Alien Architect Needs a Nanny (Alien Nanny Agency 1)

Ra’as

Ra’as stood in front of his drawing board, unable to see anything but Emilia’s face.

He had been up since dawn, desperately trying to lose himself in work, to no avail.

The little Terran had bewitched him.

He frowned and ran a hand through his hair, wishing he could reprogram his own brain.

But her needy cry echoed in his ears and his body surged with desire, his mind filling itself with images of her lust-hazed eyes, the moonlight on her skin…

Obviously, this wild attraction couldn’t go anywhere. He had to nip it in the bud before they did something they couldn’t undo.

Already, he had put himself in a bad position as her employer.

Oh, but there were so many positions he wanted to put her in...

A soft knock at the door interrupted his unwanted thoughts.

“Come in,” he called out.

As if his fantasies had come to life, Emilia slipped in the door, closing it behind her.

The morning light of Ulfgard’s smallest sun had a delicate quality that played on the subtle highlights in her dark hair. And though she stood perfectly still, her image seemed to shimmer, like an underwater chest of jewels.

“Good morning,” she said quietly, stealing a glance up at him.

Sun gods, were they really supposed to pretend last night had never happened?

He didn’t want to do that, but he would follow her cue. She was the employee, he had to let her choose.

“Good morning, Emilia,” he replied politely.

“I, um, I just wanted to see if you have a new gadabout for me yet,” she said, not meeting his eye.

Bitter disappointment settled on his shoulders like a mantle.

He had tasted her charms, and now she already wanted something from him in return. The whole thing had probably been a ploy, and he was a fool.

He should have known a tender young thing like Emilia wouldn’t really want his big hands all over her body.

“It’s Dyrk,” she added, looking a little miserable. “When I pull up to get him at school, the kids tease him about the rented gadabout. I was hoping we could trade it in, like you said. I don’t need anything fancy, just something reliable that won’t embarrass him.”

Gods, above.

Guilt spread icy fingers in his chest.

“I’m so sorry, Emilia, of course,” he told her. “I forgot all about that. I’ll call the rental people today. And in the meantime, you can use one of mine.”

“Really?” she asked.

Her lovely eyes were luminous with gentle joy.

For the second time in a sun cycle, it almost hurt to look at her.

“Of course,” he said gruffly. “Here.”

He held his hand out for her wrist.