He looked down at her, assessing her expression, before his eyes returned to the horizon. The hovercraft veered right, taking them closer to the mountain, and they began a slow, descent.
Lainey had always thought men driving cars with confidence were sexy. But Kirov expertly controlling a goddamnhovercraft?
Mindblowingly erotic.
Lainey swallowed and tried to focus on the conversation, but it was hard watching his large, masculine hands move in front of her on the control panel.
“Ididcreate it last night,” he said. “I used a similar material from armor technology I am developing for our warriors. Then I programmed it accordingly.”
Lainey’s brows rose.
Forget flying a hovercraft. Knowing he was apparently crazy intelligent was…damn, Lainey had a feeling she wasalreadya goner.
He’s definitely getting a handjob in this hovercraftlater.
“That’s…that’s…” she swallowed.
Use your words, girl, she thought.
Kirov’s gaze returned to her and that crooked smile returned, though there was a confidence behind it thatalmostbordered on arrogance.
Her knees trembled.
“Does that impress you,luxiva? Does it make you soften towards your male?”
Your male.
Jesus H. Christ.
She reached up and shoved his shoulder a little, though when she turned around, she couldn’t help but grin. God help her, but shelikedwhen he flirted with her.
“Is that what a technology advisor does then?” she asked.
“Tev. And I oversee the technology branch of our labs, the majority of which is based in Troxva.”
“Troxva,” she repeated, remembering last night, when he’d informed her that he had to return there in three days and that she would be going with him. “What is that?”
“My outpost,” he said, lowering them further as the mountain drew nearer and nearer. “I am one of the Prime Leader’s Ambassadors.”
“And what does that mean?” she asked, her voice quiet, though her mind was soaking in everything he said. She wanted to learn about him, though in the back of her mind, she told herself it might not matter, that she’d been leaving him soon anyways.
She frowned at the thought, her chest tightening unexpectedly.
“There are six outposts spread across Luxiria.”
“Like other Golden Cities?”
“Tev, but slightly smaller. The Golden City is the hub of our planet, the capital. Outposts have significant populations but each has a specific purpose.”
“What’s the purpose of Troxva?”
“Technology. It is the furthest outpost to the east, nearest to theJaxvara. It is…” he seemed to search for a word in English. “It is a sacred place of the Fates, but specifically a sacred place of Jaxveer, the Fate of Knowledge. A long time ago, males and females that dedicated their lives to the pursuit of knowledge congregated there, where they could feel the pull and influence of Jaxveer most. It was there that our first vessel, that could breach our atmosphere and travel in space, was created.”
Lainey liked hearing him talk about these things. It fascinated her, but also overwhelmed her, knowing that there was so much still to learn about Luxiria and its people.
“And you said it’syouroutpost?” she asked, blinking.
“Tev,” he said, jerking his head in a nod. “I was born there, raised there, until I left for warrior training. Once Vaxa’an appointed me Ambassador, he gave me control of the outpost. Troxva is my home and my responsibility. It is why I must return soon. I have been away far too long already.”
