Page 8 of Right on Time
For the first time since their near-kiss, the Subcommander looked at Chloe. His gaze was stormy, as if this mess was somehow her fault.
“I’m fine.” That came out snappy, but she couldn’t help herself. “Let’s get this farce over with more quickly so I can return to my safe life on Earth.”
The Subcommander crossed his arms over his chest. “Do not pretend you were not excited about our flight before the gravity mishap, Lady Hloe. Your life here might be safe, but it could never offer you such excitement as the one you are experiencing and are about to experience.”
“Oh, please.” Chloe crossed her arms too. “Just because I was excited about flying in a limo doesn’t mean I want what comes next. I’m not into adventure.”
“I beg to differ.”
“I’m. Not. I get scared easily. I’m prone to panic.”
“There is nothing scary about the adventure that awaits you off Terra.”
“Ha! We’re not off Earth yet, and look what nearly happened.”
His wings fluttered. His gaze shifted.
Was he nervous? “I’m talking about the gravity mishap, Subcommander.”
“Ah.” His wings visibly relaxed behind his shoulders. “It was a small, non-fatal mistake. There was no serious danger to you. I assure you, Lady Hloe, from here onward everything will be running smoothly.”
Chloe winced inwardly. One should never tempt fate with such words. “How can you be so sure?”
A confident smile spread across his face, making him look even more attractive. Dang it. “Because I excel at my job, my lady. And I will be your only escort on the ship to the space station.”
Chloe’s heart did a little flip. Just great. She would be alone with the Subcommander for an entire day of space travel. It would be really hard to keep her hands off him.
In the sense that she wanted to punch him, of course. She couldn’t stand the extraterrestrial guy.
CHAPTER 5
Not a Lord
Nitiel couldn’t stand the thought of what had nearly happened. He thus tried to ignore the thought, but to no avail.
His mind kept supplying the image of the female in his lap, all those soft curves pressed against his hard body, her eyes boring into his, lips slightly parted in the most inviting of ways. The weakling that he was, he had nearly kissed her. Had nearly savored the lips of the female meant for his commander.
He rumbled, unable to hide the disdain he felt for himself.
Hloe Davison shot him a startled look but said nothing. She quickly returned her gaze to the window, through which the space port was now clearly visible.
But was Nitiel watching their descent? No, he was too busy watching every reaction on the Terran’s lovely face.
How in the Goddess’ name was he going to pilot the ship off the planet, when his eyes were constantly drawn to the female? Once off Terra, he would engage the autopilot, but until then… This mission couldn’t end fast enough.
Silence reigned in the limo during the several minutes it took them to land at the VIP parking lot. Unlike at the start of the trip, however, Hloe Davison was silent because she was busy taking in the port with an awed expression, and not because she was glued to her communication device. Nitiel actually found this silence pleasant.
As soon as the vehicle landed, he exited and stretched his wings. He usually preferred to fly medium distances himself rather than aboard a transport. Especially given how restless this mission had made him, a flight would do him good. He should go for a flight in the space station’s Arboretum after he delivered his charge to Commander Siriniel.
Nitiel went to open the door for said charge, only to find her halfway out the limo.
“Lady Hloe, wait!” He quickly offered her his hand.
She raised one elegant brow but placed her hand in his. “Thank you. Who knows what would have happened had I exited the car on my own.”
Was she being sarcastic? Nitiel was too busy marveling at the sight of her hand engulfed by his to care. How could someone so pale and fragile be a match for the full force of a Gaenthian male’s passion? The Goddess truly worked in mysterious ways.
“Subcommander?”