Naima: A SciFi Alien Mail Order Bride Romance (TerraMates Book 7) by Lisa Lace Read Free Book Online Page A

the worst day of her life.
    So now what? Should I pat her on the head or something? I had never been comfortable sharing my feelings or talking. I was a man of action.
    As Gabriella started to push herself off the ground, I extended a hand. She looked away from me, determined to take care of herself.
    "Right," I whispered. "Come with me, and put that mask back on."
    She hesitated for a moment before she decided she would follow me. I took stock of the caves in front of us. I wondered if they were inhabited. Picking up two rocks from the ground, I leaned in front of the entrance and knocked the stones together. Would anything react?
    The sounds of shuffling feet and angry growls came out of the cave. We quickly retreated. I wiped off the sweat trickling down the side of my face with the back of my arm.
    "Are you all right back there?"
    I peeked at Gabriella from the mirror on my weapon. She made a dismissive noise with her tongue. The rag over my mouth flapped when I let out a frustrated sigh. I shifted my neck to my right and flicked my head toward a northbound trail.
    "Let's go this way."
    I could hear her wheezing breath behind me as I took the lead. Before night settled across the leaden skies and washed out the faint light, I found an empty cave. It wasn't large, but looked spacious enough and was nicely located behind a small stream and waterfall. We wouldn't be thirsty, at least. I brushed aside the withered vines and fallen branches obstructing the entrance. Several minutes had passed, but Gabriella had still not said another word.
    I got down on one knee and moved my satchel in front of me. Rifling through my tools, I pulled an emergency light from the bottom of the bag. I twisted the red cap on the end of the cylinder, revealing a white button. When I touched it twice, a bright light shot out from the end. I held it over my head like a torch and entered the cave.
    "You can rest there," I said gruffly, pointing to a dry spot in the back of the cave. Setting the light against the wall, I added, "The emergency light should last until I return. I won't be long."
    I unloaded some ammunition to lighten my satchel before heading back out the cave. Tapping a bronze star pinned to my chest pocket activated a flashlight. It would illuminate my path and reveal boulders and deep fissures in the cracked earth.
    I went around the obstacles and made my way to the water source behind the cave. The water looked clear and delicious. I reached out my hands to scoop a drink, and it tasted better than I could have imagined. Satisfied, I took out two empty containers and filled them from the stream. I returned to the cave with the water, setting my satchel on the opposite corner from Gabriella.
    Her side of the cave looked empty. I had one jug of water with me as a peace offering. But as I knelt down next to her to hand over the water, she flinched away from me. Her shoulders moved back, and I noticed a momentary look of fear in her eyes once again. Not knowing what to do, I set the jug down beside her and nodded brusquely before retreating.
    I lay on the floor and propped my back against the wall. My emergency travel supplies poked out from the side of my satchel. I ripped off the seal and proceeded to inflate a stuffed pillow and unroll a thin blanket. I piled the items behind her before creeping meekly out of the cave again.
    This was not how I wanted things to start between us.

Chapter 6
    GABRIELLA
    Have you ever tried sleeping on a cave floor? It was more comfortable that I had expected, but I barely slept a wink all night. The ultra-thin blanket Laz left me felt about as thick as a sheet of toilet paper, but it was warm. I felt like I had a wool garment wrapped around me.
    I found myself trapped in a shitty catch-22 of being exhausted as all hell but unable to get the sleep I desperately needed. Instead, I stared into the dark of my closed eyelids. Frantic memories raced through my mind, and I couldn't stop thinking.
    The last time