Chapter 87: Chapter 87: Fear Benzoni

She had the strangest feeling that he enjoyed her fighting with him. Julia felt him poking her again and, blushing, she released his arms and stepped back. "I'll teach you about a human custom. It's called sleeping on the couch."

She tried to say it with as much conviction as she could manage. She could've bitten her tongue right off. What was she doing? She had to convince him she needed her own room. That she was not breeder material, whatever that meant.

He took her hands in one of his huge hands. "A puny human female cannot harm me when I sit on the couch."

"That's not what it means. Oh, never mind, just stop calling me fat. And let go of my hands."

"No."

"You are talking to a Benzoni." In most parts of the country, saying those words would provoke fear. At the very least, caution.

"Why should I fear Benzoni?" the alien asked.

"I come from a family of the most vicious criminals on earth. Their blood is in my veins. I could kill you in your sleep with no remorse."