Chapter 9
Zander
I woke early the next day after a fitful night’s sleep.
I’d angered Fatima last night in her home.
I wasn’t sure what I’d said or done, but she was not pleased with me as I left.
I wanted to stay and ask what I’d done wrong, but Fatima was not one to be pressed for answers she did not want to give.
So I left and went over our conversation again and again to no avail.
Today was a new day though. A new opportunity to impress her and show her my worth. I brought out my smooth cooking stone that I used when making food at home and placed it over the fire. Once it was warm enough I put on a few pieces of the boar meat to cook in the same way I’d seen Orsu do it.
While the fatty meat cooked, I headed over to the dining hall where Orsu and Julie stored all their basic food supplies and grabbed a bowl full of the pancake mixture.
I also grabbed a variety of other foods to cook for lunch.
It worried me that there was so little Fatima could eat, and I wondered if I put out a full spread of options if we could find at least one other food she could keep down.
I made it back to my cabin just as the first slices of bacon needed to be flipped. I cooked and plated the meat and then mixed the pancake powder with water and fruit.
About mid-morning I saw Fatima’s door open. She shielded her eyes against the bright morning sun and yawned. She was beautiful. Her soft delicate tan skin glowed in the morning light. Her black hair hung beautifully down her back, and I longed to know if her lips felt as soft as they looked.
I opened my door as she walked down the path and called to her. “Come, I have your breakfast.”
My heart filled with joy as the corner of her mouth turned up in a smile at my greeting and she sauntered my way.
“Good morning to you too,” she smirked as she entered my home.
“Good morning,” I smiled in return.
“It smells good in here,” she sighed with a contented expression on her face.
“I have cooked some of the boars meat and I am making your pancakes now,” I informed her.
“Sit, it will be ready soon.”
“Bossy,” she muttered under her breath with a smile, but she did as I asked.
I served her the cooked bacon then flipped the pancakes over.
“Did you sleep well?” Fatima was too thin for my liking, hopefully that would change today. If she was also struggling to sleep, I might insist she stay with me until I can think of a solution for that too.
My cock stirred in my pants as I pictured exactly how I’d like to help her fall asleep.
Tired from hours of pleasure and safe in my arms. I pushed those thoughts aside.
I wasn’t sure if she saw me as a romantic partner at all.
Yes, I made her cheeks heat with my demands, but her attraction might end there.
I mourned the fact that I would never glow for her.
I knew the lack of luminescence made me less valuable to many of the females here. I just hoped Fatima wasn’t one of them.
“I slept fine. It will take some getting used to being in a cabin by myself.”
I wanted to remind her that she could sleep here, but I doubted that would gain me a different result than it had last night. Fatima needed more time and more wooing.
“Is something burning?” She asked as she sniffed the air. I cursed under my breath.
I’d gotten lost in my thoughts and the pancake closest to the center of the cooking stone had turned black. The other’s were fine, so I quickly plated those before they could burn as well.
“I will give this to Jelly once it cools,” I lamented. Kayla’s pet bison liked food scraps. She was a gentle creature and I liked feeding her little treats.
I looked into the bowl of pancake mix and frowned to find it empty.
“Don’t worry about it,” Fatima must have read my thoughts. “I’m almost full anyway. Besides, it’s a right of passage to burn pancakes the first time you try to make them.”
“I doubt you’ve ever burned pancakes,” I teased. Fatima was a perfectionist to the core, I’d noticed that about her right away.
“Well, no,” her cheeks flushed a dark red.
“Where did you get this cooking stone?” she asked. “I honestly hadn’t thought about cooking since we crashed here. Orsu and Julie are so good at it, there hasn’t been a need. Well, until now.” She looked down at her belly and frowned.
“It was my mother’s,” I confessed. “I will find you a cooking stone if you like, but I am happy to cook your meals for you.”
“You can’t make me pancakes and bacon three times a day,” Fatima laughed, but the joyous sound died in her throat when she caught the serious expression on my face.
“Why not?” I asked.
“Zander,” she huffed out a breath. “That’s too much. I’m sure you have much better things to do than to cook for me.”
“I can assure you, there is nothing I’d rather be doing than making sure you get enough to eat. Besides I won’t just be cooking pancakes and bacon.”
“You won’t?” Fatima gave me a confused look.
“No, this afternoon, I will prepare many dishes for you. You should have more options than just breakfast food.”
“But what if I can’t keep anything down? That’d be such a waste of time and ingredients.” Fatima protested. She was not used to putting herself first.
“Making sure you and your child are well fed is anything but a waste of time and resources,” I assured her.
She looked like she wanted to keep arguing, but the mention of her unborn child made her think twice.
“Fine, we can make a buffet lunch if you think that will help.” She put a large emphasis on the we.
“No, I will make you a variety of dishes, and you will rest while I do so.”
Fatima opened her mouth and I held up a hand to stop her. “You are growing a child. I am not. I will cook and you will rest.”
“Bossy male,” she huffed.
“Stubborn female,” I huffed back, which made her smile. I’d won this battle. Everything with Fatima was hard won but it was worth it.
After she ate Fatima was looking more energized than usual. It gave me hope that if she actually ate three meals a day, she might be able to survive this pregnancy suffering needlessly.
“Can we find a cooking stone before we begin our hunting lessons?” she asked. I knew what she was doing. If she had a cooking stone of her own, she would try to cook for herself instead of letting me do so. But when I looked into Fatima’s rich, dark brown eyes, I knew I could deny her nothing.
“We can do that,” I nodded. “There should be some smooth stones by the river.”
I helped Fatima into her coat and together we walked to the water. Both large and small stones lined the riverbank. We shifted through them together looking for the perfect cooking stone. It needed to be smooth enough to cook on, but wide enough to fit nicely over the fire.
I caught Fatima looking up at the mountains in the distance and teased, “there are far more rocks in the river than the horizon.”
“Oh, sorry I was just lost in thought,” she smiled and brought her gaze back to the river.
“What thoughts are keeping you preoccupied today?” I couldn’t help but ask. I wanted to know everything about Fatima even down to her day dreams.
Her cheeks grew red and she gave me another one of her shy smiles.
“I was just thinking about how much I miss traveling. I used to travel a lot back on earth. I thought I’d be able to do a little traveling here too, but now with the baby on the way,” she paused to gaze down at her stomach. “I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
“Where would you like to go?” I asked. I would take Fatima anywhere if it would bring a smile to her face.
A mischievous grin turned up the corner of her mouth as she answered. “Taylor said there was a beach nearby. I thought I’d start there then ask you guys if you’d seen any interesting places on your long hunting trips.”
“The beach is cold this time of year,” I commented.
“Well, I wasn’t planning on going anywhere right now,” Fatima laughed. “I doubt I’ll be able to travel again for a long time. Maybe with this little one is old enough we’ll go somewhere together.
“Why not?” I asked as I folded my arms over my chest. It would be easy for me to take her there.
“Why not what?” she asked with a confused expression on her face.
“Why not travel to the beach right now? It is early yet in the day. “I could fly you there and back before lunch.”
The beach had never been very interesting to me, but I’d gladly take Fatima there if it would please her.
“You could?” Her voice was filled with hope and her eyes with longing. I knew then that I’d take her anywhere she wanted. All she’d have to do was ask.
“Of course.” I got down on one knee and beckoned Fatima over. “Climb on, and I will take you.”
She approached me slowly while chewing her bottom lip. “Are you sure? I know you’re a busy guy. I don’t want to get in the way of your plans.”
“I am sure,” I smiled at her over my shoulder. “There is nothing I’d rather do than take you to the beach this morning.”
She continued to hesitate, but I knew what she needed.
“Get on, Fatima,” I commanded, but there was no bite in my tone.
She gave me a pleased smile and held her chin up high.
“Fine. I’ll get on since you’re being so bossy about it.”
“Good girl,” I complimented as soon as she settled herself onto my back.
She let out a choked laugh and I wondered if I’d said something wrong, but when I looked back she was nothing but smiles.
“Please keep your hands around my neck for the duration of the flight,” I began my usual speech. I’d taken Vianna on many flights as a child, and my safety speech had always made her giggle.
“Keep your legs locked around my waist, and refrain from touching my wings at all times. They are pretty, but they are also made of fire.”
Fatima’s eyes were filled with laughter and it warmed my soul that she enjoyed my speech as well.
“No touching the flaming wings, got it.” she repeated in a light tone.