She wanted to accept it, but it was hard. Her past had taught her that what Bane was promising was a trap. “I just don’t understand why you’re doing this.”
Her confession came unbidden. Bane leaned away and this time his thumb moved from her chin to tease her bottom lip. She wanted to suck and lick the digit but resisted the urge.
“Because I’m done running from you and its time I ran toward you.”
He’d said it over and over at the medic center and it was starting to sink in. It took monumental will to bite back the tears of relief threatening to spill. She tried to make light of her reaction. “Right. I forgot.”
“Let me know if you need another reminder.” He dropped his hand and led her up the stairs.
The more he said it, the more Mischka was starting to believe it. She’d never expected a happy ending for herself and yet Bane was tempting her to believe in miracles.
Chapter 31
It took several days of living in the building Bane called home for Mischka to lower her guard. She was in a constant state of expectation, waiting for something to happen or someone to take her away and through it all, Bane was unimaginably patient.
To her surprise she was given her own space on the second level of the building with a small kitchen, cleansing room, living area and bedroom. When he left after making sure she was settled, Mischka had curled on the floor and rocked. Everything she wanted was within reach and it was the scariest thing ever.
Each day since her arrival proved to be better than the last and added a growing sense of stability to her jumbled feelings. Adding to her confusion and the cocktail of emotions was Bane. He didn’t immediately push the physical aspect of their attraction, instead choosing to tease her with the possibilities by kissing her lips at the end of spending the afternoons with her.
He touched and caressed her continually, leaving no doubt he still wanted her but not acting on it. They spent mealtimes together and he shared about his maman and to a small extent his work as a Jutak.
Mischka, for her part, was more hesitant to share. She didn’t have fond stories of her childhood. Her parents hadn’t had a deep and loving relationship, nor had they cared to see to her welfare as evident by them giving her to Lothar.
At first, Mischka had been honored to be a member of his kitse. Earning a position in a lofty harem was a goal many females strived for. Until she learned the truth of him their first night together.
“What’s wrong?” Bane asked, seated across from her in her living area.
She didn’t want to bring up dark thoughts and smiled. “Nothing. I continue to marvel at how you Enotians live.”
She thought residing in a place with soldiers and their families would be more rigid. It was far from, with the laughter of children often heard. Mischka didn’t interact with the little ones or their parents, somehow sensing they were leery of her presence. Which was fine since it was easier to observe from a distance. From the way the others watched her, it was obvious they were waiting for her to slip up and prove she was as evil as the Marenians they battled.
“How so?” Bane leaned back and stretched his arm over the back of his chair.
Did he have to look this handsome? The relaxed, fully recovered version of Bane was even sexier than the one she’d met. He caught her staring and must have read her thoughts because his lids lowered, his gaze going hot and heated as he pursed his sensual lips.
Mischka shifted uncomfortably and cleared her throat to answer his question. “Happy. Everyone seems very happy.”
That wiped away his arousal. A frown pierced his brow and he thought a moment before asking, “I take it that’s not the same on Marenia.”
Mischka’s snort was answer enough. “Maybe for some, but women don’t have the same freedoms and as a result, it limits our options, which in turn affects our happiness.”
She could see him gearing to ask more questions, but that wasn’t what she wanted, so she hurried to add. “I need to see Dr. Maku and he has time today. Can you escort me to where he is in the building?”
Bane sat forward. “Is everything alright?”
She flushed. This was something she had intended to discuss with Bane later. “I need to discuss birth control options with him and he also said he wanted to speak with me regarding another issue.”
Bane’s grin was a wicked slash across his face. Probably because the implication of controlling when she had a child equated to her verbally agreeing to sex share with him. “I already get a shot as mandated by our military.”
Mischka rolled her eyes. “I’m aware, but there is an implanted device that I’d like removed.”
Shock flickered across his face along with another emotion she couldn’t identify. “You want to have children with me?”
This was embarrassing. Mischka gritted her teeth. “Eventually. I am already in love with you and I don’t think you brought me to live with you if you weren’t planning for a future together.”
Bane rushed to his feet and swung her up in his arms. “That is the first time you’ve told me you love me.”
Delight tickled her middle, but for form’s sake, Mischka glared. Ignoring it, he leaned forward and lowered her in a slow glide down his chest to nip the pout on her lips. His action turned the pout into a hesitant smile and then he was laughing with her, which meant he too wanted children.
If only he told her he loved her too, she’d be living the perfect dream.
***
Bane held Mischka’s hand as Laila, Dr. Maku’s assistant, finished explaining her care instructions and said he would be with them shortly. They were in one of the tiny treatment rooms he knew well from being injured on missions. Mischka’s procedure had taken all of ten minutes and she didn’t appear impacted by it at all.
In fact, she was busy studying the array of equipment in the room and it was clear she was fascinated. Enotian medical technology was probably on par or slightly above CV-8. He squeezed her fingers and loved the way her breath quickened as she faced him.
Love. Bane was pretty sure he loved Mischka. The time spent with her while she recovered and the days here in his home only clarified what his heart had known when his mind had been too slow to catch on.
Tonight, he’d ask her to accept his silk and tell her. If she agreed, he had every intention of signing them up for the earliest presentation ceremony. He wanted Mischka tied to him everyway possible. And fate forbid, if he was ever close to death again, he wanted her to be the one to hear his call and know the beautiful notes of his chant when they parted for eternity.
“Greetings, Mischka.”
Mischka jumped to her feet and let Bane’s hand go to brush her fingers over the fitted embroidered pants she wore. “Your assistant took care of removing by birth control device but you also mentioned you wanted to see me?”
The troubling glance Dr. Maku sent Bane had his attention sharpening along with a brief flare of worry. “Perhaps we should have this conversation alone.”
Bane stiffened and rose to his feet. All of a sudden his skin felt stretched tight. This appointment was about more than information regarding an implantation device. “Is there something wrong with Mischka? You said she was clear.”
Seeing the doctor shuffle and shove his hands in the pockets of his uniform pants sent warning flags to Bane. Mischka stepped closer to him and their arms brushed. It was a sign of her worry that she sought his touch freely. Bane looped an arm about her shoulder and pulled her into his embrace.