Page 45

Kael and Drafe carried the gifts inside as she sat on a fur-covered ledge.

By the width, she would hazard a guess it was their bed.

The variegated walls were ridged and curved as if millions of years ago, water had carved it.

The ambers, umbers, and beiges were pretty.

Small venai stones glowed like flickering candles.

She rose and captured one, marveling at the smooth, cool-to-the-touch stones.

“Thirsty?”

She smiled at Drafe, then placed the stone on the mantle above the firepit. “Yes.”

“We shall leave you for the night,” Kael said, dragging a hesitant Larya from the cave.

Come, gevatia.

Vic whipped her gaze to Drafe and approached him as he poured water into a stone cup.

He offered it to her, then kneeled to unsnap her boots, peeling each one off and stacking them to the side.

Her pants followed. She laughed between sips and watched as he folded her pants then tucked them into a stone alcove.

Offering him the empty cup, she peeled off her shirt, bra, and panties, then folded them, stacking them on top of her pants.

Still kneeling, he tapped the rug-covered rock floor.

She crossed the room and paused in front of him.

With a cool, damp cloth, he stroked her body, from her face to her toes, lingering under her breasts and at her sex.

She moaned, arching her back as his touch intensified.

Gripping his hair, she rocked across his fingers, whimpering when the intensity built.

Tossing the cloth aside, he clasped her hips and tugged her to the floor.

She draped her arms around his neck, straddled his lap, and kissed him.

He was hot to the touch but matched the heat inside her.

“Drafe,” she panted, writhing in his arms as he trailed kisses down her neck to suck a nipple into his mouth. She rode his hard thigh, crying out at the sparks of pre-orgasmic joy along her sex.

He switched to her other nipple, flicking his tongue before nipping it.

Farg, she needed him now. Reaching between them, she stroked his thigh until his armor faded, exposing his erect cock. She rubbed her palm across the head.

He released her nipple to groan, and with his eyes closed, arched his back.

Without hesitation, she lowered herself on his length, inch by inch.

He gazed into her eyes, his mouth parted as he panted.

Grinning, she rocked her hips, sliding along him while tilting her pelvis until he gasped.

The growing throbbing within her had her heartbeat roaring in her ears. She needed more, faster, harder.

He leaned forward, pinned her back to the floor, and pounded into her.

Crying out, she wrapped her legs around his hips then pressed her open mouth to his throat to smother her pleas and moans.

Everything within her tightened. Her senses heightened.

She clung to him, riding the anticipation and the skittered tingles along her nerve endings.

Her breath caught, her thoughts froze, and for a moment, the symbiotes quietened…

until her world exploded. He didn’t stop plunging into her and triggered another explosion.

He stilled, his fingers digging into her hips.

Releasing her, he threw out a hand to catch himself as he collapsed across her, his eyes an intense amber.

Peace descended. She smiled.

Laughing, he brushed her hair off her face, stroked her jaw, and stole a sweet kiss. “Welcome home, Vic.”

She hugged him, forcing him to rest his full weight on her. Sighing, she nuzzled his neck and held on. She awoke once when he pulled out and carried her to their bed. After that, she knew no more.

D rafe awoke with Vic curled against him.

He lay there, rubbing his hand up and down her back while pressing kisses to her temple, watching her sleep.

Tiny spots marked her cheeks, so he tried to kiss each one.

She had some idea how he felt about her, but she couldn’t truly understand how she had changed him, blessed him.

He glanced at the door, measuring the suns’ light as it traveled. It would be dawn soon, and he would prefer to start across the plains before then. He grinned, and before the well-wishers descended. Best for them to find their home empty.

Cupping a breast, he stroked his thumb across her nipple until she gasped and rolled onto her back. He captured her mouth with his, his breathing faltering as his nostrils flared. It was as if he couldn’t get enough of her, couldn’t draw the essence of her into him.

“Vic, it is time.”

She moaned and pressed a sleepy kiss to his chest. “Ten more minutes.”

He chuckled. “The suns are rising.”

“Let them rise,” she mumbled.

He slapped her backside.

Squealing, she shot up then fell off the bed.

“Good, you are awake.”

She huffed the hair out of her eyes and glared at him.

He pointed to the alcove. “Larya set aside garments for you. If you hurry, we can reach the cucooya tree before the suns bake the sand.”

“A real tree.” She scrambled to her feet then hopped from one leg to the other as she yanked on the breeches without strips of cloth to cover her sex. He groaned his approval.

With her tunic on, she stamped her boots in place while tying up her hair with a strip of garak leather.

He watched her as he dressed, loving the sway of her hips while she whistled a jaunty tune.

Reaching for the water pouches, he paused, his hand hovering over one not his own.

Branded in the leather was a fresh burn, a vasquva, and alongside that was his father’s symbol.

His chest swelled when he ran his thumb over it.

The leather was soft, meaning someone had recently killed a hudu to make this. He would thank Kael later.

With pouch in hand, he offered it to Vic. “This is yours. The star is my family’s symbol, passed down from father to son. The vasquva is…mine.” He clipped the full bladder onto her hudu belt, also new. “And now yours.”

She sheathed his dagger into her boot then studied the etched symbols. “Is this because you killed one?”

He shrugged. “I have much to speak to Kael about. Ready?”

When she nodded, he marched from their home, along the climbing steps, then out, waving at Umda and Tijl on duty.

“Greetings, Drafe, Victoria. Osnir has blessed us with a great day.” Umda bowed his head, then raised his face to the sky.

Vic did the same and smiled, her expression one of contentment.

“We should return by nightfall. I wish to show my vatia sahaar our world, Umda.”

He thumped the butt of his spear on the rock floor. “May the sands bless your journey.”

Hours passed as they hiked across the plains, the salt crunching beneath their boots, the hot winds tugging at their hair and garments.

Many times they paused in the shade of a rock outcropping to enjoy the cooler air and savor five droplets of water.

Not once did she plead for more or complain about the heat.

Only sighs and smiles filled their bond.

I love your Qaldreth. It is so peaceful. And I have missed the feel of the sunlight on my skin.

He grinned. It pleases me that you see the beauty in our home. He pointed ahead at the bulbous tree from where Ulvus had stolen his water pouch.

She gasped and sprinted across to it, leaping onto the rocky platform to stand in the tree’s shade. “ Gevatia , is this a cucooya?” She leaned against the tree and plucked the closest white-petaled blossom, cupping it in her hand.

Yes, and as pretty as it is, it is not your equal.