Page 11 of Her Alien Soldier
He didn’t seem to know what to say to that, and lifted the cup to his lips. She watched him as he took a small drink. Even her largest cup still looked tiny in his hands, like one of the tiny plastic tea sets she played with as a little girl on Earth.
He sat still, seeming to savor it, then glanced her way again. “Very light flavor. A little floral, yes?”
She nodded, smiling. “You have a good sense of taste! Chamomile tea is made from the flowers of the chamomile plant, which is a delicate, pretty little herb grown on Earth. They grow some here in the lower level as well.”
He listened, and she got the feeling that he was really listening, listening. Not just being polite.
“So, how do you have the scent of this lingering about you, Maggie? Surely you don’t drink enough of this tea to make that happen.”
Maggie laughed, studying him. “I use it as a hair rinse sometimes. My grandmother told me about that. I don’t know if it works, but I like the way my hair smells after,” she said, shrugging awkwardly. “And I also have these little sachets made with dried flowers, including chamomile, in with some of my clothing to make them smell nice.”
He leaned over and she nearly dropped her cup. Was he… yeah, he was sniffing her, leaning close, his face just above her shoulder. He lingered there, and she felt nearly dizzy, having him so close.
“That is it. I can smell it on your shirt. Though I suspect that if one was lucky enough to run his fingers through your hair, he would have that fragrance clinging to his hands as well.” He was talking to her in that low, quiet voice, the one that made her feel like she was the only person in the universe. Her stomach fluttered in a way she wasn’t sure it was still capable of until right that moment.
“He might,” she whispered, turning her head and looking into his eyes. He was close enough to kiss, if either of them moved even the slightest bit.
He seemed to realize it, too, answering her next random thought, which was whether his people kissed or not. His gaze fell to her lips, and he cleared his throat and sat up straight again.
The second he did, she was tempted to drag him back. Or climb onto his lap.
She took a sip of her tea, willing her body to calm down. Her heart was pounding, her stomach was fluttering, and she was fairly sure she must be glowing from blushing so hotly.
This was worse than the crushes she’d had as a schoolgirl, or even when she’d been infatuated as an adult.
“The Bellarians,” he said after a moment, blowing out a breath, and she shook herself, trying to will herself to snap out of it.
“Oh! Right. Yes, I don’t really know anything about that band, other than that I like their music. Sorry,” she said.
He shook his head. ‘You have nothing to be sorry for, Maggie. I was merely wondering. I spoke to the lead singer after you left yesterday.”
“Oh?” she asked, taking another sip as she studied him. He seemed deep in thought, and then it was like he made a decision. He set his cup down and leaned back in his seat, slinging his big, powerful arm across the back of the seat.
“He claims to be Bellari intelligence. Claims to know that I am waiting to meet a certain Paraxian that caused quite a bit of damage and then fled.”
Maggie set her cup down, her entire demeanor seeming to change before his eyes. Her green gaze became sharper, her spine straightened. “Do you believe him?”
That was the question, wasn’t it? The one he’d been wrestling with like one of the bog beasts back home since he’d spoken to the Bellarian the night before.
He finally just blew out a breath, shaking his head. “I do not know. I want to. But, that is what the best agents do, is it not? Make us trust them while they play their games.” He could hear the snarl in his own voice, and he looked up at her. The last thing he wanted to do was frighten Maggie.
She seemed unfazed, deep in thought.
Stars, she was beautiful. Even now, when he wrestled with the fear and stress of what the Bellarian could mean for his people, he could not help but notice. And this side of her, in her home, seeing this soft, quiet side of her… and now this deeply intent,serious side… there was no way he would be able to get her out of his head at this rate.
She thought for a moment, nodding slowly. “Did he say anything else?”
He relayed his conversation with the Bellarian, the agent’s claim of a possible partnership to protect his own people.
“So your planet is like the last barrier between the Redlians and this quadrant. And his planet would likely be the next one attacked.”
“Yes.”
She was quiet for a few moments. “I mean. It makes sense. But as you said, it’s very convenient, is it? You’re waiting for a Paraxian on a secret mission and this random Bellarian knows all your business, or at least acts like he does.”
“I want to believe. The idea that my people may not be alone in this fight is too tempting. But, as you say, that is what he would count on.”
“Right,” she said. “Have your people ever had any indication that the Bellarians were interested in helping you?”
