He faced her.
What to say? Fear zipped through her. “I like the color.”
“It doesn’t suit you.”
“I think it does.”
“You’re too pale. The black washes you out.” He cocked his head and reached up. Alexa stilled as his gloved hand vanished behind her head.
What is he doing?
She felt a tug.
He pulled her bun loose, and her hair fell in a crimped wave down her back.
She swallowed thickly hoping her heart wouldn’t jump out from her throat. Hysterian held her hair band between his fingers.
“You’re naturally blonde,” he said.
How did he know that? “I… Yes…” she stammered.
“Blonde would suit you better.”
“How do you know I’m blonde?”
“I searched the network for pictures of you just now, prior to the dye. You’ve worn it black for a long time, it seems. There were very few of you blonde, and you’re very young in them.”
He just scanned the network while she stood in front of him? Prying into her past like he had a right too? Blood rushed to her face. “You have no right.”
Hysterian shrugged.
“I’m allowed privacy. Even from my captain.”
If he searched too deep into her past, he’d find out a lot more than she would ever want him—or anyone—to know. Yet he didn’t seem to care. He pocketed her hair band instead of giving it back.
“You are, and I wouldn’t snoop on any normal occasion, but I’ve been curious. Most women change their looks to enhance themselves, and you may think you are going black.” He indicated her hair. “But the dye you’re using is cheap. It smells.”
“I haven’t dyed my hair in weeks. There’s no smell anymore.”
“Maybe to you. To me, it reeks.”
Alexa reached up and pulled her hair behind her, stepping away. “I’m not changing my looks to suit you, Captain,” she spat. “That’s beyond protocol. I’m sorry you don’t like the smell. You’re going to have to get used to it.”
His brow arched. “I’m not asking you to change. I’m insisting you use better dye from here on out. I’ll have the replicator make some. Though it would be easier if you stripped it out and went natural.”
His eyes roved over her hair, and she wanted to gather it back into a bun more than anything but couldn’t. It made her uncomfortable, how much he had noticed about her.
“No more of the shit you’re using. It doesn’t work for me.”
The audacity. Her anger took over. “No.”
His eyes finally met hers. “No?”
Alexa stood her ground. “No. You don’t have a say in my appearance. I’ll use what I’ve always used.”
“Not many people have the courage to tell a Cyborg no.”
“That’s a shame. You need to hear it more often.”
