“Good for you!” Kat exclaimed. She finished her current Margarita with a flourish and poured herself another. Lifting it, she said, “To equality!”
“I’ll drink to that.” Bobbi smiled as she lifted her own glass, joining the toast. But inside, she couldn’t help being worried. Dragon had been raised so differently on Saurous. Could he and would he ever come around to the idea that women could form their own opinions and make their own decisions?
He would also have to be all right with her career, she thought. She’d been offered a professorship at USF and while she didn’t think she would take it—she much preferred doing field work to teaching—she might think of at least taking a short-term position. Either way, she was going to be working rather than staying home to cook and clean and have babies and Dragon was going to have to deal with that.
“He might not want to bond with me when he sees the way I want to live,” she remarked to Kat. “I mean, when he sees that I need to be his equal, not just the sweet little wifey he wants.”
“He just thinks he wants that because of the way he was raised,” Kat assured her. “He’ll come around—you’ll see. Didn’t you tell me that Baird had taken him under his wing?”
Bobbi nodded.
“They really seemed to hit it off. I hope Liv doesn’t mind him taking so much time showing Dragon the way things are aboard the Mother Ship.”
“I’m sure she doesn’t. As I recall, she had to teach Baird some of the same lessons he’s teaching Dragon now,” Kat said and winked. “When she first got called in the Draft, he was determined to Claim her no matter what and Liv, well…” She laughed. “Let’s just say she has a mind of her own. But you see how well they worked out—I’m sure you and Dragon will, too.”
“Well, we’ll see,” Bobbi said cautiously. She glanced at her watch and frowned. “Oops, I hate to cut lunch short, Kat, but I really should get back to my suite. I have some notes to go over for a guest lecture I’m giving at USF and I’m not done getting my presentation together yet.”
“No worries, doll.” Kat smiled and got up to hug her as Bobbi rose. “And don’t give up hope—I’m sure that Dragon will come around. He loves you and he’s going to want to make it work.”
“I hope you’re right.” Bobbi hugged her friend and kissed her on the cheek. “I’ll let you know when I know,” she promised.
And plastering a smile on her face, she waved goodbye.
The truth was, though, she wasn’t nearly as happy as she’d let Kat believe, she admitted to herself. Part of her—a big part—was dying to bond with Dragon no matter what. She loved him—she yearned for him—and it felt like her body was addicted to his. She missed his hot mouth and big hands exploring her every night, missed him Marking her with his scent to keep her safe…
Yet, for the past week, they had been sleeping apart at Bobbi’s own request. As much as she longed for the big Kindred, she didn’t want to get into a permanent relationship that she might regret later.
“I can’t marry a man who doesn’t respect me and my right to lead my own life,” she’d told Dragon firmly, when she had proposed a short separation. “You need to look around and see if you can live this way—see if you can treat me the way the other Kindred husbands treat their wives. Otherwise, it’s never going to work between us.”
Dragon had agreed—though reluctantly—to living apart for a time. He had his own place in the Unmated Males area and he was slowly exploring the way of life aboard the Mother Ship, with Baird’s help. Since there weren’t many other Drake Kindred aboard at the moment, the Beast Kindred seemed to be the best fit for a guide. His possessive nature mirrored Dragon’s own and they had become good friends in the short time Dragon had been on board.
Now, as she headed back to her own suite, Bobbi wondered if she and Dragon would ever get things together. She cared for him so deeply—not just him, but his Drake as well. But she couldn’t be with a man who treated her the way Saurian men treated their women. She had to be with someone who could respect her choices and her ability to make them for herself. She—
“Hello, Bobbi.”
The deep, familiar voice made her look up in surprise. She’d been watching her feet, lost in thought as she walked down the long silver corridor to her suite. Now, looking up, she saw someone standing right in front of her door.
It was Dragon and he was waiting for her.
66
“Oh, hello!” Bobbi put a hand to her heart, apparently surprised to see him. Dragon hoped she was only surprised and not displeased. He had stayed away from her for as long as he could, but now he was longing to be near his curvy little feela—and he knew the Drake inside him felt the same.