Page 19 of Stripe Theory

“Maintaining professional distance.” But he stepped closer, contradicting his words. “Focus on the research.”

“Right. Research.” She definitely wasn’t staring at his mouth. “Very important research.”

“Critical research.” His voice dropped lower, rougher. “Which requires clear heads and professional boundaries.”

“Absolutely.” She swayed toward him slightly. “No distractions.”

A growl rumbled in his chest. “No complications.”

“Pure science.”

“Pure logic.”

“Then why are you looking at me like you want to eat me?”

His pupils dilated fully, gold swallowing his irises. Before he could respond, her phone chimed loudly. They jumped apart.

The message was from Maya: Hope dinner was fun! BTW, the centrifuge is making weird noises again. Purple Smoke: The Sequel?

“I should...” Alora gestured vaguely toward the street.

“Yes.” Rehan straightened, his mask of control sliding back into place. “The lab.”

“Professional distance?”

“Exactly.” But his eyes still glowed gold in the darkness.

They maintained careful space between them during the ride back to the lab, though every stoplight felt charged with electric tension. Alora caught him watching her in the reflections of the car windows, his gaze heavy with things neither of them was ready to name.

Professional distance, she reminded herself firmly. Focus on the science. Not on how his sweater clung to his shoulders, or how his hands gripped the steering wheel with controlled strength, or how his growl sent shivers down her spine...

The lab would be safe. The lab had rules, protocols. The lab definitely didn’t have dark corners perfect for exploring what that growl meant, or testing whether his control could actually snap...

Science. She needed science. And possibly a cold shower.

Or several.

FOURTEEN

The lab greeted them with its familiar chaos—papers scattered across counters, equipment humming, and Stripes supervising from his perch atop a monitor. Maya lounged by the centrifuge, which emitted ominous clicking sounds.

“Welcome back!” She grinned wickedly. “How was dinner? Learn anything interesting about shifter biology?”

“One more word,” Alora warned, “and I’ll tell Hunter about your salsa dancing videos.”

Maya gasped. “You wouldn’t.”

“Try me.”

But Maya’s attention had shifted to Rehan, her shifter senses clearly picking up something interesting. Her grin widened. “Someone’s control is slipping. Rough night, boss?”

A low growl answered her.

“Right!” Alora clapped her hands. “Science time. Very important science that requires complete focus and absolutely no discussion of dinner or biology or anything not directly related to viral protein structures.”

She bustled over to the centrifuge, hoping her cheeks weren’t as red as they felt. The machine clicked again, more insistently.

“That doesn’t sound good,” Rehan observed, moving closer. His proximity sent her pulse racing despite her best attempts at professional distance.

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