Page 36 of Coveted
She hadn’t realized it until he asked, but her stomach answered for her, rumble loud in the quiet room, and once again she felt her cheeks warm with embarrassment. Vax only grinned, leaning back in his seat and stretching before climbing to his feet.
“Let’s go grab some lunch while I have a moment. I’ll be busy with meetings shortly.”
He paused beside the couch, holding out a hand to help her up. She was less hesitant to take it than she had been the first time, and her heart fluttered when he kept hold of it as they left the suite.
It was only a few steps to the entrance of the dining room, and her heart sank when she spotted the same replicator her father’s hopper sported.
“I’m sorry I don’t have a chef onboard. I tend to keep things simple, but we have a fully staffed kitchen at the Administration Building.”
Alana shook her head, rushing to reassure him.
“It’s no problem. I figured out how to use the replicator on the trip to Earth, it’s just not quite the same.”
Vax huffed a laugh, releasing her hand as they stopped in front of the machine. She felt a pang at the loss of his touch but studied the machine to hide it.
“I grew up eating from one of these for most meals. Sometimes it’s the real thing that doesn’t taste right to me.”
She glanced up to see his lips quirked, one brow raised as he looked down at her.
“Tell me what you like, and I’ll see if we can manage something palatable.”
She raised a shoulder and let it drop.
“I’m not picky.”
Nodding, he turned his attention to the machine, hands moving over the screen with familiarity. She stood beside him, watching as he chose their meals and made adjustments. Even though she watched him do it, she couldn’t have said what it was he changed, but she had to admit even the smell of the food was better than anything she’d made on her own.
Vax carried the tray of food to the little round table by the door, placing a full bowl of something in front of each chair before putting another with rice beside it. It was far more than she could eat, but if it tasted as good as it smelled, she’d try.
“So, what kind of plans have you made so far?” he asked as he pulled a chair out and waited for her to take a seat. He was careful as he scooted her forward, her weight nothing to his strength.
“Well, that depends on how many children there are, as well as their age range, and how their education is being handled at the moment. I should also look into the school in the city to see if we can match them up under one system. Oh, and plans willdepend on the budget. I’ve got a few options once I see what there is to work with.”
He took the seat across from her, giving her a brief nod and pointing to the bowl sitting before her. Steam rose from the thick liquid inside, a few recognizable vegetables breaking the surface. It didn’t look like anything she’d ever tried, but she lifted her spoon at his encouragement, bringing it up to blow on before letting it past her lips.
Vax didn’t look away from her mouth, self-consciousness keeping her from tasting the food until she bit into one of the starchy, purple bodas. It was perfectly cooked, its slight sweetness melding with the hint of spice in the stew and almost making her moan.
She rushed to chew and swallow, already scooping another bite.
“That’s so good.”
Vax smiled when she glanced up at him. He finally took his own bite, letting out a hum of agreement.
“One of my favorites, and a regular my mother made when I was a kid. It was cheap and filling, which was important when you were trying to feed three alphas.”
Her brows rose as she inhaled another spoonful. She craved the next bite as soon as she swallowed, but wanted to savor the dish at the same time, and she had to purposely pace herself.
“Three? I’m assuming your father and a brother?”
They hadn’t had a chance to talk about their families yet, and she wondered if his still lived at the Camp he grew up in.
He nodded at her question, and she took the time to eat another bite before speaking again.
“I have a younger brother, too. We were close when we were little, but his training kept him busy the past few years. He was required to serve in Libeqor’s military to be able to rule, and he took extra classes on politics and such when he was home.”
It had been hard to adjust when he’d left for military training and she’d lost the only person she’d have called her friend. By the time Bennan returned he was no longer a gangly young alpha growing into his dynamic, and they’d never returned to their easy relationship.
“Will your family be waiting for us when we arrive?”
