Page 81 of Mates for the Raskarrans #1-6

“Oh, I am stupid,” I say, patting him on the shoulder and gesturing for him to stand.

He does so, giving me a questioning look.

I gesture again, this time for him to walk round the room.

He nods, like I’ve tasked him with defending the village, not taking a few steps.

A laugh bubbles out of me, and though I slap my hand over my mouth, I’m not quite quick enough to catch it.

I look at Vantos, tension making my whole body tight as I wait for his reaction.

He shakes his head, lips curling up a little at the edges, then starts walking. He’s a little shaky, but not so much as to be unsteady. I release the breath I’m holding, glad he doesn’t seem at all upset I laughed at him. I really need to be more careful. I can’t afford to upset anybody.

When Vantos finishes his lap of the hut, he looks to me expectantly. I nod, then mime washing, point in the direction of the bathing pools, mime washing again. I see the moment understanding comes into his eyes, and he nods at me.

There will be cleaning supplies at the pools, but I grab some fresh bandages to take with us, just in case we need them.

Vantos is still dressed only in his underwear, but he doesn’t hesitate to stride towards the door, throwing it open and taking a deep lungful of fresh air.

It doesn’t smell so much of sickness in the medical hut these days, not since his fever broke, but it does have a particular smell to it.

All the drying herbs and roots fill the air with a pungent scent.

I kind of like it, but it is nice to get out and breathe the forest air once you’ve been in it for a while.

The raskarrans are busy doing extra patrols and extra hunts, so there isn’t anyone around as we make our way towards the bathing pools.

The other girls rarely venture far from the central fire, so none of them are about, either.

I’m glad. I think it would be a blow to Vantos’ pride for others in the village to see him reach for my shoulder to steady himself, or lean against a tree for a moment to catch his breath.

Every step he takes is a little surer. I can see that.

But I know how much Vantos wants to be completely healed right now.

Any sign of weakness is probably intolerable for him.

Eventually, we get to the bathing pools - a collection of what Liv calls geothermal hot springs nestled in a rocky area a short walk from the village.

The hot springs are an amazing luxury I never expected to get on a primitive world like this one.

Hot water. Properly hot water. Better than any bottom tier, lukewarm shower I ever took.

I set the bandages down on the side and grab a bowl, some of the soap roots, and the pestle we use to crush them up.

I take my shoes and socks off, rolling up my trousers so I can dip my feet in the deliciously hot water, then start to grind the roots, dripping a little water into them from the tips of my fingers to get the lather started.

When it’s looking good and soapy, I turn to look for Vantos so I can give it to him.

And find him standing a little way away from me.

Completely naked.

My jaw drops as my eyes land on his sculpted backside, his long tail flicking from side to side behind him as he folds his loincloth and sets it down on the ground.

I can’t look away as his perfectly muscular legs flex, first lowering him down, then straightening him back up again, his butt tight, but generous.

I’m imagining how good it would feel to give it a squeeze when he turns, and I get a full view of his cock.

I make a high-pitched sound I’m certain I’ve never heard myself make before, and duck my head, heat boiling up into my cheeks. I hold the bowl out in his direction, but cover my face with my arm so I can’t see anything I’m not supposed to again.

And I definitely don’t want to have another look. That would be wrong. I don’t want a second glance to confirm that he’s every bit as big as I think he is. Nope.

“Rachel?” Vantos’ voice curls around my name and I only blush harder.

I lower my arm just a little, peeping over the top of it in the most upward direction I can manage.

Vantos looks down at me, a question in his gaze that I couldn’t answer even if I had the raskarran words to speak to him.

I think my voice has disappeared somewhere down in my stomach.

I wave the bowl at him, and he takes it, stepping back from me before turning and slipping into the water.

He lets out a groan of pleasure, and I know it’s just because of the hot water soothing away his aches, but apparently my body doesn’t.

Because now it’s not just my face that’s hot, it’s everywhere.

I press my thighs together and try to think of anything except the gorgeous raskarran lounging in the water.

You still haven’t started your monthly bleed, M ama’s voice says.

And that cold bucket of water well and truly douses the flames.