Page 28 of Fionn
"A late morning meal has just been served. You slept throughout the evening and night. I was going to let you sleep for a while longer, but you started thrashing and whimpering. I couldn't watch it. I had to wake you. I hope you will forgive me?"
I laughed. "For waking me from a nightmare? I forgive you. And I thank you." I sat up, relieved that my strength had mostly returned. My arms and legs were sore, and I knew my muscles would be aching for a while, but at least that bone-deep exhaustion had disappeared.
When I remembered why I'd been so exhausted, my mood darkened. "Have you found Kelon?"
"Not yet. But the Tidebound is about to go on a recon flight. He won't be able to hide from her scanners. Would you like to have some breakfast?"
I pushed the blanket off me, only to realise I was still in that skimpy bikini. At least it hadn't slipped while I'd slept.
"Actually, I'd love a shower first. I smell like seaweed."
"A most beautiful scent." Fionn smiled. "I will wait in your living room, if you don't mind."
I was about to ask him to wait outside my suite but then stopped myself. What would be the point? He was already here. He'd seen my body from top to bottom. He had carried me, protected me, saved me. I did not need fake modesty and shame in his presence.
I got up from the bed and swayed for a second as blood rushed to my head. Fionn wrapped an arm around my waist, steadying me.
"I'm fine," I muttered.
"I know. I just... I need to make sure you are alright. It is a deep instinct that I find hard to suppress when I am in your company."
I wanted to lean against him. Feel his warm, strangely textured skin again. Slide my hands over his greenskin, find out what it felt like. But instead, I smiled, stepped away from him and went for a shower.
Fionn looked entirely out of place on that plush sofa. It was too small for this oversized alien. I was taller than most women but next to him, I felt like a child.
He got up as soon as I entered the room. His wide smile made me all warm and fuzzy inside. I could wake up to that any day – no. He was an alien. I was human. This wouldn’t work.
Someone had brought two breakfast trays to my suite, laden with both sweet and savoury dishes as well as a giant fruit basket. A pitcher of orange juice stood next to pots of tea and coffee. I was glad I didn’t have to leave my private rooms. I wasn’t quite ready yet to face other people. For some reason, Fionn didn’t count. I was entirely comfortable in his company.
Because Fionn had looked so uncomfortable on the sofa, I grabbed a blanket hanging over one of the armchairs. “Let’s have a picnic outside.”
For a moment, he hesitated. I thought it was because he wanted to stay inside or because he had better things to do than spend time with me, but then he asked, “What is a picnic?”
I almost laughed in relief. It was just a cultural misunderstanding. I explained the concept to him.
“Why do you prefer to eat on the ground?” he asked, clearly confused about the whole thing.
This time, I did laugh. “I don’t even know. I think it’s more relaxed than sitting at a table. Maybe I associate picnics with my childhood when us children could be messy and play rather than having to sit still and worrying about table manners. There’s a sort of freedom in picnics.”
“I am excited to try it. Let me just inform my brothers.” He pressed a button on the black bracelet he had around his left wrist. A holographic display appeared above it, hovering in the air like magic. I watched with wide eyes as he scrolled through menus and clicked buttons that didn’t actually exist. I wanted to have a go at this technology.
A blue face appeared above his wrist. The man looked vaguely familiar, but my memory of yesterday’s events was foggy. Was he the one who had met us on the beach before Fionn had carried me into the spaceship?
“Rainse, we’re about to go outside to have breakfast on the beach. Any update on the search?”
“The Tidebound’s just taken off. Cerban’s on board to oversee the search. Captain Maggnus has been most accommodating after his chat with Pam this morning. I’ll update you as soon as I hear something. Po'shran and Liltty have stayed on land to help guard the females.”
Fionn sighed. “Hopefully, this will all be over soon and we can focus on the reason we came here.”
“Wouldn’t that be nice.” Rainse grinned. “I have some good news on that front. The plane carrying the other females has landed on a neighbouring island. As soon as Kelon has been found and secured, they will be transported here by boat. The mating game can finally continue.”
“Dating, not mating. That would be a very different affair. I don’t think the Peritan females want to proceed that quickly.”
I suppressed a chuckle. I’d gone on Tinder dates in the past where dating had turned into mating by the end of the evening. None of them had ever resulted in a long-term relationship.
Fionn ended the call and together we carried the food outside. I spread the blanket on a patch of sand close to the veranda and Fionn built us a banquet. I would have preferred to sit further away from the building, but as long as Kelon was still out there, it was better to stay away from the water.
I shuddered.
