Chapter 20
Elodie
Throughout the whole evening meal all I could think about was my conversation with Iris and her parting words.
So, I thought I’d try flirting with Ortak.
Just a little. Except, all I did was apparently confuse him.
He’s not human. The Krijese culture is so far removed from a human’s, it’s no wonder he had no idea what I was doing.
Fear that I might ruin what we have is why I spent the rest of the evening trying to be “normal”. To act like I usually do. Like Ortak’s friend. I’m not sure that’s all I want any longer though.
I stare into his black eyes, trying to read them. To find a single hint that he might want more too. But all I see is his dark gaze staring back at me.
“Fight for it.” Iris’s words replay in my head.
Might as well splay my chest open and hope Ortak doesn’t rip my heart out of it. “I want you to kiss me. Will you?”
His whole body tenses. Weirdly, for a single second, I almost swear a tiny spark of color flashes in his eyes. The silence drags and with each moment that passes the more I regret asking.
“I do not know how,” Ortak finally rasps out in his deep guttural voice that vibrates through me like it always does.
My heart races. “Would you like me to show you?” I’m not sure we can go back after this.
“Aye.”
Since he’s a little far out of my reach, I palm the back of his neck and draw him down to me at the same time I rise up on my tippy toe.
It’s not as easy to do on one leg. Ortak must realize this, because his hands go around my waist to steady me.
I ignore the sound of my crutches crashing to the ground.
My free hand goes to his chest where his hearts beat a strong rhythm beneath it.
Mine, in total contrast, beats almost too fast as Ortak moves closer, until finally, my mouth brushes over his.
I don’t part my lips, but rather, keep the kiss simple.
It’s nothing more than a soft caress, but a powerful one.
My whole body lights up like a surge of electricity is running through me.
Slowly, I pull back and meet his gaze. “Was that okay?”
“I have no words to describe it.”
I bite the inside of my bottom lip. “Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”
Ortak lifts one hand from my waist and cups the side of my head. “It is the best thing.”
An awkward laugh bubbles out of me and my neck gets hot. “Oh.”
He scans my face. “What does this mean for us?”
That is the same question I’ve been asking myself. “I don’t know. I guess it means maybe we’re not just friends.”
Ortak studies me long enough that I get twitchy. Finally, he says something. “Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”
I smack my forehead against his chest and try to hold back my laughter. My shoulders shake with it. When I get my amusement under control I lift my head. “It is the best thing. At least, I hope it is. I want it to be.”
“I want it to be as well.”
Relief floods me. “What do we do about this new development?”
“What do you wish to do?”
“You know.” I poke Ortak lightly in the shoulder. “It’s rude to answer a question with another question.”
“Before you, I have never been friends with a female. I have never kissed a female either. All of this is new to me, so I am trusting you to guide me in the direction you wish to go.”
I sag against him. “You’re right, I’m sorry. This is all sort of new to me as well. I mean, the way relationships work on this planet are way different than how they work on Earth. I’m trying to navigate in uncharted territory.”
“Perhaps we can navigate it together.”
“I’d like that.”
Slowly, Ortak leans down a kisses me again, doing nothing more than grazing my mouth with his. “You should rest, and we will speak again when I return from hunting. Enjoy your time with Gannen while I am gone.”
I lay my forehead on his chest again and nod, breathing in his scent. “Please be careful tomorrow.”
“I will.”
We stand like that for another minute, but finally separate.
Ortak bends down for my crutches and waits until I’ve got a solid grip on them before he steps away to put space between us.
I want to kiss him again, but instead, I enter my tent and release a deep sigh.
The sound of his retreating footsteps fades.
I manage to get myself ready for bed in near record time and crawl into my pile of furs.
How in the world I’m going to sleep now I don’t know.
I have to try though, otherwise tomorrow is going to be awful.
I’ll be tired and cranky and I don’t want to spend my first day alone with Gannen feeling that way.
Surprisingly, my eyes actually grow heavy and I feel myself slowly start to drift off.
Someone slapping my door flap jerks me out of a sound sleep.
“Elodie? Are you awake? It is Gannen.”
My brain is all muddy, but I think I can manage a coherent sentence. “I’m awake.” Barely. “You can come in.”
The door flap swings open and he pokes his head in. “You are still in your furs.”
Excellent observation. “Because it is still morning.”
“Gogo and Kala have been gone for some time now. We shared our morning meal with Sorin and Talek,” he says, finally coming all the way inside. “You missed it.”
“I’m aware.” Slowly, I sit up and rub the sleep from my eyes. When I open them, Gannen is sitting right in front of me, his knees almost touching my shin. I didn’t even hear him move.
He cocks his head. “Do you always sleep this late?”
I laugh. “If I can help it, yes.”
“But you are missing the best part of the turn.”
“I assure you, I am not.” I ruffle his floks. “Do me a favor since you’re here, will you? Will you bring over the basin of water and the cloth so I can wash my face.”
Gannen jumps to his feet and seconds later, he’s back with the basin balanced between his hands.
He sets it on the ground next to me and hands over the small piece of leather.
Then, he takes his seat again and watches me like I’m the most fascinating thing he’s ever witnessed.
Considering he’s probably never seen a woman’s morning routine, it doesn’t surprise me.
Mine used to be much more elaborate than it is now.
I’d spend so long in the shower the skin on my fingers wrinkled.
I’d clean my face, moisturize it, rub on all these expensive anti-aging serums and eye wrinkle cream.
My in-home makeup artist would then get to work making me beautiful and artificial.
When he’d finish, I’d spray myself with designer perfume before putting on high-end, brand-name clothes a personal shopper picked out for me. I hated every aspect of it.
Finally, I finish and hang the damp cloth over the edge of the basin. Before I can ask, Gannen picks it up and puts it back where it belongs.
“Thank you.” I pat the spot he vacated and he takes it again. “So, besides swimming later this afternoon, what do you want to do today?”
He actually appears to give it a lot of thought before he answers.
“I do not know. Sorin is busy spending time with Healer Sage and her kit. Talek, Bazel, and Cecily are not here. I was told they went somewhere before the morning meal, but they would return soon. Carter is at the forge with one of the human females. I cannot recall her name, but she is Healer Kyler’s mate.
He is her apprentice and learning how to make weapons. ”
My feelings are hurt on Gannen’s behalf.
It’s his first day as part of this tribe and all his friends abandoned him.
I just want to give him a big hug. Although, the more I think about it, it actually makes me mad and I want to give them all a piece of my mind.
What kind of friends are they anyway? Well, forget them.
“How about you teach me how to throw your axe?”
Gannen’s eyes widen. “You said you had no desire to learn.”
“I changed my mind. Why don’t you run back to your tent and get it while I change my clothes? Come back here and we’ll go find a target to aim for.”
He scrambles to his feet and takes off for the door. “I will be right back.”
“Knock before you enter, please,” I call after him and hope he hears me since he’s already gone.
Not wanting to get caught with my pants down, I hurry as best I can to stand and hop to my chest for a clean outfit. I’m still half naked when there’s a hard slap at my door. “Hold your horses please. I’m not ready yet.”
Thankfully, Gannen doesn’t come in. I finish dressing and call out. “Alright, you’re good. You can come in now.”
The flap swings open and he walks in with his sheathed axe already strapped to his chest and shoulders. I grab my crutches from where I propped them while I got my clothes on and hop over to the table so I can clean my teeth before we go.
Gannen comes and stands next to me. “What are you doing?”
The Tavikhi don’t have real toothpaste, but in addition to the lotion Sage made for everyone, she also created a reasonable substitute. “I’m brushing my teeth.”
Once again, he intently studies what I’m doing. When I’m done, I rinse off the makeshift brush and set it to the side of the basin before I turn toward him. “Alright, I’m ready when you are.”
“I did not know females took so long to prepare in the mornings.”
That makes me laugh and I give him a quick hug. “Come on, you, let’s go.”