“What about Nina? Did she say where she was?”
Saber concentrated again for a moment. “She says she’s in the visitor’s wing in Suite B 1245. Go knock on her door and make your apologies. See what happens.”
“What’s going to happen is Nina slapping my face and kicking me out,” Reddix growled. But he knew he needed to talk to her and apologize. If she wanted to hit him, it would only be exactly what he deserved. Might as well go and take my punishment.
He made his way up to the visitor’s wing and walked down the corridor scanning for B 1245. Once he found it he had to stand in front of it for a full minute before he could make himself knock. Then, taking a deep breath, he rapped his knuckles against the thick metal sheet.
There was no answer, but he could hear someone stirring inside. He knocked again and heard a shuffling sound, as though someone was trying to make their way to the door.
“Who is it?” Her voice was muffled by the metal door, but he could tell it was her.
“Nina?” he called. “It’s me—Reddix. Are you all right?”
There was a long pause as though she was trying to decide if she should open the door or not.
“Nina, please, I just want to talk.”
“I don’t know.” She sounded hesitant. “I don’t think this is a good time.”
Reddix leaned forward, his senses completely attuned to her. He could hear the sound of her shifting from foot to foot just inside the doorway, and then he began to smell something to. A warm, familiar, feminine scent he would know anywhere—the scent of her desire. It drifted up from under the tiny crack at the bottom of the door and assaulted his nose, making him instantly hard. What the hell was going on in there? Was she with another male? Why else would she smell like that?
A possessive anger flashed through him. She was his, damn it! If any other male dared to so much as lay a finger on her he would die…slowly.
“Nina!” he roared, banging on the metal door with the flat of his hand. “Damnit, open up—now.”
“All right, all right.” The door slid open, and she stood there, wearing a thin silky black robe which she’d wrapped tightly around herself. To Reddix, it didn’t look like she had anything on under it. He took a step toward her, and her scent got even stronger—heat, need, desire—it drove him crazy. Especially when he thought that it might be directed at another male.
“All right, where is he?” he growled, stalking around her and looking into the empty suite. “Where the hell is the bastard? I’ll fucking kill him for touching you, I swear.”
“What are you talking about?” Nina looked at him like he was crazy as he made a quick sweep of the suite. But she was the only one there—in fact, Reddix didn’t even smell even a trace of another male. So what the hell was going on? Her scent said she was deep in need and ready to be bonded. Why would she smell like that if she was just spending time alone in her suite?
Reddix turned to face her. “What’s going on?” he demanded.
“I could ask you the same thing,” she snapped back. “First you use me and dump me, then you come charging in here, talking like a lunatic. What the hell are you doing here, anyway?”
“I came to talk to you,” Reddix muttered, frowning.
He had more to say, but now that he was looking at her, the words seemed to dry up. He had never seen her so beautiful—so desirable. Her cheeks were flushed, and her long dark hair was a tousled mane around her face. Under the thin black robe, he could see the sharp points of her nipples and the full curves of her breasts and hips. And of course there was her scent—Goddess, she smelled so fucking hot. That sweet aroma assaulting his senses made it hard to think.
“I mean…I need to explain,” he added, haltingly.
“Explain what? That you’re a jerk?” Nina said, putting a hand on her hip. “Thanks but I already figured that out for myself.”
“No, not that. I mean, I am a jerk—if that word means what I think it means,” he growled. “I’m an inconsiderate bastard, and I know I hurt you, but I had a reason—a good reason for doing what I did.”
“Is that so?” Nina had her arms crossed tightly under her breasts and was shifting from foot to foot. She had a look on her face that was almost pain. Did it hurt her that badly just to be near him?
“Yeah, that’s so. Do you want to hear it?”
“No.” Nina shook her head. “In fact, I think it’s time for you to go now. I can’t…can’t talk to you anymore.”
“Why not?” Reddix demanded, taking a step toward her.