“Tev, Ambassador,” Vixy replied, inclining his head. “I will return when the suns lower to continue my duty.”
The Ambassador didn’t reply and Lainey watched with mild panic as Vixy swept out of the room, out of their house. His footsteps echoed on the terrace and a moment later, as the Ambassador found her gaze again and held it, she listened helplessly as a hovercraft revved up and then…left.
Well, shit.
Lainey forced herself to stop picking at her cuticles and pressed the palms of her hands to her thighs. She took in a deep breath, still standing in the same place.
His voice was like molasses, rich and slow and absolutely sinful, as he said, “Tell me what you are called, female.”
“My name?” Her eyes narrowed on him. “You first.”
He didn’t hesitate. “I am called Kirov. I am the technology advisor to the Prime Leader and Ambassador to Troxva, in the eastern lands.”
Kirov. LikeKey-rah-v.
Again, the sound of her swallow filled the room as she wondered about the alien standing in front of her. Lainey wondered things like what a technology advisor did and what Troxva was and what he did there. Mostly, she wondered why she felt the way she did about him, why she didn’t feel in control of her own body and mind. Was it something in the atmosphere? Something in the goddamnwater?
One corner of his lip ticked up again, as if he could read her mind, and she found that sexy, though she didn’t want to. She realized she’d been standing there in silence like a loon as she wondered those things.
Kirov took another step towards her and she shuffled to the side immediately, like a skittish feral cat, passing him to stand at the window, the one with the 76-key ledge. Her fingers tapped on the stone, though she didn’t know what she played.
Lainey’s heart throbbed in her chest as she perceived him moving. He came to stand next to her, to look out over the same view of Luxiria. Out of the corner of her eye, after several moments in silence, she saw him look at her.
A deal was a deal, she supposed. Without returning his gaze, still gazing out the window, she said softly, “My name is Lainey.”
She heard him exhale a sharp breath through his nose.
“Lani,” he repeated, his thick accent morphing her name, softening it. LikeLah-nee, instead ofLay-nee.
Her fingers continued to shift over the ledge. She realized she was playing a song she’d composed herself and for a brief moment, his gaze was drawn down to her fingers. But not for long. Soon, it returned to regard her profile.
“Close enough,” she whispered.
His arm brushed against hers when he turned to face her and her breath hitched at the contact. Her skin tingled and warmth pooled in her belly. She couldn’t believe she was getting turned on from a single touch. Sheseriouslyneeded to get laid.
“Lani,” he said again softly. His tone made her fingers still and she looked over at him, feeling the pull of his eyes.
Those eyes were dangerous, she realized. Suddenly, she couldn’t look away.
Kirov reached out a hand, slowly as if the movement might scare her away, like she was animal that needed taming. And in a way, perhaps that was true.
Lainey didn’t know why, but her eyes fluttered shut when his thumb touched her cheek. His touch was gentle, soft, and his fingers were surprisingly warm.
“You are…” she heard him say, his voice deepening, going a little rough. It made her nipples pebble tightly under her tunic, so hard that it hurt. Her eyes opened and she saw his pupils dilate. “Vellixa. Beautiful.”
That word hit her hard. Struck something inside her that made her want to cry, that made her want to immediately protest and retreat.
Instinct demanded that she push him away, that she get away from his soft touch and his beautiful eyes. So why wasn’t she doing it?
Push him away, push him away, her mind screamed. But her body was frozen, locked tight, confused by his touch and his pretty, pretty words that she desperately wanted to be true.
“Stop,” she whispered and she heard the fear in her voice. It turned her tone ragged. “Stop,please.”
His brow bones lowered, confused, his lips pulling downward.
“Good morning,” came a soft, hesitant voice from the hallway.
Crystal.
