Chapter 28

Chapter

Twenty-Eight

Ruune

I awoke to the soft morning light filtering through the curtains of the hotel suite. For a moment, I was disoriented, unused to my surroundings. Then the memories of the previous night came flooding back, and a smile spread across my face.

Stretching languidly, I reveled in the feel of the expensive sheets against my skin. How different this was from my usual morning-after experiences. No need to sneak out of windows or make hasty excuses. No guilt about seducing someone who hadn’t mentioned that their mate was a Berevian Hornbeast.

The sound of running water and singing drifted from the bathroom. I closed my eyes, listening to Olivia belt out some Earth song about pouring sugar. The words were strange—why would you pour some sugar in the name of love?—but I enjoyed hearing her sing.

As I lay there, my mind wandered to the future. For the first time in my life, I found myself considering the possibility of staying in one place. Of building something real and lasting. The thought should have terrified me, sent me running for the nearest spaceport. But instead, it filled me with unexpected warmth.

Maybe I could stay. Maybe Olivia and I could be more than just one night. Maybe we could be real.

The idea took root in my mind, growing stronger with each passing second. I'd spent so much of my life running—from responsibility, from commitment, from anything that threatened to tie me down. But now, the thought of running seemed hollow compared to the prospect of staying here, with Olivia.

It wasn’t like I was needed back on Valoria. Maybe I could talk Griff into making me our ambassador to Earth.

Excited about my idea and sharing it with Olivia, I swung my legs to the floor and padded naked toward the bathroom. Steam billowed from the shower, carrying with it the floral scent of the hotel’s luxurious soap and shampoo, and her silhouette was outlined through the frosted glass. Without hesitation, I opened the door and stepped in behind her.

Olivia yelped in surprise, turning with her eyes closed and her hair covered in lather. "Ruune! Is that you?”

“Who else would it be?” Even saying the words triggered a shocking burst of possessiveness in me.

She dipped her face under the water flow and swiped her hands across her eyes, blinking at me. “What are you doing?"

I grinned, pulling her close as the water sprayed across my back. "I missed you.”

She swatted at my chest playfully, sending droplets of water flying. "I've been gone for ten minutes, you big, blue goof."

"Ten minutes too long," I murmured, leaning in to kiss her.

She met me halfway, her lips soft and warm against mine. I lost myself in the kiss, in the feel of her wet skin pressed against me, in the steam swirling around us like a cocoon.

When we finally broke apart, both breathless, Olivia's eyes were shining with happiness. "Good morning to you, too," she said, a smile playing on her lips.

I ran my hands down her slick body, feeling myself harden. “Not as good as it’s going to be.”

She hummed her response and turned around, arching her ass into me. “Why don’t you show me?”

My plan to tell her about my revelation, about my desire to stay on Earth evaporated as my thoughts became muddled and all the blood in my body rushed south. I would tell her everything just as soon as I…

“Ruune!”

The gravelly voice did not belong to Olivia, but it was coming from right outside the bathroom.

We both stiffened and I hoped with every fiber of my being that it was not who I feared it was.