“Oh, you don’t have to?—”
“Please. It is my pleasure to show you the wonders of my home. And the Timpania flower is indeed a wonder. In fact, I believe you have a little of it in your runes, if I am not mistaken.”
Nowthatgot her attention. “Hang on. What, now?”
“Timpania is a powerful collector of the galaxy’s energy, and its flowers are used in the making of some of the more potent pigments used in the Dotharian runes. It does, however, require quite a lot of them to create even the smallest amount of pigment, which is one of the reasons it is so hard to come by. It is also an exceptionally rare flower that only grows wild, meaning one must spend a great deal of time to gather enough to be of any use. It is a bit more effort than most are willing to put in when other pigments are far easier to harvest.”
“Well, in that case,” she said, sliding comfortably onto his muscular shoulders.
“Hold on.”
He stood, rising slowly, allowing her to get her balance set then stepping close to the tree to provide her a better look. The heat coming off his body was substantial, and his hot neck pressing between her legs was downright distracting, the slight jostling as he moved sending tingles through Margot’s bits in a surprising but delightful way.
Margot leaned close to the tree, pressing against him even harder. The sensation was even stronger, but, amazingly, the tiny purple flower somehow managed to draw her attention even more. There was something about it. A draw she could feel in her body. Braxxos noticed the shift in her energy.
“Yes, as I thought. You are reacting to it.”
“You feel that?”
“Yes. I too have some in my pigments. The reaction you feel is perfectly normal. A connection to the living plant, its power saying hello to its cousin, now living symbiotically in your body. Most do not have this effect, but Timpania is rather special. But do not worry, it is nothing to be afraid of.”
“I’m not afraid,” she replied, staring in wonder at the tiny plant. “I think it’s wonderful.”
Braxxos seemed pleased with that reply, holding still a while longer to afford her a better chance to simply sit quietly and take in what she was feeling. It was courteous of him. Thoughtful. And definitely not the sort of thing she would expect most men to even be cognizant of, let alone relate to.
She let the sensation float through her body, noting the way the pigment now living within her skin could somehowfeelits relative in such close proximity. And Braxxos had it too. What sort of sensations might he be feeling? Was it different for his race? How did it affect him?
As if he could sense her thoughts, he stepped back from the tree and crouched down. Margot slipped off his shoulders, the pleasant hotness of his neck pressing against her between her legs suddenly noticeable in its abrupt absence.
There was something in his eyes. An odd look. A flare, but of what she couldn’t say. Braxxos seemed a little disturbed.
“You okay?”
“Yes,” he said, his voice a little husky. “It is just sometimes a bit much, the sensation.”
“I’m sorry. If I’d known it made you feel bad, I wouldn’t have?—”
“It’s okay. But we should get you back. Come.”
He moved faster now, his body more tense than earlier. Whatever had happened, he was still feeling the effects of it.
They climbed up and into his treehouse in short order, but rather than relax, he moved about the place quickly, taking out several baskets and placing them on the low table.
“There is ample food and water for days,” he said. “Stay inside, and remain quiet. You will be safe here.”
“Hang on, where are you going?”
He hesitated. “Your crash brought a dangerous sort to the area. I must make a run to another campsite of mine, and I’m afraid your runes have not taken hold enough to provideadequate night vision. You would not be able to keep up, and I must ensure my belongings are safe. I cannot risk them stumbling upon them.”
“But—”
“Have I done anything to harm you?”
“No.”
“Then I ask you please trust me on this. You will be safe here, but I must go. I will be back in a day. Maybe two.”
“Two days?”
