Page 97 of Victoria's Discovery

He was still prattling on, his words beginning to stumble over one another, his expression growing flustered.

Slowly a smile began to spread across her face. With deliberate, controlled movements, she lifted Snitch off her shoulder and set him on the ground. Straightening, she eyed her prey and, with no warning, leapt on him.

He caught her automatically, as she’d known he would, eyes popping wide as his rambling cut off mid word. Locking her legs around him, she cupped his cheeks, growled, “Mine,” then kissed the hell out of him.

Sometimes a girl just needed to let her inner cavewoman out. This was definitely one of those times.

She thought she heard him mumble something like “Thank the gods,” before he buried his huge hands in her curls and slicked his tongues into her mouth, kissing her back with a ferocity that left her breathless.

The kiss was wild and messy, hungry and beautiful, and perfect.

And that was how Thorn and Vi’kail and everyone else that had still been in the conference room found them.

Too blissful to be embarrassed, she finally, reluctantly, pulled back from the kiss when she heard someone clear their throat. Grinning so widely her cheeks ached, she turned to find the group staring at her and Thegan wide-eyed. Well, except Thorn and Vi’kail. Their expressions were a mix of amusement, hunger, and greed, like they both wanted to snatch her away from Thegan and take their own kisses.

Glancing at Aria when she cleared her throat again, Victoria’s smile turned a little sheepish.

“Good for you, kid. Unfortunately, the rest of that’s going to have to wait.”

“Shit. Spar. Right! Yes. Of course. On my way there, now!” When Thegan didn’t put her down, she looked at him, wiggling pointedly, and whispered, “You gotta put me down.”

“I would rather not.” His voice came out oddly choked, but before she could question him, he let her slide down his body just enough for her to feel the very large, very hard erection straining against his jeans.

“Oh!” Her cheeks heated in realization.

Aria snickered but turned it into a cough and clapped, saying brusquely, “Alright, move along, everybody. You know your jobs. Get to ‘em.”

When they’d left, and Aria had closed the conference room doors behind her, Thorn stepped forward, turned her face to him with a finger under her chin. Smiling, he bent and nipped her lip then soothed it with a teasing kiss.

“I will see you this eve,værling.”

The promise in his eyes made her blush deepen. Nodding wordlessly, she watched him walk away until Vi’kail stepped forward and stole her attention.

Catching one of her curls, he gave it a gentle tug, drawing her forward to meet his lips. His kiss was hungry and entirely too brief, leaving her a little dreamy eyed when he pulled away.

“Be good, hmm? I’ll see you tonight.”

“Mmhm, so good.”

He chuckled lowly and released her curl, purple eyes sparkling.

When they were alone again, Thegan half groaned, half chuckled, resting his forehead against hers. Gazing at her from inches away, brushed their noses together, pressed another gentle kiss to her lips, then slowly set her on her feet.

“You will be careful?”

“Promise.”

He nodded, looking intensely reluctant to leave her, but they had jobs to do, ones that, unfortunately, didn’t include being naked and sweaty. A sly expression fell over his face. Bending, he gave her one more kiss, appearing pleased with himself. “I shall see you sooner than this eve.”

She didn’t catch his meaning until her comm pinged an hour or so later with a message saying she was clone group seventeen, with him.

A soft smile curled her lips. It became a giggle a moment later when her comm pinged a second time, showing that the group had been updated to include Thorn and Vi’kail.

“Busted,” she chuckled.

Chapter 47

Three hours later, and it was Victoria’s turn to head down to the labs to get her clone. She hadn’t been nervous up until that moment, too busy running around like a crazy person: talking to the inhabitants, making final preparations for Aria’s strike, and checking and rechecking security after Eseh’s arrival. But, as soon as her comm pinged with a scheduled notification that her group was up, the jitters set in.

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