Page 31 of Wild Life (STEAM-y #2)

Lovely Lullabies

Aleki

The fire crackled and sparks jumped into the evening air almost as excitedly as the stick in Maris’s hand moved in the dirt. It was only the two of us by the fire pit, since Poaka had decided to turn in for the night.

Maris worked quickly, using the pointed end to draw what I assumed was the map of the island. Except the series of circles and lines resembled the bicycle I used to ride around for hours after school.

Damn, I miss that bike.

“And if we follow the trend of their flight pattern backward, their roost must be beyond the waterfall.”

She sat back on her haunches, pride radiating from her. She tapped her pointing tool against her thigh for several beats. “So what’s beyond the waterfall?”

“Nothing more than trees. Then farther along, the beach.”

“Hmm.” She touched her finger to her chin. She was a feisty mix of charm and brains.

“Oh,” I said, remembering something. “There are also caves.”

Her eyes widened, and before I could ask what I’d said wrong, a smack landed on my arm, stinging my skin. “You didn’t say anything about caves! You were going to keep them from me? The roosts are probably in there.”

I rubbed the area where she had slapped me, even if it didn’t hurt. I wanted her sympathy, and maybe a kiss on my bicep—a long, slow kiss with tongue. “I wasn’t trying to keep them from you. You never asked.”

“Remind me to be mad at you later. Now, more about these caves. How far are they from the waterfall?” She resumed drawing in the dirt again.

I played out the path in my head. “It’s a decent walk, but not impossible.”

“Impossible for you or for me?” she asked, her eyebrow hitched. “Because we’re not working with the same level of muscle here.” She pulled her sleeve up to her shoulder and flexed her arm. Sure, it wasn’t comparable to mine, but she had toned up considerably since she had first arrived. She was stronger. More capable.

“You can do it. I believe in you. And if not, I’ll carry you.” I’d carry her everywhere if she’d let me.

She stabbed the end of the stick into the middle of my chest. “You’re just saying shit like that to get into my pants, aren’t you?”

My gaze drifted down to where her shirt gaped from her parted legs. If I dipped my head lower, I would earn an eyeful of my favorite sight. “You’re not wearing pants.”

“So you weren’t trying to get into them?” She licked her lips and batted her lashes.

“I’m always trying to get into your pants, whether they’re on or not.”

“Interesting…Do you want to wear my bra, too?”

I paused, reconsidering the words I had spoken. “What? No, I didn’t mean...ugh.”

I’d had enough of talking. I pushed my loincloth aside and hoisted her up and straight onto my throbbing dick before she had a chance to protest.

She sank swiftly, encasing me in her velvety warmth. “So ready for me, even when you’re playing coy.”

“I have to be when you pull stunts like this. You’re distracting me from my map.” She lifted herself, her feet on either side of my legs for leverage, then drove back down onto me. Her back arched and she moaned into the night.

“Then let’s continue discussing it.” I tipped her so her pelvis was at an angle, and she ate up my length with her undulations. Her body melted with my touch.

“We’re here.” I circled her left nipple with my tongue, flicking the hard tip. Her breath rushed out unevenly.

“And this is the hut.” I sucked her other nipple between my teeth, giving it a gentle tug before running my tongue between her breasts. “This is the valley next to the waterfall. It’s filled with dangerous curves.”

“Mmm,” she hummed as she ground herself against me with each stroke of my cock.

“Through the waterfall and past the pool, you’ll find a thicket of trees.” I traced my fingers along her belly, registering her muscles working as she took me. I stopped right above where we were joined, grazing the hair there that I enjoyed so much.

I found the bud between her legs with my finger and treated it to tight circles. Her body writhed freely, shielding none of its emotions from me.

I memorized how she moved, soaking all of her in. Every time with her was like the first time and was committed to my memory as if it was the last.

“I love you,” she murmured.

“I love you, Maris. More than anything in this world. Nothing exists without you.”

We chased our orgasm and shattered together, proof that we were one.

I caught her in my arms and held her to me as I filled her with my hot arousal.

Peace overtook us for some time. How long exactly, I couldn’t say. Time never mattered when we were like this.

Naked in front of the fire, we basked in the lingering glow of orgasm.

She sighed dreamily. “That was…amazing,” she murmured.

“You’re amazing.” I squeezed her shoulders. “Should we get back to planning for tomorrow?”

She hung on to me, her body too exhausted. “I don’t think I could even if I tried.”

Victory flickered in me. I loved the effect I had on her.

I cradled her in my arms and stood to carry her into the hut. I’d come back to put the fire out after I got her settled inside.

“No,” she objected. “I want to stay in the hammock tonight.”

“Are you sure?” The hammock wasn’t very comfortable to sleep in. She’d wake up with a backache. Although it was old, the bed was much more supportive.

She nodded. “I want to spend the night with you under the stars.”

There was a time when we would both have snarled at the idea of speaking kind words to each other, let alone sweet nothings . However, we were a far cry from those two strangers who were forced to live together many moons ago.

Romance was our new routine—one I could endure forever.

I carried her to the hammock and gently placed her inside, then I left to extinguish the fire. Smoke temporarily filled the air.

She made room for me when I returned, and I positioned myself under her before she curled into my body.

“Can you sing me that lullaby you always sing for Poaka?” she asked.

“Oh, you don’t want that.” It was one thing to sing for a pig who couldn’t tell me how horrible I sounded, and another to do it for the woman whose opinion mattered the most to me.

“I did ask for it, so…yes, please!”

Heat pricked my ears. “Maris, my voice isn’t that great.”

“Are you kidding me? Your voice is sexy.”

I had heard incorrectly. I was sure of it. “You think my voice is sexy?”

She played with my fingers, stroking each one with her own. “Ever since the first time I heard you sing.”

“Funny, because I remember you were mad more than anything.”

“Well, at first, I thought it was sexy, then rage registered. So, about that lullaby…”

My tactic of distraction had failed. “I was hoping you forgot.”

She grinned. “Never.”

“This is my curse for having a smart girlfriend,” I teased.

“ Girlfriend ?” Her head drew back. “I’m your girlfriend?”

My insides wavered—had I scared her off with the title? We had already professed our love for each other, so I assumed we were ready for this new stage. “Well, I mean, I hope you are.”

“And you’re my boyfriend?” she asked, neck still craned.

Great. I’ve made a mess of things. She’s probably going to run off again. “I honestly should be asking you how this works, but yes.”

She was silent.

“Maris?” Damn, I really had ruined our relationship.

She settled back down, her head against my chest again. “I’m just waiting for my boyfriend to sing to me.”

Relief flooded my body. My girlfriend still loved me. “I’m not getting out of this song, huh?”

“Not as long as we’re boyfriend and girlfriend.”

“So, I guess that’s a no?”

“Right on. Start singing, my little bird.”

I wasn’t escaping this, so I gathered my wits before I regretted it. I’d never sung for another human before, and especially not in front of the love of my life.

I began to sing the words that my mother had recited to me every night in childhood.

“Close your eyes, child.

Let the winds be and the stars shine.

In your dream, your hand will find mine.

The splendor we’ll see.

Sleep, my boy, and fly free with me.”

The song always made me feel connected to Ma, like she was listening to me somewhere out there. I hoped she was proud of me. Proud of the partner I was to Maris.

By the time I had finished the last verse, Maris had fallen asleep.

The hammock swayed gently in the breeze as I sang another round of the lullaby with my girlfriend asleep on top of me.