Page 89 of Sol Survivor

Like chicken?She could get behind that.“Mm, this smells so good.”Closing her eyes, she inhaled deeply.“Please, choose one for me and you.”

“Me?”His eyes widened and burned a bright blue.

“Of course.It’s rude to eat alone, isn’t it?”

He nodded, his hungry gaze on the dark strips of meat.With eager fingers, he chose the biggest piece for her.Right then, her heart melted.She accepted it, took a massive bite, and hummed her appreciation.Once he had chosen his, she clamped her lips on the strip, wiped her hands on her pants, and ruffled his hair.“Tell your mom these are the best kurrula I have ever tasted.”

The boy weaved through the crowd hollering his mother’s name.

You did not have to do that, but it is appreciated.Drafe rubbed her lower back as he joined her.Yet another reason why I love you.

She offered him a strip while chewing on her own.Children are precious.Every word said to them has impact.

One by one, folks stepped forward, blessing her with gifts from their tribes.At one point, Kael rushed off to fetch his wagon.He and Drafe loaded the rugs, woven blankets, homemade garments, weapons, foods, and as wonderful as their generosity was, none of it mattered as much as the simple leather necklace with an amber pendant.

As she stared at it draped over her palm, tears pressed behind her eyes.A young man stood before her, his spine straight, his chin high, his orange hair blowing in the hot breeze.

She sniffed, and he dipped his chin, his shoulders drooping.“I apologize.I meant no offense.”

“No.”She squeezed her eyes shut and willed the tears to abate.“I apologize.This is incredible.It’s the exact shade of myvatia sahaar’seyes.I will cherish this always.”She looped it over her head and stroked the pendant where it rested below her collarbone.

The crowd cheered and slapped the young man on his back as he returned to their midst.

Drafe raised his hands.“Thank you for your warm welcome.Please, take care as you return home and send Osnir’s blessings to your tribes.”

In an orderly fashion, the crowd dispersed.

Vic gaped.Why couldn’t you have started with that?

They would not have left until they met you and judged for themselves the validity of the rumors.

She huffed.Under their vigilant gazes, she dared not wipe the sweat from her brow or sweep aside the tendrils sticking to her neck.Drafe escorted her into the caverns, the temperature cooling the deeper they strolled.Kael pulled the cart with Larya nestled in the middle of it, protected.

Curious faces peeked out of their caves, nodded, waved, or came out to watch them pass.By the time they reached the farthest doorway, exhaustion pounded at Vic.She entered Drafe’s home and sighed, spreading her arms wide to better relish the shade.

Kael and Drafe carried the gifts inside as she sat on a fur-covered ledge.By the width, she would hazard a guess it was their bed.The variegated walls were ridged and curved as if millions of years ago, water had carved it.The ambers, umbers, and beiges were pretty.Small venai stones glowed like flickering candles.She rose and captured one, marveling at the smooth, cool-to-the-touch stones.

“Thirsty?”

She smiled at Drafe, then placed the stone on the mantle above the firepit.“Yes.”

“We shall leave you for the night,” Kael said, dragging a hesitant Larya from the cave.

Come, gevatia.

Vic whipped her gaze to Drafe and approached him as he poured water into a stone cup.He offered it to her, then kneeled to unsnap her boots, peeling each one off and stacking them to the side.Her pants followed.She laughed between sips and watched as he folded her pants then tucked them into a stone alcove.Offering him the empty cup, she peeled off her shirt, bra, and panties, then folded them, stacking them on top of her pants.

Still kneeling, he tapped the rug-covered rock floor.She crossed the room and paused in front of him.With a cool, damp cloth, he stroked her body, from her face to her toes, lingering under her breasts and at her sex.She moaned, arching her back as his touch intensified.Gripping his hair, she rocked across his fingers, whimpering when the intensity built.Tossing the cloth aside, he clasped her hips and tugged her to the floor.She draped her arms around his neck, straddled his lap, and kissed him.He was hot to the touch but matched the heat inside her.

“Drafe,” she panted, writhing in his arms as he trailed kisses down her neck to suck a nipple into his mouth.She rode his hard thigh, crying out at the sparks of pre-orgasmic joy along her sex.

He switched to her other nipple, flicking his tongue before nipping it.

Farg, she needed him now.Reaching between them, she stroked his thigh until his armor faded, exposing his erect cock.She rubbed her palm across the head.

He released her nipple to groan, and with his eyes closed, arched his back.Without hesitation, she lowered herself on his length, inch by inch.He gazed into her eyes, his mouth parted as he panted.Grinning, she rocked her hips, sliding along him while tilting her pelvis until he gasped.The growing throbbing within her had her heartbeat roaring in her ears.She needed more, faster, harder.

He leaned forward, pinned her back to the floor, and pounded into her.Crying out, she wrapped her legs around his hips then pressed her open mouth to his throat to smother her pleas and moans.Everything within her tightened.Her senses heightened.She clung to him, riding the anticipation and the skittered tingles along her nerve endings.Her breath caught, her thoughts froze, and for a moment, the symbiotes quietened…until her world exploded.He didn’t stop plunging into her and triggered another explosion.He stilled, his fingers digging into her hips.Releasing her, he threw out a hand to catch himself as he collapsed across her, his eyes an intense amber.