He wasn’t getting through to her, and he needed to make a choice with what needed to be done. He couldn’t, wouldn’t, not until he knew all the information. His threats weren’t working.
Fear wasn’t working.
Three days and he was fucking exhausted by it all.
When he went to fix her food next, he took his time—like he always did—but researched the general fare aliens enjoyed eating. He had his replicator create some for her.
He placed it on the table by the sofa when he returned to his quarters.
She came out of the bathroom when she heard him.
His eyes took her in.
She was wearing the same clothes as days before and was just as beautiful. He was beginning to think, the longer this went on, she only got more beautiful to plague him.
“Are you ready to talk?” he asked.
No answer.
“That’s fine. I’ll be back later to pick this up.” He stood and indicated the food, turning for the door. Better to leave now before he made things worse.
The next morning, he found her back on the sofa staring at her hands. The food from the night before had been picked at. He replaced it with the new tray he brought with him.
“You need to eat,” he said. “You need to regain your strength.”
She stared at her hands.
He hated this. He hated being shut out.
He missed her.
She hadn’t tried to escape since that time with Pigeon, and he wasn’t sure if he hated that the most. It was like she’d given up and was just waiting for him to finish her off.
“We’ll be arriving at Atrexia in a few days,” he said just to fill the silence, to get a reaction, anything from her. “After that, we’re due back on Earth.”
She didn’t look up.
He couldn’t take it anymore. Hysterian was in front of her within the next second. She jerked back with a gasp.
It was something. It was fucking something.
“Tell me, Alexa. I’m begging. If someone is blackmailing you—”
“No one’s blackmailing me!” She snapped to her feet and fled to the upper half of the room.
He stilled. It was the first time he’d heard her voice in days.
“Then why?” he asked cautiously.
“You might as well kill me and get it over with.”
“I don’t want to fucking kill you. Let me help you.”
Her laugh sounded hollow with defeat. “Help me? You don’t want to help me. You want to shout and threaten, and get your way.”
He stormed after her and grabbed her arm. She tugged but he wasn’t going to allow her to get away.
“Why did you sleep with me?” he asked.
