Page 21 of Shielded Heart

Samantha raised her head and ran a hand through her hair, pulling the strands back and to the sides. She lowered her brows as a troubled gleam entered her eyes. Arcanthus was instantly on guard, curling his fingers into fists; he knew without her saying anything that she’d had another unpleasant encounter.

“I…don’t really have the means, and I don’t know my way around the city, but I was hoping that you, or maybe somebody you know, could, well, take me on a tour of the surface. I…really don’t want to travel alone. I know it’s a lot for me to ask, and I completely understand if you say no because you’re busy—”

“Tomorrow.”

She drew her head back slightly, confusion wrinkling her brow. “What?”

“I will pick you up tomorrow, Samantha. Will the morning work? Whatever is morning to you, I mean.”

“Wait. Youwill?”

He leaned his chin on one of his hands and grinned. “I’m a fool, but not so much of one as to pass up a chance to spend time with you.”

She blushed again; this time, it was accompanied by the hint of a smile on her pink lips. “I’d…like to see you too. In person, I mean.”

“Good. I’ll send a message before I leave.”

Her smile strengthened, shining in her eyes. It completely transformed her—for the duration of that smile, Arcanthus saw the vibrant, carefree female trapped in the prison of self-doubt and timidity she seemed to have constructed around herself. And she was breathtaking.

“Okay,” she said. “Goodnight, Alkorin.”

“Goodnight, Samantha. Dream of me. I’ll be dreaming of you.”

Her cheeks reddened further before she ended the connection.

Arcanthus sagged back in the chair, licked his lips, and finally released the groan that had been building in his chest. He dropped a hand to his pelvis and pressed down on his throbbing cock, which his loincloth could no longer hold back. His tail flicked back and forth over the floor.

“How am I going to show her around the surface with this jutting out the entire time?”

He grinned to himself; there were far worse problems to have.

Less than a minute later, the rear entry door—designed to blend seamlessly into the wall when shut—slid open, and Drakkal strode in.

“I said I wasn’t to be disturbed,” Arcanthus said.

“Since when do I take orders from you?” Drakkal stopped beside Arc’s chair.

“I suppose I’m going to have to start restricting access to those doors in defense of my privacy.”

“Whatever, sedhi. There’s talk on the streets that someone’s planning a big smuggling job. Might have a lot of business about to come our—”

Drakkal’s words faltered when he glanced down at Arcanthus. “Why are you grinning like that?” His eyes dipped lower. “And why are you fondling yourself? You’re supposed to beworking, Arcanthus.”

Arc didn’t move his hand. “Would you like me towork, Drakkal?”

“Just because your arms are made of metal doesn’t mean I can’t tear them off.”

Snickering, Arcanthus moved his arms to the armrests of the chair, his cock thankfully retreating into his slit; the interruption had been enough to kill the mood. “Iwashard at work. It’s only recently that I was diverted by a delectable distraction.”

Drakkal sighed and rolled his eyes. “The terran?”

“You know me so well. I’ll be taking her to the upper city tomorrow to show her the bountiful wonders.”

Drakkal growled. “Arcanthus, did we or did we notjusthave a talk about this?”

“Relax, Drak. I’ll be safe the entire time.”

“Why, because you’re going to becareful? I don’t think you even know what that word means.”

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