Jasmin / The Alien's Liar part 6

The second she returns, I demand, “what do you mean you ate too much?”

“Well, you told me to eat it all, and I didn’t want to make you angry so—“

“I didn’t mean you need to force yourself!”

The boom of my voice makes her wince, and I realize I scared her. This is what happens with me. This fire within me eats away at my control.

Disgusted with myself, I step back into the rain, taking the bucket with me. I toss it with all my strength, and it flies yards before crashing into the ground.

I glare at the skies. The sooner the rain stops, the sooner she goes away. I can’t have her here because all I do is scar her. She’ll be safe once we’re apart.

JASMIN

The door slams shut behind him, and I’m once again left in silence. I slept little last night. The bed was so large that I feared I would drown in the sheets.

I go to the bathroom and ensure everything is clean, fighting the bouts of nausea that roll over me. I find water in the kitchen. It’s room temperature, but a few sips over the next hour make me feel better.

The storm outside worsens, and I worry about Aldrek. He was so torn when he realized I got sick because I forced myself to eat too much. I need to clarify many things. In the twenty-four hours I’ve been here, I’ve lied about my entire identity to this man.

This wasn’t my intention. The flower made me another person. For a few minutes, I was a confident woman that could take on the world. And then it all came crashing down, and I realized I’m truly in a nightmare.

Should I even clarify that I’m not a sex worker, or would it would offend him that I was only tempted to sleep with him because I was drugged? I pull at my hair. This is too much to take into consideration. I don’t want to upset him again. As eccentric as he is, he hasn’t been inhospitable. He sheltered me from the storm, kept his distance, gave me his room, and fed me.

Maybe I should keep the misunderstanding of my identity to myself. Regardless of all, I’m still a stranger that’s here to get to know him. I doubt I’ll be able to achieve seduction, but maybe we’ll become friends and he’ll hear me out.

I have a few days before the storm settles. Until then, I need to get on this grizzly bear’s good side.

Hours have passed. Although my stomach is still squeamish, I get hungry. I feel guilty as I look around, not wanting to disrespect his place. He doesn’t have a refrigerator, so food is sparse, but I find dried, jerky-like meat wrapped up. I only dare to eat one strip.

The small pile of treasure is still under the chair. I chuckle at our formidable meeting. The confused dragon tossed everything that glittered at me, hoping to shut me up. Now that I think of his terrified reaction, I find it endearing.

The door slams open, and I nearly jump out of my skin. At the doorstep is a soaked Aldrek. His short hair is plastered to his forehead. The air that blows inside is cool, but he still looks hot to the touch.

He tromps inside, sloshing water all over the place. He goes into the bathroom, and I can only guess it’s to dry off. When he returns, he tosses a cloth on the floor. He slides it across with his foot to mop up the water.

I hesitate before saying, “I can help…”

“Sit before you break your neck,” he huffs, and then mutters something along the lines of “too frail.”

It takes many trips to dry the floorboards. On his last trip, he bursts with a sneeze.

“Bless you.”

He raises an eyebrow. “What are you, a goddess?”

I entwine my fingers. “It’s just something humans say when someone sneezes.”

“Very egotistical of your kind.”

He sneezes again, and within minutes, I suspect he’s getting sick. It’s not surprising. He spent hours in the rain, probably grunting and kicking rocks.

He needs a warm bath, but I know he’d never listen to my suggestion.

“Aldrek, can you bring a pot to a boil, please?”

“Why?”

“I think warm water will settle my stomach,” I lie.

He instantly forgets the rag and takes out his only pot. He adds water and sets it on the fireplace. After a few minutes, he reaches for the boiling pot with bare hands. I nearly jump to his aid, only to remember this is a dragon.

He exhausts the fire and sets the pot on a metal mat. I watch the steam roll and look around for a rag. I wind up pulling the single pair of socks I brought in my plastic bag. Once the water cools, I dip the sock in and wrign it.

By now, Aldrek is done mopping and has disappeared into his bedroom. When he returns, he’s completely dressed. His hair is messy, and his expression is surlier than usual.

His eyes lock on my hand, and he raises an eyebrow.

“What is that?”

“A sock for you.” I hold it up.

“I have no need for a cock cover.”

My eyes widen. A cock cover? I look at the sock. Do the Le’vris don’t use them for their feet?

“No, this is for your foot,” I reply.

“Why would I cover my feet with this?”

“I don’t know. Maybe to avoid blisters and athletes foot?”

“My feet are already athletic.”

I facepalm. “Just sit on the chair, please.”

He frowns at me, confused. His eyes are on the sock as he sits on the chair I stand behind the chair and bring the warm sock to his forehead.

“Why are you placing the cock cover on my forehead?”

“It’s not a cock cover. It will warm you up. I think you’re coming down with a cold.” When I realize he might not understand what a cold is, I add, “a sickness from the rain.”

My fingertips brush his hair from his forehead. His biceps bulge as he clenches his fists, and I hear his knuckles crack. I only realize that he’s frozen when I walk around him.

Is he uncomfortable having someone look after him?

“Aldrek?”

He blinks and reaches for his forehead. “I don’t need this.”

I dare to cover his hand with mine. “Leave it, please.”

He stands up, his large chest just inches from mine. He keeps a hand on his forehead.

“Fine. Go finish the jerky.”

“Okay, but first I wanted to make you a soup. Do you have vegetables around here?”

“Why are you doing this?” he grumbles.

“Because you’re sick. I want to help.”

“I’m a grown male, not a hatchling. Take care of yourself.” He takes the roll of jerky, presses it onto my palm, and sits on his chair where he sulks.

I eat more strips of jerky. By the time I’m full, the water is still warm. I wonder how I’m going to snatch the sock from Aldrek to wet it. He will definitely protest.

“Do you want to lie in bed?”

“No.”

“But you–”

He raises a hand. “Enough.”

He sounds firm. I realized I’ve pushed his limits.

The cabin is engulfed in awkwardness. I would rather he takes the bed and get rest tonight, but I know that’s a battle I will lose.

“Well, I should go then.”

He’s silent.

“I’ll change the sock one last time, okay?”

When I stand to take it from him, he lets me. I guess he’s willing to do anything to escape me for the rest of the night.

As I approach, my bare feet slide on the damp floor, and I go tumbling down onto the lap of an unamused Aldrek. He snaps his arms around me, keeping me from snapping my neck.

“Female…” he growls, the sock sliding off his forehead and landing with a loud plat.

“Sorry.” I scramble off him, but not without feeling the rage on his groin. I look down and bite my lip.

That’s an ailment I don’t think I can help him with.

I pick up the sock, toss it in the pot, and walk to the bedroom a defeated woman. I toss and turn for hours. Not even the sound of rain can soothe me. I feel guilty being cozy on his bed while he’s uncomfortable on that wooden chair.

It’s pitch dark as I pad outside. I keep my hand on the wall to direct myself.

“Aldrek?” I whisper into the night. “Do you want to share the bed?”

a/n: Should he say yes? Also, is anyone interested in a cock cover? 😂

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