“Mustyou be so hard-headed?” She planted both hands on her hips.
“I will not repeat myself.”
“And I won’t…” She saw his arms coming around her. “Don’t you dare lift me, Tiegan. I swear to you, I will end your entire life if you…” Symphony yelped as the stubborn alien swept her into his arms just like he had last night.
From the corner of her eye, she saw Leel gasp. The sound barely registered in her brain as Tiegan adjusted her in his arms by bouncing her up.
Symphony squeaked and wrapped her hands around his neck to stay upright. His fingers slid under her knees and his other palm caressed her back.
The warmth of his body pressed against her legs. He smelled like the stars, something foreign and musky. She wanted to inhale deeper but stopped herself just in time.
Glaring at him instead, she growled, “Put me down.”
“Leel,” Tiegan turned to his fiancée, “ask Sah-ah to set bedding around the table.”
Symphony squeaked. “I get to see something other than this room?”
“The rooms are all the same,” he responded, his voice low and intimate, “but you will be able to eat with the rest.”
Leel was still standing at the door. She watched them with a frown.
Symphony squirmed in Tiegan’s arms. If her fiancé was holding another woman, she’d be upset too.
“I can get there on my own.”
“Neh.” He gently laid her back onto the bed as if she were a priceless treasure. “The Healer and Rune must check you first.” Tiegan glanced over his shoulder and saw Leel frozen in the doorway. “Have you not left yet? Ask Sah-ah—”
“Do it yourself,” Leel huffed. Whirling around so fast her hair slapped the wall, she stormed out.
Tiegan frowned.
Feeling responsible for Leel’s bad mood, Symphony licked her lips. “You should run after her.”
Tiegan stared down into her face, his eyes narrowing.
“She might have gotten the wrong idea.” Her eyes slid away from his. “You don’t want her to feel betrayed.”
“Let me make myself clear.” Tiegan leaned down, almost as if he intended to crawl on top of her. Symphony pressed her head into the bed, trying to get away, but there was nowhere to turn.
The alien’s firm blue lips hovered over hers and her heart sped up so fast she almost felt light-headed.
Staring into her eyes, Tiegan growled, “I am not mated to anyone.”
“Oh.”
“However, if Iweremated, it would be to you.”
Excitement grew in her chest. Was he confessing to her?
“Plutonians touch lips with their mates as a precursor to coupling. And the only mouth these lips have touched,” Tiegan pointed to his lips that were enticing, blue and far too close, “is yours.”
She wondered why she was so excited. It wasn’t like she wanted this big blue brute to herself. Besides, she didn’t even remember kissing him.
Clearing her throat, she tried to play it cool. “You should still go after her or she’ll hate you for life.”
Tiegan straightened and folded his arms over his chest. “Quiet now and reserve your energy.”
Symphony snuggled into the bed.