Chapter 7
Natasha
Ryon wasn’t much for conversation. I thought it was a bit abrupt the way he’d fled the apartment, but then he’d returned with something to sort out the electricity—maybe he’d finally gotten around to topping up the meter or whatever—and something to snack on. He didn’t seem to keep much food around the place, for some reason.
He made me tea, which was kind, and shared his snack with me, but then he got up and disappeared to the hallway, which was open to the elements on one side. If we were on Earth, I would have thought he was smoking out there. I hadn’t seen anyone do that, here.
I sorted myself out with a thorough wash in the bathroom, and I took myself to bed, where I was surrounded by soft bedding impregnated with his delicious, masculine scent. Feeling safe, I fell asleep easily.
Something woke me up in the night. A noise from outside, maybe. I got up to use the bathroom. I opened the door, turned the light on, and screamed. There was a body in the bathtub.
It took all of three seconds to realize it was Ryon. He opened his eyes and growled, lunging at me. He pinned me against the door, which slammed closed under the force. His arm was across my neck, his other pinning my right wrist against the door. I tried to fight back, but he was impossibly strong.
This close, his scent was even more potent than in the bedroom. This was fresh. Vital. Alive? I couldn’t explain it.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were in here.” I had met people who slept in odd places before, but it seemed really weird that he was in the bathroom when the couch was free.
“I was protecting you.”
I scrunched up my face, trying to make sense of what he meant.
“Protecting... me? By hiding in the bath?”
“I needed a closed door between us. Your scent. It’s too strong. I can’t stay away from you.”
“Then don’t.” I didn’t want him to. I couldn’t get enough of him. The confined space of the bathroom made everything more immediate, especially as his face was only inches away from mine, my feet dangling in the air because he held me pinned against the door, still.
“You don’t know what you’re saying. What you’re offering. This is a forever job. We fuck, we’re tied together. For life.”
Life?
“Do I get time off for bad behavior?” I couldn’t help myself. I giggled as I asked the question. Marriage was supposed to be for life, too, but I knew tons of people who had split up after a year or so. And a few people had gotten life in prison, but been out after a few years. So, whatever he was talking about, there had to be the space equivalent of a divorce. Or parole. Didn’t there?
“It’s no joke.”
I sighed. He had clearly broken his funnybone today.
“Listen, I just came in for a pish. Can I?” I indicated the toilet with my eyes then looked back at him.
He released me, and my feet landed on the ground. I maneuvered around him to the toilet, then waited for him to leave.
“Bye, then.” I pointed at the door.
“Oh. Yeah. Sorry.” He left me alone to sort myself out.
When I pulled my knickers down, I found they were full of gloopy liquidy stuff. Our bathroom encounter had apparently affected me down there.
Shame he didn’t seem to feel the same way.
I went back to bed and heard him returning to the bathroom. Weirdo.
Fuckinghotweirdo, though.
***
Ryon
I barely got out of the bathroom without kissing her. For the second time that night, I left the apartment, to avoid doing something she might regret. I was already stronger than her. There would be no conquest in taking advantage of her. The ultimate way for me to show my power was to not give into how I felt.