Page 9 of Stardust Paws and Alien Claws

To my surprise, her cheeks flushed ever so slightly as she bit back a grin. “I’ll try not to be too scandalous, then.”

The teasing lilt was back in her voice, that playful edge that made my hearts race. I clenched my jaw, fighting the sudden urge to crowd her against the bulkhead and find out just how scandalous she could be.

Instead, I stepped up to the control panel, punching in a series of commands. “I’ll need to input your biometrics. Security protocols and all that.”

Cassidy nodded, holding out her hand without hesitation. “By all means.”

My fingers brushed against her soft skin as I took her palm print, the contact sending an inexplicable jolt through me. Determinedly avoiding her gaze, I continued the process - retinal scan, DNA sample, the works. All the while, that strange energy crackled between us, raising the fine hairs on the back of my neck.

At last, the bioscanner chimed its approval, granting Cassidy full access. I ushered her through the now-open doorway, into the cavernous expanse of the secured cargo hold.

A soft gasp escaped her lips as she took in the sight before us. There, nestled in the center of the bay, was the enclosure - a vast, mesh-walled habitat filled with an array of perches, toys, and cozy nesting areas. And within, a vibrant flurry of motion and color danced through the air.

“Oh...” Cassidy breathed, her face awash with wonder. “They’re beautiful.”

I couldn’t help but watch her expression, drinking in the delight that transformed her features. In that moment, she seemed utterly captivated, aglow with an infectious joy that made my twin hearts swell.

The Lazamai certainly were a sight to behold. Their iridescent fur rippled through a kaleidoscope of shifting hues as they flitted and swooped, chirping and trilling in a melodic chorus. Several landed on the mesh walls, peering at us with those huge, expressive eyes, cocking their tiny heads in apparent curiosity.

One particularly bold creature drifted close, hovering just on the other side of the barrier. It regarded me for a long moment before opening its minuscule maw, emitting a series of low, gravelly sounds that were uncannily...familiar.

My eyes widened as I recognized my own grumbling tones being mimicked with startling accuracy. A surprised bark of laughter burst from me before I could contain it.

“Well, I’ll be...” I chuckled, shaking my head in wonder. “They’ve been eavesdropping on an old grouch, haven’t they?”

Cassidy giggled, the melodic sound warming me from the inside out. “Maybe they just find your voice soothing,” she teased.

“Doubtful,” I scoffed, unable to keep the grin from spreading across my features. “More likely they’re mocking me for your entertainment.”

“I would never!” she protested with an exaggerated gasp, placing a hand over her heart. “Why, captain, you wound me with such accusations.”

Our eyes met, held, and I found myself utterly transfixed by the playful spark dancing in her gaze. In that moment, the world narrowed until there was nothing but her - this vibrant, effervescent human who had barged so unexpectedly into my life and turned it utterly askew.

My chest constricted with a confusing tangle of emotions I couldn’t begin to unravel. Affection, certainly, and a healthy dose of bemused exasperation. But there was something else too, something deeper and more primal that made my skin feel too tight, my hearts race with a thunderous cadence.

Desire, plain and simple, burned through me like a solar flare.

Cassidy must have seen something of my inner turmoil reflected in my expression. Her teasing smile faltered, those soft lips parting ever so slightly as her gaze dropped to my mouth. The charged air between us thickened, laden with unspoken tension and possibility.

A soft trill sounded from within the enclosure, shattering the moment. I blinked rapidly as I forcibly dragged my attention away from the tempting curve of Cassidy’s lips.

Tugging at my collar, I stepped toward the habitat’s control panel. “Right, well...I should give you the rundown on caring for these little scamps.”

“R-right,” Cassidy stammered, color blooming high on those delectable cheeks. “That would be...helpful.”

As I launched into the protocols and procedures, part of me couldn’t help dwelling on that heated moment, the way she had looked at me with such naked longing. Was it merely an act, a glimpse of the fiction we were meant to project? Or had there been a kernel of truth behind those sultry eyes, a tantalizing hint of genuine desire simmering between us?

The thought was dizzying, intoxicating...and utterly distracting. I forced myself to remain focused, guiding Cassidy through the various systems and fail-safes with clinical detachment.

All the while, my senses remained preternaturally attuned to her every move, every breath. The way she worried her lush lower lip as she concentrated. The scent of her hair when she leaned in for a closer look. The slight brush of her arm against mine as she shifted position, sending sparks ricocheting along my nerves.

By the Celestials, this woman would be the death of me.

“I think I’ve got the gist,” Cassidy said at last, giving me a sidelong glance. “Though I may need some...hands-on instruction when it comes to their care.”

The words were innocuous enough, but the husky undercurrent in her tone made the fine hairs at the nape of my neck prickle. My mouth went dry as a desert plain.

“I’m sure that can be...arranged,” I managed in a strained rasp.

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