Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 85794 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 429(@200wpm)___ 343(@250wpm)___ 286(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85794 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 429(@200wpm)___ 343(@250wpm)___ 286(@300wpm)
“That works,” Sirex agreed.
“Very well—come with me.”
The shop keeper led them around to the back of the stall where there was a small corner concealed from the rest of the crowded spaceport.
“Very good, now remove her top,” he said, gesturing at Phoebe.
Sirex hesitated.
“I need a moment alone with my female,” he said at last.
The shop keeper shrugged.
“As you wish. I’ll be just around the corner. Call me when you’re ready.”
He went back to the front of the stall, leaving the two of them alone. Sirex bent to look into her eyes.
“Jenkins…Phoebe,” he said, switching to her first name. After all, she was no longer a cadet and his student—she was an Agent in her own right.
“Yes, Sir?” She looked up at him uncertainly.
“Is this too much for you?” Sirex asked her. “Please be honest with me. If it’s too much we need to go and ask Commander Sylvan to assign someone else.”
Fire flashed in her silvery green eyes and she lifted her chin.
“It’s not too much for me—I’ll be fine!”
“Look, I know this is your first mission and you don’t want to make any mistakes but it’s perfectly all right to draw some boundaries,” Sirex reminded her. “If you don’t want strangers looking at your breasts—”
“They can look all they want as long as they don’t touch.” Her eyes became suddenly vulnerable. “As long as you’re with me, I can stand just about anything, Sir. As long as no one touches me but you, I’m fine.”
Sir nodded. Then, moved by some emotion he couldn’t name, he took both her hands in his.
“I give you my oath as a warrior that no hands but mine shall touch your flesh,” he told her earnestly. “I vow to keep you safe and shield you from danger as long as the two of us are on this mission together.”
Phoebe’s eyes widened.
“Thank you.” She murmured, looking relieved. “Then I don’t care if I have to parade naked down the sidewalk as long as we can complete this mission and retrieve The Goddess’s Finger.”
Sirex raised his eyebrows.
“Really? You don’t mind going naked in public?”
She blushed—the heated blood rushing to her cheeks.
“Well, that’s probably an exaggeration. I would mind it, but I can do it if I have to—I can do almost anything as long as we’re together.”
Sirex felt his heart clench like a fist in his chest. The look of trust in her big, jewel-like eyes made him want to guard her with his life—to protect from every danger in the universe.
He wished he could take her back to their long-range shuttle right now and lock her away for safety…but he knew he couldn’t do that. Phoebe was a strong, independent woman and she had to be allowed to make her own choices—even if her choice was to continue a dangerous assignment where she was going to be vulnerable every step of the way.
Cupping her face in his hands, Sirex leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. It wasn’t something he would normally do, but he had to find some outlet for the possessive protectiveness that was building up inside him and threatening to overflow.
“Thank you for your trust in me,” he murmured, his voice coming out slightly hoarse. “I swear to be worthy of it.”
“Oh, Sir…” She looked up at him with her heart in her eyes and for a moment Sirex was sure she was going to stand on her tiptoes and kiss him. Which would have been completely inappropriate contact between two agents, of course. Still, he was prepared to let her do it—and kiss her back too…but just then the jewelry stall owner came back around the corner.
“Well? Are you ready for a fitting now? I have my measuring apparatus.” He had something cupped in his palm as he spoke.
Sirex straightened up.
“Yes, we’re ready.”
“Very well, then if you could please remove your female’s top?” The shop keeper raised his eyebrows impatiently.
“Of course.” Taking Phoebe by the shoulders, Sirex turned her around and found the magno tabs that were fastening the bright green band of her top together. He opened them and pulled the top with its long trailing strands away from her body.
Phoebe instinctively covered her breasts with her arms at first. Then, with a visible effort, she lowered her arms and stood there stiffly, with her full breasts on display.
Sirex tried not to look…but couldn’t quite stop himself. He had always thought her large breasts were beautiful—he loved her curvy Elite figure. Her dark nipples were utterly gorgeous and completely desirable. For a moment he allowed himself to imagine cupping them in his hands and sucking those tight tips…then he pushed the thought away. It was improper to think that way about another agent—unprofessional. He shouldn’t—
His thoughts were interrupted by a frightened gasp from Phoebe.
Sirex was instantly on the alert.