Rest and Recovery
NINETEEN
Elena
It seems like an eternity goes by before I manage to do more than take care of my basic needs.
Dreams and nightmares overwhelm my terrible rest as my body gradually mends.
My shoulder, aching with pain, keeps me restless, but the few books that remain in my room counteract it and distract me.
If I’m not sleeping or reading, I’m moaning from nausea and exhaustion.
I give into it like I gave into the alcohol.
I’ll take the pain over the grief.
“Elena! Are you there?” Thud. Thud. Thud.
Groaning from my pillowed cocoon in my room, I put down my book and sit upright.
“It’s been three days and neither Greg nor I have seen or heard from you! Elena!”
Rising, I cross my room with more confidence today than I’ve had in previous days. No one’s been waiting outside my window the few times I’ve left my room, I haven’t seen either naga since they took the body away, and nothing has tried to break in.
Maybe they’re gone. Really gone. But as soon as I think it, I know it’s not true. Lukys isn’t gone. His home is just up the mountain.
As I head to the front of the ship, I spot Levy in his gray jacket to the dome’s right. His hair is slicked back like its wet and his now-tanned skin has a pink bloom across his cheeks. He’s even scruffier than before and he’s alone.
“Hi,” I say loud enough for him to hear. “Where’s Greg?”
“Hey, it’s good to see you,” he shouts. “Greg is at the river, bathing. You look like you’re doing well. Your forehead doesn’t look so swollen anymore. How have you been?”
I cross my arms. “Is that safe? And I’ve been better—much better.”
Levy threads the fingers through his short shaggy hair.
“Yeah, well, given the circumstances, it’s good to know you’re still alive.
We’ve been trying to give you your space…
” His lips twitch. “As for Greg, it’s as safe down there as it is right here.
He has a whistle with him if things go sour. I’ll hear it.”
I briefly look at the trees behind him and the looming shadows between them. “Yeah, but the nagas…”
Levy frowns. “Have they continued to bother you? We’ve been watching but haven’t seen them. Not since that day.”
“No. I… Aren’t you afraid of them?”
“Yeah, at first. But that fear kind of subsided by how easily Greg took out the one that had you.” He shrugs. “The others have left us alone after they brought you back. I stopped being so afraid of them when they insisted that Greg and I help you. How’s your arm, by the way?”
I reach up and rub my shoulder. “Still hurts like hell.”
“Yeah, well, it’s only been a couple of days. Just keep resting it. Actually, that’s one of the reasons I wanted to check on you. How are you doing with food and water? Do you have enough for now?”
Slipping my hand from my shoulder, I shuffle on my feet, a little annoyed males keep showing up asking if I’m okay.
“I’m fine on food for the time being but my water stores are depleting.
” I’m not sure if telling him this will help me, but I don’t think sharing such information won’t change anything for the worse.
He isn’t as afraid of the nagas as I think he should be, I’m also less afraid of him and Greg. “Why?”
“Greg and I have been carrying buckets of water from the river to refill our ship’s stores. I was going to offer to fetch you some if you needed any. There’s no sense going without water when we have such a large quantity nearby.”
“Oh… um…” Do I want his help? Do I need water badly enough right now?
“Look, I know you’re probably scared—I don’t even know what happened with you and the nagas and I won’t pry—but I just wanted to tell you that you don’t have to be as frightened.
If you don’t want to leave your ship to get water right now, whether your arm is good or not, I understand.
I can help. Greg can too. Neither of us will hurt you.
You didn’t have to lie about having a brother. ”
“I… Uh, thank you.” I cross my arms again, considering him. “That’s really nice of you.”
Levy smiles and it emphasizes his shallow laugh lines. “It’s what I would hope someone would do for me if the positions were switched. So, should I go fetch you some water, Elena?” His smile widens and it makes me wonder if he’s… flirting with me?
“No!” I say a little too quickly. “No. I’m good for now. I’ll be good for a little while.”
He cocks a brow. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah, as long as I keep to towel baths.” I laugh lightly, nervously.
“I’d suggest bathing in the river, but you might not be comfortable with that.”
My lips flatten. “No.”
He threads his fingers through his hair again and looks around. “Well then, I’ll check back in with you soon. I’m glad you’re doing okay, Elena. I really am.”
“I—thanks. Me too.”
He hesitates before leaving but turns back to me. “By the way, there’s a pile of stuff outside your hatch. It’s been there for the past two days. I think it must have been dropped off by one of those nagas.”
“There’s stuff?”
“Yeah. A folded white blanket, a bunch of clothes, toiletries, some bottles of alcohol. They look like they would be yours.”
My eyes widen and my lips part. My belongings from the cave!
“Thanks,” I tell Levy again. “I’ll take care of it.”
“All right, see you… then.” He waves awkwardly.
I wave back and watch as he vanishes behind my ship.
When Levy’s gone and it seems like I’m alone, I scurry to my ship’s hatch. If my stuff is out there, I want it. I miss my toiletries, blanket, and books. Especially the blanket and books.
I take a deep breath, opening and closing the hand of my good arm in anticipation. “I command the AI to open the hatch.”
There’s a woosh as the door slides along the side of the ship. Shielding my eyes against the sunlight, I take a couple tentative steps forward, making sure I’m still alone.
On the ground below me are my things. Every item Lukys brought to his cave.
My cushy white blanket and clothes are folded haphazardly in piles next to a half-dozen liquor bottles.
My toiletries are lying out neatly between them and all of it is resting upon a large dark brown animal hide. My books are stacked up on the side.
Stepping out of the ship, I scoop my blanket and clothes under my good arm.
I shove them inside before doing the same with my toiletries, one by one.
Reaching for the nearest liquor bottle, I hesitate.
I leave it with the decision to let Greg and Levy have the alcohol if they want it.
Afterwards, I stack my books along the wall in the hallway.
I hesitate again when there’s only the animal hide left.
Running my hand across it, the rich scent of Ilubriam chocolate hits me.
Shuddering, my skin prickles as my body tingles.
Comforting warmth floods me from head to toe as I eagerly take another breath.
My stomach growls as a needy craving for the chocolate grows.
I grab the animal hide, only to shove the heavy material inside my ship.
The liquor bottles tumble over and roll into the bushes, but I pay them no mind.
My heart races as the warmth rushing over my skin heats further.
I don’t want to get sick… I step up into my ship and freeze when my gaze lands on Lukys.
Across the meadow and between the trees, his large dark form is cast in shadows made by the branches high above him, adding to his enigmatic allure. His black hair is tousled around his sharply pointed ears, giving him an almost fairytale appeal.
He’s more attractive than he has any right to be, especially with what he did to me. I try to imagine what he’s thinking and come up with nothing. Nothing good, at least.
Shivering despite my heated skin, I take a step back as he nods at me, making me pause and frown again.
After all he’s done, he just… nods? I scrunch my face.
His arching, thick brow rises.
“I command the AI to close the hatch.”
The door slides into place and I lose sight of him.
Grabbing the hide, I lift it to my nose and breathe it in with another shudder. More luscious chocolate pools into me and the blush blooming over my skin heats to an inferno. My sex quivers, and I press my legs together as a dangerous thought enters my mind.
It’s not the animal hide I’m smelling. It’s him.
Lukys.
He gave me a hide from his nest…
And I just took it—in front of him.
I trace my eyes across the closed hatch. Maybe I should throw it back outside… but as another hint of chocolate snags me, I decide against it. For now, the hide stays.
I carry it to my room and drop it in the corner. It immediately reminds me of the cave—and him. I wince as a twinge of fear and curiosity hits me at the same time.
What would it be like… to be with someone, something, like him?
I sit on my bed with a heavy sigh, burying my face in my hands, wondering, not for the first time, if I’m going crazy. The last thing I should be dwelling on is interspecies sex. Or sex at all.
Yet, here I am, thinking about it anyway. I should be ashamed, except I’m not. Anything is better than the grief, and the ache of failure and loneliness.
Reaching down as I lie back on my bed, I slide my hand into my pants and rub my clit gently. I imagine a shadowy presence as my lover as I slowly roll my finger in circles, increasing the pressure.
I shift farther onto the bed. I huff out a hot breath as sweat beads my brow.
I don’t remember the last time I touched myself. My life has been hell since the strife began on The Dreadnaut. I couldn’t touch myself. I felt unsafe. Yet my circumstances are not much different now—life is still stressful. The only difference is the loneliness. The loss.
I get a whiff of chocolate and I moan, applying more pressure to my clit. Circling it faster, I grind my hand, pretending I’m rubbing against a man… a…
…thick, protruding bulge. My eyes widen then close and I move my fingers faster, harder, extracting another quiet moan from me.
My sex throbs as I spread wider, wanting more, needing more.
Sweat drips down my face as I bend my knees.
Pleasure courses through me while I grind with all my strength against my hand.
My climax erupts and I cry out.
I let out another whimper as it quickly subsides and the heat filling me dissolves. I ease into a languid position, more relaxed than I have been in weeks. Cool air breezes over my skin, and for a few minutes, I rest in peace.
But that peace doesn’t last because I now have a greater problem to contend with. A problem I don’t know how to handle.
My curiosity about Lukys is growing.