Page 1 of When She's Stuffed
CHAPTER
ONE
TOGHAR
Today,I decide, I'm going to tell Pamela that I care for her. It's done. It's decided. I'm going to do it.
Anxiety makes my palms sweaty, and I wipe them on my clothing. I want to tug at the high collar on my standard-issue security uniform, but if I tug on it once, I'm going to tug on it all day. I run my hands down my thighs instead.
"You look nervous," the guard at the estate entrance comments as I lift my badge to scan. "Something going on?"
"No," I scoff, leaning in for the second part of the scan and opening my eye wide. I wait as my retinal print is processed, but my tail twitches.
I must be unconvincing because Jassoh narrows his eyes at me. He knows something is going on. I wait at the door, ready to begin another day as one of Lord va'Rin's many security guards on his grand estate. He employs several of us, and because we all live in the barracks, we tend to be in each other's business. Normally I don't mind if my co-workers are nosy. But today istheday.
After a long moment, Jassoh's expression changes and then he grins, blocking the door before I can enter. "Wait. Are you finally going to do it? You going to tell that little human female how you feel?"
Shoving the other male aside so I can enter, I fight the urge to growl at how familiar he is with her. No one gets to call Pamela a “little human” except me. "If I can get the words out. And she's not 'little.' Not to you."
"You can do it," he encourages, slapping me on the back as I walk past. "Don't be so nervous. What's the worst that could happen?"
The worst that couldhappen?
Pamela is human and I'm mesakkah. She's a former slave, kidnapped from her planet and rescued by Lord va'Rin. I'm one of the race that stole her from her home. She could loathe me. She could be horrified at my confession of devotion and never want to see me again. Perhaps she will be so disgusted at the thought of an alien male besotted with her that she will abandon her job and her comfortable, safe life here on Risda III. My words will drive her away and then I will never see her again.
At least now, when she doesn't know how I feel, I can watch over her. I can make sure that she's safe and protected and taken care of every day.
Jassoh doesn't understand. I mumble something about being late and push through the door before he can quiz me further.
I nod to the others as I walk through the echoing halls of the expansive estate, heading for my station near the kitchens. It's early, and Pamela won't be in for several hours yet. Which is good, because that'll give me time to get my keffing head on straight, to calm down and think about how I'm going to ask her to let me court her. I need to word it just right. After five years of working alongside one another, I can't bear the thought of another day passing without her knowing how I feel.
And yet...it's safest not to say anything at all.
I'm torn. Lord va'Rin has given me permission to court her. He says I don't need it, that we are both adults. This is true, but we also both work for him, and Pamela is very close to his wife. If she does not want me to court her, things can get very awkward. Perhaps that is why I have kept silent for so long. Pamela deserves to feel happy and safe when she is at work. It's better for all of us if I keep my feelings to myself.
But doing so is...agony. I ache to touch her, to stroke her mane back from her face. I can't stop watching her as she moves about, and her soft smiles fill me with such joy, even if they're not aimed at me. Perhaps I should say nothing.
At least I have time to decide, I think to myself as I stroll down the long halls of Lord va'Rin's home. Pamela will not be in for work for a few hours yet. I arrive early every day ahead of her and?—
A pan clatters in the kitchens up ahead.
My steps slow. An intruder? I free the arm-length shock-stick in my belt, activating it. As one of Lord va'Rin's many security guards, it's my duty to keep him and his family safe...as well as the humans that work for them. I creep up on the kitchen doors, weapon at the ready, and peer inside.
A familiar figure bustles past, cussing as she does so. I recognize the plump bounce of Pamela's appealing backside as she moves, and deactivate my shock-stick. Stepping inside, I scowl at her. "Woman, I almost used my weapon on you."
She blinks up at me through heavy glasses. "Don't threaten me with a good time. And good morning, Toghar."
My face prickles with heat.
CHAPTER
TWO
PAMELA
That adorably delectablealien man is standing in the middle of my kitchen, blushing and fondling his stick-weapon. Normally I'd tease the hell out of him for it, but today I don't have time. There's far too much to be done.
"Good morning to you, too," I say pertly, and then bustle past him in search of a deep pan. When he steps to the side, I have to nudge him out of the way again a moment later. "Either help me find a pan or get out of the kitchen. I love talking to you, don't get me wrong, but I've got too much to do today and not enough time to do it."
