He nodded politely as the female lied to him and supplied her false name, because that’s the game they were playing. He held out the chair next to him so she could sit. Keeping his gaze off the killer curves beneath the tight red dress was another matter. She was beautiful, he’d known that from the few photographs his team had hurriedly put together, but he hadn’t expected this kind of primal reaction.
Her scent surrounded him like a heady ambrosia, making it difficult to focus, to think. His body refused to heed his demand for a relaxed, uninterested pose. Every muscle tensed with interest in the female placing herself in his care. She was under his protection from now until the moment they would part ways later that evening. The thought should have bothered him. Annoyed him. He did not need this kind of responsibility or distraction, not with the Vilitos so blatantly hunting what was left of his people. Or the A’Nua Na-KI and their servants, the Dark Ones. Or the Intergalactic Council and their allowing the Darkoor to retain their seat on the council. He could never forget about them. But logic was outvoted by the rising need filling his cock to near bursting and the burning in his veins, threatening his iron control. He widened his stance, hoping to relieve the sudden ache. This woman was dangerous.
He needed Isabella Serrano in his bed. Needed to mark her. Plant his seed deep inside her. The urge was powerful. All-consuming. Addictive. He wanted to plunge his shaft into her body and feel the scratch of her fingernails on his back. Needed to hear her scream in pleasure and beg him for more.
He wanted. Falden never wanted anything, not for himself. Hadn’t allowed himself to want anything. Not in two thousand years.
Perhaps he’d denied himself pleasures of the flesh for too long. Perhaps the powers rising within him since Sasha had rekindled the crystal energy of his sword was to blame. Or maybe this female just happened to be exactly to his liking. Dark hair, dark eyes and lush curves he could sink into.
Whatever the cause, his violent sexual reaction made no sense. None at all. And so he would ignore it, do his job. A Lumerian Knight did not falter over something so weak as attraction to a beautiful female. If so, the surviving Knights would have been eliminated long, long ago.
“Ummm, are you going to sit down?” Isabella stared up at him, and Falden realized he’d been standing—hovering—for too long.
“Of course.” He settled in next to her before making eye contact with the two Lumerians providing security in a booth several feet away from his table. They were fully armed beneath their human clothes, ancient swords cloaked. Hunted as they were, they could never take the risk of everyone going unarmed or unprepared.
For the first time in thousands of years Falden was unarmed. Exposed. He’d only agreed to the ridiculous human clothing in order to protect his people from the human woman sitting across from him. For his people, he would do anything. Make any sacrifice. As he looked at Isabella, he realized how difficult this mission might become. He had to remember she was the enemy and ignore the fire in his veins. Ignore her soft, tempting body. Ignore his instincts.
Dragging his gaze from Isabella, he glanced across the room once more to assure himself that they were still protected by his Knights. Cassiel and Vander nodded, almost imperceptibly, Vander tapping his index finger on the table before him to remind Falden to use the list. The how-to guide. Falden had no idea how to lure the enticing creature next to him into trusting him with the truth. He needed to know exactly what she knew about his people. Where her information was coming from. Threat assessment was his first priority, the reason he was here. Satisfying his growing personal need to know every minute detail about the woman was unwise, and he refused to allow anything to distract him from his mission. No matter how hard it was.
Try telling that to my cock.
“So, John, thank you for the flower,” she said a little breathlessly. Leaning forward, she tilted her head to the side. She smiled up at him, but it was her sexy voice that made him burn. He imagined her screaming as he brought her to orgasm.
Falden leaned in toward her slightly, never breaking eye contact, close enough to kiss. “I shall have to remember that you like flowers,” he said, his deep, rumbly baritone relaxed and confident. He was careful not to show any emotion on his face, bank the fire in his eyes as he held her gaze. He couldn’t afford to let down his own guard, but he noted with satisfaction her heightened color, flushed cheeks, and quickened breathing. She was definitely not immune to him.
Isabella nodded uncomfortably as the waiter approached their table, smoothing a hand down her hair. She refused to regret wearing the red wig and thick glasses. The huge alien sitting across from her was putting out some serious alpha waves, making her want to respond to him with everything feminine inside her. She throbbed. Ached to let him get closer. Too bad she was on an assignment. Too bad this wasn’t a real date. But something was wrong. He was supposed to say he knew the color would match her dress. It didn’t, actually, but that was what he was supposed to say. Then he would give her
