Chapter 5

Chapter

Five

R ixx smoothed his hands down the front of the pants that Myrria had made him, as he pulled aside the curtain and rejoined the woman and her daughter, who were bustling around the small cooking area. He'd never worn clothing that hadn't been made of animal hide, but the cloth she had used was surprisingly soft against his skin. He was especially grateful, since parts of his legs were still healing from burns and the buttery fabric did not rub against the tender flesh.

"These pants are very comfortable."

His voice seemed to startle them, and both females turned to him, taking in the new pants with wide eyes and open mouths.

"They are?" Myrria's voice cracked, as she wrenched her gaze from the pants. "They don't feel too snug?"

Rixx shook his head. He was accustomed to pants being fit to his form and stretching as he wore them. "They fit well. You are a skilled seamstress."

Myrria made a strangled sound in the back of her throat. "I don't usually sew for men, and I've never made a garment for a Dothvek, so…"

"Then you should be commended." He smiled at her as he walked forward, his gait still slow.

"He won't be leaving the house," Zala said to her mother, even though Rixx could hear her whisper.

Myrria bobbed her head up and down. "That is true, but I should also make you a shirt. In Kurril, shirts are commonly worn."

Rixx wrinkled his nose, the idea of wearing a garment to cover his chest reminding him of the Cresteks. His people's longtime enemy wore cloaks to shield their skin because they had left the sands and allowed themselves to become soft. "Even warriors?"

"Especially warriors." Myrria pulled out one of the stools around the table for him. "Some of them wear the most clothing. They even wear armor over clothes."

Rixx sat, feeling the fabric of the pants pull tight across his waist. He had made sure to tuck the crown of his cock beneath the waistband of his pants because it could not fit down either of the legs, but that did make the pants snug around his waist. "It is a wonder they can win any battles."

Once he was seated, Myrria seemed less unsettled, although she muttered to herself about making his shirt extra-long. Zala placed a wooden board on the table, topped with a small loaf of black bread. Even from where he sat, Rixx could smell the nutty flavor as heat curled up from it.

"Is this bread typical on Kurril?" The bread he was accustomed to at home was flatter and pale. Even the bread favored by the humans on board their ship was light-brown and puffy.

"Black bread is what I was raised on back home." Myrria didn't turn as she stood at the stove and stirred a heavy pot. "There are enough travelers here that I can find the right flour to make it. It brings a bit of home back to me, and Zala knows what bread from her home planet tastes like."

"Zala was not born here?" Rixx asked, smiling at the girl as she scooted back to the stove.

Myrria released a breath. "She was, but that does not mean she needs to be like the natives here. Once I can save enough for our passage, we will return to our home."

"After my father returns," Zala added.

Rixx noticed that Myrria stiffened at this and wondered if any mention of her husband was painful for her. "Is he due back soon?"

Myrria clattered a stack of bowls. "The stew is ready, and we should eat before everything gets cold."

She quickly ladled stew into green, earthenware bowls and handed them to Zala to place on the table. When three full bowls were on the table, Zala placed a pitcher in the center and distributed chunky glasses.

Rixx breathed in deeply as steam wafted up from his bowl of stem, the savory aroma reminding him vaguely of home. "This smells delicious."

Myrria sat across from him, smiling but not meeting his gaze. "It is simple food, but it will fill your belly."

Zala looked at her own bowl and grinned. "This has more meat than we usually have."

Myrria shot her a look, but Zala didn't notice as she plunged her spoon into the stew.

Rixx suspected that Myrria had splurged on more meat because of him, which made him feel both guilty and honored. This woman had shown him more kindness than any stranger should be expected to, and at grave risk to herself and her child. He owed her more than he knew how to repay, but he would find a way to return her generosity.

"If you need a way to return to your planet, maybe my ship could take you."

Myrria snapped his head up. "You could take us to our home world?"

"You've saved my life. It is the least I could do." Rixx stirred his spoon in his stew to release some of the heat. "I am sure my crew mates would agree." Then he looked up and met her gaze. "Once your husband returns, of course."

The woman's shoulders sagged. "I could not ask you to wait for him."

Rixx took in the resigned set of her shoulders and the line that had formed between her brows. How long had she been waiting for him?

"I want to go with Rixx." Zala's voice was almost fierce as she dropped her spoon in her stew and droplets splattered onto the table. "I'm tired of waiting."

Myrria narrowed her gaze at the girl, and Zala's fiery expression faded as she dropped her gaze to the table. "We will talk of this later. Now, we are eating dinner."

Rixx recognized the signs of heartbreak in the woman's beautiful, tortured face. He had never experienced it himself, but he had seen his Dothvek brothers tormented when they had believed they had lost their mates. Myrria was clearly heartbroken over her husband's long absence and must be counting the days until he returned to her.

Rixx lowered his gaze to his stew. As much as he loved females and relished in pursuing them, he would never pursue a happily mated woman. Especially not one who had opened her home to him, even when many would have considered it scandalous.

No, he would ignore the flutter of desire that tripped in his chest every time she smiled. He would push aside the quickening of his pulse when he watched her move. He would stifle the desire to flirt with her and see her cheeks flush a pretty shade of pink.

All he had to do was keep his traitorous thoughts in check until he could find a way back to his ship. All the while sleeping in the woman's bed. He groaned, glancing up when he realized how loud he'd been.

"The stew." He motioned to his bowl. "It's the best I've ever had."

Zala cocked her small head at him. "But you haven't taken a bite."

Curse the godesses. The girl was going to be harder to fool than his own heart. He started to explain, but his stuttering words were interrupted by a heavy thump on the door.

Everyone swung their gaze to the door and held their breath.