Page 8 of Krin (The Protectorate Warriors Alien Fated Mates #3)

Riley

I PUSHED MYSELF UP off the floor, and turned to see Krin standing in the doorway with his hands on his hips.

“Er.” I struggled to speak as my voice croaked out. I felt like I had been caught red-handed, just like a child caught with their hand in the cookie jar. I knew I’d done nothing wrong yet my heart raced as I stood unable to move.

Luckily, Aza didn’t appear bothered, or surprised. “She wanted to spar, and I obliged.”

In just a few steps, Krin was right in front of us. I took a step back, unsure what might happen between the two warriors.

Even though my body reacted positively to the hunk’s presence, the room had an uncomfortable vibe.

There was a noticeable tension in Krin’s shoulders and a twitching muscle in his jaw. Fire blazed in his dark azure eyes as frustration creased his brow.

“I can see that. Why did you agree to it? And why are you alone with my...” Abruptly, his words trailed off, and he clenched his fists at his side.

He shot daggers with his eyes at Aza, completely ignoring me.

I swallowed to moisten my throat before interrupting. “What’s the big deal about asking Aza to workout with me.”

The tightening of Krin’s eyes and the pursing of his lips made it clear that being alone with Aza was a very big deal.

Maybe it was due to me being in a crew only area? I snapped my lips shut, unsure I wanted to hear his answer.

We all fell into an awkward silence for about thirty seconds.

Krin’s proximity caused my skin to prickle with heat, and my gaze bounced from Aza to Krin.

I inhaled deeply and my nose twitched. A captivating aroma surrounded the handsome warrior. A blend of supple leather and an elusive, sweet spice tickled my nose.

The warriors’ stared at each other in a silent showdown in what I assumed was a telepathic conversation.

Krin’s hands were still clenched into fists, and his back was rigid.

I had a sudden realization.

Panic surged through me as I hugged myself, knowing he had come to tell me it was time for me to leave the ship to go down to the planet.

My shoulders drooped as everything began to sink in. I didn’t know why Krin had stayed away from me, but the idea he would force me to leave the ship without asking what I wanted to do made me angry.

I watched the warriors, waiting for them to finish their telepathic chat or whatever they were up to while staring each other down. Then Aza gave me a quick nod, accompanied by a playful, unapologetic grin, before leaving the room.

Krin’s eyes turned to focus on me.

My breath caught in my chest, making it hard to find a steady rhythm. I was on the verge of pleading, ‘Please, tell me I don’t have to go,’ as my stomach sank.

My bottom lip was firmly between my teeth as my brows knitted together in a frown, meeting his gaze.

Annoyed, my stomach churned with unease at the entire situation.

“What the hell was that about? Why are you even here?” I snapped, hoping to distract him into not forcing me to leave.

Krin glanced away briefly. His lack of response offended me. He had no right to be upset with me when he’d spent five rotations ignoring me.

“Why didn’t you tell me you wanted to train?” he finally asked turning his eyes back to me.

Is he serious right now?

“How could I? You haven’t spoken to me since we were back on Alara.”

Krin scratched his jaw as if thinking, then crossed his arms. “As the ship’s Captain, I have duties to perform and I’m not–”

I interrupted him, my words laced with disdain. “Oh please. We both know that has nothing to do with it. It’s clear you don’t want me here.”

He gave his head a subtle shake before taking a step forward. There was a gentleness in his eyes as our gazes locked.

“Riley... I regret not speaking to you sooner. It is... I have never experienced a relationship like this before.” He quickly ran his hand through his hair as his throat moved up and down.

“There is no relationship between us,” I spat.

The hurt and anger I had been bottling up for weeks got the better of me, and I ended up going on an unplanned tirade.

“It’s clear I’m not welcome here. Telling everyone to avoid me like I was some kind of infection, was cruel. What kind of person does that? Aza is the only one on the ship who speaks to me. But you couldn’t even let me have that.”

It hurt so much, being rejected and ignored. Clearly, I’d been wrong about the guy.

I stifled tears as emotion welled in my throat. “If I’d known you disliked me so much, I would not have left Alara.”

Frustration washed over Krin’s face, and he let out an exasperated sigh. “That’s not what.... You have no idea what I feel...” he began, only for me to interrupt him again.

“Do you realize how bored I’ve been all this time? What did you expect me to do every rotation, sit in my room like a good little human female?”

I wagged my finger at him. “Because let me tell you something, buddy. I am not a good little female, and never will be.”

Okay, I shouldn’t have said that part... but it was out there and I couldn’t take it back. Besides, he pissed me off.

Krin let out a resonant growl and pushed his shoulders back.

“I do not expect you to stay in your quarters. My apologies for making you feel that way.” He shook his head, his eyes pleading with me as he spoke.

“I’m in uncharted territory, experiencing emotions I have never felt before.

” His voice was gruff but held no anger.

“Oh, really?” I asked skeptically, raising my brows and angling my head.

First, he rubbed the back of his neck, then dropped his hands to begin clenching and releasing his fists.

Following a clearing of his throat, he explained. “Yes.” His lips down-turned. “This has not been easy for me. I am not good at talking about my emotions. Choosing the correct words is not always easy.”

“Huh? What are you talking about? How am I not easy to talk to? It’s not like I expect you to tell me your innermost feelings.” My hands went to my hips.

He pulled on his ear and looked around before replying. “You asked to be part of this crew. It is not something I am comfortable with.”

Shocked, my voice raised an octave. “That’s what this is about? Me asking to join the crew?” I eyed him in disbelief. “Let me get this straight. You ordered the crew not to talk to me, then you ignored me for five rotations, all to avoid offering me a spot on the crew?”

After shutting his eyes briefly, he grunted and then bowed his head in shame. When he looked at me again, his expression was gentle. “As I hear you say those words, I realize the foolishness of my choices. I have been unfair to you. It was wrong to do that to you, Riley.”

I glared. “Ya think?”

Krin pursed his lips before averting his gaze. I noticed how he kept rubbing the back of his neck. This vulnerable side of him was adorable. Not that I would tell the big bad warrior I thought so.

He reached out to me. His hands lingered near my upper arms, as if expecting me to object.

When I said nothing, he gently rested them on my biceps. His soulful eyes pierced into mine with a depth that conveyed a thousand emotions.

“I do want you here. I am sorry I have made you feel otherwise.”

In an instant, my annoyance, and sadness disappeared, and I fought the temptation to hug him. I hadn’t made a mistake. The special emotional connection between us was glaringly apparent just from the way he looked at me.

Krin’s touch ignited a sizzling sensation, sending delightful tingles through my entire body. Just the thought of us being intimate caused my body to react instinctively, leaving me feeling turned on.

The fact his touch made me want to get naked with him made me blush.

The sexy warrior’s nostrils flared, and he dropped his hands. “I admit I am not very good at this.”

I released an unsteady breath, giving my head a shake in an attempt to focus on our conversation.

With a sincere smile, I looked up at him. “At what? Talking to me? Because I think that’s pretty obvious, big guy,” I said softly.

Wishful thinking made me ask, “Are you sure there isn’t another reason you’ve stayed away from me?”

His forehead furrowed, and I watched his throat bob a couple of times before he responded. “When I realized what...who you were I was in disbelief.”

“What I am?” Anticipation made my stomach clench.

He glanced at his mating marks, and back at me. “I think you know.”

It was true; I had a suspicion I was his mate, but I tried to accept that he didn’t want to acknowledge it. Fireworks went off in my belly in celebration. “And now?”

His eyes remained fixed on me. “You are my K’sha. Regardless of whether you want me, my instinct is to protect you. To keep you safe, and not put you in harm’s way.”

My palm shot up. “Wait a sec.” It took a moment for his words to filter into my brain in a way that made sense.

“First of all, I don’t need you to protect me. I can take care of myself. Second, I don’t understand, what makes you think I don’t want you? I flirted with you, but you didn’t seem interested in me. How was I to know I was your mate?” Due to my racing heart, my voice took on a breathy tone.

Krin’s lips parted in a look of surprise before he quickly composed himself.

“I am an Alaran male. Protecting my K’sha is built into my very being.

That will never change. I wanted to tell you that you had activated my mating marks the day I followed you from the medi-bay.

But when you asked me to take you to bed, it took me by surprise.

I only refused because you said you were looking for a fling, and nothing more. ”

The memory of that day made me wince.

Last time we were on the Chetok. I’d found myself in the medi-bay after Krin rescued me from the Krilex aliens. I spotted him as I left the room after waking up. He had approached me and said he wanted to speak to me.