her go, but she makes no attempt to remove her hands from my chest. I clench my jaw and peel away her hands, just managing not to shove her in my frustration. What will it take for these females to leave me alone?
The last time I was in this situation, I had no desire for any of the refugees. Now that I am mated, their attention merely vexes me. Jade is the only female I want. It’s about time this one, and all her little friends, learn that.
Before I am able to say the words, the blonde seizes my uniform and crushes her lips to mine. My insides recoil at the unwanted physical contact, and I grab her arm, this time to certainly shove her back. But it is too late. Glass shatters on the floor, and Jade stands in the corridor not three feet away, her mouth hanging open and her arm lifted as if still holding her glass of water.
“Jade…” None too gently, I push the female away, and she stumbles into the wall. “This is not what it appears.”
My mate swallows with great difficulty. She looks at the female, then me, and then switches again. The turmoil thrashing inside her does not escape me, and for a long while, Jade simply stares, her face drained of blood.
“Where’s my room?” she asks after a moment. “My own room.”
I step forward but halt when she moves back, almost like she is frightened of me. A mere glance at the other female has her scurrying away, and then I turn back to Jade.
“You’re my mate,” I remind her, clenching my hands, “so you share my quarters with me.”
She shakes her head and crosses her arms. “No. You can share yours with whatever”—she signals where the female absconded—“that thing was. I want my own quarters.”
“I see.”
So my mate no longer wishes to share my bed? I don’t fucking think so.
The Fireblood commander was right: foul language does add a certain conviction to one’s statement.
“This way, then,” I say, turning on my heel.
Her footsteps echo behind me as I lead the way to the officer quarters. I swipe my hand over the lock and march down the corridor toward the door at the end. I stand by and wait for Jade to enter, then I follow and seal the door behind us. Jade takes one look around the room before she realizes I have taken her to my quarters.
“I said I want my own room,” she snaps.
“Yes, and I said that you are my mate, which means we sleep together. If you think I am letting you sleep in any other bed but mine, you are sorely mistaken.”
She scoffs, her claws digging into her arms. “And you must be sorely demented if you think I’d share your bed after catching you kissing someone else. I don’t know how things work on Koraxia, but that is a guaranteed way to fuck up a relationship. Which, by the way, in case you haven’t already noticed, you just did.”
The tears gathering in her eyes are from hurt instead of anger. Does my mate think that I solicited contact with the refugee female? I would sooner slit my throat with my own blade than hurt Jade.
“I did not betray you,” I say, moving to her side in one swift movement. Before she can run away, I pin her wrists above her head and bring my lips to her ear. “This right here…” I slide my hand between her legs, brushing my fingers over her sex. “...is the only cunt for me. I thought I told you that already?”
She looks away, her frown deepening. “You did. It’s just clear that I’m obviously not enough for you.”
I stare at her in disbelief. “What do you mean? Of course you are enough.”
My gaze hardens as I try to decipher her words. Jade is the only one for me. From the moment I touched her and my birthmarks flared to life, there has never been any question about that.
“You just don’t get it, Castien.” Her lower lip quivers, and she blinks away her tears. “Every woman on this damn ship is in love with you. Even the aliens on that stupid planet threw themselves at your feet. I can’t compete with that. And I don’t want to.”
“Look at me,” I growl, tightening my grip on her. When she continues to disobey, I release her wrists and hold her head between my hands, forcing her to look at me. My mate