“Rayne. Can you hear me?”

Nox came to on the forest floor with Rayne laying on top of him, her hair spilled all around them. Her skin felt hot, and she was muttering—

“Nox?”

Rayne shifted and lifted her head. The fine tremor across her entire body made Nox chafe her arms. Her pupils were dilated as their gazes met. “What… What happened?”

Nox brushed her hair from her face, cradling her head to see if there were signs of trauma or concussion. Meanwhile, he said, “Elden opened a conduit, and we fell through it. I don’t recall why we fell unconscious or how we came to be here. You awakened seconds after I did.”

He wasn’t aware of it, but his thumb was grazing her cheek reassuringly. It was Rayne’s reaction to it which drew his awareness—She smiled, half out of it. Little dull gray leaves peppered the wavy curtain of her hair, adding to her charms.

Drunk on some cosmic coincidence, Nox answered her smile with one of his own. He said, “Hi.”

Wow.

Rayne’s eyes became sparkling sapphires as her smile turned into a goofy grin. “Hi.”

Well, this was it. This was the sexiest moment of Nox’s long life. This preposterous, silly, warm, clumsy—

A bird walloped somewhere directly above them.

They both scanned the canopy before meeting eyes again. A heartbeat passed in the exchange, followed by a shared burst of laughter.

Nox asked, “Do you think he’ll ever find her?” Referring to the bird’s quest for a mate.

Laying atop him while staring up at the branches, Rayne mused, “I hope so.” With a cute grunt and groan, she climbed off of Nox. He couldn’t help but notice the faint pinkness to her cheeks as Rayne extended a hand. “Come on. Let’s shower and get into town somewhere. I need to find a Vittle vendor, and I’m curious what people are thinking of Xelan’s Verse.”

Nox took her hand and let Rayne pull him to his feet. Only then did he realize they were standing right outside the loft.

As she went inside, Rayne muttered, “I don’t know what Elden’s thinking, but we should get to the mission soon. I made a promise.”

In an insane misfire between his brain and his mouth, Nox said, “We could get to it sooner if we showered together.”

That made her freeze with her back to him, but Rayne sounded certain as she said, “You’re absolutely right.” She turned, a little flushed but resolute. “We’re both adults, and the shower is more than big enough for ten people—Which I plan to ask Xelan about one day.” Her silly grin offset the stiffness of her posture. “Get your stuff ready, and I’ll meet you in there.”

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Rayne marched around the corner like a woman facing execution and was too proud to let the crowd see her fear.

Was Nox a bastard for suggesting it? He didn’t know anymore. Half the time, Rayne was initiating whatever this was between them. Her attraction was clear, and it was an honor she bestowed upon him. Truly.

Anytime Rayne gave Nox an opening, he refused—the number of those opportunities staggered him—he worried it could lead to hurt feelings of shame and rejection. But Nox would never reject Rayne. If she ever came to him of her own person, he’d give her the stars along with his heart. Until such a time came, she was safe from him.

Or so Nox kept repeating as he made his way to the shower. He got as far as the kitchen before the water came on, and, through the sheet, he glimpsed Rayne’s clothes receding into her. A million, million years could pass, and he would never tire of this view—Her hair pulled up in a bun and her curves unveiled to the water. Lucky, lucky water—

“You hit like a girl,” Rayne called from the other side.

It was so outside of Nox’s thoughts that he barked out a laugh. Considering the statement, he said, “I’ll take it as a compliment. The strongest warrior I know is a woman.” A mesmerizing woman, currently naked in this room.

Fuck him. Nox was in way over his head.

He stripped out of his clothes the old-fashioned way before slipping by the sheet’s barrier. Nox tried to keep his eyes on the floor spouts and not on Rayne’s creamy skin. Her back was to him, and he did the same. It worked until…

Was Rayne aware of the sounds she was making? Soft moans and little sighs.

Aside from that, she was right. They were mature adults, and the shower was uneventful. Well, except… When Nox lathered his backside…

Impossible.

He did not catch Rayne looking.

Surely.

She left the shower first and stood outside the sheet, assembling her clothes. While Nox dressed where she couldn’t see, Rayne asked, “Did you have any trouble buying a fake persona from Razor’s contacts?”

“I am a veteran of the Icarean army named Schu with a free labor visa. You?”

Rayne was smiling when Nox emerged. She said, “I’m Becca, a hairdresser from Earth, eager to explore fashion and style across the galaxy—And you look amazing in red.”

Nox felt his cheeks warm, which always seemed silly given his age, but she brought it out in him. He was thinking of her when he’d picked out the asymmetrical shirt. He cleared his throat to say, “Thank you. You look…” Tempting. “Honestly, your majesty, I’ve never seen you look anything but gorgeous in everything you’ve worn.”

Warm cheeks all around.

Nox maintained eye contact, but he kept glimpsing the lacy burgundy bra exposed by the low scoop of Rayne’s gray sleeveless shirt. The black leather pants were patchwork—aerated, suede, shiny, and matte—and they were practically poured onto her skin. As Rayne turned to grab her hair supplies, he admired the tattoos, but when she bent over to check her boots, he had to look away.

The lacy panties Nox glimpsed matched the bra, sitting below the alluring dimples on her back.

Rayne faced him again and held out the comb. He took it and brushed her hair when she turned for him. He asked, “Do we have signals in case this mission gets messy?”

Nox helped Rayne weave braids along her scalp and pull the massive curtain of her wavy hair into a ponytail. All the while, she said, “We could always use ‘banana.’” She snickered.

With an incredulous shake of his head, Nox said, “I think it’s an imperial favorite now thanks to the Verses.”

“Oh, good point.” Rayne bit her thumbnail before offering, “How about ‘pomegranate?’”

Nox quirked a brow. “‘Pomegranate.’” The word tasted right. “Fitting. Are you ready?” He finished with her hair.

Rayne faced him, smirked, and patted her nacre where Night Killer lived. Her voice was… Well, Nox assumed she didn’t know the sultry effect of it as she said, “I’m looking forward to working with you, Nox. This way, I can show you how it’s done.”

Down their eleven-inch height difference, Nox stared into Rayne’s eyes and grinned. “Yes, your majesty. I’m sure there’s plenty you can teach me.”

Until then—if it ever happened—Nox would savor the raw anticipation.