Page 20 of Stripe for the Picking
And God, what a man.
Heat pooled in her body as she remembered the evening—dinner at the Council event, dancing with Rylan's strong hands on her waist, and the way he'd looked at her like she was the most fascinating thing in his world. Then that magical stroll along the ocean boardwalk and sitting pressed against his solid warmth on the bench under the moons.
I actually kissed him. On the cheek, but still.
The memory of her boldness made her cheeks flush. She'd never been that forward with a man before, but something about Rylan made her feel confident and desired. He didn't seem intimidated by her intelligence or success—if anything, he seemed to crave it, wanting her to shine brighter rather than dim herself to make him feel better.
This place is absolutely magical. Everything feels possible here.
The strangest part was how familiar it all felt—the environment, the technology, even Rylan himself. She should have been extremely overwhelmed, terrified even, but instead she felt like she was finally where she belonged. Like some part of her had been waiting her entire life for this planet, this purpose, and this man.
Wren swung her legs out of bed, her bare feet touching the cool floor as she padded to the closet. She selected a crisp white blouse and a navy blue pencil skirt that hugged her curves perfectly, paired with heels that gave her an extra boostof confidence. Professional yet feminine—exactly the image she wanted to project.
The morning air was pleasantly warm as she stepped out of her apartment complex, the twin suns already climbing higher in the alien sky. Purple-leafed trees swayed gently in the breeze, and she could smell the unique scents of Nova Aurora—ozone from the advanced technology and something floral she couldn't quite identify.
Wren had just reached the main pathway leading to Defense Nexus when she heard footsteps jogging up behind her. Her pulse quickened even before she turned around, some instinct telling her exactly who it was.
"Mind if I walk with you?" Rylan's deep voice sent shivers down her spine.
She turned to find him slightly breathless from his jog, looking absolutely devastating in his black tactical uniform. The fitted t-shirt showcased every muscle in his broad chest and arms, while the pants emphasized his muscled thighs. Military authority radiated from every inch of his six-foot-two frame, but she caught that hint of nervous energy that seemed to surface whenever he was around her.
I love that I affect him like this.The thought gave her a delicious sense of power—this commander, this brilliant strategist was actually flustered by her presence.
"I suppose I can tolerate your company," she said with a teasing smile, falling into step beside him.
His answering grin transformed his usually serious features. "That's very generous of you."
They walked through Defense Nexus's front entrance together, the morning bustle of military personnel creating a backdrop of purposeful energy. In the elevator, Wren found herself hyperaware of his proximity—the subtle scent of hiscedar cologne, and the way his presence seemed to fill the confined space.
"Sleep well?" His voice carried that rough edge that made her stomach flutter.
"Better than I have in months," she admitted. "This place has a strange calming effect."
"Nova Aurora tends to do that to humans. Something about the dual suns and the energy fields."
The elevator doors opened onto their floor, and they walked over to their side-by-side workstations. She settled into her chair, her fingers gently tapping over the holographic interface as she logged into the systems. The technology still amazed her—so far beyond anything on Earth, yet somehow intuitive to navigate.
She pulled up the overnight security reports, her analytical mind immediately processing the data streams. No new breach attempts, no rogue programs, and no suspicious activity. Their combined countermeasures from yesterday had held perfectly.
"We're clean," she announced, relief evident in her voice. "Not a single attempted infiltration overnight."
Rylan looked over from his own console, and the smile that spread across his features made her heart skip. "You actually did it. You bought us real time."
"We did it," she corrected, meeting his intense blue gaze. "Your systematic approach combined with my fresh perspective."
"We make a pretty good team," he said, his voice filled with pride.
Wren felt her chest tighten at Rylan's words, the simple phrase carrying more weight than it should. Memories suddenly crashed through her—sitting across from Mark in their shared office six years ago, him saying those exact words before stealing her code and claiming credit with their biggest client. Beforethat, David Miller at Nextech Industries, praised her brilliance right before assigning her grunt work while promoting less qualified male colleagues.
Don't get ahead of yourself, Wren. You've known him for exactly twenty-four hours.
She nodded and forced her expression neutral, turning back to her console without acknowledging his comment verbally. The silence stretched between them, heavy and awkward, and she could feel Rylan's confusion radiating from the workstation beside her. When she risked a glance, his jaw had tightened, and those blue eyes were shuttered with hurt.
Good. Professional distance. That's what you need.
But even as she told herself this, her heart squeezed at the wounded look that flickered across his features before he buried it behind his commander mask.
She's the one who kissed him last night, for crying out loud—what kind of mixed signals was she sending him?
