"I wanted to see you," I tell him. "I asked them to bring me here."
He grunts, turquoise blue eyes flicking momentarily toward the two Trixikka he'd instructed to care for me. "Zatiryk held you in his arms."
"How else was I going to get here?" Rynn's quiet at that, his gaze fixed on where he winds strips of thin hide around his knuckles. I can't help but put my hands on my hips. We need to talk, not sulk. "Rynn, I asked them to bring me to you to apologize." His eyes lift to mine so I continue. "I tried to use my body to manipulate you and that was wrong of me. I knew you wanted to touch me and I thought if I offered you that, you'd give me what I want-"
"I would give you anything, Zahreenah," he says, interrupting. "I would give you everything I have, anything at all in these lands.Anything. As long as it pleases you."
My lips press together and I will away the odd, hot sensation I can feel welling up inside me. "I know." Because I do know that. Don't I? That's how it feels, anyway. "I know," I say again, more softly this time.
"But I cannot put you or the other females in harm's way. The mimyckah are out there and they had been in that area - had taken the sleeping females. We need to concentrate on getting those females back, not flying more females into the thick of the jungle."
What he's saying makes absolute sense. Finding the remaining girls is a priority. But what about Alana? What about the possibility of her pregnancy? I bite my lip and nod my head. "I agree with everything you've just said."
"Good, then you'll agree not to-"
"Do you trust me?"
Rynn's mouth clamps shut, his breath huffing from his nose. A muscle ticks in his jaw and for a moment, I wonder if maybe he doesn't trust me at all. Until finally, he tells me in a low, rumbling voice, "yes, my little-light. I trust you."
My heart feels like it just had a jump-start. Nodding my head again, I step closer, reaching out to take his massive hand in mine. "One of the other girls has a secret."
"Ah-lanah. Mavyx's mate. You wanted me to take you and Ah-lanah back to the ship carcass in exchange for baring your...teets to me."
Well, fuck. Nothing gets past this guy, does it? I swallow and can already feel a deepening blush creeping across my cheeks. "Yes. Alana has a secret," I say, feeling wary that I'm about to let too much slip. "It'shersecret to tell or not. But she told me. And she needs to go back to that ship to check a few things out on the computer. I can't tell you what she revealed to me, but can you trust me when I tell you that I believe her secret is worth the risk?"
Rynn's eyes scan my face. I hold my breath. For some reason, it feels infinitely important to me that he trusts me, that he believes in my judgment and that he would support me even without knowing the whole truth - even after I tried to manipulate him. His thick fingers twitch in my hands and slowly, he nods. "Yes, my mate. I will trust you in this," he says, eyes dropping to where I grip his hand tighter. "I will ensure that you and Ah-lanah will get a chance to visit the ship carcass again."
"Thank you!"
"You will only be carried by me, though, little-light," he says, sternly, pointing a finger at me. "No other males are permitted to fly my mate halfway across the skies-"
I cannot help it. I cut off his instructions with a hug, the side of my face pressing into his chest and my palms sandwiched between the muscles of his shoulders and the soft underside of his giant wings. Not long after, I feel Rynn's arms and tail wrap around me in return. "Thank you," I whisper into his skin. He's still a little sweaty, but I don't care. If I crack an eye open, I can see the skin-stars on his chest going absolutely crazy. "I really am sorry, about before."
"All is forgiven," Rynn murmurs into the crown of my head, one big hand stroking my hair.
My reverie at being held in Rynn's big, strong arms is interrupted when I hear some splashing and remember about the other Trixikka, gathered here on the banks of the river. Most are standing in the river, water around thigh-deep, their wings spread wide while they bend to scoop up the water to splash over their chests. Some have waded in further, dunking themselves completely in the middle of the river where I assume the water runs deepest. They then move away until the water only laps at their waists, their wings splayed out, droplets rolling off their beautiful inky feathers before they give their wings a shake and then tuck them neatly at their backs.
"Can I bathe in the river?" I ask, almost salivating at the thought. Ever since we got stranded here I've had to make do with a basin of water and a washcloth. Rynn nods, an amused smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
Leading me a little away from where the other Trixikka wash the sweat from their skin, Rynn holds my hand, steadying me as I negotiate the larger rocks at the river bank. I wade in, all too eager to experience a level of cleanliness that I've only dreamed of since being abducted in my sleep. The water is calm and ever so clear. Light from the two suns high in the sky almost blinding as it bounces off the deceptively still waters. I'm only up to my knees when Rynn shouts my name behind me. I turn, but as I do so, I catch sight of something large and dark in the water. My first thought is an alligator and my blood runs cold. A shadow covers me from behind and the dark shape in the water quickly changes direction, swiftly swimming away with merely a small, startled ripple to the river's surface. "Whatwasthat?!"
"Dentixxi" Rynn answers, his voice so close and his breathing a little labored. "A type of long-snouted predator fish." Turning, I see that the shadow that covers me belongs to Rynn. He stands there, so close behind me, his wings splayed out in their entirety, the full span enormous.
"Was it going to attack me?"
"I think so," he says, swallowing thickly. "Trixikka do not normally concern ourselves with them. They do not like our scents or our large shadows on the water. I hadn't thought of how small you are or how one might take an interest in you. I will stay close while you bathe. Nothing will dare approach while I am here."
Even though I believe him, I can't help but scan the water for any further hidden dangers. It's hard to make out with the sunlight bouncing off the calm ripples. A little further downriver, the other Trixikka continue to wash while chatting idly. I'd love to dunk my whole body into the water and finally rinse away the grime that has built up on my skin and hair over the past few days. I watch them for a few more moments and then turn to Rynn. He's observing me closely as he always seems to do. "I'd really like to wash properly," I admit. "You know… get right under the water?"
"You can. The dentixxi will not return. I am here."
I give him a smile and glance quickly at the other Trixikka. "My nightshirt and shorts will get wet. I could take them off, but-" Rynn follows my brief glances back at his men and understands quickly about my need for privacy. Without saying a word, his huge dark wings fold around me, creating a space where it feels like only he and I exist, the stars on his feathers twinkling slowly around me as though I'm being embraced by a nighttime sky.
"You may bathe now, my Zahreenah," he tells me, his voice low and raspy. "It is only you and I here in my wings." Chewing on my lip, I reach for the hem of my nightshirt. Rynn stops me with one hand on my arm. "Only if you wish to," he says. "Not... for anything else." I bite back the guilt threatening to bubble up. No, this isn't manipulation this time. I really, really want to be intimate with this huge, winged alien. He's been nothing but sweet to me and I'd be a bare-faced liar if I didn't admit that he is hot as fuck. I nod my head and he releases my arm, though his tail sneaks around under the water to wrap around my ankle like a tether. Then, just like that, I take off my nightshirt. Funny, how it feels like I've taken my clothes off for men a million times before, but this -thisfeels different.
Rynn gently takes the crumpled shirt from my hands and drapes it over his shoulder. I wrinkle my nose at that. "That's dirty."
"I do not care." And it really seems like he doesn't. His eyes are glued to my chest. "Those are...beyondmagnificent," he says, voice reverent and expression so awe-struck, I cannot help but chuckle. Rynn then helps to steady me, offering a firm hand to hold while I step out of my sleep shorts, careful to avoid the water. Those end up slung over his muscled shoulder too.
