Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 126848 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 634(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126848 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 634(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
“That’s an excellent idea,” Iyanna said, trying to smile. But inside, she was really anxious. She was certain that something was going on with Dra’vik and she wanted to get the big Drake alone and talk to him.
“I’ll see you both later,” Commander Rarev said, smiling.
Iyanna nodded politely as she made her way out of the office. But all her thoughts were on Dra’vik—what was going on with him?
She was determined to find out.
FIFTY-TWO
Dra’vik walked as quickly as he could, but the little Elite still caught up with him anyway.
“Hey, where do you think you’re going?” she demanded, planting herself in front of him so that he had to stop and talk to her.
“Back to my domicile in the Dark Side,” Dra’vik growled. “Need to get some rest—I thought we both needed to.”
“Yes, but I thought we could rest together.” Iyanna was looking up at him, with uncertainly in her dark eyes. “You know, maybe cuddle some more?” she asked hopefully.
“Sorry,” Dra’vik said shortly. “I don’t think I’m in a cuddling mood right now.”
“Oh, okay…” She took a step back, the uncertainty in her face growing. “Look, I’ve been feeling like something was off with you ever since the shuttle,” she told him. “Is there something wrong, Dra’vik? Was it something I did? Something I said?”
Yes, there’s something wrong and yes it’s something you fucking said! growled an angry voice inside him. But of course he couldn’t’ speak the words aloud. And he couldn’t direct his anger at her either. After all, it wasn’t her fault if she didn’t want to be bred and impregnated—she was the owner of her own body and it was her prerogative to do whatever she wanted with it.
Dra’vik knew the person he was really angry with was himself. He’d been playing the fool for the past few days, pretending that he had a chance with such a beautiful, curvy Elite. What an idiot he’d been!
And now, all he wanted was a chance to get away and lick his wounds. But he could tell that if he didn’t end things now with Iyanna, she wasn’t going to let this drop. She was never going to leave him alone unless he made a clean break. It would be painful for both of them, but it was better than dragging things out.
“Look, Iyanna…” He sighed as he looked down at her. “The mission is over, so there’s no need for us to be together every minute anymore.”
“No need?” she asked blankly. “I don’t understand. I thought…I got the idea that we, er, wanted to be together.”
“We had to stick together during the mission,” Dra’vik said patiently. “But it’s over now. So you can go back to your life and I can go back to mine. All right?”
“I…I don’t understand,” she said again, shaking her head.
Dra’vik glared at her.
“Then let me make it clear for you—the mission is over and we can’t be together anymore. So I’m going to my end of the ship and you’re going to yours and we’ll probably never see each other again.”
Dra’vik knew as the words left his mouth that he was being unnecessarily cruel. Knew the hurt and anger and disappointment he was feeling were spilling over into his conversation with the little Elite. But somehow he couldn’t seem to stop himself.
Iyanna was looking at him, her eyes filled with pain.
“Never see each other again? What are you saying?” she whispered. “I thought…thought we made a connection.”
“Well, you thought wrong,” Dra’vik snapped. “Now do you mind? It’s late and I’d like to get back to my domicile.”
She stepped out of his path, her eyes already filling with tears.
“I still don’t get it,” she said, her voice thick with pent up sobs. “Why did you act like you cared if you didn’t? Why did you make me…make me fall for you if you didn’t give a damn about me?”
I do give a damn—I fucking love you!
But again he couldn’t say the words out loud. They would complicate things too much.
“I’m sorry,” he said instead, frowning. “I never meant to give you the wrong impression. But the mission is over now, so we’re over, too. All right, little girl? It’s time to move on.”
“Move on? Why are you doing this? Why are you being this way?”
She was crying openly now, tears streaming down her cheeks, making him want to gather her up in his arms and comfort her. But Dra’vik knew he couldn’t do that—it would only give her false hope.
“I’m sorry,” he repeated. “But I think it’s the best thing we can do.”
“Can’t you even tell me why?” she demanded. “Was it something I did or said? Or are you just a monumental asshole—messing me around for the hell of it?”
Dra’vik looked down at her, his heart aching.
“I guess I’m just an asshole,” he said at last, his voice low and harsh. “Sorry I hurt you, little girl. I have to go now.”