She turned to face him. “You keep doing that, my lord, and we’re going to really scandalize them.”

The grin on his face made her heart soar. “I’m game if you are.”

The music quickened.

Darling spun her around again, faster and faster. Never had she danced like this. She could feel the muscles in his arms bulging as he gracefully guided her around the room. The wonderful scent of him made her senses reel.

Everything and everyone faded except him. It was as if only the two of them existed. She was completely captivated by the heated look on his handsome face, and the warmth of his touch.

When the music finally stopped, he supported her entire weight with only one arm. His hair disheveled, he had beads of sweat falling from his temples. Bent in an arc, she stared up at him as he cupped her face with his left hand. His breathing was as ragged as hers. In that moment, she was desperate to taste him. This time, she couldn’t resist those lips that held the tiniest hint of a smile.

Sinking her hand into his soft, red hair, she pulled his mouth to hers so that she could kiss him.

Darling’s head spun as Zarya explored his mouth with a hunger that left him even harder than their dancing had. Oh yeah, this was what he needed…

It wasn’t until he heard an off-key note that he remembered they weren’t alone.

In fact, they were the center of everyone’s attention. He gave her one last second before he pulled back and regretfully returned her weight to her feet.

Zarya went completely still as she straightened and became aware of all the mocking gazes fixed on them. Heat scorched her cheeks.

I look like the biggest slut of all time…

In public.

Why didn’t the universe provide rotating black holes on planets that could swallow people whole when they needed them to?

“Don’t let their bitter viciousness steal your happiness,” Darling whispered in her ear before he placed a tender kiss on her cheek. Tucking her hand into the crook of his arm, he led her toward his throne.

Arms akimbo, Maris gave them both an angry, condemning stare while he tapped his foot against the stone floor. “You never danced with me like that.”

Zarya scowled as she tried to understand why Maris was so upset at her. “We only had the one dance.”

“He’s not talking to you, love,” Darling said in her ear.

Oh…

She laughed at Maris’s exasperation.

“Governor?”

Darling turned toward the gerent leader who was trying to keep the venom out of his sneer and failing miserably. Honestly, someone should have told him that it was never a good idea to provoke a man who possessed the skills to gut you.

He answered the leader with only a brow raised in warning to let the man know he needed to pick another tone.

The gerent leader paled a degree before he spoke. “It’s time to start our meeting.”