Page 44 of Infala: The Alien's Bond
He turned to his companion, a look of relaxed calm on his face. “Come, little one. We should begin our day.”
“It’s freaking cold out,” she protested.
“Yes, as I had said it would be. Once you start moving your body will warm quickly, and this is our opportunity to cover some ground before the day’s heat replaces the chill.”
She knew he was right, but getting out from under the fur was as hard as any lazy Sunday in winter. Reluctantly, she forced herself out into the cold air. Darla hesitated a moment, then did nearly the same series of stretches and mobility poses as Heydar had done. Interestingly, she really did feel warmer, but also something else.
“Your runes are taking hold amazingly fast,” he said, watching with curiosity. “The movements you just performed are specifically linked to the pigment in your system, activating it all to start the day and put your body in a comfortable state of equilibrium.”
“You mean these stretches make the aches go away? Like, more than regular yoga stuff? Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“It is nothing quite like that,” he said with a chuckle. “But they do drive power to your limbs and force your blood and core energy to flow unobstructed.”
She gauged her body, feeling more in tune with it than normal. Or maybe this was going to be the new normal. Time would tell.
“I am feeling pretty good, yeah.”
“Good. Then you will be better braced for a wash in the stream ahead on our trek. Gather your things. We leave immediately.”
So much for a relaxed start to the day, she grumbled to herself, shoving the few items she had taken out back into her pack and slinging it over her shoulder.
The trek downhill moved quickly. This was a different bit of terrain from what they’d dealt with the prior day and the craggy rocks and steep drop-offs required a bit more care than before. Darla’s legs felt good, but her quads still burned from the effort. This time, however, it was in a good way.
Her footing felt more secure as well, and her ankles did not seem to be at any risk of twisting despite their speed. Whatever the runes were doing, the difference was becoming more noticeable.
The stream running at the base of the hill was relatively small, but the water flowed clear and smelled fresh to her enhanced senses. The vegetation was dense and lush, the burgundy leaves and deep green stems growing strong closest to the life-giving liquid. She crouched down and took a sip. Delicious.
“Hey, do you think—” she began to ask, turning toward her companion.
Heydar was already stripping off his clothes, his rippling muscles gleaming with a fine layer of sweat from the descent, every inch of him pumped from the effort. Darla felt her breath catch in her throat when he whipped off his trousers, tossing them on the dry shore, and strode into the water.
He was even more beautiful than her mind’s eye had remembered. And watching him vigorously ruballof his body in the crisp water, she couldn’t help but feel a fire blossom between her legs.
None of that. This is just a practical bath, here. Just scrub off the sweat, and grime, and whatever nastiness was on those pelts, she reminded herself, then quickly shed her clothing as well, stepping into the flowing current.
Heydar ceased his washing abruptly, staring at her with an unusual look. Darla felt her cheeks flush and turned from him, crouching down and submerging in the water.
“Your skin is healing well,” he finally said, a slight huskiness to his voice. “I have never witnessed anything like it. At this rate, the itching should be gone in no time, from what I have seen.”
Darla felt unusually hot even submerged in the cool water.And you’ve seen it all, haven’t you, buddy?
Heydar turned from her, quickly finishing his scrub then climbing onto the banks of the stream, water running off of his sculpted ass in rivulets. Darla marveled at the utter perfection of that ass. It was the sort of thing master sculptors would have memorialized in marble back in the day and it made her mouth water.
Then he turned toward her, locking eyes with her for a moment.
His cock wasmostlyflaccid as it swung between his legs, but there was clearly a stirring engorgement taking place as he stared at her. Shrinkage from the cold was most definitely not an issue.
The water flowing down from his chiseled abs was slowly dripping from the tip of his manhood, the ridges encircling his length becoming raised before her very eyes.
There was a sparkle in his gaze when he turned from her and began pulling his clothes back on. One that made her stomach flutter with a not entirely unpleasant sensation.
Darla finished her rinse and stepped out of the stream, her nipples hard in the cool air. A little steam was actually coming off her body as she shook off most of the water and began dressing. The runes may have helped increase her ambient temperature, but there was something more interesting at work here.
“You are ready?” he asked, circling around to her as she pulled her pack onto her shoulders.
“Yeah, I’m good.”
“And refreshed, I hope.”
