There was a beat of silence, and this time, it was only slightly awkward.
“How old are you?” he asked finally, turning his attention back to the spectacular view beyond.
“I’m thirty-five.”
“Very young…”
“Too young for you?” she asked, only slightly joking.
“Um. Well, I’m more than happy to be friends with adults of all ages.”
Ouch. That was a brush-off if she’d ever heardone.
I mean, she wasn’t expecting him to be her soulmate, but maybe a romp in his cushy bed wouldn’t be the worst thing in the galaxy before heading back to her cot. Butclearlywhatever his cock had been doing earlier truly was a simple case of morning wood and not anything to do with her.
The words definitely stung, but she swallowed the knot in her throat, trying to smile. It was her own fault for thinking Apodis was doing anything other than being helpful and kind. Like he’d really flirt with someone like her.
“It is past dinnertime,” Zenith said, ambling up like he hadn’t just overheard the awkward conversation.
The caerulian had impeccable timing, and for that, Gemini was thankful.
“Right you are, Z!” Apodis said, hopping up and reaching his hand down to her.
She begrudgingly took it, letting him haul her up while careful not to put any weight on her injured ankle. His hands settled on her waist, his tentacles brushing over her shoulders and around her neck, delivering a cool blast as the suckers stuck to her sweaty skin. She was chilled immediately, like she had her own portable air con, the sensation sending a shiver down her spine.
“You looked warm,” he said with a gentle smile, and she furrowed her brows despite the blissful cool tingling her skin.
He sure was handsy with hisfriends, but she supposed he was just being polite. He seemed intent on being a good host, and that was nice of him. Forget romantic options, she didn’t even really have any friends back on Earth, certainly not ones who would go to such an effort to show her around and care for her injury.
Gemini tried to skirt out of his grasp, but before she could take a step, he was pulling her into his arms and cradling her to his chest.
“Come along,” Zenith said, leading the way back toward the cabin while Apodis and Gemini shared a silent smile.
CHAPTER 6
GEMINI
Dinner had beenanother delicious treat—a synthesized cut of meat that tasted like steak, a mountain of mushrooms cooked in butter that were perfectly tender and earthy, and a fresh green salad made of the canar they had collected.
Apodis was quite the chef, and it wasn’t difficult to imagine getting used to this. Exploring the mistforest all day and letting a handsome male cook for her each night.
And fixing up the overgrown garden behind the cabin that Zenith had shown her while Apodis was preparing dinner.
Oh, it had so much potential, but the sun and moisture of Lumeris had caused the native plants to grow wild, overtaking any cultivation Apodis had attempted. If she could get her hands on some seeds,she could easily have a harvest ready before the cold season, her mind already envisioning the vegetables and herbs she could plant.
A silly fantasy, but one Gemini held onto while she and Apodis sat on opposite ends of the couch, Zenith curling up on a soft cushion on the floor. The fireplace was filled with blue-grey flames, some sort of alien tech that gave off a cool breeze while giving the cozy feel of a true fire.
“Will you be returning to your camp tomorrow?”
The question had come out of nowhere, but she wasn’t entirely surprised.
“I suppose I should.”
Apodis’ broad shoulders dropped almost imperceptibly, matching the sinking feeling in her stomach. She really had no urge to go back to work with people who hadn’t even realized she’d been missing, but it was the right thing to do. She didn’t want to overstay her welcome or take advantage of Apodis’ kindness, even if she was having a lovely time.
“Well, you’re welcome to stay as long as you’d like. It might be good to heal in a place of comfort, since you won’t be able to do much fieldwork at the moment.”
He certainly had a point.
