Page 2 of Derius

They walked the rest of the way in silence. Derius prayed to the Ardannan deities that it wouldn’t be possible for her to depart the planet tonight, or even tomorrow. He’d been given a second chance with the woman he’d dreamt about all through his difficult convalescence from the war injuries and his subsequent retirement on the home planet. He couldn’t lose her now.

At the hotel they gave their names to the clerk on duty, who was absurdly cheerful and helpful. Her eyes grew wide as the woman demanded an appointment be made for first thing in the morning to meet with Mr. Delain but she obligingly went into her system and assigned them a time slot.

“You don’t have to be there,” his unhappy date informed Derius in scathing tones.

“I’m here under orders from my government,” he replied, thinking fast. “I have to be in any meeting regarding my assignment. I’ll have to report this, you know.”

“Making threats are we?” she asked, eyeing him with disgust.

“Stating a fact. I don’t want to fight with you.”

“I don’t suppose you have another room you could give me for tonight?” she asked the clerk who was taking in this back and forth with astonishment.

“I’m sorry but we’re fully booked. Each bedroom in the suite has its own lock though and there’s a button to call for emergency assistance,” the clerk said, leaning over the counter and lowering her voice.

Now Derius was mad. “I’d never lay a hand on you or any other woman without consent,” he said heatedly. “I can sleep on the beach if you’re that worried.”

“It’ll be fine,” his date told the clerk after a long moment of visible deliberation.

The woman handed over the two tokens. “Suite 310, on the ocean side of the hotel. You’ll have a terrific view. Have a good evening.”

“Doubtful.” His date stalked toward the gravlift.

When they reached their suite she ignored the view from the private balcony and everything else, going straight to the second bedroom and slamming the door. The lock engaged with a series of clicks as Derius sank into the chair in the sitting room and ran his hands through his hair. How did things get so fucked up? Well he’d been an idiot three years ago and now he was paying for it. The gods must be laughing.

* * *

Leonie leaned against the door she’d slammed with such satisfying effect, closed her eyes and let the tears flow. Why in the name of the Lords of Space had she ever agreed to this stupid dating thing? Her friends had been worried about her, caught in the drama and regret of her one night stand that had ended so badly three years ago, and they’d urged her…no, bullied her…into signing up for this Ardannan contract with IDA. She’d thought maybe she could get over him, if she was paired with a nice guy and spent five carefree days on a luxury planet, having fun.

Instead her date was the man she’d only known as Soldier.

And he was just as gorgeous as he’d been three years ago. Maybe there were a few more crinkles around his eyes and a few threads of silver in his hair but the impact of seeing him had had the same effect on her traitorous lady bits as it had before. He was tall and sexy and his voice was low and sensual the way she remembered and damn if her very expensive panties weren’t wet right now.

Oh she loathed him for leaving her like that but she had to admit she still desired him. Her heart couldn’t let go of those shreds of hope she’d had after their perfect night three years ago. Talking for hours in the cozy bar at the hotel, adjourning to her room by mutual consent, exploring each other the first time with blazing passion and impatience and then slowly the second time, mapping each other’s bodies. Learning what made the breath hitch, brought out the gasp, stoked the flames…after the third time she’d slept in his arms, content and sure she’d found her soul mate in this sexy, handsome alien soldier.

Only to wake to a cold bed and no sign of the man. Not even a note.

His kitbag and all his clothes and toiletries were gone, as if he’d never been there and she’d dreamed the entire night.

For the next day or two she’d hoped he might com her at the hotel but then it was time for her to leave, to move on to her next consulting assignment in a far distant Sector and she knew there was no way he’d find her then. They hadn’t exchanged names. She called him Soldier and he called her Lady and it had been part of the fun and seduction and mystery. Of course she’d expected eventually they’d get down to getting to know each other in the normal ways, probably starting over breakfast. He’d told her he was on a three day pass and she’d keenly anticipated what they’d do for those 72 hours.

Truthfully, her heart had been hopeful of a much longer future. She’d been so sure he was it for her.

“We fit,” she whispered now in the silence of the posh hotel bedroom. “I never believed in love at first sight until that night.”

Well she had her walls up now and there was no way he was getting past her defenses to break her heart again. She’d give the resort manager an earful, get another room, take the first shuttle to the first spaceliner leaving this place and never look back. Yes, those were her plans for what she’d do tomorrow.

There was nothing he could say to change her mind or to make up for the pain he’d caused her. This was the closure she’d wanted, the chance to hurt him in equal measure and then make a dignified exit, closing the book for herself.

Telling herself he meant nothing.

But not believing the lie.

* * *

Sleep hadn’t come easily to Leonie, with her mystery man so close at hand. All the memories, good and painful, from their time together three years ago swirled to the surface in an endless loop of regret. It had taken conscious effort and serious meditation to force herself to nod off. So she wasn’t happy to be awakened in the wee hours of the morning by sounds from the other room. If he was so thoughtlessly making all that noise, she was going to give him a piece of her mind all right.

Rising from the bed in her silk nightie she grabbed the hotel’s robe and belted it tight before taking a deep breath and opening the door with a jerk. On bare feet she padded into the sitting room but it was dark and Derius wasn’t there. She heard the sounds again, a shout and then garbled orders—it was coming from his bedroom. Hesitantly she approached his door and since it wasn’t locked she inched it open.