Chapter 10

CHAPTER TEN

O nce again, Janet woke up wrapped in Sabrost's arms. The fire had died down to embers and she could see only darkness outside the cave. Her body still felt limp and relaxed from their earlier activities, and she was tempted to nestle close and go back to sleep.

Unfortunately, her bodily needs couldn't be ignored and she reluctantly started to free herself from Sabrost's grasp. He awoke immediately.

"What wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong." She gave his chest a reassuring pat, tempted to let her fingers linger on those warm, firm muscles. "I just have to… um."

Fortunately he seemed to understand without her going into further detail. He rose, lifting her with him, and headed for the entrance to the cave.

"What are you doing? I don't need any help."

"Leg," he reminded her.

"It feels better. I'm sure I can stand on it for a few minutes."

The rest did seem to have helped. He nodded but didn't put her down as he started clearing away the brush from in front of the cave entrance.

"I guard."

She couldn't really argue with that, especially given that it was a cloudy night and it was hard to see very far. He refused to go more than a few feet away from her, but he obediently turned around when she circled her finger.

As soon as she was finished, he hustled her back into the cave, casting an uneasy look into the darkness.

"Is something wrong?" she asked as he began to reassemble the brush barrier.

"Do not know." He hesitated, as if searching for words. "Bad signs."

They settled back down to sleep, but despite the reassuring presence of his big, warm body, sleep didn't come to her. She worried about whatever he had detected, but she also found herself thinking about the two of them and what was going to happen when they reached their destination.

Even if he were willing, he couldn't possibly accompany her to Earth – although she had to admit to a certain longing to see Rick's face when confronted by everything that was Sabrost. The thought made her smile, but she knew it was impossible, and she was beginning to dread the day when they were forced to part.

Despite that reluctance, when Sabrost sighed and proposed they continued their journey, she didn't object. She could tell that he had not been sleeping either.

"You think it's safe?"

"Protect," he assured her, but that didn't exactly answer her question.

By the time they refilled the water pouch and packed the rest of the previous night's dinner, the cool, predawn light was entering the cave. Tinkerbell had been perched on the ledge in the cave wall with his head tucked under his colorful wing, but he opened an eye as they got ready to depart. Janet could have sworn the bird sighed, but he shook out his wings and, to Janet's delight, flew over and landed on her shoulder. His small claws prickled her bare skin as she gently stroked his crest.

"Are you ready to continue our journey?" she asked.

The bird squawked in seeming assent, but when they merged into the cloudy dawn, he didn't take off. Instead, he remained perched on Janet's shoulder. Sabrost frowned at him.

"Too heavy."

"Don't be silly. He hardly weighs anything. And I'm fine." It was true. Despite the lingering soreness in her calf, she felt surprisingly well.

Nothing like a little food – and a couple of orgasms – to make a girl feel better.

Sabrost shook his head, but he made no further protest. As they set off, Janet could see him surveying their surroundings intently. When she put her hand on his arm, she could feel the tension in his muscles.

"Do you still think something is wrong?"

He shook his head, but more as if he was uncertain than if he was disagreeing. He shot a wary glance at the cloudy sky, his tongue flickering out, then shrugged a shoulder.

"Don't know."

Aside from Sabrost's obvious tension, Janet found herself enjoying the walk. The clouds kept the heat of the sun at bay, and the rocky hillside was easier to walk on than the shifting sands of the open desert.

Unfortunately, the slope grew steeper and more treacherous, so Sabrost led them down into a ravine that twisted through the hills. The ground turned sandy once more, but it was not as deep as the desert sand and they were able to make good time.

Despite that, her leg started to ache again. She was about to suggest they stop for a break, when Sabrost froze, his head up and his eyes scanning the horizon.

"What is it?"

"Storm."

She frowned up at him, but he had turned to scan the rocky edges of the ravine. As she followed his gaze, she realized that they were surrounded by sheer walls. There was nowhere for them to go.

Just as she reached that conclusion, she heard a distant roar. Looking into the distance, she caught her first glimpse of a towering wall of sand racing towards them.

"Oh my God. What are we going to do?"

Sabrost snatched her up in his arms and started to run. Tinkerbell squawked and took to the air, darting along in front of them.

Janet could hear the wind increasing as the first grains of sand stung her exposed skin.

Her heart raced wildly, but she did her best to keep her eyes on the surrounding rocks, looking for any hint of shelter. Tinkerbell's wings flashed as he disappeared behind a slight outcropping.

"There!" she yelled, trying to be heard over the rising wind, but Sabrost was already following the bird.

They came around the small lip and found an even smaller crevice leading back into the rocks. Tinkerbell hovered just inside, but it was such a tiny space. Would Sabrost even fit?

He didn't hesitate, putting her down and urging her into the narrow space, then using his body to block the entrance behind her. She could hear the constant scrape of the sand and saw him flinch, even though his face remained stoic.

She squeezed her way further back into the crevice, tugging on his arm and trying to pull him into the protection of the rock. The storm was all around them now, deafening her with its roar.

She took another step back and then her foot dropped out from under her as the ground gave way.

"Sabrost!" she cried, clutching his arm with desperate fingers.

He reached for her other hand, but she was already slipping and the awkward position unbalanced him.

They fell.