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You basically molested him!Just because he shared his body heat in the dead of night, didn’t mean he welcomed her touch.

“I’m sorry.” She held up her hands and backed away. “You should’ve woken me. I would’ve showed you how to use the wasp bombs. Did they get you?” She grimaced as she surveyed him.

“I’ll survive.” He glanced at the welt forming on his arm.

“I can show you how to use the band-aid wand and then make us some breakfast.”

“I’d rather head back to the cruiser and assess the damage.” He impatiently looked toward the cave entrance, his fists clenching and unclenching.

Maybe he was trying to leave.Her shoulders slumped.

“Um, okay.” She nodded and grabbed her bag still holding the wasp bombs. “Rub this plant on you, but don’t get any on your face.”

She demonstrated, then passed the bag to Payim. As he was coating his skin with the natural repellent, she filled the wash basin with warm water.

“All right, let’s go,” he insisted.

Her brow furrowed at his brusque attitude.

“Look, I know you’re eager for your people to come get you, but we’re not just racing out there unprepared,” she countered, feeling equally frustrated.

Payim closed his eyes and nodded, though the tick in his jaw still screamed ‘hurry up.’

“Wash your hands.” She jabbed her hand at the basin as she stepped out of the way so she didn’t dare accidentally touch him.

As Payim washed his hands she filled her largest flask with water and put it in her other bag along with a few snacks.

“What’s that for?” he tersely asked when she grabbed some new charcloth.

“Well, if you haven’t noticed, this planet stinks like farts. The air has so much sulfur in it that in a few days you’ll have a nagging cough. These plants help clean the air in here.” She waved at the ferns lining the walls of the cave. “But out there we need a mask. The charcoal cloth helps filter the toxins,” she informed him flatly, shoving a length of material toward him.

“Sorry,” he grumbled as he tied on the mask.

Cut him some slack. This place is enough to make a saint cuss and you’ve caused most of his torment.

“It’s okay. I know this whole situation sucks. Believe me, I know.” She sighed, tied on the mask and headed for the entrance.

“Thank you.” Payim emerged, and she released the brush obscuring the cave opening.

She debated the need to relieve herself but didn’t dare suggest it as they headed down the path.

“We need to be quiet and calm as we move through the wasp mounds.” She pointed at the large mud towers just down the mountainside path.

Payim nodded and followed her. She had faith in the wasp bombs as the insects started flying out of their towering nests, and yet this always made her anxious. Her brow furrowed, her heart speeding up as the winged terrors kept pouring out of their burrows.

This isn’t normal.They’d barely made it into the thick of the towers.She gaped at the growing swarm and heard the ones angrily buzzing underground, spoiling for a fight once they surfaced.

She glanced back at Payim. Although he was quiet, his heavy foot falls were stirring up the wasps. She calmly gestured to his feet and Payim paused. She held up her hand for him to stay then pointed, indicating she’d test the swarm.

His jaw tightened, his expression darkening, and tersely he shook his head. He was nervous. Rightfully so. She turned back toward the building swarm, took a deep breath and stepped forward.

“Elena, no,” he whispered.

But she kept moving, adopting a gentle sway, doing her best to mimic the plant she smelled like wavering in the breeze. The angrily buzzing beasts zipped all around but thankfully didn’t land on her and she sighed in relief.

She pivoted and nodded to Payim, signaling that it was okay. Her eyes widened seeing that he was livid, the blood vessel in his neck pulsating.

I certainly hope he’s not blaming me for this.