Page 15 of Lashe

But her clear attraction was enough of a surprise that I paused, and it was enough to bring her back to her senses. The hands on my chest firmed up and pressed me away.

I released her instantly, letting my hand slide down her neck and over her shoulder before falling away.

She looked up at me with eyes wide and a little glassy. “Wh-what was the question?”

I didn’t even know therewasa question. I was too disoriented to form words.

“What is this about being your mate?” She placed the back of her hand against her swollen lips. Her fingers trembled. “What thehell, Lashe?”

Right. I told her she was my mate. The truth. I rubbed my face, trying to school my painfully aroused body. “I said what I said,” I ground out. “What do you need to know?”

“What do Ineedto know?” She looked at me like I was out of my mind. “This…revelation comes out of the blue, then you go and kiss me like that.” She looked away, cheeks flushed. “That was agreatkiss.”

“It was,” I agreed, just beginning to get my head together. “I didnotmean for this to happen.”

“Oh yeah, I could really tell,” she said with an eye roll. “Grabbing a woman and kissing her is something that happens completely against your will.”

The sarcasm was cute, since I’d been around her long enough to know that this was her reaction to stress. “I am sorry, but facts are facts. You are my mate.” I crossed my arms over my chest and looked down at her. “I do not expect you to reciprocate my feelings.”

She held up her hands. “Okay, slow down. What makes you so sure I am your mate? Did you get…the marks?”

“Yes. They appeared whenyoutouched me.” Even I could hear the accusatory edge to my voice, as if it was her fault that wewere in this unbearable situation, now. It wasn’t. It was nature. Something out of both of our control.

“When did I touch you?” she asked.

“When I was in that chair.” I pointed to the furniture in question. “You touched my face. I’d been trying to avoid skin contact with you. I should’ve known it would happen in this situation.”

She cocked her head, her eyes softening as they looked at me. “Now, I remember. Your eyes looked off. I was worried you’d hit your head or something.”

I scowled at her. “I hadn’t.”

“How long have you known I’m your mate?”

I met her gaze without flinching. “Five years.”

“You’ve known for…five years?” It was her turn to scowl as she smacked my upper arm. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Iworkfor you,” I retorted. “And frankly, your love life was colorful enough without me adding to it.”

Her brows snapped low. “Maybe I wouldn’t have had such a ‘colorful’ love life,” she said, making air quotes, “if you had told me you had a thing for me in the beginning.”

“That’s the problem right there,” I said, stepping closer. “It’s not a thing. It’s a life bond and your relationships were, well, not that. Plus, I’m your transport operator,” I said, ignoring the dark, uneven flush of anger on her cheeks. “I don’t think you even knew my name until about a year in.”

“That’s not true,Lashe Toruck. I knew who you were on the first day you greeted me,” she said. “Your hair was shorter and you were wearing a grayish-blue suit that looked fucking incredi—” She held up a hand and shook her head once. “Anyway, I noticed you in the beginning. I never thought you found me the slightest bit attractive.”

“Why would you think that?” I asked, astounded.

“For one thing, you showed no signs of interest,” she said dryly, crossing her arms. She took a defensive stance. “Also, I thought you were out of my league.”

I let out a laugh of disbelief. “You’re joking.”

“No.” She poked a finger at my chest. “Have you seen yourself in the mirror lately? You could have any woman you want. Or man, for that matter.”

Her argument made absolutely no sense to me. I knew what I looked like and I couldn’t say that my appearance deviated from that of other Destran males of my acquaintance. “I look like an average Destran male.”

She snorted and shook her head. “You look Destran, butnotaverage.”

“And you are the most beautiful female I’ve ever laid eyes on. You’re brave. Strong. Incredibly smart. You’re responsible for saving my people, Anna. I look at you and I forget how to talk.”

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