Page 141 of Beasts of Mine

Still too wet, the iguana insisted, shifting one foreleg against the bark before resettling its belly over the branch.

“I don’t think the waterfall is going to move.” I lowered my stance slightly and adjusted the focus, trying not to laugh when the reptile stared toward the falling water.

Should, the iguana decided before closing its eye again.

“What?” Tavian asked from behind me when I bit the inside of my cheek, recognizing the reaction immediately.

“The iguana would like the waterfall relocated.” I answered Tavian without lowering the camera, waiting for the reptile to open its eyes again while the mist cooled the sweat along the back of my neck.

“I respect the ambition.” Tavian nodded solemnly toward the iguana, somehow managing to make the ridiculous request sound reasonable.

Loud one agrees, the iguana observed, opening both eyes long enough to turn its head toward Tavian while its throat expanded with one slow breath.

“Do not encourage him.” I warned the iguana as Tavian’s smile started growing behind me.

You loud too, the iguana replied, shifting its attention back toward me.

“You two deserve each other.” I told Tavian after his laughter made me lower the camera for several seconds until I trusted my hands again.

“I think that was aimed at you.” Tavian pointed toward the branch, still grinning.

“It was not.” I raised the camera again and adjusted the lens.

Both loud, the iguana concluded as it closed its eyes, apparently finished with the entire conversation. I took several frames while the iguana remained stretched along the branch, then marked the strongest one before moving on.

For the rest of the morning, Tavian proved surprisingly useful without becoming any quieter about being Tavian. He climbed a low ridge beside the waterfall and found a vantage point where I could photograph birds crossing the open spray without putting myself on unstable stone. When a small group of capuchins appeared near the far bank, he noticed them before I did and pointed silently instead of calling out, then stayed perfectly still until I finished shooting. He carried my second lens case when I finally let him, found a dry patch of stone where I could kneel without sinking into mud, and once caught the back of my vest when I became too focused on a toucan and nearly stepped into a patch of earth soft enough to swallow half my boot.

Just before noon, Tavian shrugged the small field pack from his shoulders and produced a wrapped bundle from inside it. I had my own lunch sitting untouched in my camera bag, but the unmistakable smell of roasted meat and cut fruit made me turn toward him anyway.

“You brought lunch too?” I asked Tavian as he settled beside me on a broad rock near the stream, patting the dry section beside him before opening the bundle across his lap.

“Luca made some of it.” Tavian admitted as he peeled back the wrapping, amusement tugging at his mouth while sliced fruit and roasted meat came into view.

“That explains why it looks edible.” I accepted one of the pieces Tavian offered me and leaned back against the sun-warmed stone, deciding my own lunch could survive untouched for a little longer.

“I hunt.” Tavian pressed one hand dramatically against his chest, looking personally wounded by the insult to his ability to provide food.

“You brought me fruit.” I held up the slice between two fingers, letting the evidence speak for itself.

“I hunted the fruit.” Tavian answered with complete seriousness, reaching for another piece.

“You picked it.” I corrected Tavian, taking a bite while he frowned thoughtfully at the remaining fruit.

“Same basic skill.” Tavian shrugged before eating one himself, and I accepted another slice rather than wasting energy arguing with someone willing to defend fruit picking as a form of hunting. His scent had been stronger around me all morning, citrus leaves, sun-warmed wood, and spice weaving through the heavier green smell of the forest. I hadn’t thought much about it until Tavian leaned close to reach for something beside my bag and stopped, his nose twitching once before his amber eyes dropped toward the collar of my shirt.

“What?” I asked Tavian when he inhaled again, already suspicious of the smile beginning to form while he remained close enough that I could feel the warmth coming off him.

“Oh.” Tavian’s mouth curved as realization settled in, his attention lingering near my throat with open curiosity rather than annoyance.

“What does oh mean?” I asked Tavian, narrowing my eyes while setting the remaining fruit on the wrapping beside me.

“You still smell like Malek.” Tavian leaned slightly closer but stopped short of touching me, breathing near my shoulder as though confirming what his senses had already told him.

I glanced down at myself despite knowing perfectly well scent wasn’t something I could see.

“I showered.” I looked back at Tavian, watching his mouth twitch while heat crept annoyingly into my face.

“I know.” Tavian answered with exaggerated innocence, making the words sound considerably creepier than they needed to.