Page 76 of Tribute
Kai scowled back at him, aware that his feeble attempts to initiate a meaningful conversation had backfired spectacularly. “Fine, if that’s the way you want to play it, I fucking will.”
He closed his mouth. He didn’t fucking know what he wanted anymore. With a curse, he threw the towel on the floor and stormed out.
CHAPTER
SEVEN
“Just remember to do your best,” Kai advised gruffly. “If you clear this last batch of tests today, you are free to go.”
“I understand.”
Price was wearing his uniform and had drawn many admiring glances during their journey down to the military hospital and base. He’d not seemed to notice any of them, his attention turned inward. He’d used Kai’s razor to cut his hair soldier-short and remove any traces of stubble. The only thing he couldn’t remove was theUngrichscar marring his throat.
They’d spent the last few days acting like polite strangers during the day and fucking like wild animals all night. But it wasn’t the same. Aled made no attempt to master Kai and just took whatever Kai offered him, like some kind of high-class prostitute. Kai hated it but still couldn’t stop himself from slaking his need for Aled’s body. The thought of him not being there anymore, of not havinganything, was almost too hard to contemplate.
Kai cleared his throat. “Do you want me to come in with you, or shall I meet you at the end of the day to hear the results?”
Price’s light blue gaze rested briefly on him. “There’s no need to babysit me. I’m not going to betray Anna Lee.”
There was no reply he could give that wouldn’t imply he was concerned about his trainee for his own reasons. “Then I’ll see you later.”
Price’s hand shot out and took hold of his elbow. “When I’m free, what happens next?”
“The government gives you its thanks, a lifelong pension, preferential housing, and anything else you ask for on the sly.”
“So I can live anywhere I want?”
“Yeah.”
Price sighed. “You’re not going to make this easy for me, are you?”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Fuck you.”
“I have been, and I’ve enjoyed it as much as I’ve enjoyed you fucking me back. Your point?”
Price looked skyward as if seeking divine help. “As soon as I get a place, I’ll give you the address. If you want to come and see me, you can. If you don’t? Then I’ll know where I stand.”
Kai shook his head. “You still don’t get it. Two weeks,greez, twodayswithout my company, and you’ll be thanking the gods you got away and looking forward to a new, happy, no-Kai life.”
“I won’t.” There was a firmness to Price’s voice that made Kai pause. His trainee had become a man to be reckoned with. “I love you, but I’m not going to beg anymore. If you want me, you’ll know where to find me.”
So that was it then. Aled couldn’t have been clearer. Kai knew him well enough now to understand that his lover was perfectly capable of moving on without him.Ungrichsurvivors were tough bastards.
He took a step back as Price saluted him and walked away. He felt like he’d been punched in the gut. They’d fucked andshared his apartment for the last few weeks, and Price hadn’t asked anything of him at all. Except when he begged to come . . .
And apparently he wasn’t prepared to beg for anything anymore.
Kai turned and began walking blindly toward the admin side of the building. That was good, wasn’t it? Aled Price was now a free and confident man. A man who’d just said he loved him and walked away.
Greez. . .
For a second, he wanted to run back and demand to know exactly what game Price was playing now. But he already knew. Price was playing for keeps. It was up to Kai to decide whether he wanted to man up and play as well.
Aled grimaced as yet another medical technician took blood from him. He glanced at the clock. Surely he should be done by now? He’d seen Graif briefly and had reconnected. It was a relief to see his friend had come through the experience. They’d agreed to meet up when they were both settled. When he was done, he’d go back to Kai’s place, clear out his stuff, and . . .
Find somewhere new to live.
