Page 31 of Keeping Freya
When he’s cleaned himself up and I have tackled the worst mess, he leaves me with a grumble. Smiling, I undress myself. My stomach rumbles, but I’m not sorry for forgetting dinner. I am not sorry at all.
T’Rak
I reheatthe two bowls of noodles Fr’Ya made for us. The bond pulses in approval. She was thinking of me when she found herself hungry, so she prepared food for me. No matter how hard she resists and how much she says she does not want me as her mate, her actions speak louder than those words. She may not want to want me, but she wants me just the same.
I hear the doors open, and she steps in, wearing the clothes I laid out for her on my bed. Having her in my space and taking care of her makes the bond pulse even harder, as if it has to make up for the lost time. The time we spent angry and distrustful of each other.
She is a vision, all pale skin and white hair, a blush adorning her cheeks as if she is also thinkingabout the way she touched me. Just the mere thought has me growing hard, but I will my erection down and put the noodles down on the table. “Eat.”
She snorts, “Yes, Commander Overlord, sir.” I do not know what half those words mean, but I can tell from her tone that she is challenging me. I give her a stare, and she makes a disgruntled sound, but she sits down anyway and starts eating.
We eat in silence. I am done way before her, so I help myself to another serving. She quietly sips her tea, waiting for me to finish. I can tell she is brooding, and my feelings prove correct because she starts talking the second I finish.
“How long does it take us to get to Tekrov?”
“About a day, until we reach the planet’s atmosphere. Are you ready to tell me where we need to go, yet?” I lean back in my chair and arch an eyebrow. It all comes down to trust. Does she trust me, or are we still working on establishing that trust?
She sighs, and her shoulders droop. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have held that over your head the way I did. I’m just…” She drops a silence. “I’m just so angry. I had no say in anything that happened to me over the past year and a half. Finally, we had some sort of control back, and then you guys barged in, taking over. The other girls might have been willing to roll over and lie down, but I sure as hell wasn’t. I know you are the good guys now, but it’s still hard for me.”
She takes a sip, and her eyes darken, sadness pours from her, and my heart hurts for her.
“I do trust you,” she continues. “You have proven yourself and continue to prove yourself daily. But I need time before I can fully trust you. I hope you understand.”
I do understand. There are precisely two people in this universe I trust implicitly, and they are my crew. At this point, I’ll take everything she can give me.
“I understand.” Myvoice is gruff, and I give her an understanding nod. Words are not my strength, and maybe she deserves more, but this is all I am capable of.
She gives me a wry smile. “The one you’re chasing is going to some place called ‘the Den’. Does that make sense to you?”
My mind starts whirling. I know the Den, better said, I know of the Den—some sort of twisted sanctuary for liars, murderers, and thieves. If space stations are home to the scum of the Galaxy, the Den is where those who are not even welcome at Port come to seek salvation.
It is a gambler's nest, where weapon deals are made and contracts are signed. I had no idea it was on Tekrov, but it makes sense.
“T’Rak?” Fr’Ya’s voice is filled with doubt as she calls out my name.
“Sorry. I was lost in thought. I have heard of the Den, though I did not know it was on Tekrov until just now. It makes sense, and I am glad we know its location, but we still have to find it.”
A sad smile touches her lips, and I can see disappointment settling over her. I reach over and gently touch her hand. “You did good, Fr’Ya. This is valuable information, and it may take a bit longer to find the High Commander, but this ship has excellent scans, and once I enhance them with our Arracate technology, we will easily find the Den.”
She perks up. “Really? It is that simple?” It is not, but I do not tell her that. Instead, I nod.
“You should get some sleep. I will take a watch and work on the scanner and our course. We can work out the plan tomorrow morning.”
She arches a brow, but she sighs and rises after giving me a glare. “I am tired. Do not push yourself into exhaustion, please. I do need you…”
I rise with her, and when she passes me on her way to the doors, she pauses and touches my arm. She looks up at me, and I can see the emotions swirling through her eyes. She hesitates for a heartbeat, then stretches onto the tip of her toes and presses her lips to my cheek before walking away.
Dumbfounded, I look at her retreating form. My hand comes up to my cheek, and my fingers trace the spot she touched. A kiss. I know what a kiss is, and I do my best to shut my crew and their mates out, but they are so affectionate with each other that it is hard to miss. Despite myself, I feel myself smiling. Today was a good day, today was a great day. And even though all she talks about is going back to Earth, I have hope. Hope that she might one day choose me over her beloved planet.
CHAPTER 19
T’Rak
The night is uneventful, and I spend the entire time altering and adjusting the scanners. Tekrov is only two days away, and I should rest until Fr’Ya awakens.
The minute I enter my room, I am hit by her scent. It is overwhelming and intoxicating. It is strongest in the bathroom, where I freshen up, but there is still so much lingering on the bed. I lay down on my back and close my eyes. My alarm is set, so nothing is left for me to do but surrender to sleep and dream of my mate.
“T’Rak. T’Rak!” A soft voice whispering my name wakes me from my sleep. Something tugs at my arm, and I recognize Fr’Ya’s scent before I open my eyes.
