Page 22 of An Alien for the Farm

“Thank you, Zynar.” I give him a smile. “I appreciate it.”

He jerks his chin to his chest before rising from his crouch. In one hand, he flips the tool he’s been using, something with a curved double hook on one end, before he tilts his head at me. “You can rest, Liora. There will be no more holes in your roof for many, many orbits to come.”

I smile again, gaze shifting to the roof. It’s only then that I see he’s begun adding the roof material back. A type of thatch that binds together. It’s the color of pine, and gives just that section of the roof that’s done a new vibe.

Nodding at Zynar, I hurry back inside the house. I know I’m escaping, but each moment in his presence is making me lose my head. When have I ever been this blatantly attracted to a male before? I mean, men are a bit shit and it’s better to do without them. But here on Hudo III, it feels like that realization is beginning to no longer apply.

Now inside the house, it’s quiet again. Only when I head over to the kitchen do I hear the faint scratches where Zynar’s adding the roof material.

I bite my lip, gaze shifting to the mugs and kettle. I could make tea.

No. I won’t survive if I go back out there. Not now. And so I hide away. I work on cleaning the house. I work, and I watch. Little by little, I can see the thatch being applied as Zynar works. He makes no sound. Apart from the soft brushing of the fibers being applied and sporadic knocking coming from his tool as he pushes the fibers into place, there’s no other noise.

At one point, I hear when he jumps off the roof and the sound of his boots as he nears the door. I freeze, heart pounding against my ribs as I lift my head from where I’m scrubbing the floor and listen. But nothing happens. He stays by my door for a few minutes, and then his boots sound again and he’s gone.

I release a breath of relief even though, at the same time, I’m scolding myself for being so foolish. I’m hiding away like a child.

Hours pass and I clean out debris until the floor and every surface is spotless. By the time I’m done, I’m exhausted, tired, and hungry.

I look toward the door. Zynar must be hungry too.

Squeezing my eyes shut, I rise and head to the kitchen. Preparing one of the pre-done meals is easy and I have quite a few supplies that Xarion left. I don’t have to worry about food. At least, not for a while yet.

I decide to do sandwiches. Or, at least that’s what I’m calling them. They look like little packets of sweets. Like those gummy burgers kids would go crazy for on Earth. Once I take them out of their packages and place them on plates, they inflate into doughy, meat-filled sandwiches.

Taking the plates, I put them on a tray. I’m at the door when I stop again.

Gosh darn it, Eleanor. What the hell are you so afraid of?

I don’t know, but my heart is beating double-time.

I force a breath through my nose. I can do this. He’s just a man. Well, not a man. He’s an alien male—oh crud, I’m derailing myself again. Let’s go.

Balancing the tray on one hand, I open the door and come to a stop as the tray is crushed onto a rock-hard iridescent chest.

“Zynar,” I breathe. Ski-boop! There goes my heart again.

“Hello, Liora. I was just…” He makes a sound in his throat as his gaze falls to the tray pressed between our bodies. Neither of us moves back to give the other space.

Zynar runs a hand through his green mane and I follow the movement with my eyes, throat getting dry by the second. So this is what people mean when they say they’re thirsty. It’s a parched kind of feeling. I want to drink, but it’s not water that I want.

“Liora…I…” When his brows furrow slightly my eyebrows lift. Is he rattled? So I’m not the only one then?

That only makes another thrill go through me.

“I thought you might be hungry,” I start. When his brows furrow some more I hurry on. “And since you did the entire yard for me, saving me days of backbreaking weeding, I can’t possibly not do something in return.” I point at the tray with my chin. “It’s a meat sandwich.”

His gaze falls to my lips and his throat moves before he pulls his gaze to the tray.

“I…thank you, Liora.” He steps back finally, gaze shifting to the tree stumps we sat on last time.

“Zynar.” I swear I see his scales shiver slightly at the sound of his name. “Let’s eat inside. It’s cool in here.” Plus, maybe I can control my thoughts if we have some semblance of formality.

He turns to face me, his throat moving again, and I wonder if he has a recurring lump like I do. Smiling up at him, I turn and head back into the house.

“Don’t worry. It’s all clean.” My gaze shifts to some items I still have to get rid of. “Mostly.” I cringe. “Excuse the mess.”

I set the tray on the table and turn to face him, only to find he’s directly behind me. That lump in my throat rises with my brows. Tilting my head back, because that’s the only way I’ll be able to look him in the face, I try not to show how flustered his proximity is making me.

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