Page 47 of The Hunter

“Hey! I still got the guns.” He raised and curled his arm, flexing his muscle.

The fine hairs on Telok’s legs stood. Tension swept through his limbs on a wave of buzzing anger, and he tucked his mandibles tight to keep them from flaring. What could he be witnessing other than a male preening for a potential mate?

When Lacey placed her hand on Cole’s bulging arm muscle, it took every shred of Telok’s willpower to keep himself from charging forward.

She squeezed Cole’s arm and shook her head, mouth pulling back at one corner. “I don’t know… I swear you were way more swole when we first woke up.”

He slapped his arm when Lacey withdrew her hand. “Might not be as big as I used to be, but I’m still strong.”

Lacey laughed. “Yeah, you are.”

No. Fuck no.

Telok had curtailed his urges as Cole showed off and flirted with Lacey, understanding the actions to be friendly and innocent despite what his instincts said. But there was no way he could remain idle while Lacey responded to the human male with compliments.

With a low, ragged growl, Telok quickened his stride. When he reached the humans, he stepped between them, using his body to bump Cole aside.

Cole cursed as he stumbled, bracing the butt of his spear on the ground to keep from falling. Yet he laughed as he said, “Right on fucking kyoo.”

“Sorry,” Telok grated. “I did not see you. Too small.”

“Lacey’s smaller than me, but you see her just fine.”

Telok matched Lacey’s pace, facing forward. “I do not know your words.”

“Mmhmm. Sure thing, pal.”

“Must be my red hair. Kind of hard to miss,” Lacey said.

It was so, so much more than her red hair. Any time Lacey was in sight, Telok couldn’t help but look at her, no matter how hard he tried to resist.

“Guess I should dye my hair red,” Cole remarked. “Maybe Telok would like me then.”

Lacey snickered. “Maybe you should. I think you’d look good as a redhead.”

Telok turned his head toward her, meaning to disagree, but the words refused to come once he met her gaze. Humor shone in her eyes, granting them radiance. His hearts constricted. He didn’t want to cause Lacey any more pain. He wanted this—her smiles, her laughter, her joy.

His gaze caught on a droplet of sweat at her temple, following its path as it trickled down the side of her face and traced the skin he longed to caress with his fingers. It continued down her neck, where it ran toward the base of her throat.

As he watched, he battled the urge to lick that droplet. What would it taste like?

What would she taste like?

The drop rolled toward the valley between her breasts. Heat sparked in his pelvis, and his stem stirred behind his slit. Gritting his teeth, Telok tore his gaze away, not trusting himself to stare for another moment.

Her wellbeing had to come first, had to outweigh his desires no matter how urgent they became.

“You must drink, Lacey,” he said stiffly. “You are leaking again.”

She waved a hand. “I’m okay. I will soon.”

“No.” Telok grabbed her bag, drawing her to a halt alongside him.

Lacey grunted. “Telok!”

“You leak, you drink.”

Cole chuckled. “Uh oh, someone’s in trouble.”