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“Did you sleep well?” he asked with his deep voice that melted her insides.

“Yeah. Thanks for bringing me back to my room. I was obviously out of it.”

“I was hoping I’d catch you on the way to visit Brennan. I need to talk with you.” His expression grew serious.

Here it is.She should’ve expected this conversation. She’d heard it before from men, some she’d liked and it stung, others she hadn’t and was relieved. Either way she was a big girl and knew the score.

“Look, Aculus, I get it. You don’t need to get worked up that I’m going to do the classic girl thing and make more of this than it is. We were two adults having a bit of fun. I get this was a one-time thing. I won’t follow you around, making pathetic puppy dog eyes.” She pouted up at him with wide-eyes and batted her lashes, giving him an example. “Dad will get patched up and then I’ll go about my way, and you can go about yours. Conscience squeaky clean.”

Aculus quietly stared at her, his sharp brows arched, obviously surprised she’d beat him to the punch. By the time she’d finished her speech his expression had gone dark, his red eyes narrowed on her.

Her mouth opened to ask why he was irritated, when suddenly she found herself pinned against the wall by the bony warrior, his hands planted on either side of her, caging her in.

“No,” he rumbled.

“No?” She frowned in confusion.

He got closer, his nose nearly touching hers. “No, this was not a one-time thing.”

His chest vibrated hers as he spoke, teasing her nipples. A thrill coursed through her from the rousing sensation and his gruff declaration.

I guess he did enjoy himself last night,she smiled on the inside.No, no. That’s beside the point.She shook it off.

“Aculus, this isn’t going to work. We come from different worlds,literally. We need to face the facts and stop this,” she attempted to explain.

Aculus wedged his knee between her thighs, forcing her up on her tip-toes. She gripped his hard shoulders to keep her balance.

“And I said,no. Don’t give me excuses, ivory beauty. I saw your sweet, desperate, on the edge of breaking expression as these pink lips cried my name.My name!” he insisted.

To prove his point, Aculus ground his knee against her pussy, and her clit instantly lit up, making her gasp. His lips brushed against hers.

“You are my weakness, and I think I’m yours,” he husked then smashed his lips against hers.

Resisting Aculus was impossible, and not just because he had her cornered. He was right. She wanted him even though logic screamed they were setting themselves up for disaster. With fervor she kissed him back, basking in the moment.

One large hand palmed her ass, the other tangling in her hair, as they hungrily explored each other’s mouth. His fresh lemony flavor made her mouth come alive as she drank him in. This time she felt the instant his shell receded beneath his suit, his shoulders and biceps giving slightly when she kneaded them. His scent also changed to something dark and rich she couldn’t quite identify, but it made her want to rub up against him as she pulled in another deep breath.

“Nadzia?!” Carol stammered, making them both freeze.

Embarrassed, she glanced past Aculus to see her mother standing in the corridor. Carol’s eyes were incredibly wide as she gaped at Aculus.

She frowned at her mom’s response then realized what was wrong. “Mom, it’s Aculus.”

When she looked at Aculus to confirm what her mom must have seen, his shell had already slid back into place.

“What? How?” Carol couldn’t get her questions out as her head tilted in confusion.

The expression made her want to giggle. Her mother must’ve thought she was necking with some random stranger of yet another foreign species.

“It’s an Osivoire thing. You wouldn’t understand,” she said, keeping a straight face.

Her mother’s brow arched as her gaze panned them. “But I do understand some things, young lady.”

That’s when she realized her legs were wrapped around Aculus’ waist, her skirt hiked up nearly exposing her ass. She didn’t recall doing all of that.

“Apologies, Matron Carol.” Aculus gently placed her on the floor. “I should know better than to expose myself this way and embarrass you and Nadzia.” He bowed deeply.

“Oh, don’t apologize. This isn’t the first time I’ve caught Nadzia making out with some boy.” Carol shrugged.