Page 31 of The Alien's Pet

Karin pouted but didn't argue. To be fair, she still looked very disoriented.

A servant brought the food. When Korrev noticed she picked at it, he gave an exhausted little sigh and spoon fed her himself some porridge-like soup. She only ate half of it and he was satisfied.

After the light dinner, she began to feel sleepy again. It was clear she had a million questions to ask him, but she was too tired to do so.

"Korrev—"

"No," he interrupted as he tucked her into bed. "It can wait until morning."

"But—"

"Karin, don't displease me when you just woke up, unless you want to pick another switch. I'm already cross with you."

She blushed but didn't argue anymore as she cuddled against the four or so blankets he insisted she needed, even though she was plenty warm enough.

"I can't believe I was brought back," she mumbled.

"Is it a good thing, or something which displeases you?" he asked as gently as he could, even though he desperately wanted to know the answer.

But Karin didn't answer him. She was already fast asleep.

Thirteen

The next few days were strange for Karin Johansson. She couldn't remember the last time she'd been fussed over. Not even during the few times she dated.

She had grown up as an orphan after her mother's death, so being fussed over was not something she was used to. In fact, once or twice, Korrev had to scold her and remind her that her only job was to remain in bed even though all she wanted to do was stretch out her limbs after weeks of being forced to lie down.

A few times, she had teased him and called him the best nursemaid ever, something he had answered to with a scowl.

"Don't you have anything else more important to do?" she asked him once. He was driving her and Azis crazy, but neither of them had convinced him to leave for a few hours.

"There's nothing more important than you," he had simply said as he tucked the blanket around her.

At first, Korrev's acts of kindness were strange but adorable. He made sure she ate her meals every day, even if she complained that she was stuffed. He would order the servants to give her the best blankets and anything else to keep her entertained, so she remained in bed. When he wanted her to goto sleep, he would cuddle her and stroke her hair until she fell asleep.

But even though Korrev was acting almost gentlemanly, she couldn't help but be nervous. She had never expected him to find her, and now that he had, she had expected shouting, or at the very least, a whipping, but neither of those things had happened. Instead, he was almost loving with her, as if he was afraid she would break.

Karin looked at him one morning when they were finishing their breakfast.

He raised a pale eyebrow as if daring her to speak.

She wrapped her robe around her body. This was one of those happy occasions when Korrev had finally given her what she wanted, clothes. Even though she had clothes now, she was still feeling terribly cold. She had also lost her curves. Her breasts and hips were basically non-existent. She hadn't been this slim since she was a high school student.

"Karin, if you have something to say, then just say it." He took a sip of his drink. "Staring at me with eyes of wonder will not do anything to make our conversation go further."

She hesitated. "Why haven't you punished me?"

"Do you want to be punished?"

"No!" she blurted out. "But I just feel like I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop."

He looked annoyed, obviously, not understanding the human phrase. "What are you trying to say? Speak plainly."

"I'm just wondering what's next? Do I go back to being your pet?"

"We're not there yet," was all he said. She was still sick, even though the cough in her lungs had gotten better, but she was still sleeping more than normal and wasn't very hungry, either.

"I want to know," she whined.

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