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“Take care of yourself.”

“I always do, my dear.” Standing up from the bed, she pressed her naked body against him and kissed him, reaching down to squeeze his cock through his pants. It swelled under her touch. “If you need to relieve that later, you know where to find me.”

Wishing he actually did want to stay a while longer, he said, “Keep the bed warm. I may take you up on the offer.” Alex winked at her as he left. He wished he actually felt that lighthearted. Dreading the moment he walked through the door and had to look his sister in the eyes, Alex started home.

He just wasn’t sure he was dreading it because he knew he’d broken a promise, or because he was afraid this time Doriena might just see right through him. He was afraid she might figure out the reason he didn’t want her around Bakac was for his own protection and not hers.

?* * *

“Is that a destabilizer wand in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?” Doriena Mak’un cocked an eyebrow as she addressed her stepbrother. The man had just said “good night” to his latest distraction, and the evidence of his failure to relieve himself properly was prominent.

“You’re a pain, Doriena,” Alex growled. “Mind your own business.”

“Thisismy business. You were supposed to be homethree hoursago! Now you’ve ruined everything!”

“Don’t exaggerate,” Alex snapped. “You should have had Dad take you to the tournament.”

“Yeah. Like Dad is going to take me to meet Bakac Kemka. You know he only agreed to let me go because he’s your best friend.” Doriena was angrier than she could ever remember being. Angry and hurt. “The deal was I could go to the Spars as Bakac’s partneronlyif you went with me. Instead, I’m sitting home, and Bakac is fighting with someone else helping.”

“So?” Alex shrugged and shouldered past her to the kitchen. “The Spars are too violent for you anyway.”

“They are not! They’re justgames, Alex. But being there with the reigning champion would have given me extra status in the Academy!”

“It would have labeled you as Bakac’s woman.”

“How is that a bad thing? I’d like to be with Bakac.” Doriena couldn’t help but smile. “He’s the best looking guy I’ve ever seen.”

Alex rounded on her and gripped her shoulders hard. “You don’t have a clue what that means, Doriena,” he growled. “You’re not ready for that kind of relationship.”

“How would you know?” She spat the question with as much contempt as she could muster. “You’re never here. You don’t spend any time with me. How could you possibly know what I’m ready for?”

“I know Bakac. I know the Gothe’maran people. Believe me --” He shoved her away from him and crossed his arms over his chest as he leaned against the wall. “-- being a human female makes you definitely not ready. Hell,I’mbarely able to deal with their sexual appetites.”

Doriena just looked at him. She’d heard about Bakac’s taste in sex play, and she wasn’t sure Alex was wrong in his assessment of the situation. She tried to be strong, tried not to let him see how truly hurt she was that he’d broken his promise to her.

Truth was, she was just as attracted to Alex as she was to Bakac. His dark blond hair fell below his collar, but was always neatly groomed. Sometimes he wore a goatee that emphasized the differences between him and most Gothe’maran men. There were very few blonds among their people. Mikkarn was the only one Doriena could think of. Every now and then, there would be a man or woman with snow-white hair, but few blonds. He was definitely as formidable as any male of the Gothe’maran race. He was muscular in an athletic way. He didn’t carry as much bulk as many Gothe’marans, but his finely toned muscles were sexy as hell.

He had always looked beautiful to her, but the fact that he was her brother always made her feel guilty. Well, stepbrother, anyway.

Right now, it didn’t matter. He wasn’t acting like a brother, he was acting like aman. All stupid and superior acting when he was just silly. She wanted to pout, but the truth was, she was just plain hurt.

“Go away,” she whispered. “Go away, and don’t speak to me again.”

Alex rolled his eyes. “When you’re older, you’ll thank me for this.”

She whirled on him. “You’re not my father! I’m old enough to know what I’m ready for and what I’m not. I’m nineteen!” When he straightened and would have interrupted her, she shoved him back against the wall. “I was old enough to enter the Warrior’s Academy for Military Command -- I’m certainly old enough to know about the more carnal side of the Gothe’maran male.”

He simply stared at her a moment. She wasn’t certain -- she wasn’t nearly as worldly as she would have him believe -- but she could have sworn she saw a hunger in his eyes the likes of which she had never witnessed before. It didn’t take a genius to figure out the meaning ofthatlook.

It excited her beyond belief.

Before she could be sure, it was gone and the heat turned to icy resolve.

“You’re a child compared to me and Bakac,” he said softly. “Stick to boys your own age, or you might find out just how much you don’t know.” With that, he headed up the stairs.

When she heard the door close, Doriena slumped against the wall. She felt like crying, but that wasn’t the way she dealt with things. Tears only proved she was weak. A member of Military Commandnevershowed weakness. If she wanted to be the first female officer in Military Command, she couldn’t afford to show even the slightest hint of weakness.

Straightening, her back ramrod straight now, she calmly walked out the door. If Alex wouldn’t take her where she wanted to go, she’d go herself. She’d have to face her father’s wrath later, but damn it, this was her life. She wanted to live it.

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