it not? And a third time’s a charm. But I can wait!” Raul quickly added. “Twelve time’s a charm too or even the twentieth.”
Red burst in Hysterian’s eyes like wildfire. He pushed off the wall and stepped into the lounge.
But no one was looking in his direction. His crew was gathered around a table in the back corner in various positions. They all stared at Alexa. Was that a blush on her cheeks?
A heated blush that made Hysterian’s skin run cold with need.
“You don’t say?” Horace muttered.
“You guys dating?” Pigeon asked when Alexa didn’t answer, deciding to bury her face into her hands instead.
“Well…” she started but trailed off.
“Alexa wants to take it slow, and so slow we shall go.”
Muscles straining, fingers twitching to break bone, Hysterian growled. “What’s going on here?”
The easy camaraderie of the group dissipated. They turned to look at him as one. Raul got to his feet, Alexa dropped her hands and went white, and even Pigeon’s smile fell.
“Captain,” they said, and the last of the easy laughter vanished into the ship’s buzzing.
“We’re enjoying a drink, Captain. Why don’t you join us?” Pigeon pushed a bottle in Hysterian’s direction.
He didn’t want a drink; he wanted relief. He wanted Alexa to meet his eyes instead of staring hard at the cup between her hands. Was what Raul said true?
Dating? Who the fuck dates? And three of them?
How had he missed that?
His ship wasn’t that goddamn big, for fuck’s sake.
What else had he missed?
“Captain? Can we do something for you?” Pigeon asked, a little uneasily.
Hysterian stared at Alexa, waiting for her to answer. She sat beside Pigeon, and not Raul. Hysterian was pretty sure if she had been, Raul’s blood would be dripping down the walls already. Raul was still close, too close, and Hysterian couldn’t remove him without someone else getting hurt.
This was why he fucking hated ships.
Without destroying everything Hysterian strived for, he couldn’t break Raul’s neck in front of everyone. He wanted to, but the risk was too great.
There was no way he was going to have Alexa if he traumatized her.
His crew shuffled uneasily when he didn’t answer. They glanced at each other.
“Yes,” Hysterian said after a minute. “You can leave.”
Horace gulped down the rest of his drink and strode out of the lounge. Pigeon offered his hand to Alexa to help her rise, but she shook her head. Pigeon sighed as he walked out.
Hysterian turned to Raul. “I said leave.” Leave or die. Right now, Hysterian couldn’t decide which choice he wanted Raul to make more.
Raul glared at him, unmoving. “I’m waiting for Alexa…sir.”
Hysterian stepped forward. “When your captain gives you an order, you follow it. Anyone teach you that in basic training?”
“I plan to, sir.” The disgust on Raul’s face couldn’t be more evident. “When she’s ready.”
“Raul, go. I’ll be right behind you,” Alexa said, and with good timing too, as Hysterian was about to snap Raul’s neck.
“I’m not leaving without you.”
“I’m not giving you a choice,” she said. “Go.”
Raul turned to Alexa. “He’s telling us all to leave. We’ll leave together.”
“Raul,” Hysterian said, his voice lowering with menace. He did not like the familiar way Raul was addressing Alexa. Or the gleam in his eye when he looked at her. “She’s not your fucking princess, and she’s never going to fucking kiss you, you drunken piece of shit. The bruises on your neck are gone, and I’m finding I’d like to replace them.”
Raul straightened and scowled. He reached up and rubbed his neck, but he backed away from Alexa and, with a final show of defiance, downed his drink and slammed the cup on the table.
“You’re right, Captain. You always are, aren’t you?” He strode toward the exit. “Except she has kissed me, but of course, you’re right. She’s a woman, not a damsel in distress.” Raul glanced at Alexa. “I’ll wait up for you. I hope you know what you’re doing.”
Before Hysterian could drag him back and drink his blood, Raul was out the door and gone.
Twelve
He planned to take care of Raul. Later. Where there were no witnesses.
In a flash, Hysterian was on Alexa, pulling her from her seat.
She gasped and grabbed him as he sat her down on the table, blocking her in and pushing his body between her legs. To his surprise, her hands went to his face as she pummeled him.
“No!” she cried.
Hysterian jerked back before her fingers made contact with his brow.
“Stop!” he ordered.
She continued to squirm and fight him, though she didn’t make another