Page 27 of A Delicate Conquest

Apparently, these guysreveredthe humans they took as their mates.

Clarissa had certainly told her good things. She didn’t have a bad word to say about the former High Commander.

Then, there was her interaction with Mavrel. The fact that she’d had the occasional thought about him since then and perhaps indulged in a flight of fancy more than once.

The invitation had been a surprise, but by then, she’d been mulling Kordolians over in her mind so much that she’d been primed to accept.

Bea had never been the overly cautious type.

She was intrigued, excited, wanting, and a little wary all at once.

The curiosity was killing her, too.

She wanted to see him again.

She wanted to know what it would feel like to spend time with him—to be the focus of all his attention.

At the same time, she realized how absurd all of this was because, really, she knew next to nothing about him.

Except that he could be kind under pressure, that he didn’t lump her in with the humans who had acted stupidly, he was quick to apologize, he was protective of her, he made her feel funny inside…

As if her whole body was filled with tiny fluttering butterflies, and the collective beating of their wings was causing her to levitate.

This was an insane dream.

And based on the little she knew about Kordolians… if she and he got together, that was it.

Kordolians mated for life.

If she spurned him, she would never see him again—and he would suffer.

Did she really have a choice, or was choice just an illusion?

Bea tried to come to terms with her conflicting emotions. The unknown was killing her.

Calm down. Nothing’s decided yet. You just need to take this step by step.

She took a deep breath and tried to visualize herself in her own Happily Ever After—with Mavrel, the alien.

Bea hadn’t been actively looking for a man. She’d been content to date, party, and have the occasional one-night stand with someone cute—but with clear expectations set. She wasn’t looking to have children anytime soon, either.

What would Mavrel make of that?

But more importantly, what didshewant?

Him, physically, of course. She wouldn’t hesitate.

And after that…?

We’ll see. It’s out of my control now, anyway.

Bea got up and walked to the mini-bar. She might as well get herself a drink. Did they have anything lightly alcoholic? Something to calm her nerves?

The beverage bot was instantly familiar, although she couldn’t determine the make or model. Unsure whether the voice command function worked, she tapped the control panel and fixed herself a half-strength Martini spritz over ice.

When she turned around, drink in hand, he was standing there, in the doorway.

Bea nearly dropped her glass. Her hand trembled as she took a slow sip, trying to conceal how shaken she was—without success, probably.

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