several feet from the bed, her gaze locked with Michael’s, Kayli waited.
    As they stared at each other, a strange tension pulsed in the air, leaving her chest tight, her limbs quivering in a most unfamiliar way. Only during battle did she ever feel so alive.
    “Shall we talk now?”
    “I wish the damn door would lock.”
    “There have been numerous interruptions.”
    He held out a hand. “Come here.”
    Why did such a simple gesture send heat spiraling through her? “Can we not talk as we are?”
    “No, we can’t. I want to hold on to you and I want you to stay put, no matter what.”
    “The more who see me, the more I risk.”
    “Then come here and let’s get things settled.”
    That was as close to an agreement as she’d gotten, so Kayli moved forward, sat beside him, and accepted his hand.
    Again, the dissimilarities astounded her. His hand was easily twice the size of hers. Even in a sickbed, partially drugged, and in pain, she felt the strength in his gentle hold.
    Jerking herself back to her purpose, Kayli brought her gaze to the burning blue of his eyes.
    Looking at him made it more difficult to explain, but she needed every connection to him in order to convince him.
    “I need you to return with me, the sooner the better.”
    His thumb rubbed a slow circle on her palm. “As in—now?”
    She shook her head. “It would be best if you depart with a believable tale. I can assist you with that. It’s possible to make arrangements that will satisfy your people in the next twenty-four hours.”
    “Then we both . . . poof?” His thumb moved to her wrist and stole a measure of her breath.
    Warmth filled her face, her whole body. It was the oddest sensation, one she’d never quite experienced before.
    She cleared her throat. “I will transport you to my vessel, and from there we will travel forward to my time. This will be done seamlessly. That is, once we leave here, you will next find yourself in my time.”
    He skipped much of what she said to ask, “Your vessel?”
    “It hovers above, unseen and yet there.”
    “Huh.”
    “Transporting has become a much simpler means of travel.”
    “You don’t say.”
    Was he humoring her? “At first there were some mishaps, of course. But over time it has been perfected. You mustn’t worry about lost body parts or rearranged molecules—”
    “Yeah, like in The Fly . That dude’s whole body got tangled with an insect.”
    “Such doesn’t happen, I promise you.” Not anymore.
    “Good to know.” The corners of his mouth tilted up the smallest bit.
    He didn’t believe her, Kayli could tell, but she wouldn’t give up. “You will be apprised of the situation as soon as we’re home, and in very short order you will undergo a ceremony to take your place in the hierarchy.”
    “I hate ceremonies.”
    “Yet it is necessary.” She didn’t want to go into that aspect of the deal with him just yet. She had a feeling