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 willspeak 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?”
