I rock against him, aware of his hard length beneath me, although his hand stops me from reaching it.
He kisses me, strokes me, his other hand moving under my shirt, his thumb pressing on my core until the needy impulses in my body become moans of want and my kisses become demanding.
Finally, he gives me access to his body and I sink onto him, taking him all the way in, a momentary relief that only grows into a more intense need.
He grips my hips as every strike of pleasure ripples through me, taking me beyond this place, shattering me and making me whole.
We may be headed for death, but right now, this feels like life.
Chapter30
We stay for a long time kneeling on the moss, wrapped up in fur.
Erik’s fingertips trace circles across my back under my tunic. I rest my head against his shoulder, listening to his thumping heart.
Too soon, we’re forced to rise, but only because my legs are going numb.
“Silly legs,” I grumble.
“Beautiful legs,” he replies as I wobble upright while he stays kneeling, his gaze rising to follow the lines of my body from my rumpled shirt to my naked thighs and calves.
When I shiver, he swoops upward and wraps the pelt back around me, and then he does his best to keep me warm as we both get fully dressed again.
Once we’re ready, he studies our surroundings and so do I, listening to the steady quiet, the gentle bubbling of water.
It’s still peaceful.
He inclines his head upstream and we continue on our way.
* * *
When night begins to fall, the energy within the forest around us changes. The canopy overhead is so thick that only a few beams of moonlight filter through, but they trigger a change in the environment.
Everything seems to come awake, as if there are a far greater number of nocturnal creatures living in this place. We certainly can’t be sure they’re harmless.
The sounds of scuffling and scurrying and slithering grow louder. Small creatures can be just as dangerous as large ones.
The tension in Erik’s shoulders has increased. “We need to find a safe place to make camp.”
I agree, but I also put voice to a new worry. “Maybe we shouldn’t sleep. Perhaps we should keep going and sleep tomorrow during the day when it’s safer.”
He rubs his temples. “You’re right. We need to change our approach. But right now, it’s been a long time since either of us slept. Even with our particular strengths, exhaustion is not our friend. We’re more likely to make mistakes if our minds are less alert. We can make camp and take turns keeping watch.”
I can’t argue with that logic. The power in the medallions can keep me going beyond my normal endurance, but it’s like a fire that consumes relentlessly. Eventually, there could be nothing left to burn.
“Up ahead,” I say. “It looks like there’s a clearing next to the riverbank.”
He nods. “Let’s try it.”
The clearing is large enough for us to spread out the pelts and still have some clear space around us. We ration the food from the satchel Gallium prepared and then we have a standoff about who will take first watch.
“Me,” I say firmly, noting the growing rings around his eyes. “The medallions will keep me awake.” When he still insists, I growl at him. “It won’t do either of us any good if you can’t keep your eyes open while you’re on watch.”
He gives a soft exhale, nestles up against my side, and within moments, he’s asleep.
I remain awake and on edge, but the scurrying sounds I hear don’t amount to anything and a few hours later, it’s my turn to rest.
For the next two days, we gradually adjust our sleep patterns until we’re sleeping in the afternoons and halfway through the night, resuming our journey just before dawn.
