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were on their way to the manor.
     

Chapter Six
     
     
    On their way in to the morning meal, Yimra agreed to call Bella at normal intervals when it was mealtime. That should stop any repeats of the previous day.
    After breakfast, she made her way to her office and settled at her desk. Yesterday had been about familiarizing herself with the system. Today, she was going to work on making plans for supply and staffing.
    It was halfway through the morning when Lord Akking wandered in.
    “Good morning, Liaison Banks. Have you acclimated yourself to the systems and requirements of the manors?”
    “Good morning, Lord Akking. Yes, I am now fully aware of the holdings of each property.”
    “Excellent. The requisitions are coming your way. Please deal with what you can and ask me about anything you aren’t sure of.”
    He walked around her desk and took her hand. To her bemusement, he guided her to her feet.
    The kiss was not what she considered business appropriate, but it was exactly what she needed. She threaded a hand under his hair and felt the pulse under her palm. When she stepped into his embrace and pressed her breasts to his chest, his pulse thudded hard.
    He leaned back, and she opened her eyes. Flickers of silver fire were appearing and disappearing in his irises. Akking lifted a hand to her cheek and stroked his thumb across her lips.
    “You flatter that dress. It was nothing until you wore it.” He trailed his fingers down her throat as he skimmed the edge of the neckline.
    “Thank you for the compliment.”
    He smiled. “It was not a compliment; it was an observation.”
    She didn’t know where to look, so she settled for the front of his tunic. Today, it was buttoned on the left and made of brocade with a subtle pattern of a family crest. The silver on black made his hair a vivid purple that matched her gown.
    Oh damn. She had picked a gown that reminded her of him. It hadn’t been deliberate, but it had been accurate. It was precisely the same shade as his hair.
    She blushed and stepped back, wanting nothing more than to sink into the floor. She turned to her desk and waved her hand at the data she was working on. “Well, I suppose I had better get back to work.”
    He chuckled. “You are hiding.”
    Bella pursed her lips together. “Yes. Yes, I am.”
    “It is very peculiar. I have been reading up on your people, but the societies that are all clustered together on your world are confusing. Some have social mores that would have had you dead in the morning just for being with me. Other societies would have demanded that I claim you, still more that you should have woken to have sex with me and then go your own way. Which one are you from?”
    She backed against her desk and put her palms down on the wood. “I don’t have sex without emotional attachment, and once I do, I do not expect my partner to pretend we have no connection. When the attachments break, and they do, I run away from the pain and seek out a safe place to start over, and then, I do.”
    Lord Akking quirked a smile. “Is that why you are here? You were running?”
    Bella nodded. “I wanted something new, somewhere my face wouldn’t matter. Believe it or not, on my world, my symmetry makes me very attractive to a variety of potential companions.”
    “I would believe it. It is amazing that your world let you leave. You are truly a treasure. I have looked over your case files and your dedication to your work is astonishing. My people are known for their deception while behind their masks, and you managed to not only determine the truth, but also get them to gladly file for the discrepancies in their accounts. It is a wonderful skill, and I would like you to turn your people skills to my advantage.”
    She nodded. “So, this is just a business arrangement.”
    He grinned. “By no means. I have every intention of getting you into my bed and keeping you there, but if a slow walk to that goal is what you need, I will try.”
    He gave