Page 32 of Shadows of Stardust

“Excuse me?”

“Kiss me,” Zandrel says again, more insistent this time.

He’s not just a pain in the ass. He’s insane.

“Listen, asshole, I’m not sure what exactly about this situation makes you think that—”

“What would you rather happen, Roslyn?” he says, leaning in even closer. Close enough to see the galaxies swirling in his eyes and for the deep rumble of his voice to break over my skin. “Would you rather me tell the producers and guards on their way here right now that you were trying to escape, or let them believe you’re having a moment of passion with a handsome member of the security team who you just couldn’t keep your hands off of?”

Make that arrogant and insane.

I’m just about to tell him as much when the full impact of his words hits me square in the chest, tightening my throat.

Is he trying to… help me?

Not likely, but as I meet his gaze, I find I can’t speak.

A fling with a guard would be better, wouldn’t it? Less likely to get my ass kicked off-planet and tossed in a cell somewhere for questioning if they find out I was about to go traipsing through Eritin’s very off-limits wilderness?

“Roslyn,” Zandrel says, low and urgent. “You’ve got about ten seconds to—”

“Fine,” I snap at him. “Fine. I’ll kiss you.”

Zandrel drops one hand to his opposite wrist, clicking some button on the heavy black cuff he always wears. As soon as he does, the faint whir of a hovercam joins the voices and footsteps,but I barely have time to register it before he buries that hand in my hair.

He pulls me close. Then stops.

Just a few inches between us, the broad bulk of him leaned down over me, lips hovering above mine like he’s waiting for me to make the final move.

Damn him.

My gaze flicks back and forth between the fathomless nebulae of his. I’m looking for…

Well, I don’t know what I’m looking for, but I sure as hell don’t find it.

All I find are uncertain galaxies, churning. Reckless depths taunting and warning and reminding me that just because he’s helping me doesn’t mean he’ssafe, doesn’t mean any of this is going to get me closer to Savvie.

But letting the other guards catch me here won’t, either, so I slam my eyes shut, blocking out the silver swirl and endless dark before I press my lips to his.

9

Zandrel

The little human isn’t just scorching, she’s sweet.

Sweet and tender, her mouth soft and damp, with just a hint of some deep, dark spice clinging to her lips that tastes like morning dew and flower petals and sex.

Reading about this act of human physical affection was… revolting. Beyond that, seeing the Vas-Greshiran attempt it with her was infuriating given how much she seemed not to enjoy it.

And even though I can’t imagine she’s any more thrilled to be partaking in it with me, all my preconceived notions about the act go up in flames as soon as I have my mouth on her.

Fates, but she’s delicious.

Even more so when she brings a hand up to tangle in the hair at the base of my skull, to hold me to her and press her body into mine. I respond in kind, opening my lips on hers, placing a hand on the small of her back and fisting the other in her hair as I—

Roslyn grunts unhappily into my mouth.

The mechanics of it all seemed simple enough, but apparently I must not have them quite right as she leans back and hisses at me.

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