Page 54 of Shielded Heart

The place was like a military bunker that had been purchased by a very rich individual with a taste for extravagant simplicity in his décor.

They turned down another corridor—this one only a few meters long—that ended at a lone door. Kiloq tapped the control panel beside the doorframe.

“Yes?” asked Arcanthus through the speaker.

“Samantha is here to see you, boss,” Kiloq replied.

The door slid open. Kiloq stood aside and gestured her onward.

Samantha remained in place for a moment, glancing at the cren before turning her full attention to the doorway. She’d been excited at the prospect of seeing Arcanthus again, but now that she was here, anxiety sank its claws into her heart.

I am strong. Even if I don’t feel it.

Taking in a deep breath, Samantha stepped past Kiloq and crossed the threshold.

The doorway led her into a large, long, rectangular chamber. Several huge fish tanks, filled with creatures both vaguely familiar and utterly alien, were built into the wall across from Sam, separated from each other by sections of wall with soft red and purple lights that gave the room a moody luminescence. The strength of those lights was enhanced by the dark floors and furnishings. At the far end of the chamber to the left stood a huge blast door. A carpet, decorated with isometric patterns that were the same colors as the lights, ran down the center of the room. It was flanked by long, low couches on either side.

“You’ve finally come. I was getting ready to join you in the bath,” Arcanthus said, calling her attention to the right.

On that end of the room, a set of wide, low steps led up to a raised platform. The desk set at the platform’s front edge was about half the width of the platform, and it was covered with at least a dozen monitors and holo screens. More screens lined the nearby walls, interrupted only by larger equipment she couldn’t identify.

Arcanthus stood just to the side of the desk. He wore a silky, royal purple robe; the garment hung open to reveal the muscles of his lean torso and his dark loincloth. His lopsided grin made her knees weak.

What was it that made fangs so damn sexy?

It’s not the fangs, it’shim.

The door closed softly behind her. She glanced over her shoulder to see an unbroken section of wall between two more fish tanks, displaying not even the slightest hint of an opening.

She faced Arcanthus again. There would be no escaping him.

And I don’t want to.

He descended the steps at a leisurely pace, his tail swishing behind him, his glowing eyes locked on her.

“How was it? The bath?” He raked his gaze down her body, all the way to her toes, and ran it slowly back up.

“It was…wonderful,” she replied breathlessly. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“You look exquisite, little terran.” His eyes, gleaming with desire, finally met hers again. “And Kiloq got to see you in that dress first. It should’ve beenme.” His lips pulled back with that last word, baring his fangs.

The hints of jealousy and possessiveness in his tone sent a thrill through her. She blushed and shifted on her feet, squeezing her thighs together; her earlier arousal hadn’t quite subsided.

He lifted an arm and gestured to the nearby couches. “Please. Sit. I want you to be comfortable.”

Samantha slowly walked toward him, self-consciously clasping her hands in front of her stomach. When she neared the end of the closest couch, she turned and sat down upon it, keeping her eyes on him throughout. Her skirt parted, revealing her pale thigh; she tugged the material back over it and pinned it in place with a hand.

She was caught by surprise when Arcanthus strolled over and eased down on the cushion beside her. She wasn’t sure why the move caught her off guard; Arcanthus wasn’t the sort of person who would’ve seated himself on the couch across from hers, and sheknewthat.

He stretched an arm along the backrest behind her shoulders. His tail slipped between her body and the backrest, curled around her hips, and draped across her thighs, forcing her to lift her hands. Not sure of what to do, she settled her palms atop it; its skin was as firm, warm, and smooth as that of his chest.

“What is this place?” she asked. That was a safe subject, right?

Arcanthus slid a little closer, pressing his thigh against hers. “This is my workshop. I spend most of my time in here.”

“Where you…forge identities?”

“Where I put my considerabletalentsto use.”

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