Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 85553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
Skarr continues to eat, absently handing me a rib before he takes another, and we both chew as the welcoming party goes on around us. I watch him because the khui hums in my chest, and it makes his every movement fascinating. I like the way his lips brush against the meat, how his tongue snakes out to catch a droplet of grease, how his jaw clenches when he chews. He’s pretty, I realize.
He’s a jerk, but he’s pretty.
And he’s familiar, which means I don’t mind sidling a little closer to him when someone starts dancing near the fire. Sabrina pulls Kyth toward her and does a twirl, laughing as someone pulls out a drum and the antics pick up a bit. A blonde starts shaking her ass in front of a scarred blue alien, who has a baby in his arms and looks less than amused at her shenanigans, and there’s laughter everywhere. Everyone’s so happy.
It’s strange. This place is miserable, and yet they all look so very content.
I look over at Skarr again, and he’s licking his fingers. Oh. The tip of his tongue flicks out and I can’t be certain, but it might be forked. My eyes glaze over at that, and the khui in my chest hums even louder, making my breasts ache and a tingle start between my thighs. Someone said that resonance more or less drives you toward the person it wants you to mate with, and I get it. Because the more time I spend around Skarr, the less I hate him, and I don’t know if it’s resonance or reality. I do know that I’ve never shivered at the thought of a guy having a forked tongue but I’m shivering right now.
He licks his thumb with a smacking noise and tosses the bone on the plate, then glances over at me, nodding at the skin. I take another gulp and then pass it back to him. He drinks, too, and then shrugs. “I have always been.”
“Hmm?” His words don’t make sense to me, and I realize I’ve forgotten what we’re talking about. Oh. Clones.
“I do not fret over the past,” Skarr continues, gazing at the fire. “My mind is full of the present. I live in the here and now, because it might be all I get.” He shrugs and glances back to me. “I want to be the best, to get the best female, and to make the best children and make them first. Winning is all I know, and I wish to continue in triumph.”
I snatch the water skin from him, annoyed by his answer. “Is that all I am to you? A win?”
“Yes.” He pauses, eyeing me. “No. It is…not the same. It is that, but it is more than that.”
I can tell he’s confused by his own thoughts, and for some reason, I find this pleasing. I nudge him with my elbow. “Don’t strain yourself thinking.”
He snorts, watching as I take another slug from the skin. “I strain myself over nothing. It is true that you are the best female on this planet, and I am the best male, so it is natural that we should resonate and make the best babies. But…it is more than that, too.”
“In what way?”
Skarr shrugs, and it’s clear he’s unable to articulate what he’s feeling. “It just is.” He plucks another rib from the plate and holds it out to me. “You should eat more. You deserve this food as much as anyone else. Look at how much the others are eating, and you worked hard for several days as they all moped and cried. You tended the fire and gathered fuel and set up tents.”
He’s being a little unfair to the other women. If ever there was a situation that called for weeping and being paralyzed with fear, it’s this one. Even so, I’m flattered he noticed me, and I don’t know why. Usually I hate it when I get noticed, but today…I don’t mind. Maybe it’s the alcohol, because my head is definitely swimming, but I’m feeling rather flattered. “I just like staying busy.”
“Because you are smart and capable and strong,” he agrees, saying each word like a caress. “And you are allowed to eat as much as the others.”
“I’m good on food, but I wouldn’t say no to a bit more drink.” I give the near-empty waterskin a little shake.
“As my female wishes.” He gets up and speaks to someone, exchanging our empty skin for one bulging with drink. I notice a few people giving us friendly, inquisitive looks, but I’m not ready to be social just yet. I’ll stick with Skarr, because no one’s going to want his annoying ass around.
He returns with the drink and instead of sitting down next to me, pulls the empty plate from my hands and holds it enticingly. “It is noisy here. Do you want to get away for a bit?”