Page 103 of Alien Burn

Dhomhes looked at her as if she had made it difficult for him to remember a perfectly ordinary language.

At last he said, “I'm very glad you told me.”

“I thought you might be.”

“Your judgment is excellent.”

The laugh escaped her before she could make it quiet. He was smiling too, his hand still holding hers, the reddish bronze of his cheek warmer beneath her fingertips than she had expected.

She let her fingers fall away slowly.

His gaze followed them.

“I would like to kiss you too,” he said.

Her stomach dipped.

“I thought you might.”

“Though that guard is trying quite so hard to study the hedge.”

She looked past his shoulder.

The guard was, indeed, showing remarkable interest in the leaves.

Heat rushed up her neck. Dhomhes's laugh was low and helpless, and she elbowed him gently for having noticed.

“Don't.”

“He deserves recognition for his discipline.”

“Dhomhes.”

“All right.”

He brought her hand up instead and kissed her knuckles, carefully clear of the healing cut.

The humor left her all at once.

His mouth was warm. The touch lasted only a moment. She felt it long after he lowered their hands.

He met her gaze.

She wanted that warm mouth against hers. He was close enough now that she could feel his breath, and she leaned closer.

He paused just short of her lips. “You are tempting me.”

“Good,” she whispered, and closed the distance.

His mouth settled against hers, warm and careful. She moved closer, her fingers curling in his coat. He made a low sound against her lips and kissed her again, firmly enough to make her grip tighten.

She had meant to give him one kiss. Now she tipped her face up for another, and his hand came to her cheek as he met her.

Then his comm sounded.

They drew apart slowly. Dhomhes looked down at the comm and sighed.

“You have to go,” she said.