Page 15 of Her Alien Soldier (Asterion Station #1)

Six months later…

“Come on Maggie. I know you can move faster than that!” Julia called, jogging a little ahead of Maggie, turning around and grinning at her. Maggie made a face, then pushed herself, speeding up until she was jogging next to her annoying, lovable, pushy friend.

“Admit it. You feel better after a run,” Julia said, and Maggie flipped her the bird, earning a laugh.

The thing was, she did feel better. It had been six months since Xarek had left, since the Redlians had been defeated, and life had gone on.

She’d worked, and read, and spent time with friends.

And when Julia had decided she wanted to get healthier, Maggie had decided to join her on her jogs and in her fitness classes.

They’d even started a weekly pampering day together, complete with a visit to the station’s salon for manicures, pedicures, facials, and sauna time.

It was something Earth’s health experts had recommended for humans who spent a lot of time in space, including those who lived on stations like Asterion.

A way to stay active, healthy, and connected to others.

Maggie had always waved off that advice, but she’d definitely felt off-kilter after Xarek’s departure, and it felt like a good time to make some changes in her life.

But that wasn’t the only change. The more time she spent with her friends, and the more her circle of friends on the station grew, the more people she had visiting her quarters for movie nights, knitting circles, or book club meetings.

This had resulted in more people asking how they could get the same cozy, relaxed feel in their quarters.

So far, four people had hired her to decorate their quarters and find sentimental items from Earth to furnish them with.

She felt like a new person. She’d mostly accepted that her life was what it would be for the rest of her days. She was 42 years old, working on Asterion Station, and spending time on her hobbies. Not a bad existence. But now, it was so much more.

Xarek leaving had sent tremors through her in ways she hadn’t expected. She couldn't even be angry anymore with him for leaving her the way he had. Her life had expanded because she’d felt the need to seek out something more after he’d left that surprising void in her life.

And now, here she was. Life was brighter, more colorful, more fun. And she felt better than she had in years.

She’d kept her promise to herself, not to get attached to anyone who was just passing through.

She was friendly and outgoing as always, but she’d kept her friends who lived on the station close, and became friends with even more permanent residents.

Like anywhere, the station had a community, and Maggie felt lucky to be part of it, and part of a smaller, close-knit community of other human women on the station.

It made her feel like she was part of a family again.

She finished her run with Julia, hung out in her quarters a bit after taking a nice, steamy shower, then made her way to the lounge for her shift.

As she stepped through the doors, she was greeted by the regulars, and she stopped at a few tables and chatted with people.

A soothing jazz ensemble was set up on the stage at the moment, and it suited her mood perfectly.

She stepped behind the bar, greeting the current bartender on duty. They chatted about a few things, and then he was off and she switched into work mode as naturally as breathing, slinging drinks, chatting with people, organizing the servers.

She loved this job.

Loved talking to people, loved hearing the conversation and laughter, loved (most of) the musical acts in the lounge.

Her shift passed quickly, and before she knew it, she was stepping out the doors again and into the corridor. She was never able to help the way her gaze strayed to the bench where Xarek had so often sat, waiting for his contact, where they’d chatted and flirted and gotten to know one another.

As she glanced at it now, she froze, her breath catching in her throat.

Xarek sat there, dressed in casual clothing; a white button-down shirt that looked amazing against his plum-colored skin. Dark pants that somehow made his tree trunk-like thighs look even more muscular.

And he was looking right at her. When he stood up, her heart pounded, and every part of her body went warm. She recognized that heated, nearly feral look in his eyes very, very well from the time they’d spent in her quarters before, and her stomach twisted.

When he reached her, he stopped, standing a few inches away from her. Here, she could see something else in his eyes: worry.

“Maggie,” he said quietly, that deep, warm tone sending shivers down her spine. “I have missed you.”

She gave a small shake of her head, willing her body to get itself under control.

“Congratulations on your victory. And thank you… we all know they wouldn’t have stopped with your world.”

He gave a small nod, watching her intently. “The Bellarian and Paraxian proved useful,” he said after a moment. “My people owe them both a debt of gratitude.”

“I’m glad you were all able to make contact here.”

He watched her, and she glanced away.

“Still. I made mistakes.”

“We all do,” Maggie said, crossing her arms over her chest. She could still feel him looking at her, those dark eyes practically able to see into her soul.

“Mine was unacceptable. I left you, without a word, without any indication that I would be back.” He paused. “I am sorry for that. I have regretted it every moment since I left.”

She lifted a shoulder, still studiously looking at a potted plant in the corner behind him.

“You had more important things to deal with. We both knew it was temporary, whatever fun we were having.” He didn’t need to know how foolishly she’d believed it was more, how she’d mourned the life she’d fantasized about them having.

A life full of warmth and laughter and friends and good food.

Nights in each other’s arms, neither of them feeling alone.

That was none of his business. Not anymore.

He was silent for long enough that she couldn’t help looking up at him. The stubborn, irritated look in his eyes startled her.

“I did have important things to do. But nothing about us was ever temporary.”

“You are so full of it!” she finally exploded. “You have an entire life that has nothing to do with me. It was always about the mission, about serving your people. As it should be! But there’s no place for me in all of that.”

“Maggie–”

“And it’s fine. I don’t have any desire to be more than a few stolen kisses to you.”

“Maggie,” he repeated, his voice growing rougher, the look on his face almost thunderous.

“What?”

“I am on leave. As I deserved to do, after serving for so long. I have never taken a leave in my entire career.”

She stared. She knew her mouth had fallen open in surprise, and she quickly snapped it shut. After a moment she gave a small shake of her head.

“Good. That’s wonderful for you! You definitely deserve it. You should take the time to travel. Maybe find a cute woman and have a whirlwind romance or something,” she added, stepping back, more than ready to take her leave.

“I don’t want any of that. And I already found a cute woman, and she’s doing her best right now to shut me out,” he said with a glare.

She took another step back. “I’m not what you’re looking for. I’m a bartender who reads and knits and is perfectly happy with her boring little life on this remote space station.”

“You cannot tell me you didn’t feel it, too, when we were together.”

She lifted her shoulder in another small shrug. Another step away from him. “It was lust. You know you’re a good-looking male. It could happen with anyone who looked the way you do.”

If she thought he’d looked thunderous before, now there were practically storm clouds forming around him. “Is that so?” he said in a low, dangerous voice.

“Definitely.”

“And how often has that happened, since I’ve been gone?”

She sighed, turning away from him. “I’ve been too busy for distractions.

Take care, Xarek.” She gave him a small wave over her shoulder, forcing one foot in front of the other until she turned the curve in the corridor.

She could feel him watching her the entire way.

Everything in her ached to turn back around, to wrap her arms around his waist and tell her she was glad he was safe.

But she knew better. No matter what he said now, the second his people needed him for something, he would go, on leave or not.

And she’d be left behind with an even bigger hole in her heart.

She’d made a good life for herself, both over the last several years and, even more so, in the past six months, without him.

It was better this way, for both of them. Now, she just had to stay strong enough to remember her resolve when he looked at her with that dark, intense gaze.