Page 14 of Wayfinder (The Outlander Book Club… in Space! #5)

The memory of waking with Pearl wrapped in my arms filled my entire consciousness.

The warmth and softness of her body against mine had been as near to pure bliss as I’d ever experienced.

I’d carefully slid away before she stirred, not wanting to make her feel uncomfortable or embarrassed.

She’d only offered me the bed out of kindness due to my injury—which was practically healed thanks to the treatment in medi-bay.

Still, things felt somehow different between us.

I couldn’t help but notice how Pearl’s cheeks turned a delicate shade of pink whenever she gazed at me, much like her friend Emmy used to do when Khaion was around.

And when Pearl caught my gaze, I noticed the flicker of a smile on her lips.

It took all of my self-control not to walk around grinning like an infatuated youngling.

But I knew better than to act on these feelings.

I was her protector. It was duty that kept me at her side.

.. wasn’t it? Yet, despite knowing how I should feel, I couldn’t deny there seemed to be something special brewing between us.

For now, though, I would keep it tucked away in my heart and enjoy the moments together as they came.

The last contest was the sea.

Instead of the usual skiff used to navigate the rough shoreline, two small boats sat at a rickety dock, their hulls gently rocking in the tide. The air was thick with heat and humidity, and the call of distant fowl echoed on the horizon.

The creature we hunted was an ajkula.

It was the one creature I had yet to encounter in my travels.

The holographic videos we watched during breakfast painted a vivid picture of a formidable opponent.

Pearl said the beast resembled something called a great white shark on Earth, and she seemed more on edge than usual.

She stayed close to my side, hands wrapped around my arm as we moved down the dock, her eyes vigilant on the water, scanning for any sign of movement.

Due to the heat, she had forgone her usual leathers in favor of a short dress that left her arms and legs exposed. Her skin, usually pale and creamy, now glowed golden from the sun’s caress. I’d conceded to the heat as well, wearing only my trousers for the adventure.

The boat was small, barely big enough to fit the two of us, with a tiny air propulsion motor humming as it blended with the crashing waves.

As we climbed aboard, the boat rolled and swayed, aided by a gust of wind that wrapped us in a briny, pungent cloud.

This sea did not hold the familiar scents of sun and sand as the waters of my home world.

Instead, it carried a distinct flavor of death and decay.

Even Pearl seemed to notice it. It hurt my heart the way she clutched the edge of the boat with a white-knuckled grip, her bright eyes lined with fear.

With a firm tug, I untied the boat from the dock and guided it smoothly across the teal-blue water.

The sun beat down on my back as I steered away from the direction of the other team.

Fighting the ajkula would prove challenging enough.

Having to fight the other team along with it was something I didn’t want to deal with.

“I feel like Chief Brody from Jaws,” Pearl muttered, noticing the shoreline growing hazy in the distance. Her fear added an acrid hint to the scent of salt and sea.

“You have Chieftains on Earth?” I asked. I knew the answer to this. Human leadership hierarchies were one of the more interesting aspects of my Earth studies. Yet I wanted to distract Pearl from her fear.

“Kind of.” She pursed her full, pink lips in thought for a moment. “Chief Brody was the leader of police on this small island that gets terrorized by a shark.”

“The creature you said was like the ajkula?”

“Exactly,” Pearl agreed, her bright eyes flickering over the water.

“How did your Chief Brody fight the beast?”

“Well.” Pearl heaved a sigh, but when she spoke again, the heaviness of fear lifted from her tone.

“It all starts when this girl goes skinny dipping one night in the waters off Amity Island and disappears. Chief Brody takes on the case and determines it was a shark attack. He wants to close the beaches for safety, but the dumbass mayor insists on keeping them open. Then, when another shark attack happens….”

Pearl leaned close, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she relayed the tale of a vicious, murderous creature called Jaws .

It was a classic story of man versus beast. A tale spun countless times throughout the universe.

But the way Pearl told it made the story special.

Her animated voice wove the details together with passion and excitement.

Each word seemed to come alive, painting a vivid picture in my mind.

As she spoke, her hands moved gracefully, adding to the dramatic effect.

Clearly, Pearl relished sharing this story with me.

I did, too.

I could sit and listen to her talk all day. Truthfully, I could sit and simply stare at her and be perfectly content.

As much as I hated to admit it, I was beginning to understand why my fellow brethren fell for the charms of human women. Pearl was a paradox. An underlying softness balanced her fiery spirit and unyielding determination, like a hidden treasure waiting to be discovered beneath the waves.

The sea breeze whipped through her hair, the thick brown locks glinting with fiery highlights, reflecting the bright rays of sunshine that sparkled over her skin.

As she animatedly smiled and laughed, engrossed in the story, a sense of beauty radiated from her that nearly took my breath away. It certainly took what little control I had over my cock.

I had awoken this morning with a nearly painful erection and took myself in hand while in the shower to gain some modicum of control.

My body yearned for nothing more than to wrap around hers, exploring every inch of her sweet, luscious form.

And I knew without a doubt that she would taste better than the mouthwatering meals she prepared with such skill and passion.

No!

I couldn’t allow my mind to wander down that path.

No matter how fierce my desire for Pearl was, I had no right to claim her as mine.

She was under my protection, and that was all.

The thought of getting closer to her sent a thrill through me, but I knew it would only make our inevitable parting that much harder.

Pearl was human. Fragile and delicate in a way that I could never fully understand or possess.

Our differences were too great, and she could never be my mate in the genuine sense of the word.

And yet, I yearned for her with an ache that seemed impossible to ignore.

“…and then the shark jumps up on the boat and eats Quint and…. What the fuck?”

A loud thud from beneath the boat startled us both.

I quickly stilled the motor and strained my ears, listening for a sound from beneath the dark waters.

All I could hear was the gentle lapping of waves against the side of our small boat.

Pearl, who had been sitting confidently on the bow slid closer.

I slipped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close, enjoying that she sought solace from me.

I was a Vaktaire warrior. I would protect Pearl, whether on the land, air, or sea, although I would admit to perhaps being better with land under my feet.

Another impact rocked the small boat, sending waves rippling through the water as whatever hit us dragged the boat along for a ride.

Pearl’s hand flew to her mouth, trying to stifle a scream as terror flashed in her eyes.

This time, the sound of scraping wood made it to my ears as the boat shuddered to a stop.

“I should have mentioned this before,” Pearl whimpered. “But I’m not the greatest swimmer. In fact, I’m scared to death of sharks.”

Swiftly and gently, I scooped Pearl into my arms, depositing her on the seat in the center of the boat.

“No matter what happens, stay here and stay down,” I told her, giving her one of the small spears to hold. I always felt better with a weapon in my hand.

She gazed up at me, blue eyes shimmering with fear, but nodded bravely.

Unable to control myself a second longer, I cradled Pearl’s face between my palms and touched my forehead to hers, a gesture of comfort and affection I’d seen my parents perform many times.

“It will be okay,” I murmured. “I won’t let anything hurt you.”

Pearl issued a soft sob and threw her arms around my neck. I wrapped my arms around her, hating her fear but cherishing the feeling of her in my arms and how perfect and right it felt to hold her.

I was still holding her when the first claw appeared over the side of the boat.

The creature that emerged from the depths loomed over the side, its sleek and muscular body glistening in the sunlight.

The resemblance to the shark Pearl described was uncanny.

A stout torpedo-shaped body with a conical snout accentuated by sharp triangular teeth bursting from a gaping maw.

A crescent-shaped fin rose proudly from its back, while two long, oval fins on either side of its thick torso stretched out like wings ending in elongated fingers, each one tipped with sharp claws.

Black eyes regarded us menacingly, and I would have sworn the creature’s razor-sharp mouth turned upward with a taunting smile.

I shielded Pearl, pushing her down into the bottom of the boat as I stepped between her and the beast. My hand grasped for the nearest spear, its wooden shaft slick with saltwater.

I jabbed at the beast, but it proved quick and agile, jerking its head to snatch the spear between razor-sharp teeth and snapping the weapon in two effortlessly.

I quickly snatched another spear and focused on only one goal... protecting Pearl.