Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 79637 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79637 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Then, heat blasts my face and I moan in surprise.
I wish I could say I ventured out as often as the others in the tribe do. I think all of the women have been to the fruit cave a few times, and some have visited the others at Croatoan. I almost went to Croatoan once but made O’jek bring me back instead. Other than that, I’ve stayed at the camp, not wanting to leave in case I resonated to someone. That, and because going anywhere in this world is such an ordeal that it never seemed worth the effort. This is my first time in the fruit cave, and I’m shocked at how warm it is.
Of course it’s warm. The plants here are tropical. I’ve heard the islanders comment that a lot of them are native to their island. It didn’t occur to me as we walked here that it’d be like entering a sauna, though, and I immediately peel the outermost layer of my furs off.
O’jek is there immediately, kissing me again.
I’m surprised at the hand that cups my face, tilting it up as he slants his mouth over mine. His movements are hungry, his lips greedy as he devours me, and I’m breathless and clinging to him all over again a short time later. “You make those little moans,” he murmurs, and nips at my mouth. “And it makes me think of being between your thighs.”
It takes everything I have not to make another one of those moans. “Sorry,” I breathe.
“Do not be sorry.” He rubs his nose against mine again, melting me once more. “Just know that I will be claiming my mate again tonight.”
I nod, heat pulsing between my thighs at the thought. He gives me another kiss, this one gentler than the last, and then steps away from me, setting down his pack. “It is steep here, D’see. Be careful. I will see where R’kh is.”
I fan a hand to my face, and I don’t know if it’s O’jek that’s making me flush or the warmth. “I’ll just stay here and peel off a few layers.”
And quiver.
Rukhar is nearby, his face buried in a bright green fruit, juice dribbling down his small chin. He gives me a curious look as I take off some of my clothes. “Are you well, Daisy? You seem…” He shrugs, as if he doesn’t have the answer.
“Distracted?” Because I am. I really, really am. Here I was ready to collapse in the fruit cave so I wouldn’t have to do more hiking, and now I can’t stop thinking about O’jek and his fingers, O’jek and his commanding words, and how it had felt. Distracted is an understatement. I glance around the narrow ledge near the entrance. The fruit cave really is fascinating in that it’s like a hollowed out beehive with rows and rows of ledges, all of them covered in vines and fruit.
“Yes, distracted,” Rukhar says. He glances over the ledge, where both O’jek and his father have disappeared off to. “Everyone is distracted lately.”
“Oh?” I mean, he’s not wrong. I can’t seem to think straight lately. Either I’m dragging around behind O’jek wishing I was back in camp or I’m thinking dirty, filthy thoughts about him.
Rukhar tosses aside the rind and nods. He seems a bit lost in thought himself.
When he says nothing, I glance over the ledge down at O’jek. He seems to be having a very intense conversation with Rukh by the pool. The pool does look nice and inviting, very similar to something I had in my private quarters back on Praxii, but the climb down doesn’t look like fun. I decide I’m going to stay up here for now. “Your dad seems to be busy. We can pick fruit for your mom, though. What kind was she wanting you to get?”
“All of them,” he says, and he sounds way more glum than before. “Dad says when Mom starts craving fruit, it’s a sign she might get pregnant again. That’s why he’s cranky.”
Oh. He was rather cranky to us earlier with all those comments about the healer. I fight back a wince. “Everyone gets moody about resonance,” I say cheerfully. “I’m sure it’ll pass soon.”
“It’s not resonance. It’s that Mom has a hard time being pregnant.” He looks stressed, the poor kid. “Dad told me once she almost died when carrying me. It was easier for her with Daya, but what if it’s not easy with the next one?”
My goodness. I move to Rukhar’s side and hug him tight. Here I am lost in my own head and moping about my ugly scars and everyone has their own problems. “Your mom is going to be totally fine,” I say to him. “I’ve heard the story about before, and that was when your mom was at the beach with your dad and there was no healer around. She was fine the moment the healer showed up, and we have Veronica at the beach. She’s not going to let anyone feel lousy for a single moment. You know that.”