Page 64 of Havik: Warlord Brides
He did call her his mate, though. Thalia had read too many romance novels to let that go. Part of her was disappointed they didn’t tear each other’s clothes off and spend a week in bed.
Her toes curled in anticipation.
Instead, Havik tore away the flimsy costume and washed away the stripper glitter. His touch remained clinical when he tended to her injuries, but it brought tears to her eyes. She couldn’t seem to stop crying. She never had anyone take care of her before, and it was so fucking lovely.
He made her a cup of sugary tea and watched patiently while she ate a bowl of noodles. With her stomach in turmoil, eating seemed beyond her, but the moment the savory aroma hit her, she was ravenous. He watched every bite, like he ran calculations of calories burned through trauma and needed to right the balance.
Then he put her to bed. No fond kisses on the forehead. No accidental brushes that meant more. No lingering looks. Nothing.
He only stayed in her cabin because she said the dark seemed too big to be left alone with. Even then, he sat on the floor, next to her bed like a faithful dog. Needing a physical connection, her hand rested on the top of his head and remained there until she fell asleep.
At some point, a nightmare—people shoving her in the dark—woke her. Without a word, Havik climbed into the bed and wrapped her in his arms. Was it wrong that after all that, Thalia felt frustrated? His actions said he cared deeply, and she knew from experience that words meant nothing without action.
Still, she wanted the words.
And then some action.
She drained her tea, wondering if the glitter dust had been spiked with a chemical to lower her inhibitions or how long the calm-down gas used in her tube would linger in her system. Positive that her feelings were not chemically induced, she acknowledged that confessing their feelings and making love when she was hopped up on adrenaline and unknown chemicals, all the while bleeding, wasn’t the smartest move.
He was a good man, always taking care of her.
A new comm unit sat on a nearby table, an example of how Havik anticipated her needs. She didn’t have to explain how she lost her comm unit. He already had a replacement ready.
He was perfect if she didn’t think too hard about why he didn’t have a clan or how his first wife left. Two tiny little quibbles, really.
Thalia rolled her eyes at her sarcasm. She liked him, felt dangerously close to loving him, but she needed to know.
Stabs scurried across the floor and climbed into her lap. “Oof, you’re getting big,” she said in a quiet voice.”
With Stabs in her lap, she synced up the new comm unit to her identification chip. Within moments, she had verification that the warlord sent the money he promised. Her Fuck You money.
She could go anywhere, not just Earth, but part of her wondered if she should return just to see Nicky in a prison uniform. If he were in the ground, she’d piss on his grave.
That didn’t seem big enough. The Thalia from before going into the stasis chamber would have been satisfied with revenge. Plenty of people never saw justice come for those who wrong them, so why shouldn’t she savor a rare luxury? But if she did that, then what?
Thalia didn’t know.
For the first time, she didn’t have to scramble for the necessities to keep body and soul together. She did not have a boss to please or a job to do. She just had herself, and that felt too big.
She could go back to school. That idea appealed to her. The people who tried to control her had wanted her to be uneducated. Well, they wanted her dumb and ignorant, but what happened was a lack of formal education.
Okay, go to school. For what?
College? Medical school? No, that felt wrong. As much as she liked working for Doc, she wasn’t doctor material. Nursing? That fit better but wasn’t perfect.
And then what?
The mountain on the bed shifted as Havik rolled over. Despite the darkness, she could feel him watching her.
She didn’t want to go.
Havik
“I can hear you thinking.” Havik shifted, pulling back the cover to invite his mate back to bed. He had patiently waited for her return but apparently, she needed prompting. “I do not appreciate the empty spot beside me.”
“Is that so?” The mattress dipped as she climbed back in. She nestled into him, fitting like they slept this way every night.
They should.
