Page 22 of An Alien for Her Heart

I stare at him for a moment, trying to process his words. “Do you mean tea?”

His face lights up as he places his claws on his narrow hips. My gaze drops and a lump rises in my throat. Much like withhuman males, there’s that dangerous V-shaped cut of muscle that disappears beneath his trousers.

“Yes! Tea!” His exclamation pulls my gaze back to his face and I pray to God he didn’t catch me staring. “I would like to share tea with you.”

He sounds so excited by the prospect that I smile.

“I don’t usually drink tea in the mornings.” The moment I say the words is the moment his face falls, making me immediately regretful that I didn’t blurt the entire sentence quickly. “But we could share a cup of tea, if you’d like. It’s the least—”

I stop short, knowing what I was going to say. That it’s the least I could do with him making such good progress. But more than that, it’s the least I could do after what happened between us yesterday.

Varek beams again and I swear he stands a bit taller. “I’ll be right down.”

My eyes widen, awareness of how I’m dressed ringing like a bell in my ears.

I didn’t expect him to want that cup of tea immediately.

“Alright! I’ll, uh, just come on in.” I’m hurrying back into the cottage all flustered. Rushing into the bedroom and closing the door behind me all in one breath. Back pressed against the firm wood, I stare at my tousled bed, wondering what the hell is happening. Tea? I don’t even drink tea. But he seems hell-bent on wanting to share a cup with me.

I’m a bit confused and there’s a nervous little spark of energy in the center of my chest that I’m trying my damnedest to ignore. I pull on another of the brown tunics and run my hands through my hair, pulling it into a tight ponytail at the back of my head. When I open the door, my breath stops in my throat.

Varek is inside. Inside my house and he fills the entire front room. Sucks the space away so all I can focus on is him. He turns to face me from where he’d been idly staring at the roofwith a frown on his brow. The moment he faces me, that frown dissipates as if whatever he’d been thinking about is pushed to the backburner and I’m all that he can see.

Ridiculous. Where’s my daily dose of reality that I use to keep me in check? Nowhere to be found apparently. Maybe I have to wait a few more hours before I’m knocked down and imprisoned by the thoughts that haunt me each day.

I smooth a hand down my chest and wish I hadn’t. His gaze flicks to the movement, pausing at the gentle lumps of my breasts before he seems to force his gaze back to my eyes.

Oh dear. He doesn’t think I’m attractive, does he? His blatant attention is so shocking, I realize I hadn’t even considered that before.

What’s worse is that there’s a light in his eyes that wasn’t there yesterday either. He folds his arms at his back, causing those chest muscles to flex like they’re waving to me, and gives me his complete attention.

“It’s beautiful,” he says.

I blink at him, my eyelids fluttering.He’s not talking about you, Catherine.

“What you’ve done with the lodge,” he continues, gaze flicking around the interior once more.

See.

I could groan. Shaking my head, I try to clear my thoughts as I walk toward the little kitchen.

“Thank you. I’ve not added many changes, just a few curtains and cleaned up a bit. I’m happy you like it.” I stop just inside the door to the kitchen, looking around for the kettle I hardly use.

“I do.” Varek’s voice makes me jump. He’s so close behind me, that a tingle goes right up my spine. I didn’t even hear him move. So close, just a breath away, but true to his word, he doesn’t touch me.

I clear my throat. “So, tea? What type of tea do you like?” I spot the kettle and rush toward it as if it’s a life vest I need in a sea I’m suddenly about to drown in. It puts some distance between me and the alien hunk who leans against the doorframe, watching me now.

He’s not even being threatening. Nothing in his demeanor says he’s flirting with me either. He simply wants some tea and I’m making a big deal out of it. Poor thing must have been working from the wee hours of dawn and missed breakfast.

“I’ll like whatever you like,” he replies, his words making my gaze pierce his.

“You’ve never had tea before, have you?” For the first time since meeting this species, I see Varek’s ears move. They sort of flex even though they’re planted flat against the sides of his head, their pointed tips disappearing into his—frankly—gorgeous green mane.

He shifts on his feet and I wonder if I’ve embarrassed him. Turning away, I crank the tap and put the kettle underneath it to fill it up. Back turned to him, I try to salvage the situation.

“I don’t usually drink tea but whenever I do, I like mild blends. Something like rose tea or cherry.” I glance over my shoulder. “I asked because I wasn’t sure if you preferred something more intense.”

Something changes in his gaze and I’m not prepared when he says, “Do you like all things mild?”

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