Chapter 5
Tera had changed three times already, not knowing what she should wear for a lunch date: a dress, or pants and a t-shirt? Should she wear her hair up or down? She had no idea where they were going or what they would be doing. It had been so long since she’d been on a date. The last time had been on Katiera, almost two years ago.
A handsome Katieran warrior had kept taking meals at the same time as her and her friends. Katierans often took their meals in large groups at a cafeteria. She had noticed him, but hadn’t thought it was anything more than coincidence. Later, she found out that he’d purposely gone to the same cafeteria every day just to see her.
Eventually he built up the courage to come over to her table and ask her to join him for the next evening meal. Her few friends encouraged to go, so she did. She’d shared several meals with GaEB, but when he kissed her goodnight, she didn’t lose herself in him. Maybe all those romance novels had her wanting a hot and heavy love affair that just wasn’t reality.
All she knew was that she didn’t feel for GaEB what he was feeling for her, so she ended things with him. Over last two years she’d wondered if she’d made a mistake, if she should have given GaEB a second chance. Now, after meeting CristOF, she knew she’d made the right decision.
CristOF was different. He had a quiet confidence that appealed to her. His eyes were dark and intense. It felt like he could see her very soul. He didn’t miss anything. No wonder he was a tracker. Through the whole dinner, she’d felt like she was his main focus; as though he was stalking her like she was his prey. It was daunting to be the center of someone’s attention, but also...exciting.
His voice was deep and raspy, wrapping her in a warm velvet blanket. She could have listened to him talk all night. Never had any guy caught her attention like this, which was why she’d agreed to share the midday meal with him. This would be good. She would see him again in the light of day, and see that he wasn’t that special. Tera had been restless all night thinking about the man that had fascinated her. No one had ever caught her attention like this before, making her extremely aware of him being a sexy man and her being a lonely woman. She was not sure she liked it. The sound of the doorbell followed by the announcement of her visitor had her turning around in a flutter.
“Warrior CristOF requests entrance.”
Glancing once more at her appearance in the mirror, she shrugged. This was as good as it was going to get. Leaving the bedroom, she walked toward the door and pressed the button to open it. Her breath caught at seeing him. He wasn’t as good as she remembered—he was better.
“Good day, Tera.”
Oh…my...God. CristOF was the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen. He stood there in a blue shirt crisscrossed to snap on the left side, and a darker blue pair of pants. His dark blond hair had been smoothed back, and it showed off his chiseled square jawline. He was mouthwateringly gorgeous, and she realized she’d just been standing there staring at him like an idiot.
“Hi.” Why did she sound so breathy?
“Are you ready to go?” CristOF asked, without taking his eyes off of her. He looked her up and down…twice. She shivered
“Yes. Where are we going?” she asked as she closed the door behind her and followed him into the corridor.
“I thought we would have a picnic since it’s such a lovely day.” He lifted his hand, which held a medium-sized basket.
“A picnic? I thought that was a human custom. I didn’t know Kiljorns did the same.”
“I had heard of the human custom and asked Commander TylOR’s mate about it. She made a few recommendations. I hope this is okay with you. We can go to the meal room with the others, if you prefer…”
“I have to confess, I haven’t been on a picnic since I was eight. It’s a welcome surprise.”
He looked down at her and smiled. Good grief, he was good-looking to begin with, but when he smiled...he was devastating. Her heart beat faster. An overwhelming desire to lick him all over hit her and made her stumble. CristOF caught her arm, keeping her from falling. That simple touch brought back the electricity from the night before. She stumbled again.Damn! He must think I’m a clumsy loon.
“Are you feeling alright?” he asked with genuine concern, halting them in the corridor.
“I’m…fine.”
His touch on her arm was gentle but firm, and sent tingles throughout her whole body. She was extremely aware that he was all male, and warm. He had a great scent, the one she remembered from last night. Tera wanted to rub her body against his until she carried that scent with her.
Where the hell did that thought come from? She’d never felt such an immediate, intense attraction to a man, and she didn’t know how to handle it. Tera stared up at him, a little dazed. She noticed that he had moved closer to her and was leaning toward her, inhaling her scent. His eyes darkened, and...was that a growl?
“Perhaps we need to...get some fresh air,” he suggested gently, putting his arm behind her back and leading her the rest of the way out of the building.
Tera was grateful that she was on the first floor instead of on one of the higher levels, so that they were able to go directly outside from the main entrance instead of having to take the elevator. She agreed with him that fresh air would do her a world of good. Katierans and Kiljorns had incredible senses, and she worried that either she smelled bad to him, or... that he could scent her desire. When they got outside she breathed deeply, once then twice. Turning his way, she smiled to hide her nervousness.
“Where to?”
“I was told that there’s a new park not far from here that has tables set up for picnics.”
“Oh, I know where that is. I love that park. It’s within walking distance, and it has several gazebos.”
They strolled together down the paved walkway, one of CristOF’s hands at her back and the other holding the basket. He gently moved her out of the way when a hover cart drove by, almost clipping her. Hover carts looked a lot like golf carts, seating six people with a roof overhead but open on all sides. They didn’t have any wheels, just hovered off the ground. This one was actually quite fast, and she almost didn’t see it.
“Thanks,” she told him.
