“Good,” he says gruffly, voice a little ragged.
“Maybe I should come with you for the rest of the day?” I glance over my shoulder at Aqen, who I’m sure would rather go hang out at the pits than shadow me all day, anyway.
Nik jerks a nod and motions for me to follow him. I wave goodbye to Aqen and Cidro. As I turn to go, I catch glimpse of Orush lying still in his pod, arms crossed over his chest as he stares at the ceiling a couple feet above him. I can’t help worrying about him.
I hurry to keep up with Nik in my bulky layers. “Hey, did Cidro ask you about forming a mind-healing group?” I ask when we’re out of earshot of the sleeping quarters. “I mentioned it to him, and he said he was going to ask you.”
“No.”
“I think it could really help some of these guys to talk about their problems. Orush, for example. He just had a full-blown PTSD episode after that little quake. And Aqen is experiencing a lot of anxiety over missing out on training due to his injury. I’m sure he’s not the only one. I’d guess that your healers are close to burnout due to handling so many patients. It could help them to have an outlet like a support group.”
It could really helphim, I don’t add.
He doesn’t respond, but I guess I haven’t asked a question. “I know it’s uncomfortable for Irrans to gather in large groups, but Cidro said he thought groups of three or four might be okay. I was hoping four to six, just so nobody feels singled out. What do you think?”
“What I think”—we reach the comm room, and he tugs me into the dim interior, closing the door and locking it—“is that you should not speak to me of other males when you wear their scents!”
His whole body presses me against the back of the door, pinning me in place with his hips. He cups my face in his hands and then proceeds to devour my mouth. Oh mygod.
When he comes up for air, my knees are jelly and I can feel my heartbeat in my lips. Deftly, he captures both my wrists with one hand, loosening his sveli sash with the other. Then he shoves my hands inside it so I’m touching the bare skin of his ridged abdomen.
His skin is hot against my palms, his chest heaving as I let my hands roam over all the planes of his torso. Then I pull them out and present them up for his inspection. He holds my hands to his nose, drawing in deep breaths from both sides.
“Better?” I ask. He drops them with a surly nod, like it’s my fault he’s a jealous monster. “You don’t have to worry about my loyalty, you know. I might be thirsty, but I’m not out here jumping on every available dick.”
“Not even mine.” His mouth quirks up at the corner, letting me know he’s teasing.
I grab the neckline of his sveli and pull him down for another searing kiss. “That’s because”—Kiss—“We have”—Kiss—“Time.”
Chapter 19
Nik
We have time.Because she’s mine forever.
“Alara,” I groan into her mouth, and I feel her lips smile against mine.
“I like it when you call me that.”
My cock likes it too, even better than her Nik-name. I’m sure she can feel it prodding her belly. “I won’t spill in my trousers this time,” I assure her.
“Oookay?” she says, laughing. “It’s really not a big deal if you do, though.”
“I commed Fen this morning. He gave me some tactics to avoid it.” He also teased me mercilessly, but it will be worth it if his advice works.
“Like what?” Delphie loosens my sash until it falls to the floor and my sveli hangs open. She runs a finger down the center of my chest, pausing at my belt. My skin feels electric, sparking at her touch, begging for me to let my pigment free. I exhale, letting my lids fall shut, willing it to happen. Willing my channels to relax and let my colors flow. Show her what I feel for her.
But when I open them again, they’re met with nothing but cool, gray camouflage. “He told me to think of something ugly. Like the things my father made me do. Something to make my desire for you retreat.”
“Hm.” She hook a finger under my waistband, tugging at it, and I can feel my cock leaking seed down my thigh as it strains against its strap. I stifle a noise. Is she really going to touch it right now, here in the comm room? She tugs again, a reprimand. “I don’t want you thinking about things like that while we’re being intimate.”
“I won’t speak them aloud. Only in my mind.” I can’t stop looking at her mouth. I have much to accomplish today, but all I want to do is lavish it with kisses. I lean over her, gathering her in my arms. “Lesson One. Please.”
She leans back, holding me away, shaking her head. “It associates pleasure with something bad.”
“A price I’ll pay to avoid further humiliation. How can I please you if I spill the moment I get inside you?”
“Oh, is that what you’re worried about?” She relaxes and leans forward to kiss the center of my chest. “I’m not worried about thatat all.”
