Page 19 of Soros
“I would like to share a room with Nerix,” Star repeated and sent the large soldier a kind smile.
Lios played with the bubbles on the surface, letting his hand brush back and forth. “That’s fine. Soros, you had a point upstairs. You’re not under my command and if you want a private room, you can have it. Maybe it’s only fair that I volunteer to co-sleep for a change. Since Star seems determined to sleep with Nerix, I guess that means I’ll be sleeping with you, Tania.”
“That’s kind of you, Captain Lios, but I already made up my mind.” Soros spread out his arms, leaning them back on the edge of the hot tub. “I’m sleeping with Tania tonight.”
Nerix protested before I could. “That’s not necessary. We can sleep three people in one room. I’m happy to share with both Tania and Star.”
“Why would you when I’m offering to share a room?” Soros challenged us and this time I felt his gaze burning on my skin.
“I can sleep in your room, Soros,” Star offered and moved a little closer to him. “I don’t want anyone feeling left out.”
It was heartbreaking to see Star’s projection of her own fear of being alone.
“That’s kind of you, but I actually need to discuss something work related with the Earth expert. Sharing a room with Tania will give me time to pick her brain.”
“Ohh…” Star touched my hand under the water and looked at me. “In that case, maybe it’s better if you share a room with Soros and I sleep with Nerix?”
Lios shook his head. “I can’t believe you people. It’s just sleep. Figure it out!”
My entire body felt uneasy with nervous energy and my mind turned mushy with conflicting thoughts and emotions. I was provoked that Soros thought he could declare that he wanted time with me without asking me first. And yet I hadn’t protested when I could have easily just said no.
But how could I say no when I had a desperate need for Soros to want me close? For so long I had yearned to hear him say that our magical time together wasn’t just something that I had made up in my head.
“Tania, you’re quiet. Are you okay with Soros picking your brain and you two sharing a room?” Lios asked me.
I was looking around, pretending as if it was no big deal to me. When I didn’t answer at first, Nerix used his concerned and protective tone of voice with me. “You don’t have to share a room with him. I’m happy to sleep on the floor and let you and Star have the bed.”
With a shrug, I lied, “I don’t care who I sleep with.”
“Great. In that case, it’s settled,” Lios declared and got up from the hot tub to try out the ice-bucket. The men quickly became hungry and wanted to head back up to the rooms to order some of the delicious food that Star had recommended from the room service menu.
I stayed in the hotel spa longer than the others, needing the time to prepare mentally for the confrontation that would no doubt follow the moment I was alone with Soros.
Leaving the spa and walking upstairs felt like I was heading straight for a collision that could potentially leave me bruised and broken.
CHAPTER 8
Erupting Volcanoes
Soros
When Tania finally walked into the hotel room that we would be sharing, I lay propped up on the bed with my legs stretched out and a tray of food next to me.
She brought with her a lovely scent of shampoo from the shower downstairs.
“Do you want something?” I asked her and pointed with my chin to the tray of food.
“Nah, I’m good. Thank you. It’s late. We should get some sleep.” As Tania said the dismissive words, I knew that I wouldn’t be able to sleep with her close until we had resolved this tension between us.
I was wounded and hurt by her desire to erase her memory of everything that had happened between us. It also annoyed me that she acted as if I was a villain and had wronged her somehow. “Do you plan on being angry with me for the rest of your life or are we going to clear the air?” I said while picking up the tray and carrying it through the room.
My question set her off. “Don’t pretend that you don’t know why I’m angry.”
Walking past her, I placed the tray outside the room like the waiter who brought the food had instructed me to do when I was finished. After closing the door, I stopped right in front of Tania. “How would I know why you’re so angry with me when I can’t read your mind? Last time I saw you, you cried and said that you would miss me. Clearly, something changed. I just don’t know what.”
She gaped at me. “It’s been more thanfour years.”
I still didn’t understand how she could want to forget what we had. “I don’t care how long it’s been, Tania.”
