20. Chapter 20

It is such a long day. I hate it. It is my job to train the uzains, but when Hazel is somewhere away from me, I don't like that.

I take a breath, wincing at the sweaty scent in the air. This is how the training field smells like after all the uzains go through their training. Not the best smell ever, but that's better than if no one is here.

My legs are tired from standing the whole day. All I want to do is collapse on the bed and sleep.

A smile finds its way to my face before I can stop it. At least there isn't anyone else around. I don't like to be too close to other uzains. If they think they can get away from something, they may do it. I'm always professional with my face showing almost nothing to them.

But I can't help it when Hazel occupies my head at this moment. I miss her and I hope she misses me, too.

I get off the bench at the side of the training field, giving the setup for tomorrow's session another look before I turn off the lights and leave.

Now, it is time to go to... the food area to fill the stomach and get some rest.

I miss the stew. Hazel said she would be in the kitchen, hopefully, that means she will have more ready. My stomach is complaining, and I need something.

Compared to what she can make, the food in the food area is... not that good. No wonder she refuses to eat a single thing.

Maybe it is the thought of her or the food she may have. I pick up speed down the corridor to the kitchen.

Long before I arrive, the tasty smell of food is there and pulling me over there.

I'm a corner away from the kitchen when beings are talking inside. I scowl at that. Who is there? Why are they there? Is Hazel safe?

I don't know what the other uzains think about her, but for me, she is the most important one ever. It may not make sense when I only met her recently, but she is the one for me. Maybe I told her we would pretend to be each other's mate, I wish that's real, but I can't afford to scare her either.

If someone is trying to take her away from me, I won't let that happen.

Now I remember what the captain tried to do before I got caught up with the training sessions. Maybe he is there and trying to hurt her. Fuck whatever punishment he planned for Hazel, not when I'm alive and around.

In the kitchen, all I can see are uzains. I head closer to find Hazle there, standing among the uzains and they are chatting. The uzains have bowls and spoons in their hands. My stomach rumbles even more.

Hazel sees me and her face lights up. "Zil! I miss you."

Aw... She knows how to melt my heart. "I miss you too."

She turns around to the stove, where a steaming pot sits. "Here, eat something."

I take the bowl, it is a fresh stew with bigger pieces of meat. I still want fishballs, but maybe she can't find the ingredients. It is the brown sauce again and it is so smooth with just enough spiciness. I love this.

She asks, "Do you like it?"

"I do. You know I love what you make."

The uzains that are also in the kitchen are chatting with one another, everyone seems to be happy. Maybe they found their way here from the tasty smell of the food. I want to keep everything for myself, but if there's enough for everyone, I guess it is what she wants to do.

One of the uzains says, "This is so amazing. Now I wonder whether I can survive on the food from the food area."

Hazel chuckles. "Thanks a lot! I'm glad you like it."

Another asks, "Can I have more?"

She nods. "Sure."

I want to be alone with Hazel, but this isn't too bad.

She snuggles to me, watching me as I eat. If this is going to be our future, that's pretty good. If I'm not holding the bowl and busy eating, I will wrap my arms around her. She is such a precious one who makes it into my heart.

When I finish my food and look up, Hazel and I are the only ones remaining in the kitchen. I lift my brows at her when I still have food in my mouth.

She pats my chest and chuckles. "They left after finishing their food. I think we are making them uncomfortable."

"Are we?"

"Maybe I'm sticking a bit too close to you for them to be comfortable staying for long."

I suppose. I'm glad she likes to be by my side.

She winks and whispers, "We are doing it well."

Ah... That's a reference to our agreement. We agreed on that so that shouldn't be a surprise to me, but it still hurts.

She may have caught on. "You have no idea how much I miss you."

I wrap my arm around her, stroking her side. "Good."

"Are you tired?"

I shake my head. I'm fine. The training didn't wear me out that badly.

She frowns. "But... You look tired."

"Am I?" Maybe I'm tired, but not physically.

She pats my chest. "Maybe you should go back to our room first. I'll wash the utensils and join you soon."

Ah, our room. I like how that sounds. Maybe I should be wary about how she thinks she can tell me what to do, but it is hard to be mad at that beautiful face and those bright eyes.

It won't be bad to take a rest early. There's no chair in the kitchen, so I'm not the happiest here, anyway. But...

I ask, "Do you even know how to go back there?"

"Well... I suppose I can ask around."

She is a bit too cute.

I pat her head and she purrs against my chest. She melts me from the inside, and I may end up as a puddle on the floor.

There should be no one around though, so there's no reason for her to please me.

But...

I hiss at myself. I don't have to think about that right now. Maybe she is acting, but I want to treat her well. Maybe she will change her mind and want me as her mate. Maybe she still prefers returning to the space station and her stall, that's fine with me.

I pat her back. "We'll go back together. Let me help you."

She grabs my hand that's reaching for the empty bowls on the kitchen table. "Don't. You probably have never washed a bowl in your whole life."

I lift my brows at her. "Are you saying I can't even wash a bowl?"

"You're just going to drop it."

"Hey, I'm not that clumsy. Even if it drops, it won't break."

She is already cleaning up the table and moving the bowls to the sink. "I know, but we'll have to pick them up. If they are wet, we will have to mob the floor. Just let me do it."

"No?" I pick up a few bowls and put them in the sink for her. "I'm not going to let you wash everything yourself. Those uzains should wash their own bowls."

She snorts a laugh. "Now you care about that? I bet you've never done that yourself."

She isn't wrong, but I hate how right she is. She is at the sink and starts washing up. I head to her and bump into her, nudging her to the side. "I said let me."

"Go away... I'm going to be a lot quicker than you. I've been working with dishes and stuff for longer than you've been lifting a battleaxe."

"No way. You have no idea how long I've been trained to fight."

"It's okay, big guy. Step to the side and let the professional handle this."

I hiss at her, but she is right at the sink and I can't even put my hands there. I should push her to the side, but that feels like a bit too rude.

She pecks a kiss on my chest. "Look, just let me do it, okay? The kitchen is my place."

"And the bedroom is mine."

She sucks in a breath with wide eyes. Her cheeks grow pink. I don't mean to tease her about that, but her reaction is sweet. My cock twitches and even though I'm tired, I want her, and I want her now.

I shrug and walk to her back, pretending to have no interest in fighting her over dishwashing. "When you're done, we'll get out of here and back to the soft bed."

And I'll get her soft body for myself and her curve for my eyes alone.

She huffs. "Fine, you are such a horny one."

"Yes, I have nice horns."

She pauses and that's obvious when that changes the sound of the water. "Geez, that's not what it means."

Huh? Maybe that's a human saying that doesn't translate perfectly. "What do you mean? Horns?"

She rolls her eyes at me. "Whatever."

Maybe that's meant to say... I wrap my arms around her from behind. I like her smaller body, makes it easy to hug and hold tightly to me.

She laughs. "What are you doing?"

I rub my hard cock against her ass. She is so soft and so tempting. "Waiting for you to be done with the bowls."

"Mm... Someone has no patience."

"Probably." I kiss the tip of her ear when I would much rather taste her lips. "Can you be quick?"

"It looks like you would have stripped me naked and have it your way if we aren't somewhere the others can barge in."

My cock twitches at that. I wasn't planning to fuck her right here, but since she mentioned it... "When I licked your pussy, did you think I cared?"

She moans and rubs against my cock. "Oh, I know you don't care."

This is unbearable. She wants this and she won't get to complain about that soon. I'm about to strip her trousers when she snickers.

So... She thinks that she has control over me? Like, she can predict what I'm going to do or how I'll react to her tease?

Now that's a bit too insulting even though I love her moans and her smile. She doesn't get to do that to me. I'm going to remain in control of this cute female.

Instead of stripping her naked, I rub her pussy with one hand and keep my cock on her ass. She moans when I push her trousers in and go for her clit. She shivers at once and almost falls backward.

I hold her steady, moving my fingers. "Look, you're going to wait."

"Mm... You are so annoying..."

"Focus, otherwise, you're going to drop the bowls and you'll be the one mopping the floor."

She gasps and keeps washing, but her hands are shaking. Her body is a soft pile of mess. Even through her trousers and her panties, I can feel her heat. She is getting wet for me.

"Zil..." She moans and moves against my cock. "You are the most annoying uzain ever."

"Is this what you said when you don't get my cock?"

"Fuck..." She shivers and the heat in her grows.

"Better done with washing quickly, right?"

"Fuck..."

Yes, I suppose she agrees.