Free Craving: A SciFi Alien Mail Order Bride Romance (TerraMates Book 8) by Lisa Lace Page A

same coldness that came from the Anquesh warrior's mouth.
    "Oh. Is he going to be okay?"
    "He will live. The Commander's health is not your concern. You've done quite enough already. Is there anything else you require at this moment?"
    The Lieutenant's tone implied Jenn was the cause of his commander's injuries. She supposed she was, from a certain point of view. If she hadn't encouraged Kai to run away from the restaurant, the ugly mess would never have happened.
    She shook her head no.
    "Sleep pleasantly." The door closed as Sevit left the room.

Chapter Twelve
    J enn had fallen asleep . When she jolted awake, the lights in the room were off. The room was dark except for some light streaming in from the hallway. A hulking figure stood at the entrance.
    "Turn on the damn lights!" Jenn shouted. The tiny room lit up, and she could finally see who was waiting for her outside the door.
    It was Kai.
    She gulped. He had one hand against the doorframe and his pose highlighted his sculptured body. Kai had changed his clothes. Currently, he wore a uniform with a metal breastplate which left his muscular arms uncovered. Unconsciously, Jenn stared at him, trying to get the memories of his hands out of her mind.
    He didn't move, and Jenn quickly became impatient again. "Are you going to come in?"
    "I was just checking on you."
    "Why would you do that? Do you think I'm going to wander off unsupervised? You're holding me against my will. I'm sure your computer is keeping excellent tabs on me. You must want something else."
    Kai looked away. He was trying to figure out the correct response.
    "Well?" demanded Jenn. "Do you have anything to say for yourself?"
    "No. A warrior does not need to explain himself."
    "You jerk!" She flew at him, her frustration at her situation pushing her to recklessness. Jenn hammered his breastplate with her fists. "How dare you take me from my planet! How dare you imprison me!"
    Kai's face looked pained as he easily pulled her fists away from his chest. With a sigh, Kai pushed her back into the cabin, this time moving inside and closing the door. He started talking, enumerating several points with his fingers.
    "First of all, I'm the commander of this ship. It reflects poorly on us if you make angry displays where the crew can hear you. Second, I'd appreciate it if you didn't hit me. My wounds are still healing, and the medical officer will give me a bad report if they start bleeding again. Finally, I brought you onto my ship because I wasn't sure who was trying to kill us. It's possible that you have become entangled in Anquera politics. If someone tried to kill you because you were with me, it's a problem. I understand that you want nothing to do with me, and I respect your decision."
    "Where did you get the idea that I want nothing to do with you?"
    "You were angry with me in the taxi when I touched you. You were right. It was unworthy of you and dishonorable of me."
    Jenn stared at Kai. She could hardly believe a word she was hearing.
    So he does think the worst of me , she thought. I'm stuck on a spaceship with a space hulk who thinks I'm a slut.
    "I won't bother you again."

    * * *
    K ai couldn't forget the angry look on Jenn's face as the door slid into place, separating them again. He hung his head. His sindare hated him, and for good reasons.
    It was foolish for him to come back to her cabin. He had lied to himself. He didn't need to check on her at all, but he wanted to see her. He needed to touch her, even if she didn't want him.
    For the first time in his life, he had no idea how to get what he wanted.
    Kai thought he could stash Jenn on a backwater planet somewhere and keep her away from danger, but he realized now it was foolish. She would be just as unhappy there as she was on Anquera. She wanted to go home. If their situations reversed, he would want to back too, regardless of the danger.
    He felt the room sway around him for a moment, then remembered the doctor had threatened restriction to the