Page 14 of Stripe Theory

“Where’s the fun in that?” She grinned, bouncing toward the equipment. “Science needs excitement. Adventure. The occasional purple explosion.”

“Science needs precision.” He followed close enough that she could feel his warmth along her back. “Structure.”

“Says the man who turns into a giant cat.”

“Tiger,” he corrected, his breath ghosting across her ear. “A very structured, disciplined tiger.”

“Who apparently can’t help playing bodyguard every time something makes a loud noise.” She turned to face him, realizing too late how close that brought them.

His eyes locked onto hers, that predatory focus making her breath catch. “Natural instinct.”

“To protect random scientists?”

“You’re not random.” The words came out rougher, almost a growl, and her knees definitely didn’t go weak at the sound.

Before she could process that statement—and the implications that made her pulse race—the centrifuge beeped urgently. They jumped apart like guilty teenagers, though they hadn’t actually been doing anything wrong. Unless thinking extensively about how someone’s mouth might taste counted as wrong.

“I should...” She gestured vaguely at the machine.

“Yes.” He straightened his tie again, and she firmly told herself not to imagine other ways to dishevel his perfect appearance. “Professional distance is important.”

“Right. Professional.” She turned to the centrifuge, pretending her cheeks weren’t burning. “Though I have to point out—professional distance usually doesn’t involve growling.”

A strangled sound escaped him, something between a laugh and a groan. “I don’t growl.”

“You literally growled at my centrifuge twenty minutes ago.”

“It was threatening you.”

“It was doing science.”

“Recklessly.”

“The best kind of science.” She winked at him over her shoulder because apparently her self-preservation instincts had taken a vacation. “Like the best kind of everything else.”

His eyes flashed gold, his control slipping just enough to send a thrill down her spine. Before he could respond, Maya’s voice rang out from the doorway.

“If you two are done with your ‘professional’ tension, we have actual work to do.” She made air quotes aroundprofessional. “Unless you’d rather keep eye-fucking across the lab equipment?”

“Maya!” Alora squeaked.

“What? I’m just saying what everyone’s thinking.” Maya grinned. “Also, your mom called. She’s making her famous lasagna for dinner tonight. You know, the one that takes hours to prepare? Almost like she’s trying to impress someone?”

Alora groaned. “She’s going to be impossible.”

“Not as impossible as your dad’s going to be.” Maya’s grin turned wicked. “I hear he’s preparing a full presentation on his expectations for anyone interested in his daughter’s... research.”

Rehan’s composure cracked just enough to show alarm. “Perhaps I should?—”

TEN

“Don’t even think about backing out.” Alora poked his chest, then immediately regretted it when she encountered solid muscle. “If I have to suffer through this, so do you.”

His eyes dropped to where her finger still pressed against his suit jacket. “As you wish.”

And oh, that was definitely not fair—quotingPrincess Bridein that voice while looking at her like that. There had to be laws against this sort of thing.

“Right.” She stepped back, reminding herself that spontaneous combustion from sexual tension probably wouldn’t help her research. “Let’s science. I mean, do science. Professionally.”

---