Gweneth nodded and stepped onto the path.She muttered under her breath, pausing to stretch her right leg before hustling toward the clearing.
The birds had devoured the tube and strutted back toward the massed plant tubes.The high-pitch screeches resumed, but Ellard didn’t pause to look, instead striding after Gweneth.
The track reached the base of a hill, and the gradient increased.The trees were thinner here and the rocks glittered different colors in the whitelight.
“Might find a cave,” Gweneth said.
“Maybe.”The top of the hill appeared flat.“If we climb up here, we might see where we are.The dragons will send out searchers if we fail to return.”At least, he hoped that would be the case.Ransom had struck him as an honorable male.
“Danger,” the ghostly voice whispered, so faint Ellard wondered if his imagination played him false.But that little voice hadn’t steered them wrong so far.
“Let’s stay in the trees during this blacklight,” Ellard said.“Stay under the cover of the trees and observe before we make any decisions.”
Gweneth gave a tired nod.“I’m not sure I could make the journey at present.Every single muscle is singing a protest in time with my brain.”
“Why didn’t you say?”
“Wasn’t safe to linger.”
Ellard bit back his protest at her logic.She’d done what she needed to do to get to safety, and now he needed to do the rest.
The familiar drone of a ship had him peering through the trees.The pilot wouldn’t see them through the mass of vegetation.
“Quick, run back to the clearing.Try to hail them.”
Chapter 8
Ellardtookhalfastep and bumped into a cold but invisible wall.The icy wall engulfed him at his next step, and a shudder sped across his skin.His feline grunted, and each of his senses—humanoid and feline—spiked to full awareness.
“Ellard, hurry.”
“No.”He had to push out the word, the cold so bad he couldn’t think.
“Kiss.”The weak demand sounded next to his ear.
He took a step back toward Gweneth, and the cold disappeared.He studied their surroundings and couldn’t feel or sense anyone dangerous.
“Why aren’t you trying to get help?”
Ellard turned to face her.“Our invisible friends attempted to stop me.Can you hear them talking?”
Ellard closed the distance between them and slid his arm around Gweneth.Before she could voice the questions shining in his eyes, he kissed her.He dived straight into the experience, tasting her lips and the silken depths beyond.After her initial start, she slipped her arms around his neck and clung, pressing her breasts against his chest.A pleasurable shudder worked down his body to sink into his cock.Phrull.He closed his eyes and focused on the buzz of enjoyment, her scent, her taste.
The squawk of a bird had him raising his gaze to scan their surroundings.He remained close and allowed the truth to simmer between them.
Gweneth quirked a brow at him, her luscious lips tilting up at the corners.“What was that?”
“You don’t know?I must not be doing it right.”
Her smile broadened to a smirk.“You know you’re doing it right, Ellard.I want to know why.”
“An experiment.”
Some of her good humor faded, and he wanted to kick himself.He wanted more than kisses, yet maybe this was better.He shouldn’t encourage her when she could do so much better than him.His one experiment with the opposite sex since he’d lost his arm hadn’t proved a success.His partner had refused to continue unless he turned off the light, even though he’d paid her for the privilege.Gweneth could have her choice of lovers.
“I thought we were past that.”Her sharp tone spoke of irritation.Anger.
Face the problem.“You’re beautiful, Gweneth.I wasn’t much to look at before I lost my arm.I’m a handicap.”
