Page 69 of Shielded Heart

Shaking his head, Arcanthus started toward the lounge, with Drakkal falling into place beside him.

“Are you going to start chewing my food for me, Mother Drakkal?”

“You keep it up, and I’ll have no choice. It’d be hard for you to chew anything without any teeth.”

Arcanthus laughed. “I’ll remind you that the one time we fought each other, I emerged the victor.”

Drakkal huffed. “That was a nonlethal bout. Doesn’t count.”

“Why wouldn’t it count? Because the big, bad beasty lost and had his pride wounded?”

“Because it was nonlethal. Hadto hold back so I wouldn’t kill you.”

“Really? It’s strange you say that, becauseIwas holding back so I wouldn’t killyou.”

“That why you were breathing so hard when it was done?”

“That’s whyyouwere almost unconscious when it was done.”

Drakkal shrugged and lifted a hand, palm up. “Felt bad for you. You were trying so hard, I didn’t want to crush your spirit.”

The azhera stepped in front of Arcanthus when they reached the lounge entrance and pressed the button to open the door. Thumping music spilled into the hallway from within. Drakkal paused in the doorway, brows lifting and lips curling into a smirk.

“What is it?” Arcanthus asked.

“You’ll see,” Drakkal replied, shifting aside.

Arcanthus moved forward and turned to look into the room.

The music was coming from one of the entertainment screens. Kiloq, Koroq, and Sekk’thi were dancing to the rhythm while Razi, seated at one of the tables, was counting out a large pile of credit chips—likely his winnings from a game of Conquerors. It wasn’t until Kiloq’s dancing shifted his position that Arcanthus understood why Drakkal looked so smug.

The cren was dancing with Samantha.

And she wasn’t merely dancing, she wasenjoyingherself, with her eyes sparkling and a huge grin on her face. Her cheeks were flushed, and one of her sleeves was rolled up. Though the clothing—clothing he’d purchased for her—covered her flesh, it didn’t mask her figure like her preferred attire.

Arc took a few seconds to appreciate the way the dark leggings clung to her shapely calves and thighs, the way her top hinted at the flare of her hips and the gentle slope of her small breasts.

At the same time, a pang of jealousy struck him; she was here to enjoy her time withhim, not withthem. He shouldn’t have buried himself in work—he should’ve been spending time with her, should’ve been making her laugh and smile, should’ve been showing her that he was here for her, that he belonged to her as much as she belonged to him.

“What is she doing?” Drakkal asked.

“Dancing,” Arcanthus grated.

“That’sdancing?”

Arcanthus tilted his head and shifted his focus to Samantha’s movements instead of her body. There seemed to be little correlation between the music and the way she danced to it; her seemingly random, slightly unsteady motions were out of sync with the beat. But Arcanthus didn’t care. Her smile and her carefree laughter lit a fire in him that could not be extinguished.

He’d never finished his earlier business with her.

Arcanthus strode through the doorway. Drakkal said something behind him, but the azhera’s voice was muted and distant. Kiloq turned his face toward Arcanthus, eyes widening, and threw up his hands before backing away from Samantha.

The little terran didn’t seem to notice that her dance partner had retreated. She pumped her arms as she slowly turned in place, granting Arcanthus a view of her curved backside.

Without hesitation, Arc stepped up behind her and dropped his hands to her hips, drawing her ass against his pelvis.

Samantha yelped and slapped her hands down atop his. “No touching there! Only Arrrrr”—she squeezed his hands and turned her head to look over her shoulder, her lips lifting in a wide smile—“canthus! You’re here!”

“I am,” he replied, those simple words made infinitely difficult with her backside brushing the protruding tip of his cock.

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