Page 32 of An Alien for the Farm

His brother grins at me, and I realize it’s the first time I’ve seen him smile.

“Hello, Varek!”

“Hello, Liora.”

“Don’t call her that,” Zynar growls. Varek grins wider. His fangs look as thick as my pinky fingers each. When the device is grabbed again, the tension in my shoulders relaxes somewhat and I chuckle. “Sorry, Little Bird. He is being a pain in my—” Zynar clears his throat. “Sometimes he’s desperate for attention.”

Varek’s voice sounds far, as if he’s moved away, but I hear him anyway. “I’m not the one with a hard cock just from taking a ping.”

For the first time, I see Zynar squeeze his eyes shut in what I can only presume is embarrassment, simply because I do that same thing all the time. But Varek’s words echo in my ears and I can only stare at Zynar, not sure what to say. He’s turned on? Because I called?

Zynar makes a sound in his throat as he opens his eyes again and this time, when his gaze lands on me through the screen, his pupils are dilated.

“Pardon me, Liora. I seem to be having some trouble focusing.” His gaze dips and I look down at myself, seeing that the tunic I’m wearing to bed has a plunging neckline that seems to have drawn his attention.

That tingle within me that I’ve been trying to ignore rises into a high crescendo.

“But I will not act on it,” he whispers. “As promised.”

I bring a hand up to my throat, rubbing it awkwardly as Zynar watches me.

“Do not worry about the job ad,” he says, “I will take care of it.”

Nodding, I swallow hard. “Okay. Sounds good.” I clear my throat again, the heat in his eyes making me aware of every bit of my body again. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow, then?”

“As the star creates dawn,” he answers.

I swallow hard again. “As the star creates dawn.”

Zynar’s voice drops. “Rest well, Little Bird.”

I nod, words failing me, right before the screen clicks off and the call ends.

I melt against my pillow, staring up at the new roof.

I told him I wanted to keep it professional, didn’t I? So why is my heart still beating so hard? Slipping a hand down my belly, I close my eyes as my fingers skip over my thighs. With a release of breath, I bring my fingers in, brushing over myself underneath the sheets.

My whole body erupts in tingles. Not because I’ve touched myself. No.

But because I imagined that my hand wasn’t mine, but his.

Because I imagined the person touching me there wasn’t me but Zynar. That his deep rumbling voice was in my ear, his dilated eyes engulfing me as he touched me and told me how beautiful I was. How much he wanted me and how much we were destined to be together.

I touch myself until tension leaves my body in a shattering moan. Lying there in the aftermath, I could almost sob into my pillow. Because all that’s a dream.

Reality is never nearly so accommodating.

11

ELEANOR

I’m awake early. Probably ingrained from not completely ever feeling at ease on that refugee ship. I rise. I stretch. My gaze shifts to the window and it’s pink sky and sun. A calm day, as seems to be usual here. I smile but then my gaze shifts out to the living room. My smile falters. My breath comes a little unsteady. Between my thighs is a slight stickiness from my explorations the night before and now, like the lingering residue, comes awareness.

He’ll be coming back today.

I rise, adjusting my night tunic before reaching for my glasses where I’d left them on the windowsill above the bed. I slip them onto my nose before grabbing the communication device. Doesn’t seem like there are any new notifications. I take it with me anyway as I head to the bathroom to wash up. There, I stare at myself in the mirror, droplets of the cool water running down my face.

I have no idea what’s going to happen today. Am I even ready for it?

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