“It must be really good.”
Reddix’s deep voice cut into her happy little memory, and her eyes flew open. To her discomfort, she saw he was looking at her in that way again. The way that made her feel hot and cold and naked all at once. She nearly choked but finally managed to swallow her bite.
“Yeah, it’s…really delicious,” she said, holding the burger out reflexively. “Want to try a bite?”
Reddix looked thoughtful. “Don’t mind if I do. But only if you try a bite of mine.”
“Well…” Nina eyed his plateful of blue lasagna doubtfully.
“Come on,” he urged. “You need to try new things.”
“Like I’m not already trying new things,” Nina scoffed. “Here I am on an alien planet, having dinner with my kidnapper…”
“I’m sorry about that,” he said, his voice growing suddenly harsh. “I wouldn’t have taken you if I didn’t need you—need what you have—so badly.”
Nina forgot about the food. “And what is it that I have that you need?” she asked, looking at him intently. “You can at least tell me that.”
“No.” He shook his head. “I can’t. Not now.”
It was on the tip of her tongue to ask when? as well as a whole host of other questions, but Nina sensed he would just shut down if she did that. And it seemed to her that her best chance of survival was to keep him engaged…keep him talking. Besides, though she didn’t want to admit it, she was really beginning to enjoy their casual banter.
The conversation wasn’t anything like what she would have expected to have with a man who had kidnapped her and taken her hostage, but it was different…nice, as crazy as that sounded. And a lot more interesting than the conversations she used to have with her last serious boyfriend, Mitch, whose idea of witty repartee was to grunt, “That was good, babe. How ‘bout gettin’ me a beer?” right after sex.
“Here, try a bite,” she said, getting back to the subject of food. “And yes, I’ll try a bite of yours too, but you first.”
Reddix took a bite of the hamburger and closed his eyes as he chewed. Finally, he swallowed and looked at her.
“Good. Really good. Meaty, salty, juicy…I can see why you like it so much.” He nodded down at the Pshaolin pie. “Now you try mine.”
“All right…” Trying to be brave, Nina scooped up a reasonable bite and, not letting herself think about it, popped it into her mouth. Immediately flavors exploded across her tongue. It was, as Reddix had said, both sweet and savory with a lighter-than-air texture, and to her surprise, it was absolutely delicious. “Mmm,” she hummed contentedly. It reminded her of the first time she’d ever tried curry—it was a completely alien taste but also wonderful.
“So you like it?” Reddix rumbled, and she thought she saw a little smile playing around the corners of his sensuous mouth.
Nina swallowed. “I do—maybe even more than the burger. What’s in it?”
“Trelk blossoms, kildar meat, yarop sauce…” He shook his head. “The rest varies but those are the main ingredients that you have to have to make really good Pshaolin pie.”
“Well, it’s delicious. But now I’m thirsty.” Nina raised the heavy glass wine bottle, using two hands. She was about to take a sip of the fruity smelling liquid when she stopped. “Uh, is this stuff alcoholic?”
“Only mildly,” Reddix assured her. “It never affects me at all—you should be fine.”
“Yeah, but you’re built like a tank,” Nina objected.
He shrugged, his cuffs rattling. “I can’t help it. We Kindred are built on a larger scale than you tiny little humans. Try the drink—I think you’ll like it.”
“I’ll only have a little,” Nina said, more to herself than him. Though she loved fruity drinks, she was a real lightweight when it came to drinking, and she didn’t need to get blackout drunk right now. She took a delicate, ladylike sip.
“Hmm, that’s nice.” She took another, longer sip. “Really nice.” She took a third drink—the melon and berries taste was still there, but the hint of cinnamon toast seemed to be getting stronger and more delicious with every swallow.
“What happened to ‘just a little’?” Reddix looked amused.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I’m sure you want some too.” Carefully she wiped the bottle with the fabric of her scrub top and held it up to him.
“You didn’t have to do that.” Reddix frowned. “I told you, I’m not afraid of your germs.”