Page 25 of Wayfinder
“Come here.”
Jutuk jerked his head at me, his expression so startled I nearly laughed. He found his voice after clearing his throat a couple of times.
“Excuse me?”
Well, hell, this was awkward, and I hadn’t gotten him in bed yet.
“Don’t get excited, big guy,” I teased, feeling humor was the best deflection. “I know your arm hurts, and we’re both exhausted after today. We need a good night’s sleep.”
Jutuk sat up slowly, blinking at me in confusion. “You want me to sleep with you?”
“Beside me,” I clarified, patting the mattress. “Big difference, and just so we both can get some sleep.”
Jutuk’s golden eyes sparkled with curiosity as he stared at me for a long moment. I held my breath, thinking he would refuse. Expecting him to say sleeping next to me was some breach of warrior-protector etiquette. And wondering why the hell the idea of his refusal bothered me so damn much. But then he slowly stood and grabbed his pillow, striding towards the bed with determined steps.
As I shifted to the opposite edge, I felt the mattress dip and sway under his weight. It was amazing how quickly a space that felt so vast when I was alone now felt cozy and closewith him lying beside me. His deep exhale of contentment was reassurance that my decision to invite him into the bed had been a good one. Although now that he lay beside me, I didn’t feel awkward like I expected. I felt antsy... in a good way.
“Thank you.” His voice was a purring rumble in the darkness.
“I should be the one saying thank you,” I confessed, my own voice barely a whisper. “You kept me from being eaten by a giant chicken.” On impulse, I touched his arm. His pelt was soft and so warm it felt like a heated blanket. Lying next to him pulled the confession from deep in my soul. “I know you think someone is rigging the contest in my favor, but even if they are, I wouldn’t have made it if not for you. I’m really glad Jala talked me into bringing you along.”
“Me too,” Jutuk murmured, his golden eyes finding mine.
Nope, it wasn’t awkward at all. It felt right to lay beside him. And that shook me.
“Good night, Jutuk.”
“Good night, Pearl.”
I shifted in the bed, closed my eyes, and feigned sleep. Even though several inches separated our bodies, I felt Jutuk’s warmth, his deep sighs, and the gentle rise and fall of his chest, indicating he had drifted into slumber. I opened my eyes, taking a moment to drink in his features, admiring the strong line of his jaw and the thick wave of his dark caramel hair. He was gorgeous and sweet, all the things that got me into trouble where men were concerned.
But Jutuk didn’t seem like trouble. He seemed... wonderful.
I was far from being a virgin, but after Donovan, I never allowed anyone to get close again. Letting someone get close meant he held the power to hurt me. Jutuk wouldn’t hurt me—it was a truth I felt deep in my soul. I suspected he would hold myheart with the same protective gentleness that he guarded my body.
I couldn’t recall ever feeling such an intense attraction toward anyone before—and I cooked dinner for George Clooney once. He was an alien, for heaven’s sake. Yet my heart raced at the mere sight of him, every fiber of my being drawn toward him like a magnet. The way his golden eyes shimmered like the sun, the deep, soothing timbre of his voice—everything about Jutuk seemed to captivate me in a way I couldn’t explain.
After the debacle with Donovan, no man had ever dared come between me and the kitchen. My love of cooking and the ambition to be the best were the driving forces that kept me going—the fire in my soul that burned brighter than any infatuation. My passion for the culinary arts was my true love, and nothing could distract me from it. Every man who tried was seen as merely competition.
Until now.
It wasn’t about winning the contest despite him—like it had been with so many other men in the past. This time was different. I wanted to win the contest with him by my side, my partner in crime.
Jutuk moaned softly in his sleep, his face contorting in pain as he rolled onto his side. His injured arm draped over my waist, and I froze at the unexpected touch. But something about it felt right, and I couldn’t find it in me to resist as Jutuk pulled me closer, sighing into my hair. I knew I should move away, to keep some space between us, but I didn’t. Jutuk made me feel safe and treasured... and I liked it almost too much.
Seriously... what the hell was happening to me?
On Earth, I ran from something like this so fast that I should have a trophy case full of Olympic medals.
I didn’t want to run this time.
Could I be falling for Jutuk?
Would it be so awful if I was?
With these thoughts swirling in my mind, I finally drifted off to sleep, dreaming of Jutuk holding me tightly and pressing gentle kisses along my skin.
Chapter 8 – Jutuk
