been staying at. Passing through the lobby, they entered one of the elevators. She smiled as he pushed the button for one of the top floors, the floors that contained the hotel’s suites. No sooner had the elevator doors closed than he leaned over and kissed Keryn passionately. She responded quickly, pressing her body against his and wrapping her arms around his neck.
They entered his hotel room in a whirlwind of sexual activity. Clothing was quickly peeled away as his hands rolled over every inch of her body. Her own hands fumbled clumsily with his tight shirt, pulling it over his head hastily before his lips were able to find the side of her neck and shoulders.
That night, their bodies were twisted into a myriad of positions well into the morning, until finally both of them collapsed into the bed from exhaustion. He was every bit the lover that Keryn expected him to be: he was a rough lover with wandering hands, but took care of her every need. After they were done and they lay panting and sweaty in bed, Keryn realized that she was content but not satisfied. With her anger sedated and the adrenaline fleeing from her body, she immediately knew the reason why, and hated herself for thinking it.
Merric was a lot of things, but he was not Yen Xiao.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Yen awoke and stretched, feeling the tension in his back and shoulders ease. Though rested, he had slept awkwardly on his side with his head unsupported and his arm pinned beneath him. Now, as blood flow returned to the limb, he could feel the pins and needles spread painfully from his elbow to his fingertips. Flexing the numb digits, Yen sat up on the couch.
He wasn’t in his room. Yen doubted he was even in the same hotel. The layout of the room seemed somehow wrong. The curtains lacked a certain luster that he had found in the room Adam had rented for them. Even the material of the sofa on which he sat felt rougher and less refined. Slowly, as the cloud of weariness fled from his mind, Yen remembered where he was. The night before had been spent with Iana; first at the cafe, then at the movies. When she had offered to take him back to her hotel, he had readily accepted her invitation. Yet, he wasn’t waking up in her bed, nor was she beside him.
“Good morning, sleepy head,” a female called from behind him.
Turning stiffly, Yen saw the short blonde Pilgrim exit from the bedroom. A large towel was wrapped firmly around her torso, hugging her breasts and hanging loosely over the rest of her body. She used a second towel to dry her still dripping hair.
Yen smiled at Iana. “How did you sleep last night?”
“Hmm,” she said as she furrowed her brow in thought. “I was both cold and lonely last night. How about you?”
Yen scratched his head, feeling slightly uncomfortable. “I’m really sorry about that. I really didn’t think that was how the evening was going to turn out. Not after I had such a good time with you all afternoon.”
Walking around the couch, Iana sat down next to him, throwing her naked legs over Yen’s. The slit on the towel fell aside, opening dangerously far up her thighs. “Don’t worry about it. I understand, I really do. I’m not going to lie to you though. I can’t remember the last time I was so disappointed by someone not sleeping with me.”
Yen caught his gaze falling to where the two sides of the towel, and subsequently both her legs, met. “It’s not because I don’t find you attractive, Iana. You really are beautiful. I just can’t do this right now.”
Iana sighed as she slid her legs off his and covered herself again. Looking straight ahead, she refused to meet his stare. “You really love her, don’t you?”
“Honestly, I don’t think I realized just how much until last night. I had an incredible time with you, but when we got back here and I saw you naked…”
Iana blushed at last night’s memory. “We don’t have to talk about that.”
“Sorry,” Yen apologized, blushing slightly himself. “You looked beautiful, but I couldn’t stop thinking about Keryn. It was her I wanted to be standing in front of in a random hotel room. It just felt like I was betraying her by spending the night with you.”
“Those are some pretty serious emotions.”
Yen laughed slightly. “You’re not kidding. It’s just so invigorating to finally tell someone this. I don’t think I knew how much I loved her. Now, all I want to do is go find her and tell her how I feel.”
“Wow. I can’t really think of another way to say it than that.”
Though Iana seemed like she wanted to be happy for Yen, he could still see her pouting. Her full lips were pursed and her pale blue eyes twinkled mischievously. It was a look that Yen was sure she had practiced and used before, with great effect. Even now he found himself wanting to reach out and console her.
Sensing the awkward tension between them, they both spoke at once.
“I should really get ready to go,” Yen spoke while Iana said, “I really need to get dressed.”
Iana stood quickly and walked back toward the bedroom. She tossed her body towel casually aside without closing the door to the bedroom, leaving a clear, tempting view for Yen. He suddenly found it hard to swallow as he, for the second time, found himself admiring her firm and well proportioned body. Though he could feel his blood stirring, Yen knew it was just lust and not the full love that he felt for Keryn.
“I wasn’t just feeding you lines last night, you know,” Yen said over his shoulder as he turned away from the temping view. “I really do want to help you with your assignment on the
“That’s sweet,” Iana replied as she exited the bedroom, having slipped on a bathrobe to cover her body. “But now that I know that Keryn is the new Squadron Commander, I think I might be able to do my own jockeying for a position. Thank you, though.”
Yen turned toward her and put his hands on Iana’s shoulders. “I hope this doesn’t make things strange between us when we’re working together.”
“Are you kidding me?” Iana laughed. “You’ve seen me naked. There isn’t much more comfort two people can have together than that.” Smiling at one another, there was another pause before Iana spoke again. “Go, Yen. You know she’s in the city and if you let her get back to the
Yen laughed heartily. “I’m going, I’m going. Thank you for putting up with me.”
He let the door close behind him as he left Iana’s hotel room. The elevators were directly ahead, but he stood in the doorway, his hand still clutching the door knob. Part of him was proud of his fortitude and loyalty to Keryn. Another equally strong part of him was still kicking himself for not taking advantage of a beautiful woman when he had the chance. Finally, through a battle of wills, Yen let go of the door and walked to the lift.
The elevator doors slid closed as soft music began playing as he rode the lift down to the lobby. Though he knew she had to be staying somewhere, Yen didn’t even know where to begin looking for Keryn. The Farimas Space Station was a sprawling construct, full of hundreds of streets and alleyways. Yen had no way of knowing if Keryn had stayed at a hotel or if she had splurged and rented a townhouse during shore leave. Hell, he realized, he still wasn’t completely convinced Keryn had even bothered to take shore leave at all. Lately, she had become so married to her position that it seemed impossible to drive a wedge between her and the Squadron.
He was still grappling with his pending search when the elevator doors opened to the lobby and he stepped out. Moving around the corner, Yen nodded to the concierge before turning toward the front doors of the hotel. Looking up, he froze in his tracks. There, silhouetted against the bright morning sunlight, Keryn stood at the window watching the flowing river beyond. Yen’s heart leapt in his chest, surprised both by her appearance and by fate bringing them so quickly together. Drawn forward, Yen stopped when he was only a body’s length away.
“Keryn,” he said, breathlessly.
She turned quickly, her violet eyes narrowed at the sound of her name. Seeing Yen, she seemed to hardly relax. If anything, she tensed further. Hesitantly, Keryn brushed her silver hair out of her face sheepishly, exposing the brilliant red and purple tattoos that framed her face.
Keryn glanced quickly over Yen’s shoulder before speaking in a hushed tone. “Yen, what are you doing here?”
