Page 181 of Night's Fall

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“Is your comm done?”Alekseiasked.

“He disconnected me, yes,”Ianswered.

“Do you want me to get started on dinner?” he asked.

I kept my attention on whatIwas doing on my tablet, but answered, “Ihave two more costumes to enter into the program.ThenI’llget to it.It’smy turn.”

“Darling, work.Ican cook.”

At that,Ilooked down at him.

And dang.

PrinceAleksei, my heart’s desire, was lounged on a couch with his head on my leg.

I am so totally and completely and limitlessly and enormously falling in love with you.

This thought warmed me, toes to tendrils, asIgazed down at his male beauty, consumed by allIwas feeling.

“I thoughtI’dmake creamy garlic pasta,”Isaid softly.

A glow came from his dusky gaze.

He heard the wordsIspoke.

And the ones left unspoken.

BeforeIcould react to that, my body jerked violently, andIrasped out a coarse breath.

Nova took a dash asAlekseishot up to sitting.

My body caught fire.

“Alek—”Istarted.

He grabbed my hand, pulled me out of the couch and dragged me to the steps to the sunken room.

“Clothing, love,” he warned.

He let me go, and still moving,Iwhipped off my top.

He yanked off his shirt.

We were racing to the steps to the landing pad.

“Doors open!” he barked.

I pulled down my lounge pants, just as all that was happening became too much, thusInearly fell over.

Aleksei swung me up in his arms and sprinted up the stairs.

I felt the night air coming in through the doorway above, but it was happening, andIcouldn’t stop it.

Panic coursed through me.

There wasn’t going to be enough room.

“Aleksei,”Iwhispered urgently.

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