Page 36 of Gravel and Grit

“You are safe, Fluffy Bunny. We have arrived at my cabin,” he murmured reassuringly, petting her braided hair to calm her.

“I fell asleep,” she groaned, stating the obvious.

“Mmm. You are tired,” he responded, wisely deciding not to mention she had not only fallen asleep but also drooled on him.

Untying her harness, he tenderly lowered her to her feet but kept a hand on her shoulder, under the pretense of steadying her in case she stumbled. In reality, he had become hopelessly addicted to having her close and found that it physically pained him to not be touching her.

Being in near-constant, physical contact with her over the last few days, particularly after not having had any prolonged interaction with another being in so long, was having an intense effect on him. That she was his mate, something he now accepted as irrefutable, meant his attachment to her was quickly reaching levels one might refer to as obsessive. He, personally, found this development more than agreeable, but he also knew humans did not have a decisive way of identifying their mate as Khargals did. He thought Mira liked him, but did she like him as much as he liked her?Thathe was not at all sure of. In fact, he was almost positive she could not possibly like him with the same fervor he felt for her, otherwise her having affection for him would not be in question.

So, in an effort to avoid spooking her, he decided to employ the tactic of subtlety. In warfare, he was quite adept at being stealthy and furtive to avoid alerting the enemy to his intentions. With Mira, he was finding it more difficult.

She was just so fucking adorable he almost could not bear it at times. He wanted to scoop her up in his arms and squeeze her, then feed her as many doses ofdassa—mating fluid—his gland would provide so she was tied to him forever and could never ever get away and leave him alone again.

But those would be the actions of a dishonorable male, and he was not that.

Instead, he resolved to lose what remained of his sanity while he anxiously waited for some sign that she was developing feelings for him.

Zaek deactivated the security system then held the door open for her.

Quickly shutting and locking it behind them, he stayed close and watched her reactions as she glanced around and took in the home he’d built for himself.

Flicking on the lights, he trailed her as she wandered from the foyer to the open living room then into the connecting kitchen. He tried to see it from her eyes. He’d stolen only what he had to have for construction and gathered the rest himself, harvesting wood and stone from the land around him, but because time was something he had an excess supply of, everything was crafted with care.

“You built all of this yourself?” she marveled, flashing him a wide-eyed look over her shoulder.

“Yes.”

“This is amazing! It looks like something a woodland fairy would live in… if that fairy were giant,” she added with a laugh.

Zaek grinned proudly at her praise, “Thank you. It took many years, but the work kept me from losing my mind altogether.”

The base of his horns heated at the look of sympathy she gave him.

Redirecting her attention away from his revealing admission, he asked, “Did you want to rest a little longer? I have only one sleeping room, but you are welcome to it. Or perhaps you are hungry? I could assemble a meal for us.”

“Actually, do you have running water here? I would kill for a hot shower.” She made a face and quickly amended, “Not kill! I’d just really like to get clean.”

“Of course,” he bit back a smile, both amused at her correction and pleased he was learning to recognize when she was using an idiom. “I need to turn the water back on. Let me show you the bathing room, and then I will do that.”

After leaving her in the bathing room, he made a quick trip to the backyard and turned power on to the well, then went to the kitchen to prepare a meal, anticipating she would be hungry when she emerged.

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ZAEK

Ten minutes later, the steam from the shower had dispersed her essense to every corner of his house until the very air tasted of it. It was inescapable. There was nowhere to retreat, nowhere to hide where her scent would not find him and seep into his brain to chip away at his resolve to gentle her into falling in love with him.

The flash-her-your-cock-to-stun-her-so-you-can-pounce-and-claim tactic he’d just made up was looking more and more appealing the longer he drowned in the smell of her body.

Visions of stalking her like asartekthrough the red forests ofNuzeparflooded him, but instead of wearing the traditional hunting garb, he’d be naked, and she wouldn’t really be trying to get away.

After another ten minutes, he managed to overcook the noodles, burn the bread, and salt the sauce so much it was almost inedible because he couldn’t concentrate on anything other than the knowledge that Mira—his tiny, adorable, smart, fucking sexy Earthian mate—was naked and wet on the other side of the wall.

“She is trying to kill us. There is no other explanation.”

Agreed. She is far more devious than we gave her credit for.

“Lar’s wings!” he exploded. “How long do humans bathe?! It has been ages and she is small! There cannot be that damn much to wash! I do not think we can take much more of this torture.”

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