I awoke screaming. “No, no!”I punched the air, landing into something impossibly hard. “Ow.”
“Easy, pajuara.” Daegan grabbed my wrists and drew me against his chest. His hard pectorals had been the target of my involuntary attack. “You’re all right.”
The dream had been more than a fictitious imaging, it was a vivid memory that haunted me whether awake or asleep. My body shook with the remembered horrors. I didn’t recall much after being knocked out by the smoke and wakening on the pseudo-pleasure space cruise, but flashes pervaded my mind. A cage, shouting, lights flickering, and eyes. Always eyes watching from the shadows. I shivered.
“I have you, my mate.” His body gave off heat better than any fireplace. It warmed the chill clinging to my bones and chased away the darkness. I reveled in his touch. His arms around me were like banded steel, keeping me safe and secure. I buried my face in his neck. His delicious bronze skin held the scent of fire and autumn-spices. I wanted to lick every inch. My thighs rubbed together restlessly as desire filled me. I needed his heat, but I wanted more.
So much more.
“Daegan,” I whispered his name. The answering groan that went through him echoed in me. I bit his neck, lust raging. “Take me.”
His fingers curled at my waist as if to pull me in, but he didn’t. Pushing us apart, he breathed hard and sat up. “No, Elena. We can’t.”
“Whoa, hold the com unit.” I sprang to my knees beside him. “What do you mean?” A loud gurgling stopped him from answering. I glared at my stomach.
“You’re hungry.” He rose so fast as if he couldn’t wait to flee from me. “I must attend your needs.” Then, he left. Like ran for it. Sprinting toward the spring, he waved a hand over his shoulder, and followed the waters past a boulder. “I’ll return soon.”
“What the actual hell?” I said, none to subtle. In fact, I hoped he heard me. With my libido screaming, adrenaline coursing through me, and my stomach growling, I was a mess of needs. I had no idea why Daegan had taken off like he did, but I’d be damned if I’d wait for him to come back. Tearing off pieces of my skirt at the side of each thigh, I used the strands to cross over my breasts. It wasn’t perfect, but it gave me some coverage. I shrugged. “Better than nothing.”
With my makeshift top in place, I stalked toward the spring and around the boulder. The water deepened to a small pool here before running further down and exiting through a hole in the cavern wall. Unfortunately, the opening wasn’t big enough for anything larger than a fish to escape.
Speaking of fish, I spotted two laid on a rock as if waiting for someone to come along and eat them. Their silver skins twinkled in the cavern’s dim lights. Daegan, meanwhile, was crouched ankle-deep in the pool, standing as motionless as a statue. Without a sound, he swiped his hand under the water and plucked another silver fish from its shallow depths.
I admired his technique…and his form, a perfectly chiseled, defined form. The water dripped from his hand onto his bicep, and then to his chest. A single bead clung to his flat bronzed nipple. I wanted to lick it off. That was before I remembered I was mad. Narrowing my eyes, I stomped to the edge of the pool. “Why did you—”
He turned with fish in tow, a smile on his face that stopped me in my tracks. “Look, my mate.”
I bit my tongue. His grin, so freely given, made him appear younger. It occurred to me that this moment might be the first time he experienced joy, true joy, and over something so menial like catching a fish. I buried my anger for the time being, and went with my go-to default—humor. “Rock and pool is nice and cool to catch a fish.”
His head cocked to the side like a curious dog. “It is. Yes.”
I laughed aloud, refraining from doing my best monster impression and finishing the verse. “That’s good. I’m starving.”
“I am glad I can provide for you, my pajuara.” Taking the fish in hand along with the others, he stepped from the waters, and headed back toward our fire. But not before he mumbled something I didn’t believe he intended for me to hear. “At least in this.”
I didn’t call him out on the statement, but it got my wheels spinning. Following him around the boulder and our purple moss-laden area, I tried to imagine what he was thinking. Yet, I couldn’t fathom why he’d put the brakes on our clearly mutual desire.I’m missing something.Watching as he stoked the fire, skinned the fish, and cooked them, I knelt silently on the opposite side of him.
“I had caught fish earlier,” he said, keeping his gaze glued to our meal over the fire. “But fresh is better.” He glanced up only once to hand me the fish he’d thoughtfully wrapped in a dried piece of moss. “Give it a beat to cool.”
“I will,” I said, my stare boring a hole into him. I willed him to look at me, but he refused to make eye contact, almost as if he was…ashamed. But that doesn’t make sense.I chewed the meat, which tasted a lot like the salmon-flavored packets I’d had aboard DS1, and stewed on his odd behavior.He’s calling me his mate, so why is he avoiding me?
We ate in silence. I had no answers, but I was beginning to paint a picture of my enigmatic alien. That was until the call of nature beckoned. “Um.” I stood and refrained from doing thegotta-godance. “Where can I, you know,” I waved in the general direction, “go.”
“You need relief?” He rose and motioned at my crotch.
In more ways than one,I thought, but I kept that part quiet. “Yes. Anywhere to pee?”
He grinned again, catching my eye for a split second. “I will show you, my Elena.”
That damnable smile was going to be the death of me. I’d end up giving this warrior anything he wanted. I sighed, following him around the boulder once more. He pointed to the far end of the spring beyond the pool and in a spot just before it exited the cavern.
“Right there.” He planted his feet not more than an arm’s length from the makeshift toilet.
“Um, great.” I shooed him with a wave of my hand. “I got it.”
He didn’t move.
I crossed my arms over my chest and stood in front of him, making him meet my gaze at last. “I am not doing my business with you standing and watching.”
