Page 10 of Stardust Paws and Alien Claws

Those lush lips curved into a secretive little smile, and I knew - I was well and truly undone. This human, this maddening, enticing creature, had utterly disarmed me without even trying.

And the prospect of her needing my hands-on tutelage, of guiding her through the intimate nuances of Lazamai care...

A tremor ran through me, desire and dread warring in equal measure. Because one thing was painfully, thrillingly clear-- I was in grave danger of falling completely, irrevocably under Cassidy Bennet’s sunny spell.

CASSIDY

As we return to Doanor’s quarters, I can’t help but want to tease him, just a little.

“This bed is definitely big enough for two,” I remarked, glancing over my shoulder at Doanor with a mischievous grin. “If you’re interested in putting it to good use.”

His eyes widened slightly, and I swore I saw the faintest hint of a blush creep across those rugged bovine features. “I, uh...we should...” He cleared his throat, suddenly flustered.

Laughing lightly, I decided to put the poor guy out of his misery - for now. “Relax, I’m just messing with you.” I plopped down on the edge of the bed, bouncing slightly. “This is pretty comfortable though. You’ll have to let me borrow it sometime.”

Doanor shook his head, but I caught the ghost of a grin. “You’re incorrigible, you know that?”

“And you love it,” I fired back without missing a beat.

He opened his mouth as if to protest, then seemed to think better of it with snort. Moving toward the study area, he gestured vaguely. “I’ll just...get settled in here for the night.”

I pouted exaggeratedly. “Aww, you’re not even going to tuck me in?”

Doanor paused mid-stride, shooting me an exasperated look over his shoulder. “I highly doubt you need any assistance there.”

“Well, you’re no fun,” I lamented with a dramatic sigh, flopping back on the bed. A playful giggle escaped my lips as I sank into the plush softness.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Doanor watching me, an unreadable expression on his bovine features. Our gazes locked for a charged moment before he abruptly turned away, busying himself with straightening some books on the shelf.

Sitting up, I regarded the broad expanse of his back, feeling a strange fluttering in my chest. Part of me wanted to press him further, to see how far I could push those boundaries. Yet another part was almost...afraid to cross a line we couldn’t come back from.

Get it together, Bennet, I chided myself silently. This is all just an act, remember?

Suddenly feeling awkward just sitting there, I hopped off the bed. “I’m gonna grab a quick shower, if that’s okay?” I blurted out, already heading for the bathroom.

“Of course,” Doanor rumbled without turning around. “Make yourself at home.”

Slipping into the cavernous refresher, I leaned back against the door with a soft thump. What was happening to me? This was supposed to be a simple job - keep up appearances as Doanor’s romantic partner, nothing more. So why did I feel like I was getting tangled up in emotions I couldn’t quite decipher?

Shaking my head firmly, I quickly stripped off my clothes and stepped into the glassed-in shower alcove. As the warm water cascaded over me, I tried to clear my mind, to regain my focus. But Doanor’s gruff voice and intense gaze kept drifting unbidden to the forefront of my thoughts.

By the time I had dried off and slipped into a soft robe, I had managed to compose myself somewhat. Taking a steadying breath, I emerged from the bathroom to find Doanor already settled on the small couch.

He looked up at my approach, his dark eyes inscrutable. “Feel better?”

“Much,” I confirmed with a nod, raking my damp hair back from my face. “Thanks for letting me freshen up.”

An odd silence stretched between us, filled with unspoken tensions and questions. On impulse, I crossed the room and sank onto the couch beside him. Our shoulders brushed, and I felt that familiar spark of awareness, like static electricity dancing across my skin.

Doanor stiffened almost imperceptibly but didn’t pull away. His warm, musky scent surrounded me, oddly comforting yet intoxicating at the same time. I found myself leaning into him, drawn by forces I couldn’t quite explain.

Slowly, cautiously, he turned his head until our faces were mere inches apart. His breath ghosted across my skin as our gazes met and held. There was a guarded vulnerability in his deep brown eyes that stole my breath.

Then, before I could second-guess myself, I closed the distance between us.

Our lips met in a tentative brush, soft and exploratory and Doanor’s hand came up to cup my cheek, his calloused thumb grazing my skin. I melted into the kiss, parting my lips in silent invitation.

For an endless moment, we were locked in a heated embrace, the world narrowing to just the two of us. My fingers tangled in the thick waves of his hair as our tongues dueled in a sensual dance.

---