Page 27 of Hunter’s Harvest

“My mate, you feel so good.”

Damn, that was hot.

The water rained down on us and steam filled the air, but all I could focus on was how he felt inside me, and how each ridge dragged deliciously against my channel.

He thrust hard, and I fell forward against him. The new position had my clit rubbing against our bodies, and it was too much. I threw my arms around his neck, hanging on as the pressure spiked, sending me tumbling over the edge.

I shattered, body convulsing around him, my walls milking his perfectly shaped cock as wave after wave of pleasure crashed over me.

“Krux!”

With that one word he snapped, burying himself deep, his hips driving into me wildly. His release gushed into me, filling me with warmth. And then there was nothing but the two of us and the water falling around us like rain.

I collapsed against him, my breath still ragged.

After a long moment, I pushed away, trying to untangle us. But his arms were still stuck.

Seriously? I’d thought we gave it a good enough go that the bond must be satisfied, but clearly it wasn’t. I’d heard that the bond always knew when the right time to let go was, and it was usually when both parties had truly accepted the joining, whether they knew it or not. I must be the one delaying the release with my fear of commitment. Our little connection here just wasn’t enough.

I stretched with him still inside me, and he groaned, seeming to grow again.

I laughed. “Maybe later I think I’m going to be a little sore after that.”

“I do not wish for you to be sore, my mate. I only wish for you to be satisfied.”

I looked at him then, with the water trickling down his face. Maybe this would work out after all. Hunters had a great track record with their mates; there hadn’t been any breakups yet. I should be happy about this.

But hunters had such dangerous jobs. What if he went out to fight the scourge one day and never came back? What if the NEM shot down his shuttle again?

No! I couldn’t fall in love. Not even with a hunter. Love only led to heartbreak. This wasn’t the old world anymore. Look at what had just happened to our trade mission. Vince was injured. Charles was dead. And Marisol was still missing. How could I be falling in love at this time?!

It was wrong.

I hadn’t even been looking for a relationship to begin with. Friendships were hard enough, knowing that any day could be their last.

Was there a way forward where we got to be mates, and I got to protect my heart? It didn’t seem possible.

“What is wrong?” Var’n asked, sensing my change in mood.

“Nothing.” I didn’t want to ruin the atmosphere. It was bad enough last time with the scourge coming when they did. “But we should finish up. Hot water is a luxury, and we shouldn’t be hogging it.” I toggled the plug and the water started glugging away.

“I enjoy this warm rain,” Var’n said, a devilish grin on his face.

“The warm rain. Of course that’s what you enjoyed.”

“I enjoyed my mate too. And I know you enjoyed me.”

My face heated up.

Getting dressed with his arms stuck around me was a whole lot harder than getting undressed, and halfway through I was tempted to just say, “fuck it!” and head up with a sheet draped over us. But we did eventually get our clothes on. Not our old dirty clothes—those we planned on putting in the decontaminator I saw outside in the hallway—but the fresh set of sweats I’d found on the bed.

Apparently Kim had called and made sure they were there for me. They’d also provided a piece of thick black fabric. At first I hadn’t known what it was, but Var’n instructed me to pass it between his legs and tie it in place with the cord provided. It made a very basic, but still serviceable, loincloth.

He grimaced, the look almost humorous on his face.

“These feel… naked.”

I reached down and touched the fabric. It was soft, like a firmer version of my sweatpants. It was nothing like the thick leather he was used to.