She tilted her head, her voice silky and utterly unapologetic. "Just a friendly reminder your life hasn't been billed yet, darling."
Nicholas gazed down at her, a faint, indulgent smile dancing in the depths of his
dark eyes.
Suddenly, he reached out and captured Serena's wrist.
The movement was effortless, incredibly gentle, and flawlessly chivalrous.
He didn't grab her; he held her.
His long, elegant fingers rested lightly against her skin.
He lowered his head and pressed a soft kiss to the back of her hand.
His warm lips seared against her cool flesh.
His deep, slow drawl was impossibly magnetic. "I suppose I must thank you for saving me, Ms. Panacea."
The surrounding ship personnel stared in stunned silence.
Director Kaelen's eye twitched furiously.
To everyone watching, the gesture was brazenly intimate.
These two had just survived a lethal ambush, and now they were casually flirting in the aftermath?
And The Panacea was actually letting him hold and kiss her hand?
If anyone else had tried that...
Just brushing against her would have earned them a snapped wrist!
The crew stood absolutely dumbfounded, gaping at the audacious display.
Nicholas couldn't care less about their stares or their assumptions.
After all, as the wildly wealthy and powerful Sterling Sovereign, it was only natural for him to appreciate a stunning woman-especially a fiercely capable one who had just saved his life.
It was the perfect alibi.
He kept up the facade of a wealthy playboy, lifting his gaze to meet Serena's.
The pad of his thumb brushed delicately over her wrist bone, seemingly tracing her skin, but subtly checking her wrist, her fingertips, and the webbing of her hand.
No blood. No injuries.
Even her pulse beat in a steady, reassuring rhythm.
She hadn't sustained a single scratch from her close-quarters confrontation with Specimen Seven.
That was the real reason behind his intimate gesture.
He needed to physically confirm that his Serena was safe.
The amusement in his eyes deepened into genuine warmth.
After thoroughly satisfying his protective instincts, he smoothly released her hand and met her gaze. "For me money is no object Whatever Ms. Panacea wants, we can negotiate."
Serena looked back at him, her smile growing even more captivating, a seductive tension simmering
between them. How much your life is worth is entirely up to you to catculate, Mr. Blackwood."
As she spoke, hidden by the angle of their bodies, she tapped lightly against his finger.
It was barely a flutter.
So faint it looked like nothing more than a lover's teasing caress.
Nicholas's expression didn't change, but his mind instantly decoded the signal.
Serena was letting him know she had successfully extracted all the core data from Specimen Seven.
Then, without missing a beat, she traced a subtle line across his palm.
Again, wrapped in the guise of flirting.
But Nicholas felt the distinct shape she drew against his skin-the number five.
Specimen 05.
A shadow flickered across Nicholas's eyes.
Aside from Specimen Seven, there was supposed to be a Specimen 05 inside The Sanctum Vault.
For her to pass him this specific intel right now...
It meant the Ghost Frequency Overlay that hijacked Specimen Seven's targeting system was likely connected to Specimen 05.
Critical intelligence, passed flawlessly beneath the enemy's nose.
Nicholas didn't betray a single trace of emotion.
He simply stared down at her stunning features. "Then I invite you to my quarters Ms Panacea. We can take our time tallying exactly what my survival is worth.