Sea of Stars(94)

 I think Trey is afraid to react to what I said. He’s not sure if he should show me how he’s feeling. He’s angry about what happened to me and sympathetic, but he knows how I feel about sympathy, so he’s trying not to show it. He’s even a little remorseful for insisting that I tell him something that is obviously painful for me—all of that is there on his face. What he does, though, takes me by surprise. He gathers me to him and kisses me fiercely. What starts off as an angry kiss between the two of us, turns into the all-out desire to possess each other completely.

 “I don’t know why they wouldn’t want you, Kricket. Or why they would do those things they did to you. All I know is that I want you—so much more than I ever wanted anything in my life.”

 My desire for him is insane. He’s not sentimental—neither of us is—and yet he says things to me that strike at the core of my being and speak to the fighter in me. He makes me crave him in the most vulnerable way. I can’t lose him—ever.

 Reaching up, I twine my arms around the nape of his neck. I jump up, wrapping my legs around his waist. His hands cup my bottom, pressing me to him. He leans me against a nearby tree. We fumble with each other’s clothes, trying hastily to free ourselves of everything that lies between us. With the bark of the tree at my back, Trey makes love to me again, and it takes us a lot longer than expected to return to camp.

 When we do get back, the gear has already been loaded up. Trey helps me mount our spix. Seated behind me, his arms around my hips and his masculine scent are a constant reminder that I’m not alone in the dark.

 Our night begins as we gallop across vibrant fields adorned with grazing animals that sort of look like a cross between sheep and pug dogs; they have the white, woolly bodies of sheep, but their faces are googly-eyed and without long snouts. I find them cute and creepy at the same time. When I ask Trey what they are, he calls them skoolies.

 The barrage of aircraft overhead is nearly constant now, but it’s not all enemy ships like last night. Dogfights break out as the Rafe Air Brigade engages the Alameeda. Their battles light up the sky with colorful laser fire and smoking, orange-flamed explosions. It’s easy to spot the E-Ones that are looking for us. They’re low-flying and have adopted the same formation as the first night. Each time they come near us, I have to close my eyes. I get the sense that if I were to open them, they’d know where I am. It’s silly, but I can’t stop.

 The next day is spent in the shelter of a dilapidated barn. We’re grouped together under the falling-down rafters, which affords no privacy for any of us. I’m so exhausted from the hard ride, however, that when I fall asleep next to Trey in the shadow of the loft, I sleep all the way until sundown.

 We spend our time the next night hurrying from one copse of trees to another until the landscape turns hilly. The change in the terrain to dense trees climbing in a gradual slope signals a change in our pace. It becomes a steady clip, neither pausing nor running, but with the underlying urgent need to be somewhere else. We move through paths in between gray stones where water trickles down over the rocks in petite waterfalls. In the distance, mountains rise with smoky peaks covered in green and white trees.

 We find a small cave and make our camp. Throughout the day, the Cavars take turns patrolling the area, looking for signs that we’re being followed. Nothing turns up. Even the aircraft are less frequent now, not that I can stay awake long to listen for them. As soon as I eat a meal, I find my eyes drooping, and the next thing I know I’m being roused from sleep and hustled to an already saddled spix as darkness falls.

 Progressing uphill throughout the night, the grade continues to get steeper. Wearily, I lean back against Trey to keep my seat. “Sorry,” I murmur at my weakness.

 “I like the feel of you against me,” he says in my ear, causing me to smile. I turn my face and kiss his neck. He leans his head down so that our lips can meet. When they do, I reach up, laying my hand on his cheek. Our kisses turn heated. My legs squeeze Honey Badger’s sides, causing him to trot ahead next to Wayra.

 When Trey notices, he has to rein in our spix, breaking our kiss. We both look over at Wayra, who is smirking at us. He nods his head in greeting to Trey. “Sir.”

 Trey nods back. “Wayra.”

 “Did you need something, sir?” Wayra asks with amusement in his tone.

 “No. I have everything I need,” he replies. “Carry on.” Trey pulls us back behind Wayra once more.

 “Do you have everything you need?” I ask him.