In general, Casey knew Jenna was sweet and accepting, but she also sensed in her a strong determination to go after what she wanted.
And Jenna wanted a man.
Casey stared at herself in the mirror seeing the uncertainty and pain in her violet eyes. She lifted her chin and pulled her shoulders back, clearing her face of all emotion.
Then she strode to the door and stepped into the hall.
There weren’t many crewmen about at this time. Most were at their stations. The lucky ones who had a tanash’ae on board were busy spending time with them. As she should be.
She hurried along the hallway, not exactly sure where she was going, just certain that she had to find some way to stay busy and take her mind off her own tanash’ae.
She turned a corner and continued striding, her emotions in turmoil. Then she felt hands on her shoulders and someone pushed her against the wall. His mouth took hers before she had a chance to react.
His
tongue drove deep as he tasted her heartily, like a man too long deprived.
When he finally released her mouth, he gazed at her with his wonderfully familiar dark amber eyes.
“Darrick, what are you doing?” she breathed.
“I’m kissing the woman I love.”
Tears threatened to swell in her eyes, but she held them back with her steel will.
“We can’t do this,” she protested. “You know that. My tanash’ae is here on the ship.”
“You thought I was your tanash’ae once.” He tipped her chin up, his amber eyes locked on hers. “And I still believe it.”
She shook her head. “We can’t question nata’tai.”
“We can and I do.”
She curled her fingers around Darrick’s shoulders and gently pressed him back.
“I’m sorry, I can’t have this discussion with you now.” Her head ached and the last thing she needed was to rehash this discussion with him.
Concern filled his eyes as he scanned her face.
“What is it?” He tipped his head. “And why aren’t you with your Earthling right now?”
Her lips compressed. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
Actually, she did. Darrick was the one person she’d always been able to depend on. To tell her deepest secrets to. To share her pain with.
Darrick had always been the one who could help her make things right.
But that relationship was denied to her now.
She had known him her whole life. They’d grown up in the same small town, become best friends and later lovers. Everyone, including she and Darrick believed they were tanash’aei. No one had been more shocked when she’d first felt the pull of attraction to the Earth woman. How could she and Darrick not be meant for each other? Had it just been wishful thinking that her best friend would also be her tanash’ae?
She still felt the incredible bond with him. She had hoped that Darrick felt the same pull to Jenna. That maybe they were one of the rare cases of a bonding with three people rather than two.
But Darrick denied it vehemently. And even if he did feel it, she knew Darrick well enough to know he would never accept that kind of relationship. Not with his background.
His hand stroked her cheek.
“I’m so sorry, laiya. I know I promised I would support you in this. That’s why I came on this mission. So I could be here for you. But after what happened in the captain’s quarters when he brought us there to entertain our new queen-to-be… When you stroked my cock and took it in your mouth. Dahran, it was hard to convince myself you didn’t still want me.”