Page 95 of The Hunter

He turned and strode back to Sophia. The female sat up straight, eyes lighting up and expression hopeful as she watched him approach. When he stopped in front of her and spoke words Telok could not hear, her lips curled into a wide smile. Then she stood, grabbed Cole’s hand, and swiftly led him away from the festivities.

“I’m happy for him,” Lacey said. “For both of them.”

All Telok could manage in response was a gruff sound somewhere between a grunt and a growl.

Lacey yawned, covering her mouth with her hand. “It’s been a long day, and I’m all partied out. I’m gonna head to bed.”

She slipped out of Telok’s hold.

“I will come,” Telok said.

Chuckling, she waved toward the gathered vrix. “You sure you don’t want to stay and dance?”

He grunted. “You must be much tired. Your thoughts are tangled. I will carry you, vi’jatai.”

When he reached for her, she laughed and stepped away. “My mind and legs are working fine. I can walk.”

Flashing him a smirk, she set out in the direction of their den. His gaze dipped to her bare feet, raking up to study the play of muscle in her calves, then higher to the dress fluttering around her thighs. The breeze briefly molded that material to her curved backside. Hunger stirred in him anew, and he knew that what he was about to do was foolish.

Damn my eyes.

With a snarl, he strode up to her and swept her into his arms.

“Telok!” Lacey squeaked as he cradled her against his chest. “I said I could walk.”

“I heard.”

“I swear I can feel a draft on my bare ass. Let me down, or we’re going to be giving everyone a very different kind of show.”

Neither option was acceptable. The merest possibility of anyone seeing her naked body sparked rage within him, but now that he was holding her again, he refused to let go.

Telok raised a lower hand, running it over her backside to smooth the fabric down. Then he cupped that rounded flesh with the same hand to hold the dress in place. “Fixed.”

Her cheeks darkened, and her ass tensed. He curled his fingers, squeezing that soft, yielding flesh.

“Telok…” she warned, almost breathlessly.

A growl built in his chest, and it took every bit of Telok’s willpower to keep his fingers from straying to another part of her body that was just within reach.

“God, you’re so handsy. Fine.” She flicked a hand in front of her. “Go forth to our den.”

Our den.

It alarmed him how much he liked hearing those words come from her lips.

The sounds of the gathering faded behind them as he strode onward. The rest of Tovuunshai was quiet, with no winddancers in sight. Though there were more fire bowls placed throughout the village, they were sparse, and the diminished light made the place feel abandoned.

It was enough for Telok to pretend he and Lacey were the only two there.

Lacey yawned again before resting her head against his shoulder. Her tension melted away in his arms, and she remained relaxed even as he carried her across the swaying rope bridge that led to the platform holding their den.

When he reached the building they’d claimed, he stopped and glared at the doorway—the short, narrow doorway, perfectly sized for winddancers and humans. He’d had to hunch down and tuck in his arms and legs to fit through. There was no way he could carry Lacey inside without striking their heads and limbs on the doorframe.

How difficult would it be to break the frame and widen the opening?

Lacey lightly patted his chest. “We’re here. You can set me down now.”

He huffed. With great reluctance, he lowered Lacey onto her feet, though several heartbeats passed before he could bring himself to release her.