Page 22 of Touch the Stars
“Nope.”Not in the way he meant, at least.
“I am glad you are well, Empress.”He rose and collected the bowls.“I must return to the command center to prepare.”
A flutter of panic danced in her gut and she straightened in her chair.“Prepare for what?Are we almost there?”
“No.Our journey will be another six to seven days.”
“Oh, okay.”Breathe normal.Don’t make him suspicious.“Can I come with you?”
Way to sound like a dumbass, air-head.
“I welcome your company, Empress.”He lowered the dishes through an open section of the counter’s surface into the sanitizer.
Mental note for later—figure out how to take one of those contraptions back home.Right now, though, that empress shit had to stop.
“Could you please call me Kaitlyn?At least for a little while longer.”
His frown came back, as if he didn’t like that idea.No surprise there, though.
Finally, he nodded.“Very well.Kaatlyn.”
The way he rolled all the syllables of her name sounded like another language.Sexy, in a way.
“Thanks, Baatar.”She gave him the best beaming smile she could.
“Even though you will be my empress, it is important there is respect and trust between us.”
“Yeah.”Not after she destroyed all that respect and trust.“You are so right.”
A pang of guilt stabbed at her heart, and she ruthlessly squashed it back down into the dark cave it’d shot out of.
“I only used your title to help ease your adjustment into your role.”He lowered the remaining cookware through the countertop, closed it up, then extended his hand.“Come.”
She reached out and slipped her hand into his.He curled his fingers around hers, enveloping it in warmth, then tugged her gently up from her seat.A shiver of electricity slid down her spine.If only things were different.If only he wasn’t trying to ruin her life with his so-called mission.
If only…
If only…
She couldn’t go there.Not if she wanted to take back her autonomy, rescue Kris, and go home.
She gave herself a mental shake and dug deep to plaster a bright smile on her face.“Lead the way.”
Let him think she was going along with his agenda, following him like a meek kitten, accepting this stupid role he was so determined to push on her.
As roomy as the ship seemed, the walk to the command center took barely fifteen seconds.She crossed into the room a half a step behind him, then pulled her hand free of his.
He turned to her.“Emp…Kaitlyn…?”
His beautiful eyes reflected a loss, like he regretted not having her hand in his anymore.Which was as crazy as her desire to grab his hand again.Could she even follow through on her plan?
I have to.
She took a step back, then three more.Far enough that he could not easily reach any part of her once he realized what she was up to.Because he would figure it out in three… She slid her hand into her pocket, grasped the blanker, then pulled it out.
He parted his lips and stared at the device.“Where did you…?”
Two…
