The small cave was filled with tension as he fastened one piece of his padded shirt to the bottom of her foot, before expertly wrapping the grass twine around, securing it around her ankle.His fingers lingered there once he was finished, his eyes darting up to hers briefly.
Before he could say anything—ordoanything—she pulled her left foot from his grip and gave him her right one.Without hesitating, he made quick work of that foot and soon enough, Taylor had sandals.Surprisingly comfortable ones, she noticed, as she stood to test them out.
Now, if only he could make her some underwear and pants.
Biting her lip, she swallowed, trying to ignore the sexual tension running high between them.Now she understood the expressiontension so thick you could cut it with a butter knife.
“Ready?” she asked quietly.
Vikan stood, standing so close she could feel the tantalizing heat from his body.
“Tev,” he replied, his voice like pure sin.
Taylor blew out a breath.“Let’s roll then.”
It was going to be a long day.
NINE
TAYLOR WAS TIRED, sweaty, and her muscles were beginning to ache in protest by the time that Vikan brought her to a shaded grove for a brief rest.
She didn’t know how long they’d been traveling.After leaving the cave behind earlier that morning, Vikan had taken them back to the downed hovercraft to collect what he’d called his ‘travel sack’ and a sheath of sharp, silver blades that had been tucked underneath the control panel.Weapons, she’d realized quickly.Seeing them had frightened Taylor, wondering just what kind of animals roamed those lands.
But so far, they had yet to see any.In certain areas where visibility was limited due to wild, curling vines or thick brush, Vikan had slowed, concentrating and listening to ensure they weren’t in any danger.He held her close to him during those moments.And except for some tracks that Vikan had squatted down to study and analyze, they’d be in the clear all day.
The suns had already arced high over their heads by the time she caught a brief break in that grove.The landscape had been as changing as Vikan’s moods, going from shoreline and sandiness, to empty, rocky plains, to towering jungles of slim, green plants that resembled aloe vera—if aloe vera grew twenty feet into the air and had giant cotton ball-like hats perched on their tips.
Taylor didn’t complain though.Those cotton balls provided a nice relief from the intensity of the two suns, which had already begun to set.
Vikan had promised that they’d find shelter for the night soon.During their very few moments of conversation, he’d told her that night fell more quickly in the western lands and that they shouldn’t be out after dark.But Taylor trusted him enough—which was already a big deal for her—to get them to safety before it became an issue.
After studying her closely as she slumped against the root of a giant aloe vera plant and wiped the sweat from her forehead, Vikan told her, “I will start looking for a shelter.We can stop for the night here.”
Taylor wouldn’t protest.She was exhausted and hungry.Vikan had what he called ‘travel rations’ in his bag and he’d given the majority of it to her.It had been some kind of tasteless, dried meat, but it had filled her belly and given her energy earlier on in the day.But now, her craving for a good ole burger and fries was off the charts.
She might’ve been embarrassed how out of shape she was compared to him.They’d been hiking through rough terrain forhoursand he looked like he’d spent the day relaxing.
“I’m good with that,” she murmured once she caught her breath.
She was so tired she was seriously considering letting Vikan carry her all the way to his outpost, like he originally offered.But her damned pride still got in the way, despite the long day.
Once she felt okay to push on to find their shelter for the night, Taylor followed Vikan through the jungle of aloe vera until they were almost to the outskirts of it.
And there, Vikan eyed a potential shelter.It was spot where the aloe vera leaves were clustered together in a crooked oval shape, shooting up straight from the ground.There were a few gaps in between the leaves, but for the most part, it was a completely enclosed space, more than big enough for the two of them.
Vikan pushed aside one of the leaves, creating ample space for her to crawl inside.It was even roomier than she’d originally thought once she plopped down onto the cool, sponge-like dirt ground.
When he didn’t move to follow her, instead just placing his bag at her feet, she tilted her head in question, “You’re not coming in?”
“We need meat and water and fire,” he replied, watching her.“You rest here.I will not stray far.”
“Let me go with you,” she murmured, already climbing to her feet, although her muscles ached in protest.
“Nix,” he said.
“I don’t like the idea of not pulling my own weight,” she tried to explain.
His expression became almost quizzical.“You have to pull your own weight.That is called moving.”
