A growl rattled deep in his throat, and he took half a step toward Nyree before his mind understood what he was doing.Nyree stilled, her expression watchful.
Slowly, he raised his hands, palms extended outward in a position of surrender.“I promise never to hit or knowingly hurt you.”
“Why did you snarl?”She straightened and shot him a glower.“That’s not civilized.You’re a taniwha.If you strike me, I will retaliate in kind.”
She looked cute.Aroha had been sweet and loving, but she hadn’t possessed Nyree’s inner core of strength.Her fire.
Nyree advanced on him and poked his chest with her forefinger.A dart of pain accompanied by more awareness had him gasping.
“You feel solid enough,” she said, her tone rueful as she wriggled her finger with care.
A tremor passed through him as he inhaled her clean scent, and he fought the urge to embrace her and press their mouths together in the way of the Europeans.He and Aroha had tried this many times.Aroha hadn’t enjoyed the contact of lips and the tangle of tongues as much as he.His gaze drifted to Nyree’s lush mouth, and he leaned closer, only to jerk upright when she poked him in the chest again.
He fingered the sore spot.“That hurts.”
“It’s meant to divert your attention to answering my question.”
“What question?”His gaze had developed a will of its own.In his defense, her lips looked soft, which made him curious and yearn to explore.
“Why did you growl at me?”
Tawera gave her truth.“I don’t enjoy you mentioning other men.”
“What?”She sounded incredulous.
Tawera swallowed, unable to explain the burst of his emotions.“You rescued me, gave me a roof and food.”
“I expect nothing in return.Now hurry and finish eating.I don’t want to be late for work.”
Confusion dulled his reaction time, and he continued to stare at her.
“Tawera, did you hear me?”
“What?Yes.”This reaction was an unusual one for him—the hesitation.He was—had been—a leader.Someone who made decisions.He’d never hesitated but moved onward, always trusting his gut instinct.Right now, he teetered as if he stood in a swamp, and any of his next steps might send him waist-deep into the mud.
Aware of Nyree’s impatience, he drank his coffee and ate the last mouthful of toast covered with something black called vegemite.It was salty and bore an interesting flavor, although he’d liked the peanut butter better.He stood.“Should I do the dishes?”
Nyree laughed.“We’ll do them later.”
“Why are you laughing?Should I not offer?Is doing dishes women’s work?”
“These days, men and women share tasks.”As she spoke, Nyree placed containers away in cupboards and the refrigerator.
His mind buzzed with information and the differences between his world then with now.
Nyree glanced at the timepiece she wore on her wrist and moved even faster.“Let’s go.”
Tawera dutifully followed her outdoors and took pleasure in the chilly wind against his chest.
Nyree walked beside him and pointed out the landmarks.Tawera craned his neck to study the enormous pieces of machinery.
“White men like the sailor who brought you here fished for whales in this bay.They captured thousands and almost decimated the population.These days it is illegal to capture whales, and slowly, the population has increased.Once we go flying together, I’ll show you the whales.Some days they play in the water and show off.Have you seen penguins before?”
“Once.Mostly, I heard them,” Tawera said.“I am also familiar with seals.”
“All right.This is the museum.Can you read English?”
“The missionaries taught me.”
