Free Educating the Alien: Raedyn (The Azurite Series Book 1) by Sara Hotchkiss

for Lexi, she thought as they prepared for transport back to the Fier’the’yi Fho’rd. She was going to turn in her acceptance of the job as colony representative and she and Raedyn were moving in together. He wasn’t going to make any more deposits and they were going to file as permanent partners. She couldn’t be any happier.

14.
     
    Lexi had just gotten off the phone with her mother, announcing the news of her partnership with Raedyn when she was alerted to a visitor at her door. She checked the time. Raedyn wasn’t supposed to be off a call for another hour. Maybe it was Jaime coming by to say hello?
    She was surprised to find Lae’hear’dahi on the other side with a Cheshire grin on her face.
    “Did you hear the news?” she asked, pushing her way inside of Lexi’s apartment.
    “By all means, please come in,” Lexi groused.
    “Thank you,” said Lae, not detecting the sarcasm in Lexi’s comment. She eyed the living area. “How…quaint.”
    Lexi rolled her eyes. “What can I help you with Lae?”
    “I just wanted to be the first to let you know. Ra’yed’n and I have been matched! He made his final deposits today.” Lae rolled her eyes dramatically. “He couldn’t wait and because he was so close to the end, they let him make multiples. I insisted on helping, but he took care of things himself, so chivalrous. Anyway, as soon as he was put on the list, we were immediately paired. Look,” she said thrusting a tablet under Lexi’s nose. “It just came out.”
    Lexi accepted the tablet and sunk down onto her couch. How did this happen? He had a change of heart? She thought they had worked everything out. They stayed in bed for hours in the suite discussing their plans for the future. They continued to make love until neither of them could stand upright and Lexi nearly professed her love to him.
    “I don’t understand,” she said quietly in English.
    “Oh, honey, that translates in any language. Don’t take it so hard. He just wanted one of his own kind. We belong together and he realized that after being with you. Well, that being with me would be that much, more.”
    Lexi continued to stare at the tablet containing side-by-side pictures of Lae and Raedyn and the gossip news of the pairing of the century. Power couple.
    “You can keep that. I’ll see myself out.”
    ---
    Raedyn shuffled the papers on his desk, cleaning up before leaving and looking forward to going home to Lexi. Home to Lexi. The words warmed him from the inside out. He wondered what ‘mattress gymnastics’ they’d try tonight. He laughed at the words, the English slang so appropriate. Jaime peeked his head around the corner.
    “Hey man! I need to thank you again for your help with the dinner etiquette.” Raedyn’s smile faded as he took in Jaime’s stance. His arms were folded across his chest and his ridge was low.
    “What the fuck did you do?”
    Raedyn was taken aback. Had Lexi told him about their physical intimacy?
    “It’s not what you think. We think it’s a great idea. It’s really for the best.” Did Jaime know about them? Was he jealous?
    Jaime stalked forward and pushed Raedyn in the chest with two fingers. “I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about. I just got off the phone with HR. Lexi resigned.”
    Raedyn smiled wide and nodded. “That’s great news!” he exclaimed. He didn’t continue though, he was distracted when Jaime’s fist hit him in the jaw. Reaching up, he grabbed his face. “What was that for?”
    “You asshole. She more than resigned. She’s prepping to leave the ship.”
    “What do you mean? She was going to take the colony representative job.”
    Jaime shook his head. “She turned down the offer.”
    Taking a seat back in his chair, Raedyn tried to process this news. He absently rubbed his jaw. He didn’t understand. They had made plans. She was going to take the new job, she was in his quarters. What could have possibly gone wrong? It had to be some