Page 28 of Xefe
“You’ll just what?” His entire body tensed but he didn’t face me.
“I’ll take matters into my own hands. Maybe I’ll start talking to one of the other warriors and get what I need. There’s nothing special about it. Just meeting a biological need, right? Scratching an itch, as they say.” I startled when he flipped over, and his blazing orange eyes were inches from my face.Gorgeous.
“You will not!”
I sucked in a breath, feeling superior yet hoping he’d move a few inches closer. “Why not, big guy? Not like any of them could give me a knee-deep boning. Unless… Oh my God. Arethey all built like you? No alien junk? Did you have an accident or something?” I reached out to pat his arm and then snatched my hand back. “Is that what happened? You lost your dick in a house fire.Pobrecito.”
“I did not lose… what are you saying now? You make no sense.”
I was a cruel bitch, but even I wouldn’t make him retell whatever happened to his alienpito. But I would enact a little plan. It wouldn’t help me tonight, but maybe it could get him to be more receptive to my tongue idea. Because, truth be told, I didn’t want anyone else but Sunny. His smell was the only one that did it for me.
“You will not seek relief from another.”
“Are you volunteering to help me out?”
“I will not. I will not be distracted from my duties to my supreme.” He grabbed the blanket that had slid off my lap and gently arranged it around my body. Like…he was tucking me in. “Do not make me rouse again. We have a long day tomorrow. You will be properly trained on your duties.”
I hugged my blanket, stunned at how his actions were so different from his words. But then I paid attention to what he’d just said. “Duties? You heard your supreme.” I let the tiniest bit of disgust flavor my tone when I said the leader’s name. “He wants us to compete. To train.”
“You will train when your duties are completed for the day.”
“Fine, but I’m telling you right now, whether you believe it or not, I was not made for serving. Or cleaning. Or working, in general. It is a waste of my hard-earned talents. I’ve trained my whole life to compete. When your supreme sees what we can do, he’ll bepissedif we’re exhausted from doing chores.” Gross.
“Pissed? Why would he relieve himself?”
“Forget it! I hate you.”
“Untruth.”
Gah.Forget Plan B. Nothing could make me straddle his stupid face.Make me a nine-to-fiver.Into a basic bitch? Hell, no. Tomorrow was all about kicking ass and finding some relief.
Silence fell between us, and as time ticked by, the gravity of what I needed to accomplish overwhelmed me. Work. Train. Find Valentina or make my escape. The weight of the mountain pressed on myweakhuman shoulders. The stupid sexy alien wasn’t even attracted to me, so I couldn’t count on his help.
I flopped on my side, facing Sunny’s glorious back. He radiated molten lava-level heat. Was everything on this planet over a million degrees? Reflexively, I tapped my palm to say goodnight to Valentina. Damn it.I keep forgetting.
“Is this a human custom? To strike your hand?”
How had he seen me if his back was turned? “Yes. Go to bed.” I was tired of talking, giving away my secrets, andalwaystelling the truth.Boring.And unproductive. Most things got accomplished when I was lying—and lying well.
“What purpose does it serve?”
“To remind you of your loved ones.” A giant lump formed in my throat. I prayed he wouldn’t ask another question. Tears leaked from my eyes. My entire body was a tense ball. My sister. Alone. On Earth or here. Fear—no—terror, assailed me. I was supposed to take care of her. I was supposed to have won the match and gotten us the hell out of New Angeles.
I squeezed my eyes shut and held my breath as long as I could, trying not to make a sound. I didn’t want his derision or, worse, more probing questions. Instead, I rode through the pain, coasting along with the sorrow, trying to let go of the worry and hope for a miracle.
Anything for Valentina.
When I could speak again, I couldn’t control the words that flew from my mouth, “Sunny?
“Earther!”
“This is my last question. I promise.” I took a deep breath and braced for his response. “If your supreme ordered you to kill someone, would you?”
His eyes blinked open, and the orange swirl filled the dark room. “Someone like you?
“Yes.”
“Before you took your next breath.”
