Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 110600 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 553(@200wpm)___ 442(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110600 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 553(@200wpm)___ 442(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
The last thing I hear as I drift off is his rumbling purr of amusement.
24
NASSAKTH
A low groan of pain wakes me from a deep sleep.
I open an eye to look at the small female curled up against my side. She doesn’t sleep like a praxiian does, curled around oneself, tail tucked against a leg. Compact. Neat. Respectful of space. No, Kim sleeps as if the entire bed belongs to her, and since I am in it, I am therefore hers as well. Her limbs are sprawled, and she is turned on her side toward me, one leg shoved between mine and tangled with my tail. In her sleep, she has somehow grabbed my arm and clutches it as she sleeps, tucked between her breasts and my hand dangerously close to places I want to lick fiercely.
Her eyes are still closed, her expression screwed up in a look I can only describe as “miserable.” Kim groans again.
“Are you well?”
She flinches, smacking her lips slowly. “Is…is it really loud in here?” she whispers.
My poor Kim had too much wine, it seems. I lean forward and nuzzle at her hair. “Shall I get you some water and hard bread to nibble on to help your stomach?”
She nods again and whimpers when I get out of bed and the mattress dips. I return a few moments later to find she has an arm thrown over her eyes to blot out what little sunlight there is peeking through the window coverings.
“Something tells me you are not going to wish to go to your farm today,” I comment, sitting down on the edge of the mattress. I hold the glass of water out to her and watch protectively as she takes small sips and nibbles on a crust of hard bread.
“How is it you’re not feeling like death warmed over?” Kim croaks at me. Her expression is accusing. “I feel awful.”
“I am much larger than you. I imagine I can handle my wine better.” I don’t point out she finished my glass…as well as several more than I did. I liked watching her enjoy herself. “Go back to sleep. Nothing is so urgent that it must be done today.”
Kim finishes the bread and the water, then lies back down again with another groan. I make a mental note to water down the wine I serve next time. I want her to enjoy herself but not if it will cause her pain. I watch her go back to sleep, and then head back out of the bedroom. If we are not going to her farm today, there are many things I can do to make mine more comfortable for her. I spend all morning watering and checking each plant for bugs, determined not to give her another nasty surprise. I put a meal of salty askri noodles peppered with leftover meat on for lunch, and while it simmers, I head to my war room to find a weapon for Kim.
It must be the perfect weapon for her, taking into account the length of her arms and the lack of human upper body strength. Skill does not matter, because I will teach her everything she needs to know. I do not want her to ever have to use these skills, but I am a practical male above all, and she must be equipped with the right tools to protect herself.
So I consider my options. Shock-sticks. Throwing knives. Blasters. Swords. Brass knuckles and hand-held weaponry. A bow. I eventually decide on a small, lightweight sword. For someone my size, it is little more than a stick with which to poke and irritate. But it is light enough that Kim will be able to wield it easily, and the sides are slightly curved and dangerous. Pleased, I sharpen the blade to razor sharpness and sheathe it once more. I return to my noodles and set two bowls in the warmer, since Kim is still asleep, and head out to do the rounds on my farm.
Farming is not how I imagined it would be when I started. I check the maintenance logs on the bots, check my crop ratios and estimated timelines for harvest, and run a scan on the temperatures and health of the meat-stock. Then, the farm more or less takes care of itself…which leaves me with a lot of spare time.
Hobbies. I consider what Kim said. I need hobbies. She is right that I still spend all my time waiting for war, waiting for things to be taken from me. Waiting to have to fight for what is mine. But all has been peaceful and quiet these last few years and I think the violent gladiator who killed his master has been forgotten by all.
I hope.
Now I can focus on new things. On the future. On Kim, my beautiful, fragile human mate. On wooing her. I decide to watch more human videos. Perhaps some of the ones with the mating rituals will show how a female likes to be courted, since it is clear that praxiian methods leave much to be desired.