Page 88 of Sublime Target

“I almost believe you, even if your biases are showing. At the very least, would you mind helping me put this back in? I can’t see without a mirror.” She held up the long silver earring with its iridescent pearl at the end. At some point, in the heat of the moment, one of her earrings had fallen out.

“Of course.” Taking great care to be delicate, he took the earring from her fingers and leaned in, deftly threading it through her pierced ear. Then, he rose to his full height and extended his hand. “I can assure you, you look incredible.”

Clarissa slipped her fingers into his.

Her skin was soft and smooth, his hard and callused.

They made quite the pair, the two of them. Like granite and silk.

And for the first time in longer than she could remember, she was actually having fun.

Would they always be good like this?

She certainly hoped so.

Her gut told her it would be so.

Not that she expected things to be this easy all the time. They would have their disagreements and their challenges.

Earth might even face an alien invasion or two.

Effortlessly, he helped her to her feet. With heels on, she was almost as tall as him. She retrieved her leather jacket from where she’d draped it over the chair. “This one, too.” She handed it to Jerik.

He gave her a searing look and held up the jacket, allowing her to ease into its familiar warmth.

Gosh, he could be the perfect gentleman when he wanted.

Sometimes.

“May I?” he offered her his arm.

“Of course.” She rested her hand on his arm and allowed him to lead her through the cabin.

As they reached the hatch, Jerik stopped. “May I?”

He leaned in.

Kissed her gently and slowly.

Tenderly.

His hand danced across the small of her back as he pulled her closer.

And she responded with equal fervor and sweetness.

Now, with the heat and the urgency gone, he was nothing but sweet.

“Just couldn’t help myself,” he whispered after he finally broke away. “I’m tempted to skip the infernal event entirely and just take you to my chambers, but at the same time, how can I keep you from the very event you came here to attend? I’m not one for gatherings or ceremonies. Hate the cursed things. But maybe with you, I might actually tolerate it.”

“You might even have fun,” she said wryly.

“Might,” he grumbled.

“Well, I was always looking forward to learning about Kordolian culture from actual Kordolians, not from the various dubious sources we have access to on Earth, so you can’t back out now. You have to take me... and I would very much like to visit your chambers afterward.”

“That, my divine human, can certainly be arranged.”

Together, they stepped out into a vast, shadowy chamber. At the far end was a window that looked out across the stars. Through it, Clarissa caught sight of the dark side of the Earth, decorated with billions of glittering lights.

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