My Man Michael (29 page)
She paused. “Yes, sir?”
“Mallet,” he insisted.
It felt more than odd, but she repeated, “Yes, Mallet?”
“Who’s the guy?”
Putting her hands together, she smiled and dreamed of the day they’d finally be together. “Dormius.”
AS the young one departed, disappearing through the trees, Valder smiled. By sneaking in silently, he’d learned much tonight. Most important, he now knew that Idola was the one to take—the one that would break Raemay’s stubborn spirit.
Satisfaction had him grinning, and kept him smiling as he gave up his stealth and started his orbiter with a roar that split the quiet night and reverberated off the water of the peaceful lake.
Beneath the illumination of the fat moon, he saw the dark man stiffen in realization and rage.
Good.
He wanted him to know he’d been there, watching, listening, able to attack but showing patience. He wanted them all to know he didn’t fear them or the bulkier outsider they’d brought in.
How ridiculous.
No single man could impact his plans, regardless of his size.
Valder was interested in where they’d gotten the outsider, but so far the last woman they’d abducted, Lydina, wasn’t sharing details. She was a strangely quiet woman, too contained and too impassive.
Soon, Valder told himself, soon he’d know all he needed to know. He didn’t have to browbeat a shy woman into divulging secrets.
Overcoming any effort they made was simple. They were all so complacent in their long history of peace, so unschooled in real warfare, that they trusted when they shouldn’t and had no sound plan for how to deal with the likes of him and his twenty-five years of sustained resentment.
Their skirmishes were like wrestling with children. It was fun, and his men were challenged to dominate without actually hurting any of the little women.
With a battle cry meant to send fear into the outsider’s bones, Valder shot away. He was long gone before anyone could even think of trying to follow him.
HEARING the roar of the same orbiter that had come to take the AFA sacrifice sent stark fear hammering through Mallet.
His first thought was of Kayli.
He jerked around toward where she’d concealed herself, but couldn’t see her at all.
His heart dropped, his knees went weak, then everything was replaced by blinding fury.
“Kayli.”
“Kayli.”
“He’s gone now,” Hauk said quickly before Mallet could launch into a run. “He was only here to spy.”
His heart continued to punch. “And Kayli?”
“She’s fine, still hiding away.” Somehow the computer managed to make his voice soothing.
A deep breath helped to unclench his guts, but Mallet wasn’t about to relax. Not yet.
God almighty, nothing had ever scared him more. When he thought of someone taking her from him . . .
He sucked in another deep breath and tried to still the furious gallop of his heart.
Flattening a hand against a large tree for support and needing more reassurance, Mallet asked, “You’re positive she’s fine?”
“Yes. He was listening to you.”
“Yeah, I know that.” Rage tightened his fists and bunched his muscles.
“Now.”
“Now.”
Had the bastard seen Kayli undressed? No, he couldn’t think that way or he’d explode.
As if Hauk had read his mind, he said, “He did not show up until after Kayli had hidden. But Mallet, he was here for a while, all during your chat with Mesha.”
Mallet pushed off the tree and stood there, fuming. “Damn it, Hauk. If you knew, then why the
fuck
didn’t you tell me before now?”
fuck
didn’t you tell me before now?”
Unaffected by Mallet’s temper, Hauk said, “I deduced it safest not to.”
“You want to explain that—and fast?”
“If I had told you, you would have gone charging after him.”
Mallet lifted a fist into the air, wishing he could grab Hauk and shake him. “Damn right I would have! And I’d have caught him, too.”
“But,” Hauk pointed out, all reasonable and calm, “Kayli is the head of defense, so she would not have remained safely stashed away as you engaged in battle.”
“Oh.” Thunderstruck by that sound reasoning, Mallet shuddered. Good God, after that awful scare, the last thing he wanted to think about was Kayli engaging in a physical confrontation with some guy twisted enough to demand women as payment for not destroying their colony.
Scowling, he ran a hand across the back of his neck. “Damn.” He hated to admit it, but knew he had to. “Yeah, okay, you’re right.”
“Of course I am.”
Though it choked him, Mallet commended Hauk. “Good thinking. Thank you for keeping her out of it.”
Still concealed by shadows, Kayli’s strident voice lashed out. “No, it is not good thinking at all.”
Oh shit. Mallet moved forward and the second he saw her, he realized she was beyond furious. Hurt, anger, betrayal . . . each emotion flashed over her features.
“Kayli—” he started, but nothing brilliant came to mind. What could he say in his defense? She’d overheard too much.
Her eyes glittered in the darkness. From tears?
He prayed not.
“You say you trust me.” As she spoke, her lips barely moved. “You say we’re in a partnership, and that you understand the importance of my position.”
“I do.”
Arms folded, expression pinched, she waited for him to say more.
He did trust her, damn it.
But she was still just a
woman
.
woman
.
He sighed. “It will never be easy for me to put you at risk.”
Sensing the static in the air, Hauk whistled.
Kayli’s small body went tight with resentment. Stepping toward him, her voice low, wounded, she said, “It’s all a game to you, isn’t it?”
“No.” He’d never been more serious about anything in his life.
“I gave up control for you,” she accused. “I
trusted
you.”
trusted
you.”
“Yeah, uh, if we’re talking about sexual stuff—”
She slashed her hand through the air, cutting him off. “But you can’t do the same, can you?”
Damn, when she went all female on him, she was as difficult to deal with as any other woman. His own temper prickled. “I told you I trust you and I do.” Caring for her had nothing to do with trust.
“Oh no. Not this time, Michael.” She shook her stubborn head. “You tell me what you think I want to hear just to appease me. And it usually works, doesn’t it?”
His frustration amplified. “I’ve been honest with you if you’d just stop and realize it.”
His words had no apparent impact on her. “You don’t trust my ability at all, do you? Why don’t you just admit it?”
Mallet hated being cornered, almost as much as he hated having words put in his mouth. Facing her anger with his own, he glared down at her. “I can’t help it if my instinct is to protect you.”
As if she’d hoped for him to say something different, the light faded out of her eyes. Her shoulders loosened, her expression went flat. Seconds ticked by while she visibly fought emotion.
Finally her chin lifted, and her words sounded with sadness, maybe even apology. “Then I can’t make a union with you.”
Mallet locked his jaw. “That’s bullshit and you know it.”
“I’m sorry, Michael.” She didn’t blink, didn’t soften. “I really am.”
Pointing a finger at her, he said, “You brought me here, woman. I didn’t ask for any of this. You studied me, so you damn well knew the type of person I was before you propositioned me.”
She nodded. “Yes, of course you’re right. It has all been . . . a mistake.
My
mistake.” She started around him. “It’s over.”
My
mistake.” She started around him. “It’s over.”
His heart skipped two beats; the wind left him as if someone had just sucker-punched him in the solar plexus.
Did she not realize all the concessions he’d made to her and her back-ass colony? Couldn’t she tell that their relationship was damn special?
In a little less than a roar, he commanded, “Kayli, come back here!”
She never slowed in her determination to leave him.
Mallet saw red. She thought it was over?
Not by a long shot.
Stomping after her, he said, “You’re head of defense, Kayli, so shouldn’t we at least talk about the asshole who spied on us?”
But even that didn’t breach her current frame of mind.
Without a backward glance, she said, “I’ll take care of it.”
Before he could reach her, she got on her aircycle. Her shoulders straightened, and her voice, chilled and even, reached him over the silent night. “Understand something, Michael. I don’t regret what we did.”
He had a moment of hope.
Until she said, “But it won’t happen again. It can’t.” And then she was gone.
CHAPTER 16
F
OR long minutes, Mallet stood there, trying to figure out what the hell had just happened. Not that long ago, she’d been soft and sated in his arms.
OR long minutes, Mallet stood there, trying to figure out what the hell had just happened. Not that long ago, she’d been soft and sated in his arms.
Now she’d just walked out on him, telling him that something he’d thought was special wasn’t special at all.
How the hell could she call it quits so easily?
He blamed Kayli for the confusion, of course. She was fickle, twisting him around her little finger, then kicking him in the nuts.
Or so it felt.
She’d brought him here to defend her and her colony, but then had a hissy when he tried to do just that. She only wanted half measure, but he wasn’t a man used to half-assing anything. If he did it, he did his best.
Frustration sent him pacing; worry kept his heart thumping. “Hauk?”
“Yes, Mallet?”
The sympathy in the computer’s voice made him grind his teeth. “Are you with her, too?” He didn’t want Kayli alone right now. She was stubborn and capable—but he’d allowed her go off alone while she was thoroughly distracted.
Would she even notice if someone crept up on her?
“Yes,” Hauk said. “I’m with her. Always.”
“Good.” Mallet wanted to ask, but he didn’t even like the idea of a computer knowing how she’d gotten to him.
Somehow, while he’d thought he was in control, accepting absurd changes and believing the unbelievable, Kayli had crawled under his skin.
He might have caused a stir in her colony, but she’d sure as hell caused a bigger stir in him.
Damn it.
Damn it.
“She’s okay, Mallet.”
Under his breath, he muttered, “Damned intuitive machine.”
Hauk ignored his continued ill humor. “She is, however, furious.” He hesitated. “And badly hurt. By both of us.”
Mallet wanted to howl, he wanted to punch something. “Fuck.”
Commiserating, Hauk said, “Yes, fuck, Mallet.”
“Oh, shut up if you can’t say it right.” The monotone use of such a word just made it sound comical, and there was nothing funny about his current predicament.
“What will you do?”
Good question—not that there was any real choice. “Apologize. Work on her.” His hands fisted. “And find the jerk who was here, spying on us.” When he did, he’d make the bastard pay, big-time.
Something occurred to him, something that would at least get Kayli talking with him. He hoped. “Hauk, I need to have a town meeting, but I need to discuss it with Kayli first.”
“Now?”
“No.” God no. He had the distinct feeling that once Kayli had time to get her emotions in check, she’d resent him for causing her to come that close to tears. He recalled what Mesha said, that she never cried.
No, she wouldn’t appreciate that he’d upset her so much, or that he’d witnessed her struggle.
“She needs time to settle down.” What an understatement. “Let’s say tomorrow morning.”
“Kayli might dwell on this and be even angrier in the morning. She has a habit of going over things until she gets the conclusion she wants.”
“I’ll take that chance.” Most times, Mallet figured he knew women, knew how to get around their little idiosyncrasies.
In most cases, some warm loving worked wonders.
Though Kayli wasn’t like most women, hopefully the same logic would apply. “Keep everything just between us. Don’t tell her I’m going to see her in the morning. Got it?”
“Er . . .”
“Your word, Hauk.”
“Computers do not have a conscience, which negates the importance of giving my word.”
Mallet threw up his hands in annoyance. “Give it anyway, will ya?”
“Very well.” The computer sighed. “Because I know it’s not your intent to further hurt Kayli, you have my word that I will not tell her of your intentions.”
“Great.” Having come up with a sound plan, Mallet was starting to feel a little better about things. He’d already reconciled himself to a whole new life away from past friends and acquaintances. He was in the future—with Kayli.
Together, they’d have good sex, a lot of laughs, and great companionship. He wasn’t about to let her pride change things now.
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