Page 32 of Crash Landing
The tension built until I was choking on another moan, forcing myself to completion just to relieve the pressure.
“Sam?” I rasped, feeling a wave of release explode through my core. “Really?”
I pumped myself vigorously, my head falling back as I imagined how tight Sam’s body would squeeze me if I were inside her. It was torture. Sweet, insane torture. Her cries of ecstasy were a dream and the idea of her shaking around me as she rode out her own orgasm made me come so hard I nearly shouted.
But I didn’t. I swallowed the sounds of my release and then pressed my head to the rough stone wall. My cock was still hard, but at least I’d taken the edge off. I slammed my fist against the stone and huffed my frustration.
I’d wanted to surge for so long. I’d wanted a woman to protect. To bed. To love. But I was at a loss when it finally happened.
13: Sam
My eyes slowly opened to find a beam of orange light shining right at my pupils from a crack in the roof. I squinted and turned my head to find that I was burning hot, swathed in Saleuk’s jacket and covered in sweat. Phesah was humid and warm so as soon as I was able to sit up, I threw the jacket off. Or peeled it off, more like. I felt disgusting and sticky and I smelled. Embarrassment washed through me until I realized Saleuk wasn’t in the room.
Next to me was the canteen and I quickly chugged a dozen mouthfuls of the cool water. I was parched and my stomach felt hollow, but the water helped. My hand, which that damn creature jabbed, was wrapped in clean bandages and was feeling much better than it had last time I was awake.
A soothing heat reached my cheeks when I thought of Saleuk carefully tending to my hand while I was out cold. Despite him being the most annoying valerian I had ever interacted with, the thought made the corner of my mouth lift ever so slightly. There weren’t a lot of people in my life who had ever even tried to take care of me. I almost didn’t know how to take it, but at the very least, I wanted to thank him.
Hot and slick with sweat, I unzipped my suit for the first time since we landed and shrugged it off my shoulders. Underneath, I wore only a black cotton tank top and it was soaked and stuck to my skin. The breeze felt wonderful once I was exposed to it.
Tying the sleeves of my suit around my hips, I ventured out into the sunlight. The lava-like shades of the dwarf star’s illumination made everything look washed in fire, especially since the clouds were thinner that day.
Outside, I could hear the river just ahead. I’d explored the grounds a bit, but not nearly enough to get a clear lay of the land considering when we arrived, Saleuk was unconscious and I was a dizzy wreck. Now, in the light of day with my strength returning, I could see the woods and a valley that stretched out toward tall mountain peaks in the distance. And in the valley, I saw a large body of water. A lake. It looked so damn inviting with my skin as hot as it was, but my first order of business was to find Saleuk. I wanted to thank him and also confirm that I wasn’t alone, so I started my search, canteen in hand.
Heading toward the river, I saw a pile of fruit on the ground along with a roll of fabric that looked like a small blanket or a towel. I passed the supplies and continued to the water, ducking under some low vines to come to the bank.
My whole body froze when I saw him.
Saleuk was hip-deep in the stream, naked and with his back turned. The ground was soft and the river made a constant ambient noise so when he didn’t turn around, I assumed he didn’t hear me. The best thing to do was leave and give him privacy, but my feet wouldn’t move. Instead, I stood there stupidly staring at the planes of his muscular form. His skin was a shade of pale blue as he splashed himself with water and ran his hands down the lengths of his strong arms. His black braid had been unwoven and the filaments were loose and hanging so the tips just brushed the water. I followed it down his spine to where the very top of his taut ass was peaking above the ripples.
I swallowed, consumed by a wave of heat that made my mouth go dry. I ogled at every movement he made as he bathed until I felt my grip go lax on the canteen. The metalbottle slipped from my fingers and fell to the ground, prompting Saleuk to turn.
When he caught me standing there, I was like a deer in headlights. My eyes shot wide and I straightened, unable to form words. From the front, he looked even more delicious. His abs were cut and rippling. His waist tapered dramatically and made his shoulders look broad and strong. And that damn look on his face. As the smirk formed and that little hint of a fang appeared, I was completely screwed.
“Shit,” I said aloud. “Sorry. I didn’t know you were… I should… fuck.”
I bent to pick up the canteen and fumbled, accidentally tossing it into the water. Saleuk reached out and grabbed it before it drifted away and chuckled. Hechuckled, the bastard. My cheeks were enflamed again with embarrassment and when he tossed the canteen back at me, I caught it and pressed my lips together to conceal the sassy remark fighting to get free.
“I’ll leave you to it,” I forced out, turning to leave.
“Sam,” he called after me.
I went rigid and glanced back at him, waiting for him to make fun of me.
“Pass me the cloth?”
“The cloth?” I blinked, remembering the rolled towel next to the fruit.
“Yes. Or, I could get it myself like I’d originally planned.”
He started walking to the bank and I backstepped.
“No! No, it’s fine.” I rushed over to the rolled towel and swiftly threw it toward the bank before speedwalking into the building. “Shit,” I hissed. “What the hell?”
Every part of my body tingled with awareness. Probably because I was having some weird reaction to the moon’s environment. Or maybe I had a fever. Something was definitelywrong. It had to be because the other reason my body might be on fire would be that I had the hots for Saleuk.
Hell, maybe I did. But wouldn’t anyone have the hots for a guy that saved their life? Especially one with a body like his.
“It’s white knight syndrome,” I muttered, pacing around the room. “That’s a thing, right?”
