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"I don't give a crap about the smell," she says excitedly, shaking my arm with her enthusiasm.

"Oh my god. This is incredible. And gorgeous.

" She moves towards the water's edge, releasing my hand, and peers down at it.

"It's so dang deep! I can't see the bottom even though it's clear!

" She turns back to me, her eyes wide. "How the heck did you find this? "

I point at the steam escaping above. "I was curious where that was coming from."

Her head tilts up, and she laughs, the sound that of pure joy. "Incredible. I've changed my mind. I definitely want to live in these caves."

"I am pleased."

She flashes me another delighted look and then leans over the waters, peering in again. "Those piranha things aren't here, are they?"

I had the same concern initially. "The water is still and clear. I threw in a bit of leather earlier and nothing happened. It should be safe."

Her happiness changes to such yearning, and her hands go to her tangled hair. "Can I…can I have a bath? Or are we saving this for drinking water?"

"It is your water. Do as you please."

Aidy beams at me. "Thank god. I have felt so grimy.

And my hair is disgusting. I just want to wash all over.

" She pulls on her clothing, tearing at the straps that bind it to her body.

My gaze goes there immediately. I had hoped she would want to show me her happiness in some way…

but I am quite happy to just watch her bathe.

She pulls one leather tie free and then pauses, glancing down the tunnel behind me.

"Um, what about the snow-people? Do we need to worry about them joining us? "

I move a step toward her and tug on another one of her leather laces. "They think this cave is mine, remember? They won't enter. You have your privacy." I pull the lace free and her skirt—comprised of multiple skins piled around her waist—falls to the ground.

"God, I never thought I'd be so happy to hear that." She finishes flinging off her furs, tossing them into a pile at her feet, and then kneels to pull her makeshift boots off. As she does, she glances up at me. "Are you going to bathe, too?"

"Do you want me to?"

"Absolutely. I prefer both of us freshly bathed and clean. Have you seen my nail beds? They're horrendous." She tucks her fingers down against her palm and displays her short, square nails to me.

"I see nothing but perfection," I tell her, admiring the bounce of her breasts as she stands.

Aidy snorts. "Then you need to have your eyes examined."

"You can examine them for me."

Her laughter peals, and she shakes her head as if I have said something amusing.

"You, get naked. I'm jumping in." She holds her nose and then jumps into the water, feet first. There is a bit of a splash, and I watch her sink down a little, and then Aidy swims gracefully back to the surface, her hair sleek and dark against her head. "Oh my god, this is amazing."

The sound of her voice, husky with delight, is enough to make me groan. I kick off the last of my furs and grip my cock in my hand as it juts forth, impossible to hide.

She glances up at me, her eyes sly and knowing. Her hand splashes as she lazily treads water. "Are you getting in or not?"

As if I could resist her.

I jump in, and immediately it is like treading through too-thin sand. I sink. And sink. This…is not right. I claw at the water, trying to fight my way back to the surface, panicking. How is this so difficult? Am I going to die because I foolishly jumped into water, thinking I would float?

A hand grabs my arm and pulls me upward—Aidy.

I emerge from under the water with a gasp, clinging to the side of the pool.

"Why did you jump in if you don't know how to swim?" she shouts. "What the fuck, Corvak?"

"I didn't realize until after I jumped that I had no such knowledge in my memories." I hold on to the rocky lip, water streaming into my face from my mane. "But you do?"

"Yes! A lot of people grow up swimming where I'm from." She puts her hand on my back. "You scared the shit out of me."

"I scared the shit out of me, too," I admit. "Whatever shit is."

A laugh bubbles up from her throat. "Never mind." Her hand roams over my wet shoulders, down my arm. "Are you all right now?"

"As long as I hold on to the ledge." I experiment, allowing one hand to float free, and my body is light thanks to the water.

With one hand and keeping my foot against the side of the rocks, I'm able to float next to her easily.

The warmth of the water is pervasive, sinking into my body and relaxing me all over.

Aidy's smile grows brighter, and she gives a happy little shiver. "This is the best thing we've found here. I'm so happy right now." She swirls around in the water and presents her back to me. "Help me scrub?"

"Scrub?"

"Just rub my skin. We don't have soap so I'm hoping the heat and some rubbing will get rid of any dirt." She lifts her wet hair and runs her hand over her neck.

My mouth goes dry at the sight.

I lift my hand, my claws sheathed, and skim my fingers down her spine. She shivers with delight, turning slightly to smile at me. "That feels incredible."

I say nothing. What is there to say that will encompass all that I feel in this moment?

Her skin is so soft, wet and gleaming. She is fragile yet strong, and I want to touch her all over.

I think of the time I put my hand between her thighs and made her gasp and moan, and I want that more than anything.

Being able to only use one hand to touch her is torture.

Instead of holding on to the wall, I want to let my hands roam all over her naked form.

As I run my fingers down her back, she scrubs at her arms, paddling with her legs to keep afloat. Her hands move over her abdomen and she even ducks under to quickly clean her legs. When she emerges, she splashes, wiping water from her face. "I'd kill for some soap right now."

"I do not think our snow-people have any," I point out, gathering her streaming hair in my hand. "Judging from the smell."

She giggles, the sound lighter and more carefree than I have heard from her before.

"No, I guess not." I tug lightly on her thick hair, wrapping it around my hand.

I'm fascinated by the silken feel of it, and even more than that, fascinated at the idea of trapping her against me.

With one little pull on her mane, I can drag her so close she can't escape.

It is the predator in me thinking that way.

To my surprise, she moans. Aidy turns her head slightly and leans back until she's pressing her spine against my chest.

"You liked that?" I give her hair another gentle tug. "Like when I'm rough with you?"

"Not rough," she corrects. "Firm. There's a difference. I like a sexy hand in my hair but not a cruel one, if that makes sense."

I growl low in my throat at her words, imagining pinning her down with her hair and holding her tight under me. "You like my strength."

"I like that you can be strong to others and gentle with me," Aidy whispers.

"I'd never hurt you. You're a gift." I lean in and nuzzle at her wet head. "You know I would do anything for you, yes?"

"I know." She tugs her head free from my grasp and then turns in the water to face me.

Aidy slides her arm around my waist and pulls her wet body flush with my cock, pressing it against her belly.

The water laps at her breasts as she gazes up at me.

"I still need scrubbing. My front could use some attention. "

Is that so? With my free hand, I cup one of her breasts.

It is small but full, the tip dark, and I stroke my thumb over it.

She moans, her eyes closing, and leans back slightly, as if giving me room.

I caress the rounded globe, watching her face to see which touches make her shiver, which ones make her breath speed up, and which ones give no response at all.

If I run a finger along the underside of her breast, her purring grows louder.

If I touch her nipple, she whimpers and arches against my hand, and the tip hardens.

"Suck on it," Aidy whispers. "Put your mouth on me."

My mouth? Right now? I love the thought. I sink deeper into the waters, lowering my head. She cups her breast and lifts it, an offering.

I tongue that hard little peak, and she cries out.

Pleased, I wrap my arm around her waist and nuzzle at her breast, lapping at the nipple and toying with it.

Experimentally, I take the entire tip in my mouth and suck on it, and love the hiss that escapes between her teeth.

Her hands go to my hair and she holds me to her breast, panting.

This is the most exciting moment of my existence.

Not even a battle could make my blood pound quite like this.

I am so aroused that my cock is leaking into the heated water, and I long to push between her wet thighs and sink deep.

I rub my face in the valley between her breasts and move over to the other one to give it attention. "You are perfect in my arms."

"I don't know why we didn't do this days ago," she agrees, her fingers digging into my mane. "God, that feels good."

I suck on her nipple, glad that I am pleasing her. I release it with a pop and then tilt my head up. I think of how when she gets excited, she mauls my mouth. I want that. I want her wild excitement. "Now eat my face."

My words have the opposite reaction. Her expression turns to one of sheer confusion. "W-what?"

"Put your mouth on mine and chew on my face like you did before," I tell her, giving her tight nipple another hungry lick. "When you get excited."

Her lips part. She blinks several times and then shakes her head slightly.

"That's a kiss , Corvak." She puts her hands on my cheeks and pulls my face towards hers, legs tangling with mine in the water.

"It's not to eat someone's face. It's to show affection and give pleasure with your mouth and your tongue. "