Star Falling (City of Hope Book 2) by Kali Argent

Author:Kali Argent [Argent, Kali]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: PECCAVI PRESS INC
Published: 2017-08-01T18:30:00+00:00

CHAPTER THREE

The minutes ticked by, one fading into the next, and just when Valen thought she wouldn’t respond, Star threw her arms around his neck and squeezed until the breath rushed from his lungs. Her shoulders shook with sobs as she buried her face against the side of his throat, and when he lifted her into his arms, she latched onto him even tighter.

Of all the reactions he’d expected, this hadn’t been one of them.

Carrying her to the plush, beige sofa positioned in front of the video monitor, he settled down on the cushions as he stroked her hair. “Oh, ahna. It wasn’t my intention to upset you.”

“I’m not upset,” she sniffled, sitting up to face him. Tears trekked down her cheeks, and her smooth, creamy skin was flushed with pink. “I’m sorry.” She wiped her eyes roughly and huffed. “I swear I’m not usually so emotional.”

Carefully, as if she was made of the finest crystal, Valen brushed the hair back from her face and pressed his lips to her brow. “There is no reason to apologize. Please tell me what’s wrong.”

“You did all of this for me.” Tears gathered in her eyes once more as she looked around the room. “It’s perfect.”

He was pleased to hear it, but he still didn’t understand. “Then, why are you crying?”

Star hiccupped adorably as she fell against his chest. “Because I’m happy.”

Human females were very odd. “That makes no sense.”

He didn’t have much experience with tears. Most of the females he knew from his own race were warriors, and on the rare occasion they succumbed to emotional outbursts, someone usually ended up bloody. He had no context for Star’s tears, no precedence he could draw on to help him navigate this storm.

So, he did the only thing he could. He took her face as gently as possible, cradling it between his hands, and kissed her.

Which only made her cry harder.

Admitting defeat, he slumped back on the sofa and just held her. “I’m sorry.” He didn’t know what he’d done wrong, but it seemed like a good place to start. “Tell me what to do, and I’ll do it.”

“Don’t.” Sitting up in his lap, her thighs straddling his hips, she used the sleeve of her blouse to swipe at her face. “I’m the one who should be apologizing.”

She had nothing to be sorry for, but they’d get to that. “Let’s start with something easier.” Sliding his fingers through her hair, he cupped the side of her face, using the pad of his thumb to wipe away a tear she’d missed. “Why are you crying?”

“I’m…overwhelmed.” She looked up at the ceiling, and her lips parted in a dazzling smile. “You did all of this for me, and after I’ve been so awful to you.”

The more she spoke, the more confused he became. “Explain.” Realizing that in his frustration his request had come as more of a command, he tacked on, “Please.”

Instead of elaborating, she asked a question of her own. “Do you bring other females to your quarters?”

“Never.

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