Jasmin/The Alien's Liar part 8

Tomorrow's update: The Captain

JASMIN

I awake with the feeling of a heavy arm around my waist, and a face pressed against the side of my breast. Our position shocks me, because last I remembered, we were on opposite sides of the bed with him pondering on Disney princesses, and I on how endearing he is.

Aldrek jerks awake, tearing his arm off me. I pretend to be asleep to avoid the awkwardness, but my heart betrays me. If he listens close enough, he will hear it.

Is this what it’s like for the working girls to wake up with their customer the next morning? Their job is harder than I thought.

I wait a few seconds for him to roll off the bed, but instead, his arm returns to where it was. He wants to stay where he is.

Knowing that he’ll feel my thundering heart, I pretend to arouse from sleep.

He moves away, and with an outraged expression, says, “What is this?”

I blink. “What do you mean?”

He sits up, towering over me, and crosses his arms over his chest. With a clearing to his throat and his infamous scowl, he says, “you arranged my arm around me. Next time, keep your distance.”

I bite my tongue to stop my laughter. The big, grumpy dragon is pretending to be the victim here when he clearly woke up and continued to snuggle with me because he thought I was asleep.

Not wanting to hurt his ego, I play along. “Sorry, I must have done it in my sleep.”

“I forgive you, but resist your desire next time” He rolls out of bed. The bulge in his pants reveals that he’s the one that needs to ‘resist his desire.’

I look away and remember the first lecture Madam Cuero gave us. She showed us a pornographic video that showed these men aren’t only talented in battlefields, but also the bedroom.

It’s best that I don’t indulge my imagination. I wouldn’t know what to do with a man like Aldrek, and I’d be so shy that I’d melt at his feet if he so much as whispered in my ear.

I straighten my hair and clothes. There’s no window in this room, but I can hear the rain trickling outside.

Aldrek leaves, and I stay in bed for a while longer. The side he was lying on is still warm. I can’t help but furrow into the blankets. It has been a long time since I’ve had the warmth of another body. I’ve been alone for months, without my mother or friends.

What about Aldrek? How long has he been buried in this castle of wood? Most importantly, why? Why is he alone?

After a few minutes, I step outside. He has prepared bread with some sort of green jelly. I’m unsure, but take a bite because I don’t want to be rude. Aldrek has already finished eating. He sits by the door, nailing wood together with his makeshift hammer.

“Those cursed birds are driving me crazy. Why must they return to my territory? I ought to pluck them bald…” he mutters obscenities and threats, all while nailing the wood into shape. I quickly realize that he’s building a little birdhouse.

“You hate them?”

“Course I do! Always chirping, disturbing my peace. Damn animals should know a predator when they see one. One day, I’ll crack their hatchlings for breakfast.”

“You say this, but you’re building them a shelter from the rain?”

He stops nailing and drops the small birdhouse on his strong lap. He points at me with the hammer. “Do not criticize me, female, or I’ll put you out.”

I laugh, because as grumpy and standoffish as he is, he is also sweet. “If you put me out, you’d probably build me a house, too.”

He glares, but doesn’t argue.

“Sorry. Carry on.”

The sound of nailing takes over, and I study him closely. His bicep bulks as he sets nails in with a single strike. I could admire his strength all day. Although he was sick yesterday, he seems to have made a full recovery already.

“I’ll be back. Don’t break anything.”

The only thing I’m liable to break is my mind as I think of him.

“But… you’ll get sick again.”

“There are things I must do. Hunt, patrol, repair. A storm is no excuse.”

I glance at the door nervously. “Will you be safe?”

He tears his gaze away. “Don’t say things like that.” He picks up the birdhouse and hammer, and leaves with his signature door slam.

I listen closely as he hammers the birdhouse to the ground. Then, his footsteps fade.

I look around. There’s not much for me to do here, and I don’t think Aldrek would appreciate me touching his things. A distinct ticking sound makes me realize there’s a leak on the roof. This place is falling apart.

It’s interesting how he’s living so modestly. Madam Cuero taught us that dragons invest their hoard to build an elaborate home to attract a mate. Aldrek, though, doesn’t seem interested in his buried treasure.

I’m curious about him, but don’t dare to snoop.

He returns an hour later, drenched, and still muttering about the birds, who I’m sure are happy in the home he build for them. In his fist is a foot-long fish that he holds by the fin.

He kicks his boots off by the door and goes to the kitchen.

“Do you need help?”

He grunts in response, and I take that as a command to stay out of his way. He leaves the door cracked open, probably to air out the cabin, and gets to work. I give him space, waiting in the bedroom. I lay on the cold blankets until he calls for me.

Dinner is silent; awkward. He caught my curious gaze on his naked chest. Since then, the sexual tension eats us as we eat the fish. What would have happened on my first night here, if the drug hadn’t worn off?

“Stop looking at me like that,” he says, stabbing his food.

Usually, I would flinch and do as ordered. I’m not a brave person. That’s why I’m shocked when I reply with, “then stop inhaling deeply to get whiffs of me. That’s the same as staring.”

His nostrils flare, because I caught him. We’re both guilty of desire.

He stands abruptly, his fork clanking on the wooden bowl. “Do you want to get fucked or not? Spare me your cursed games. I have no time for them!”

I swallow my last bite of food, intimidated, but not afraid. Aldrek is a volcanic man, but he hasn’t been violent yet.

I return my gaze to the plate. It’s best to change the topic, because there is no escaping the sexual frustration. Not in this tiny cabin. The only escape would be within each other’s bodies, and I’m not ready for that.

“How are you feeling? Do you think you’ll get sick again?”

“I’m going out. Stay here.” He leaves, running away from whatever is happening between us.

Hours pass. It gets dark, and he doesn’t return. I lay on the bed, overwhelmed by the shadows in here. Sleep doesn’t come.

The door opens, and I hear his boots drop by the entrance. There’s a stretch of silence. Right as I’m wondering if he’s going to sleep on the chair, the bedroom door opens, and his silhouette appears.

My heart rages just like this morning as he settles down on his side of the bed. I expect more awkward silence, more unspoken truths, only to gasp when my wrist is snatched and he spins me.

I should have known to expect something. Aldrek is always reactive.

I wonder if he’s angry; if he’s going to finish the altercation that what we started earlier.

As always, he surprises me. The unpredictable man brings my hand to his temple and then guides the other. He wants a head massage.

We don’t speak as I rub his temples. For a long time, the only thing I communicate is a smile he can’t see in the dark.

“Aldrek?”

“Hmm?”

“Did I tell you the story about goddess Belle? The goddess of books who fell in love with a beast and transformed him into man? It’s called ‘Beauty and the Beast.”

He grunts, and knowing him, it’s a command to tell the tale. So I do. I recite the story as I massage him. For now, the sexual tension is gone, but something much more dangerous has filled the air.

Affection.

a/n: Aldrek pretending she was the one who snuggled him 😂😂

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