Damaged Control Read online

  He frowned. “Two days in a row.”

  She sighed. “Fine. Two days. Is it a deal?”

  He nodded. “Shall we seal it with a kiss?”

  She shrugged and got up and out of her chair, leaning forward so that he got a straight view down her shirt.

  He looked. Waited. And cleared his throat. “You are not wearing anything under that shirt?”

  “No. this shirt doesn’t really need it. It is nice and opaque but a little bit scratchy.” She looked down. “Yeah, it is definitely a headlight situation.”

  He groaned and kissed her quickly. “The deal is set.”

  He surged out of his seat and lifted her to the edge of the table. “I lose.”

  Her shirt was yanked off, and her skirt was flipped up as he knelt between her thighs while his hands stroked her. She had never felt more like the winner.

  She walked with her team and the two guards into the warehouse with their sample packs that had been checked over by the overseer.

  “My Lady Controller, we have new staff arriving in a few days, and the extruder hasn’t managed to complete the buildings for the habitats.” The administrator frowned as he walked up to her.

  Athena looked at the samples in the warehouse and beckoned to the administrator.

  “This tree is plentiful on the settlement grounds. Find the medium trees and saw them into planking. Build the homes out of that. There are plenty of books and designs in the database from Urth. You use a rotating blade that slices evenly, square the edges off, and you can butt them together. They won’t be pretty, but they are a non-toxic shelter that will be insect resistant.” She had already been watching log cabin and lumberjacking videos. The extruders were great, but they weren’t as fast as they needed to be. Wood had already done the work.

  She stood and explained what was needed while the administrator took notes. She felt her ride arrive at the warehouse entrance. He remained out there while she finished her conversation about fasteners.

  She looked to her team as they finished filling out the sample reports. “See you guys for dinner?”

  Hivr murmured, “Yes, but please, keep it off the table.”

  She nodded. “I will try, but today’s outing was all I negotiated for. I will try and get things taken care of before you guys get home.”

  She smiled and sprinted toward Etska, rocking to a halt on the balls of her feet. “Hiya!”

  He laughed. “Good day?”

  “A very good day. How about you?”

  He chuckled and took her hand, bowing over her fingers. “Desolate without you.”

  She stepped toward him. “Can we head home?”

  He blinked at her in surprise. “Why?”

  “Because it was a very long day without you. Even Tohba noticed, and his nostrils are burned out.”

  He leaned in, inhaled, grabbed her in a tight grip, and shot off toward home or possibly the nearest unoccupied roof. Tohba’s family was showing up at the end of the week, and there was a wad of humanity on its way for settlement on Hyrnan. She might not be able to guess her future, but her present was definitely under her control.

  Author’s Note

  This book started out as an image of a woman with a clawed face, in my head. I didn’t actually do that to anyone.

  In the next book in the Shattered Stars series, we meet one of the half-breeds born to a happily companioned Hmrain. It involves mech suits, superheroes, and a world where keeping the peace occasionally means taking people apart.

  Thanks for reading,

  Viola Grace

  About the Author

  Viola Grace (aka Zenina Masters) is a Canadian sci-fi/paranormal romance writer with ambitions to keep writing for the rest of her life. She specializes in short stories because the thrill of discovery, of all those firsts, is what keeps her writing.

  An artist who enjoys a story that catches you up, whirls you around, and sets you down with a smile on your face is all she endeavours to be. She prefers to leave the drama to those who are better suited to it, she always goes for the cheap laugh.

  In real life, she is now engaged in beekeeping, and her adventures can be found on the YouTube channel, Mystery Bees Apiary. Just look for the cartoon kittens.