Page 78 of Kidnapped By the Beast
Brandt’s breath caught, not from the wonder of it—though it was always awe-inspiring—but because Alexandra’s expression was reflected in the viewport beside him. Her lips parted in silent astonishment, her tear-streaked face bathed in the silver glow. She hadn’t seen this before, he reminded himself. The last time he’d folded space with her she’d been unconscious.
Even broken, even hurting, her wonder touched him—she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.
Gods, I love her. And I can never have her.
The ache in his chest was worse than any physical wound he had ever taken in battle. The gnawing in his gut was worse than any sickness.
He clenched his jaw, forced his gaze back to the controls, and guided the shuttle forward. The Fold loomed, filling the viewscreen until it was all he could see. A roar like thunder filled his ears as the shuttle slipped inside, stars vanishing into blinding light as space-time stretched like taffy.
And still, the silence between himself and Alexandra was heavier than the crushing weight of folded space and the bitter realization that settled in Brandt’s brain.
He loved the curvy little human…but he could never have her.
43
LEXI
The long-range shuttle’s legs hit the floor of the Docking Bay with a metallic thud, echoing through the cabin. Lexi’s hands tightened on the armrests, but she wasn’t bracing against the jolt of landing—she was bracing against the hollow ache in her chest.
“I guess this is it?” she asked, her voice breaking the long silence that had stretched like a canyon between them.
Brandt didn’t look at her. His profile was rigid, golden eyes fixed on the controls as if the glowing readouts required every ounce of his concentration.
“For now. I’ll want you to return to the lab in about a week so I can get a sample of the nectar to work with. The money—all thirty-six thousand dollar-credits—will be deposited in your bank account on Earth.”
The words landed like stones in her gut. Lexi’s throat tightened.
“So that’s it? You’re just paying me off?”
Her voice came out bitter, harsher than she’d meant, but she didn’t care.
“I’m sorry, Alexandra,” he rumbled, still staring straight ahead. “I’ve told you why I can’t be with you.”
“Yeah, right. Fine.” She grabbed her bag, her vision swimming with tears. “I guess I’ll see you in a week.”
Before he could respond, she stormed down the gangplank into the Docking Bay. Voices echoed in the huge chamber filled with similar shuttles—boots striking the deck plates, ships hissing as they vented steam—but she ignored it all. She walked fast, head down, until she reached the corridor that would take her to the civilian residential section.
There was only one place she wanted to be on the Mother Ship and it wasn’t anywhere near that asshole who had broken her heart.
By the time she stood outside Natalie’s suite, her chest felt so tight she could hardly breathe. She jabbed the door chime with more force than necessary, desperate to get inside.
The door slid open, and Natalie’s pretty face appeared—full cheeks, warm brown skin, and a crown of long braids falling to her shoulders. Her full figure was hugged by a soft green dress and her brown eyes widened in shock as soon as she saw Lexi.
“Lexi! Oh my God, what happened? You look terrible!”
Lexi didn’t answer. The tears she’d been fighting since the shuttle welled up hot and fast, and she crumpled.
“Oh, honey!” Natalie caught her instinctively, pulling her inside and into a fierce hug.
Lexi hugged her back, sobbing. She still couldn’t talk.
“Come in here, honey. Let’s get settled and you tell me everything.”
Natalie guided her forward. Her suite was warm and inviting—everything Lexi’s heart craved at that moment. In front of the big, overstuffed couch where they settled, a firewall glowed, flames dancing blue and gold behind the glass. Their soft crackle filled the room, casting shifting shadows over the low coffee table littered with books.
“Sit down, now.” Natalie eased her down onto the couch cushions. They sank beneath Lexi’s weight, hugging her body with softness. Natalie sat beside her, curling one arm around her shoulders. “You’re shaking! Tell me what happened. I haven’t heard a word from you since you sent me that message saying you were taking the job with Dr. Brandt and leaving immediately.”
Lexi pressed her face into her hands, ashamed but unable to hold it in anymore.
