TWENTY-ONE
SUNLIGHT STREAMED INTOthe bedchamber, summoning Kira from sleep.
Her eyes still closed, she stretched, enjoying the feel of the sheets against her skin. Her bare skin.
Her eyes popped open as the memory of last night came to her.
Kira tensed then relaxed when she found herself alone in the bed, Graydon’s side long cold.
It would be easy to have regrets about last night. Letting Graydon breach the diamond-hard walls she’d kept around her innermost self made her vulnerable in a way that she hadn’t ever been before.
Still, Kira couldn’t quite bring herself to feel that way. What they’d done felt as necessary as breathing
He’d lit a soft flame inside that no amount of pragmatism could extinguish.
Come what may, she was glad they’d had that moment.
She was even open to experiencing it again.
He made her feel safe and filled with possibility. Both things she’d thought she’d lost long ago—if she ever had them at all.
However, as nice as their interlude had been, she needed time to process those feelings.
She’d been solo for so long. She didn’t know if she knew how to take someone else into account—or if it was even possible.
A flashing beacon on the nightstand caught her attention. She reached over, the system responding to her movement.
Graydon’s disembodied voice came over the line, bringing a smile to her face. “Kira, I had to attend to some matters. Breakfast is on the table.”
Kira climbed out of bed, snagging the robe from where she’d tossed it last night. She drew it around her body, securing it at the waist before making her way to the table.
An energy field covered the plates of food, keeping it at the perfect temperature. It powered down at her approach, the tantalizing smells that escaped making her stomach rumble.
The cup of chai caught her eye first, steam still rising from the frothy goodness.
“How in the world did he know?” she murmured, touching the mug gently.
The breakfast was a thoughtful action. Even more so with the addition of the chai.
She could tell by looking he’d chosen food consisting only of items she’d enjoyed while on Ta Da’an and Ta Sa’Riel.
Graydon had paid much closer attention to her than she previously realized.
Kira picked a cube of blue fruit up and popped it in her mouth. It was tart and sweet, a perfect balance of flavor.
She’d never realized how amazing food was until she’d lived with the Tuann. Before them, food was a necessity. Something she had to eat to survive.
Simply put, only a small microcosm of human food suited her palate. The rest either made her sick or tasted awful.
Kira had found enough options never to go hungry, but she also didn’t go out of her way to eat.
Furtive sounds from the window drew her attention.
Jin rose into view as he used a plant to shield him from the sight of those below. His “eye” was focused on the garden.
