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“Yes. A tree.” She cupped his face. “I love that you worry about me but there’s no need. I had the sphere, I was trying to get to the rendezvous point. Vysh was with me with her insanely long legs and I was trying to keep up. I ran into a tree. Understand?”

She held his gaze as he examined her closely.

“I see,” he said, and she let out the tiniest of breaths. “It’s quite a bruise. I didn’t notice it at the dinner.”

“Daa’sten worked his magic,” she answered truthfully. “Did you see the birds and flowers he painted on me?”

“I did indeed. I wanted to see how far under your dress they went.”

She laughed.

“You’re worried about a bruise but you’re happy for Daa’sten to get under my dress?”

“I do not think Daa’sten has a thing for humans like I do.”

“Humans or females?”

“Both.”

“Gotcha.” She rubbed her nose against his. “I count myself lucky I found the sole Vraxian on the planet who likes human females.”

“I only likeonehuman female,” he corrected her. “And now everyone on the planet knows how astonishing you are. You did superbly in the first round ofshaa’baara, beloved. I am so proud of you.”

“Be honest. You engineered that first round to resemble our time on Minerva-6, didn’t you?”

“Arranging the challenges is my prerogative,” he said. “After all, I am the one they are all competing for. I do not want a mate who cannot set a snare or play xantha.”

“And that’s the full list of requirements is it?”

“No.” His eyes glinted wickedly. “I want someone who makes myzarnadharder than it’s ever been,”

“Ah. Now we’re getting down to the nitty gritty. What else?”

He planted kisses along her collarbone and she let her head fall back.

“Someone whose scent makes me want to ravish her instantly.”

“Mm. Keep going.”

“Someone whose glorious curves make my mouth water.”

He grazed his mouth over her breasts, teasing her nipples through the sheer material until they stood stiffly to attention.

“Someone whosefereshtastes like honey.”

He pushed her skirt up, lifting her so that the material was bunched about her waist. She wasn’t wearing anything under the dress and she gasped a little as her bare bottom came into contact with the cool stone of the balustrade. He quirked a brow when he saw she wasn’t wearing underwear.

“I wasn’t expecting to see you,” she said defensively, her cheeks pink.

“In future, you will dress this way when youdoexpect to see me,” he growled.

He curled a serpetrus beneath her shoulders, supporting her weight so that she could lean back a little. Then he put a hand on each of her inner thighs and spread her legs wide.

Kara lay back as his heated gaze raked over her satin folds. She loved the feeling of being exposed like this. Of being laid out like a private banquet. Naked and vulnerable before him.

It was a turn-on to know he had the power and strength to do whatever he wanted – but what he wanted was to pleasure her.

He stroked a hand over her slit, nodding in approval when he found she was already wet.