Total pages in book: 159
Estimated words: 144433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
"I'm fine with that." I'm not in the mood to walk anyhow. Something might chafe.
A short time later, Zhur drives my sled into town, making a “hmm” sound each time the engine of the old thing rattles. He parks it along the main street next to another sled and immediately gets out to open my door. "Still feeling well enough to walk around?"
I want to tell him that it was just a rash, that I don't need all the fussing but...I'm kinda liking it. I like that he immediately grabs my hand and laces his fingers with mine the moment we're out of the car. I like that he watches me carefully, a little frown on his face until I smile over at him. I like that his tail brushes against the skirt of my dress as we walk, as if he's reassuring himself that yes, I'm fine. It almost feels like we're a real couple.
It's a feeling I could get addicted to.
"There you are," Simone exclaims as we approach her stall. Her gaze roams over me. "I was starting to worry. What happened to your face?"
"An allergic reaction. I had it all over." I pull a sleeve up to show her and tug on my collar, exposing more of my reddened and peeling skin.
"Horrendous," Simone says with a shudder. "Are you allergic to cats by any chance?"
"Har de har har. No, I think it was a plant."
But her words get Zhur thinking. He rubs his finger over the back of my hand, expression thoughtful. "I should go talk to Kazex. Warn him about the plants. And I need to ask him about something else, anyhow."
I go still. Something else like...leaving? Just when I thought we were feeling like a real couple? "Do what you've gotta do," I say, trying to keep my voice light. "I'll hang out here with Simone."
He absently presses a kiss to my forehead and releases my hand. "I will return shortly."
Simone waves her tongs at him. "When you come back, I want you to try my new sandwich. I have meat-flavored bread."
"Sounds heinous," Zhur tells her. He gives me a lingering look and then heads down the street, toward the under-construction cantina.
Watching him go, my heart aches a little. Is this the end of us, I wonder. We haven't had sex in the last few days because I've been one big rash, but maybe he's already done with me? Maybe seeing Nassakth reminded him that he needs to go back to Praxii Minor? Maybe introducing him to his hero was the worst thing I could have done if I wanted him to stay?
Then I want to smack myself. Ours is a marriage of convenience. There are no feelings in this. I should be glad when he leaves. Of course he's not going to stay. We barely like each other. We certainly wouldn't want to have cubs together like Kim and Nassakth. He has a throne to get back to.
"Wow, look at your face. You are totally mooning over him," Simone observes as she plucks a box from under her cart and starts to fill it. "I've never seen you look like that."
"It's the rash," I tell her.
"Bitch, please. I wasn't born yesterday." She stuffs a few more of her pastries—which look fluffier and more enticing today—into a box. "But if you don't want to talk about it, it's fine."
I don't know if there's anything to talk about. We're not a thing. I'm just a pit stop on his journey to get his throne back. "Sorry, I'm just tired. I haven't slept well in the last few days."
"Ew, spare me the details."
"Because of the rash."
Simone laughs at herself. "Oh."
CHAPTER
NINETY-NINE
MAEVE
Simone and I chat about the weather and town gossip while she fills an order. I'm trying not to impatiently glance back at the cantina, but I'm dying of curiosity to find out what exactly Zhur is going to say to Kazex. Something tells me that it's going to be about more than just the plant. Is he going to demand a ride home?
Are my last days with him going to be spent rash-covered and orgasm-less? How horrifying. I need to make a move on him the moment we get home. If nothing else, maybe I can get a few toe-curling climaxes before he gives me the goodbye spiel.
The thought is depressing, and strangely enough, not because of the whole orgasm thing. I'm going to miss him. I'm going to miss having him around, talking to him, sleeping with him, having another person there. Having someone have my back. Knowing that I'm not alone in the universe. I dig my nails into my palms to fight back the tears that threaten.
Simone's stand is unusually busy today. I stand to the side as she chats with customers and fills orders, and in-between, she talks with me and tries to fill an order-box she's been working on for several minutes now. When she finally puts the last pastry in it, she gives a relieved sigh. "I thought I was going to run out before I could get these to Daphne. The new recipes are popular."