Page 16 of The Warrior's Oath
“Do you, though?”
“I do. We have similar things back on Earth. I’ve heard our military people say it before. Leave no man behind.”
Korvin nodded his approval. “Then it seems your kind are more advanced than I gave credit. Here, be careful not to burn yourself.”
He removed the pair of fish from the fire and passed one to Nyota while the rest of their meal cooked. She carefully pulled hot pieces from the bones and slid them into her mouth with relish.
“Oh my God, this is amazing.”
“I apologize for the lack of seasoning.”
“You cook?”
“Of course. Preparation of food for yourself and others is a skill all should possess, though, admittedly, some are better than others.”
“And you?” she asked, her eyebrow arching slightly upward.
“Some have said I possess a talent for it,” he replied without ego.
The two devoured the fish in short order then moved on to the roasting animal. Korvin pulled off several pieces and placed them atop a hot rock to dehydrate into jerky for the next day’s trek, then gathered the bones and scraps and bundled them in a large leaf.
“Where are you going?” Nyota asked as he rose and headed off into the woods.
“I am burying these far from here. We do not know what larger wildlife is present and it would not do us well to have temptation nearby.”
“But the jerky strips?”
“Wrap them in a leaf and bury them near the fire. We will retrieve them in the morning when we depart.”
Korvin vanished into the foliage, not so much as a twig cracking at his feet.
“Well, that was interesting,” Nyota mused, then gathered up the dried meat and wrapped it up and buried it as she’d been told.
It was getting dark out and the temperature was dipping but the fire felt good and the rocks surrounding it had absorbed a lot of heat. She was just tossing another log on the fire when Korvin returned.
He looked up at the darkening sky then kicked dirt on the flames, extinguishing them.
“Hey! What are you doing?”
“The canopy above dissipated smoke and light during the day, but at night, exposed as we are, a fire would draw attention. And if the Raxxians are out there, that is the last thing we want. Recapture is not an option.”
Nyota’s objections died on her tongue at the thought of being back in a Raxxian holding pen, nothing more than a meal waiting to be eaten. At least the rocks would continue to radiate their stored heat for a while. The fire might be gone but that one bit of comfort would remain. The question was, for how long.
In the dark of night Nyota got her answer.
She woke from her sleep with a chill running through her body. She had bedded down closest to the fire circle stones, but now that they were well and truly cold her instincts kicked in, searching for any sign of warmth.
A low heat radiated toward her from behind. Korvin’s kind ran hot.Veryhot, it seemed. What was a cold night for her was likely merely a temperate one for him. Nyota scooted backwards up against him, her body almost vibrating in joy at the warmth. She wiggled closer still, the little spoon to his big one, nestling as close as she could, drawing his heat into her with every inch of contact.
Korvin shifted slightly, his arm sliding over her body, his warm hand instinctively cupping her breast as his arm flexed, pulling her closer. Nyota’s nipples went rock hard, sending confusing waves of pleasure shooting between her legs.
Without knowing what she was doing her body took over, her ass grinding back against him. She let out a gasp when she felt the heat from his thick cock press up against her, his length stirring within his trousers, the material barely containing his impressive member.
She shifted again, sliding against him, moving on auto-pilot before she even realized what she was doing. Her breathing grew faster as the heat between her legs spread through her belly. Korvin, however, remained still, his breath slow and steady.
He was still asleep. Asleep, but his body knew what to do, regardless.
Nyota was torn. Filled with wanting but not daring to wake him for fear he would push her away in annoyance.
