He knew more weighed on her wish than a simple kiss. Deep down, he suspected it was her farewell to him. If she'd chosen to leave, he wouldn't send her away without a night she'd remember for all time.
* * *
She awoke alone. The bed smelled of him, and her body ached from the active night. She stared at the ceiling, enjoying the breeze skating through the windows.
Wow. There was no other way for her to imagine the night, aside from as otherworldly as her new world. Her blood boiled at the thought of another night with him, and she sat, disturbed.
She hadn't expected to be forced into such a decision. She definitely didn't expect the decision to be so hard. She'd wanted to return home since she arrived, yet when presented with the enormity of her importance in her new world … when she realized how incredible it really would be to have a man like A'Ran in her bed every night … when she saw he was capable of passion … when she found out an entire planet full of people would die if she left … She couldn't help the tears at such a thought. It was too large of a concept for her to wrap her head around. That she, a starving artist who'd been dragged across the universe because her best friend felt sorry for her, was the key to saving an entire race of people was unimaginable.
He'd certainly made her feel like the queen of the universe.
Pensive and troubled, she dressed for a difficult day. A'Ran was gone indefinitely for a surge operation in his war, leaving her alone with her thoughts. There really wasn't a decision to make. As much as she wanted to return home, she could never leave an entire planet to die just because she wanted to go back to the depressing part-time job and the row house where she and the cat would live alone!
She'd wanted to see if he was capable of being anything more than the cold, distant warrior obsessed with war. She didn't expect him to be as passionate, warm, and gentle as he'd been with her. There was a man behind the fierce face, and she'd only confused herself more by spending the night with him!
She gazed around A'Ran's bedroom, conflicted with the idea that her choice would mean she never saw her home, her family again.
She rubbed her face, dressed in grey to reflect her mood, and tucked her spare earpiece into her pocket as she did every day. The house was quiet. The Council would have left at dawn with A'Ran. At the least, she could help him battle plan while she thought hard about what to do with her life. She'd gotten to the conference room when she heard soft footfalls behind her. She started to turn, expecting to see Talal.