Page 23 of 20% Stud 80% Muffin
The dwelling was one hundred percent better than my initial plans and way bigger, but my jaw clenched when unbidden reality cracked my newfound joy. The truth was, I didn’t have enough credits to cover this. My profits from installing lamar windshields for the enforcer’s hoverbikes would not be enough.
Raz’s voice slithered up my spine, startling me from my financial woes. “Hey, hey, Mak.” A chill rolled over each vertebra of my backbone.
“I’ve brought your favorite.” He handed over a jar of hiscus juice, so cold that moisture beaded on the outside. The talons at the ends of his fingers raked through the fur of my hand, and the icy drink spilled when I jerked backward.
“Thank you.” I ducked my head. My submissive nature to alphas repulsed me, but I accepted the cold drink anyway.
Geo had avoided me all rotation. By some miracle, his work always took place outside, even when his crew called him in to deal with a problem, but just then, the tether yanked taut.
Raz wandered across my new floor with a proprietary air. Why he was interested in a Lornian baffled me. I wouldn’t fit in his neat and tidy world any better than in my parents’. His thick tail dragged through the mud and sawdust before leaving a trail across the polished surface.
“This-s-s…is an Intergalactic Federation-funded dwelling?” Dark vertical pupils, encircled in yellow, elongated when they dropped to my floor, widened further at my high walls and turned black when he snapped his scaly neck through the courtyard opening. He’d obviously compared my construction to his dwelling, and his steady low hiss highlighted his displeasure. He was not pleased my rooms already surpassed his in both workmanship and overall design.
Honestly, I had no idea how many credits I would owe for all the extra features Geo had built into my new place, but I wouldn’t change one thing. The smell of warm summer fields drifted my way, and I immediately relaxed. Geo’s arm brushed mine, his presence solid at my side.
“Raz. It seems we meet again.” Geo’s words welcomed, but his tone did not. “Not that it’s any of your business, but Makir has agreed to be my lamar supplier. We have arranged to use his dwelling to showcase lamar.” His thick arm was so close to me that his shoulder brushed against my jumpsuit. I looked down and found his hands bunched into fists.
Raz hissed. “An arrangement, you s-s-say?”
Geo’s fists squeezed tighter, and I could have sworn his chest muscles pulsed. The heat in the room grew, and my jumpsuit stuck to my body.
“Yes.” His voice was so low it rattled in my tightening groin. “The Intergalactic Federation Building Authority has approved Makir’s dwelling as a showhome.”
It had?
Clouds stirred above, visible through my roofless walls. Then a slow drizzle started, and I shrank into my collar. My shoulders drooped. It took so long for my fur to dry.
“Hmmm, you can’t sleep here tonight.” Raz switched tactics, his glare softening as he eyed the weather worsening overhead. The clouds darkened to an ominous brown.
“I welcome you to s-s-spend the night with me.”
My body drew tight at his exuberant invitation, and I didn’t dare look at Geo. If I were an alpha, I would tell Raz to shove it. Heat radiated off Geo in waves.
“In my s-s-second room, of course,” Raz tacked on.
Is he deliberately baiting Geo?
“Makir,” Geo growled, his emphasis on the ‘r’ at the end of my name buzzing in the pit of my stomach, hot and eager, “has already agreed to bunk with me tonight.” Geo’s face flushed red.
I have?
When JayJay chuckled, I surfaced from the dense fog I’d been in. Five Rock Dwellers stood, riveted by the scene in front of them. I’d forgotten anyone else was here.
“I-I meant bunk with the crew,” Geo stammered, sucking in a belly-holding breath.
Lornian omegas eased the tension in the room. They didn’t cause it. I licked my lips. The time to put my charms into effect had arrived. Raz could do nothing to me in Geo’s presence, not to mention the wall of giants who also had my back.
“Thanks so much for the hiscus juice, Raz.” I finished the jar and passed it back to him. The sweetness on my tongue matched my honeyed words. “I appreciate your offer and concern for my well-being.” I hoped my friendly smile didn’t go too far.
I walked toward the empty space where my door would soon be. Would Raz follow? When I looked over my shoulder, he was right where I wanted him, but Geo’s stern gaze was not. “Staying with the Rock Dweller crew makes themost sense. That way, we can plan everything out for tomorrow. I hope you understand.” I spread my hands open in front of my stomach and shrugged. “Oh, and by the way, D’ovey mentioned he needs another order of graneth at your earliest convenience.” With a smile and distraction, I peacefully ushered Raz out, no harm done.
Geo scratched his beard and toed at the construction debris beside me. “What’s everyone doing standing around lollygagging?” He stormed outside. “Get back to work.”
“Lollygagging, boss man?” JayJay’s snicker mimicked a tree falling, its thud like an echo through a canyon. He trailed after his grumpy boss.
In the distance, I heard Geo’s voice. “Lingering, loitering, hanging around and not minding your own goddamn business.” His anger had ebbed, and through my lack of a doorway I saw Geo bump his shoulder into JayJay’s ribcage, teasing his much larger foreman.
I’d observed how he interacted with his crew today: patient, kind, efficient and with good leadership. Was that his usual self? They got along surprisingly well, and he seemed like a good boss.
