I can’t believe I was hoping there was. But my life would’ve been simpler if I could pluck the barb out and return it to him.
“That is a good thing.”
For him, maybe. For me? “Is it?”
“Do you feel cold?”
I pause. I was cold when I climbed out of the river, but since then I’ve felt fine, even though my temperature has been low. Ava said my lips are blue. I touch my cheekbone and rub the cold rough spot. “Why does that matter?”
“I shared my DNA with you. It’s the only way I could protect you.”
“Or you could’ve not stung me, and I’d be cold the same as my friends.” I use the term friends really loosely. We hadn’t known each other before this failed rescue. But I didn’t know Eskar at all. He was just the same as Calloor, making demands of me and assuming I’d comply or be grateful. “I don’t know what mating means to you, but when rescue comes, I’ll be leaving.”
His lips turn down. “No one leaves.”
“What do you mean?”
The guys whoop, and I turn to see Ava and Harding carrying one of the hefty four tusked things into the clearing. My stomach grumbles hopefully. “Is that edible?”
“Yes. I ate plenty of them. Some plants are toxic, but I can show you.” He puts his hand over mine. His skin is as cold and rough as I remember, and my traitorous heart gives a flutter of delight at his touch. “This planet changes you. And no one ever leaves.”
I hold his gaze. His eyes are the bluest I have ever seen, and more than a little mesmerizing. I lick my lip and force the words out. “Still not going to be your mate. Whatever that is.” I have a fair idea what he’s hoping for based on my body’s reaction, but I’m not getting naked with an alien. The thought catches in my brain. I’ve already seen him naked in the water and now I can’t forget. I’ve tasted his lips as he’d breathed for me. Heat slithers down my spine and lodges in my belly. I’m sure the spot where his barb pierced my skin pulses. “If no one ever leaves, where is the crew?”
“Upstream with the rest of the ship. Like I said, I was lucky it was my turn to wait here and that I found you.”
“You wait here alone. For a month?”
“That is the way it is. I shouldn’t have left my post, but when I saw you crash… I had to see if there was something I could do.”
And if he hadn’t, I’d be dead. I shiver even though I’m not cold. “I’m the first woman you’ve seen in two hundred years and you stung me. Claimed me. You don’t even know if you like me.”
“When you’ve been alone as long as I have, you will understand.” Eskar gets up and goes into the ship.
I glance at Calloor. Would I ever be that desperate?
I don’t think so.
I’ve offended Eskar by knocking him back, but saving my life doesn’t mean it’s his to claim. I’ll just ride out this lust drug. I’m sure it will wear off. And while I’ve never been one of those humans should only be with humans types, I’ve only ever met a handful of aliens. And by met, I mean brushed past in one of the space ports. My job, and the company I work for, has kept me away from aliens.
I’m wishing I knew more about the Paohl right now. And this world.
The longer I sit, the more I miss Eskar. I rub the back of my hand where he touched me. I don’t know what was in the mating barb, but I want to follow him into the ship, grab hold of him and never let go. Every time I blink, he’s there, consuming my thoughts.
With a snarl, I stand up and help my fellow humans prepare dinner.
Chapter 8
The meat smells delicious.Even though Eskar said it isn’t toxic, that just means it’s not toxic to the Paohl. Everything we touch, the air we breathe and even our carefully boiled water contains pathogens that could make us sick. For all I know we are already infected with something and in a few days food and water won’t be a problem.
“I did a toxin test on the meat and blood.” Ava pats a pocket on her pants. “I never leave home without them.”
My heart rate calms a little, but I’m still not sure about eating freshly caught meat from an unknown world. But there is nothing else to eat.
“Leah, stop freaking out.”
“I’m not freaking out.” But I was the one who’d been stung by the alien who is back at the table casually watching us. I know when his gaze is on me. I can feel it in the pulse of my heart. When I glance at him, pale and luminescent in the starlight he smiles, the lazy kind like he knows exactly what is happening to me.
I don’t know how to treat the weird alien lust drug that he’s given me. Maybe it will wear off in a few days and all I have to do is keep my distance and my pants on.
