Chapter 7

Kara stared after H'zim as he fled into the night, still shocked by the rapid turn of events from his nightmare to his kiss to his sudden departure. A low pulse of arousal continued to throb through her body and she pressed her hands to her cheeks, embarrassed by the speed and intensity of her response. She'd forgotten everything except the pleasure of his kiss and the feel of his hard body against hers. And he'd been the one to end it.

I wouldn't have stopped him if he wanted more. I wanted more.

The knowledge was both embarrassing - after all, she barely knew him - and oddly intoxicating. That flare of passion had made her feel alive and sensual, a welcome change from her usual mundane struggle to survive. And I do know him, she thought as she climbed out of bed. The unexpected kindness behind the gruff facade and the glimpses of vulnerability, of pain and of a loneliness that echoed her own.

Was the woman he'd mentioned responsible for that pain? Ayyla? Her lip curled with distaste, and perhaps the slightest hint of jealousy. He'd seemed so overcome, so devastated, that she hadn't been able to resist touching him, reaching out to offer comfort. She hadn't intended it as anything more, but as soon as their lips met, desire had rushed over her so quickly she felt dizzy. He'd awoken something in her that she hadn't known existed.

From the hunger in his kiss, it had hit him the same way. Or had it? Maybe he had kissed Ayyla the same way. The pang of jealousy returned, along with an all too familiar feeling of abandonment. The silence of the farmhouse seemed to close in around her and the room suddenly felt cold and empty. She shivered, rubbing her arms, and absentmindedly began to straighten the tangled sheets.

Should I go and look for him?She couldn't shake the feeling that she'd seen a glimpse of the real H'zim beneath the gruff exterior. And that glimpse had left her wanting more.

Restless and undecided she paced around the room, her fingers occasionally going to her mouth, to the lips still tingling from his kiss. Her mind refused to settle down and with a sigh she wandered over to the window, gazing out into the night. The second moon had yet to rise and the darkness outside seemed to swallow everything, leaving only the faint outline of the barn and the surrounding trees. She stared at the barn, wondering if he was inside, wondering if he was sleeping, unaffected by their encounter.

And then she saw him standing by the barn, his massive silhouette barely distinguishable from the darkness as he stood unmoving in the night, like a sentry watching over her. Her heart skipped a beat at the sight of him, alone and awake because of her. But at the same time, the knowledge that he was keeping watch brought her a strange sense of peace.

Once again she considered going to him but the stiffness in his posture argued that he would not welcome her approach. Instead, she stood there watching him, her fingertips pressed lightly against the glass. The darkness seemed to recede, and for a moment it was just the two of them, connected by an invisible thread.

Her breathing gradually slowed, the tension in her body seeping away, replaced by a sense of security, of being protected. She finally turned and made her way back to the bed. For the first time that night, she felt as if she could sleep.

She woke up to the sound of birds chirping outside her window. A new day. She smiled and stretched before climbing out of bed. Last night's events still lingered in her mind, but she decided to act as if nothing had happened. She had a feeling that any other option would make H'zim run again.

She dressed quickly, wishing she had more options, but the old pair of men's pants were comfortable enough, if a little snug, and the faded blouse a practical solution. The kitchen was empty and she hesitated, then shrugged and dug into his supplies again, giving a delighted exclamation when she found a bag of coffee. The kitchen was soon filled with the scent of the cooking and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, making her stomach growl with anticipation.

The kitchen door swung open, and H'zim strode in, huge and green and gorgeous despite the forbidding scowl on his face. Her heart skipped a beat, her decision to pretend that nothing had happened suddenly faltering.

"Good morning. Breakfast is almost ready," she said cheerfully, even though she was sure she was blushing.

He grunted a response and went to wash up at the kitchen sink. Unfortunately, he didn't remove his shirt this time. Although his scowl remained he seemed to be in a better mood. He even approved of her using the supplies.

He ate as hungrily as he had the night before and she was surprised by how much satisfaction that gave her. She sipped on her coffee and watched him eat, enjoying the quiet warmth of the sunlit kitchen.

"I didn't know powdered eggs could taste this good," he said when he finished and pushed his plate away.

"Real eggs would have been better, but they turned out okay."

"Do you know how to care for chickens?"

"Yes, why?"

"Just thinking about what the farm needs in the future."

Her heart skipped another beat. Did that mean he saw her as part of that future?

"So, what are your plans for today?" she asked, trying to sound casual despite the tangled emotions swirling inside her.

"I'll be working on getting the farm in shape. I've made a list of things to be done."

"Can I help with anything on your list? Like I told you yesterday, I do have some experience with farming."

Something flickered across his face - surprise? gratitude? - before it was replaced by his usual scowl.

"You don't have to do that," he said, his voice gruff.

"I want to. I've never been very good at taking it easy."

"What did you do here before I came along?"

The question sounded cynical, but he actually seemed to be interested. She shrugged.

"I mainly concentrated on finding food - foraging, checking my traps, fishing. I usually did a little weeding although I was afraid to do too much in case it was noticeable. Plus the usual cooking and cleaning and laundry. Lately I've been trying to hunt down canning jars and lids so I can preserve food."

"For the winter," he said slowly.

It wasn't a question, but she nodded.

"I was hoping no one would find me and I'd be able to stay here."

Another expression flashed across his face and this time she was sure it was regret. Was he going to throw her out? He hadn't promised she could stay for long. Her pulse raced nervously as she waited for him to respond but he didn't pursue it.

"I noticed the garden needed more weeding. Why don't you do that and then join me in the pasture? I want to repair the fence and it would go faster with two people."

He was clearly reluctant to admit the last part, but she beamed and leaned forward eagerly.

"I'd love to. Are you going to get a cow too? We could have fresh milk and butter and cheese and-"

He held up his hand but the hint of a smile softened that hard face.

"Fence first. Then we can make other plans."

Had he realized he'd said we? She wasn't sure, but she still smiled happily as she went to wash the dishes.

Contentment filled Kara as she trudged back to the farmhouse late that afternoon, her boots kicking up small clouds of dirt behind her. The day had been long, but fulfilling. In many ways it hadn't been that different from her usual routine, but working with someone else changed everything. He was still gruff and mostly silent, but he didn't seem to mind her cheerful chatter.

Being able to work openly was also a relief and she gave the neatly cleared kitchen garden a satisfied look. She was sure it was an illusion but the plants already looked happier and healthier. H'zim had also discovered wild grain growing amongst the weeds in the fields and they'd made a preliminary start on cultivating that as well. The physical labor had left her muscles sore, but her spirit lifted.

She'd never imagined she'd find such satisfaction in farm work, but being part of bringing this forgotten land back to life was deeply rewarding. H'zim, despite his gruff demeanor, had proven to be a capable teacher, surprising her with the extent of knowledge. When she asked, he told her that he had been brought up on a farm but that was the extent of the information he was willing to share.

It's going to take time, she reminded herself, but the thought that she would have that time had her smiling happily as she approached the farmhouse. There was something different about the back door and it took her a moment for her startled brain to recognize it. There was a note pinned to the door. By a knife.

Her heart started to race as she came to an abrupt halt, unease creeping up her spine. Where had that come from? She hadn't noticed anyone else, even though they'd been outside most of the day. If someone wanted to talk to H'zim he should have been easy enough to spot.

What if the message is for me? What if it's from Lucas?

Her racing heart started to pound so loudly it almost drowned out all other sound. Had he found her? Was this his way of taunting her, of letting her know she couldn't escape him? She was afraid to even touch the note, as if the message itself was a venomous snake that might strike if disturbed.

The sound of approaching footsteps made her spin around, her breath catching in a sob as H'zim strode towards her, reassuringly huge and powerful.

"Look," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

He frowned, his gaze flicking to the note before returning to hers.

"Where did that come from?" he asked, his tone neutral.

"I don't know. I think it might be from Lucas," she admitted, her voice trembling. "I didn't think he could find me here, but what if he has?"

His face darkened as he strode past her, plucking the knife out of the door with terrifying ease before scanning the note.

"It's not from Lucas," he said, his voice low and rough. A strange mixture of emotions danced across his features. "It's for me."

A wave of relief washed over her and tears suddenly pricked her eyes. The tension and fear that had slowly eased over the past few months came crashing down, leaving her vulnerable and raw. A tear escaped and then another, and before she knew it, she was sobbing.

Then H'zim was there, pulling her close as she sobbed against his chest. The comforting gesture made her sob harder but she clung to him, her hands fisted in his shirt as he gently stroked her back. When her sobs finally died away to a few last shuddering breaths, she looked up at him, trying to smile.

"I'm sorry. I don't usually -"

He kissed her. Hard, urgent and possessive, his mouth taking command of hers. She melted against him as the world spun around her, but he steadied her with his touch even as he deepened the kiss. His hands roamed over her body, leaving a trail of fire on her skin. His hard body dwarfed hers, but she had never felt more alive.

He cupped her bottom, yanking her tighter against him, the massive bar of erection throbbing against her stomach. The heat between her legs was unbearable, and she squirmed eagerly, trying to get closer. Then he pulled away, his breath coming in harsh pants as he looked down at her, his dark eyes glittering with lust and - something she couldn't quite define. She opened her mouth but he shook his head.

"Don't apologize again. Do you understand?"

She stared up at him, confused, until the meaning of his words sank in.

"Oh, you mean about crying I'm not usually one of those women who cries at the drop of a hat but it's just…"

She hesitated, embarrassed.

"What?" he growled softly.

"I'm just so happy it's not Lucas, that's all. I was so afraid I'd have to run again."

"You don't need to run anymore."

He sounded so firm, so confident. She wanted to believe him, but her hopes had been shattered so many times in the past. She managed another shaky smile and gestured at the note.

"What does it say?"

He hesitated, then showed it to her. The message was written in large, clear block letters.

YOUR DEBT HAS COME DUE