around.” Then, lifting a brow, he added, “Especially when you climbed out of bed naked.”
She gave a small laugh and looked back outside the tent. Tiny particles of dust danced in the sunlight. She watched them drift aimlessly. They reminded her of the old air vent she and Margot had turned into a fort. The cleaning droids couldn’t get into the space, and when the sisters had climbed in and stirred the dust, it had danced in the artificial light streaming through the old grate. For a moment, the sound of Margot’s giggle echoed inside her mind. A wave of pain and worry washed over her heart.
“I am going to need my shirt back before we finish the ceremony,” Alek said. She heard him move off the bed. When she drew her gaze from the dust-stirred memory, she found he was almost to the food table. He glanced over it, absently plucking one of the chocolates off the pile and tossing it into his mouth as if it were nothing special. She eyed the treat, wanting a piece but unwilling to take one of the expensive morsels. Kendall knew there was no way a man like Alek could afford it—especially if he couldn’t afford to lend her the passage fare home.
He was naked from the night before. In the soft daylight she could make out every detail of him perfectly. His dark hair was tousled. It added an intimate, sleepy beauty to the scene. His muscles flexed, drawing attention to his back. The shallow valley of his spine cut a path downward, encouraging her eyes to the very firm cheeks of his ass.
“Is the chocolate provided by the planet’s royalty?” Kendall’s throat was dry. She forced her gaze away from his ass to the tent wall. The harder she tried not to look, the more she found her eyes glancing in his direction.
His expression was quizzical when he looked back at her. “No. It’s part of our trade agreements. The monks use a lot of fuel ore to travel the universes on their missionary tours. I suppose one of my brother’s servants ordered it. I actually never thought to ask.”
“I see.” Kendall swallowed, a little unnerved as to where she was supposed to turn her gaze. It was one thing to be next to him in the haze of darkness and desire, quite another to watch him move about naked as if flesh was his every day attire. As his body angled to the side showing the proud glory of his manhood nestled between his thighs, she again turned her attention to the tent wall.
“What is it?” Alek crossed toward her but stopped when she pulled her arms closer to her sides. It was a little hard to concentrate when he looked the way he did. She wondered if he was even aware of it. Then, thinking of the fact they wore loincloths in hopes of having a marital ceremony, she doubted he cared.
“Kendall?”
“You don’t think I am good to my word. That is why you refused to lend me the passage fare to my home.” The idea made her sad, though she could understand it. Despite the fun they’d had, they were essentially strangers.
“I have no reason to doubt your word.”
Kendall let her lids shade her eyes as she glanced to the side. His cock had lifted some. She tugged at the hem of her borrowed shirt. “Ah, forgive me. I assumed you had access to family money to afford chocolate and servants. I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions. It was very rude of me.” She absently touched her hand, rubbing at it to find the tracker. Her skin itched the more she thought about the device in there. “I’m just desperate to find my way home.”
“The gods would not send me someone who was not worthy,” he said. “Your home is with me now.”
“That is a nice offer, Alek, but I can’t stay here. I’m sorry.” She gave him a weak smile. Last night had been enjoyable, but she had to get home to her sister.
“It wasn’t an offer so much as a fact. After last night, honor demands that you stay with me.” He glanced at the bed. “What we did—”
“You want to have a long-term relationship after one night of a
She gave a small laugh and looked back outside the tent. Tiny particles of dust danced in the sunlight. She watched them drift aimlessly. They reminded her of the old air vent she and Margot had turned into a fort. The cleaning droids couldn’t get into the space, and when the sisters had climbed in and stirred the dust, it had danced in the artificial light streaming through the old grate. For a moment, the sound of Margot’s giggle echoed inside her mind. A wave of pain and worry washed over her heart.
“I am going to need my shirt back before we finish the ceremony,” Alek said. She heard him move off the bed. When she drew her gaze from the dust-stirred memory, she found he was almost to the food table. He glanced over it, absently plucking one of the chocolates off the pile and tossing it into his mouth as if it were nothing special. She eyed the treat, wanting a piece but unwilling to take one of the expensive morsels. Kendall knew there was no way a man like Alek could afford it—especially if he couldn’t afford to lend her the passage fare home.
He was naked from the night before. In the soft daylight she could make out every detail of him perfectly. His dark hair was tousled. It added an intimate, sleepy beauty to the scene. His muscles flexed, drawing attention to his back. The shallow valley of his spine cut a path downward, encouraging her eyes to the very firm cheeks of his ass.
“Is the chocolate provided by the planet’s royalty?” Kendall’s throat was dry. She forced her gaze away from his ass to the tent wall. The harder she tried not to look, the more she found her eyes glancing in his direction.
His expression was quizzical when he looked back at her. “No. It’s part of our trade agreements. The monks use a lot of fuel ore to travel the universes on their missionary tours. I suppose one of my brother’s servants ordered it. I actually never thought to ask.”
“I see.” Kendall swallowed, a little unnerved as to where she was supposed to turn her gaze. It was one thing to be next to him in the haze of darkness and desire, quite another to watch him move about naked as if flesh was his every day attire. As his body angled to the side showing the proud glory of his manhood nestled between his thighs, she again turned her attention to the tent wall.
“What is it?” Alek crossed toward her but stopped when she pulled her arms closer to her sides. It was a little hard to concentrate when he looked the way he did. She wondered if he was even aware of it. Then, thinking of the fact they wore loincloths in hopes of having a marital ceremony, she doubted he cared.
“Kendall?”
“You don’t think I am good to my word. That is why you refused to lend me the passage fare to my home.” The idea made her sad, though she could understand it. Despite the fun they’d had, they were essentially strangers.
“I have no reason to doubt your word.”
Kendall let her lids shade her eyes as she glanced to the side. His cock had lifted some. She tugged at the hem of her borrowed shirt. “Ah, forgive me. I assumed you had access to family money to afford chocolate and servants. I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions. It was very rude of me.” She absently touched her hand, rubbing at it to find the tracker. Her skin itched the more she thought about the device in there. “I’m just desperate to find my way home.”
“The gods would not send me someone who was not worthy,” he said. “Your home is with me now.”
“That is a nice offer, Alek, but I can’t stay here. I’m sorry.” She gave him a weak smile. Last night had been enjoyable, but she had to get home to her sister.
“It wasn’t an offer so much as a fact. After last night, honor demands that you stay with me.” He glanced at the bed. “What we did—”
“You want to have a long-term relationship after one night of a
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