Page 17 of Fated to the Alien Rebel

“Well?” I’m antsy for her opinion.

“Give me a minute. I’m waiting for the burning and itching to start,” Zara grouses, but the grin on her face tells me she’s giving me a hard time. She brings her hands to her nose and sniffs. “Doesn’t stink. That’s a plus.”

“High praise.” I can be just as snarky.

She rubs her fingers some more. “So far, so good. It’s not too greasy feeling, although it doesn’t really feel like any lotion I’ve ever used before.”

I bite my lip unsure how to take that. Zara glances over at me again. “Relax, it’s not a complaint. Just an observation. I think this is going to be great. I mean, there’s no way to tell until we’ve been using it for a while. Still, I’m so proud of you. This is something really cool regardless.”

Warmth fills me. I graduated at the top of my class, got a full scholarship to one of the most exclusive, private colleges in the area, and got a top-paying job at one of the hardest corporations to be hired at—even if it wasn’t anything better than a glorified secretary. Being a woman on Earth wasn’t easy. No matter what I did, though, nothing was ever good enough for my parents. I’m not sure they once said they were proud of me.

“Thanks, Zara. That really means a lot. It might actually be one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me. Truly.” I’m not sure she’ll ever know how much I appreciate what she said. “I’d hug you, but I know they make you uncomfortable. And if you ever need someone to talk to—about anything—you can always talk to me.”

She nods but doesn’t take me up on it. Not that I thought she would. But I still wanted to put it out there.

“All right, go meet your man.” She shoos me off.

I grin and jump to my feet. “I’ll catch up with everyone later.”

Zara flicks her fingers toward the door, and I nearly stumble outside I’m in such a rush. The sun is shining brightly giving off the deceiving impression that it’s a warm day. When in fact, my breath is visible in the icy cold air. Small flecks of snow fall from the sky as well. We’ve all been prepared, verbally at least, for the arrival of what sounds like amounts to at least two feet of cold dust. According to Kyler it only lasts a lunar cycle—or a month in human terms—and then it’s gone until the next year. Which means we have thirty days to get used to it.

I throw the hood up on my sweatshirt as I walk toward the healer’s tent. It’s one of the few articles of clothing I’d been able to sneak onto the spaceship with me. Makayla and I threw together a backpack and stuffed it with as much as we could shove into it on such short notice. I could have gotten more clothes while in the settlement, but I never felt comfortable going through the belongings of those killed by the Krijese.

My fingers are cold, so I yank down my sleeves and stick my hands under my armpits. Half-naked Tavikhi walk through the village. None of us humans understand how they do it, although Kyler said that at the peak of cold season the males can sometimes be seen wearing shirts. Males and females alike bow their heads as I pass. Apparently, as London’s friend, I’m awarded extra respect by the Tavikhi. Which is nice, but also still a bit weird and hard to get used to.

The healer’s tent comes into view and my pace picks up just a bit. That weird burst of…heat—there’s no other way to describe it—flickers in my chest and makes me stumble a step. I rub at the spot and continue on. In seconds, I reach it and swing aside the door flap. Jodah, sitting on the edge of the platform, glances up, and my heart skips a beat at the huge grin on his face. That’s what I’m telling myself anyway. It has nothing to do with the eight pack on display—scarred or not—or the round firmness of his shoulders and upper arms with their flexing muscles.

“Greetings, Sage.”

“Good morning.” I try to control my breathlessness. I don’t want to appear too eager. “Sorry I’m late. Zara and I were testing out the lotion I made for our hands.”

“Lotion?”

“Oh, it’s a type of salve to help protect our skin against the cold weather. Humans are susceptible to redness and getting chapped. I’m especially prone, so I’ve been tinkering with various plants and oils over the last few months to try and create something we can rub on ourselves.”

I don’t think I’m imagining the impressed look on Jodah’s face. “That sounds like something very important. I would like to try this lotion of yours.”

My cheeks heat. “I’m not sure if you’d like it. It smells like the flowers on the nenuphar bush.”

The hard bones that serve as his eyebrows shift. “Why would I not like that? It is a pleasing scent.”

“I guess human guys are funny about smelling like flowers. It’s typically seen as a feminine fragrance.”

“There are such things where you are from? Scents that are male or female?”Jodah’s confusion is…sweet. The fact that it doesn’t make sense says a lot of about the Tavikhi people. Or at least a lot about him.

“Believe it or not, yes. But if that doesn’t bother you, then I’m happy to let you try it.”

With far more ease than someone who nearly died two weeks ago, he hops off the platform and lands on his feet. He strides confidently forward. We’ve spent the last week taking short walks within the tent. How is it that I’m only just now noticing how…big…Jodah is? How tall? How muscular?

He comes to a halt in front of me and reaches for my hand. There’s a sharp sting of static electricity when his fingers touch mine, and I suck in a breath at a burst of whatever it is in my chest. He raises my arm until my hand is directly in front of his face. I can’t even move as I stare at him. He leans forward until his nose nearly touches my fingers and inhales deeply.The whole time, his gaze hasn’t left mine. There’s a pulse that beats faster low inside me and a shiver dances across my neck. Damn it, where’s this sudden intensity coming from?

“I very much enjoy the scent of this lotion.”

Is it just me or has his voice dropped a seductive octave? Oh god, there’s dampness between my thighs and that freaky, unexplainable glow inside me brightens.

“Goo—” I croak and have to clear my throat. “Good, I’m glad.”

As slowly as he raised my arm, he lowers it and takes a barely noticeable step back. I try to squeeze my thighs together without being obvious. Jodah’s mouth kicks up just slightly on one side so I’m not sure I accomplished it. This is the first time I’ve seen this flirtatious side to him. He’s got me flustered.I swipe my hand behind my leg and rub my fingers together to try and hold in the sensation of his touch.

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