out. Then tonight, we will start your weapon lessons.”
I nod, and I have no idea if I’m excited or scared to begin them. “You’ll go easy on me?”
He snorts. “No.”
What?! I gape. “You won’t?”
“I will not. You will learn how to defend yourself. Going easy on you helps no one.” He pokes one of his chopstick-like utensils at me. “Now eat, because you will need your energy for today.”
“Great. I can’t wait,” I say dryly.
“You should be excited. Not everyone gets lessons with the famous Nassakth.”
“You have quite the ego, you know.”
He just grins at me. “Oh, I know.”
And I laugh, because how can I resist that? I pull my chair next to his and set my plate down, and we eat breakfast together and talk about nothing in particular. It feels easy. Nice. Comfortable. It’s like last night’s awkwardness didn’t happen…except I catch him watching me with a hungry expression on his face and I know we’re both still thinking about it.
While he works out, I pull up my computer. I’ve been stuck at the beginning of a love scene for days now, but my mind is filled with all kinds of torrid embraces for my characters to work through, and my fingers fly over the alien keyboard.
I’m inspired.
32
KIM
By the time I post the chapter, Nassakth is out of the shower and ready to head out to my homestead. He clips a breather device on his nose to filter out any noli pollen, and I have to admit, it seems like a good idea even if it disappoints me. Then I feel like a jerk for being disappointed, because I’m the one that keeps dragging my feet, aren’t I?
I know what I want—I just don’t know if I have the courage to reach for it.
We take Nassakth’s air-sled out to the farm, and I can’t help but notice his is much nicer than mine. Nothing sputters or grinds as it fires up, and when we land, it’s so, so smooth. I watch Nassakth out of the corner of my eye, and it occurs to me how lucky I am that Bethiah “kidnapped” him instead of someone else. Not only does he have money to ease the way here, but he’s incredibly kind and patient with me. I thought all aliens would treat me like garbage just because I’m human, but he’s been sweet and understanding and utterly wonderful. Truly, I am very lucky.
“What is it?” he asks, glancing over at me.
“What is what?”
“You keep looking over at me.” He pulls the sled in, shifting gears and parking it directly in front of my house.
“Maybe I just like looking at you,” I say lightly. “Is that okay?”
Nassakth watches me for a moment, and then grunts. “The breather is only temporary. I know it looks silly.”
He thinks I’m staring at that while I’m thinking moony thoughts about him? I shake my head, smiling. “It’s fine.”
Nassakth moves to my door and helps me out of the sled, then gestures that I should remain where I am. “Wait here. I will scout your house to ensure that no squatters have tried to claim your property…or that our bounty hunting friend is making a menace of himself.”
I’m terrified at the thought. I cross my arms under my breasts, hugging myself. “Do you think they would?”
“I think it does not matter if they have, because not even a Risdan court would blame me for slaughtering them at this point.” He leans in and presses a kiss to my forehead. “Wait here and if you hear blaster fire, get back into the sled and put the protective shields up.
“You’re scaring me.”
“Nothing will happen to you, Kim. This I promise.” He touches my cheek, then heads to the door of my house. I notice he’s got his weapons holstered at his belt, and he types in my key-override, then opens the door and steps inside. I hold my breath, waiting, and when I get tired of watching the silent doorway, I glance around at my fields.
They look the same as they ever did, bright, cheerful flowers waving in a gentle breeze. I love my farm, but for the first time I’m really noticing just how shitty it is compared to Nassakth’s. My fields aren’t straight or flat, but rocky outcroppings that mean that my harvesting bots take three times as long to gather crops. My house is small and looks run-down. Everything just looks…like an afterthought. It makes me unhappy to see the flaws in my little