3. Annie

three

The transport breaks through Avenia's atmosphere, and I'm greeted by a breathtaking view of rolling golden plains extending into the emerald horizon. Scattered across the vast landscape are towering spires of pale crystalline marble, their faceted surfaces refracting the jade sunlight into a kaleidoscope of colors.

"It's beautiful," I murmur, pressing my face against the window to take in every detail of Crux's homeworld.

"One of the perks of being an Avenian Knight is getting to call this place home," Crux replies, a rare hint of warmth in his tone.

I tear my eyes from the stunning vista to study him. Even seated, he seems to take up the entire space with his powerful presence. His muscular frame is tense, but his striking features are softer, more relaxed than I've seen during our time on the station. Perhaps returning to Avenia will allow Crux to relax just a little...

As if sensing my gaze, Crux's eyes meet mine. For a moment I feel a jolt of connection, of possibility. But it's fleeting as he clears his throat and looks away, his shuttered expression returning. I sigh and look back through the viewport.

The transport continues its descent, the engine noise rising to a roar as we break through the clouds. The vessel levels out, and the crystal city looms large before us, a glittering wonder. My breath catches as we pass over the area, the buildings stretching high into the sky. The imposing citadel is surrounded by lush forests. The entire structure seems to be formed of the same pale crystal as the towering spires, its smooth surfaces glistening like carved diamond. Vast arches and spires twist together in a striking fusion of natural and engineered shapes.

"The fortress monastery of the Avenian Order," Crux states with pride, noting my rapt attention. "We'll be staying in the residential quarter, not the main citadel."

I nod, trying not to let my disappointment show. Of course he would want to keep me sequestered. I'm his charge to protect, not an honored guest.

As the transport lands on a crystal-paved platform, I follow Crux out onto the pristine surface, the fragrant foreign air filling my lungs. A small group of hooded Avenian Knights awaits us, presided over by a hulking reptilian figure whom I assume is another high-ranking member like Commander Ru'yn.

"Welcome back, Sir Cruxian," the largest one says, their gravelly voice surprisingly respectful. "We have prepared suitable quarters per your orders."

Crux inclines his head. "My thanks, Commander Ven'ari."

A pointed look from Commander Ven'ari prompts Crux to quickly make introductions. "Ambassador Agnew, this is Commander Ven'ari, Security Chaplain for the Order."

"An honor," I reply with a slight nod, recalling the briefings on proper Avenian etiquette. I get the sense Ven'ari is evaluating me, deciding whether I'm worth the risk of protecting.

"This way," Crux states brusquely, clearly reading my discomfort. He places his hand on the small of my back to guide me. The simple contact has a shiver racing through me.

Commander Ven'ari steps forward. "Sir Cruxian, before you leave, a word."

"Of course," he replies, his hand slipping from my back as he moves to join his superior.

Their hushed conversation is unintelligible, but their body language speaks volumes. The two males are clearly comfortable with each other, their years of working together evident.

My stomach growls loudly, and I blush, embarrassed. The sound seems to echo off the crystalline structures, and I'm grateful that the other knights remain stoic.

"We'll show you to your quarters, Ambassador Agnew," one of them states.

"Please, call me Annie." I reply, smiling.

"If you'll follow us, please," the same knight states, his voice firm but respectful.

I hesitate, torn between wanting to explore the magnificent fortress and waiting for Crux. As if sensing my dilemma, the knight repeats, "Your knight will be along shortly. He must report to the Grandmaster now he has returned."

I follow them through the gleaming halls, awestruck by the beauty of the architecture. The crystalline walls are covered in intricate carvings and inscriptions, and the ceiling soars high overhead. The air is filled with a faint hum, like a choir of voices singing a song too quiet to hear.

We arrive at a set of imposing doors, and the knight stops, gesturing for me to enter. I step through, and my breath catches as the stunning chamber comes into view. The room is enormous, with a vaulted ceiling and a floor made of polished crystal. Sunlight streams through a series of skylights, bathing the space in warm light. There's a large bed, a desk, and a sitting area. But the most striking feature is the wall of windows overlooking the breathtaking landscape beyond the crystal city.

"This is amazing," I murmur, stepping closer to the windows. The view is truly stunning, with the forest stretching into the distance and the mountains rising in the background. A welcome reprieve from the stuffy recycled air and endless sterile meeting rooms of Orion Station.

"A meal will be sent up shortly. Courtesy of the Grandmaster. I'll just leave your belongings here," the knight says, setting my stuffed leather bag on a dresser beside the door.

"Thank you," I reply, my mind already racing with everything that is going on.

Alone for the first time in ages, I take a deep breath, settle onto the bed, and spread my belongings out absently, rubbing the material of my favorite silver dress between my fingers for comfort. A touch of home. Despite the luxurious surroundings, the reality of my situation hits me hard. I'm alone on Avenia, a foreign world. The Folmodian negotiation is on hold, and the safety of my children is uncertain. I take a shaky breath, willing myself not to panic. I can't lose control, not now. I have to stay strong, for all their sake.

There's a knock on the door, and I startle, jumping to my feet.

"Ambassador? It's Crux. May I come in?"

My heart skips a beat at the sound of his voice. "Yes, please."

He strides into the room, his presence filling the space and his expression unreadable. "Ambassador, we need to talk."

I brace myself, unsure of what to expect. "What is it, Crux?"

He hesitates for a moment, almost seeming uncertain, before speaking again. "I've been thinking over your situation, and I don't believe it's wise for you to remain here in the citadel."

My brow furrows in confusion. "But I thought this was one of the most secure locations on Avenia?"

Crux shakes his head. "Too many know you've been brought here. If word gets out about your location, it increases the risk."

He pauses, studying me intently. "I have an alternative plan, but it will require you to trust me. Can you do that?"

I meet his piercing gaze, feeling something shift between us. Up until now, he's been the consummate professional, focused solely on his bodyguard duties. But there's a new intensity in his eyes that takes my breath away.

"Yes," I hear myself answering without a second thought. "Of course I trust you, Crux."

A muscle ticks in his jaw, and he gives a curt nod of acknowledgment. "We're leaving immediately."

My stomach drops, but I don't question him, simply nodding in return. As I move around the lavish bed to repack my travel bag, Crux remains near the door, watchful and alert.

When I'm ready, he gestures for me to follow. We slip out into the lit hallway, our footsteps eerily silent on the crystal floor. Crux leads us through a dizzying series of passages and chambers that all look identical to my unfamiliar eyes.

Finally, we emerge outside into the jade twilight. The golden moons are already visible in the dusky sky, hanging like twin orbs above the glittering spires of the city.

"Where are we going?" I whisper, unable to shake the feeling that we're doing something forbidden.

Crux doesn't reply at first, his eyes scanning our surroundings with intense focus. At last, he turns to me. "Somewhere safe. But we must move swiftly and avoid being seen."

I nod, a thrill of nervous excitement coursing through me. We set off at a brisk pace, sticking to the shadows as much as possible. I have to concentrate to keep up with Crux's long strides, my heart pounding with the exertion and adrenaline.

After what feels like an eternity of sneaking and dodging through back alleys, we finally arrive at our mysterious destination—a humble dwelling nestled against the rocky cliffs on the outskirts of the city.

Crux ushers me inside quickly, pausing to activate some kind of security system before joining me. I look around in surprise, taking in the sparse but cozy interior. It's a far cry from the opulent quarters I'd been given back at the citadel.

"What is this place?" I ask, genuinely confused.

Crux removes his outer robe, finally allowing himself to relax slightly. "My home, from before I joined the Order."

I gape at him, stunned by this new glimpse into his mysterious past. "You... you brought me to your home?"

He nods solemnly. "The fewer who know of your location, the safer you'll be. We'll remain on Avenia until I'm certain the threat has been neutralized."

"But won't you get in trouble for going against orders?" I can't help but ask, worried for the potential consequences he could face.

Crux's expression is grim but resolute. "Probably. But I trust my gut now, not my orders."

A profound silence stretches between us as the weight of his words sinks in. This is the most I've heard Crux open up, and I find myself aching to know more about what drove him to this point.

Before I can find the right question, he brusquely changes the subject. "You should get some rest. My bedroom is next door, the door stays open… in case you need me."

I open my mouth to protest, then think better of it. Crux is in protector mode and clearly won't be dissuaded. With a weary nod, I locate my bedroom and prepare for bed, hyperaware of Crux's presence just outside.

As I brush out my hair and change into a lightweight sleep shirt, I can't help stealing glances toward the other room where Crux is. Even just doing mundane tasks, there's a fluidity and quiet power to his movements that is utterly captivating.

When I finally crawl into the simple but comfortable cot, my mind is buzzing with questions and possibilities. But for now I know I could be nowhere safer than Crux's own childhood home on his heavily fortified home planet. Why have I put so much faith in this brash, intense male whom I barely know?

Sleep eludes me for a long time as I mentally replay the events of the day, from the attack on Orion to being smuggled right out of an elite Avenian citadel. Mundane meetings swapped for racing through backstreets and shadowed alleys until we arrived at this unassuming little dwelling. Crux's softened expression and rare openness as he revealed his private place to me.

In the stillness of the night, I can finally admit to myself what I've been pushing down—the undeniable spark that crackles between us. Here, away from the pressures of the embassy and Crux's official duties, even in such a short amount of time, I'm getting glimpses of the man behind the stoic knight persona. The way the tension eases from his shoulders, the look in his eyes when our gazes meet...

It's crazy, reckless even, to be nurturing an attraction to my bodyguard. Crux has made it abundantly clear his sole priority is protecting me. A wry smile tugs at my lips. For the first time in a long time, I'm not thinking about negotiation tactics or my kids' latest avoidable crises. I'm allowing myself to imagine a future with a different kind of partnership with the Avenian Knight. A woman can dream, right? I can't shut off the part of me that longs for real connection, for the tenderness I haven't allowed myself in years. Not since...

I push the thought of my ex away firmly, unwilling to follow down that path again. Unbidden, my mind drifts to thoughts of Crux instead. Of the chiseled lines of his face and body, the striking colors of his exotic lilac skin and glowing tattoo markings. The surprising gentleness in his calloused hands.

My cheeks flush warm as images of us tangling together on this very cot flood my mind's eye. I imagine the weight of his hardened body covering mine, the scorching heat of his intimate caresses. How would those full lips taste if I dared to capture them with my own?

The thought is so dizzying it awakens a deep hunger inside me. One I've neglected for far too long. Almost of its own volition, my hand drifts down to the hem of my thin shirt, fingertips lightly brushing the bare skin of my thigh. I shiver at the tingling trail of sensation, then freeze as a muffled sound comes from the next room.

My heart pounds wildly as I strain to listen. Is that...Crux? The unmistakable rhythmic squeaking of bedsprings reaches my ears and I feel myself flush hot with arousal and embarrassment. He must be able to hear every creak, every intake of breath from my side of the thin wall.

The thought of him so close, potentially participating in intimate activities of his own, is utterly thrilling in a forbidden way. I press my thighs together tightly, trying to ease the insistent ache building there. But I know the only relief will come from giving in to the delicious temptation.

With a shuddering breath, I allow my hand to slip beneath the fabric, fingers trailing lightly through my folds. I'm already slick with want, practically pulsing with need. As I begin to stroke myself in slow, deliberate circles, vivid images of Crux fill my mind, only heightening the fiery tension coiling low in my belly.

I have to bite my lip to stifle my cries of pleasure as my movements become more frantic, driven by an urgent hunger to reach that blazing peak. Every muscle in my body is exquisitely tense, suspended in delirious anticipation right on the knife's edge of ecstasy.

With a startled gasp, I come undone utterly, waves of searing release crashing over me again and again. I ride out the storm of sensation until I'm finally spent, limp and sated against the rumpled sheets.

As the hazy bliss gradually clears, I realize the noises from Crux's room have also ceased. My face flames hot with uncertainty and the first wave of regret. I'm too old for this to carry on. I have twin adult children for goodness' sake! But a traitorous part of me wonders. What if he heard me and knew exactly what I was doing, imagining his hands on me while I touched myself? The thought is both mortifying and incredibly arousing.

Before I can dwell on it further, I force myself up and out of bed on shaky legs. I have to see him, have to know if things have now irrevocably shifted between us. I pause in the doorway, steadying my nerves with a deep breath before stepping into his shadowed bedroom.

Crux is seated by the circular window, his muscular back to me as he stares out at the moonlit alien landscape. Even in the dim lighting, I can see the taut lines of his powerful body, the defined musculature of his arms and shoulders tantalizingly bared.

I clear my throat softly to announce my presence. "Crux?"

He turns, and the look in his blazing eyes has me frozen in place. There's an intensity there, a hunger I've only imagined till now. And with that heated gaze, I know he heard everything, knows exactly what I was doing and the wicked thoughts that consumed me.

My mouth has gone dry as cotton, but somehow, I find my voice. "I... I couldn't sleep."

Crux rises to his feet in one lithe, predatory movement, holding my gaze with laser focus. "Neither could I," he rumbles in that sinfully deep tone that makes me shiver.

He crosses the space between us in two long strides, backing me up against the wall without ever laying a hand on me. My breath is coming in short, shallow bursts in anticipation, my pulse thundering in my ears. This is it, Annie, the moment when there's no going back.

Crux leans in close until his lips are a hairsbreadth from mine, near enough that I can feel the hot moistness of his breath. "Tell me to stop," he rasps, the words like a plea and a challenge all in one.

I search his blazing eyes for a long, aching moment, laying everything bare between us. Then, gathering what little courage I have left, I slide my hands up to cradle his ruggedly handsome face.

"I wouldn't dare," I breathe, rising on my tiptoes to finally, finally claim his lips with my own.