“I explained our situation, so he’s going to make contact with my brathers from the space cruise mission.” Daegan stood, gazing around the cavern. “We’ll have to wait here until they can get to us.”
I rose from my rock and laid a hand on his arm. “Shouldn’t we search for a way out?”
He sighed. “We will, but even if we make it out of here,” he swept his arm toward the ceiling, “we still have no method to escape the planet. Not with the pod busted.”
I scratched my head. “True.”
Another round of chit-chits and the florin sprung around on his tails like a hopping frog.
“Good point,” Daegan said to the florin, then stepped closer to me as if needing the nearness. In truth, I wanted the closeness too. “I found a spring past those boulders.” He pointed to a pile of stones in the far corner of the cavern where grooves in the ground laid like a circular path. “The florin suggested if the water can get in, then it can also get out.”
“Smart little guy.” I wriggled my nose at the florin, and he answered me with a sweet purr. I lit up inside and dared to pet his furry paw. He purred louder.
“He is. And we appreciate the help.” Daegan placed his hand over mine where I pet the florin, gave it a squeeze, then pulled away. “As much as we enjoy your company,” he said to our furry companion, “we need you to find my brathers and relay our location.”
The florin straightened, pushing off his tails and standing on his hind paws. He gave a nod, and then poof. He disappeared.
“Whoa.” I swiped at the empty space where the florin had been, not quite believing my eyes.
Daegan grabbed my outstretched hand and brought it to his chest. “Should have warned you. That’s how they travel through dimensions.”
“That’s incredible. Imagine being able to cross worlds like that.” I wasn’t a scientist by any stretch of the word, but the idea of inter-dimensional travel had my brain buzzing. “He’s amazing!”
A rumble of agreement rolled through Daegan’s chest, vibrating along our joined hands. “I’ll be glad to show you something even more wondrous.”
With those suggestive words, the lust which had dimmed to a manageable simmer in the florin’s presence ignited again. The answering heat licked my inner walls. “Daegan.”
“You keep saying my name like that, my pajuara, and we’ll never leave here.” With movements too quick for me to track, he swept my legs out from under me and picked me up in a princess carry.
“Put me down,” I squealed. “I’m too heavy!”
“You doubt my prowess?” He raised a single brow at me.
I slapped his shoulder. “No, but I’m not small.” Towering over my human companions was perfect for my job, and I never had issues with being a tall woman. I liked my size, and damn anyone who thought otherwise. But I was not made for carrying.
“You are taller than most of the Terran females I’ve seen in holo-images.” He drew me impossibly closer. “But you are the perfect size for me, my Truxoria. I will show you.”
I wrapped my arms around his neck and bit his bottom lip. “Then, do it.”
He stopped mid-stride and crashed his lips on mine. Our tongues dueled. The kiss was hot, endless, and perfect. He pulled back on a groan. “Patience, my greedy mate.”
I huffed and rolled my eyes. “That is not one of my virtues.”
He chuckled. “You will enjoy the results.”
I perked up as did my nipples, the peaks hardening at the promises of pleasure to come.
Daegan walked with me in tow around the boulders he had mentioned earlier. The view in this part of the cavern was far better than the one before. The spring ran across the stones from one end to the other, creating a dividing line in the new space, while green sunbeams rained down like starlight from several crevices in the ceiling. The rocks sparkled with a silvery hue. The spring water, although not deep enough for bathing, appeared fresh and crisp.
“It’s beautiful,” I whispered in awe.
“Not half as much as you.” Daegan laid me on a bed of a purple moss-like plant near the spring. Dry and soft, it provided the perfect texture for makeshift bedding.
Snuggling into the cushy plant, I opened my arms and bade him to come to me. “I want you, Daegan.”
Chucking his boots, he stepped out of them and pushed them to the side. Then, he carefully laid his axe within grabbing distance along with the leather straps that normally held it to his chest. Clad in only his leathers, he stood over me like some ancient god of old. “And I you, my Elena. But first, I need to know.”
Puzzled by what he could mean, I scrunched my nose at him. “Know what?”
