Her cheeks turned red as she bit her lip and gave me a coy look. “Maybe another time?”
I was disappointed that she didn’t want to spend more time together, but didn’t want to push her into it if she wasn’t ready.
“I will take you to the other females if that is what you wish. But I thought you might like to have your own quarters at some point?” I quirked one brow.
It would be much easier to spend time with her if the other females were not hovering around her.
She spoke with a stammer, avoiding eye contact with me. “I just want to make sure they are okay....I mean...”
My head dropped. Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. “They are safe here on the ship.” My tone came across as more defensive and gruff than I had meant it to be.
Grace swallowed, taking a step back. Did she not believe me?
She shrugged, smoothing her hands down her luscious thighs. “Sure. I mean I’m sure that’s true, but still...”
I shook my head.
“Follow me.” I contacted Orin as we strode toward the humans’ quarters.
‘Yes, Captain?’’ he responded.
‘Are the females doing okay?’I asked him.
His voice sounded stressed.
‘They want to know where you’ve taken the female. One of them is being argumentative. She appears to have made the other two upset, so I had to lock them into their room until they calm down.’
I winced and averted my gaze from Grace as I pondered how to explain what was happening.
“What’s going on?” Grace asked with a wrinkled brow.
I cleared my throat. “I must return to the command center. But first I will unite you with the other females.”
Grace narrowed her eyes. “You’re not telling me something. What’s really going on? Why has your demeanor changed?”
My back became rigid with tension. No one else dared to speak to me this way. I did not have to explain myself to anyone.
Still, why did I feel my heart soften when I heard her voice filled with concern? This small human had somehow managed to bring me to my knees after only a brief time together.
My brows lifted. “Demeanor?” The word did not translate into one I understood.
“Yes. The way you are acting all of a sudden. Has something happened?” She crossed her arms.
I began walking and Grace followed on my heels, trying to catch up with my long strides.
“I just received a message from Orin.”
She peered up at me. “How? Do you have an earpiece or something?”
“Something like that.” I shrugged. “One of the females is wondering where you are. Now all of them are upset and causing a disturbance,” I stated.
Grace rolled her eyes. “I can guess whothatis.” She paused and her eyes rounded. “Please tell me Orin hasn’t locked them up?” She grimaced.
I took a step back and turned to continue walking. “Like I said, we do not hurt females, but we also do not want them to do anything foolish.”
This wasnothow I expected things to go between us.
Grace hurried next to me and gripped my forearm. “You mean like trying to get away?”
