Page 47 of Stars in Halo

‘Looking at you, I’d never believe it.’

‘To your point, physical beauty doesn’t guarantee that love comes your way. The thing is, I wasted so much time searching in all the wrong places for love. Thinking of it is depressing, so I place my feelings in my pity box and lock it up.’

‘I happen to know what you mean,’ he huffed.

‘Aren’t you so sick of being sad or lonely? Don’t you want to find the one?’ she asked.

‘I think a corner of me never wants to give up on the possibility,’ he rasped with a slight turn to his lips.

His eyes heated as he flicked them over her face. ‘The only hope I hold onto is that each day brings me closer to her, whoever she is.’

As the first light of dawn painted the sky outside the window and peace settled over them like a warm blanket, she yawned.

‘I should probably be heading home,’ Xion murmured as he checked his wrist comm for the time.

Katya smiled at him. ‘Or you could stay here,’ she suggested.

Xion’s expression softened at her invitation, but he shook his head. ‘As much as I want to linger, I don’t want to overstep any boundaries,’ he explained.

‘Please,’ she insisted. ‘It’s late.’

He tilted his head and cocked a brow. ‘I’ll take the couch then.’

‘Oh no,’ she countered. ‘We’ve gone this far without mauling each other. I think I can trust you to get into bed with me. No sex though, can’t have that.’

He served her with a sloppy grin, closed his eyes as if savouring her offer, then flipped them open. ‘Only if you’re sure.’

‘Come,’ she murmured.

She led him to her bedroom. ‘I promise I won’t jump you,’ she smiled. ‘Let’s just get comfortable.’

His eyes were soft and vulnerable as he eased off his jacket and boots.

His socks, too, came off, and he loosened his trousers.

She, too, kicked off her heels and disappeared into the bathroom with them in hand.

She paused in the tiny hallway between the sleeping area and the head.

Where the hotel had afforded her a safe.

In a quick move, she slid the crimson ruby from within her breasts and inserted it into the secure hold, locking it.

Sighing, she moved on to undress, emerging back in the bedroom in a long nightshirt.

Xion had shucked off his extravagant suit and was down to boxers only.

She fought the weak-kneed, freakin’ storm of desire that slapped her core as they both snuck under the light duvet.

‘If you try anything, I’ll be out of that bed like a lightning flash, and you’ll be out that door,’ she warned with a gleam in her eye.

Her words were, in part, intended to restore some measure of control and blood flow to her brain.

‘Hand on heart, I’ll be a gentleman.’

She turned to face him,

His face was peaceful, his eyes limpid with sleep.

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