Free Kidnapped by a Warrior by Ravenna Tate

a mission. But true to his word,
he always returned within twenty-four hours, and spent at least sixteen with
her before he had to leave again.
    Lesha
came and went every couple of days and always made sure she had food and
anything else she needed. Apparently women on their planets had periods, because the first day that Lesha came she brought
pads. When Callie tried to explain about tampons, and asked if they had any,
Lesha had told her they had no such thing and suggested she ask Jakara to bring
some back from Earth if that’s what she preferred.
    Callie
tried to engage Lesha in conversation, but it was like talking to a table. She
finally gave up and spent her days leafing through Jakara’s books. He had a
collection ranging from military strategy and speculation to boring biographies
of every general who’d ever made it into a history book. The tomes on battles
ranged from the Roman Empire to modern times.
    When
they were together they made love, and he was just as passionate and skilled as
he’d been the first couple of days she was here. All she had to do was look at
him and she wanted him. But when he left, she was lonely and depressed.
    She
missed her family, her shitty former job at Tagger Cleaners, and Lizzy’s sad
gallery. She missed sunsets that weren’t hidden by rocky
mountains , and the sound of traffic in the streets. She heard no animals
or insects outside on the rare occasions she dared to go up on the roof and
glance around.
    He
hadn’t been kidding about the heat. And since he had no AC, she spent most of
her time in front of a floor fan that was whisper quiet, but didn’t do much in
the way of cooling her off. It only moved the hot air around so at least she
could breathe.
    At
the end of her second week in Jakara’s house, he came home while it was still
daylight, and told Callie he had two weeks off. “Why?” Had something happened?
Was he in danger?
    He
smiled. “Vacation.”
    “ I’m surprised they let you take any.”
    “ I had to fight for it. I told them people on Earth
get several weeks a year and it’s paid time. Since
they realize many of us are finding out the employees on Earth were treated a
lot better than we are, they consented to give us a couple of weeks once a year
for now, and see how things go.”
    “ How benevolent of them.”
    He
laughed and pulled her into a bear hug, lifting her off her feet to twirl her
around. “You’re starting to sound like me.” He placed her on her feet. “Wait
here. I have a surprise for you.” He left the room for a second and then
returned with a large cardboard box.
    She
tore open the strapping tape he’d used to seal it, and gasped as she pulled out
the items on top. “Oh! My books…”
    “ Not all of them. I chose the ones with worn pages,
as I assumed you’d read them more than once. Those must be your favorites.”
    “ Jakara, I don’t know what to say. This is so
thoughtful. Thank you.”
    “ I never meant for you to be so bored or lonely here
when I’m gone. I would have procured these items earlier, but I had to be
careful not to be seen doing it.”
    She
averted her gaze as she removed the novels from the box. He’d guessed
correctly. All her favorites were here. “How do you know I’ve been bored and
lonely?”
    “ Lesha reports everything to me.”
    She
glanced up at the plaintive tone in his voice. “Then she must be a mind reader.
I haven’t said a word to her.”
    “ She is very perceptive, and you wear your emotions
on your face and on your body, Callie.”
    “ I do miss you when you’re gone.”
    She
swore she saw relief and happiness in his eyes. But why would he care how I feel when he’s gone? Not unless … no. That wasn’t possible. He didn’t care for her. Not in that way. She was a sex partner. Nothing more. He’d all but told her that two weeks ago. “And I miss
you, as well.”
    “ Really?”
    “ Of course I do. I care for you.”
    She
heard the blood rushing in her veins as she watched