The world could be covered in ice and I wouldn’t feel it as hot as my blood ran for her. “No. My body regulates my internal temperature.”
“That’s convenient, having an internal thermometer,” Rowan said, dragging in a deep breath. “It’s amazing how fresh the air is here, like it’s saturated in fabric softener.”
I had heard a similar comment from the other humans. “Is the air not thus on your world?”
“Mostly polluted from human neglect and abuse,” she said.
Her answer shouldn’t have surprised me. The images from their comm device called a cell phone had shown a large population surrounded by enormous structures Rowan had called skyscrapers with only a few strange trees dotting the landscape.
“Ready?” I asked, my voice surprisingly steady despite the raging desire coursing through me.
She nodded and we stepped into the dense undergrowth. The suns’ light filtered through the canopy in dappling patterns as I navigated the terrain. Brunnex and Truxxet spread out yet followed, their presence a subtle reminder of the dangers lurking beneath the serenity.
Kneeling on the soft undergrowth, I watched as Rowan cradled a delicate bloom in her hands. The petals shimmered with iridescent hues. She looked so small and fragile, yet her spirit burned with curiosity.
“That one is known as lysara,” I said, taking a knee and passing her a digging tool. “It has healing properties, perfect for calming the mind.” A knowing look passed between us, and I couldn't help but feel a deep connection to this human female who had stumbled into my world.
“Sounds like something I could use,” she murmured, half joking.
“Perhaps,” I agreed, offering a gentle smile. “Yet sometimes, peace can be found not in plants or tonics, but in the company we keep.”
As she peered up at me with her bright green eyes, there was an intensity in this wordless communication, pulling us closer without moving. We shared a bond unlike anything I’d ever experienced. And I prayed to the Spirits she felt it too.
The heady fragrance unique to the jungle of Huren now served as the backdrop to my turbulent emotions. My fingers grazed a mossie pad, thinking Rowan would like the texture, when suddenly her fingers brushed against my own.
The contact was accidental, fleeting, yet it sent a jolt through me. My cock wept from the warmth of her touch, seed dribbling from the tip in anticipation. How much longer could I last in her company before I let go of the thin thread I had on my control?
I imagined flipping her onto her back and divesting her of her dress. With her flame-licked mane haloed around her head, I would settle between her creamy thighs, spread wide in welcome. I’d bury my aching member deep inside her clenching channel, spilling my seed deep within her ripened womb. She would toss back her head and cry out my name to the jungle until every last beast knew who had claimed her.
Chapter Five
ROWAN
“You okay, Z? You’ve got that intense stare going on again. Is there something on my face and you’re too polite to say?” I giggled, swiping at my cheeks.
“No.” Zikkar seemed to shake himself back from wherever his mind had gone, his flashing scales quietening down. “Your face is as perfect as it always is.”
“I…um. Thanks,” I blushed and sputtered my way through his compliment. I’ve never felt as beautiful as his swirling perusal made me feel. His sweeping gaze was intense, as if he wanted nothing more than to possess me. Heat licked at my core, tightening my nipples as an image slammed into my mind of Zikkar’s hard body thrusting between my thighs.
“Over this way might be of interest,” Zikkar said, dragging me from my illicit thoughts.
Zikkar led the way, his tall frame navigating with an effortless grace that belied the strength coiled in his muscular build. With each step, our footsteps were swallowed by the cobalt carpetof leaves and moss beneath our feet, as we sought out the beginnings of what would become my new garden. Our guards kept pace with us, their eyes always scanning, their weapons up and at the ready.
The air was thick with moisture, laden with the heady perfume of alien blossoms and the rich, fertile soil. It was a scent that was becoming familiar, yet it retained the thrill of the unknown, much like the man at my side. The jungle around us hummed with life, a symphony of distant calls and rustling leaves that spoke of a vibrant and thriving ecosystem.
Thankfully, the dinosaurs the girls had described who lived in the jungle slept during the day, so there wasn’t much chance we would run into any of them. If we did, the warriors looking after us would take care of business.
Zikkar paused now and then to point out a cluster of seeds or a nascent plant he thought I would find interesting. His silver eyes would catch the light filtering through the canopy, gleaming with a passion for his world that was as captivating as it was infectious. I found myself drawn to him, not just for the knowledge he possessed but for the quiet intensity that surrounded him.
As we delved deeper into the undergrowth, Zikkar’s natural scent wrapped around me. Warm and spicy, the undercurrent of something wild continued to amplify, stoking a wicked heat I could no longer ignore. My senses sharpened, and my heart beat a reckless tempo against my ribcage. Each inhalation brought more of his essence into my lungs, and I struggled to focus on the task at hand rather than the heat unfurling low in my belly.
I touched a delicate, spiral-shaped bloom growing on a low-hanging branch, its petals smooth and cool against myfingertips. “This one is especially pretty,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper, as though the jungle demanded a certain reverence.
“Indeed,” Zikkar replied, his gaze lingering on mine for a heartbeat longer than necessary before he carefully removed the flower from the branch with the roots intact and placed it with the others inside a bag he carried over his muscular shoulder. “It’s a vine. Given a trellis to climb, it will thrive in your garden.”
My pulse quickened, and I turned away, feigning interest in a nearby fern-like plant to hide the flush I knew stained my cheeks. Desire mingling with anticipation was an intoxicating blend, dizzying in its potency. Zikkar's proximity was a balm and a torment all at once, a paradox I couldn't unravel.
A cool breeze stole my breath as we brushed past curtains of trailing vines. I reached out to steady myself against the rough bark of a tree. Zikkar helped to steady me, and I found myself encircled in strong arms with my palms pressed against the hard planes of his bare chest. His scales were hot and inviting, a stark contrast to the cool air around us.
