Page 40 of Salvation for the Alien Mercenary

"You're doing it again," Covak said.

Davis exhaled hard. "Doing what?"

“Growling,” Covak's voice dropped lower. “And your scent has changed. I’m gonna have to get a peg for my damn nose if you’re gonna keep stinking up the place with lust.”

“And we’re done.” Jesh ended the training session with a clap. Mira rolled her shoulders, satisfaction evident on her face despite the exhaustion in her movements.

“Great progress today.” The cyborg smiled. "You're picking up the movements much faster than expected."

Davis sat up, watching her towel off. His gaze tracked sweat droplets down her neck, disappearing into her workout top. He remembered the taste of her skin there, her pulse jumping beneath his lips.

"Jesh," he called out. "Got a minute? Need your input on something in engineering."

Jesh turned and focused on him with an assessing gaze. "Of course."

Covak frowned, his gaze flicking between Davis and Jesh.

"Mira," his deep voice cut through the gym. "You need food after that workout. Proper protein to rebuild those muscles you're developing."

Mira hesitated, glancing between Jesh and Davis. "I can grab something after I shower?—"

"Nope," the big Vorrtan cut her off. "Food first. Ship's nutritional protocols. Very important." His massive hand settled on her shoulder, steering her toward the exit. "Tell me, have you tried Latharian protein clusters yet? Much better than your human supplements."

At the door, Mira glanced back at him. Their eyes locked, and heat flashed through him. Then she was gone, Covak's culinary lecture fading down the corridor.

Jesh watched them leave before turning to him, her arms folded. "There is no engineering issue, is there?"

He shook his head. "No. But we need to talk about Rann."

* * *

"I'm listening."Jesh studied him quietly as the gym door closed behind Mira and Covak.

Davis glanced around the gym. It was too open. Too exposed.

"We should move somewhere?—"

"We already have privacy." Her expression didn't change, but her weight shifted. Combat-ready, even in conversation. "The monitoring systems in this section are temporarily experiencing a feedback loop. Standard training footage."

His eyebrow quirked up. "You can do that?"

A small smile curved her lips.

"Only a cancer-class battle computer could break my encryption now that I have all my abilities back." A hint of pride colored her voice. "Even Jex would struggle."

Well, shit. He hadn't realized the extent of her capabilities. He'd seen her in combat, even watched her interface with the Lady's Dream, but this level of security control was new.

"Useful trick."

"Not a trick. Standard battlefield countermeasure." She folded her arms. "Now. You wanted to discuss Rann."

He moved closer, lowering his voice despite her assurance. The equipment in the gym smelled of sweat and metal, with lingering traces of Mira's scent that he found himself unconsciously tracking.

"During the firefight at the trading post," he began, forcing his focus back to the matter at hand, "I noticed something about how Rann fought."

Jesh remained still, giving nothing away as she watched him.

"Carry on."