Page 18 of Bikar

Lurching away from him like the contact burns is probably not the best reaction in the world, but what else am I supposed to do when I feel…movementwhere my front pressed against him.

Smooth move, Bambi.

Heat blooms across my face, and I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, offering him a clumsy greeting. “Erhm… good morning. Yes, I’m fine. Sorry about that.”

Smiling down at me, he shrugs my apology away. “There is no need to apologize. Would you like to have the fast-breaking meal with me?”

Bashful longing is written across his face, and I don’t have the heart to tell him no. I’m hungry; it should still be morning, and it’s not like there’s that much room on this ship. I also think I actuallywantto have breakfast with him. It’s surprising, but I’m nothing if not honest with myself. Bikar showed me there’sa whole lot more to him than I thought, and I’m hesitantly optimistic about getting to know him better.

I wonder what Heather’s going to say when she finds out I kissed him last night?

Bikar steps back out of the way, lifts his arm, and gestures for me to precede him down the hall. An awkward silence settles between us as we walk, and I rack my brain for something to say. He must be as uncertain as I am, because we start talking at the same time.

“Did you sleep well, little doe?”

“How’d you sleep?”

Both of us pause for a second before bursting into laughter, effectively breaking the ice between us.

Deciding to acknowledge the elephant in the room, I word-vomit all over him with a wince. “Yeah, so I’m not exactly sure what to say or do. I’ve never had a‘morning after’with a guy before, so I’m at a loss. Not that this is a walk of shame situation, and not that there’s anything to be ashamed of. Even if we had… gone all the way. Slut shaming isn’t a thing we do here. Then I literally ran into you and you… uh… had a reaction…”

I’m not sure my face could be any redder, so I might as well go for broke and be as forthright as possible. Shrugging my shoulders, I try to play off how uncomfortable I am.

“I had a surprisingly good time with you last night. You showed me a side of yourself that I didn’t know existed. But that doesn’t mean I’m ready to have sex with you.”

Bikar’s eyes widen at my blunt honesty before a smug smirk forms on his lips. “If you’re about to say something sexually suggestive, just don’t,” I bark out, beating him to the punch. “I haven’t been awake long enough to listen to your bullshit, and we both know that’s roughly ninety percent of what comes out of your mouth. So, shut it.”

Twinkling gold eyes full of mirth peer down at me as he tries to smother his satisfied male chuckle.

“Whatever do you mean? I wouldneversay anything of that nature. Especially when my mate has asked me so nicely.”

Taking an enormous step to the side, I gape at him. “I’m just gonna move on over here before the good Lord strikes you down for lying like a rug on the floor. I don’t wanna get hit in the crossfire.”

By this time, Bikar is roaring with laughter, and I have a small smile on my face. That’s exactly what everyone in the dining hall sees when we walk through the door, and the room falls eerily silent.

Since I followed Bikar through the threshold, I didn’t get to see what everyone’s face looked like at first, but the silence is deafening. Stepping around the broad mass of his body, my gaze bounces off several Ruks with knowing expressions on their faces, before settling on Heather.

Rolling my eyes, I ignore the satisfied grin she’s wearing— and what she’s silently telling me—as I wind through the tables. Bikar follows along behind me as I approach her, disregarding the other Ruks with a half-hearted wave or nod of greeting.

“Heather Feather, don’t start with me this morning. It’s early, and I haven’t even had my pretend coffee yet.” Sliding into the chair across from her, I ignore Heather’s snickering as Bikar settles into the seat beside me.

Does he really have to sit that close?

Surreptitiously, I try to scoot away from him so I have little breathing room—he’s so damned big it’s a bit overwhelming—but the chair is freaking heavy, and I look like I’m performing calisthenics instead of sneakily moving away.

Bikar peers at me curiously. “Is something amiss, little Starshine?”

Muttering a response, I resign myself to his imposing bulk being in my bubble. “No, Bikar. Nothing’swrong.”

Maybe I actually like him sitting so close to me… not that I’m going to tell him that.

Yet.

My bestieisnotbeingquiet, and I do my best to act as unaffected as possible, only partially succeeding until she starts ribbing me.

“Girl, you should see your face right now. There are tomatoes less red than you. Makes me wonder what you and the winged wanker were talking about in the hallway.”

Choking on spit is a horrible way to start the morning, but here I am—coughing, clearing my throat, and trying to breathe while Heather sits there, judging me. Trying and failing to get the words burning a hole in my tongue out, I struggle through another coughing fit, tears welling in my eyes. Bikar’s arms are partially extended as if he intends to help, but has absolutely no idea what to do, or if his touch would be permitted.