Page 15 of An Alien for the Farm

I blink several times, shaking my head as I do. “A mate? Like a boyfriend? A husband?” I give a nervous laugh. “God, no. I don’t have a mate. Not anymore.”

A purr sounds in his throat, so deep, I feel the vibrations across my back.

“Good.”

Good?

“It’s my duty then to ensure you are unharmed.” His voice a deep rumble. “And I want to.”

He wants to…

His words send a shiver through me, and I find myself unable to look away from his gaze. There’s something in his eyes, something I can’t quite place, but it makes my heart race.

When he finally pulls back, my hand feels warm and tingles where his tongue touched. Not a drop of blood is left, just an angry red wound. Zynar’s golden eyes flick to mine, a smirk playing on his lips. “You’re braver than most,” he says softly.

I can’t even answer. I don’t know what to say, and so I try to brush it off. “It’s just a scratch.”

He makes a sound in his throat like he doesn’t agree. “I’ve seen males quiver at the sight of this much lifeblood.” With a swift motion, he reaches into a small pouch at his waist. “Let me bandage this for you.”

I nod, a mix of embarrassment, gratitude, and something else swelling inside me. His fingers are deft as he wraps a clean bandage around my hand, securing it with surprising skill.

“Thank you,” I say, my voice barely more than a whisper.

Zynar smiles, a small, almost hesitant flash of his fangs that makes him look surprisingly gentle.

“You’re welcome, Eleanor,” he says. I don’t miss that he uses my name this time, which only makes the moment feel more intimate.

He helps me to my feet, the cloak of his body disappearing and leaving me curiously cold. I brush my hands over my arms, wincing slightly from the pain in my palm as I stand on shaky legs.

Zynar pauses there, his hands lingering on mine for a moment longer than necessary. His eyes lock onto mine, the intensity in his gaze making it hard to breathe. “You must be careful, Liora,” he murmurs, his voice a low rumble. He turns his head, surveying the yard. “Leave the weeds, I will take care of them.”

My eyes widen. “What? No. That’s—” I shake my head. “That’s fine. It’s fine, really.”

“When the star goes to rest. I will clear the weeds.”

My mouth falls open but he’s already heading back toward the house. I sputter. “Y-you don’t have to. I couldn’t possibly ask—”

“You didn’t ask,” he says, pausing to look back at me, his eyes glowing with a promise I can’t quite decipher. “I want to help. Rest now.”

My breath catches at his words, the tension between us thick and palpable. Is this what that computer meant about Kari males being persistent? As I watch him launch himself up on the roof again, ladder be damned, his touch lingers like a ghost on my skin.

It’s a path I’m tracing with my fingers without even realizing. The moment I do, there’s mounting horror? Chagrin? Anticipation? I’m not sure which. All I know is that there’s a tingle in my belly, warmth in my veins.

I’m attracted to the male working on my roof.

I’ve been here a single day. Good god, Eleanor. You should be ashamed. Attracted to a male because he’s being nice? Where have my standards gone? Not to mention it’s a male I can’t possibly have, and now my heart is beating double time just at the memory of his touch.

7

ZYNAR

Imight be interested in the female.

No. I am interested in the female.

I watch her from the corner of my eyes as she stands for a moment, watching as I go back to my task.

I rattled her. Could feel her core-beat stutter and restart as I pressed into her back. Bold of me, but I couldn’t resist. Couldn’t help it. The moment I scented her lifeblood in the air, I was off the roof and by her side.The little whimper I’m sure she didn’t realize she uttered pulled me in. All instinct said I should care. Protect. Soothe. Leaning in, she smelled like the fresh air that rises at dawn, and her golden filaments? Soft, like the finest threads of silk from Karicek.

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