She brought her legs up, planting them against his belly and shoving. He resisted, and for a split second, she feared she wouldn't get free. She strained, putting more force into her legs. She popped free, her spine hitting the sea bed.
She floated up, blinking into the oddly lit water. Finally, noticing how bright it had gotten. Small balls of light coalescing around their bodies until it looked as if they were glowing.
Kira forgot their battle, pushing herself toward the surface.
Graydon rose with her, hovering an arm’s length away as she touched the small glowing balls with wonder. What sort of creature or plant created such things?
She laughed at the gentle sensation brushed against her skin, like something was mouthing it to get her taste. It felt astonishingly like thousands of silky hairs brushing along her fingers and hand.
"They're feilli," Graydon rumbled, his eyes soft as he watched her interact with the glowing balls. "They're symbiotic. Their preferred food source is the lu-ong, but our ki will work too. With the lu-ong being this close to shore for the first time in years, we've had a better than average nightly display."
"Are they dangerous?"
"No. Feel," he instructed.
She did. The slight zips of energy weren't only one way. She could feel it flowing into her as well, a constant feedback loop, strengthening and healing. All around them the feilli lit up, creating a river of light under the water as they led into the wide ocean. In other places, smaller groupings of dots floated along the waves. For a moment, Kira let herself get lost in the wonder, fancying the stars above had come down to dance with the ocean.
"I've never seen anything like it," Kira breathed.
Her eyes met his. The moment stretched between them, a magnet slowly and inexorably drawing them together.
Their bodies brushed, the movement of the waves bobbing them up and down. His lips found hers, soft and firm. She reached up, her hands landing on his shoulders as he pulled her body tight against his.
Her legs wound up around his waist as he fed at her mouth. The glow around them grew, the feilli burning brighter as if in response.
"This is a bad idea," Kira said between kisses.
"I don't care.
She didn't either, too busy glutting herself on him. Adrenaline transformed to desire as his hands moved along her back. A bright sensation, almost too intense to bear, stole her breath.
Her fingers scrabbled at his armor, wanting to touch bare skin. Frustration hummed through her when they met hard resistance.
One of his hands landed on her breast, his clever fingers swirling over her nipple. She forgot about his armor, arousal shooting through her as her head fell back. Graydon's lips left hers to travel along her jaw and then the sensitive side of her neck.
His expression was feral, possession and anticipation crouched in his eyes. Challenge glittered in hers.
Graydon was the temptation she kept trying to resist, his presence a drug.
His lips moved over hers, his hands cupping her ass as he pulled her more fully against him. Kira wiggled against his armor. She squeaked as it peeled back, leaving bare skin for her to explore. She didn’t hesitate, her hands moving over muscle, squeezing, unsurprised at his hardness. His physique showed the commitment to his cause, developed over years. Right now, though, it existed solely for her pleasure.
Her tongue flicked out, tasting salt on his skin as a breath shuddered out of him. She smiled against him. She was glad she wasn't the only one who had trouble thinking in these stolen moments.
"Come to my room," he demanded as she trailed her lips along his jaw, nibbling on the side of his neck in a mirror of what he'd done to her moments before.
"Can't."
"You keep saying that," he growled.
Her fingers dug into his waist as she fought to resist the arousal coiling in her belly. It was harder than it should have been.
If he'd been just a pretty face, she could have walked away without a backward glance. He wasn't. His mind was as intriguing as his body.
"That doesn't mean it isn't true," she told him.
"Face it, you find me irresistible."
Surprisingly, she found his grumpy arrogance charming. More so as he dropped another kiss on the side of her neck right below her ear.
Her eyelashes fluttered shut. She cleared her throat. She was on the brink of giving in. She wanted this so much more than she could admit.
The word “yes” hovered on her lips, swallowed as a presence on the shore caught their attention. Graydon's armor crawled across his skin, cloaking his vulnerability as a harsh exhale left him, visible irritation replacing the anticipation that had been there.
"What?" he growled.
"A communication came in from the emperor," Solal said, amusement in his normally staid voice.
The sound Graydon released held a lot in common with a snarl. "I'll be there momentarily."
The look he fixed on Kira nearly made her laugh. He reminded her of a child denied a treat, pouty and sulky. She smoothed a hand over his cheek, the twin feelings of regret and relief twisting her insides.
"Duty calls," she said.
It was a needed reminder. Graydon might be attracted to her and she to him, but he answered to a powerful master. One who would no doubt destroy Kira if all her secrets ever came to light.
"We're going to finish this one day," Graydon informed her.
"Promises, promises."
Graydon pushed the hair from her face, his gaze intent. "You'll see."
Kira unlocked her legs and dropped to her feet, the water rising to chest level.
She took the opportunity to duck under the waves so she didn't have to see Graydon go. The chilly embrace of the water dousing some of her passion and providing clarity.
Kira was last to reach the shore. She found Solal with his head bent toward Graydon as he relayed the message.
Graydon held up a hand, halting him as Kira lumbered out of the waves, feeling considerably less powerful and graceful than she had during their mock battle. She shivered as a breeze touched her, conscious of the cold in a way she hadn't been with Graydon's heat beside her.
"I look forward to tomorrow," Graydon said.
"What's tomorrow?"
His teeth flashed. "You'll see."
Graydon walked away, leaving her gaping after him.
"I'll see what? Graydon?"
A wave over his shoulder was his only answer as he headed toward a small opening in the cliff Kira hadn't seen before now.
That wasn't enigmatic or anything.
Kira caught Solal's stare, his expression disturbingly neutral. She scowled at him, not fooled. The amusement was there for someone who had spent any time with him.
Her scowl made his lips twitch.
Solal dipped his chin in a respectful nod as he finally followed his commander.
Finn's shadow detached from the cliff as he moved to stand beside her to watch Graydon and his oshota's retreat.
"I don't want to hear it," she finally said.
She was well aware this had been a serious error in judgment. Something about the combination of the moon and Graydon made her lose her head. It worked magic on her senses, luring her into situations that could only cause trouble in the long run.
"I haven't said anything," Finn said neutrally.
"You're thinking it. Loudly."