“It would destroy me from the inside out if he looks at me any different than he used to,” she whispered, admitting her deepest fear. “I still love him. I never stopped.”
Breeze sighed softy. “You won’t know until you face him. Love is so complicated. I’m glad I don’t suffer from it and hope I never do. It’s amazing how smart, strong people turn into frail, frightened idiots once their hearts are involved.”
The hand dropped away. “Let’s go and get this over with. At best, you’ll be dealing with a male who is starved of sex and he’ll make up for lost time between you two. At worst, he’ll state that your coming for this visit was a mistake. You’ll have your answer either way.”
“I’m terrified.”
“He won’t harm you physically. I can guarantee that.”
“That’s not what I’m afraid of.”
“I know. I was trying to use humor during a stressful moment. Big fail on my part. Let’s go.
You’re still stalling.”
“Shouldn’t you warn him first or something?
Give him a minute at least to let it sink in that I’m here before he’s confronted?”
Breeze latched on to her hand, tugging. “Good try but no dice. Now is a good time.”
Alli stumbled a few times, her legs leaden with dread. Her world might be about to come crashing down on her head. There would be no mental barriers she could erect that would protect her if the time they had spent together were moments he regretted.
The game was still in full swing when they left the side door of the dorm. Some males were sitting on the grass in the shade of the building. Alli could feel their stares turning her way but she only had eyes for Obsidian. He was bent slightly, watching the ball about to be tossed in from the sideline where it had gone out, but frowned when the one holding it paused.
The other players began to turn in her direction, watching her approach with Breeze. They were either fascinated by two women at the game or they knew who Dr. Allison Baker was. Obsidian finally realized there was a stir and glanced their way.
He spotted Breeze first and smiled openly, welcoming her presence. His gaze shifted to Alli. She stopped walking, unable to move when his expression hardened, became closed and his dark eyes narrowed.
“Allison has come to speak to you,” Breeze stated loudly. “Doesn’t she look wonderful, Obsidian?”
Someone growled and Alli was pretty certain the unhappy sound had come from the man she loved. It hurt when he turned his head away to say something to one of the males closest to him.
She wished the ground would open under her, just take her somewhere dark, where she could fall apart privately away from the prying eyes of everyone within sight. He obviously wasn’t happy to see her as he continued to ignore her.
Her heel caught on the grass when she stepped back to make a hasty retreat. Breeze saved her from an embarrassing fall by gripping her arm.
The Species hissed. “He’s being an ass.”
“Thank you.” She gently wiggled out of her hold. “I’m leaving.”
“Don’t. Give him time.”
Alli spun, carefully watching her step as she fled. It was difficult to keep it to a fast walk when she really wanted to run. The man she’d known never would have shunned her but he had.
It seemed more than his appearance had changed.
Grief threatened to spill out loudly, along with the tears she fought to contain.
She made it to the front of the building where an escort leaned against a Jeep. Flame smiled when he saw her.
“That was fast. Are you ready to leave, Dr. Allison?”
“Yes.” She desperately tried to keep it together until she could fall apart in private. “Please.”
He noticed her distressed state. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” she lied.
He nodded sharply. “Is there anywhere else you’d like to visit while you’re at Homeland?”
“No. Just take me to the main gate.”
She inwardly winced at the way her voice cracked. The Species officer studied her face suspiciously. His next words confirmed it.
“Did a male inside frighten you? You are not fine.” His hand snatched hers, long fingers curling around the back of it, and clung. “I’m here.
Talk to me and tell me what happened.”
“Don’t touch her,” a deep, masculine voice snarled.
Alli’s spine stiffened. She’d remember that harsh, angry tone anywhere. And the man.
“What’s wrong, Obsidian?” Flame let go, frowning at something behind her. “I wasn’t harming her. She’s distressed about something that happened inside.”
Turn around. Look at him. Her mind ordered her to do it but her feet may as well have been stuck in concrete. She just couldn’t do it. Why had he even followed her to the street?
“I’ve waited three months to talk to you yet you couldn’t wait two minutes to talk to me? I was excusing myself from the game.” His voice was still deep but the rough edges had gone out of it.
She swallowed hard and moved, facing him slowly. He was just feet away, bigger than life.
The changes in his face were more evident up close as she studied every inch of it. His cheeks were fuller, the scars either faded or just hidden by the slightly longer hair along his temples. The sun had darkened his skin slightly from the hours he must have spent outside.
The memory of his powerful stare paled in comparison to the real thing. His eyes seemed a softer brown than she remembered, more beautiful, and his black eyelashes longer. He blinked but didn’t move otherwise while they watched each other.
“Is everything okay?” the New Species officer asked but she ignored him.
“Go away, Flame,” Obsidian rasped. “Now.”
“I’m assigned to Dr. Allison while she visits Homeland.” Flame didn’t take orders well. “I can’t.”
Obsidian’s gaze shifted away from her, breaking contact with hers. “Go away, Flame.” He frowned. “I’ll take responsibility for her well-being. We need to talk in private.”
“Oh. Um. Okay. I’ll take a walk. Maybe grab a sandwich inside.” He skirted around them with a wide berth, striding to the front doors of the dorm quickly.
“Hi,” she managed to whisper, cleared her throat, and spoke louder. “You have gained weight. It looks good.”
He stared at her again and his frown deepened.
The uncomfortable moment was painful. All her daydreams of seeing him again were a bitter pill to swallow. He didn’t respond at all.
She decided to try again. “I saw you playing soccer. I’m glad you seem to have made so many friends.”
Silence. He blinked, the frown still firmly marring the skin shadowing the sides of his lips.
Maybe she should ask him a question, something to respond to. It was worth a try. “How have you been?”
Eyebrows lifted, widening his eyes slightly. He didn’t reply.
Slow-burning anger and sadness combined inside her. “You followed me out here to order Flame not to touch me because you wanted to have a staring contest? Is that it?”
“I waited for three months to see you and you couldn’t wait one minute for me to excuse myself from the game?”
He took one step, paused, then another. He crouched in front of her and she had no idea why he did it. She glanced at the ground between them to see if maybe she’d dropped something but he suddenly plowed into her as if he were performing a tackle. He hit her hips with enough force to knock her off her feet but she never slammed into the ground. He straightened as he continued to sweep his body forward and slung her over his shoulder as though she were a sack of potatoes. One hand gripped her ass firmly to hold her in place while his other arm hooked behind her knees to pin them against his chest.
“We’re not doing this here,” he grumbled, spinning fast enough to make her dizzy before storming in the direction of the dorm.