Page 19 of Stars in Aura

A metallic hiss of the sterilization door cut through his words.

His spine tightened.

He swiveled his head, his scowl deepening as he spotted who stepped in.

His soul jolted.

Nada. Not her.

He swore the air shifted, and for a millisecond, an arc of bright energy and light raced through the room, disappearing into the ether.

Issa Elaris.

Shida, trouble, a walking menace.

Afokkin’ disruption.

She strode into the room even as his narrowed eyes tracked her in, her presence a distraction he didn’t need.

Her golden curls bounced beneath the surgical cap, honey-toned skin glowing under the sterile lights.

She moved with grace, hips swinging, as if she were strolling into a casual briefing and not a high-stakes operation.

Fokk. This woman was a swayingmsumbufu, a rambling headache.

A jolt hit him right in his plexus and below the belt, sending scorching desire through his traitorous body.

He sensed it everyfokkin’ time they clashed in team meetings, eased around the other in the bar, or brushed past each other in the hallways.

Even last night, in his sleep.Hell.

The bags under his eyes and his restless slumber were due to her insertion into his dreams.

Her eyes, crowned with long dark lashes, fluttered at him.

Her mask crinkled with a damn smile as she snapped on her gloves.

Even the jar-shaped pendant earrings swirled with luminous red, pink, and gold ions she always wore mesmerized thefokkout of him.

Twinkling at him.

Winking as if teasing him.

Ki’Remi exhaled and sucked his teeth,freakin’ annoyed.

‘What are you doing here?’

His timbre was a growl, rough with restrained disdain.

She glanced at him whilst moving to the opposite sterilization station, scrubbing in as if she belonged. ‘Filling in. Mr. Trevayne had an emergency reassignment.’

His jaw clenched.

Trevayne was his co-surgeon and a steady, logical partner in the theater.

Unlike her.

‘I can manage without you. This procedure doesn’t require two leads,’ he muttered, his aggravation annoying his nerves.

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