Without answering, he turned and walked out of the cafe. Groaning with frustration, Kiara joined him . Never had she been so confused. She wanted to shake her fist at him, beat him, shake him , soothe him and even more terrifying to her, m ake love to him .
She clenched her teeth in frustration. Did he feel the same way about her? Was that why he was doing this, because he was every bit as confused by his emotions as she was by hers? Why couldn't he just talk to her and tell her what bothered him, why he did what he did?
Nykyrian kept glancing back over his shoulder to make sure Kiara was still behind him.
He regretted his words. For that matter, he regretted his life. He knew he should explain his feelings to her, but he wasn't sure if he could stand the barrage of emotions that would batter his soul if he released all the pain in his past. No, she would be much better off not knowing anything about him. It wasn't too late for her to find som eone else.
Someone who . . . A lump formed in his stomach. He couldn't stand the thought of going back to a life without her. What was he going to do?
Kiara stared at Nykyrian's back, wondering if he ever felt anything at all. All she wanted was one sign from him that he cared, that he could love her. Her heart pounded. Was that asking so very much?
They picked up her packages and made their way back to Nykyrian's house. Kiara remained silent, her emotions clumped in a tight knot in her throat.
Rachol appeared amused by their hostility as he helped unload the fighter. The only words Nykyrian spoke to her were to tell her where to store her clothes. Other than that, he grabbed a toolbox and made his way out to the bay to work on Rachol's ship.
In angry, irate jerks, Kiara pulled her clothes out of the bags and boxes, and set about putting them away. As each second passed, she became angrier and angrier at herself for caring what Nykyrian thought anyway. She was acting like some love-sick teenager. If he didn't want her, fine. She could easily find someone else.
Her heart sank at the thought. She didn't want anyone else. She wanted Nykyrian.
Ignoring her new clothes on the bed, she curled up on the mattress and sobbed out the misery burning in her soul.
"So what did you two do today?" Rachol asked, helping Nykyrian jerk open the panel on his stabilizer.
"Nothing," Nykyrian said. "Did you find Driana's address."
Rachol nodded, his eyes probing Nykyrian in a way that always made him want to throw something at the man.
Rachol handed him a power wrench. "I also found out some interesting tidbits about you and Driana."
Nykyrian narrowed his eyes. He definitely wanted to throw something at Rachol. "You weren't supposed to go into her personal file, or mine for that matter."
Rachol shrugged and unwrapped the new part. "Couldn't resist."
Nykyrian held his breath, waiting for Rachol to build up enough courage to ask him the next question.
Sure enough, he found his courage. "So how did she end up married to Aksel and not you?"
Nykyrian loosened the plate's bolt, his mind whirling with memories he didn't like to think about. "Her father and the Commander thought he'd make a better husband."
"Yeah, but- "
"Enough!" Nykyrian roared. "I don't want to think about this anymore. It was a long time ago. Leave it alone."
*
Kiara stroked Ilyse's ears, wiping the tears from her face. A few weeks ago, she had known who she was and what she wanted. Now, she wasn't sure of anything. Why was she so attracted to a man who didn't seem to care about her at all? True enough he had bedded her, but that was not love. With a trembling sigh, she pushed herself off the bed and started folding her clothes. She didn't understand why Nykyrian did anything. Why did he buy her so much, then push her away?
He had been so tender last night, she had been sure he loved her, needed her. Then the morning had dawned and again he was distant. Clenching her teeth against the miserable pain in her breast, she pushed the button to open the closet door.
A flash of light from the windows caught her attention and she looked out the clear wall next to the closed off bathroom to see Nykyrian and Rachol working on Rachol's ship.
Rachol's voice was muffled, but clearly audible as they talked, and for once, they spoke in a language she could understand.
"I hope you've thought about this," Rachol said, tossing a tool up to Nykyrian.
Nykyrian caught it. "Kiara is my concern."
"No, she's all of ours. My God, with one word, she could destroy you. Hell, all of us for that matter."
Nykyrian grimaced as he tugged on a part. "So could you."
Rachol shook his head. "You know better than that. Be reasonable. We've worked too hard for what we have for you to just toss it away because of som e harita. If all you want is a good— " Rachol barely had time to dodge the tool that flew past his head.
Nykyrian jumped off the ship and grabbed Rachol by the collar of his shirt. Kiara held her breath, afraid of what he might do.
"Don't ever insult her again!" he snarled, his hands tightening around Rachol's shirt. "It's my life I risk, not yours."