It wasn’t as if Xentos was a person.
Obviously, she’d made a mistake, one she’d have to live with. Barring extensive plastic surgery, this was the way she would look until she began to age. Despite Zical’s surprise, once he’d gotten past the initial shock he’d adjusted quite well.
Better than she was doing. She wondered if he found her uncontrollable spasms as ugly as she did. She hated the lack of control, but the doctors could find nothing physically wrong and had suggested that time might cure the problem. But it might not.
Zical gazed at her, his irises flashing into the purple spectrum. Even with only two eyes she could see his pupils dilate, his nostrils flare slightly, and a muscle in his neck throbbed. She swallowed down a grin that her flirtation was succeeding. Snuggling closer, she rubbed her breast against his chest, and the sensation stunned her.
Wow. Talk about pure sensual feedback. Her flesh suddenly seemed over-sensitized with delicious thrumming and her nipples pebbled. Heat suffused her and her chest tightened in a pleasing reaction that made her ache for more of his touch. Thinking about him helped push her fears to the back of her mind. Touching and being touched by this man was one of the reasons she’d wanted to become human. While she suspected Tessa had something to do with his appearance in her quarters, Dora didn’t mind that the man needed prodding to visit. She simply was glad he was here. Now that she finally had him to herself, she’d be a fool not to put aside her groundless fears and make the most of her opportunity.
Lifting her face to his in breathless anticipation, she gave him clear access and waited for his lips to press against hers. She was about to congratulate herself for temporarily overcoming her fear and beginning a seduction in one fell swoop, when Zical pulled back.
Oh, no. He wasn’t going to kiss her.
Disappointed, she wondered if she’d miscalculated the heat in his eyes? Or was he holding back because he wasn’t certain of her response?
Maybe he needed more encouragement. She allowed a pleased smile to soften her mouth. “Aren’t you going to kiss me?”
He stiffened. “Why would I do that?”
“Because you want to?” She arched one eyebrow, hoping he’d read the gesture as impudent. “Dora, you aren’t a computer anymore. When you tease a man like that, there are consequences.”
Her grin widened. “I’m ready for them.”
“I don’t think so.” Gently, he set her from his lap onto the grass.
She plucked a blade and tore it to bits, disappointment nagging her, uncertainty enveloping her in a tension she didn’t understand. Their first time together was not going anything as planned. If he intended to refuse her, if he didn’t want her, why was he going out of his way to be kind?
Had she come on too strong? Tessa had warned her Rystani men preferred to be the pursuers. Dora didn’t like how his rejection had started to make her question herself. Being uncertain was a new experience, one she didn’t know if she wanted to deal with on a regular basis—not that she had much choice. When she’d been a computer, she’d gathered her facts, determined the outcome she required, and then did what was necessary to achieve success. She didn’t second-guess herself because with the data available, the probabilities calculated, she always made the best decision.
Now, all she wanted to do was run away and hide in her room. Yet, she’d been waiting months to be with Zical in her human body. He was the man she’d dreamed her first dream about. He was the man who intrigued her more than any other. It made no sense to run, especially when her fear of the outdoors had begun to subside. The pleasant gurgling of the fountain calmed her. The balmy breeze and the sunshine soothed her.
She tossed the bits of grass into the air. “You were right to bring me outside. It’s beautiful here.”
“Glad you—”
“But you were wrong about
Obviously, she’d made a mistake, one she’d have to live with. Barring extensive plastic surgery, this was the way she would look until she began to age. Despite Zical’s surprise, once he’d gotten past the initial shock he’d adjusted quite well.
Better than she was doing. She wondered if he found her uncontrollable spasms as ugly as she did. She hated the lack of control, but the doctors could find nothing physically wrong and had suggested that time might cure the problem. But it might not.
Zical gazed at her, his irises flashing into the purple spectrum. Even with only two eyes she could see his pupils dilate, his nostrils flare slightly, and a muscle in his neck throbbed. She swallowed down a grin that her flirtation was succeeding. Snuggling closer, she rubbed her breast against his chest, and the sensation stunned her.
Wow. Talk about pure sensual feedback. Her flesh suddenly seemed over-sensitized with delicious thrumming and her nipples pebbled. Heat suffused her and her chest tightened in a pleasing reaction that made her ache for more of his touch. Thinking about him helped push her fears to the back of her mind. Touching and being touched by this man was one of the reasons she’d wanted to become human. While she suspected Tessa had something to do with his appearance in her quarters, Dora didn’t mind that the man needed prodding to visit. She simply was glad he was here. Now that she finally had him to herself, she’d be a fool not to put aside her groundless fears and make the most of her opportunity.
Lifting her face to his in breathless anticipation, she gave him clear access and waited for his lips to press against hers. She was about to congratulate herself for temporarily overcoming her fear and beginning a seduction in one fell swoop, when Zical pulled back.
Oh, no. He wasn’t going to kiss her.
Disappointed, she wondered if she’d miscalculated the heat in his eyes? Or was he holding back because he wasn’t certain of her response?
Maybe he needed more encouragement. She allowed a pleased smile to soften her mouth. “Aren’t you going to kiss me?”
He stiffened. “Why would I do that?”
“Because you want to?” She arched one eyebrow, hoping he’d read the gesture as impudent. “Dora, you aren’t a computer anymore. When you tease a man like that, there are consequences.”
Her grin widened. “I’m ready for them.”
“I don’t think so.” Gently, he set her from his lap onto the grass.
She plucked a blade and tore it to bits, disappointment nagging her, uncertainty enveloping her in a tension she didn’t understand. Their first time together was not going anything as planned. If he intended to refuse her, if he didn’t want her, why was he going out of his way to be kind?
Had she come on too strong? Tessa had warned her Rystani men preferred to be the pursuers. Dora didn’t like how his rejection had started to make her question herself. Being uncertain was a new experience, one she didn’t know if she wanted to deal with on a regular basis—not that she had much choice. When she’d been a computer, she’d gathered her facts, determined the outcome she required, and then did what was necessary to achieve success. She didn’t second-guess herself because with the data available, the probabilities calculated, she always made the best decision.
Now, all she wanted to do was run away and hide in her room. Yet, she’d been waiting months to be with Zical in her human body. He was the man she’d dreamed her first dream about. He was the man who intrigued her more than any other. It made no sense to run, especially when her fear of the outdoors had begun to subside. The pleasant gurgling of the fountain calmed her. The balmy breeze and the sunshine soothed her.
She tossed the bits of grass into the air. “You were right to bring me outside. It’s beautiful here.”
“Glad you—”
“But you were wrong about
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