by Ivy McAdams
As long as it doesn’t kill me, I can totally live with this.
I smile up at Drek as I pull my mask back in place. “It’s good. Thank you.”
His eyebrows bounce and my pulse quickens.
Damn, he’s hot.
A big hand rests on my arm and I jump. Jade gives me a knowing smile when I look up at her.
“I’m going to go see if they need help with breakfast,” she murmurs as she stands.
Something feels bouncy in my stomach. I can’t quite tell if I’m happy she’s going or nervous.
Alone with Drek?
“See you later,” I say, lifting my cup toward her.
She just wiggles a few fingers at me in a wave and continues on.
His eyes haven’t left me yet and I try to keep myself solid and under control, but it’s not easy with him peering at me with those Hello, Dolly eyes. Not to mention the huge ab muscles that are practically staring me in the face. I consider standing to eliminate the distraction, but then I remember how short I am. I’d still be at his waist level.
So either a faceful of abs or alien dick.
I should just keep my ass on this bed.
When his eyes move over me, I swallow back my buzzing excitement. My fingers tighten on my cup, resisting the urge to poke those abs to see if they’re as hard as they look.
He speaks another string of words I don’t understand and my eyes drift to his mouth. He has full, smooth lips. Above one side is the edge of his scar. It’s not a ravine-looking thing, like something tried to eat his face, but it is jagged and stretches over the bridge of his nose and along his cheek beneath his eye, reaching his pronounced cheekbone. I’m no fighter but I’d guess it was from a blade or a claw. He’s lucky it didn’t get his eye.
Suddenly he turns and walks back toward the tent exit and I nearly fall out of bed in surprise.
“I’m sorry,” I stammer, hopping down and putting the cup on the ground. “I didn’t mean to stare.”
Shit, what did I just do?
He keeps walking and I hurry after him.
“Hey, please. I’m sorry.”
I catch up as he reaches for the flap and grab his arm. The muscle above his wrist flexes as he pulls his arm in, easily dragging me along with it. I’m plastered against one of his legs as he pauses in the doorway, morning sunlight spilling over us and blinding me as I stare up at him.
He doesn’t seem all that happy I’ve touched him. I want to let go and back off, but my hands are a little frozen.
Sorry again?
Geez, this is not going well.
“I-I’m sorry, I didn’t—”
Let go. Let go.
“I didn’t mean to offend you in there. Or, you know, grab you out of the blue like this. I’m not trying to make you mad.”
Let go and stop running your yap.
I grimace when his eyes go to my grip on his arm.
"Really. I'm not a touchy-feely person either. At least not to strangers. Well, there was that one party where things got a little out of control. You know how it goes. Or maybe you don't, but either way, I don't know why I did that."
I pry my fingers loose and release his arm. Then I jump back, scrambling away from the tent and out into the morning air.
He watches me, arm still poised in the air where he’d lifted it.
Then he laughs. A big booming laugh that comes from deep inside him, and reaches down and tickles every bit of me.
His eyes crinkle and there’s definitely a smile on that mouth now.
I think I’m melting.
He steps toward me, speaking in that delicious voice, and presses his hand to my cheek.
All that shit I said about not being touchy-feely? Apparently, I'm a big fat liar.
He can touch me all he wants.
My skin warms and tingles where his hand rests and I can’t help the ridiculous smile that pops out.
When he speaks this time, he says my name.
It’s beautiful.
I still don’t know what he says, but I’m guessing from the smile that he’s forgiven me at least.
“No problem,” I murmur.
The sun warms his green eyes, making them glimmer a soft jade color. The gold flecks near the pupils make them glitter as brightly as a gemstone.
When he turns away this time, I’m just plain disappointed.
Where’s he going now, and who’s got my alien-human dictionary already? I want to know what he’s saying to me so bad I could scream.
He pauses alongside the big tent to pick up a long spear leaning there. It’s tipped with a shiny black stone head and by the way his bicep flexes when he lifts it, the thing must be heavy.
With another small glance, he starts down the path between the huts.
I'm torn between not being the crazy, clingy human and a desire to have him stick around.
But, you know, it’s good to indulge once in a while.
“Wait, Drek,” I call out as I follow him.
He stops and faces me, head tilted just so. Like a curious puppy. A really hot curious puppy.
“Where are you going? Should we, I don’t know, get breakfast or something?”
I mime putting food in my mouth.
He nods, and I think he’s got it, but then he points over my head toward the center of the village. When I turn, however, all I can see are the rows of huts. I’m about to tell him so when he remedies that issue for me.
He wraps an arm around my legs and lifts me up. I want to scream and ask him what the fuck he’s doing, but it’s obvious when my butt plops down on his shoulder.
I feel a little silly freaking out, but hey, I’m on another fucking planet with huge aliens that could kill me with a finger snap. Definitely don’t want to piss them off.
I perch up high and he holds me there with a hand on my hip. Strong fingers pinching in through my jeans.
Wow.
I almost forget what we were talking about. Or trying to. When he points again, I do my best to focus.
I can easily see the big circle in the center of the village where we ate dinner last night. It’s a clearing among the assortment of tents and contains a big fire pit, a small wooden platform, and seating areas where a handful of aliens are gathered.
“Yes, food,” I say as I hold on to the back of his neck. “Let’s do that.”
My fingers brush one of the braids that hangs behind his ear. It’s soft.
I want to pet it.
This time when Drek lifts his spear, he hoists it in the air and points it toward the outside of the village.
“So we don’t get to eat until you kill it, huh?”
My stomach grumbles and I put a hand on it. His nearest ear twitches toward the sound.
That’s different.
With a few words, he kneels to set me on the ground again, nodding his head to the community area.
Food sounds great, and my stomach is loud enough to concur, but I don’t know anyone here. I didn’t see Gemma or Trinity over in the village circle.
I’m not a wallflower at parties or anything, but I’ve never been to an alien shindig. I think I’ll play it safe.
“Um, what about I just stick with you?” I ask.
His brow furrows slightly.
I should work on my inflections if I’m going to try to beg in English I suppose.
Changing tactics, I slide my fingers over his arm and pull it in to cradle it in my elbow, like he’s going to walk me down the red carpet. Then I give him my best puppy eyes.
“Please? I can hunt.”
His eyes narrow and he must get me now.
He’s silent for a long moment before he stoops down and offers me his shoulder again.
I laugh and put my hands up. “I can walk, thanks.”
Damn, if I let him carry me off perched on his shoulder like a parrot, I may never want to walk again.
Chapter 5
Drek
I’m surprised when Eva requests to go on the hunt with me. But
I’m even more shocked by her excitement when she meets Rhux. And his reaction to her.
We stand at the warrior meeting point outside of the village with the stubborn levadon. He’s normally rather choosy about who he interacts with but lets her pet him without an issue. He flashes all his happy colors. Golds, pinks, and a pearlescent white I’ve never seen before.
As far as I’ve ever heard, levadon bond exclusively with the Kutarian. To see Rhux pressing his massive nose into a human’s open palm is mesmerizing. And I’m not the only Kutarian staring.
Eva laughs in delight at the dinosaur towering over her and an excited awe flickers in her energy waves. There isn’t even a flinch of apprehension when I lift her onto his back.
I can’t help but smile when I mount up behind her.
She moves in the saddle like she’s ridden a levadon before. Her hips rock back and forth with Rhux’s rhythm and the trip across the plain to the top of the hunting ridge is peaceful.
Except for some of the mouths around us.
“Taken a shine to the smallest one, have you?”
Kovak moves up to ride alongside me on his brown levadon.
His words pull me from the comfortable trance I’ve fallen into. I glance between him and Eva, who’s rested her head back against my abdomen. I do my best to keep my hands on my thighs and away from her petite body.
“She requested to come on the hunt,” I say.
“You know she can’t go down in the valley with us. It’s too dangerous.”
“I know. But I didn’t think it’d hurt anything for her to stay back with Gemma.”
Kovak’s eyebrow twitches and he must be thinking the same thing I am.
The last time we had a tribal celebration and went hunting plaxa, Gemma chased us down into the valley on foot. It was incredibly dangerous, but it was hard to protest when she threw herself at Kovak, concerned over his safety.
The field was full of envious Kutarian warriors that day.
I’d like to assume Gemma won’t chase after Kovak a second time, especially as her belly swells with their child, but there’s no guarantee.
“I will let Gemma know Eva will ride with her once the hunt starts.” Kovak’s brow relaxes slightly, as if the very idea is all the more relieving.
Perhaps if Eva is around, Gemma won’t get any crazy ideas.
“In the meantime,” Kovak says, hanging back instead of pulling forward like I expect, “be careful yourself with that one. Eva means a great deal to my Gemma.”
A protective urge comes to life within me like a flame. I move an arm to hold Eva upright against me, as if she were slipping away. Although she’s had a perfect seat in the saddle the entire ride.
Kovak watches me, a slight narrowing of his eyes.
A challenge.
The look on his face is foreign. At least directed at me, that is. My arm eases on Eva and I lower my gaze slightly.
I won’t push a challenge with the Captain, but I don’t intend to back off completely either.
Kovak’s suggestion that I’d be anything other than careful with Eva is enough to light fire to my blood. I want nothing more than to protect her. I’ve been doing my best to do that without putting my hands on her, but it’s a hefty burden.
Her small body is warm against me and smells so good.
The last thing I want to do is hurt her.
Or frighten her.
It’s not easy to keep myself in line with her so close, but I’ll do what I must to stay in her good graces.
Because it may be a long shot, but I like the way her energy plays with mine. The pull of her waves aren’t as strong as I hoped for, but they still touch me like no other’s I’ve met before.
Being attracted to the small human may be ridiculous or bound to start trouble, but there’s no changing the way I feel.
Kutarian or not, I want this woman.
“I will be sure to keep her safe, Captain,” I say, fighting to keep venom from leaking into my voice.
From the way Kovak regards me tells me I may not have fully succeeded. But he continues without a word to the crest of the hill.
If the weather and luck are with us, we'll find a plaxa in the valley below.
If I’m luckier still, the next time we hunt for a celebration, I will have a woman at my side to paint me like a true warrior.
* * *
By the time we reach the crest above the plaxa's valley, Eva is resting against my chest. So much for trying not to touch her in fear I'd frighten her. She relaxed into me all on her own and I'm not about to move her. Now that we've reached our hunting location, I'm reluctant to let her go.
With my hands under her shoulders, I help support her as she crosses from Rhux’s back over to the white levadon beneath Gemma. I could easily pick her up and move her, but it seems disrespectful to throw her around like a vultir carcass. Instead, I just do a little helping as she stands and hops over.
“You’ll be safer here,” I say. “Gemma is a good levadon rider now. You’ll both be—”
Eva's big beautiful eyes are blinking up at me with no sign of understanding, and behind her, Gemma bites her lip to contain her laughter.
I snort a soft curse. “Right. Would you tell her—?”
Gemma grins and reaches over to pat my arm. “I’ll let her know you’ll be thinking of her while you hunt.”
Her words catch me off guard and the mane down my neck and spine bristles. I must be on alert at all times while hunting. Eyes and ears on the task at hand, feeling the energies of the warriors around me, half my attention on the plaxa and half on Kovak as he gives orders. I don’t have time to think of females.
I open my mouth to say so but Gemma’s already speaking, leaning over to whisper in the small woman’s ear. Eva’s eyes leap up to me and her cheeks change color. There’s a pulse of excited nerves in her energy.
The look on her face is much more alluring than I’d like to admit.
I won’t deny that her excitement gets my blood pumping.
Watching the other warriors pair up with the new women wasn't that hard. I had plenty to keep me busy. The Second in Command does not have extra time to spend doting on females. I continued on, the strong warrior with no extra attachments and worries. It was simple.
Until I met Eva.
The tingles of energy I get from her are exciting. Not like ones I’ve felt before. Sitting next to her and Gemma, I can feel her. Gemma’s amused and teasing energies are there—that impish female. But Eva’s overpower her.
Even though they’re not the mind-blowing waves of energy I expected from Kovak’s and Xjhun’s stories.
I thought it’d be more.
Or perhaps Eva isn’t my energy match after all.
Maybe I just want it to be so.
Who wouldn’t? Those beautiful blue eyes and soft pink cheeks. Her face is reddening again, and I realize Gemma’s said something else.
Curse that girl.
Before I can ask, however, the women ride off, leaving me sitting in a silent stupor.
My focus is a tornadic mess.
I should be wholly centered on this hunt. Not only is it dangerous, but a mistake could let the sacred animal get away. Or even worse, allow it to escape with injuries. Such disrespect is unacceptable.
My mind needs to be on task.
My fingers flex around the shaft of my black-tipped spear as I mentally force the image of Eva from my brain.
Then my eyes refocus on Kovak at the top of the slope. He lifts his chin, calling me over.
Time to hunt.
* * *
Eva
“That thing’s enormous,” I cough. “They’re going to try to kill it?”
“They will kill it,” Gemma says behind me. “I’ve seen them do it.”
Meeting the levadon up close has been exciting—and Pearl, Gemma's white ride, is gorgeous. Though seeing the huge stegosaurus lumbering along down in the valley is also excellent. The carnivores are my favorites, but who can'
t love the classic walnut-brained dino?
As we stand along the edge of the dip into the valley, watching the group of seven Kutarian warriors ride into battle, I can’t help but admire the hunted creature. It has square plates on its back and spikes on its tail. Some sort of light travels along the ridge of its spine, dancing between the plates and under its skin as the dino ambles through the field.
It looks magnificent and I want a closer look.
But it also looks deadly.
“Isn’t that dangerous?” I ask.
“Sure. But there’s nothing to worry about.”
I don't know how she's so calm and collected, especially with her boyfriend out there.
My eyes move over Kovak and his brown levadon, searching for a dark red beast.
It’s not easy to miss Drek’s levadon. My gaze latches onto him.
He has a good seat in the saddle, squeezing his strong leg muscles and leaning over the dino’s neck. That big ass spear is lifted in one hand. His arm must be jacked to hold it upright in that position while on the move.
He’s an impressive specimen for sure. Even if I didn’t come here to study aliens, I can see that.
“Why are they hunting this thing?” I ask, my voice dropping to a whisper.
"It is their sacred animal. They hunt it the day of a big ceremony and feast on it."
Once the hunters are far off in the valley, Gemma starts down the slope. Kaami and Trinity sit on a levadon at the top behind us. I’m not sure why they’re not moving and we are, but I don’t question Gemma’s methods.
Besides, I want to see this stego.
At a safe distance.
It doesn’t take long for the men to eat up the distance behind the beast. They spring into action, catching it by surprise. A warrior jumps on its back, clinging to one of the huge upright plates and shaking his spear in the air.
But the dino doesn't seem to intend to roll over for these hunters. The bioluminescent lights flash and strobe bright yellow on its back. It twists it's massive body, snapping at the warrior with its small head. Its mouth doesn't come close to its attacker but it's a fair distraction as it swipes its spiked tail at the others.
