Chapter 22
Lacey stirred, slowly drifting to consciousness from dreams that were whisked away like smoke on the wind.
She was first aware of the warmth surrounding her, and then of the solid feel of limbs embracing her.
Inhaling deeply, she took in the scent of warm cedarwood, moss, and campfire smoke. She smiled.
Telok.
Opening her eyes, she lifted her head and looked down, wrinkling her nose at the bit of drool she felt at the corner of her mouth and the tiny pool of it on his chest.
Ugh, gross.
Way to go, Lacey. First time sleeping on top of Telok and you drool on him.
Sheepishly, she wiped away the spittle from her mouth and his hide. She peered up at his face, ready to apologize, only to find his eyes closed.
Was he really still sleeping?
“Telok?” she whispered.
Sure enough, his eyes remained shut and his body remained relaxed beneath her.
For as long as she’d known him, Telok had been an early riser, waking before the sun. It always seemed like he’d been ready to go for hours by the time everyone else crawled out of bed.
Every single time she’d slept with him on this trip, Lacey had awoken to find herself wrapped in Telok’s arms with his gaze focused on her face.
It was like he’d watched her, silent and still, the entire night, memorizing every little detail of her features.
But before she could even blink the sleep from her eyes, he’d withdraw from her and rise to carry her groggy ass down from the tree, setting her on the ground so he could attend to his other duties.
Lacey smiled as she stared down at Telok’s face. Now, she finally had the opportunity to study him, and she wasn’t going to miss it.
His hair had come loose from its bun, allowing strands to fall over the side of his headcrest in silken threads of black, green and white.
Her fingers itched to stroke through it.
His eight eyes, each pair a different size, were closed, but unlike the eyes of a sleeping human, there was no movement beneath their lids.
His mandibles, often so animated, were lax, resting on either side of his jaw.
His features, which had been so alien and monstrous to her months ago, had become endearing.
She looked at the jagged scars on the left side of his face. There were two of them, one stretching from his jaw all the way up to his headcrest, the other starting at the faux fang along his mouth and running diagonally upward to bisect the first.
It was these scars that had made Telok more menacing than the other vrix when she’d first met him.
Lacey reached out and lightly traced the scars on his face with her fingers. They were deep grooves in his hide, and her heart squeezed at the thought of how painful the wounds that had left them must’ve been.
Her gaze dipped to the three scars on the right side of his throat. Deeper and longer than the rest, they ran parallel to each other, like claws had been raked across his neck.
Had they been caused by beast or vrix?
Brow furrowing and mouth falling into a frown, she trailed her fingers over those scars. So much damage, so much pain. These might’ve been why his voice was so gravelly.
As her touch followed those scars toward the center of his throat, something bulged against her pelvis, hard and insistent.
Telok’s hand caught her wrist, lifting her fingers from his hide.
Lacey started, her wide eyes flying up to meet Telok’s, which were now open to slits, glowing green in the dim light as he stared at her.
She grinned. “Good morning.”
He let out a grunt, then drew in a heavy breath as his lower hands slid down her back. Those long fingers curled around her bare ass, cupping it and pressing her more firmly against him.
Lacey gasped as that bulge ground against her mons and sent a rush of arousal through her.
That was his…cock. And her body was the only thing holding it inside his slit, since his claspers were on either side of her hips, stroking.
“Um, Telok?”
“Do not move,” he grated.
“Oh. Okay.”
She lay atop him, trying to do as he’d commanded, but now that she knew what was prodding her, she found it incredibly difficult to remain still. Especially with his hands clutching her bare ass, his claws teasingly pricking her skin, and his heated stare holding her captive.
Warmth bloomed in her core, spreading through her body and making her skin tingle. His claspers continued moving along her outer thighs and hips, slipping beneath her dress, which had ridden up during the night, their little strokes only adding to the sensations she was feeling.
Unintentionally, she wriggled her hips, causing his bulge to slip against her cleft. Her breath hitched at the jolt of pleasure sparked by that contact.
“Oh fuck,” she rasped, body tensing as her pussy clenched.
Telok hissed and went rigid beneath her, fingers flexing on her ass, enhancing the bite of his claws and the pressure on her clit.
Her lashes fluttered, and a soft, mewling moan spilled past her lips. “Telok…”
A shudder wracked him as a low growl reverberated in his chest. Grabbing her hips and sides with all his hands, Telok hauled her off him and roughly deposited her onto her back atop the bedding. Lacey’s hair fell over her eyes, and she quickly swiped it aside to see him rolling away.
But not before she’d seen the length of his extruded, bright green cock.
Her eyes flared as he surged up onto his legs, turned his back toward her, and strode to the far end of the room, where he sank the claws of all four hands into the woven stick wall and curled his fingers.
Shoulders heaving with his harsh breaths, he remained there, stance rigid and leg hairs standing on end, as tremors coursed through him. Wood cracked in his tightening grip.
Telok was completely on edge.
And it was fucking hot.
Grinning, Lacey watched him, half tempted to part her legs and touch herself to lure him back to her. To finish what they’d started. She was already turned on, her pussy exposed as she lay there with her dress bunched around her waist. And based on what she’d seen…
All she’d had was a glimpse of his cock, but the image was branded in her mind.
It was utterly inhuman, its wide, thick head tapering at the tip into two points with an inch-long slit at its center.
The shaft was long, narrower than the head, but widened again near the base where there were two bulges, one on each side.
Were those knots?
Lacey released a shuddering breath and squeezed her thighs together to dampen a surge of desire. Holy shit, what would he feel like inside her?
Not now, Lacey. Everyone is waiting for you two. You have responsibilities, and people’s lives are at risk. Now is not the time for sex.
But why had Telok withdrawn from her so abruptly? Was it for the same reason she was refraining now, or something else?
Frowning, Lacey nibbled on her bottom lip as she stared at him.
The way he was acting made it obvious that he wasn’t ready, despite how much he wanted her, so she wouldn’t push him. But it left her severely confused.
With a soft sigh, she sat up, tugged the hem of her dress down to cover her legs, and folded her hands in her lap. “Are…you okay?”
“Yes,” he said hoarsely, sounding more like a beast trying to imitate speech than a person.
“You don’t sound o—”
“Lacey!” He emphasized her name with a snap of his fangs, causing her to jump, and turned his head so she could just make out the corners of a few of his eyes through the wild strands of his unbound hair.
She pressed her lips together, curled them in, and bit down on them.
He is definitely not okay.
“Right, well, I’ll just…get ready,” she said, getting to her feet.
And give grumpy, horny spider man some space.
His eyes lingered on her for several long heartbeats, glinting like those of a predator focused on prey. Then with a low snarl he faced forward and bowed his head, his posture somehow stiffening further.
Moving to her bag, she crouched and dug inside it until she found her short, green sleeveless dress and freshly washed green pants. If she was going hunting for beasties, she’d at least blend in with her surroundings.
Lacey set the dress atop the bag and stood, pulling on the pants and lacing them up in front. She peeked over her shoulder at Telok. His head was slightly turned, and she glimpsed one glowing eye watching her.
Grinning to herself, she caught hold of the hem of her blue dress and lifted it over her head.
Her hair fell once it was free, sweeping down her back and shoulders.
She felt the air upon her naked skin, but she could also feel Telok’s gaze on her back as though it was a physical caress over her flesh.
Her nipples hardened into aching points as the heat within her resurged.
I’m seriously going to have to do something about this later.
After nights of sleeping in his arms, his teasing in the stream, and what had occurred this morning… She wasn’t sure how much longer she could last.
This nub snubbing wasn’t cool.
Plucking up the green dress, Lacey yanked it on over her head and tugged it down.
Though durable, the material was thankfully thin, allowing plenty of airflow to keep her cool.
She slipped her feet into her boots next.
Of all her belongings, these were what she’d mourn most when they were gone.
They’d made traveling so much easier and more comfortable, and she didn’t want to think about the inevitable day when they’d become too worn and damaged to use.
Raising her arms, she gathered her hair to attempt a French braid. She turned to face Telok as she worked. He was still staring at her over his shoulder.
If she was close to bursting after all this sexual tension, she couldn’t imagine how much worse it must’ve been for him.
He took a deep breath through his nostrils, and his body shuddered.
More wood cracked and bits of it fell to the floor as he tugged his claws free of the wall, stepped back, and faced her fully.
She couldn’t help feeling a flicker of disappointment at the distinct lack of an extruding cock at his pelvis.
Only his claspers were visible there, crossed very, very firmly over his slit.
His gaze was no less intense than it had been earlier, but that intensity was different now. It was piercing. Telok stalked to his bag, sinking down over it to ensure it was closed securely. Though the edge had dulled, his stiff movements retained a hint of that barely restrained frenzy.
Lacey watched as he rose and slung his bag onto his back, her clumsy fingers failing to keep the strands of her hair taut. She flashed him a saccharine smile. “Are you okay now?”
Telok once again fixed those fervid green eyes upon her.
He walked to her with long, slow strides that devoured the space between them, as though to demonstrate just how quickly he could reach her if he wanted to take her.
And he loomed there, staring down at Lacey, seven feet of scars, muscles, and arachnid testosterone.
She chuckled nervously. “It’s a great day for a hunt, don’t you think?”
He growled, and his mandibles shifted subtly outward.
Lacey cringed.
Here we go… Time for another argument.
“Turn around,” he commanded.
Holding the end of her braid over her shoulder, she furrowed her brow. “Why?”
Muscles ticked in his jaw; she could almost hear his fangs grinding.
“Wait…” Lacey glared at him and took a step back. “You’re not about to tie me up and leave me here, are you? Because I swear, if you even try to—”
Telok grabbed her hips with his lower hands and spun her around. Lacey stumbled, losing her hold on her unfinished braid, but his solid grip ensured she didn’t fall.
She turned her head to look at him. “Telok, wh—”
He grasped her chin with his upper hand, forcing her face forward again. One long finger shifted to press over her lips.
Did he…did he just tell me to shut the eff up?
She opened her mouth and clamped her teeth down on his finger.
Snarling, he tugged her back against his chest and pried his finger free. “Vi’jatai, behave!”
“Stop cutting me off when I’m talking.”
Telok lowered his head, his voice deepening to a husky rasp. “If you bite again, it will not be my anger you awaken.”
“Oh.”
Was it bad that she was tempted to see if he’d fulfill the promise of that threat?
Lacey, don’t bite the spider man. Don’t bite the spider man…
With his hold on her hips keeping her firmly in place, Telok released her chin and stepped back.
Then his claws were in her hair, combing through it to unravel her work.
Surprise flitted through her as he gathered the strands and began braiding them, managing to keep them tight without hurting her scalp despite his swiftness.
She was equally bewildered and touched by the gesture. This wasn’t something she ever would’ve expected Telok to do. Rekosh? Of course. She’d seen him toy with Ahmya’s hair all the time. But rough, gruff, broody Telok?
Lacey pressed a hand to her stomach as though she would feel the butterflies fluttering within it against her palm.
As soon as he finished, he released her.
She reached back and ran her fingers along the braid.
Though simple, it was far neater, more intricate, and more practical than anything she could’ve done on her own.
When her fingertips encountered the silk string tied at the end, she brushed her thumb over it.
She highly suspected it was Telok’s own silk.
She smiled up at him. “Thank you.”
He offered her a curt nod, but otherwise remained unmoving.
Releasing the braid, Lacey steeled herself for what was to come, knowing it couldn’t be avoided. “So…about today…”
Telok stared at her, his eyes fiery but unreadable, until she wanted to squirm.
When it almost became too much, he finally stepped around her and picked up her bag.
He checked her waterskin and knife before replacing them and closing the pack up.
Moving behind her, he slipped it on over her shoulders and slid her spear into the holster on the side.
She looked up at him with surprise as he stepped in front of her.
Capturing her jaw, he lowered his face until it was mere inches from her own, his eyes boring into hers.
In vrix, he said, “You will do exactly as I say while we are out. You will not leave my sight unless I command it. You will not take unneeded risks. And you will not question me, or I will bind you and carry you right back here.”
Telok shifted closer still, his scent flooding her nose, and switched to English. “You know my words?”
Relief washed through Lacey, and she smiled. “I know your words.”
“Good. Do not forget.” Releasing her jaw, he straightened, waving toward the doorway. “Come. We will eat, then meet the others.”