Page 6 of Jorax
"I'm glad." His gruff voice wraps around me like an intimate caress.
We spend the next hour alternating between companionable silence and easy conversation: his latest hypotheses, my most embarrassing lab accidents, and our beloved childhood pets. Natural as breathing.
Lulled by the springs and his presence, I could stay here forever, pruning be damned. Tension I didn't realize I carried melts away until I'm boneless.
I crack an eye open to find Jorax watching me, something soft and unguarded in his expression that makes my pulse stutter.
"Hungry? I packed some fruit tarts."
"Oooh, fancy! You've been holding out on me, Dr. Xyron." My voice comes out huskier than intended.
He ducks his head boyishly, but I catch his pleased smile. "Only the best for you, Dr. Anilore."
Wrapped in fluffy towels, we picnic on the sunbaked rocks, sharing bites ofmozzleberryandmellaberrytarts between easy laughter. I feel comfortable in a way I can’t quite put my finger on… other than it feels calm, unhurried, and natural.
Jorax points out a flock of long-tailed scarlet birds soaring overhead as he patiently explains their migration patterns and mating habits. His passion is mesmerizing. I could listen to him geek out forever.
By the time we meander back to the hover, the sun is setting in a riot of crimson and violet. Already, I'm mourning the end of our adventure.
"I had an incredible time." I have no need to hide the brilliant smile I flash at him. It just feels natural. "Thank you for sharing this place with me."
"It was my pleasure." Jorax focuses on his feet, endearingly shy. "I… I've never brought anyone here before."
My heart squeezes. He trusted me with something special. It feels like a gift.
"Syrryn…" My name is a gravelly rasp, filled with longing. Though it seemed as though he was going to say something else, something personal, his comment fades to nothing.
"Next week, hot cocoa by the falls?" I ask hopefully.
His slow, crooked smile rivals the breathtaking sunset. "It's a d—, uh, I’ll put it on my calendar."
For the first time since arriving on Hallion, I'm not nervous at all. Whatever this is between us, unfolding sweet and steady as spring blossoms… it feels unquestionably right.
Chapter Eight
Syrryn
Sometimes I confuse myself. Just when I’d decided that all I wanted to do was focus on getting to know my adopted new town and move into the little house I’m renting, I’ve accepted another date with Icaron. It’s odd. I’ve never been a hot and cold person before. I usually know my mind pretty well.
The male has all but ignored me these last few weeks. At first, his absence hurt my feelings. In the sculpture garden after that sumptuous meal he treated me to, it certainly seemed as though he was interested in me. Then he all but disappeared.
Since I’d decided not pursue anything personal with Icaron, I’m not exactly sure why I agreed to go on this date. Well, it could be his vid-star good looks. Funny, I never considered myself so fickle before.
One more date in a hover-limo couldn’t hurt anything, could it?
I smooth the sleek white dress over my hips, admiring my reflection. Icaron invited me to the opening of a play tonight. I couldn’t resist bringing this dress along to change into after work. His intensity both captivates and unsettles me. Perhaps that hint of danger is part of his allure.
As I step out of the bathroom adjoining the lab, Jorax glances up from his workstation. His gaze catches on my plunging neckline before jerking back to my face, his patchwork skin darkening.
“You look… nice,” he rasps. “Special occasion?”
I sweep my hair over one shoulder. “Icaron invited me to some exclusive theater premiere.”
Jorax makes a non-committal sound, bending back over his notes. Disappointment twinges through me. Over the past few weeks, I’ve come to rely on his self-deprecating humor to lighten my days. When he allows himself to relax, he has a dry wit that never ceases to remind me how brilliant he is.
His shy companionship stands in such contrast to Icaron’s hot and cold overtures. I often wish Jorax would be a little more forthcoming. I’d like to get to know him better.
My comm device pings with an incoming message. It’s from Icaron, terse and vague about an unexpected issue arising that requires his attention tonight. He doesn’t suggest an alternative date. He simply cancels at the last minute.
