by Ivy McAdams
I think even my insides are blushing now. Or at least they feel like it.
“No, no,” Gemma coughs, trying to straighten her top and skirt, though a snicker still sneaks into her voice. “I was just—you know.” She forks a thumb over her shoulder toward where the other girls went to dance. “Kovak needs me.”
She covers her grin as she leaps off the log and abandons me.
What the hell.
Thanks a lot.
When I look back to Drek, he’s watching her leave curiously. Then his eyes drop back down to me.
Big, dark green eyes that catch the moonlight and take my breath away.
I'm starting to feel a little drunk. Either this alcohol is awesome, or Drek's bewitched me somehow.
Maybe he did see me.
As much as my stomach feels like it might twist itself into a wrung-out rag and start emptying itself, I also don't want him to stop.
If this is what punishment is here, then punish away.
I could look into those eyes forever.
Or at least until the giant drums scare me so much that I scream.
The first vibrating note is so loud and strong that I duck and cover.
More pounding notes follow, but I can hear Drek's chuckle over them.
It’s rich. A light and amused sound as his hand rests on my back. Then he points over my head.
I peek out from under my arms and glance around.
All the Kutarians have migrated to the center of the clearing. Behind them, three large drums have been situated on the make-shift stage of wooden planks. They reverberate as two drummers beat them into a rhythm that pulses in my blood.
There are so many males and they form a big circle around the stage. The few females available join them. At first, they're scrambling to find their spots and learn the steps. Each dances across from a male. I see Kaami with her mate and Waella with an older male with dark silver skin that must be her mate. Gemma and Kovak. Trinity and Xjhun. Jade and the three other human aliens pairing up with men to dance with.
Everyone is out there but me. The human.
Well, and Drek.
When I look back up at him, I realize he’s a little closer. His big chest moves, still naked but for a decorative pendant hanging around his neck.
He rumbles a few words and I wish like mad I knew what they were.
My thighs clench around my hands. But apparently, all I need is that beautiful baritone. The words don't matter.
His nose moves as his head drops even closer. I can both feel and hear him breathe me in.
Or at least what I’d like to pretend is all me.
“It’s the flowers,” I murmur. “They smell good, right?”
He gazes at me and I point at the purple blooms.
He reaches up and plucks the circlet off my head between two fingers and tosses it into the dirt. I open my mouth to protest—that’s the only pretty thing I get to wear tonight, dammit!—but then his nose is in my air, touching the skin just over my ear, and I freeze.
His inhale is so deep this time that it sends a shiver through me.
I smell good, I guess.
Before I can attempt to tell him he’s being ridiculous—it’s got to be the flowers— he sits up straight again and offers me a hand. His words are a question, and he nods toward the growing number of Kutarian in the clearing.
Is he asking me to dance?
Chapter 7
Drek
Eva seems surprised that I’ve asked her to join me in dancing with the rest of the tribe. Her small fluctuations in energy glow with a new mix of excitement. To blend with the deep wells of embarrassment that was there before.
I like the red color in her cheeks. It makes her look even more alive and cheery. Especially behind that mask on her face.
Thankfully, I can see through the clear material that goes around her mouth. I don’t miss her beautiful smiles. But it’s still a hinder.
She speaks in her soft human voice and there’s a crease in her brow. She’s worried.
I wonder if her voice sounds any different when the mask isn’t covering her face.
Guessing as to what's bothering her, I clear my throat and take her hand. "I won't let anyone hurt you." Then I have no idea what possess me, but I fit my other palm to her small cheek. "I promise."
The way her eyes sparkle when she smiles is perfect.
She drinks down another mouthful of the kahberry juice and reaches for me. Her delicate fingers curl around mine as I pull her to her feet and lead her into the clearing. She seems even smaller as she walks next to me. Like a child.
But she’s nothing like a child.
I smile down at the top of her head and the sweep of orange hair that's pulled back and fastened in eye-catching swirls. A couple purple petals still cling to her hair and I smile at the sight of them.
They smell divine, but not as good as the smell of woman beneath. The mix of the two has my blood stirring.
We reach the moving circle of dancers and Trinity waves Eva over. To my relief, she joins the other female. The women move close together as Eva mimics the dance moves. She looks up at me during her attempt and laughs.
My heart stops in my chest and my stomach pulls.
Eva is even more alluring when she laughs out loud.
I grin at her as I take my place in line between two warriors, positioning myself in front of her.
She spins easily, moving her hips back and forth as she performs the steps. The sight has me forgetting my own steps in order to watch her.
A compassionate levadon healer and a beautiful female dancer.
It’s a pity she did not swap to a Kutarian body. She would be a highly valued woman of the tribe. I’ll admit there’s a sense of regret in the pit of my stomach. A heavy one that I do my best to ignore.
If Eva had made the change, I would have considered taking her as a mate. It would mean going against a lot of the promises I made to devote my life to my Captain, leaving little time to provide for a mate or family. No woman has tempted me away from him before. Protecting the Kutarians is my duty.
I come second.
But the way Eva smiles and the way her energy tickles mine when we’re near...I’m lucky the swap didn’t take.
I can admire her from afar. Or at least not become too involved.
Dancing with her is only natural. We all dance at celebrations.
When the drums cycle through a melody and switch to the next tempo, it is a signal for dancers to switch partners. A primal possessiveness activates in my brain that does its damnedest to take over. When Xjhun steps next to me to trade places, I block him with an arm and growl. He steps back, pulled from his smiling good time, and gapes at me.
“What happened?” he says.
Though I’m not a good person to ask.
Because I’m not sure.
I've danced all my life, as is the normal Kutarian tradition. That means changing partners with the beat. Since our tribe has been so reduced, our three women have danced with many of us. Often. It's not an intimate encounter in the least. All three of our natural Kutarian females are mated.
But for some reason, I can’t make that mental image infiltrate my brain. There’s no way I’m going to let Xjhun dance with Eva.
“Move along,” I tell him. “Trinity is there.”
The tall human Kutarian female has moved one dance partner down, as she’s supposed to, but she frowns over at us as Xjhun passes me to link up with her again.
“Nothing wrong with sharing a little,” Xjhun says with a wink.
I snort. “You wouldn’t share your mate with another warrior.”
The younger male’s eyebrow twitches. “I’m going to assume from your tone that you mean in an inappropriate manner, and of course, I wouldn’t. But this is a dance, and Eva isn’t…”
My teeth clench, the muscles in my jaw flexing tightly as I fight to block out his words. He's either going to say that she's not Kutarian, which is enough to irk me, or
that she's not my mate, which may send me into a rage.
Me, the calm Second in Command. What in the gods has come over me?
I snort. There must be too much of that damn spice flower in the air.
If circumstances were different, Eva could be mine though. I feel cheated that I’ve not been given the opportunity.
But she’s still there, to smile and put out energy pulses that tickle my insides and make me feel amazing. I’ll take whatever I can get of lovely Eva.
“Perhaps send your concerns over to your own mate and leave Eva alone,” I say as the two lines move in close together.
Xjhun’s ears twitch in irritation, tilting back a fraction that clearly shows his confusion.
I’ve always been quite fair and friendly with our youngest warrior.
It’s like I’ve lost my head.
In the middle of our dance lines, the women move up to us, hovering just a half step away. Eva’s smile is shy and it sends my heart thumping. I can smell her well again when she’s so close, and I take in an appreciative breath. I may even detect her doing the same. That heats my blood to surprising levels. The pale dress leathers I’m wearing do little to control the excited twitch in my cock.
I wish I could speak to her. Tell her how good she smells and how beautiful her hair is in the early moonlight. The color of the crunchy leaves in the cooling season.
Part of the dance step is for partners to lean in close and put their hands out, nearly touching, in a formal greeting. I have to drop my hands low for Eva to reach and when her fingers near mine, I can’t help but wrap mine around them.
Her eyes move subtly, checking out the dancers on either side of us. All down both sides of the line the gap between the hands remains. But her fingers send a warm spark up my arms and I don’t let them go.
I wait.
For her to pull away, or the drumbeat to change, signaling we should change partners. To see if she'll allow me to be her partner yet again. To cheat the dance a second time and hog her all to myself.
But she doesn’t pull away, even as the beat shifts and a disgruntled male hovers behind me, wanting his turn with the small human.
When her fingers move to link with mine, it feels as if my entire body melts out from under me. My blood warms and heats my face as a lazy smile forms on my lips.
Our section of the dance line has been disrupted and Kutarians on either side of us are complaining, trying to shoo us out of the way. I barely hear their words, my eyes and ears only for Eva. Soaking in the way her excited energy touches me.
I don’t know how to tell her I’d like to go sit somewhere quiet with her. Or even what that would entail. I want to learn more about her, but I don’t particularly want to drag one of the human Kutarians along with us to translate.
But if she’d just keep holding my hands, I’d sit with her for the rest of the night. I can feel the corner of my mouth tug and I hope I’m not grinning.
I've just decided I'll pull her along and hope she understands when the music stops. Irritated males around us reconstruct the dancing line, cutting us out and setting up for the next tempo.
Rather than get back in line, I lead her to a quieter part of the clearing near the food. I don’t know what we’ll do about communicating, but I want to know her. Anything.
Outside the dancing ring, our hands naturally fall apart from one another, but she follows me without hesitation. It boosts my courage to keep pushing for a connection.
“Did you enjoy the plaxa?” I ask as I point out the slabs of meat on a long wooden table.
She looks over the selection of food, eyes landing on the juicy cuts of steak, and nods.
Her words are enthusiastic, and I’m thankful she at least understands that. My tail flicks as I do my best to latch onto any of her words, but they’re all as foreign as ghont growls to my ears.
If I can’t talk to her, perhaps I can feed her.
I pick up a clean platter and motion toward the food, asking if she wants any more. Before she can answer, she lifts a hand to block a thick yawn. Her eyelids look a little droopier, although her eyes beneath are still a crystal clear blue that reminds me of iced river water in the heart of the frozen season. Shimmering and spectacular. I’m tempted to stoop down for a better view, but that yawn speaks louder than any of her other words.
“Have you exhausted your small body already, little human?” I ask, resting a friendly hand on her shoulder.
She tilts her head at my question, brow lowered a fraction.
I mime gathering myself in my furs and closing my eyes.
Realization fills her gaze and she smiles shyly.
“That is no surprise, with you joining in on a Kutarian hunt this morning and attending your first celebration this evening. That is a lot of activity for one day, even for Kutarians. You’re a strong female to not let your exhaustion slow you down.”
She snickers and speaks as she raps me on the arm with her knuckles in a playful manner. I’m not sure why—she couldn’t have understood anything I said—but the light in her eyes warms my chest and I don’t care what made her happy, just that she is.
Her gaze has wandered off into the canopy of the trees around the outside of the clearing. The sparkling gemstones hanging from the branches glitter in her bright eyes. She looks so alive and beautiful.
Without another word, I reach for her hand and wrap her arm around my elbow. “You should get some rest so you have renewed energy again tomorrow. It would be my honor to walk you back to your hut.”
* * *
Eva
I’m not sure if it was the dancing or filling my belly with heavy alien food, but Drek’s got the right idea. I’m exhausted as all get out and it’s time for bed. It’s been a strange couple of days, trying to grasp the reality of my new life, trapped on a new planet with a bunch of non-humans, but I’m dealing with it better. I’m nothing if not resilient, I say.
When Drek suggests to turn in for the night, it sounds like a good idea. A good way to end a nice night.
Except apparently, the night's not over. Drek gives me his arm and walks us through the sitting areas in the big clearing, winding through two lines of huts before we approach the big guest tent.
His skin is warm under my fingers and a new flutter of nerves settles in my stomach. I’m not sure why I’m so anxious. I’m not on Earth. Things work differently here. We’re not returning from a night at the movies. We can’t even hold a damn conversation.
A tinge of annoyance weighs on me like stone. What I wouldn’t give to talk to Drek right now. I want to know about what makes him tick, his love for his levadon, his position as Second in Command. About his family and his life on Xion V.
My mind wanders as I try to recall any mention in our program of translating devices. Could there be any equipment that survived the attack at the NASA base that I could scrounge up and bring back? It would help me out tenfold. Right now the human aliens are the only people I can talk to.
So much for the party celebrating the shaman making new women for the tribe. He doesn’t have a hundred percent success rate.
I wonder if a second attempt would be more successful. Waella the healer said they could try again after a few days.
Would I be willing to do that? Voluntarily?
The consideration is too much for my exhausted brain tonight. It’s time to tell Drek goodnight and go search for my bed.
We approach the tent flap for the guest lodging, but the warrior on my arm does not slow down.
“Isn’t this it?” I whisper, pointing.
He leads me to the side of the tent and presses a finger to his lips.
Alien or not, I know what that means, and I button my mouth. What is he up to?
“Ventma kha wamx Eva1,” he says.
His words overflow with warm flirtations and his eyes dance.
Damn, I need that translator now.
The beautiful man in front of me is doing his best to communicate, and I’m at a loss.
>
His green irises glow in the moonlight and I want to pull his face closer so I can admire them. I don’t know if he’s thinking the same, but one of his hands moves in between us to rest on my cheek.
It feels so good in the cool air that I can’t help but lean into it right away. It wasn’t altogether intentional, but it draws an appreciative smile to his lips. I can deal with that.
In fact, it warms the rest of my body without him having to touch me. A stirring in my belly wakes me up even further. I fight a shiver of delight as my nerves start firing left and right. Where his tail brushes the calf of my jeans. Where his breath whispers over my forehead, even from so high up. The intoxicating smell that’s always following him around. The way his hand moves and slides over my cheek, drawing a line down the strap of my mask.
Damn. Sometimes I even forget it’s there. It’s become so routine to me already. Stupid equipment. It’s probably blocking the best part of his smell.
Is it weird that he smells so damn good?
Probably.
But I don’t care. I just wish I could bury my nose in his chest and breathe him in. Without that confounded mask.
I reach up and place a hand on his sternum. I don't know why. I want to feel his skin and his chest is so huge and handsome. The silver flesh doesn't feel any different than mine. Perhaps slicker, smoother. Sexier.
I slide my fingertips down his breastbone ever so gently, discovering my first up-close Kutarian body.
When his voice rumbles in his chest, it tickles my hand.
“Zil va khabas urk amula2.”
A flame within me burns brightly, not only drawn to the rugged sound of his voice, but in frustration over not knowing his language.
“You have no idea how much I wish I knew what just came out of your mouth. But you can say it again if you want.”
I smile up at him, some of the shy energy that was coursing through me earlier beginning to evaporate.
I mean, I have no idea what I’m doing standing alone out here with an alien man. Touching him. Letting him touch me. But I know I want to. And there’s something about being able to say whatever I want to him that’s a little thrilling.
