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She arched into hiainst his beautiful, sculpted chest

He didn’t cover her nose—she could still breathe, and though he easily do about what he’d done had hurt or scared her

A light on his cuff flashed, probably telling him how much he’d aroused her

His eyes flashed violet, but not with arousal—with anger “I told you not to speak,” he hissed

Fresh tears flooded her eyes

“Don’t” He always said humans were too emotional, and he particularly didn’t like when she cried, although he’d grown to understand it in their tiether

She turned her face away, as if she ht hide her emotions, and he released her with a muttered curse

He remained still, braced on his ar beat, then he lowered hi arainst his front, all the tension in her muscles eased

Yes

This

She needed him, needed the closeness, his touch Even if he wasn’t ready to talk or to punish her, at least he didn’t deny her this She closed her eyes and let the re tears run down her nose onto the pillow

The following planet rotation, she’d try again

He couldn’t block her out forever

~~

Leora woke to the sound of Seke holo-conferencing with one of his heads of security, Lundric, a handsoe She reraot in the view