Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 44256 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 221(@200wpm)___ 177(@250wpm)___ 148(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44256 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 221(@200wpm)___ 177(@250wpm)___ 148(@300wpm)
Aithar ruins a batch of butter. Aithar breaks one of the butter machines. Aithar makes butter better than I do and I feel like a hack.
Aithar and I have sex and then he dumps me.
My head is full of terrible things that could happen, constantly pulling new fears out. What if Aithar doesn’t like sex with me? What if I can’t let him do all the things he wants to do to me? What if I freak out and he gets disappointed and abandons me? What if he realizes I’m a terrible person and gives up on me?
After a few hours of restless panic, I get out of bed and stalk the house, looking for something to do. I eye the walls. There are no baseboards, but I wonder if there’s scrubbing needed anyhow. There might be dust trapped against the join where the wall meets the floor. I get down on my hands and knees with a duster, a sponge, and an old toothbrush and clean the alien version of grout until dawn. When that’s done, I eye my furniture. There’s an end table that doesn’t sit quite right on the floor…
The doorbell rings an hour or two later. I look up from the table leg I’m sanding, sawdust all around me. Is it time already? My stomach twists in a worried knot. Brushing off my nightgown, I get to my feet and crack open the door, peering out.
It’s Aithar all right, with a beaming smile on his face. He looks good, I decide. His uniform fits his body well and his hair has grown out a little, into a thick black cap of shorn hair instead of just a buzz. It suits him and emphasizes his dark eyes and chiseled features. He eyes me and his expression immediately changes to one of concern. “Michaela! You look exhausted. Are you well?”
I hesitate and then let him in, even though I want to slam the door in his face and tidy up before he can see the mess I’ve made. “I had trouble sleeping so I did a bit of work. If you want to come back, I’ll clean up—”
“No, no. I don’t care if it’s a mess in here.” He steps inside my home and immediately pulls me into a bear hug. “Are you ready for today?”
“Am I a jerk if I say no?”
“Not at all. I would be surprised if you were looking forward to this day’s events with enthusiasm. You will be relinquishing control and that has to bother you…even if I do plan on giving you multiple orgasms.” He grins at me. “Look forward to that part, at least?”
I manage a small smile. Orgasms only happen when one is relaxed and I don’t know if I’m going to be relaxed enough at any point in this day for that to happen. “You bet.”
He rubs his hands together and looks around my home. “Why don’t you sit down and I will make you your morning meal?”
I don’t think I could choke down a bite. “Oh, I normally don’t eat breakfast—”
“Nonsense. I am going to make you a meal. Today is a big day.” He puts his hands on my shoulders and firmly but gently pushes me into the nearest chair. “Relax. It will be ready soon.”
Oh sure. Just relax. I manage a small smile and watch as he heads into the kitchen.
My smile fades when he immediately pulls everything out of the fridge and begins to pick through it. He sniffs some of the fresh vegetables and the leaves fall off the roots as he does. He ignores it, and I watch as another flutters to the counter. He puts the vegetables back and grabs a packet of noodles, giving me a confident look before ripping it open with a mighty tear.
Noodles go flying.
“Whoops.” He gives me a sheepish grin. “Sorry about that.” He scoops up the dried noodles that fell on the counter and tosses them into the bowl, but there are remnants everywhere. On the counters, on the floor, in the sink…
Aithar continues, and I’ve never seen him make such a mess. Every other time he’s been in my kitchen, he’s been very careful with how he handles my things. He cleans the dishes the moment he dirties them and he’s a tidy worker. Not today. I watch in horror as he grabs a bundle of greens and begins to chop them haphazardly. “Aithar!”
“Yes, my heart?”
“What are you doing?”
“Making a morning meal for you.”
“But…” I watch as he cracks an egg and only half of it makes it into the bowl, the rest puddling on the counter. “You’re making a mess.”
“Am I? I had no idea. It’s fine.” He beams at me and waves the knife in my direction, bits of cut leaves flying as he does. “Just sit right there and let me handle things.”