“It’s a theory.Come on.Let’s go home.”She clasped hands with him.“I’m starving.We can eat an energy bar while we walk.”
They scrambled down the hill, retaining physical contact the entire way.Once they reached flat ground, Nyree pulled the energy bars from her pocket and handed one to Tawera.
“I’m going to release your hand.Maybe you haven’t eaten enough.”
Tawera didn’t think this was the case.He opened his mouth to refute her suggestion and thought better of it.Nyree was right.They should try every variation and rule out each possibility one by one.He accepted the bar she handed him and bit down.It was chewy and full of fruit.Sweetness burst across his tongue.
“The food is much sweeter than I am used to,” he said.
“Sugar is a problem in the modern world.On average, people are taller and bigger than our ancestors.You fit in with your height and breadth.”
“I was larger than most of the warriors, but I thought my taniwha heritage was responsible for my size.”
“A possibility,” Nyree agreed.“Has eating helped?”
“I’m about the same.”He released her hand and walked at her side rather than touching her.
The pain level shot upward, and he grimaced.It wasn’t as sharp as before, but gradually, it would overwhelm him again.He groped for her hand, the relief instantaneous.
“Interesting,” Nyree said.
Yes, it was fascinating, and he could think of one more thing they hadn’t tried this evening.He turned to her and spotted the knowledge in her expressive eyes.
“Sex,” he said.
14
Let’s Take a Shower
Tawera’sgriptightenedonhers, and in an unspoken agreement, they increased their pace, picking their way through the moonlit rocky landscape toward the cemetery.Her heart beat faster, and arousal slid through her veins with every inhalation of the salty tang of sea air.A hint of taniwha and Tawera’s green scent reached her, driving her desire to fever pitch.Despite knowing this was a bad idea, she intended to sleep with him tonight.She could tell herself this was an experiment to learn if sex helped to steady Tawera, but the truth was she ached for him.
Once was not enough, not when it had been so fast.
No, Nyree craved a night together where they learned what each liked best.A night where she could touch at will and explore his magnificent body without restrictions.She craved his caresses in return.A slow loving.A tender one, plus a little fast and furious action to warm them up.
“Are you sure you want to do this?”Tawera broke into her musing over which type of loving she’d prefer first.
“It is for my benefit too.I like you, and if we can help each other this way, I have no objections to physical contact between us.”
“Thank you.”
Nyree nudged him with her hip as they walked along the sandy and rock-strewn beach.Gentle waves whooshed to shore, threatening to dampen their boots.“Thanks are unnecessary.In my time, we call this friends with benefits.It is a mutual agreement to sleep with each other until one of us wishes to call off the relationship.It is sex without complications.”
“I see.”
Nyree shot Tawera a sideward glance and caught his frown.“Sex and relationships are different in our time.No one will censor us if we sleep together without the commitment of marriage.”
“This is common?”
“Yes, a lot of couples live together, but for various reasons, never get married.They have children and are like a regular family, but they do it without the benefit of a marriage.”
“Your time is strange,” Tawera said as they approached the settlement.
By common consent, they slowed and listened for any of the scientists.Not one wandered outside to study the stars or the penguins or anything else.All was quiet as they crept past Keith and Carolyn’s prefab building.A distinct snore sounded, followed by a masculine grumble.Nyree giggled and slapped her free hand over her mouth.
Tawera dragged her through the shadows, his steps more certain now.Confident.A combo of the food and physical touch, or maybe it was the promise of the intimacy to come.Nyree wasn’t sure, but the same eagerness had her striding at his side.
Their steps slowed as they approached her place, and they listened for foreign sounds.Tawera nodded, and Nyree opened her door.They stepped inside before turning on a light and removing their footwear.
