Pursued(93)

“Ahem.” She cleared her throat delicately, hoping to get his attention.

Xairn looked up, an affectionate smile still on his face. But when he saw Lauren, it faded. “Oh…hello.” He stood at once, brushing the dog hair off his black flight pants and cleared his throat.

“Hello yourself,” Lauren purred. Up until now she’d been half hidden behind the door but now she came out into the open, displaying the naughty crimson harem-girl outfit. “How was your day, dear?” she asked, arching one eyebrow and cocking her hip to the side seductively. The pose pushed her chest out, putting her full breasts and stiff nipples on display behind the gauzy, see-through fabric. Xairn loved her breasts and she knew it. If this doesn’t get a reaction, I don’t know what will, she told herself.

Xairn’s eyes widened but he didn’t move toward her. “Um…my day was very satisfactory,” he said stiffly, at last. “I hope yours was as well.”

Lauren shrugged. “Oh you know, just the usual. I made some of those new passion-fruit cupcakes I was telling you about. But then, as I was mixing the icing, it sprayed up and got all over me.” She stroked the undercurve of her right breast, as though to illustrate her point. “I had to take my shirt and bra off—everything was a sticky mess.”

Xairn swallowed so hard she could actually hear the click in his throat. “I…I’m sorry. That must have been very frustrating.”

Lauren nodded slowly. “Yes, as a matter of fact I’m finding a lot of things frustrating lately. I could really use a little stress relief, if you know what I mean…” She took a step toward him but Xairn didn’t move toward her or take her up on her obvious offer. In fact, he actually took a step backwards, toward the door to their suite.

“Will you excuse me? I just remembered I have a job I promised to do for Deep. He and Lock are working on a ship and I promised to get them a part.”

“What? Right now?” Lauren demanded.

“Yes, I’m afraid so.” Xairn shook his head. “I knew I was forgetting something. Well, I’d better go…”

“Wait!” Lauren exclaimed. Taking a step toward him, she ran one finger down his broad chest. “Will you be back soon?”

“I’ll try…” Xairn shifted from foot to foot in obvious discomfort. “Yes, I promise I’ll try to be home soon.”

Then he turned and nearly ran for the door, leaving Lauren feeling rejected, despondent, and worst of all still horny.

Damn it, what’s wrong with him? Why won’t he touch me? Or take me? Or even look me in the damn eyes? The frustration rose in her until it overflowed in the form of tears.

Lauren sniffed angrily and wiped at her eyes. Stupid hormones! She didn't want to cry but it was hard not to. What was wrong with Xairn? Why was he avoiding her—didn't he want her anymore?

I should just ask him. Just get it out in the open, she thought. But somehow, she couldn’t. After all, what if he said he didn't want her anymore—that her pregnancy made him feel tied down. What then? What was she going to do?

Lauren squared her shoulders determinedly. “I’ll tell you what I’m not going to do,” she said out loud. “I’m not going to hang around here moping all day. I’m going to go get some answers.”

Feeling better now that she had a plan of action, she quickly changed out of the provocative harem-girl outfit and into some regular clothes. Then she went in search of her cousin.

But finding her turned out to be no easy task. Lauren started looking at Olivia’s suite, then Sophie’s and finally Kat’s. At last, someone directed to where the three of them had gone. Lauren found them clustered in a worried looking group just inside the viewing room.

“Here you all are! I’ve been looking everywhere for you, Olivia,” she said, giving her cousin a smile.

Liv turned to see Lauren standing in the doorway to the viewing room. “Oh, hi. I’m sorry, but Kat and Sophie had just come over when we got a call.” She nodded up at the huge viewscreen that dominated the room.

Lauren looked up at the screen. “Oh—hello, Nadiah. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt,” she apologized.

“That’s all right.” Nadiah shook her head. “I was just about to sign off anyway.”

“Nadiah called to catch us up on the news and tell us that Lissa is missing,” Sophia interjected. Her big green eyes were filled with worry. “You remember—the priestess from First World I told you about?”

“Oh no, really? What happened? She wasn’t…abducted or anything, was she?” Lauren remembered her own abduction at the hands of the AllFather and shivered.