Sleeping With the Enemy by Kaitlyn O'Connor Page B

us.”
        “Wait for the turn of the dance.”
        She studied them, watching the man he’d pointed out intently. Finally the steps carried the group into a half turn where she could see both Holly and the man opposite her in profile. She frowned. “I still don’t see…”
        “But his attention is entirely on her. He waits until she finally notices his prowess in the dance steps and then he searches for a smile of encouragement.”
        Holly finally looked up, did a double take when she discovered the man in front of her was staring at her pointedly, turned first white as a sheet and then as red as fire. Sybil clapped a hand to her mouth to stifle a snort of laughter. “Poor man! He’s been slighted.”
        Anka chuckled. “Ah… if he were human, perhaps. We ferils are made of sterner stuff. He’ll try again.”
        Sybil looked at him, smiling faintly. “That’s all the encouragement you need? A smile?” she asked teasingly.
        His eyes darkened. “It’s a certain smile we look for, a look in the eyes. When a woman looks at a man a certain way it’s an invitation.”
        Sybil felt her face heating up again. She looked away, realizing abruptly what he was saying. Her heart began to thump like a trip-hammer.
        “Yes or no, nodia ?” he asked in a husky whisper.
        Sybil swallowed convulsively, trying to decide whether she was more excited or more terrified. As confused as she was, however, the thought of refusing him was almost scarier, not because she was afraid of him, but because she feared she would always regret it.
        It still took a tremendous effort to look at him. “Yes,” she said a little hoarsely.
        

Chapter Six
        
        Sybil wasn’t certain if it was her that was shaking or Anka or both of them, but she felt so weak and trembling when she settled her hand in his that she felt downright faint. Almost like a sleepwalker, she rose when he stood and urged her to her feet, following him as he led her from the room.
        He paused outside and turned to her, studying her face intently. “You’re afraid?” he asked harshly.
        “Terrified,” Sybil responded before she thought better of it.
        Something flickered in his eyes. “It isn’t supposed to be that way, nodia . Come, I will take you back to your quarters.”
        “Uh… but Spencer’s there. I don’t think that would be a good place at all,” she pointed out, struggling to keep step with him as he led her along the corridor.
        Anka sent her a sharp look and paused. He shook his head at her. “Not this way, nodia ,” he said gently. “I’ll return you… and leave you alone.”
        Sybil felt her heart skip several beats. “Don’t.”
        He smiled ruefully. “It’s alright, nodia . I’m not angry. It’s your choice. I told you that.”
        Distress filled her. “I know that. I can’t help… being unnerved by this, but it doesn’t mean I don’t want to.”
        He lifted a hand and lightly stroked her cheek. “Stay the night with me, then. We needn’t be lovers. I’ll be content to hold you.”
        Some of the tension left her. “You would?” she asked doubtfully.
        “Not really,” he said wryly. “But I’ll make do.”
        She couldn’t help but chuckle. “You’re a strange man, Anka.”
        “I’m an alien, nodia .”
        Sybil smiled. “No, you aren’t. Uh… I didn’t think to ask, but are we… uh… compatible? You know… uh… that way?”
        Anka burst out laughing. “I will be deeply, deeply disturbed if I discover we aren’t. I don’t imagine I’ll be the only one disappointed if that’s the case, for that matter.”
        “You’re joking right?” Sybil asked uneasily, trying to decide whether to be relieved or not. That depended, of course, on whether he was joking about not knowing or not. “Where are we going anyway?”
        “My place. I think we’ll have to break with tradition. I don’t think I could sleep