sound.
He caught her wrists before she reached for his face again. “I said stop! You’ll hurt yourself!”
Then he noticed the fear in her eyes.
She kicked him hard and twisted away with a terrified shriek. He held her, confused. No matter how fiercely she tried to get away from him, it would never be enough. Never. No human could match the strength of a Cyborg.
She’s fighting like she’s about to die.
His brows furrowed. “Do you think I’m about to kill you?” Hysterian released her, horrified. “Stop it!”
Stop it or I might. On accident.
Alexa hit him several more times before stopping. Panting, she went as still as stone, staring wide-eyed at his chest. He forgot about the kiss between her and Raul as Hysterian took her in.
She was already near transparent, but now any sign of color was gone. Had he done this to her? He waited until she calmed, until he could hear her beating heart tone down before he demanded answers.
He opened his mouth to speak and promptly shut it. Alexa pressed her forehead against his chest.
His chest. For comfort, no doubt.
Words left him.
What the hell is happening?
No one had ever sought comfort from him before, or used him for comfort. Hysterian didn’t know what to do. His hands twitched. He wanted to touch her, but knew if he did, she might lash out again. He didn’t want her to get hurt.
He stared, unable to look away.
She was so small against him. Had he ever noticed that? How small, weak, and soft she was? The woman perplexed him. He could crush her like a bug, tear her to pieces on a whim, and she was still using him as comfort.
Something this small, this delicate, needs to be taken care of. How had she survived so far without protection? Maybe that’s why he noticed her.
I could protect her.
Once the thought hit him, his systems vibrated. He swallowed, trying to clear the tightness in his throat.
“You dyed your hair,” he said softly.
And cursed himself for choosing those words over others. Shit words.
She didn’t respond. She still trembled.
He needed a response, demanded one. “Why were you fighting like I was about to kill you?”
Had he really frightened her that much?
She slowly leaned back, and he missed her against him but relaxed knowing he didn’t have to offer comfort anymore. He didn’t know how. His immediate response was to offer her his touch his flesh, and that was the last thing he wanted to do. Ever. Especially to her.
He could make her feel good, real good if he did that. He could blow her mind and fuck it sideways, but he’d end up losing her in the process. She’d eventually come back for more, again and again. He couldn’t do that to her. Even the good stuff was still poison in the end.
She leaned back even more but still wouldn’t look up at him.
He knew he should give her space but he didn’t fucking want to. If she ran from him and went to Raul, Hysterian would lose his mind.
“I was startled,” she said, quiet as a mouse.
“That was more than being startled. You were fighting for your life,” he corrected.
“I want to go. Please move, Captain.”
Irritation surged. She was acting like nothing strange had just happened. “You’re not going anywhere until you explain to me exactly why you reacted like that.”
“I…” She turned her head to the side, exhaustion etched into her face.
“You?” he prompted.
“I was scared.”
His fingers curled into his palms. Of course she was scared. He’d grabbed her, and for what reason, he had no idea. It wasn’t like he could touch her, strip her, kiss her. He’d grabbed her so she would be in his arms, not Raul’s. Hysterian’s jaw ticked.
The only solution, he decided, was to get Raul out of the picture and off his ship. Hysterian couldn’t have her running to someone else, especially another man.
“I’m scared of you,” she whispered.
His gaze narrowed. “Have I done something to frighten you enough that you would think I would kill you?”
She shuddered, and his brow creased.
Did I?
“It doesn’t matter.” She pushed at his chest; he didn’t budge. “I just reacted, and now I’m tired. Please let me leave.”
“No.”
Her eyes finally found his. “No?”
“If you won’t tell me what’s wrong—and I will find out, Alexa—you can’t leave. I don’t plan on hurting you, nor can I recall a time where you might think that I might.”
“And telling me we’re going to fuck and that there’s nothing I can do about it