Page 18 of Secretly Mated To My Monster Alien Boss
“Are you alright?” he asked, taking a step closer. He said the occasional joke, but he’d never been accused of inducing laughing fits in someone. Clever words were more Rynar’s domain; that’s why he was a damn good lawyer.
“Yes,” Kiara gasped between giggles. “I’m just…”
“Why is there water falling from your eyes?” Those were calledtears. He was sure of that. But tears were for when humans were upset, yes? Nines, had he upset her so much that–
“I’m crying because–” She took a deep inhale and righted herself, wiping away the tears. Her face was red and a few more giggles passed her lips before she could speak again. “Because it’s funny. These are laughing tears.”
Deryg tilted his head to the side. Humans never ceased to amaze him. “Fascinating. Why is getting an apology funny?”
He’d thought he’d gotten a grip on human customs, more so than his Deruzian colleagues. The head of security had to interact with all departments. Any good soldier got along with his allies, that’s what he’d been taught at the Academy.
“Because I wanted to say literally the same thing to you,” Kiara said. “I would've said it would suck not to be so close anymore, butpain me greatlysounds more poetic.”
“Nobody’s ever accused me of beingpo-e-tic.”
“Well, there’s a first time for everything. Maybe you’re learning new skills.”
“And new facts.” He took another step toward her. “Arewe close?”
All the laughter, which had filled his empty office and his twin hearts, vanished. But at least she still had a soft smile on her lips. Nines, she was gorgeous.
Kiara pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. “I think so. Do you?”
“Yes. You’re very important to me. Which is why I don’t want to upset you.”
“You haven’t. There were two of us behaving inappropriately in that office, if I remember correctly.”
Nines-damn it, images of Kiara behavingveryinappropriately flashed in his mind. Right here on his desk.Deryg clenched his jaw. “We have established an equilibrium. I would hate for it to be affected by anything.”
He took a deep breath. He hadn’t told this to any living soul, but he felt the need to speak it now.
“Before I came to Earth, my brother and I had a grave disagreement. He didn’t approve of my choice and he made that very clear,” he said.
Rexan always made his opinion known. It came with his own responsibilities and title.
“Yeah, I know what it's like to have someone in your family not approve of anything you do,” Kiara said. “It sucks.”
“It…does.” Deryg had no clue how a situation couldsuck, but it sounded appropriate. “And I regret you had to live it, as well. It’s painful.”
“Yeah. But it makes you stronger, right?”
Deryg was still hoping it did. “I stood my ground and I left for Earth, but Rexan’s arrogant voice was always there, telling me this was a mistake and I would be miserable. He planted that sliver of doubt. Then I came to work here and I met you. You have made my stay on Earth not only bearable, but enjoyable. And for that, I will always be grateful.”
Kiara’s smile grew. “Funny. Some days, the first thing I want to do when I get in the office is talk to you.”
Deryg took another step. He couldn’t help it. He wanted to be closer to her. “I feel the same way.”
“Good. So the kiss didn’t ruin things between us.”
“No. Not for me.”
“Me neither.”
A lull fell between them, brimming with tension and unspoken truths.
Deryg was many things, but he wasn’t a coward.
“Kiara?”
