Page 80 of Stars in Halo

The adrenaline that had kept them moving through the night faded, replaced by exhaustion and pain.

Every bruise and scrape on Xion’s body throbbed as he leaned back on the hard surface behind him. At least the sand cover on the ground was thick enough to protect them from jagged stones.

He took out his water canteen and handed it to Katya.

She gave him a nod of thanks and took a lengthy sip before passing it back to him.

They sat in silence for a few moments, catching their breath.

‘We need to stay here until I can contact Mirage and the Tachy,’ Xion rasped, stretching a leg out and wincing.

Katya jerked her chin in agreement. ‘How long do you think we’ll have to wait?’

‘It depends on how much meta-power I can gather to punch through the storm cover.’

He fell silent, needing to conserve his energy.

Katya got the memo, and she, too, retreated into her thoughts.

The only sound remaining was the wind howling through the cave’s entrance.

‘I’m so tired,’ she muttered after a beat.

I’m full of questions, Xion thought in silence.

‘The ground is soft enough to bed down on for a few hours,’ she continued. ‘I’m going to try to grab some kip.’

She slid into a horizontal position and lay her head on her provision pack, squirming on the sand until she found a comfortable posture.

He was too wired to sleep, so he listened to her until he perceived her breath fall into her steady rhythm.

Watching over her as she slumbered, Xion recalled the two nights they’d shared.

How it’d began as an intimate exchange of their hearts and souls.

How it’d then exploded in bliss on the second evening,

How she’d reacted to his bussin’ and lovin’.

How tight and warm her clutch to his cock had been as his hips drove in her.

How they’d slept next to each other, with his limbs spooned around her and his big arm clasped her waist.

How she had nestled in, face pressed into his chest.

He clenched his jaw and bit down on his tongue, needing, wanting, yearning.

Yet fokkin’ unable to act on his desire until he had the answers from her he needed.

With a suck of his teeth, he pulled their cloaks over her.

He then scooted close and lay down on the sand, not quite touching her but welcoming the heat from her body, enveloping them both like a third blanket.

A wave of exhaustion hit, and with a sigh, he let himself slip into unconsciousness.

Lost to Him for Eternity

She woke with a start.

---