Chapter 30

Chapter

Thirty

Allie

T he hot water cascaded over my shoulders, pounding away the tension that had built over the past few hours. I stood motionless under the rainforest shower, letting the water sluice down my body, washing away not just the physical grime but also the emotional turmoil of the day.

The water was faintly scented with tropical blossoms, and I breathed in deeply, allowing the sweet aroma to fill my lungs. Steam swirled around me, clinging to the teak wood walls of the spacious shower. It was easily large enough for two people, a thought I quickly pushed from my mind.

At least in here, I couldn't hear the amorous sounds from the neighboring suites. But I knew that beyond these walls, the Boat was filled with reminders of love—or at the very least lust. It seemed I couldn't escape it, no matter where I turned.

With a sigh, I finally reached for the elaborate control panel, fumbling with the unfamiliar buttons until I managed to turn off the water. I stepped onto the plush bath mat, wrapping myself in a towel so soft it felt like a silk against my skin. As I squeezed the excess water from my hair, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror.

I looked different. Older, somehow. Or maybe just more tired.

Or maybe heartbroken.

Padding into the main room, I made my way to the teak wardrobe. Inside, I found a selection of dresses that wouldn't have looked out of place in a high-end boutique in Bora Bora. I hummed softly to myself as I rifled through the options, finally settling on a pale blue sundress.

I let the towel drop to the floor, deciding to skip underwear. After all, I was alone, and the fabric was light and airy against my skin. I had just slipped the dress over my head when I heard a sound that made me go completely still.

I wasn't alone.

My heart pounded as I slowly turned around. There, standing on the open balcony with a bunch of flowers in his hand, was Varek.

My cheeks flushed as I realized he must have seen me naked. He'd clearly watched me walk from the bathroom, drop my towel, and put on the dress. I was sure of this because his eyes were wide, and he blinked several times before finding his voice.

"I did not expect you to undress…" he said, his voice trailing off.

I recovered first, my embarrassment quickly turning to indignation. "How did you get in here?"

Varek stepped inside through the glass doors, his imposing figure filling the space. "We are both supposed to stay in the fantasy suite," he explained, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "I thought you might be resting, so I came in quietly. I didn't mean to startle you."

His words were a bucket of cold water, undoing all the relaxation of my hot shower. Of course. We had been matched, which meant we were supposed to stay together, to get to know each other, to really get to know each other. It was the last thing I wanted.

Varek placed the flowers on a side table and walked toward me. Even though I knew he was tall, I was still taken aback by how he towered over me. He reached out, running a finger down my cheek in what I'm sure he meant to be tender and seductive. Instead, it was terrifying.

"I was told to make a big romantic gesture," he said softly, his eyes searching my face. "Humans appreciate flowers, do they not?"

I swallowed hard. He was so much bigger than me, and there was no reason for him not to be in my suite. Correction, our suite. Did I even have the right to kick him out? I decided to take a calmer approach than screaming and running away.

"Yes, we do. They're lovely. Thank you."

Varek smiled, seemingly encouraged by my response. "I'm glad you like them. I've been looking forward to getting to know you, Allie. When I saw your profile, I couldn't believe my luck."

His words should have flattered me, but instead, they made me feel hollow. This kind, handsome Drexian thought he'd found his perfect match, and here I was, wishing I was anywhere but with him.

"Varek," I started, not sure what I was going to say. "This is all happening very fast."

He nodded, his expression turning serious. "I understand. This must be overwhelming for you. Coming to a new place, meeting new people, meeting me." He chuckled softly. "I admit, I'm a bit overwhelmed myself."

For a moment, I felt a pang of guilt. Varek wasn't a bad guy. He was trying his best to make me feel comfortable, to start building a connection. It wasn't his fault that my heart belonged to someone else.

"Perhaps we could start with something simpler," Varek suggested. "Would you like to take a walk along the beach? The holographic sunset is quite spectacular."

I glanced at the balcony, where the simulated sun was indeed beginning to dip toward the horizon, painting the sky in vibrant oranges and pinks. It was beautiful, and under different circumstances, a sunset walk on the beach with a handsome alien might have been exciting.

But all I could think about was Maxxon and how much I wanted to be holding his warm hand and walking by his side.

"Allie?" Varek's voice pulled me back to the present. "Are you all right?"

I realized I'd been silent for too long. "I'm sorry, Varek. I don't think I can take a walk right now. I'm still feeling a bit tired from the journey." I touched a hand to my stomach. "And queasy."

When in doubt, mention stomach issues. That isn't sexy to anyone.

His face fell slightly, but he quickly masked it with a smile. "Of course. Perhaps we could have dinner later? I could have something brought to the suite."

The thought of a romantic dinner for two in this paradise-like setting made my stomach churn. I needed to get out of here, to clear my head, to figure out what I was going to do.

"Sounds great," I lied, taking a step back and clutching my stomach. "See you later?"

He nodded, walking quickly to the door and leaving faster than I'd even hoped.

I should feel guilty for making the guy think I was two seconds from racing to the toilet, but I didn't. Sure, I'd fucked up. I'd done something rash and impulsive. But I'd done it because I thought Maxon was the one. I'd thought he was the person—check that, the alien—I'd always wanted. And I'd done a bunch of boneheaded things to find him.

Well, I was through with all that, and I was done feeling bad about taking a big swing and missing. I grabbed a pair of sandals from beside the door, slipped them on, and left my suite.

I couldn't stay in that suite for one more minute. And I couldn't pretend to be the mate Varek deserved, when I clearly wasn't

I reached the inclinator and jabbed at the call button repeatedly, as if that would make it arrive faster. When the doors finally slid open, I darted inside, my heart pounding.

As the doors closed and instrumental strains of "Beat It" played in the background, I leaned against the wall, trying to catch my breath. I'd been wrong before. I could run away from this.

I managed to move my hand in front of the control panel until the inclinator started to drop. Some lucky transport heading to Earth was about to get a stowaway.