Page 34 of Riv's Sanctuary

He didn’t know what to make of it.

She had no fangs to challenge with, yet her teeth were bared.

It was so ridiculous, it was almost unbelievable.

He reacted the only way he knew how.

Slamming his palms flat against the table, he leaned in so he was face to face with her, a snarl on his own lips.

Wide eyes blinked back at him and her challenge died as the color drained from her face.

8

Fuck.

This guy, Riv, was intense.

Lauren swallowed hard.

He was so close, she didn’t even dare move.

Don’t grin. Never grin. And don’t let your stomach growl.

Good thing she’d had a year with nothing to do but watch and learn from the many aliens that passed by her terrarium.

But she could have done with Geblit giving her a heads up about this guy. She already had enough disadvantages as it was.

Lauren fought to keep her breathing level as she waited for Riv to back away. She was pretty sure he could rip her throat out with those fangs he was baring so close to her face.

And damnit. She’d just opened her soul to him, giving him the best proposal she could think of concerning why he should let her stay and what had he done? He’d just narrowed his eyes at her and was now snarling in her face.

It was almost as if he didn’t give a shit what she was saying or he didn’t understand what she was saying.

Crap.

She was an idiot.

Of course, he didn’t understand what she was saying.

He didn’t have English downloaded on his translator, she was sure.

That put her at an even greater disadvantage.

Biting her bottom lip, she tried to keep her breathing level.

Green eyes fell to the movement of her lips and she watched in surprise as his snarl died a bit.

His nostrils flared as he suddenly inhaled deeply and his gaze shot back to hers.

Something passed before his eyes before he leaned back, closed his palms into fists, and sat back in the chair, crossing his arms as he did.

He was just staring at her now, and Lauren wasn’t sure what to do.

So they were back to this? Him just looking at her, studying her?

She guessed she should do the same?

Leaning back, she crossed her arms and his gaze followed her movement.