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‘I wasn’t sure where I was eating.’

He gave her a slight, half-smile. ‘Second night on my ship, and I won’t let you ride solo. Let me take you out to a little hole in the wall you won’t regret.’

She lifted a brow. ‘A pity invite?’

He laughed, a bass rumble, rich and warm. ‘Not even close.’

Savvine tilted her head. ‘ If I say no?’

Xander stepped closer, that smoky voice sliding under her skin. ‘Then I’ll leave you to your devices, order their enticing takeaway and eat it shirtless on my terrace while you salivate.’

She bit her lip, trying to ignore the frisson of desire that snaked through her.

Also, ignoring his little hint that he’d seen her peeking at her the night before. ‘Tempting.’

‘Nada, you got to see this place to believe it.’

She met his eyes and arched a brow. ‘Now that you’ve talked it up, it’d better deliver.’

13

Hungry Like The Wolf

SAVVINE

The restaurant’s name wasCielo Rojo.

Tucked into the heart of the Signet star destroyer’s entertainment quarter, it was all warm tile floors, mismatched wooden chairs, and wrought-iron lanterns glowing in amber light.

The interior was fragrant with fire-grilled meat, saffron, and the promise of sweet memories.

Xander held the door open for her, his eyes gleaming. He tipped his head slightly, a laconic lean she started to recognize as his version of charm.

Inside, a stocky, barrel-chested man waved from behind the counter.

‘Look who it is,’ the man boomed, wiping his hands on a grease-stained towel. ‘The prince of the hulls!’

Xander raised his chin. ‘Don’t start, my friend. Savvine meets Nacho and Lucía, old friends, and the best chefs I know. Welcome to cuisine heaven where the seats creak with stories and the food comes out steaming in cast-alloy pans big enough to feed dreams.’

Nacho sported tattoos from throat to knuckles, his salt-and-pepper hair pulled into a lazy bun, arms thick with strength and history.

Lucía, his opposite in height but not in presence, had a smile like a flare grenade and the wit of a wily survivor.

She kissed Xander’s cheek and winked at Savvine.

‘She’s a beauty, keep her, Xander,’ she said with a knowing glint. ‘Welcome toCielo Rojo. Sit, eat, forget the galaxy’s troubles for a little while.’

She took off as Xander leaned in to Savvine. ‘Ignacio Nacho Ferran and his wife, Lucía, are former black site prisoners and rebels in the apocalypse uprising with a knack for spices and flavors. I freed them, and they started a cafe I loved. Once we left Earth, their restaurant took off, and now they’re some of the most beloved chefs of theSombra.’

‘Fascinating. You brought them onboard because you couldn’t bear to be parted with their food?’

He gave her a slow, sensual grin. ‘Nada, I was saving them from a nuclear meltdown.’

‘Liar.’

They sat near the edge of the promenade balcony, where floor-to-ceiling synth plex panels revealed the bustling concourse below. Savvine leaned forward, eyes bright as she took it all in.

Multi-level platforms stretched wide, teeming with shops, cafes, med hubs, artisan stalls, and holo screens playing everything from interstellar dramas to pirate comedies.