Page 44 of Stars in Halo

Xion took a sharp breath, reeling as a wave of yearning hit him.

Pausing in the suite’s hallway, his hand stilled on her back.

The cool night air blowing in from her balcony was clearing his thoughts.

Giving him fokkin’ clarity.

While he desired Katya, he sensed that taking their attraction to the next level with sex was the easy way.

Tonight, all he craved was to luxuriate in the company of her mind, wit and laughter.

To explore more than just her body.

She turned and gazed at him. He observed she was puzzled by his sudden pull-back.

‘What’s wrong?’ she asked, voice husky and throaty.

He was being seduced, sucked into her web.

What he wasn’t sure of was whether he wanted to indulge her yet.

With his prescient insight, he sensed that under her sensual facade was an honest, warm, and passionate soul.

He pined for it, craved it.

This was the shit that was shifting his feelings.

She was touching his spirit.

On Sweet Eden, he wanted more from her—much, much more.

Which meant pulling back.

He clicked his teeth and tucked away his raging desire.

He was done with the here and now, and Katya was the first woman he’d had a forever inkling for in years.

He didn’t want this to be a one-night stand.

This felt serious as if she was no single throwaway but a lifetime promise.

Despite her flawed character and messy secrets, he still had to unravel.

‘I’m thirsty,’ he rasped, surprising himself.

He gave her a chin jerk and wandered into the luxe suite.

‘You have a kahawa machine?’ he murmured.

He headed to the suite’s galley, sensing her bewilderment.

While freakin’ ignoring it.

Xion busied himself in the kitchen, the faint hum of the beverage appliance filling the charged atmosphere between them.

Katya studied him with confusion and curiosity, her earlier hunger replaced with a newfound wariness.

She couldn’t quite place the shift in his demeanour, the sudden withdrawal that left an unfamiliar ache in her chest.

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