Chapter 13

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

C larice sank into the steaming pool, a contented sigh escaping her lips. The tiny fokuso was curled up in the moss next to the hot springs, finally at rest after eagerly lapping up the broth Rudi had prepared. The fokuso’s whiskers twitched in its sleep, and she smiled, remembering how those same whiskers had quivered when it first caught the scent of the warm broth.

Rudi had been so gentle with it, just as he’d been gentle with her, so different from when he’d defended her from the ice beast. The way he’d burst into the cavern, his antlers blazing like captured starlight, had taken her breath away. She’d never seen anything so magnificent.

That display of fierce protection might have frightened her, but instead it had only deepened her feelings for him. He’d looked so worried afterward, as if expecting her to reject him for his differences. But those differences only made him more special to her.

The fokuso stirred slightly, letting out a tiny chirp before settling back into sleep. She stroked its head soothingly, grateful that they’d found it in time.

The heat from the water seeped into her bones, melting away the lingering chill and fear from their encounter with the ice beast. She leaned back against the smooth rock edge, letting her head rest on the soft moss as the water lapped gently around her shoulders.

With her eyes closed, the image of the fight replayed in her head again, and this time she remembered something else. The crystal powering the heater had pulsed with the same bright glow as his antlers. Even after the fight ended and his antlers dimmed again, the crystal still glowed brightly. It was as if... as if the crystal had drawn energy from him. Was that even possible?

She was still pondering the possibility when a scuff of boots against stone made her open her eyes. He stood at the edge of the hot spring, snow dusting his broad shoulders, his chest rising and falling from exertion. His antlers still held that faint, mesmerizing glow.

Their eyes met. The hunger in that amber gaze sent a shiver down her spine that had nothing to do with temperature. His eyes traveled down over her bare shoulders to where the water lapped around the top of her breasts, leaving trails of heat in their wake. Her heart thundered against her ribs, and she lifted her hand from the water, droplets trailing down her arm.

“Join me?” Her voice came out low and husky.

He stood frozen at the spring’s edge, his expression a mix of desire and uncertainty that made her chest ache. Then he gave an abrupt nod and began to undress. His movements were stiff, uncertain, but her gaze traced every inch of golden skin as he removed his shirt. The steam swirled around him, highlighting the sculpted planes of his chest. The red markings on his chest glowed, matching the gentle luminescence of his antlers. The light pulsed in time with his rapid breathing, betraying his nervousness despite his attempt at a stoic expression.

He toed off his boots, and then removed his pants. Her mouth went dry. The glowing red marks wrapped around his cock as well—his enormous cock. She’d felt him pressing against her that morning but it hadn’t prepared her for the vision in front of her. His cock hung heavy between his legs, long and thick. The glowing red lines twined around the base and length of his cock, making her fingers itch to trace them.

She’d never seen a naked male, but surely none could compare to him. His size, the glowing markings, everything combined to make him look like a pagan god carved out of living marble. Her cheeks heated but she couldn’t look away. She wanted to touch him, taste him.

“You’re magnificent,” she whispered, meaning every word. She wanted to explore every inch of that glorious body, learn what made him gasp and beg for more.

His lips quirked into a half-smile, some of the uncertainty leaving his expression.

“I’m glad you approve.”

She’d never felt such a potent mixture of anticipation and doubt—she wanted him desperately even though a small part of her was nervous about their differences. Would their bodies even fit together? But as her eyes traced the elegant flow of those alien markings across his skin, her doubts melted away beneath a wave of pure desire.

He stepped into the water with a groan of pleasure. His muscles flexed enticingly as he lowered his big body into the pool, the water casting rippling shadows over his chest and arms. She could almost feel that power wrapped around her, holding her, claiming her.

Her fingers twitched against the rock, but she resisted the urge to reach for him, wanting to let him come to her. The air felt charged with electricity as he approached, the heat from the spring swirling around them. When he finally took her into his arms, pulling her flush against his broad chest, it felt like coming home. She sighed against his mouth, her fingers tracing the strong line of his jaw, then sliding into his hair before circling the base of his antlers. He immediately tensed.

“You don’t like that?”

“I... it’s...” His brow furrowed. “They’ve always marked me as a freak, someone to be avoided. I’ve always avoided being touched there. But...”

He trailed off, his expression unreadable. Then he let out a slow breath and leaned his forehead against hers.

“But I trust you,” he finished softly.

His words struck a chord deep within her, and she pulled back enough to look up at him. She could see the vulnerability in his gaze, and it made her chest ache. She ran her thumb across his cheekbone, trying to convey her feelings through her touch.

“I trust you too,” she whispered.

He exhaled, and the tension in his shoulders eased. His hands slid down her back, cupping her bottom and pulling her close. A low groan rumbled from his chest, and her nipples tightened in response. His mouth captured hers in a slow, deep kiss that left her breathless. He tasted of snow and spice, an intoxicating flavor that she knew would quickly become addictive. His antlers glowed softly, illuminating the steam drifting around them.

When he finally broke the kiss, she was panting, her heart racing. He trailed his lips down the column of her throat, pausing to nip and suck at her pulse point. The sensation sent bolts of pleasure straight to her core, and she arched against him.

He growled softly, his hands roaming over her wet skin, tracing the curve of her hip, the dip of her waist. Everywhere he touched, her skin tingled. He was exploring her as if he had all the time in the world, as if he wanted to commit every inch of her to memory.

She felt the same way. She wanted to trace every contour of his muscular body, to learn what made him gasp and groan. Her fingers skimmed across his chest, following the path of his strange red markings. They pulsed faintly beneath her touch, and his breath quickened. She glanced up to find him watching her, his eyes dark with desire.

“Does it feel good when I touch you here?” she asked, tracing the pattern over his ribs.

A shudder ran through him.

“Yes,” he ground out. “Your touch... it feels...”

He trailed off, seemingly at a loss for words. A smile curved her lips, and she leaned in, pressing her lips to his skin. His breath caught, and his hands tightened on her hips. Emboldened by his reaction, she continued her exploration, kissing and licking her way across his chest, tracing the intricate lines that marked him. The heat of the spring had nothing to do with the fire burning inside her now. She wanted more, needed more.

“I need...”

“Yes,” he growled, lifting her on to the edge of the pool.

His mouth closed hungrily over her breast and she shuddered with pleasure as he worked the stiff peak. Her hands automatically went to his head, holding him closer, and this time when she circled the base of his antlers, he pressed into her touch. She gripped them more firmly and he groaned against her breast.

“Is that okay?”

“Gods, yes. It’s almost like you’re gripping my cock.”

“I could do that too,” she said breathlessly, and felt his antlers pulse beneath her hands.

“Not yet.”

He pushed her gently back against the moss, then kissed a line down over her stomach. When he moved between her thighs, the first touch of his tongue to her folds made her cry out. She clutched at the moss as he explored, tracing her entrance and circling her clit. Her hips bucked, but he held her steady, his tongue delving deeper. She writhed as he licked and sucked, his mouth seeming to be everywhere at once.

“Rudi, I’m...”

He hummed against her, his fingers digging into her thighs, and the vibration sent her over the edge. Waves of pleasure rolled through her, making her back arch. She gasped his name, and he looked up at her, his eyes blazing in the dim light of the cave.

He surged up her body and took her mouth in a fierce, possessive kiss. She could taste herself on his lips and tongue, mingling with his own unique flavor. The thought of that, of him claiming her so boldly, made her moan.

He broke the kiss to gaze down at her, his expression fierce, protective, and filled with longing. The wide head of his cock brushed against her entrance, making her quiver, but he didn’t immediately push into her. Instead, he ran his thumb tenderly over her bottom lip.

“There is something you need to know.”