“You assume I would restrict you?”
She sighed. “That’s what all men say. Then it starts again. ‘Don’t wear that,’ ‘do your hair this way,’ ‘don’t go out, stay here with me,’ and then suddenly everything is about what you want. And when I try to get away, it just gets worse. I just don’t want another damn stalker.”
And when she got down to it, that was a lot of it right there. Not wanting another male trying to control her.
After all, she’d just met Karuk. What if it’s part of his culture to control his female? Did their system take into account cultural preferences? And how would they know Earth preferences? There was such a variety, what if they thought she was into that?
After her previous relationship, she didn’t want the system to think the wrong thing.
She glanced at him, embarrassed for her TMI, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to see the disgust on his face.
Though disgust was not what she saw.
His face hardened. Honestly, he barely moved, but just enough of his face shifted and the kindness and amusement she’d seen before disappeared into something darker.
Meaner.
“Who stalked you? Did he harm you?” his voice was gravelly and dark.
“My ex,” she said. “And no, nothing physical yet. Just a lot of spying and emails. Like everywhere I was, he was. I ended it months ago, and he kept coming around. Honestly, it was why I was glad to come here. It got me away from him, in a place he could never come. I’ve slept better here than I have in months.”
No lie there. Since she joined this project, she slept well, knowing that Phil couldn’t get near her.
“I shall keep you protected,” he said, that gravelly voice stronger. Like he was prepared to take down an army for her.
In a way, it was kinda sweet. It did warm her heart to hear such a commitment. From anyone.
Nevertheless, she didn’t need or want him to feel obligated to take care of her. After all, she was grown. She didn’t need someone to protect her. She was a strong, independent woman.
Just like the therapist said.
“I shouldn’t need you to protect me.”
“That is what I would do. As your friend. I would keep you safe. No matter if I was your mate.”
“Safe,” she muttered, shaking her head at the concept. “That’s just it. If I don’t go back down there, then I won’t have to worry. Up here is safe. He can’t get here. No one can.”
She could stay here for a long time, and he’d eventually forget about her. Move on, and she’d be safe here.
“Eventually, you’ll have to return to your world.”
“Probably. When I’m done here. But I’m a bioengineer. I can make a project take years. I could stay here indefinitely, if I tried.”
He nodded, a strange look in his eye, and she wondered if he’d get that luxury. “What will you do when you’re done here?”
“Move to the next job. Wherever that takes me.”
And an idea came to her. One that would keep her safe. Crazy, stupid, and everything she didn’t think she wanted, but the potential that came to her… “If we did get mated, then I could travel with you.”
He raised his perfect eyebrow. “You would leave your worldwith an alien, just to avoid another being?”
“But think of all the stuff I could discover.”
“Discovery is your reason for leaving, and not avoidance.”
“No. That would just be a bonus.”
He raised his eyebrow.
