Page 24 of 20% Stud 80% Muffin
Why was he an entirely different beast in my presence?
My long tail coiled around my waist, and I spent a brutal sun wondering what would happen if I ran my finger down his sternum and over his belly. Would his stomach soften and relax under my touch, or would his chest expand more? What would a night so close to Geo mean for our tether? Bonic had told me to stay away, but the light rain had already matted my fur, and I didn’t have a roof. One night surely wouldn’t hurt.
9
Istood in Makir’scourtyard, the sun casting a moody red glow over the new construction. The crew, long gone, had taken Makir with them, but I couldn’t shake my restlessness. So, I kept going and going, funneling the buzzing energy into finishing the courtyard now that Makir was safe with my crew.
I’d always admired Balinese courtyards and how their water features and lush greenery created an oasis of tranquility. Tern was beautiful in the way new beginnings were—filled with bare earth, stalky graneth and potential. Still, I missed the plants, trees and water from Earth.
The honeycombed windows spread along the back wall of Makir’s house like lace trim, framing the view of a soon-to-be sparkling pool. In mymind, the leafy gardens would skirt a perimeter dressed in bamboo-like plants and surround the stone walkways that led to private nooks. Would Makir love the courtyard of my dreams? Honestly, the bamboo plants were a bit of a long shot. I hadn’t seen anything of that description on Tern yet. But the rough finish of the walls and bare ground glowed, sunset soft.
I placed my hands on my hips, leaned back to stretch the kinks out of my back, and exhaled. Finally, I’d worn out my body enough to return to the shared sono. I grabbed Makir’s bundle of furs and headed toward the hole in the wall. Tomorrow he would have a door if I had any say in the matter. And I had all the say.
“Makir, are you out here?” Sisip walked through the opening that would soon be filled with a solid door and whistled. “Now, isn’t this something?” Her head swiveled, and the tawny catlike ears all Tigs had on top of their heads twitched. Her eyes widened when she walked outside into the courtyard.
The lead enforcer posed no threat, but why did everyone think they could just walk into Makir’s dwelling uninvited? I plastered on a smile and mentally added a deadbolt with an exclamation point behind it to the long list of items I needed to follow up on.
“Geo?” She seemed confused by my presence at first, then shrugged, not caring one way or the other. “I wanted to catch Makir.” She rubbed her hands back and forth like she couldn’t warm them.
My shoulders tightened, and the muscles in my chest burned as they stretched the bands of fabric around my arm uncomfortably tight. “Yeah, do you normally come by Makir’s in the evening? Is he expecting you?” The filter I’d employed regularly on Earth had shriveled and died since I’d met Makir.
Taken aback, her expression quickly changed to amusement. “Calm down there, hot stuff.” She laughed. “The only thing I’m after are the hand warmers he hinted he could make for my hoverbike.” She rubbed her hands together again. “Looks like we’ll be patrolling the Starry Mountains a little more regularly.” The corners of her mouth turned down.
I stuffed my hands into my pockets, embarrassed by my obvious attraction to Makir.
“Anyways”—she perked back up—“can’t wait to see this dwelling when it’s all done. I might have a few ideas for changes to my place.”
Proud of the hard work we’d done today, I stood taller. “Absolutely. Get in touch with JayJay, and we can schedule a design consult. I’m heading back to the sono. Makir’s spending the night with the crew there.”
My gaze wandered before it found the gaping hole where the roof should be. I wasn’t sure why I’d omitted that he would also be spending the night with me. I should’ve said something along the lines of ‘I’ll tell him to get in touch with you’ but I couldn’t force the words out. My attraction to Makir was so fragile it might snap if vocalized. Instead, I walked her toward the door like an unwelcome guest, as if Makir’s home was my own.
“Anything else?” I grumbled.
“Nah. Tell Makir he’ll hear from me soon.” She laughed and turned to walk away the same way she’d arrived, ambling under the windows along Makir's roofline, oohing and aahing.
To keep myself distracted, I recorded notes in my wristport while I walked to the sono.
“Talk to the landscaper about plants. Speak with Sully on how to use the lamar to create a massive sliding door opening onto the patio.”
The sky turned inky, and I searched for the Big Dipper or Orion among the spray of stars, neither to be found. I swallowed around the lump in my throat, forcing away the thought of my dogs, who currently orbited a different sun in an entirely different solar system. Maybe Ginger would send pics today.
My shoulders slumped with exhaustion, and my stomach growled as I trudged back to the sono. I hoped JayJay had saved me something to eat. Sisip had really thrown me for a loop. Was she competition? If so, I didn’t have a chance. Cameron had flirted with men right in front of me. Would it be the same withSisip? What was I supposed to think when she’d walked into Makir’s dwelling so casually?
I tripped over the ruts in the road and added ‘Learn to ride a hoverbike’ to my list. In the murky dark, the road heaved and dipped like a freshly plowed field.
With time to think, my self-esteem plummeted as fast as the temperature. I hugged Makir’s furs, and a shiver ran through me while my muscles pulsed and ached from inhaling his enticing fragrance. I didn’t recognize myself anymore. I’d gone from a doormat in my old life to a raging bear in this one. The only thing familiar was that I could still build a hell of a house.
“In-floor heating and a dual fireplace.” I spoke into the wristport, expanding my ever-lengthening list of must-haves. Makir’s gingery smell drifted from the bundle I held, and I nearly face-planted in the dirt.
“Fuck,” I muttered. “Why do I always go for guys way out of my league?” I said to the ground. Even if Makir was into men, what would he want with a short, fat, hairy guy from Earth who had nothing to offer in the goods department? I groaned. The ground dipped, and this time I fell flat on my ass.
“What are you doing down on the ground talking to yourself?” JayJay boomed. He reached for my hand, and the force of his pull launched me straight into him.
“I can’t see for shit out here.” I smacked the dust from my butt.
“Why are you looking for shit?” JayJay, never discreet, asked anyone within a half-mile radius. That included everyone in the sono. Cool night air currently drifted through the wide-open windows along with his voice, which was as subtle as a car backfiring.
I dropped my head to my chin. “It’s an expression, JayJay. It just means I can’t see anything.”
