Page 56 of Coveted

“I’ll handle the arrangements for the fallen miners and move your meetings to this afternoon. The ship with the food is due to arrive this afternoon as well, so I’ll set up a bit of a special dinner for Camp Primma tomorrow.”

Vax nodded, accepting the plan. It wasn’t much, but the grieving families would be putting their miners to rest, andhaving a meal waiting afterward would help remind them to keep going.

Alana had stopped while they spoke, but she started moving again when Vax faced her. It was impossible not to watch her ass as she walked in front of him, the sway almost hypnotic, lulling him deeper into the exhaustion dragging on him.

They made it to the wing with their personal chambers with only one wrong turn. He didn’t say anything, simply following where she led, though he noticed her flush spread down onto her chest. He loved how easily her skin gave her away, and a wicked grin lifted his lips at the idea of seeing how bright he could make her with nothing more than words. Perhaps while they were at one of the dinners he was expected to host for the Council.

He was almost stumbling by the time they made it down the hall to his room. Alana had to stop and turn to him, the scanner beside the door keeping the room locked at all times.

Lifting his hand, he laid his palm on the scanner before pushing a few buttons and stepping to the side.

“Put your hand on it.”

Alana’s brows quirked but she did as he said, her shorter fingers fitting easily where his almost extended past the edges of the device.

“This way you can come into my rooms whenever you like.”

He winked before Alana dropped her gaze to the floor, clutching her hands in front of her. Eventually he hoped they would share the room, but he wasn’t going to push her any faster than she felt comfortable with, and she’d still have her own rooms even if they reached the point of sharing.

“Lead the way,” he said, waiving into the room when she continued to hesitate after the door opened.

Alana blinked up at him, her expression unreadable until she turned and strode through the door. The woman was a ball of contradictions, like she was scared to do the things she wantedor say what was really on her mind. He hoped she’d come to trust him enough to open up at some point.

Once they were inside and the door closed behind them, she cleared her throat, looking around before facing him. The room was nothing like it had been when Chancellor Osmel was in charge, and Vax wondered what Alana thought of the minimal decorations he’d allowed.

“If you want to wash up, I’ll fetch your meal.”

Her hands were still clasped in front of her, but her head was up and shoulders back, and she met his eyes without flinching.

“Oh, now it’sif I wantto.I thought you said I stink? Shouldn’t you be ordering me into the bath?”

Her eyes narrowed but he didn’t miss the twitch of her lips before she pressed them into a flat line.

“No one may order the Chancellor, it’s simply a suggestion to make your presence more bearable.”

Her smile slipped through at his bark of laughter. As tired as he was, his cock still twitched with interest, making him prowl forward into her space.

Catching her chin in one hand, he placed the other on her hip and held her in place as he tipped her head back.

“Maybe I need help bathing. Don’t you want to come be sure I don’t miss any spots?”

He purred the words as he let his head drop towards hers. The urge to kiss her had his grip tightening on the flesh in his grasp to be sure she didn’t pull away, but all Alana did was part her lips on a sigh.

“I’m sure you’re more than capable of washing yourself by your age. Otherwise, I can inform Varner you require assistance.”

Vax’s nose scrunched, the image of Varner with a scrubber in hand cooling some of the lust that had flooded his veins. Shakinghis head, he leaned down and brushed his lips over Alana’s in the barest pass before straightening and stepping away.

“Well, I don’t want to subject you to my odor any longer than necessary, and Varner isn’t my idea of a suitable bath partner. I guess I’ll have to handle it myself.”

Alana licked her lips, almost drawing a groan from him as his cock twitched. He’d have given up all chances of sleep to have her hands on him, but he admitted he’d rather be more awake the first time she touched him.

And he did need a bath.

He pulled himself away from her, turning to walk toward his bathroom. Alana stayed where he’d left her until he started shedding his clothing, pulling his shirt over his head and dropping it in a heap.

“I’ll be back shortly with your food,” came her strangled words as she surged for the exit, his chuckle following her into the hall.

He dropped his pants in the doorway of his bathroom, the lights coming up as he walked inside, taking himself in hand and giving a leisurely tug as he tapped the settings on the shower. He throbbed, but he was enjoying their game. It would make it all the sweeter when she broke down and admitted she wanted him as much as he did her.

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