H'zim (How the Aliens Were Won Book 7)

Chapter 5

Kara’s breath caught at H’zim’s announcement. Although she was sure - mostly sure - that he’d meant it innocuously, her mind immediately conjured up the image of his big body rising over her, gripping her hips as he thrust -

Her cheeks burned as she quickly returned her attention to the dress she was hemming. The last thing she needed was to develop an unwanted attraction to the big male - although she suspected it was too late. Her initial interest had only grown throughout the day as she watched him work, surrounded by an indefinable air of isolation. And when he stripped off his shirt to reveal acres of muscles… The scars that marred the smooth green skin made her heart ache for him, but they did nothing to detract from his rugged attractiveness.

He’d filled the kitchen with his presence, the air practically crackling with tension. Even the idea of sleeping under the same roof as him had sent a shiver of apprehension up her spine. And now here they were.

“I changed the sheets on the bed for you,” she said a little too breathlessly. “They’re kind of worn, but they’re clean.”

Even with her gaze firmly pinned on her sewing, she could feel him frowning at her.

“For me? Why?”

“There’s, umm, only one bed in the house. The other bedroom was empty except for an old armoire. Whoever moved out of here must have done so in a hurry - they left such an odd assortment of stuff behind. Although I’m grateful they did. I’ve been able to use a lot of it. But like I said, only one bed.”

Her rush of words stumbled to a halt and she finally peeked up at him from under her lashes. His face was a frozen mask but those dark eyes blazed with emotion. She gulped nervously, but she wasn’t exactly afraid. If he’d intended to hurt her he’d had plenty of opportunities already

No, she wasn’t afraid - she was… aroused. The thought of spending the night in his arms sent a delicious shiver through her and her nipples tightened, the friction of her shift suddenly feeling like the most intimate caress. What the hell is wrong with me?

“I thought I’d just curl up on one of the chairs in the living room,” she hurried on. “Or if you don’t want me to stay in the house, I could sleep in the barn. I think there’s enough hay to-”

“No,” he snapped, his deep voice sending a shiver down her spine. “You will remain in the house.”

He studied her silently for another moment, and she thought she saw a flicker of something else in his gaze, something almost like…longing. But it vanished before she could be certain.

“The chair will do,” he said finally.

She nodded hastily, relieved that she wouldn’t have to venture into the dark, musty barn alone, and he stalked off into the bathroom. She quickly finished the seam she was hemming, then slipped into the bedroom to retrieve the over-sized shirt she’d been using as a nightgown, along with a moth-eaten shawl to use as a blanket.

Then she took her turn in the bathroom and when she emerged, the kitchen was silent and empty. A peek around the corner revealed that the living room was empty as well so she turned off the lamp and went to pick a chair. Neither of them were particularly comfortable, but she decided on the taller wingback so she could rest her head against the back.

As she settled into the creaky armchair, she listened to the creaks and groans of the old house, her ears straining to pick up any sound that might indicate what H’zim was doing. Her mind refused to settle, her thoughts a jumble of uncertainty and unwilling attraction. She couldn’t quite shake the feeling that she was walking a tightrope, with H’zim keeping the tightrope aloft.

The door to the bedroom suddenly flew open and H’zim reappeared, his massive frame looming in the doorway.

“You can have the bed,” he growled, his dark eyes fixed on her.

Alone?

Her heart skipped a beat as she shook her head.

“No, it’s your house. I couldn’t?—”

He cut her off with a curt gesture.

“You’re welcome to it.”

“I don’t feel right about taking your bed.” She hesitated. “How about we alternate? You can have the first night since I’m already settled here.”

He looked at her, his expression unreadable, but she could feel the heat in his gaze. Her heart was pounding but her nipples had tightened again.

Finally, he nodded, a curt jerk of his head.

“Fine.”

With that, he vanished into the bedroom, leaving her alone in her chair once more. A breath she didn’t know she was holding escaped as she listened to him move about in the bedroom. She’d felt as if she was waiting for… something. But what, she didn’t know.

She leaned back against the chair, trying to force herself to relax, but she was acutely aware of H’zim’s presence in the bedroom. Eventually his movements stilled and she could hear his slow, heavy breathing. There was something comforting about the sound, but it also served as a reminder that this was not her house. Her position here was as tenuous as it had been in all of her foster homes.

She’d been avoiding thinking about the future, content to live in the present, turning the little farmhouse into a home and pretending that her problems would magically disappear. But she couldn’t stay here forever, not with H’zim’s presence and her own uncertain status. He could decide at any moment that she had to leave and she had no way of stopping him.

I need a plan.

Despite that, her heart ached as her gaze drifted about the darkened room. Even in the dim light of the first moon, she could see the changes she’d made, her efforts to create a home, a sanctuary. She didn’t want to leave.

And what was she going to do once she did? What if Lucas had reported her to the sheriff and they were looking for her? Even if he hadn’t, she still only had the clothes in which she’d arrived and a couple of coins. As many times as she’d moved before, she’s always had a plan and some kind of resources. She’d never started with nothing.

Anxiety threatened to overcome her as horrible possibilities tumbled through her head, but she forced herself to take slow, deep breaths until she was calm again.

Think this through, she ordered herself. If she couldn’t stay on the farm, she needed to find a job - preferably a long way from Wainwright. The thought that she would also be a long way from H’zim flitted through her mind but she did her best to ignore it.

Perhaps she could barter work for a position on one of the trading caravans. She wasn’t afraid of hard work, although the thought of another series of menial jobs made her cringe. But she didn’t see another alternative, certainly not until she’d had a chance to hoard enough credits to give her more options.

The possibilities swirled in her head until her eyes felt gritty and tired, her mind foggy. She needed to sleep, but her brain refused to shut off. Eventually sheer exhaustion started to win out. Her eyelids drooped as her body began to relax, her breathing slowing.

In her half asleep state, her thoughts returned to H’zim. What secrets were locked behind those dark, brooding eyes? Her mind began to wander down a different path, wondering what it would take to make the gruff, imposing alien relax and smile. And what would it be like to touch him, perhaps even to kiss him? She imagined his massive hands cupping her face, gentle despite their strength, his touch sending shivers down her spine. The fantasies were silly, ridiculous, and yet she let herself enjoy them as she finally started to drift off to sleep.

She was vaguely aware of the creaks and groans of the old house, the sound of her own soft breathing, but it was H’zim’s sudden cry that jolted her awake. He let out a loud, anguished shout, the sound ripping through the silence and she bolted upright, her heart pounding as she peered into the darkness. But the room was still quiet and empty.

He cried out again and she rushed into the bedroom, her heart still racing. He was thrashing back and forth on the bed, his dark eyes screwed shut as if trying to block out some horror. She’d never seen anyone caught so intensely in a nightmare before.

“H’zim, wake up,” she said gently, grabbing his hand.

He didn’t respond, didn’t even flinch. His face was slick with sweat, his chest heaving as if he were running a marathon. She tried again, more urgently this time.

“Wake up, H’zim! You’re dreaming!” She put her hands on his shoulders, trying to shake him awake, but it was like trying to shake a statue and he remained trapped in his own private hell. “It’s all right. You’re safe now.”

Suddenly, his eyes flew open, his gaze locking onto hers with a feral intensity. He snatched her down next to him, then rolled over her, pinning her to the bed with his massive body, his hands grasping her wrists like iron manacles. Her breath caught in her throat as he loomed over her, his face twisted in a snarl. An unseeing snarl.

He was staring down at her but she didn’t think he was actually seeing her at all. Then, in a voice that sent shivers down her spine, he growled, “Why did you betray me, Ayyla?”