Not that Blaize could prove. She hadn’t slept well at all since she’d had sex with Cifer. “I think I’ll head to the gym.”
Veda shrugged. “Okay.”
After changing out of her work coveralls, Blaize lingered outside of the room Dez had configured into a gym on the way to Kolben. Workout equipment had been part of his contract to keep him in shape for the mines, but the entire crew made use of it periodically. She didn’t hesitate to enter because she was uncertain about working out. It was the voices coming from the room that had her pressing her body against the wall and shifting ever so slowly toward the door while trying to remain unseen.
Chapter 27
Cifer resisted the urge to punch the door to his quarters. Blaize was avoiding him again. If he didn’t recall how well she kissed him back, he might have believed she didn’t want him. But he knew, in his soul, that she wanted him just as badly as he wanted her. For whatever reason, she was denying it, or resisting, or just being stubborn. A hissing growl filled his room.
It was him.
He had to do something to get his emotions under control, or he was going to lose what was left of his mind. Quickly changing into athletic gear, he jogged down the corridors to the workout room. Miles on a treadmill after beating the crap out of a heavy bag might take the edge off. When he arrived, Dez was there, already on a treadmill.
Dez wasn’t even panting, though sweat ran thick over his bald head and bare back.
“Could you at least pretend like you’re working hard? Ease my poor ego?” Cifer shook his head and looked at the ground as if he were mortified by the other’s prowess.
“You require no deception. I’ve seen you work just as hard.” Dez continued to pound a punishing pace on the machine.
Cifer smiled at him, the best smile he could muster under the circumstances, and placed his hands in the glover. The machine laced on the protective gear. He would pretend the body-shaped heavy bag was the male who had hurt Blaize so deeply, she had no trust left.
“Have you secured any of the potential contacts?” Dez asked in a staccato voice that matched his pounding feet.
Cifer released a jab-cross combination on the bag. “Have a couple of bites. Still in negotiations.”
Dez groaned. “Why is it always a game? They want the goods. We have the goods.”
“The game is the best part,” Cifer replied before stepping into the bag and landing an uppercut.
A derisive huff from Dez made Cifer grin.
An hour later, he was panting and lying on the padded floor. A shadow fell over his closed eyes, which he opened to find Dez’s concerned face staring down at him, his fists on his hips.
“What troubles you, friend?” Dez asked.
Cifer closed his eyes again.
“Blaize.”
Her name falling from the other man’s lips was like a needle to his heart—sharp, piercing, fatal. “She hates me.”
“You’re probably wrong. I thought the same of Cyra. It was fear. Not hate.”
“My female is fearless.” Cifer rolled and stood. Hearing Dez say she was afraid was an affront to everything Cifer knew about Blaize. She was bold, tireless, selfless, beautiful, giving, sexy, insatiable. And she hated him.
“Your female?” A rumble erupted from the big male’s chest that could have been laughter.
“I’m not giving up.” Cifer clacked his jaw at Dez, who was taller than him, though not stronger.
“I make no claim on her.” Dez held his hand up to show he was unarmed and unwilling to fight.
Some of the tension left Cifer’s body. His brain knew that Dez was no threat, happily mated, but his heart, his soul, his entire being needed Blaize to be with him before they would abandon the imaginary battles. “What do I do?”
“You must give her exactly what she needs so that she knows she has nothing to fear from you. So she’s sure she can rely on you.”
“I don’t know what that is.”
“Nor do I.” Dez chuckled again and slapped Cifer on the shoulder. “But I do know what my mate needs. She’s nervous about seeing her family again for the first time since she abandoned their home. I have to be the rock by her side that she can lean against. Let her lead. Trust her enough to follow. Being the mate of a strong, independent female is not an easy path.” Dez grinned. “But it’s a damn good one.” He walked out, leaving Cifer alone in the gym.
