Read Online My Chameleon Loves [Galactic Nuptials 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) by Missy Martine - Free Book Online Page A

several more waiting on yours to end. It’s already late in the growing season now, so we thought it’d be better to get our bearings this year and plant and stock the place next year.” He shrugged. “I don’t honestly know who lived here before us, or what kind of livestock they had.”
    She frowned. “I finally got around to looking at all those pamphlets you gave me this morning. I thought you only had a couple of years to make a go of this place or the Federation would replace you.” She didn’t like the uneasy looks the men exchanged.
    Kernz smiled and pulled her closer to his body. “They gave us an extension because of the special circumstances.”
    The grating sound of Zin opening the barn door captured her attention. She moved forward and strolled into the dark building. The strong scent of animal assaulted her nose. “Well, there were animals here at one time.” As her eyes grew accustomed to the dark, she made out several rough wooden stalls, their doors standing wide open. “I wonder what happened to the livestock.”
    Zin shrugged. “There’s no way to know. This place has been closed up all this time, so the smells didn’t have time to dissipate. Whatever was here has been gone a long time.”
    Jeni took a couple more steps and let her fingers trail across the prickly surface of a stack of hay bales. Dust seemed to coat her tongue as she surveyed the empty food troughs.
    “This is where we’ve been storing the cruiser.” Kernz pulled a canvas cover off a large mound, revealing something similar to a large adult tricycle with four distinct seats. A large spider web with an intricate pattern covered the ladder to the loft behind him.
    She wrinkled her nose. “You really need someone to clean this place out.”
    “Are you volunteering?” Zin laughed.
    “Well, not alone I wouldn’t, but I’d be happy to help someone get things in shape for the animals to come.”
    “We’ll keep that in mind.” Zin held out his hand. “Come on and hop on. We’re going to take a short ride.”
    She walked over and let him help her up onto the seat. Kernz moved to get behind the wheel while Zin slipped into the seat directly behind her. His thick, muscular arms moved around her sides to grip around her waist like a living seat belt.
    Kernz glanced over and smiled. “Are you ready?”
    “Where’s the picnic?”
    He laughed. “I’m beginning to think you’re still hungry. There’s a container on the very back that I stored the food in. It was easy to stuff it in without removing the protective cover. I didn’t want to take the cover off too soon so the cruiser wouldn’t get too dusty.”
    “Then I’m ready. Let’s go.”
    The engine roared when Kernz turned the key and they started forward at a slow pace. “We’ll head toward the tree line for now. The ocean’s about a two-hour drive. It’ll be kind of noisy, so if you want to ask questions about anything, just tap my arm.”
    Jeni nodded and grinned. Bright-pink flowers lined the dusty road, their heads nodding in the wind like a cheerful welcoming committee. The twin suns were bright, their heat causing sweat to roll down her neck. The smell of dust kicked up by the cruiser mixed with the scent of warm earth filled her senses. The heat of Zin’s fingers burned through her clothes as if he were branding her as his own.
    Thirty minutes later Zin leaned in close and put his lips over Jeni’s ear. “The small forest we’re about to enter runs between our farm and the Castir place. They should be home sometime next week and you’ll get to meet Caleigh.”
    Jeni turned around as far as she could. “She’s from Earth, isn’t she?”
    “Yes. She’s only been here a short time. They met her through Galactic Nuptials.”
    Kernz touched Jeni’s arm. “Look.”
    She glanced toward his left and studied the trees. The branches swayed majestically against the blue sky, leaves dancing their way down to mingle in the grass.
    Kernz slowed the