Fervor (The Fervor Chronicles Book 1) by Lynn Carmer Page A

tree, leaning her over a log, and pounding into her. Clenching his fists, he turned. “That’s what I’m trying to figure out. But if we don’t get somewhere dry, I won’t be able to think.”
    The rigidity eased from her face, replaced by wonder. “Look.” Her whisper skipped along his heightened senses. She ran a finger down one arm, and held it in front of him. “Look.”
    “What is it?” His voice was gruffer than normal. Damn, he was running out of time. With the rising of the sun, he was on day five. Two more days until his brother and his people would be gone. “The liquid is washing off the glass.” Her eyes widened and he caught a ghost of a smile.
    Helpless, his eyes traveled over her body, memorizing the broad shoulders that tapered into long arms and delicate hands. Hands that had brought him a pounding orgasm that had him screaming his release. She was an infuriating distraction. “It’s water. What the hell kind of life have you led that no one has explained rain to you? Now come on, we need to figure out where we are.
    The wonder dropped from her face, and she looked almost… hurt. “A life that I would like to return to. Right now!” She spun around heading away from him. “Where is it? Where is the Bicullis?”
    “Are you actually getting upset? I thought ice ran in your veins. Aren’t the Glissante supposed to be without emotion? Cold, distant, hard…”
    “Once again, you are sadly misinformed. The Glissante don’t shun all emotion. Trust me, hatred is something we embrace.” The heat of her stare ate through him, and instead of infuriating him it just turned him on more. He loved it when she let herself go. How was he supposed to keep his distance when she set him on fire?
    “Fine, it’s up to you. Stay if you want, but that portal won’t pop up anytime soon. It only appears at the rise and set of the sun. I think.” The last two words were muttered too low for her to hear. Turning, he headed toward… the east? He couldn’t even look to the sky to get his bearings, no way to gage direction with the trees and the rain clouds.
    “Then I’ll wait here.” She found a log and flounced down, nearly tripping over the saggy dress that pooled at her feet.
    Sighing, he fought for calm. Not knowing where the hells they were and trying to figure out how to get back was hard enough, and now this. He needed her with him, and if he could just get a chance to look over his father’s journal, he could figure this out. Brant’s warnings echoed in his mind. You might end up inside the volcano. “Look, like it or not, I’m your only chance out of here. If you stay behind, I won’t be able to protect you.” He turned again, expecting her to follow.
    Only silence followed.
    Damn her, he refused to turn back around, to show any weakness. He was King for gods’ sake. “You could be killed or even kidnapped.”
    “Kidnapped? Again?” This time she snorted and it didn’t sound princess-like in the least.
    His back was still turned, and he took one step further away although his body screamed at him to drag her back, maybe even by the hair. “Fine. Enjoy the day, but don’t be surprised by all the creepy crawlies that are going to want to get close and personal with that flawless skin.”
    One more step away from her. “Creepy crawlies? What are those? I’ve never heard of such things.”
    I have her. “They come in a wide variety really. Six legs or more, some are winged, all have brittle skeletons, and the eyes… So many eyes you could hardly count them. And terrible pinchers to bite you with.” He itched to turn around to catch her expression, instead he forced himself to take another step.
    “Are you referring to insects? Please, I may not have been aware of your rain, but I have seen an ice-bug in my day, even in our climate.” She huffed.
    “But have you seen any the size of my palm?”
    “What? How would you know that? You said you had no idea where we were, how would you