Page 41 of Black Mamba

I freeze and stare.

His back is partially turned toward me, his tail between us. He tosses the bush into a pile of others already torn from the ground, then reaches for another. One by one he tears them out in a large circle, taking the time to swipe at the ground and remove the excess brush afterward. The pile grows bigger and so does his circle until its several of his lengths across. His muscled body and scales gleam in the sunlight. Mesmerized, my lips part.

When he’s done, he straightens and peruses his creation, wiping his hands proudly.

My eyes trail over his masculine form, taking in his long, black tail. They then sneak to his middle whenever he’s facing me, but he hasn’t looked my way yet. He hasn’t seen me.

I debate whether or not I should try and make him notice me, wondering if I’ll regret it if I don’t. He might disappear again… Also, if I keep my ship on his land long term, and he’s going to visit, then I’m going to have to speak to him sometime.

Before I can muster the courage, he turns and slips into the trees.

Damn.

I’m oddly relieved when he returns a minute later with several large rocks bundled in his arms.

“What are you doing?” I shout before I can think better on it.

My toes curl as his body stiffens with tension and straightens, his head tilting. He continues to the circle, but I know he heard me. He drops the rocks in the center and then turns in my direction, his tail coiling under him.

Our eyes clash, and I swallow thickly, hoping I’m not being stupid. Either way, it’s too late now.

I’m not going to flee. I’m going to talk to him. Where I’m safe.

His eyes remain on mine as he moves closer. My feet flex as my own tension scythes through me and I abruptly don’t know what to do with my arms.

Stepping back as he rises on his tail to be at level with me, my eyes slip across his body taking in the slightly speckled black patterning along his arms and around the sides of his chest and abs. I manage to keep my gaze above his waist.

He says something but I don’t hear it through the glass.

“What?”

His tail sways as it coils tighter under him. “I’m creating a fire,” he says louder.

I glimpse the circle past him. “Why?”

“Humans need fires,” his voice temporarily lowers “and I have seen neither you nor the males create one. I… began to worry?”

“Why?” I ask again, trying to come to grips with what’s going on. “We don’t need fire.” Where did he hear that?

“The other humans I know prefer to have them every night.”

“You know other humans?” I guffaw, my brow furrowing. “Who?”

I didn’t think anyone but the military was here before The Dreadnaut erupted.

His head tilts like he’s bemused, and I’m not sure how to read that part of him either. He places his hands on his hips, and I have to blink hard to stop my gaze from dropping to his bulge.

“I cannot give you their names. Some of them are in hiding. But you are not the first human I know, nor the first female.”

Considering his words, I cross my arms in front of me when his eyes roam over my body.

“You have a low opinion of me,” he says. “I understand.”

I throw out my hands. “You stole me!”

“I felt like I had no choice.”

“You always have a choice!” I cross my arms again. “You just made the wrong one. Of course I have a low opinion of you.”