Page 10

Actually…once the thought of cuddling hits me, I don't hate it. "Sounds like a plan. Thanks, Corvak. You have a good eye for this thing."

He grunts, but I suspect he's pleased at my praise.

I crawl into the belly of the "clam," and when I sit, my head just barely brushes the rocks.

Corvak's taller than me, so he must hunch down a bit more to be comfortable.

After we unpack, I pile furs around the two of us, and it's…

not bad. It's not as comfortable as the cave with the fire was, but it's doable.

I tuck the pack under my head like a pillow and curl up, munching on another piece of jerky. "What a long day."

"Get some sleep. I will take the watch." He rubs his chest, his expression grumpy.

"I can watch too."

"You are weak and fragile and need your strength. Sleep will help."

Again with the "weak" commentary. I mean, sure, he did have to haul me bodily for the first day or two, but does he really have to throw that in my face? He's killing my ladyboner here. "Not everything you say has to be chauvinistic, you know."

"Chau-what?"

"Me big strong man," I say in a caveman-like voice. "You puny woman."

"You are a puny woman."

I sputter. "But you don't have to be a dick about it!"

"I am not trying to be anything," Corvak all but snarls at me. "I am trying to keep us alive ."

Oh sure, make me sound like the bad guy. "You know what? You can have all the watch. I'm going to wash up and then sleep."

"Good."

"Fine!" I move to the edge of our cocoon and pick up a handful of clean-looking snow.

It's probably not all that clean, but it's cleaner than I am at the moment, so it'll do.

When it melts in my grasp, I rub the water all over my body, bathing as best I can while fully dressed.

I scrub the important bits under my clothing, wash my face, and then braid my filthy hair to keep it off my face.

Corvak says nothing. He watches me clean myself, but I don't give him anything to see.

Once I feel refreshed, I climb under the blankets again and pull the furs up to my nose.

Fuck him for not seeing how problematic he is.

Maybe once we get somewhere safe, we can split up and he can go on his way, and I can go on mine.

I squeeze my eyes shut, determined to sleep and forget all about today.

Yet once I close my eyes, I think of him, his eyes glowing and blue and riveted on his cock as he strokes it in front of my face.

Of how much he liked the sound of my voice.

Of how he gives blankets and food to me first, and he makes sure I'm taken care of.

He never rolls his eyes at having to help me.

Never acts put out, even when he has to carry my ass through the valleys and over steep, rocky crags.

I guess if I have to be stuck with a chauvinist alien, he's not the worst. I can probably teach him to be unchauvinistic. He can learn it, just like he's learning how to deal with his responsive cock.

His responsive, thick, juicy cock.

I swear I start humming louder the moment my thoughts turn, and it keeps me from falling asleep.

In fact, I can't think of anything now except his dick, and how much I'd like to see him touch himself again.

My head is a mess. Ironic that I felt better in the pocket cave, my feet in cat shit, all because I was curled up next to him, our bodies pressed together.

Squeezing my thighs tight, I glance over at Corvak. He has a fur wrapped around his shoulders and he's hunched, grimly staring out at the open night.

"I doubt anyone's coming this high up after dark," I whisper. "Why don't you come lie down with me?"

His gaze flicks in my direction, moving over my body. "Are you cold?"

"No, but I felt better with you in the blankets with me.

" It's a bold statement. A needy one. A gamble.

He might see me as helpless all over again…

or he might get as turned on as I am and join me.

I should keep my mouth shut and continue to be strong, to be a quiet, decent partner, but this stupid humming in my chest is distracting the hell out of me.

Hard to think straight when it keeps thrumming in my ears, drowning out my thoughts.

Corvak hesitates for only a moment and then joins me.

He crawls under the overhang to my side and tosses his shoulder wrap over the pile atop me.

A moment later, his damp boots brush against my legs, and I grimace, because I kicked mine off.

"Can you get rid of your wet clothes?" I ask. "They feel gross."

He pauses and then peers at me in the darkness, his glowing, slitted eyes the only thing I can make out. "Is this you asking to mate?"

I sputter at his boldness and the accusing tone in his voice. "What the fuck?!"

"It is a valid question," he retorts, even as he slides the wet fur wraps off his feet and shoves them out from under the blankets. "You have had a strange smell about you all day. Ever since I showed you my cock."

"Are you saying I smell ?" I point over his shoulder. "Get out of these blankets right now. I changed my damn mind."

"No," he says, ignoring my orders. Instead, he leans in and his nose is right in my face. "I am saying there is a strange smell. I don't know what it is. But I do know it's coming from you." He inhales deeply, and I could swear he practically groans. "Definitely your scent."

My arousal—and irritation—both die down. Now I'm worried. "What kind of smell? Like a rotting smell?" What if the parasite did something to me? Or killed something in me? "Does frostbite have a smell?"

"This is a good smell. A sweet one."

"Rotten meat has a sweet smell," I point out.

"This is not rotten. It is mouthwatering."

The way he says the last word makes my toes curl. Mouthwatering ?

Corvak growls and slides under the blankets between us. "It's strongest right here."

And the man cups my pussy through my leathers.

I squeal in surprise at his hand between my legs. "What the fuck?!"

He palpates my pussy, squeezing it as if it's fruit to be juiced. "Why do you smell so incredible right here? What is this scent coming from?"

I'm torn between wanting to squirm away and wanting him to do it again. He's making my hormones go crazy. "Like I know? Is it what I'm wearing?" Surely he's not smelling my arousal, is he? I'm wearing layers upon layers. "Exactly how keen is your sense of smell?"

"Extremely." Corvak tugs at my clothing. "I'm going to unwrap you so I can find the scent."

"Are…are we sure that's wise?" I sound breathless even to my own ears. This is a bad idea. This is a very bad idea. And yet I'm not doing anything to stop him. If anything, I want to see what he does next.

Corvak pulls the first layer of my furs away, and one of the much-beleaguered leather strips gives way with a snap, releasing the rest of my makeshift clothing into a pile of furs. "It's all right, Aidy. I just need to make sure that you're well."

"Oh, I'm well." I'm purring and horny and confused, but I'm well.

He rips aside the last of my leathers and then I feel hot breath on my thighs. His low groan is muffled under the blankets. "Aidy, what is this? Why do you smell so good right here?"

Shit, he is smelling my arousal. "No need to panic thanks for being a concerned friend all good here," I babble. I press my hand to his forehead, trying to maneuver him away from the apex of my thighs. "Let's drop it?—"

He grips my hips and tugs me under the furs. "So you know what this is?"

There's no way I'm getting out of this with my pride intact. Face hot and flushed, I squeak as his thumb presses against my plump mound, heading for my cleft. "If you must know, it's natural. It's my pussy…getting wet."

"Getting wet? Like my cock when I rubbed the liquid out of it?" He growls again and sure enough, his thumb skates over the seam of my pussy, his breath hissing. "So wet here. Mine didn't smell like this."

I wheeze, my thighs squeezing together. He pushes them apart, his thumb grazing up my cleft again, and the most ridiculous sound escapes my throat.

I gasp for breath, then answer. "It's like…

my body lubricates…when I get aroused…in the hopes of a big cock—er, a mating partner. That's what…you're smelling."

"And you've been lubricating all day?" His voice grows husky. "Why not take care of yourself? Like I did?"

I lick my lips and ponder my answer. It's hard to think with his fingers twitching against my skin. "I don't know. Seemed weird. Things like that are private where I come from. You don't just touch yourself in front of a stranger."

"But I am not a stranger," Corvak replies, and his finger strokes through my folds, not quite teasing my clit. I quiver as he explores lower, finding the entrance to my body and testing it with a fingertip. "I am yours, just like you are mine. And you helped me."

"Yeah, but…" How do I explain that the way I'm feeling, I don't know if it would be a normal sort of release? That it wouldn't be a one-and-done? I feel too amped up, too wild. Bucking my hips against his hand, I whimper. "And you're good now? After touching yourself once this morning?"

His big finger presses against the entrance to my core again, and I rock my body, trying to get more from him. "I did not say that. I am very aroused right now, Aidy. My cock aches. It throbs. And I want to pull it out again and spray you."

Oh god. I want that, too. "Show me."