Page 23 of Hunter's Moon

“Look at me,” Tharion commanded, his voice harsh with need.

I forced my heavy eyelids open, meeting his cold, compelling gaze.

“You’re mine,” he growled, his hips snapping against mine with increasing urgency. “Say it.”

“I’m yours.” The words slipped from my lips with an ease that should have frightened me.

Tharion’s pace quickened, each thrust driving me higher and higher, until I was on the edge, about to shatter into a thousand pieces.

“Come for me, Lina,” he ordered, and my body obeyed, my climax hitting me with the force of a supernova.

Tharion followed me over the edge, his body shuddering against mine as he found his release. We clung to each other, our breaths mingling, as we rode out the aftershocks together.

Still joined, Tharion carried me to one of the dormitory beds. The mattress creaked as he laid us down, his weight pressing me into the worn sheets. I inhaled deeply, catching the musty scent of disuse mingled with Tharion’s musk.

“Are you alright?” Tharion asked softly.

I nodded, unable to find words. My body hummed with residual pleasure, every nerve ending still alive and tingling. Tharion’s cock twitched inside me, sending a fresh wave of sensation through my core.

“We should talk about how we’re going to get out of here,” I murmured.

Tharion nodded, but made no move to separate us. “Those bugs won’t give up easily. We’ll need to be careful.”

We lapsed into silence, the only sound our mingled breathing and the distant hum of ancient machinery. Despite the danger lurking beyond our temporary sanctuary, I felt oddly safe. Tharion’s body was a solid warmth against mine, his arms a protective cage.

“We should explore,” I said reluctantly. “See if there’s anything useful here.”

Tharion grunted in agreement, but still didn’t move. His fingers traced lazy patterns on my skin, following the curve of my hip, the dip of my waist. I arched into his touch, my body responding despite my mental protests.

“Tharion,” I whispered, half warning, half plea.

He chuckled, the sound vibrating through his chest and into mine. “Just a few more minutes.”

I didn’t argue. Instead, I let myself relax into his embrace, savoring this moment of peace amidst the chaos of our lives. The rough texture of his skin, the warmth of his body, the steady thrum of his heartbeat – all of it combined to lull me into a state of drowsy contentment.

Eventually, practicality won out over comfort. Tharion eased out of me with a quiet groan, leaving me feeling oddly empty. We dressed in silence, stealing glances at each other as we put our clothes back on.

“Let’s see what we can find,” Tharion said.

Good idea. At least better than thinking too deeply about what I’d just done.

We began to explore the abandoned mining office, our footsteps echoing in the dusty silence. Shelves lined the walls, filled with outdated equipment and faded paperwork. I ran my fingers over a console, leaving trails in the thick layer of grime.

“Look at this,” I called, picking up a device that looked like a cross between a flashlight and a geiger counter. “Think it still works?”

Tharion took it from me, turning it over in his hands. He pressed a button, and a weak beam of light sputtered to life. “It might come in handy.”

We continued our search, finding more odds and ends – a first aid kit with expired medications, a box of protein bars that had long since turned to dust, a leaky tap that produced a thin stream of stale smelling water, a rack of mining helmets with cracked visors.

“This place is a tomb,” I muttered, frustration creeping into my voice.

Tharion’s hand on my shoulder made me jump. “We’ll find something useful.”

As if on cue, my foot caught on something, sending me stumbling. Tharion caught me before I could fall, his reflexes lightning-quick. I looked down to see what I’d tripped over.

“A map!” I exclaimed, bending to pick up the large, rolled piece of flexi.

We spread it out on a nearby desk, Tharion holding down one end while I smoothed out the other. It was a detailed excavation plan of the underground city, showing tunnels, chambers, and – most importantly – a way out.

---