Page 31 of Fire Forged

“Prove it,” was his response.

“Huh?”With an unnatural smile, she commanded the tablet to take a photo.

A minute later, the door to Aldur’s quarters opened.To Nerx.

“What the hell?”she cried out, scrambling to her feet while trying to tug her baggy T-shirt over her bare legs.The hem hit mid-thigh only if she bent a little but nothing could help her feel less naked underneath.“Knock first.”

He stared at her legs then met her gaze.“Aldur asked that I check up on you.His Dar Eth…your mother is concerned.”

She harumphed at him ignoring his rudeness.“Does Dar Eth mean lover?”She waved her hand, changing her mind on needing an answer.“If it does, that makes sense.I got passed over like I’m not her daughter.All for a lay.”She glanced at her bare toes.“I get it.Maybe Aldur’s a stunning lay, but still, family comes first.”

“What’s a lay?”Lily asked, peeking from behind Nerx’s legs.

“Um…friend?”Britt dropped her head in her hands.Why hadn’t she noticed Lily?Nerx was gorgeous, but she wasn’t the type of woman to be addled by looks.

“Aldur is Nerxie’s lay too,” Lily said as she poked the colorful candy in the bowl.

Britt snapped her mouth shut.Swallowed laughter cramped her cheeks.“I bet your dad’s the best lay ever.”

“Britta,” he warned.

She met his gaze and caught the fire burning in his ice blue eyes.Something whispered across her mind, but she dismissed it.

“May I have these?”Lily clasped the half-full bowl of candy.

“Go share with Edon.”Nerx ushered her out of the room before facing Britt.

She sank onto the chair, curling her legs under her ass, while preparing for a lecture or a reprimand.

“I apologize for the intrusion.”His gaze lingered on parts of her, and she’d swear, she tingled as if he’d touched her.

Instead of leaving, he ventured deeper into her room, then slipped his hands under her armpits to hoist her to her feet.

She bit her tongue to smother a gasp, having not expected him to touch her, never mind manhandle her like she weighed nothing.When he didn’t step away, she raised her chin to meet his gaze.Emotion burned in the depths of his eyes.

“What?”she asked, meaning it to sound irritated.Instead, desire hoarsened her voice.

“You do not stink.”He buried his face in the curve of her neck for a deep inhale.His nose brushing along her skin summoned a shiver.“You smell good,” he growled.“Artificial scents hurt our noses.We find them offensive.”

“Ah,” she said, just to respond somehow.“Well, um, thanks for checking on me.”

He swept aside her hair falling across her temple.Electricity trailed where he touched.He pinched her chin, holding her still while he studied her face.

“Nerx?”She frowned at his odd behavior.

His gaze met hers.His nostrils flared seconds before he feathered his mouth across hers.She gasped, freezing on the spot.Her thoughts ricocheted, pinging between outrage and humming like a horny teenager.

“My apologies again.”He pulled away from her, dropping his hand.“I should not have done that.”

She winced.He regretted kissing her, and with their history, she could understand why.Still, embarrassment scorched her cheeks.

“I should have asked first,” he said, cupping her neck.“I find I cannot think clearly when around you.”

“I…I didn’t mind.”She ran her fingers down the center of his bulletproof vest.“I mean… Permission granted.”

His eyes widened.His focus shifted to her mouth, then he yanked her against his hard length.“Britta,” he whispered, before kissing her again.

His taste curled her toes, like sticky toffee pudding with custard.She dug her fingers into his pecs when he deepened the kiss.A mewl escaped her, and more followed when he splayed his fingers across her back to crush her to him.

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