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He was also a teaching surgeon who took his training function earnestly, so he had no choice but to raise his chin to his protegee. ‘Talk to me.’

‘Later, Sable.’

The husky dulcet delivery sent an arc of craving through him as the woman responsible for his mounting frustration slipped through his fingers yet again.

His glare locked on her enticing retreating ass as she took the opportunity to vanish down the corridor.

Curls bouncing, easing past a medical bay door, hips swaying in those damnably form-fitting surgical pants.

He crossed his hands and clenched his fists.

Damn woman.

‘O’Hara, make this quick.’

The junior doctor gulped and rushed through his case concerns.

Parking Elaris aside for now, Ki’Remi aided with the curly scenario, then prowled to his quarters to pack for the flight to Alloria Prime.

By the time he reached the vast rear hold of the Perseus, his irritation devolved into a darker, roiling emotion.

The dreadnought’s expansive lower deck was a controlled frenzy of medical staff, tactical officers, and aircrew personnel prepping for the cruiser’s planetary descent.

The cavernous space housed an array of light flyers and emergency med-vac ships, all primed for rapid deployment.

Issa reigned over it all, at least it appeared that way, given how freakin’ regal she appeared.

Hell, the aura on this woman, Ki’Remi cursed.

She crouched, checking the seals on her supply case, and the Rider let his eyes rest on her for just a moment.

His gaze traveled down the elegant curve of her spine and ass, the way her form moved with effortless control as she lifted a metal valise into the cruiser.

The undertones of her honeyed skin contrasted with the stark white of her uniform, her coiled curls barely restrained in a bun.

Her mouth was full and expressive, often curved in a way that made his jaw clench. She spoke in husky tones as she instructed the med crew.

She had no right to look this good,fokkin’ sound this sensuous while simultaneously being an immense pain in his ass.

Ki’Remi exhaled, rolling his shoulders.

Focus, Sable.

This was not the time to think about how her citrus-infused lotion permeated the sterile air.

How the warmth of her skin radiated even in the frigid OR, how—

Fokk, this shit.

He stepped into her space, forcing her to turn and look at him.

‘When we return from this mission, I expect a full, in-depth report from you about what I caught in the surgery today.’

Her nebula-starred eyes flickered with an emotion he couldn’t quite name before she sighed.

‘Mr. Meticulous and Pedantic strikes again.’

His lips curled in a snarl.