Page 106 of Stars in Halo

His seasoning was quick and precise. However, her attention was not on his salt and spice but on his sweet taut muscled butt.

She smirked in amusement as he moved with practised ease in the kitchen, flipping eggs and sausages with idle grace.

‘I had no idea you were a cook,’ she said.

‘I had to learn,’ he grumbled. ‘Better than the alternative of living hungry as a single man, ay?’

She leaned over the table, admiring the muscles in his upper body tighten and undulate as he worked.

‘You know, you’re rather attractive when you cook,’ she noted. ‘Your butt cheeks have this flex -’

She reached to pinch the enticing muscle, and he slapped her head away.

‘Don’t go starting something, woman. I need my energy first.’

The promise in his eyes was enough to get her sitting back down and tamping her desire.

As he began to sizzle the eggs in butter on the stove, he hummed, tripping a series of timbered words.

‘What’s the language?’ she asked. ‘I’ve caught you using it a few times.’

‘It’s French,’ he offered. ‘My parents in Eden City came from a Francophone-speaking nation on Earth.’

‘Where are they now?’

His eyes clouded over for a moment. ‘Long gone. All of us Riders are orphans who banded together in our misery to form the Sable Group. They’re my family now.’ But I still honour my maman et papa by keeping the dialect we shared in my heart.’

‘You’re a man of many layers,’ she whispered.

He glanced at her, his eyes smouldering.

‘And so are you, khaliya.’

He paused, giving her an assessing look, shifting the vibe between them. ‘Tell me about Akira Claw.’

She jolted. ‘How did you know?’

‘The Khosana DKRT is a very well-informed and chatty woman.’

Katya blanched, taking in a shaky inhale. ‘He’s an ex-lover, one who caused me much anguish.’

‘So you stole from him?’

She lurched once more. ‘How in Pegasi hell-?’

When he cocked a brow, she capitulated. ‘He deserved it. He’s a manipulative, sick bastard.’

‘So he means nothing to you.’

She shook her head with vehemence. ‘Not in the least. He’s not even a fraction of the man you are, and he never really wanted any part of me,’ she growled.

He gave her a long, contemplative look, ran his tongue under his top lip, and, making a decision, popped the cork on the bottle, which echoed in the quiet galley. ‘His loss because now, I want all of you,’ he rasped.

Katya’s eyes met his, her gaze softening. ‘Really? Do you want a washed-up cat burglar with a dozen kids and a shady career as your woman? Doesn’t that fly in the face of the justice you Riders dispense? As well as your single, bachelor lifestyle?’

Xion leaned on the counter and nailed her with an extended look. ‘Kids don’t faze me; I like them and even mentor a few on Eden II. But if you’re my woman, I’ll encourage you to explore another way to be creative. Heck, I’ll fund whatever legit venture you put your mind to.’

Her eyes widened. ‘I’ll have you know the heists were to feed my family; it’s all I knew to survive. But I’m willing to unlearn it all and pursue something new to take care of my family. Without the devil on my back.’

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