Page 13

She could practically see him wrestling with himself, and the vulnerability in that moment made him seem less like an untouchable ruler and more like a man struggling with forces beyond his control.

"Lunch is ready."

She nodded and fell into step beside him as he turned and began walking down the corridor. His presence filled the space around them, making her acutely aware of every breath and every subtle shift of his powerful frame. The hallway stretched ahead, lined with tall windows that bathed everything in the alien sunlight of Nova Aurora's twin suns. They soon descended the grand staircase in silence, her hand trailing along the smooth stone banister while she fought the urge to steal glances at his profile. The strong line of his jaw, the way his thick black hair caught copper highlights in the streaming light—everything about him seemed designed to undermine her carefully constructed defenses.

This is exactly what you cannot afford right now. Getting distracted by an impossibly attractive man who expects you to become his mate.

At the base of the stairs, he guided her through another corridor that led toward the back of the estate. French doors opened onto a sprawling terrace that took her breath away. The view stretched across manicured gardens that seemed to go on forever, with pathways winding between exotic flowering trees and sculptured hedges. Beyond the gardens, the purple savanna rolled toward distant golden cliffs, creating a landscape so beautiful it seemed like something from a dream.

But the intimate table set for two made her heart skip several beats. Crystal glasses caught the light like captured stars. Fine china gleamed against pristine white linens. Delicate flowers she didn't recognize created a centerpiece that filled the air with a subtle, intoxicating fragrance. Everything about the setting whispered romance, from the soft cushions on the ornate chairs to the way the table was positioned to take advantage of the stunning view.

This is not a business lunch.

"Where's Vessa?" The question came out sharper than she'd intended. "I thought she would be joining us."

"Vessa got called into a meeting." His response was carefully neutral, but she caught the way his eyes assessed her reaction.

Panic fluttered in her chest. She'd been counting on Vessa's presence as a buffer, a way to maintain some professional distance from the magnetic pull she felt toward this man. Without his sister there to provide a diplomatic barrier, she'd be alone with Raxen and whatever this inexplicable connection between them was doing to her common sense.

You're a professional mediator. You can manage one lunch with a gorgeous man.

But even as she gave herself the stern lecture, her body was already responding to his proximity as he moved to pull out her chair. His hand brushed her arm as he helped her settle into her seat, and the contact sent a jolt of electrical awareness racing through her nerve endings. Her skin tingled where he'd touched her, warmth spreading outward like ripples in still water, and her breath hitched—a soft, involuntary sound she immediately regretted.

And he heard it. Because when he took his seat across from her, his blue eyes fixed on her face with a burning intensity that made heat flood through her entire body. The way he looked at her made her feel vulnerable, as if he could see straight through her facade to the woman underneath, desperately trying not to acknowledge how much she wanted him to touch her again.

Professional. Objective. Distant.

The words became a frantic mantra as she forced herself to focus on the meal before them. The distraction strategy proved surprisingly effective—the food was unlike anything she'd ever tasted. Delicate flavors danced across her palate, and textures were both familiar and completely foreign. Each bite was a revelation, so much more complex and satisfying than anything she'd ever experienced on Earth.

"You like it."

His observation made her realize she'd been making small sounds of appreciation without noticing. Heat crept up her neck as she met his gaze, finding amusement dancing in those impossibly blue eyes.

"This is the best food I've ever tasted." The admission came out breathless, and she caught the way his pupils dilated at the sound.

Then he smiled. The transformation was devastating. The stern lines of his face softened, making him look younger, less burdened by the heavy weight of leadership he carried. The smile reached his eyes, creating tiny lines at the corners that spoke of a man capable of joy despite his responsibilities. For a moment, she could see past the Alpha ruler to the man underneath—someone she could easily imagine falling in love with.

Dangerous thinking.

But the warning came too late. Her heart was already racing, her body already responding to the warmth in his expression with a yearning that had nothing to do with professional objectives and everything to do with the way he looked at her, as if she were the most precious thing in his world.

SIX

RAXEN

The genuine smile that spread across Raxen's face felt foreign after weeks of forced diplomatic expressions and carefully controlled reactions to mounting crises. Watching Amara's obvious delight with the Nova Auroran cuisine—the way her eyes widened with each bite, the soft sounds of appreciation she made without realizing—stirred something deep in his chest.

When was the last time I smiled like this?

His lion purred with satisfaction at their mate's pleasure, pressing closer with each passing moment. The beast wanted to preen, to provide, to show her everything their territory could offer. More than that, it wanted to claim what belonged to them—sweep her from that chair and carry her upstairs to his private chambers where he could worship every inch of her until she understood exactly what she meant to him. The thought sent heat flooding through his body, and he gripped the edge of the elegant table to steady himself.

Control yourself. She's not ready for that.

But control had never been this difficult. Her intoxicating scent—that blend of lavender and pear that made his senses reel—wrapped around him like silk, flooding his awareness until breathing became a conscious effort. The emerald blouse she'd changed into brought out the stunning green of her eyes and hugged her curves in ways that made his hands itch to trace those lines himself.

When she smiled back at him, radiant and unguarded for the first time since arriving, his muscles tensed with the effort of remaining seated. Every protective, possessive instinct screamed at him to close the distance between them, pull her into his arms, and never let her go.

How the hell am I supposed to function with her here every day?