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“I’m sure it wasn’t anything important. Shall we unload the supplies?”
“You just tell me where you want them,” he said firmly as he led her over to the wagon.
Her new cow and calf were tied behind it and she took them into the barn as he began unloading the rest. Sacks of feed and grain to be stored in the barn, a variety of seeds and young plants for her garden, and several boxes of food and supplies. He carried the crate of chickens to their coop, then shook his head.
“You’ve got holes in the fencing. Better fix that before releasing them. Do you want me to take care of it?”
Behind him, she could see Borgaz standing at the edge of the house, glowering, and she shook her head quickly as she tried to surreptitiously wave him back.
“That’s all right, thanks. I can handle it.”
“Well if you’re sure, I’d best be getting back.”
She accompanied him back to the wagon, and he smiled down at her.
“It’s good to see you again, Mary. I’m sorry the city didn’t work out for you.”
If he only knew… Her smile felt a little more forced this time as she thanked him. She repeated the future invitation, then waved as he drove away down the road.
She turned to go back to the barn and almost ran into Borgaz standing behind her with his arms folded and a frown on his face.
“The human male likes you.”
“Only because we grew up together.” She wasn’t about to share the fact that he’d also been the first boy to kiss her. Actually, she had kissed him, but either way, Borgaz didn’t need to know. “And besides, he’s married now.”
The frown remained.
“I do not trust this marriage of yours. Humans discard those vows too easily.”
“And I suppose your people don’t?”
“Oh no.” He leaned closer. “When an Erythran claims a mate, their bond is for life.”
His eyes dropped to her mouth and her heart started pounding, but then he abruptly turned away.
“I will repair the animal shelter.”
Without giving her a chance to respond, he stomped over to the coop and began examining the torn wire mesh. She stared after him and shook her head. Impossible male. She briefly considered telling him that she didn’t need the help, then decided not to waste her breath and went to eat her now cold eggs and begin putting away the kitchen supplies.
He had clearly decided not to pursue whatever was happening between them and that was just fine with her. She didn’t need any more hot, confusing kisses. And she definitely didn’t want to be his mate. No matter how intriguing the thought.
CHAPTER 10
Borgaz swore under his breath as he finished examining the damage to the enclosure and went to find the tools to repair it. He was showing all the signs of an Erythran in the grip of mating fever, no matter how much he tried to deny it.
I should not have returned.
He had slept little the previous night, his senses as alert as they had been when performing sentry duty during the war. But near dawn he had slipped into a deeper sleep, only to find the horrors of the past waiting for him. He had awoken in a cold sweat, a hoarse cry on his lips and his hand reaching for the blaster he no longer carried. At least he was still in the barn - sometimes his nightmares sent him wandering unknowingly through the night.
His awakening had been a harsh reminder of his deficiencies and as soon as the first light crept across the horizon, he had forced himself to leave. A brief glance at the dilapidated but peaceful farmhouse had been all he permitted himself before setting off to work on Temel’s survey.
However as the sun approached its zenith the thought of her receiving a human male, alone and unprotected, haunted him and he’d finally decided to return. Merely to keep watch, he’d assured himself. But his good intentions hadn’t stopped him from entering her house. Nor had they stopped him from kissing her.
His cock throbbed at the memory of her sweetness, of her mouth yielding to his kiss, of her breast soft and full in his hand, of her body moving against his as she stroked his horns… He’d been on the verge of stripping away her clothing and burying himself inside her when he came to his senses. He could not - would not - claim her.
Despite that knowledge, he hated watching her talking to the human male, watching her smiling so easily. Only the fact that he’d told her he would keep watch rather than join her kept him away. That and the fact that the male did not touch her. If he had…
He swore as a growl rumbled through his chest. He had to regain control of this impossible need to claim her, to protect her. It didn’t help that she was living in such deplorable conditions. Perhaps if he could assure himself that she was safe and her house and farm were in good working order, he would be able to put some distance between them.
