Power: BBW Alien Lottery Romance (Chosen by the Karal Book 3) Read Online Free Page B

thing.”
    “No.” He folded his arms, reminding her of a little child, obstinate and uncooperative.
    Perhaps if she went first, he might be more willing. “Once, when I was five, my father bought home a seed. He had found it while out looking for work. He didn’t find a job, but we didn’t care, because he had found something so much better, he had found potential life.” She looked up to see him still with his arms folded, but he was listening to her.
    Taking a sip of her tea, she looked across to her paintings on the wall. She had all of the time in the world to wait. Her father had taught her that patience was a gift to cultivate in the same way they had lovingly cultivated that little seed.
    He took a sip of his tea and grimaced, but then took another sip, his face settling to a look of distaste instead of disgust. How different it must be on his planet, with enough food, water and power to live comfortably. So much like the generations who had lived so long ago. The time stretched out between them, and she calmly waited, feeling his impatience growing.
    “Did it grow? The seed.”
    “Tell me about your favourite thing,” she countered. “And I’ll tell you about the seed.”
    “I do not bargain,” he said bluntly.
    She got up from the sofa and held her hand out for his cup, which he had now drained. He handed it to her and she went back into the kitchen, feeling hungry. Opening the cupboard, she took out some crackers, dry and probably a little stale, but if she coated them with some synthetic cheese spread, they were edible.
    Reaching for a plate, she placed the crackers out, spreading them with a thin layer of cheese. Wrinkling her nose at the smell. Edible. Just.
    Going back to settle herself down on the sofa, she offered him one, but he held his hand up, not wanting the food near him. Eating them carefully, trying not to let the crumbs spill everywhere, she ate them while he glanced at her nervously, and then back to her paintings.
    With a loud sigh he once more went to the door. The rain could still be heard on the roof. Vanessa waited patiently while he looked outside, shut the door a little hard and then came back to her. His hair was dry now, and it curled around his neck, making him look somehow wild, primal in his bearing.
    While she ate, her fingers itched to pick up the pencil and paper once more and sketch him, but she kept her cool while she ate the crackers. He fidgeted more, and she wondered if he had ever had to sit so still, with no entertainment, before.
    At last, she finished her crackers and said, “I just realised we have not introduced ourselves. I am Vanessa Roderick.”
    His eyes narrowed as if he was trying to work out if this was a new game. “I have no use of your name and you have no use of mine.”
    She sighed at the air of superiority he had around him; he reminded her of the ‘pents’ who tried to block out their species’ demise by living high up above the smog, their houses opulent, filled with antiques from a forgotten age of plenty.
    Knowing he was a guest and she should bite her tongue, she said, “Do you have no use for manners on your planet either? Now I am beginning to see that living the rest of my life on Earth is probably a happier prospect than any woman who wins the lottery might have. Or are you one of a kind?”
    “How long until the rain stops?” he asked abruptly, ignoring her question. She thought he was going to go and look out of the door again, unable to work out why he was so rude and restless. This might not be where he needed to be right now, but his other choice was to brave the rain. Which left him no choice at all.
    “Hours, probably. And even when it does, you won’t be able to leave. Not until the streets are dry.”
    “It is not far to the airport. I can walk there when the streets are still wet.” His fingers tapped impatiently and then he did go and check the door again.
    Vanessa stood up; she tidied the kitchen, and then went to