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the bed until he found her thigh. Then he moved his hand up until it was embracing hers.
    “What do you want Ben?”
    “You don’t need to worry about me. I will maintain all of the protocols necessary to keep Xara from getting control of me. Or Nar.”
    “Fine.” She sighed and looked into his earnest and ridiculously handsome face. He was meeting her eyes and she looked down to see her hand holding his. Hells. She took a deep breath and prepared to reinstate her invisibility.
    “Don’t.” He reached out to touch her face. “I like seeing you when we talk.”
    Parts of her were shivering at his touch. “It is inappropriate. We are still on duty.” Her hormones were making themselves known in a wild and obvious fashion. This was the one man she wanted to see her at all times. Unfortunately, he was figuring that out.
    “Nar is in the next room, the doors between us are open and one word from him will bring us both running.”
    “I can hear you.” The dignitary in question popped his head in for a moment, smiled and then wandered away.
    “What did you two discuss last night when I was out?”
    “Oh, just a bit about you and your first assignment with Nar. Including his fiancée’s reaction to seeing you.”
    “Yeah, she wasn’t too happy.”
    “He also mentioned your lack of social interaction.”
    “It is a little tricky.” His conversation was relaxing her and she was gearing up for a shift and a getaway. He must have read something in her face because his hand tensed on hers and he moved his head in for a kiss.
    It was the first kiss that she had had in ten years and it was way better than she remembered. Ben smelled fantastic and she wanted nothing more than to hold him close. Her free hand was tangled in his hair when he pulled away, his lips shining in the artificial light of the station.
    She flashed back to his last statement and went transparent. “If that was an attempt to increase my social interaction , you can save it for the next woman that you seduce. We are partners. Nothing more.” The shock on his face caused a pang of regret to slip through her. It was easier to be harsh when he couldn’t see her so he couldn’t see the lie as it crossed her lips.
    He drew back as if scalded. “As you wish.”
    While he crossed the room, she fought the urge to call him back. That was her wish, and nothing else. Aw hell.

 
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Six
     
     
    The rest of the four days of negotiations went along smoothly with Ben behaving professionally and Nar rolling his eyes at their conversations. It was on the final day of his trip, after all the documents had been witnessed, signed, ratified and recorded, that he took her aside.
    Nar sat her down while Ben was changing out of his ceremonial uniform. “Seval, what are you doing?”
    “What do you mean? We are getting you ready to leave on the next shuttle.”
    “No. I mean with Vorabenik. He is a great man, an excellent game player and he has great affection for you.” Nar was earnest as he paced back and forth in front of the chair where she had agreed to sit.
    “Does he? He also has great affection for at least three professional companions on the station.” She sounded a little surly, but couldn’t help it. She was jealous. As soon as she admitted it, she would have to request a replacement for Ben. They would not be effective as a team if she saw him as hers alone.
    “He is part Nyal, and part Azon. They have heightened sexual needs, they have sex by necessity, not really by choice half of the time. But both species mate for life.”
    “Ah, Nyal. I did wonder what the other part of him was. And of course you would side with him. You are both men.”
    “Yes, but I am of the Mathi. We live celibate lives until our women are chosen for us. Our biochemistry can make or break a union. It is imperative that the research be done before we even meet.” Nar touched the arm of the chair and then took her hand. “Give him a chance. You