Page 18 of Stripe for the Picking
She needs to see how much she means to this place. How much she means to me.
The moonlight reflected off the pink water in shimmering ribbons, creating an almost magical atmosphere. Rylan felt emboldened by the romantic setting and the way Wren seemed to relax beside him. Without overthinking the consequences, he reached out and took her hand in his.
Her fingers were delicate compared to his, but he could feel the strength in them—the same hands that had navigated their complex systems with genius-level precision. To his relief and secret delight, she didn't pull away. Instead, she moved closer, her shoulder brushing against his arm.
Perfect. This is exactly where she belongs.
They found a weathered bench overlooking the water, and Rylan shrugged out of his black suit jacket without hesitation. The fabric still held his warmth as he draped it around her shoulders, his hands lingering for just a moment longer than necessary.
"Thank you," she murmured, pulling the jacket closer and settling against him.
The contact sent electricity shooting through him. His tiger purred with joy at having his mate pressed against him, her intoxicating scent filling his lungs. Rylan wrapped his arm around her, marveling at how perfectly she fit against him.
"You are essential to Nova Aurora," he said quietly, staring up at the moons while fighting the urge to confess that she was essential to him too.
Soon. When she's ready to hear the truth about what she really means to me.
"I'm going to keep relying on your brilliant mind and sharp instincts," he continued, his voice dropping to that intimate rumble that seemed to affect her. "Not just for the cybersecurity threats, but for the Protocol Trials starting in five days."
Her eyes lit up with excitement, that spark of adventure and challenge that had drawn him to her from the moment they met. "I can't wait," she said, her enthusiasm infectious. "We're going to absolutely dominate."
There's that confidence I love so much about her.
Rylan tightened his hold on her, breathing in her scent while the pink waves created a hypnotic soundtrack. "I want you to feel comfortable here, Wren. And I want you to realize your true worth and what you really mean to this place."
What you really mean to me.
Even though he couldn't voice the truth to her quite yet, he was content to hold her under the two moons, planning how to show her exactly how much she meant to him.
Wren's delicate yawn caught Rylan's attention instantly, pulling him from his contemplation of her beautiful profile against the moonlit ocean. Her eyelids fluttered slightly, exhaustion finally showing through her composed exterior.
Damn, I'm being selfish keeping her out here this late.
His protective instincts flared as he realized what an overwhelming day she'd endured—wormhole travel, arriving on an alien planet, meeting him, diving headfirst into their cybersecurity crisis, attending a formal Council dinner, and now this intimate moment on the beach. Any human would be utterly drained.
"I should really get you back to your apartment," he said softly as guilt gnawed at him. "You've had quite the long day, and I apologize for keeping you out so late."
Wren turned to face him, her green eyes sparkling despite the fatigue he could now clearly see. "It's no big deal. I really enjoyed tonight with you—the dinner, the dancing." She paused, a soft smile playing at her lips. "You're not nearly as terrible of a dancer as you claimed to be."
God, she caught me there too.What else can she detect about me? Can she sense our mate bond yet?
"And I especially enjoyed being here at the beach," she continued, her voice dropping to something more intimate. "I liked seeing this softer side of you."
His chest tightened at her words. The wall he'd spent decades building around his heart cracked a little more. "I may be a better dancer than I claimed," he admitted, surprised by his own honesty. "And I really enjoyed this alone time with you as well."
More than I should. More than is safe for either of us.
Rylan stood first, his movements fluid despite the reluctance coursing through him. He extended his hand to help her up, his tiger purring at the contact when her smaller fingers slipped into his palm. The urge to pull her against him, to claim those lips that had been tempting him all evening, nearly overwhelmed his control at that moment.
She needs rest. Stop being selfish.
But as she rose gracefully from the bench, his suit jacket still draped over her shoulders, Rylan couldn't help but wish they could freeze this moment forever. The way the moonlight shone in her dark hair, how perfectly her hand fit in his, the contentment he felt in her presence—it was intoxicating and magical.
They walked back along the boardwalk in comfortable silence, the pink waves providing a gentle soundtrack to their steps. Rylan kept his hand on her back, partly protective and partly because he couldn't resist maintaining that connection. Her heels clicked rhythmically against the wooden planks, and he found himself matching his longer stride to her pace.
The pathways through the military base were quieter now, most of the personnel having retired for the evening. Security lights cast pools of illumination as they made their way towardthe residential sector, passing the occasional night patrol who nodded respectfully at Rylan's commanding presence.
When they finally reached her apartment door, Rylan felt that familiar reluctance to leave her side. The day had been perfect—too perfect to end.
