her.
"Hold, Devra." With the greatest of efforts, Karic stilled her hands. "I meant what I said. We both need our rest."
"Let me ease your body toward that slumber, my love," Devra purred silkily. "I well remember how you like itslow, deep and hot."
Karic inhaled a ragged breath. By the three moons, how he needed a female! And Devra was so warm, so willing.
Until nine sols ago he'd never preferred any pretty femina over another, finding one equally as delightful as the next, but now he suddenly found he desired only one. He swallowed a savage curse. His worst fears had indeed materialized. Liane had driven him mad!
Karic shook his head. "Not now, Devra. We'll talk later, once I've rested."
A small pout pursed her lips. "Talking wasn't what I had in mind." Her glance sought out Liane, scowling at them from her pallet in the corner.
Devra's eyes narrowed. "What is she to you, Karic? Your newest love?"
"Hardly," he muttered. He gave Devra a gentle shove. "Go. I'll come for you later. I swear."
A knowing smile curved her lips. "Just be sure you do." She sauntered to the door, her hips swaying provocatively. "You won't regret it," she shot over her shoulder before leaving the hut. "I'll see to that.''
Karic sighed and turned to Liane. Her face was carefully expressionless, but an angry light gleamed in her eyes. If he didn't so desperately wish it true, he'd almost think she was jealous, but that was fruitless hoping and only complicated an already difficult situation.
He walked over and squatted beside her. "Would you rather use the bed? I can sleep on the floor."
"No, thank you," Liane replied stiffly. "She made it quite clear who was to use her bed. I'm comfortable here." "Then would you share your pallet with me? I've gotten too used to sleeping with you to now sleep alone." A lazy grin teased the corners of his mouth. "Besides, there's always the chance you might change your mind and try to escape."
Liane's heart gave a jump. All the doubts, all the anger at him, fled in an onrushing tide of relief and joy. She pulled back the blanket and scooted over, tears glistening in her eyes.
Karic crawled into bed and took Liane into his arms. Silently, she lay her head on his broad chest, reveling in the wiry crispness pressed against her cheek, the comforting strength of the hard body lying next to hers. She knew she shouldn't let herself want him, shouldn't care, but it was past the point of reason anymore. She loved Karic.
The realization filled her with a bittersweet joy. How could she not have recognized it before? What had begun as respect for a brave, strong man, devoted to his people, had quickly ripened to affection. His resolute courage, his determination to succeed against all odds, had filled her with admiration from the start. Though her mind seek had revealed amazing insights about him, the past sols and noctes together were what served to confirm that knowledge, until her life and heart had become intricately entwined with that of his.
She recalled his acute intelligence, how he'd tried to psychologically manipulate her to protect himself from her mind seek and ultimately succeeded. She remembered his wry wit, his boyish glee at the heart-stopping ride over the falls. Yet the memories that overshadowed everything else were how gentle he could be and his untiring efforts to protect her, even at great cost to himself. Combined with his animal magnetism and the hot fires he could stir in her with only a look, Liane realized she'd been lost from the start.
The admission did little to salve the raw ache spiraling through her. She may have lost her heart, but it changed nothing. She couldn't live with herself if she turned her back on her healing. To make such a decision was too terrifying, as was the possibility of living with that decision each sol. No, as great as her love and desire for Karic was, she didn't have the courage to turn her back on her life's work.
Poignant pain cut through Liane. They were
"Hold, Devra." With the greatest of efforts, Karic stilled her hands. "I meant what I said. We both need our rest."
"Let me ease your body toward that slumber, my love," Devra purred silkily. "I well remember how you like itslow, deep and hot."
Karic inhaled a ragged breath. By the three moons, how he needed a female! And Devra was so warm, so willing.
Until nine sols ago he'd never preferred any pretty femina over another, finding one equally as delightful as the next, but now he suddenly found he desired only one. He swallowed a savage curse. His worst fears had indeed materialized. Liane had driven him mad!
Karic shook his head. "Not now, Devra. We'll talk later, once I've rested."
A small pout pursed her lips. "Talking wasn't what I had in mind." Her glance sought out Liane, scowling at them from her pallet in the corner.
Devra's eyes narrowed. "What is she to you, Karic? Your newest love?"
"Hardly," he muttered. He gave Devra a gentle shove. "Go. I'll come for you later. I swear."
A knowing smile curved her lips. "Just be sure you do." She sauntered to the door, her hips swaying provocatively. "You won't regret it," she shot over her shoulder before leaving the hut. "I'll see to that.''
Karic sighed and turned to Liane. Her face was carefully expressionless, but an angry light gleamed in her eyes. If he didn't so desperately wish it true, he'd almost think she was jealous, but that was fruitless hoping and only complicated an already difficult situation.
He walked over and squatted beside her. "Would you rather use the bed? I can sleep on the floor."
"No, thank you," Liane replied stiffly. "She made it quite clear who was to use her bed. I'm comfortable here." "Then would you share your pallet with me? I've gotten too used to sleeping with you to now sleep alone." A lazy grin teased the corners of his mouth. "Besides, there's always the chance you might change your mind and try to escape."
Liane's heart gave a jump. All the doubts, all the anger at him, fled in an onrushing tide of relief and joy. She pulled back the blanket and scooted over, tears glistening in her eyes.
Karic crawled into bed and took Liane into his arms. Silently, she lay her head on his broad chest, reveling in the wiry crispness pressed against her cheek, the comforting strength of the hard body lying next to hers. She knew she shouldn't let herself want him, shouldn't care, but it was past the point of reason anymore. She loved Karic.
The realization filled her with a bittersweet joy. How could she not have recognized it before? What had begun as respect for a brave, strong man, devoted to his people, had quickly ripened to affection. His resolute courage, his determination to succeed against all odds, had filled her with admiration from the start. Though her mind seek had revealed amazing insights about him, the past sols and noctes together were what served to confirm that knowledge, until her life and heart had become intricately entwined with that of his.
She recalled his acute intelligence, how he'd tried to psychologically manipulate her to protect himself from her mind seek and ultimately succeeded. She remembered his wry wit, his boyish glee at the heart-stopping ride over the falls. Yet the memories that overshadowed everything else were how gentle he could be and his untiring efforts to protect her, even at great cost to himself. Combined with his animal magnetism and the hot fires he could stir in her with only a look, Liane realized she'd been lost from the start.
The admission did little to salve the raw ache spiraling through her. She may have lost her heart, but it changed nothing. She couldn't live with herself if she turned her back on her healing. To make such a decision was too terrifying, as was the possibility of living with that decision each sol. No, as great as her love and desire for Karic was, she didn't have the courage to turn her back on her life's work.
Poignant pain cut through Liane. They were
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