Page 199 of Stars in Aura

Issa curled up in the velvet banquette that half circled his dining table, watching him with affectionate eyes as he set the plate before her.

‘A meal to welcome you to your second home,’ Ki’Remi murmured.

Issa’s chest tightened, and she lifted her gaze, meeting his with infinite adoration.

Then, he leaned close, fingers trailing up his forearm, bicep, and jaw. ‘Sante, lover.’

The Rider sucked in a slow breath, his body already responding to her touch.

‘I think I like the sound of that,’ he growled, bending to give her a deep, soul-stealing, bone-melting kiss.

One that left no room for space, for hesitation, for anything except the raw, unspoken need crackling between them.

Moments later, he groaned, his arms snaking around her waist, lifting her clean off the ground as he carried her toward the bedroom.

‘Food,’ Issa gasped.

Ki’Remi smirked. ‘Later. Now, no more talking. Onlyfokkin’ you until you beg me to stop.’

The elevator doors whispered open, revealing the breathtakingexpanse of the Sable 517 rooftop, a floating sanctuary above the city.

Issa’s breath caught as her gaze swept across the skyline, where Eden II stretched beneath a canopy of starlit wonder.

The jagged silhouette of the skyscrapers gleamed in contrast to the dazzling nebula-painted sky, with Alphetraz casting its celestial glow over the sprawling metropolis.

Far above, a meteor streaked past, carving a luminous arc through the darkness, its dying embers scattering like shattered gemstones.

Ki’Remi’s voice rumbled behind her, a hushed, heated murmur against the shell of her ear. ‘It isn’t heaven, but it’s close.’

A delicious shiver raced down her spine as his warm, solid presence pressed on her back, his breath brushing against her neck like an unspoken promise.

She tilted her head toward him, lips curving. ‘Did I say how stunning you look tonight?’

Her gown, a slinky, jewel-studded sheath of deep sapphire, hugged her like a second skin, the fabric shimmering in the rooftop’s soft golden light.

She turned, letting her gaze roam over him.

Taking in the way his embellished vest framed his inked, muscled chest, the swirls of meta-infused tattoos shifting over his skin like restless spirits.

He now towered over her petite frame, his sheer presence commanding focus.

She exhaled, the corner of her mouth lifting. ‘Sante. Not so bad yourself, Sableman.’

His lips twitched, amusement flickering in his dark eyes.

She redirected her attention back to the rooftop, sweeping her view over the stunning oasis that stretched before them.

The resort-style infinity-edge pool mirrored the sky’s brilliance, a sheet of liquid sapphire reflecting the city’s neon glow.

Surrounding it, cabana lounges, cozy nooks, and hot tubs steamed invitingly.

At the same time, the elevated clubhouse, a sleek, glass-paneled retreat, offered a bar, an open kitchen, and a game room tucked at the rear of a stand of towering palm fronds.

‘It’s amazing, hey?’ Ki’Remi rasped, encircling her from behind as if anchoring her to this moment. ‘It’s not a celestial palace but home to me.’

‘It’s fascinating,’ she admitted, her eyes blinking in awe.

‘I’ve learned a little about your past,’ she murmured, ‘but if this is the result, I’m sure it was worth it.’

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