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  “They just haven’t manifested yet,” I told her. “Sarden told me it took a while for Zoe’s talents to come all the way in. But when they did…well, it was a sight to behold.” I shook my head. “She took down a conspiracy that threatened to overtake the entire planet of Eloim single-handed. And I have faith you’ll have powers that rival hers in time.”

  “I don’t want all kinds of mysterious powers.” She looked up at me appealingly. “I…I just want to feel. For once in my life, I want to know what everyone else is talking about. I want to be alive—to know I’m not broken.”

  She looked up at me with wide, wet eyes and I felt my heart fist up in my chest. Gods, she was so beautiful! It made me ache to look at her. But she wasn’t for me—I knew that well enough without anyone having to tell me.

  “Darlin’,” I said as gently as I could, cupping her cheek in my hand. “I understand what you’re saying and believe me, I’m flattered and honored. But I’m not the male to give you those, uh, those feelings.”

  “That’s not true.” She shook her head. “Grav, you’re the only male that’s ever given me those feelings. Ever.”

  “But I’m not the right male for you,” I told her, though I ached to take her in my arms and give her more of those feelings she wanted so desperately. “I wish I was, Leah.” I stroked her cheek and looked into her eyes. “I wish I could take you to my room right now and lay you down and touch you and taste you everywhere,” I growled softly. “I’d like to run my hands all over your ripe, luscious body and worship your sweet little pussy with my tongue until you came all over my face.”

  Her breath seemed to catch in her throat and she looked up at me with so much need and longing in her eyes I had to look away before I lost control.

  “Then why don’t you?” she whispered. “Is it because I’m married—joined—to Gerald?”

  I shook my head. “That’s not it. I believe when any male lays his hands in anger or violence on a female, he invalidates any vows he took with her. He loses her. So in my eyes, you’re not joined to him anymore.”

  “Magda said something like that,” Leah murmured. “She said it was a false joining—that a female who’s a La-ti-zal often won’t react until she feels the touch of the right male.”

  “And I believe you’ll find that male,” I said, though the words seemed to stick in my throat. “But I’m not him.”

  “Why?” she asked. “I know we haven’t known each other long. I know it sounds crazy to be having this conversation but—”

  “It’s not crazy,” I interrupted her fiercely. “I feel for you too, darlin’—don’t ever think I don’t. But I’m not right for you. I’m not anybody you should be mixed up with.”

  “Is this about what that bouncer said?” she demanded. “The one at the bar—about you being in some kind of prison and killing people to get out?”

  “Something like that,” I said shortly. “That and worse.”

  “What? Just tell me,” she begged. “Give me the facts and let me make up my own mind, Grav. Please.”

  “No.” I turned away from her, unwilling to see the hurt in her eyes. But how much worse would it be—how would she look at me if she knew the truth? The truth of what I’d done, which was considered the worst crime any male with Vorn blood can commit? I’m half Braxian but I’d been on Vorn Five when I did it—among my father’s people.

  “Was it bad?” she said softly. “Are you sorry for it—whatever it was?”

  “Yes, it was bad and no, I’m not sorry.” I rounded on her, frowning. “In fact, I’d do it again.”

  “Oh.” She looked down at her fingers. “I see.”

  “No, you don’t. And you won’t try to see…or try to find out about me if you know what’s good for you.” My voice came out harsher than I had intended. I tried to soften it some. “Look, darlin’, even if my past wasn’t standin’ between us, I’m a hybrid—a half-breed.”

  “What does that mean?” She looked up at me.

  “Means I couldn’t ever bond you to me properly,” I said. “You’d never have that certainty that all females crave—that bond with your male that no one can break. You wouldn’t want to live like that.”

  Leah lifted her chin and put a hand on her hip.

  “So it’s a commitment issue. You don’t want to be tied down to the crazy girl who can’t enjoy sex. That’s okay—I understand.”

  “You seemed to be enjoyin’ it just fine a few minutes ago,” I said dryly. “And I never said you were crazy, or that I didn’t want to commit to you. I said I can’t because of what I am…and because of what I’ve done.”

  “This is nuts.” She threw up her hands, which made her cloak gape open to show the creamy swells of her breasts. I felt my shaft surge, felt my whole body yearn for hers, but I fought the urge back grimly.

  “Nuts?” I asked, my voice coming out sounding hoarse. “I thought you told me those were an Earth food.” She’d told me something about the small, crunchy, salty foods when I was making her one of my Braxian dishes.

  “Nuts also means crazy. Insane. Stupid.” She shook her head. “We’re nuts to be having this conversation. As I said before, we haven’t even known each other a week. Also, I’m married—even if it is to an abusive asshole. So what right do I have to ask you to make a commitment to me when I’m not even free to commit?”

  “You’re free in my eyes and the eyes of the Goddess,” I growled softly. “I’m the one who’s not free, Leah. I’m the one who’s…” Not good enough. “Who’s wrong for you,” I finished at last.

  “Maybe we’re wrong for each other,” she said in a low voice. “But then…why does it feel so right when you touch me?”

  “I don’t know.” I shrugged. “Maybe it’s just you getting away from your home planet which is making your La-ti-zal powers manifest. Maybe any male you came in contact with after you left Earth could have given you the, uh, feelings you talked about.”

  “Maybe.” But she didn’t sound convinced. To tell the truth, I wasn’t either. But I knew damn good and well that I was saving her a lot of pain and heartache by turning her down, as much as it hurt me to do it.

  “Well…” I said, not sure how to go on. I felt the need to leave the small room and get some time alone. I wanted so badly to take her in my arms and pleasure her it was almost more than I could bear being in the same place with her.

  “Well,” she echoed me and sighed. “I guess…let’s just forget this conversation happened. Let’s chalk it up to the whole crazy La-ti-zal thing and just…just try to forget about it.”

  “All right.” I nodded awkwardly, feeling fucking miserable. “If that’s what you want.”

  “I do.” She took a deep breath and lifted her chin. “Let’s just be friends.”

  “Fine,” I growled. “Friends.”

  Leah nodded and smiled at me. Stepping up to me, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed me coolly on the cheek.

  “Thank you, Grav. For putting up with all my craziness and for healing me when I was ill. You’ve been a really good friend to me.”

  “You’re welcome,” I muttered. “I, uh, I try.”

  “You certainly do.” She smiled brightly—a little too brightly, I thought, and took a deep breath. “Okay. So now that we have what we need from Sincon, tell me more about Gemina. I need to know what we’re going into.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Leah

  The next few days as Grav’s little ship hopped its way to the all female planet of Gemina were pure misery.

  That was because I had to spend the entire time pretending that nothing had happened between Grav and me—pretending I didn’t feel anything for him or want his big, hard, muscular body against mine when I did.

  I so did.

  I won’t lie—my body was on fire for his touch. It was like the last healing he had performed on me had flipped a switch inside me and all the sexual desire I’d never been able to feel before was breakin