Zarren seemed uptight. Brooding. Everything he did was so edge-lord. The way he’d looked at the other guys in that little medical room? It was like he wanted to kill them—both of them. Apparently, he didn’t even like the doctor. Judging by the perma-scowl on Zarren’s face every time I glanced his way, Zarren hated that guy.
Maybe my mate was one of those men—aliens—whopretendedto hate everyone and everything because it made him look macho or cool or whatever. I didn’t understand it, but I knew it was a thing some guys did. I didn’t buy him hating everyone and everything. I would never be happy with someone like that. If he were that dark on the inside, I would have been matched to someone else.
Or would I?
Don’t go there, Willow. Leave it.
Little bit of truth and you run scared?
Jeeez. Shut. Up.
Still, who didn’t like Coalition doctors? They weren’t like Earth’s doctors. Out in space, the doctors could perform miracles. Literal, miracles. I’d seen it on Prillon Prime. There were no quacks making bad diagnoses or botching surgeries. No drug companies holding back cures for profit. Earth had good doctors, and bad. But in the Coalition? Not liking a doctor was akin to not liking—what? Chocolate? A good night’s sleep? A sunset?
Everyoneloved doctors out in space. Even the kids.
Not my commander.
Was he trying to be mysterious and edgy? Did everyone around here believe he was cold and hard on the inside? Unkind?
I wasn’t fooled.
He practically snarled at his crew, but his hand had been gentle, holding mine. I had no doubt once he got his huge cock deep inside me, I’d be a total goner. I had zero resistance to an honorable man and a quality orgasm. At least, that’s what I’d decided when I made the choice to be bride tested. I would move forward. I would be taken care of and protected.
I would feel safe. Maybe, if I was lucky, I’d fall in love. But love? That was pretty far down my list of requirements in a mate. Not even top three, the non-negotiables.
Strong. Protective. A heartless, experienced killer.
There were real monsters out there. I needed a mate who could make me feel safe.
What you need is a god damn weapon and to pull your head out of your ass, Willow Winifred Baylor.
I shuddered. I hated my middle name. Great grandmother something or other. Ugh.
The door finally slid aside to allow entrance. Zarren began to speak, stumbled over his words, took a breath and started again. Was he nervous?
How cute.
I lifted a fingertip to his lips and pressed, just enough. “Shhh. I know you weren’t expecting me. I’m sure we’ll be just fine.”
I didn’t give him a chance to respond. Instead, I rushed in to see my new home.
The main room was large. The ceilings were taller than I was used to, but warriors were big, so it made sense. The walls and floor were smooth, dark metal of some kind. I assumed the entire spaceship was made out of the same stuff. There was a second, smaller area that broke off into a small nook. Maybe a kitchenette? There was a small S-Gen for food, a counter with a bit of storage above—shelves were empty—and a table with one chair. The table was covered, not with plates or knick-knacks, but with blueprints or engineering designs for something outer-spacey. Whatever the plans were for, the technical drawings and details were stacked one on top of another more than a few pages thick.
I didn’t know Prillons still used paper. Never seen that in outer space before.
Just off to the side of the nook was a bathroom exactly like those on Prillon Prime. I knew how to work everything there. Next to that, an open door that led to the bedroom.
I tried to make sense of what I was seeing.
Surely, this was not where he lived?
He’s even more pathetic than you are. Get a houseplant or something.
Shut the fuck up. Seriously.
I’d had enough of arguing with myself for one day, thank you very much.
The dark bedroom beckoned. I walked to the open door and stepped inside.
