Sighing, I climb out of the water as well, wrap a towel around my hips, and follow him.
I can see him hesitate, stopping helplessly in the middle of the kitchen area, before moving toward the bed. He collapses onto it and curls onto his side.
"Try to get it," he mumbles into the pillow. "I don’t wanna think about this. It can’t happen, it’d ruin everything."
"There is a way to stop it, Salt," I say softly, pausing by the bed. "We do not have to have sex. Before the doctor’s appointment, we could just…" I make an awkward gesture toward his groin. "We could kinda… inject semen there. So the doctor finds sperm in the mucus." I feel ridiculous even saying it out loud.
Silence falls. I realize that Salt probably never actuallyseriouslyconsidered the TM option before, or at least the consequences of Joining. I can almost see waves of shock moving through him at the thought alone.
The room sinks into a deep quiet, and I choose my words carefully, trying not to hurt him.
"I do want this to happen between us, very much. But if it would sabotage your plans, then I understand that it might be better for both of us to stop. As long as we do not enter the Joining and activate the Bond fully, there is a chance that nothing will happen to us."
I cut myself off. To be fair, I’m actually certain the Bond has already started to form, and it’s a lost cause anyway, but for his sake, I zip it. The room is heavy with silence; his heart is galloping.
Finding the right words suddenly feels incredibly hard. I want to say something completely different, but I simply can't; all I can do is repeat what I said before.
"As I told you. You do not have to say anything or confirm it, but I have a feeling you want to leave this island. That you want to kill Tanner. But please… I hope you know what kind of danger revenge like that carries, right?"
"I do not want to talk about this!" Salt snaps, punching the sheet with his fist.
I huff quietly.
"Okay. I just needed it to be said."
Silence again.
I slowly sit down beside him, my weight causing his body to rock slightly. One of his hands slides lower, almost toward me. I watch it for a moment. In a rush of foolishness, I lean down and gently brush my thumb along the side of his hand.
I see a shiver run through him.
"I am sorry for bringing this up. I just felt it needed to be cleared up. I really do want this, I just…"
"There is another option," Salt suddenly says, his voice different, slightly muffled as his face is still pressed into the pillow.
"We can use condoms, or even two. I heard that it blocks the closure of the energetic coil, in case something like that is about to happen."
I stare at him, genuinely surprised by the suggestion, and wonder what is really behind it.
This is no longer just about giving Salt an alibi for another doctor’s visit or protecting him from Drax. This is about the fact that he actuallywantsthis to happen. Sex with me.
Is it the start of heat speaking, or something more? It sounds desperate. Two condoms? It’s almost as if he cannot accept the idea that we might not do this at all!
I have to admit, it’s a pleasant surprise. An unexpected warmth spreads through me, though I probably shouldn’t read too much into his offer. If this is the edge of a heat, that’s likely what’s seeping through Salt’s behavior.
Still, there’s something exciting in his eagerness. I slowly lean over the bed, resting on my elbow, surprised by how much pleasure this situation brings me.
The silence stretches until Salt slowly turns his head, his face emerging from the pillow. He is flushed, with a faint pout on his lips.
I try to fight it, try not to enjoy this as much as I do, but it is stronger than me.
"I want you," I blurt out, wanting to give him something in return, to let him know his desire is reciprocated. "That is why I agree."
I cover his fingers with my hand.
Salt nods slowly, his breath shallower.
I withdraw my hand and let it glide over his shoulder, his side, down to his ass. My fingers trace gently along his cleft, and I feel his slight twitch as my finger slides even lower, brushing the ring of muscles around the tip of the dildo inside him.
