For two years, Ares Gallo has been ransacking the galaxy for the woman who meant everything to him. They trained together, killed together, loved together, but now, Anicka Dekker doesn't even know who he is. All she knows every time she meets the enigmatic, scarred stranger is that a part of her trusts him. An even larger part desires him. In any and every way she can have him. Ares wants his wife back. Despite the scars that have changed his appearance and the chronic pain that destroyed his career, he follows Anicka from planet to planet, finding her in seedy bars, stately palaces, and everywhere in between. Every time they have a few moments of pure bliss, his hope blooms that this time…things will be different. Then, STRIKE, the organization that wanted them dead, tears them apart, erasing Anicka's memories, and Ares has to start all over again. But even if she can't remember him, he's certain she'll recognize their bond. Sooner or later.

Across the Universe

“I’ve been dreaming about you. Planning for today. Wondering how hard I’d have to work to seduce you.” She smiled, remembering how many worst-case scenarios she’d played through before finally deciding to hell with it and issuing the invitation. “You’ve made this assignment fun. I don’t get that very often anymore.”


“I’m always…I’m always surprised when you do try to seduce me. Surprised that you’d even want to.”


She had to see him after that kind of a statement, but when she attempted to twist around and sit up, he gently grasped her neck and forced it down again. She stiffened for only the moment it took him to resume the massage, and settled for resting her cheek on the mattress, her eyes open to catch whatever she could out of their corners.


“You shouldn’t be. Do I need to extol your virtues? Because I can. Or I could get a mirror. That would do the trick too.”


Chapter 30