Thirty seconds later, I’m inside. The cave is small, entrance a little low, but roomy enough inside to sit up. Perfect for the night. We’ll be sheltered from predators—both four-legged and two.
I jump down, scoop up Pallas and plop him into Neela’s arms, then wrap my own around her waist and launch upward. She lets out a tiny yelp of surprise, but we’re in. Good thing, too—my ribs are not happy about it. I grit my teeth, wait for the pain to subside, while Neela takes stock of our shelter.
She finishes her inspection quickly and turns to me.
“And now?” she asks, lifting those gorgeous eyes to mine.
“And now?” I echo, stepping closer. “I’m going to do what I’ve been burning to do since the moment I found you.”
“What’s that?” she asks innocently.
I cradle her face in both hands and press my lips to hers. It’s only been two days, but it feels like I’ve been starved for her kiss forever. I drink her in like nothing else matters. She kisses me back, urgently, her hands roaming over my arms and chest. Our breaths mingle, fuse. My mind blanks. All I want is to make her mine again.
I grab the zipper of her suit and pull it down clumsily. I start baring her shoulders, but stop cold when I realize she’s shivering from cold, not desire.
“Idiot,” I mutter. “Sun’s down, and the chill’s setting in. Hang on. Let me get the cocoon set up.”
Two minutes later, we’re curled up inside. Pallas is curled just outside the entrance, guarding us.
Once we’re lying down, I pick up exactly where I left off. I finish undressing her, gently, checking along the way that she’s not hiding any injuries. My hands and eyes confirm what I hoped: she’s fine. That’s all I need to know for now.
Her fingers trace my abs, then sweep up to my shoulders. I trail kisses down her skin, soft and hairless, each flick of my tongue sending shivers through her—not from the cold this time.
“You’re purring,” she whispers, stifling a laugh.
“It’s a physiological reflex for Sadjims. The vibrations we make with our larynx trigger endorphin release.”
“I don’t mind,” she murmurs. “Actually… I think it might be working on me too.”
“Oh really? Let’s test that theory,” I purr, and dive back in.
Bit by bit, I erase the world around us. I kiss her skin, suck gently, stroke every inch of her with mouth and hands and murmured promises. My tongue demands responses—and gets them.
“Prax…” she gasps, arching toward me, desperate.
I roll us over, spread her legs with my knee, pin her hands above her head. Then I press down, pinning her under me completely. The moment is universal—on any world, in any species—her hips begin a slow, inviting roll. She's ready.
With a low growl, I finally surrender to the pull I’ve been resisting. I take her with slow, deep strokes, savoring every moment of our reunion. Our bodies move in perfect sync—until she demands more. And I give it.
I let go of all restraint and drown in her. She's glorious in the throes of passion, consumed by the fire we've reignited. I interlace my fingers with hers and guide her to the edge—and far beyond.
Her cheeks are flushed, lips swollen, eyes gleaming even in the low light of our cocoon. And all I can think is: she bears my mark. That thought alone sends a wave of satisfaction through me.
We’re together. We’re safe. For now.
Sleep takes us both swiftly.
Tomorrow… is another day.
24-Neela
It’s been two days since we started following the trail of the vehicle I escaped from. Two days completely out in the wild, without crossing a single housing unit. I’m terribly worried about Kiran and his family. We haven’t heard a word about them, and I’m sure they’re just as anxious as we are.
Prax has no real idea where we are. Even the scents seem to have vanished. So for now, he’s focused on tracking signs from the truck’s passage, hoping he’s not headed the wrong way.
The situation is problematic on multiple levels. We have nothing to eat—aside from the tiny prey Prax manages to catch. Pallas isn’t weaned yet, and a diet of nothing but meat doesn’t provide what he needs. As for me, I’ve held on so far by rationing the single nutrition bar that was in his pack, but I have to face the facts: I’ll have to start sharing their meals. Just the thought of it makes my stomach churn.
And another major issue: we have nothing to drink. As we’ve moved forward, the snow has disappeared. But somehow, Prax is able to “sense” small water sources. We’re stuck drinking from leaves or little pools formed in the rocks—like animals. It’s hard enough finding enough to quench our thirst, so obviously, we haven’t been able to wash. I feel terrible for Prax, whose sense of smell is far more developed than mine. He never complains, but I do catch him twitching his nose from time to time.
