Page 134 of Alien Haven

She watched him, an imposing shade striding confidently. She realized she was smiling. The comforting warmth his mere presence brought was startling. It brought back the memory of clutching him in the aftermath of the attack, of his strength against her. Of his protective snarl. Removed from the terror of the moment, the remembered expression raised the hairs on her body in a far from unpleasant manner.

Silly crush. Silly lust. Still…why not?

Clad in her thin nightgown, she slipped from her bedroom, not bothering to pull on clothes or a robe. She glided down the stairs and considered the direction Detodev had been walking.

She let herself out through the kitchen door and crossed the porch. Down the steps to the lawn, the grass soft beneath her feet, she turned to intercept him, shivering slightly in coolness of night. She angled to leave the shadow of the overhang, so he could see her approach.

“Jennifer. Charity.” The rough voice floated from near the chicken coop.

“I couldn’t sleep.” She spoke quietly as she headed in his direction.

He hurried to meet her halfway between the coop and the house. He stopped a few feet short. “What are you doing out here in your…aren’t you cold?”

“A little. I’m used to running outside and freezing when I notice something interesting is happening in the sky.” She closed the distance.

“Is anything wrong in the house?” He seemed to realize belatedly her sudden appearance might herald trouble.

“As I said, I can’t sleep. I saw you patrolling and thought you might appreciate the company.”

“Dressed like that?”

“You don’t appreciate the view?” She pirouetted to give him the full effect of her flimsy white chemise. It covered everything, but the suggestion of what was beneath the fabric was blatant. Her curvy figure guaranteed it.

He remained silent. Motionless. His thoughts, as usual, were impossible to guess.

“Okay, so maybe I’m trying to distract you from my purpose of luring you out of your impervious Nobek shell.” She had no urge to tease. She felt very, very serious. “I told you my secret. Charity Nath, her truth laid bare, and I’m not referring to my nightgown. Or my hair, eyes, or the surgical alterations to my face from the empire’s efforts to hide my identity.”

“I looked you up in news archives. It is a change.” He paused. “You’re beautiful either way.”

“Thanks for trying to buck me up.”

“It’s true. You don’t believe me?”

She considered. “I don’t mind if you’re just being kind. I hate not being me.”

“I don’t give false compliments.” Typically gruff, he pulled a smile from her. “Does Ilid know?”

She shook her head. “I want him to, but it might not be safe for him, especially if I’ve been discovered by my father’s enemies.”

“Maybe. He’d probably welcome the opportunity to protect you. He strikes me as the type.”

She scowled. “Hey, no fair trying to distract me when I was attempting to do so to you. Make with the true confession, big man. What brought you to Haven to be helped by Clan Amgar? Why are you so afraid of getting close to people? Are you in hiding too?”

His silhouette turned slightly from her. Was it her imagination, or did his shoulders hunch? Was it defensive or from shame?

“I’m not in hiding. I’m Nobek Detodev, farmhand on Haven. Nothing more. Why does it matter?”

“Because I trust you. I hope to earn the same from you.” When he failed to react, she spoke in a frustrated voice. “Look, you came running to my rescue. I realize it’s the warrior Nobek thing to do, but—”

“I’m not a warrior. I’m a pacifist.”

She stilled, confused. A pacifist Nobek? Wasn’t it a contradiction in terms? He’d looked far from peaceful when he’d raced into the barn to confront whomever had grabbed her in there. He’d appeared just as brutish when he’d emerged.

He had to be screwing with her…except a prankster Detodev was as unlikely as a non-violent Nobek when angered.

“I’ve never met a member of your breed who described himself in such terms,” she said.

“My breed is barely a step above primitive animals. Do you think the typical Nobek would admit it?” he muttered. “Cruelty is our nature. Most Nobeks hide behind excuses to indulge in it. A badge of protectiveness to pretend nobility in what we’d do anyway out of anger.”

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