Page 39 of An Alien for the Farm

“The field is finished. Ready for tilling on the new dawn.”

“Oh,” I blink a thousand times, trying to find the words that should be in my brain. “That was quick!”

He chuckles, the deep sound coming to me through the door and making me lean against it as I close my eyes.

“I will see you at first light.”

Wait…what? He’s leaving? My heart drops and I’m immediately angry and confused with myself. Isn’t this what I wanted? Distance?

“Oh…okay! See you in the morning, Zynar.”

There’s a pause and I think I hear some hesitation in his voice. “Rest well…Little Bird.”

I hear when his boots thump as he moves off the porch and I freeze in a sort of confused state. When I shift to the window, eyes shooting to the front gate, there’s no waiting transport there. Varek didn’t come to get him. Then…

I catch Zynar’s back as he disappears toward the barn, his pack in hand. Of course. There’s no Varek because he’s supposed to be staying here with me now. We’re supposed to be working together, building bridges and convincing New Horizons that this thing can work. Zynar’s not leaving.

But he’s staying in the barn? We haven’t sorted out the bed situation yet, but we could come up with something. The barn’s not suitable for anyone to stay in. Not even the animals. But do I want him inside the house? There’s only one room. One bed.

My throat goes dry as I think of the possibilities, and as Zynar steps into the barn, I find myself staring as the doors close.

He’s giving me space. Doing exactly what I asked him to do. Shouldn’t that make me happy?

It doesn’t.

There’s a nervous energy still coiling in my gut and I ease off the door, scolding myself only to start pacing again. I should take a bath, calm myself down. Gaze shifting out the window to the field, I see that he did indeed clear the entire thing. About one dozen oogas stretch across the land, some lying on their stomachs and others standing, lazily chewing on bales of long grass Zynar left behind for them.

He’s done what he said he was going to do. I’m the one who seems to have a problem doing the same thing. Being professional. Distance. The whole shebang.

I growl at myself as I head to the bathroom. Filling the bath up, I stare at the clear warm liquid, my thoughts still on the alien in my barn. When I strip down and step into the warm water, I release a groan at how good it feels. I’m slow with the bath. Slower than usual. Maybe because my thoughts are still distracted, or rather, too focused on the one thing I’m trying not to think about.

As I tilt my head back against the curve of the bathtub, one hand slips between my thighs. I shudder as my fingers make contact with my clit, a moan trapped behind my lips as I force my breathing to remain steady. I think of him. This time, I’m not ashamed to. I think of Zynar and I think of his scent. Of how good it felt pressing that towel to my nose and smelling his raw, powerful essence. My fingers work, pulling soft moans from me with practiced precision that has me reaching a climax in minutes. Panting, I relax in the bath, eyes cast upward at my new roof.

What am I doing?

Out of the tub, I grab a free towel and dry myself. Back in the bedroom, I plop on the edge of the bed after slipping on one of the simple brown tunics.

My gaze shifts to the towel I’d folded and left on the edge of the bed. My fingers itch to touch it. I grip the bed tighter. I can’t. Good God, I shouldn’t.

I sit there fighting with myself until I suddenly stand. Shoulders set, I glance at my comm unit. It sits on the bed, screen blank, when, like some manifestation, it suddenly lights up. The sound of a ping comes through and I grab the device too eagerly.

I’m disappointed when I see who it is. I answer the ping anyway.

“Greetings, Eleanor Tabitha.”

“Hello, Xarion.” I press a smile to my face even though that twinge of unreasonable disappointment is still there.

“I am pinging you about the Raki. Has the Kari taken the job?”

I nod. “He has.”

“And are you comfortable in his presence? Kari descend from a predator species and your species, like mine, dwell in herds. If the Kari has threatened you into this contract—”

“Oh Gods, no. He did nothing of the sort.” I take a step out of my bedroom, walking slowly to the front door. My gaze finds the barn immediately. “He’s been nothing but hardworking…and gentlemanly.”

Xarion’s long ears sway a little as he looks down and I realize he’s in some office at a desk. “Understood. If you are comfortable, I will send the recommendation off to New Horizons and tell them of the efforts you’re making. Your integration with the Kari is quite noteworthy.”

“Integration…yeah…” I murmur. I want to integrate, alright. I’m just too cowardly to actually go ahead with it.

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