WarDog: Book Twelve in the Galaxy Gladiators Alien Abduction Romance Series by Alana Khan (large screen ebook reader txt) 📗

to show up at the dance tonight and let her see I’m not the compliant pup I was when she met me. In my mind, WarDog gives an enthusiastic woof of encouragement.

Willa

I check my image in the mirror once more, even as I shake my head, disapproving of this whole idea. I had no intention of going to the party tonight. Everyone on board is paired up in one way or another. From mated pairs to occasional sex partners. And then there’s me. And Bayne.

He’s changed a lot over the last month. My mouth quirks in the mirror, amplifying my dismay. He’s no longer the male who sat paralyzed in my bed awaiting my return a month ago, willing to follow my every command as if he was still a canine.

No. Now I watch him stride through the hallways with a sense of purpose, sometimes with a wide sword on his back as if he’s Conan the Barbarian. He’s powerful, and sexy, and . . . no longer interested in me.

I sent him away. If I’m honest with myself, I’ll admit I assumed he’d still want me and would be ready when I got over my little snit and asked to spend time with him. Well, the joke’s on me.

His eyes don’t shine brighter when I’m around, nor do they follow me around the room. He seems more interested in joking with his buddies or talking to the other women than in being with me.

He acts like a sponge, wanting to learn everything, making up for lost time. It still makes me sad that he has so much lost time to make up for.

He’s learning a few cooking skills from Maddie who treats him like a brother. Grace has taught him the basics of playing a stringed instrument, although they both decided he’ll never have musical talent. Dax’s mate Dahlia is teaching him to read because he either doesn’t remember, or his people were too primitive to have written language. He’s already tearing up the Intergalactic Database learning more about his home planet.

My brief investigation of Skylose revealed it was decimated by war shortly after he was abducted and permanently forced into his canine form. The history of his race is sad and I decided I knew enough after only a few minutes of research. The fact that everyone he ever knew is probably dead and gone might explain the somber look I see on his face from time to time.

I barged into the ludus a few days ago, searching for Dax because I wanted him to teach me how to make a new pair of shoes. He’s handy with everything he touches, including wood and leatherwork.

I thought I could just make an appointment for us to meet later and then leave. Of course, he just happened to be sparring with Bayne. I stood near the doorway and watched until Dax stopped to ask me what I needed.

I can replay every second of their match. By heart. In fact, I have. Many, many times. Males in space just don’t seem to care about clothing. They consider it optional most of the time. The females put their foot down about the dining room, thank goodness, but other than that it’s considered perfectly normal to waltz around naked. In the ludus? It’s expected.

I’ll admit, it scandalized me at first, but I thought I’d gotten used to it. Used to it, that is, until a certain someone shifted into humanoid form.

I watched his huge, powerful body fighting with all his might. His muscles strained, sometimes he grunted with effort. There were times he put both hands on the hilt of his sword and swung up and over his head, his muscles flexing under warm tan skin. My mouth was dry as I watched. It’s only in the privacy of my own mind that I admit to myself why. Lust. I wanted Bayne in a way I’ve never wanted another living soul.

His skin was covered in a glistening sheen of sweat. His face was tight, muscles rigid, as he displayed laser focus on the match. It was as if winning that fight was the most important thing in his life.

He thrust and parried. Even when Dax was on the offensive and Bayne had to step backward, he seemed in control of the situation, as if he was simply biding his time, waiting to aggress toward his partner again.

Then Dax spoke to me and Bayne faltered, his concentration obviously derailed. The grace he fought with became awkward, slowed, and then he stopped altogether, setting the tip of his sword on the floor.

Dax stopped his attack, and both males stood stock still, looking at me.

I apologized for interrupting them, set a time to meet with Dax, and hurried out of the ludus, my emotions in an turmoil.

For the last month, I’d been in a delusional state, having convinced myself I wasn’t interested in Bayne, but as soon as I left the ludus and scurried toward my cabin I quit lying to myself. I’m interested. More than interested, I’m obsessed.

I glance into the mirror and look at myself the way I did when I was an adolescent. I remember inspecting myself years ago as my body was changing. Noticing my budding breasts and the subtle changes to the shape of my face. It’s with that level of intensity I examine myself now, only this time I’m noticing myself the way Bayne sees me.

An average twenty-five-year-old Earth woman looks back at me. I’d like to believe I’m beautiful. Barring that, I’d like to believe I’m pretty. But I’m just an average woman who wouldn’t turn any heads on the street. My eyes are an ordinary shade of brown. My brown hair trails to the middle of my back. I learned to style it well in high school and have always thought it’s one of my better