Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 29593 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 148(@200wpm)___ 118(@250wpm)___ 99(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29593 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 148(@200wpm)___ 118(@250wpm)___ 99(@300wpm)
For me, it was love at first sight. I don’t care that most people would find him unpleasant to look at, or that his glare can peel paint. I know the real Brux. I know that he saw a slave being abused and dropped everything to help, when so many others had just ignored my situation. He made sure I was somewhere safe, and he never contacted me again.
This is a sign, though. Brux is here, on Risda, and it’s clear he had no idea I was in the vicinity. Fate is bringing us back together, and this time, I’m not going to take no for an answer.
I’m going to shoot my shot, and I don’t care how many times he says no. I know I can get him to say yes.
CHAPTER
FOUR
MELODY
The next morning, I pull my hair up into a knot atop my head, just like I used to wear it back when I was a slave. Then, it was to keep the filthy mess out of the way, but this time I want it up because I want Brux to remember me from five years ago. I’ve filled out and I’m no longer covered in bruises, but I’m still the same woman. Just a little bolder, a little braver, and someone that gives a lot less fucks.
I wave at the custodians posted at the front of the construction area. They’re used to seeing me around, so my presence isn’t surprising. I’m dressed in my usual scrapping clothing, with a reinforced apron over my tunic and leggings and sturdy boots. I’ve left my sun hat off, though. I want Brux to get a good look at me, to see the excitement in my eyes. To know that I’m not full of shit when I invite him to dinner. It’s not about pity or gratitude.
It’s about me being unable to forget him, even for a day. And I’m going to take advantage of the fact that he’s here.
The scrap pile is just where I left it, and a few of the crew notice me working but don’t come by to watch this time. Someone must have said something to them. Hm. No Brux, either. I know better than to get in the way of the equipment and the workers, so I remain where I am. Instead, I pick up two pieces of metal and clang them both together like a dinner bell. CLANG CLANG CLA-CLANG CLA-CLA-CLANG CLANG CLANG.
I keep right on clanging until one of the men—one of the unfortunate-looking szzt—leans over to look down at me. “What?!”
“I need to talk to Brux,” I call up. “Tell him Melody’s here.”
“Brux doesn’t want to talk to anyone—”
I immediately start banging the metal together again. CLANG CLANG CLA-CLANG CLANG CLANG!
The alien worker gives me a disgusted look and trots off. I keep merrily banging away, knowing that someone’s going to get annoyed by my actions soon enough and it’ll flush out the man I want to see.
Sure enough, after a few minutes of me making a complete nuisance of myself, a huge shadow falls over me. I drop the metal I’ve been using as the universe’s most annoying percussion instruments, and squint up. Even with the sun behind him, I recognize the thick, heavy form, the massive arms, and the two broken stumps of horns.
“You need to quit bothering my crew,” is all he says to me.
“Hi Brux,” I reply cheerfully, and hold my hand up to him so he can lift me up to his side.
He ignores it.
Obviously I’m going to have to push a little harder. “Sure is a warm day here in the sun. Be a shame if I’d have to strip down and get naked while working. I bet that’d be a huge distraction to your men.” And I give my hand a little shake, indicating that he should grab it.
Brux’s jaw clamps, his mouth setting into a firm, unhappy line. But he reaches down, takes my hand, and then uses his other to brace me as he lifts me up to his side. Just like every other time he’s touched me, he makes sure to be careful, to treat me like I’m made of glass.
Those big hands have so much power, yet he would never bruise me. He’d never even dream of it, even as he’s scowling at me.
“What do you want?”
“You,” I say cheerfully. “Want to go to dinner with me?”
“Stop this,” he says, voice gruff. The expression on his face is utterly unyielding. “And stop coming back here. You’re not safe.”
“I disagree. I’m always safe with you.” I keep smiling, keep my gaze focused on him. He looks a little older than when I last saw him. Maybe a little more tired, as if life is beating him down. It makes me want to pull him against me and stroke that shorn head, to rest him against my breasts and let him know that I’m here with him, and we never have to be parted again. “So…dinner? I’d love to catch up.”