Synnr's Hope - Kate Rudolph Page 0,35

for their next assignment, not a reprimand.

Finally. A success.

Things were looking up.

THE CHANGING STALLS at headquarters weren’t gender segregated, so she and Solan were changing at the same time. Lena tried not to look, she really did. It was disrespectful, and she didn’t necessarily want him ogling her. But she still snatched glances of defined muscle and thick thighs. And, okay, if he was the one ogling her she wouldn’t be upset. General objectification was bad, but she wouldn’t mind admiration from the guy she was attracted to.

Ugh. No. She couldn’t be attracted to him. She’d promised.

But adrenaline from the op was still buzzing in her veins along with the victory of a job well done, and she couldn’t completely tamp down the emotions she wasn’t supposed to be feeling.

And when Solan dropped his towel there was no ignoring what she saw.

She didn’t mean to make a noise. Really.

But that was not a human cock.

“What?” Solan looked down at himself and back to her. Lena shouldn’t have known what he was doing since the polite thing was to look away immediately, but she couldn’t stop staring.

“I wasn’t looking.” That was a lie. She was still staring right at his crotch. The base was flared out, and it tapered at the tip, probably making insertion a bit easier. Then there were ridges running along the shaft that would give the most delectable sensation. But what had her focus was the extra part on top of the base of his shaft that looked a bit like a tongue. She snapped her eyes away before she did something embarrassing, like lick her lips. But now she was intrigued to know what he tasted like.

“Clearly you were. What’s the problem?” He didn’t seem shaken by her perusal, but he picked up his towel and put it back on, blocking her from looking back at him again.

“I forgot you were an alien for a second.” And that was just a stupid excuse. Of course he was alien. How else would he have wings and fangs and fancy skin and live on an alien planet?

He made a face and scoffed. “You’re the alien.”

Lena rolled her eyes, but she had to suppress a teasing smile. “Semantics.”

He teased the edge of the towel and wiggled his hips. “Did you want to get a closer look?” There was a challenge in his eye, and if she said the word, he’d be naked and on display in front of her again.

That could not happen. “Of course not. I’m not ogling you. That would be messed up.” Professional. They were keeping things professional. This was juvenile banter, not flirting. And Lena had to keep a tight leash on wherever her thoughts wanted to wander.

But he still wasn’t bothered. “We have bodies. Nothing to be ashamed of.” He let it drop and quickly changed into his clothes. Lena did the same. She noticed there were privacy shields that could be engaged with the touch of a button, but it felt too late now to put hers up, like she’d be admitting that she lost their little game.

It could be so much worse. She’d worked with hundreds of dudes over the course of her career and some of them barely saw women as people. She’d been something to be objectified, ogled. She didn’t want to do that to Solan. They were partners, equals. Or they’d be equal once she finally had her powers under her control.

She was still feeling good and didn’t want the mood to go away. “Did you want to get that beer? Celebrate a job well done?” That was the proper way to end a day in the field, and she’d learned so much about Solan today that she wanted to keep going.

Solan straightened the collar of his shirt and closed his locker. “The commander wouldn’t agree with your assessment.”

She had kicked ass and she knew it. Who cared if she had to use a blaster instead of her new magical powers? “The point stands. Beer?”

“I would, but Allic is putting together some kind of surprise for Ortid and we all have to be there. Big family thing.” He looked disappointed, as if he really did want to go get a drink with her. It was another reminder that Lena was a completely separate part of his life. His family didn’t know she existed.

“Have fun.” It came out a bit sour, and Lena scowled at herself. She’d agreed to the arrangement. And since when did she jump at the chance