Page 11

11

Forbidden Fruit

*Jalen*

A delicious scent wafted around me as I came to. I breathed deeply, recognizing the familiar perfume of lionettle pollen mingling with something infinitely sweeter. My cocks stirred, waking faster than the rest of me. I rolled sideways, closer to the faint aroma lingering beside me.

As my eyes opened and my gaze landed on the empty spot that I’d watched Ren fall asleep in, it all came flooding back.

The trek through the jungle.

My beautiful companion, so guarded and prickly.

She’d warmed up, eventually. Even seemed to enjoy a few of my poor attempts at jokes, though you could hardly tell from the permanent scowl on her luscious lips. Lips I wanted so badly to—

She’s forbidden, remember? I prayed the thought would snag in my brain and begged my loins to listen. I couldn’t afford to trip up. Not if I wanted out of exile for good.

Where was she, anyway? Sitting up, I scratched my chest and gathered my things. Then I eased out of the lionettle, hoping Ren was just off in the jungle answering nature’s call.

After ducking behind a tree to do the same, I returned to the road. “Ren? Where are you?”

My pulse kicked into high gear when she didn’t immediately reply.

Harlx’s bane. Did I lose her?

I should’ve never fallen asleep. Not without making it clear what dangers lurked in the jungle. She could’ve easily gotten turned around if she wandered too far off the path. And who knew—

“Over here.”

A huge sigh stuttered out of my lips. I rounded the path, back the way we’d come last night. “Ren?”

Her blonde head popped out of the trees, a vine tangled in her hair that she didn’t seem to notice. Metal flashed in her hands as she briefly met my gaze before looking back down.

My brow furrowed. “What are you doing?”

She gestured to the abandoned rider. “Thought I might be able to fix this.”

I paced closer, watching as she spun a silvery contraption around in a circle. The alien vehicle had been left in the jungle for so long I’d be surprised if it was salvageable. “So can you?”

She frowned. “Turns out… no.”

“Too bad. Perhaps we should get going, then?”

With a deft flick of her wrist, she pulled a small component out and set it on a pile by her feet. “You said there were more of these, right?”

I leaned against the side of the rusted hunk of junk. “Yep.”

“That’s what I thought. I’m bringing some spare parts that look to be in good shape with me. Maybe I’ll be able to fix the next one.”

“As you wish.”

She leaned over the open engine, the tip of her pink tongue poking out of the corner of her mouth. I couldn’t deny she was fascinating to watch. So absorbed in her task and fully confident with every move she made. It had me wondering what it would feel like to be the subject of all that focus. To have her nimble fingers trailing across something much warmer than that cold metal, but just as hard.

Great… I’m jealous of a machine. “I don’t mean to rush you, but we need to cross the river today.”

Ren’s brows dipped. “Can I finish yanking this one piece?”

“I suppose.” I grinned and rounded the vehicle, bending beside her.

She edged away. “Um… What are you doing?”

I looked up, gulping when I noticed how close I’d gotten. With Ren bent inside the hood, and me kneeling beside her, my gaze lined up perfectly with her chest. She dragged in a shaky breath as my mind wandered, picturing what might be hidden under the loose fabric sheathing her torso.

Her hands stilled. “I said, what are you doing down there?”

Blinking, I aimed a sheepish grin higher—at her eyes this time. “Sorry.” I pulled my bag off my back. “Thought I’d scoop these up while you finished.”

“Oh.” She visibly relaxed, her stiff shoulders loosening as her fingers flew into motion. “You don’t have to carry them. I can—”

“It’s not a problem.” I dumped the last piece into my bag just as she tore a greasy box off the engine block. “Here.” I stood, holding out my bag with the top uncinched. “Might as well keep everything together.”

She shrugged and dropped it in. “Thanks.” Then her gaze trailed over the ground. “Did you pack my tool kit too?”

I nodded. “Let me carry it. We’ll make better time if you’re not weighed down on the hike.”

Her lips pursed, and I had the distinct impression she had to force herself not to argue. “Fine. Thanks again.” She dropped the tool in my bag, wincing as metal clinked inside.

“Don’t mention it.” I jerked my head toward the trail. “Ready?”

“Sure.”

We made good time that morning, most of it walking in silence. Until Ren shared some of her Terran rations with me. After I choked down half the bar with forced smiles between each bite, she laughed uproariously.

“You know, it’s okay to admit they taste like garbage.”

“Thank ellios! I was afraid you loved that stuff.”

“Hardly.” Her laughter tapered off as she nibbled her bar. “Hiking rations are made to meet our nutritional needs in as compact a space as possible. They’re barely edible, but they’ll keep your energy up.”

I wrinkled my nose, shaking the chewy, tasteless hunk of food at her. “How about you let me handle the meals from now on? We can hold on to these, just in case.”

“Be my guest. But don’t come begging for more of the good stuff when you run out of the snacks you packed.” She eyed my pack curiously. “What was that stuff you fed me last night?”

“Haldi bread. It’s good, right?”

“Good?” She scoffed. “Almost better than burritos.” She thrust a finger at me and cocked a brow. “That’s high praise in my book, I’ll have you know.”

“I’ll take your word for it.” With a chuckle, I sped up on the path, hunting for a particular tree. It didn’t take long to spot what I was searching for. “Ah, do you see that tree up ahead?”

She squinted. “The one with the diamond-shaped leaves?”

“Yes. See those striped balls hanging in the highest branches?”

She shaded her eyes and gazed up. “What about them?”

“Those are haldi fruit. We ferment them, then bake them into the bread we ate last night.”

“That’s interesting.” She scanned the jungle. “Those trees are everywhere.”

I nodded. “In this part of the world, haldi trees are quite common. You’ll find every tribe has their own spin on haldi bread as well.”

“What tribe did the bread we ate come from?”

“None of them. That was my own recipe.”

Ren whistled. “And he cooks too. Is there anything you don’t do?”

“You learn to be self-sufficient when you’re on your own.”

“Well, you can cook for me anytime. Can’t say I have a knack for baking, but I love to eat.”

“Yes, I noticed.” I leaned closer, adopting a playful tone. “I thought you were gonna bite my fingers off when I asked if you were done with your portion last night.”

Instead of laughing casually like I hoped she would, Ren inched further away from me. I straightened, backing out of her personal space, and she relaxed. “Yeah, I might’ve. Don’t get in between me and good food if you value your life.” She offered me a halfhearted grin.

“I’ll remember that,” I said softly, returning her smile with a much brighter one of my own.

Ren was an odd one. Beautiful, but not in the showy way that most attractive females had of primping their hair and painting their faces. Yet even though she downplayed her looks with a shaggy haircut and rumpled clothes, it couldn’t disguise how naturally stunning she was.

Still, I couldn’t quite get a read on her. At times, it almost seemed like she was afraid of me touching her. Was it just me she didn’t want coming close? Or did she have an aversion to touch?

Whatever the answer, I should take her distaste as a sign. Rhelt had warned me to keep my hands to myself. This was one more reason to listen.

And don’t forget the hairy male waiting for her in her bed…

*Jalen*

At midday, we stopped for lunch in a small hollow beside a creek. After doling out food—from my pack this time—we sat down to eat under the shade of a haldi tree.

“So tell me. What are we looking for, exactly?”

Ren shot me a confused look. “You didn’t get the details from Rhelt?”

I shook my head.

“Arda’s looking for clues to her genetic heritage at an old research facility. We got a tip that pointed us here.” She flipped a piece of haldi bread in her hands. “You know the place?”

“Think I might. There are some old ruins right about where you have marked on your map. I’ve even been inside a time or two. I don’t remember spotting any research in there, though.”

She shrugged. “It could be hidden. We’ll find out when we get there, I guess.” After chewing thoughtfully, she turned to me with a raised brow. “How do you know Rhelt and Cass? You were pretty worried when we showed up on your doorstep and you assumed I was my sister.”

I nearly told her the full truth. But she didn’t need to know the grim place my mind had gone. “I never expected to see Cassidy there without Rhelt. I was worried something bad might’ve happened. Rhelt’s family.”

Ren cocked her head. “Are you brothers?”

“No. He’s my aunt’s son.”

“Okay. Cousins, then.”

“It’s not quite so simple. We grew up as close as brothers since my aunt raised me. My parents died when I was very young.”

“Oh.” Ren blanched. “You were an orphan.”

I grinned. “It’s all right. I was so young when they passed I don’t have strong memories of them. And Aunt Karln was amazing. With her raising me, I didn’t feel their loss too deeply.”

Ren sighed, her tone tinged with bitterness. “Lucky you.”

“Something wrong?”

She shook her head and lifted the last bite of her bread. “I’m about done. You?” She popped it into her mouth and stood.

“Gotta get back to my frolicking.” I hopped up and bounded off, forcing the same exuberance into my stride I’d used the first day when I’d been elated to break free from my walled-off existence.

Ren rolled her eyes. “Ugh. This again. I swear you’re just doing it to annoy me.”

I flipped around and shot her a cheeky grin. “Why would I want to do that?” But at least some color had flooded back into her face.

I wasn’t certain why, but orphans seemed like a touchy subject for Ren. Perhaps there was more to that than she was letting on… Whatever the answer, it was clear I wouldn’t be digging it up today.