Manu (Hell Squad #16) Read online

  She shot him a faint smile.

  Suddenly, a soft, skittering noise caught Manu’s ear. He moved, lifting his pistol. A small, sinew-like ball circled the rocks. The damn thing had legs. What the hell? As it got closer, he saw red lights blinking on it.

  “Bomb!” he yelled.

  Kate backed away quickly, but the bomb followed her.

  She dived and rolled to her feet. The device kept following. “Rahia!”

  This time, Manu yanked his shotgun off his back. He aimed at the bomb, but he needed a clear shot. The damn thing was practically between her legs.

  “Kate, move!”

  “Do it.” Her eyes met his, absolute trust in her gaze.

  Fuck. He fired and Kate jumped backward.

  Boom.

  The bomb splattered into goo-covered bits. Kate staggered and fell on her butt, but she bounded back up and ran toward him.

  “You okay?” He grabbed her arm.

  She nodded.

  They turned and scanned the battleground. Manu sucked in a sharp breath. The ruined bomb parts were heating up and turning red.

  Shit. Manu tightened his grip on her and dived, pulling her with him. They went down hard in the grass. He covered her body, pinning her to the ground.

  Boom.

  The blast shot debris, dirt, and grass all over them. He kept Kate pinned down, even though she was struggling to get free.

  “Get off me.” She shoved at him.

  They both sat up. A tiny crater was all that was left behind by the bomb. Kate cursed.

  “You’re welcome,” Manu said.

  She elbowed him. “I don’t appreciate you jumping on me like I’m some princess in need of a bodyguard.”

  “Well, it’s a nice body, and I have plans for it.”

  She stared at him for a beat, her gaze narrowing. “In your dreams.” She shot to her feet.

  He rose, as well. “I’ve had plenty of those about you, Kate.”

  Her lips parted, and something moved through her eyes.

  But then shouts echoed behind them. He turned his head and saw her security team rushing toward them.

  Chapter Seven

  Sweaty and covered in dirt, Kate directed her team to dispose of the raptor bodies.

  She was pissed. She circled the rocks where the raptors had been hiding. How the hell had they snuck up so close without detection?

  What she saw didn’t make her very happy.

  Manu stepped up beside her. “Dammit.”

  There was a large depression in the earth. “They came out of the ground.”

  “From some sort of tunnel.” Manu was scowling. “Looks like it’s collapsed, now.”

  “I need to update Niko and the general.”

  “I’m coming with you. My carbine failed right in the middle of the damn fight. The raptors have something that can disrupt our weapons.”

  Kate bit off a curse and nodded. “That’s what happened to Kendra and me. Let me warn my team, first.” She didn’t want them out here with the chance their carbines would die on them. “You think it’s the landmines?”

  “Probably. I need to investigate.” His face was grim. “Tell your team to grab some non-laser weapons from the armory. Shotguns, grenades, projectile weapons, crossbows.”

  Kate nodded. When she finally made it back into the Enclave and walked into the Command Center, she was desperate for a shower. She plucked a few blades of grass out of her hair. She knew if she shook her head, dirt would fall out.

  “Kate.” Holmes appeared. “Are you two okay?”

  She nodded and caught the general’s laser-blue gaze, then looked at Niko. “They came out of the ground.”

  “What?” Niko frowned.

  “Tunnels,” Manu said. “The one we saw was collapsed, so we can’t follow it, but it didn’t look big.”

  “There is no way to tell what kind of network they have down there, but I’m guessing that’s what they used to plant the landmines.” Kate set her hands on her hips. “Plus, these damn mines have legs.”

  “Legs?” The general’s frown deepened.

  Manu nodded. “Couldn’t tell from the remains of the first bomb. But they are clearly programmable and can move.”

  “Just great,” Niko muttered.

  “My team is currently out scanning for more mines with a squad for backup,” Kate said. “We’ve found several more.”

  “And we have another problem,” Manu added. “I think something in the landmines disrupts our laser weapons. Kate’s carbine failed on her earlier patrol, and mine did today.”

  Both men swore ripely.

  “This is bad news,” Holmes said.

  “I’ve ordered my team to carry some non-laser weapons,” Kate said. “You need to warn the squads as well.”

  “It’ll be done,” Holmes said, nodding at a hovering assistant.

  Kate moved over to the map on the wall, touching the screen to pull up the landmine locations. Feeling heat at her back, she sensed Manu. He reached past her, helping to mark out the rest of the locations surrounding the Enclave.

  Then he touched the back of her head.

  “Hey.” She knocked his hand away.

  “You’ve got a clump of leaves in your hair.” He held them up.

  She scowled. He was too close. She couldn’t keep her body under control when this man was next to her. His dark gaze was on her face.

  “This is all just a fucking distraction,” Niko barked out.

  Kate blinked and stepped back from Manu. “Sorry?”

  Niko waved a hand at the screen. “They’re trying to keep us busy, scared, and running in circles.”

  Manu nodded. “And away from finding the octagon.”

  Holmes set his hands on his hips, his face forbidding. “They want to keep us here in our home base, while they do whatever the hell they’re doing with that octagon device.”

  Kate looked at the map again, the glowing dots taunting her. “Don’t bring any of the squads in to deal with this. Keep them out there and focused on the octagon. My team can handle this.” She cleared her throat. “And if Manu continues to help, we can come up with a way to defuse these landmines.”

  Manu smiled. “It’ll be my pleasure.”

  “We also need a way to determine how many tunnels the Gizzida have around the Enclave,” Niko said. “I’ll talk to Noah. We need to get a mini-drone underground.”

  Frowning, Kate considered it. “The tunnel we saw was collapsed and small. Barely big enough for a raptor to crawl through. Not sure a mini-drone will have enough space to maneuver.”

  “Let’s see what Noah can do.”

  “Do it.” Holmes nodded. “Keep us updated.”

  The general and Niko left, but Manu stayed. And was standing way too close to her. Kate fought the urge to fidget. She was not a fidgeter.

  “I need to shower and change.” She turned her head and a fine rain of dirt fell to the carpet. Ugh. She swung her carbine up on her shoulder more securely.

  “Me too.”

  “I’ll catch you after and we can plan.” She quickly skirted around him and left the room.

  But she felt his gaze on her.

  Keeping her head down, Kate hurried down to the security locker room. This time of day, the locker rooms were empty, with all the squads out on duty looking for the octagon. She glanced at the door to the berserkers’ locker room. There was a hand-drawn picture of a muscle-bound, tattooed soldier stomping on a raptor taped to it.

  Shaking her head with a wry smile, she quickly entered her locker room and put her carbine away. She methodically stripped off her armor. Her dirty clothes followed, and after grabbing a towel, she headed for the locker room showers. She would have preferred the privacy of her room, but she wanted this dirt and sweat gone, and didn’t really want the grime in the bottom of her shower stall.

  Several showerheads protruded from the communal shower and she gratefully stepped under the hot water. She pressed a hand to the white tiles, letting the
water beat down over her. For a moment, the water at her feet turned brown, but finally ran clean.

  Her thoughts drifted, as the water ran over her sensitive skin. She thought of Manu’s big body pressing hers into the ground. Of course, he’d risked himself to protect her. She was pretty sure protecting others was stamped into his DNA.

  She couldn’t believe she’d told him all the gory details of her aborted engagement to Anthony. She tipped her face up to the water. Stop thinking about Manu. Quickly, she finished shampooing her hair. If she kept this up, she was going to need a cold shower.

  Shutting the water off, she dried herself and put on a fresh T-shirt and cargo pants. As she headed back out of the locker room, she noticed the door to the berserkers’ locker room was ajar, and she heard the shower running.

  She stilled. She knew the berserkers were out. Her body instantly went on alert. There was only one person who could be in there.

  Walk away, Kate.

  Instantly, images filled her head. Of Manu naked, water sluicing over his gorgeous, lickable brown skin. Of big hands stroking soap over hard abs.

  It’s a nice body and I have plans for it. The rumble of his voice echoed in her head. She stood there, hands curled into fists, every nerve in her body alive. Then, on autopilot, she pushed through the berserkers’ locker room door and closed it behind her.

  His discarded gear was resting on one of the benches, and the sound of the running shower was louder now. She couldn’t stop her feet as she walked closer.

  Steam wafted through the shower room, and she saw him in all his naked glory. His wide, muscular back was toward her, both his hands pressed against the tiles. Her gaze dropped to his tight ass. Sweet Jesus. She briefly took in the sleek, black prosthetic leg attached to his left thigh. He shifted a little, the muscles in his ass flexing. Her gaze hungrily moved back up his body, sliding over his big arms to the tattoo wrapped around his left bicep.

  Her mouth went dry. Walk away, Kate.

  She didn’t think she’d made a noise, but suddenly, he turned his head. He glanced over his shoulder, spearing her with a look.

  Manu stared at Kate. She stood there, so neat and tidy, with her wet hair brushed back from her face.

  She wasn’t beautiful, but she was certainly incredibly attractive, and had that lush mouth made for sin. She stared at him like she was frozen in place.

  He had a second to worry. He hadn’t been with a woman since he’d lost his leg. Apart from his squad mates, he hadn’t let anyone see him naked.

  But the heat flaming in Kate’s eyes put that worry to rest.

  “Come here,” he growled.

  She didn’t move.

  He forced himself to stay still under the water. She had to make the decision. He might want to grab her and drag her down onto the tiles, but it was her choice.

  That didn’t mean he wasn’t going to encourage her.

  “Kate, come here.”

  He half expected her to spin and walk out, but she took several jerky steps toward him. Desire was an explosion in his gut. Seconds later, she stood only a meter away, steam wafting around them.

  “This is crazy,” she whispered.

  “I don’t mind a little crazy.” He closed the distance between them and cupped her cheek. Her hands pressed against his bare chest, flexing against his muscles.

  “I’m not crazy,” she said. “I never have been. I’m sensible, practical—”

  He pulled her closer, his lips against hers. “Let’s be crazy together.”

  He kissed her, his back turned so he blocked most of the spray from hitting her. That delicious taste of Kate filled his mouth, and she kissed him back, wild and fierce. Her hands kneaded his chest and he groaned. He slid a hand into her wet hair, tugging her head back, and deepened the kiss.

  He needed more. Much more. Her hands roamed over his chest and then he felt her nails raking his nipple. He groaned again and reached up to cup her breasts through the white T-shirt that was now sticking to her skin. She shuddered.

  Manu quickly spun, pressing her up against the tiles.

  “So sexy.” He moved his mouth, nipping at her neck. She writhed against him, yanking his mouth back to hers. This kiss was hard and hot. She lit up for him like no woman ever had. So hot. So sinful.

  Some idiot had had the chance to claim this for his own, and he’d tossed her away. Manu wouldn’t make that mistake.

  He pushed her wet shirt up, staring at her full breasts cupped by her sensible sports bra. He yanked the bra down and watched the spill of plump flesh. Then he pulled one nipple into his mouth, sucking hard.

  “Manu.” She pressed against him, husky cries coming from her throat.

  “I want to hear you say my name just like that when I’m inside you.”

  His cock felt like it was made of rock. It pulsed against his stomach and wanted inside her. Inside Kate’s soft warmth.

  But he sure as hell wasn’t making their first time a fast, hard fuck in a locker room shower.

  Then her fingers drifted down, stroking over his abs. Her hand circled his cock.

  Fuck. He groaned. “Kate.”

  She stroked him, her gaze on him, her sexy lips parted.

  Running on instinct, Manu flicked open the buttons on her cargo pants. A second later, he jammed his hand into her panties.

  “Yes,” she hissed, arching into him.

  He had his fingers on her, and stroked slick, swollen flesh. “So damn wet.” He looked up and saw color on her cheeks. “Sexy as fuck, Kate, knowing you want me so much.”

  Stroking her skin, he found the nub of her clit and rubbed. Her body jerked desperately against his.

  “Manu.”

  “That’s it, babe. Get there.” He kept up his strokes. “Give it to me.”

  He felt her body tense and he kissed her, swallowing her cries as she came. Her head dropped against his shoulder, her breathing ragged.

  His own desire was a knot in his gut. Didn’t help that he was still touching her, and her fingers were still wrapped around his cock. He half expected her to run, but her fingers tightened around him and her strokes increased.

  His hips canted forward. Fuck.

  Manu slid his hand down, wrapping his fingers around hers. Together, they worked his cock, and her other hand moved up, stroking down his left thigh. When she touched where his prosthetic joined his skin, his chest hitched.

  She kept stroking his cock and his skin. Shit. He flexed into her hand, a guttural groan ripped from his throat.

  “Kate, I’m going to come.”

  In response, she stroked him faster. He felt everything in him tighten, and a second later, he came hard.

  His come gushed out of him, splattering his stomach and their joined hands. Damn, for a second, he was worried his legs would go out from underneath him. He turned, pressing Kate to the wall. He let the water wash over their joined hands.

  She was panting against him, and his own breathing was uneven.

  “So hot, Kate.” The shower was the only other sound over their breathing. “I…haven’t been with anyone for a long time.”

  Large blue eyes met his. “Since you lost your leg?”

  That was his Kate. Direct and straight to the point. “Yeah.”

  She licked her kiss-swollen lips, her voice low. “You’re sexy as hell, Manu.”

  Desire flared again. His woman was still hungry and so was he. He growled.

  He was just about to pull her closer, when he heard sounds coming from the locker room. Deep voices and laughter. The berserkers were back.

  Kate stiffened.

  Shit. The last thing Manu needed was for his squad mates to see Kate completely saturated, her cheeks flushed from her orgasm. He quickly buttoned her cargo pants and pulled her shirt down.

  They both straightened.

  “There’s a back door into a maintenance corridor over there.” He jerked his head. “Go.”

  She gave a brief nod, her gaze unreadable.

  She t
ook one step away from him, then spun, grabbing Manu close. He sank a hand into her hair and kept the kiss hard but brief.

  “Thank you,” she murmured.

  Then he let her go and she moved fast. A second later, she slipped through the maintenance door and was gone.

  Manu dragged in a deep breath and stepped back under the spray. Holy shit.

  He smiled. Yeah, he’d known Kate was hiding a whole lot of heat, and she’d left him singed. He couldn’t wait to get burned again.

  Chapter Eight

  Kate kicked the training dummy again, sending it rocking on its heavy base. She spun and kicked again, following that blow with several hard punches.

  She stepped back and looked at her team members watching her. The eyes of several were wide.

  “Okay, pair up and get to work,” she ordered.

  She heard a few groans, but her people moved across the mats and started following her training moves. She folded her arms over her chest and watched. They’d been at it in the gym for several hours, and damp hair was stuck to foreheads and sweaty shirts clung to skin.

  None of them had dared ask her for a break. Which was fine with Kate. She wanted to stay busy. And keep avoiding a certain former berserker.

  Oh, God, what they’d done…

  “Captain?”

  Brandon’s voice made her jolt. He was eyeing her strangely. She cleared her throat. “What?”

  “How’s this?” He kicked the dummy and followed with the punch combination.

  “You’re dropping your elbow.”

  The young man nodded, and tried it again, correcting the move.

  She nodded. “Better. But you need to twist a little more into the kick. Come over here.” She motioned him over.

  She moved in close, demonstrating the kick in slow motion. Her foot ended up at his neck. “Twist more here, and you’ll get more power. Then keep that elbow up as you come in for the cross.”

  His brow knitted as he concentrated. “Okay.”

  This time she moved quickly—kick, hit, hit. Her last punch slammed into his chest and he staggered back.

  “Sorry,” Kate said.

  “Probably time for us to move onto something else,” Miles called out. “You’ve worn these kids out.”