Romulus

The ride back is spent in terse silence.

On the inside I am in turmoil. My heart is beating like a drum, every rule I’ve lived by broken, every promise I made to myself undone by a single moment of weakness.

On the outside, I show nothing.

My lips are a tight line. My eyes focused on the target: the Classis. Once we make it back there, there’s a whole ship for us both to hide in.

Behind me Alexa cries without making a sound. She is tough. Refuses to show weakness. The human makes me work for it.

I had to beat her admission that she’s attracted to me out of her — literally.

You fool.

I couldn’t resist her glorious curves. I had to feel them, had to touch, grab, strike and hold. I had to make her mine.

Her stubbornness is like an aphrodisiac to me. The more she challenges me, the more I want to break her.

And now I’ve ruined everything.

She hates me now.

Good.

* * *

Alexa

The Elban man is an absolute mystery to me. They couldn’t have sent a worse candidate on this mission if they tried. I barely understand human men, but this alien one is throwing me for a loop.

He’s hot and cold, close and then distant.

One moment his hands are on my ass, his hardness pressing into my stomach, as he strips my clothing off… and the next moment he ignores me completely.

Like I’m made out of thin air, after giving me a kiss so passionate my heart rate has yet to go down.

I fight back the tears as the shuttle docks. The moments the doors open I run past Romulus, through the long winding halls, straight to my quarters.

I don’t stop running until I have my face buried in my pillow, biting down on it so he won’t hear me sobbing down the hall.

My instinct was right.

Men can’t be trusted.

They just want to humiliate you.

And you let it happen. You idiot.

This is Tom all over again.

* * *

Romulus

My muscles ache as I swing my heavy sword around, cutting down the holograms. What I wouldn’t give to face a live opponent right now; one who would test my strength, one who would force me to go the extra mile.

One who would make me forget about Alexa Oakley.

Forget about the way her ass and thighs rippled every time my flat palm landed on her soft, round behind.

Forget about how she moaned and writhed underneath of me.

Forget about that kiss we shared.

That long, deep, passionate kiss that threatens to undo every thing I’ve fought so hard for.

Freya proved my weakness.

Gaius rubbed salt in those wounds.

I will not let there be a third.

My duty lies with Nero Octavius, with his mate Victoria, and with their unborn child. I ought to be looking over them, and where am I?

On the other side of the galaxy keeping a human female prisoner against her will.

I ought to return her to Earth, and end this charade.

No — I ought to tell her how I really feel. End the lies, the deceit, the games. Lay my cards on the table and let her make her decision.

No — that way lies madness.

I roar in frustration, a deep, primal sound that rises from my very core. I cannot even make a decision anymore. I am divided; split; torn.

A dangerous thing for a warrior to be.

In anger, I cast my sword aside, and a shriek makes fear trickle down my spine. Alexa is standing to the side of the arena, and I had not detected her presence, for I was too lost in my own emotions.

My sword impales the column behind her; the tip barely misses her.

“You really are trying to kill me, aren’t you?!” she says.

No, you fool.

I’m trying to save you.

* * *

Alexa

The sounds drew me near.

I know I should stay away — the sight of Romulus, half naked and sweaty makes me do stupid things, but I needed to see him.

I needed to know if I was over him.

After what he did to me, after how he treated me the answer should be obvious, but nothing ever is.

The only way to know would be to face him.

And what happens?

He throws his sword at me.

It cleaves through the column behind me. If I had been foot taller, I wouldn’t be alive.

Has he lost his mind?

“You really are trying to kill me, aren’t you?!” I say, my cheeks hot with anger.

I want to have this fight.

I want to rage, to curse, to scream.

And then make-up with the hottest, roughest sex ever.

Instead, Romulus turns away.

He doesn’t even give me the satisfaction of a good fight.

I head back to my room, dejected.

Alone.