Ka'Cit's Haven (Riv’s Sanctuary #3)

One part of him wanted to rush back to Nee-ya and another part made him wanted to stay as long as he could away from his vehicle.

If he didn’t return quickly, he could delay the inevitable.

The longer he stayed away, the longer she stayed with him.

But he knew what he had to do.

He’d seen the look in her eyes.

Those brown pools of hers were expressive and they’d reflected exactly what he was feeling inside.

She was like a magnet to him.

He didn’t want to pull away, but he had to.

There was no other choice.

As they’d descended from the void, heading back toward the surface, he’d thought about it, and he’d thought about it hard.

He had to say goodbye.

He was right.

He couldn’t keep her. He couldn’t force her to stay with him.

He’d convinced himself that they could remain as friends, but the closer it got to dropping her off at the Sanctuary, the harder that decision was.

He knew now.

He could admit it to himself.

He didn’t want to be just friends…not after what they’d been through…not after what they’d shared—not after what she’d made him feel.

And it was clear she wanted more.

That was the part that killed him the most.

If he was any other male…a proper male, maybe he could consider it.

Phek.

As he reached the hover car bay, he was hardly aware of the other beings entering and exiting the cars around him. His sole focus was on the human in his vehicle.

As if sensing his presence, she turned and he saw the moment she realized what he was bringing back.

The holographic tilgran bobbed in the air above him and he knew he was getting some looks from the other shoppers.

The Bone Crusher, walking through the Exchange with a chid’s toy…

His reputation was probably being questioned—but the pure glee on Nee-ya’s face…Phek. It was worth it.

As he approached the hover car, though, his steps faltered a little and his life organ thudded in his chest. For the millionth time since they’d given V’Alen the package and headed back to the surface, he asked himself one question.

Could he really do what he was about to do?

The words of his momor came back to him.

In those last moments, before she’d smuggled him onto the ship, she’d said a few words that had stuck with him ever since.