I chuckle. “You make it sound so easy.”
“I did not say it would be easy.” He smiles. “Only that nearly everything is possible.”
“Yeah, maybe.”
Katem gestures for me to continue.
I clear my throat again, if only to buy another second or two, and to think of one of the least ridiculous items on my mental list. “I’d love to see the ocean, which may not exist here.”
Katem doesn’t say anything for a minute. “My translator tells me an ocean is a body of water, made with a spice, that is so large, one cannot see across the length of it.”
His description makes me laugh. “Salt.”
“I do not understand.”
“The spice that makes up an ocean is salt.”
Katem nods.
“But like I said, that one is kind of silly since I doubt there’s an ocean here.” I should have started with one that was at least remotely possible.
“I believe there is a body of water similar to this ocean you wish to see, but it is a half-turn’s walk away. Still, I would be happy to take you there and let you decide if it matches your idea.”
A budding excitement fills me. Is it actually possible? But that flare of excitement slowly fizzles. How am I supposed to walk for an entire day? I’m not sure I’d be able to make it.
“Piper?” Katem says my name quietly.
I shake off my dismay. “Sorry. I was just thinking. I’m not very athletic. I worry I won’t be able to walk that far and back. I know you have things to do anyway.”
“Do not worry about me or being able to reach the place. If you get tired, I will carry you.”
“Oh, n—no.” I stutter. “I couldn’t ask you to do that.”
He closes the distance between us, and my heart skips a beat. When he palms my jaw, it stops completely.
“You do not need to ask, because I have offered. I will do whatever is necessary to take care of you, and I wish for nothing more than to be able to help you accomplish all the tasks on this list of yours. If that means I must carry you the entire way, then that is what I will do.”
Any willpower I have to resist leaning into his touch this time dissolves entirely. I’ve been alone so long and maybe I’m a little touch-starved. Okay, a lot touch-starved. Why is it onlynowthat a guy like Katem comes into my life?
“Thank you.”
“It is my pleasure.” The deepening of his voice sends a shiver running down my spine. “It is too late to go this turn, but perhaps we can plan for the next?”
My brain stutters back online and translates his words. Tomorrow’s as good a day as any. “Tomorrow—the next turn—is perfect.”
“Wonderful.” Katem grins broadly, but slowly his mouth flattens. “As much as I would love to continue discussing your list, I really must return to hunting. May I escort you back to the settlement?”
Since I already know he’s going to press the issue, I don’t argue, even though I’m not ready to go back so soon. “I’d like that.”
I’m also a little surprised Katem isn’t asking me to come to the Tavikhi village.
“Perhaps during our travels to see the ujera, we can discuss how we wish to move forward as mates,” he says, as if reading my mind.
“All right.”
To my surprise, Katem takes my hand in his and threads our fingers together. “Do not look so worried,keeshla. We will do whatever works for the both of us.”
“I trust you.” Unbelievably, I do. It doesn’t matter that I just met him yesterday.
