Page 40 of Carnal: The Beast Who Loved Me

Rosie had nothing to say to that because, based on what Carnal had said, it was likely true.

By mid-morning, Carnal had taken off his shirt. He managed to situate himself so that he was usually working right in front of the open door and, as likely planned, Rosie had a hard time keeping her eyes away from the rippling muscles on display in a spectacular demonstration of male exhibitionism. Whenever he caught her looking, he smiled like a cat sneaking cream.

The workers cleared a path for the lunch crowd, as promised, and came inside for some well-deserved hot meals. Carnal sat at the bar and watched Rosie work while he ate, never taking his eyes off her. He noticed that she called every one of the regulars by name and often exchanged some pleasantry, asking about a wife or child or a chicken that wasn’t laying. He also noticed that she seemed to be well-liked in return.

She may not have known it, but she was a pioneer in the sense that she was the first human to ever live and be accepted as one of them. So far as Carnal was concerned, that meant something. It took courage to show up in a society where she was not only the only outsider, of a different subspecies, but was also representative of a race that was distrusted, if not despised.

When the rush died down, Carnal said, “Guess I’d better get back to work.”

“It was nice of you to wear a shirt to lunch,” Rosie said off-handedly.

Carnal grinned. “So you noticed I didn’t have a shirt on earlier.”

Rosie looked him in the eye. “There’s no point in pretending you’re not fun to look at, Carnal. You already know that. But I’m not looking for a boy toy.”

Carnal laughed showing off his very white and dangerous looking fangs. “Boy toy?!? Is that a real thing where you’re from?”

“It is for some people. Not for me.”

Rosie turned to take a tray of glasses to the deep sinks for washing, but Carnal caught her wrist.

“I don’t want to be your boy toy, Rosie.”

“Good. Then we’re agreed.” She looked pointedly at his hand on her wrist, detaining her progress. “But I might want to be your man.”

“That’s a lovely proposal, Carnal, but I’m not in the market for a man.”

With that he released her. She took the glasses to the sink. When she turned around, he’d gone. He didn’t work on the Commons porch that afternoon, but when she left for the day, he was waiting to walk her to the Weavers’ Barn.

He’d changed clothes and smelled nice, like a man recently bathed.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“Walking,” he said. “So, are you doing level three today?”

“You were really listening.” She didn’t want to be impressed by that.

“Of course. I’m interested in you.”

Rosie stopped walking and turned to face Carnal. “You need to stop being interested in me.”

He faced her, with hands in his pockets, and leaned down toward her which accentuated the height difference and also gave Rosie a little catch of breath.

“I can’t just stop being interested. I’m interested. And you need to know that I’ve never chased after a female before. Ever.”

“Am I supposed to be flattered by that?”

“You absolutelyaresupposed to be flattered by that.”

Judging by the look on his face, he wasn’t kidding. “Are you being serious?” He lifted and dropped his shoulders. “Look, I only have a few minutes before school’s out…”

“I only have a few more days before I’m back on watch.”

“Oh. You’re on vacation?”

“We don’t get vacation, Rosie, but we do get brief periods when we’re not on active patrol. When that happens we’re still on watch, at the ready, or we’re helping with things that need doing around here. Like building‘vestibules’.”

She studied him for a few beats. “I have to go. See you at dinner.”