Page 86 of Sohut's Protection

“Up there?” She gave Sohut an incredulous glance.

“Yup,” he said and crouched before her. “Hop on.”

“What?” She looked back at the tree. “You’re going to climb that? And with me on your back?”

Sohut glanced back at her. “Why not?”

He sounded so confident in his abilities, the argument died on her lips.

Shrugging, she climbed awkwardly onto his back, feeling like a child doing so.

“Hold on,” was all the warning she got before she heard his claws protract and he leapt unto the tree trunk.

Up he went, much quicker than was humanly possible, reminding her once more that he was no man.

He skipped the lowest branches and went higher before he stopped at a section where two branches crossed over each other.

“Can you climb off on your own?” he asked.

“C—can I what?” Cleo sputtered.

Sohut chuckled before turning so her ass was firmly against the junction of the tree’s branch and its trunk. Then, he set her down, prying her hands from his shoulders for she’d held on to him tightly without realizing.

Looking everywhere but down, Cleo gulped.

“Why up here?”

“It’s safer. This deep into the jungle, creatures will be curious. I don’t want any of them dragging you away when we’re sleeping.”

Cleo’s eyes widened a little.

“What about snakes that live in trees?”

Granted, she hadn’t seen any snakes since she’d been in the jungle but that didn’t mean there were none.

“Nayks? I don’t know what those are.”

“Long, cold-blooded, fanged beasts. Some are venomous. Some aren’t. Some wrap themselves around you so tight they kill you then they eat you.”

Sohut stopped searching in his satchel and gave her a funny look.

“I’m long…fanged…” His gaze fell to her lips then moved to her chest. “I want to wrap myself around you…” His gaze fell lower. “But I’d probably eat you first.”

Cleo almost fell out of the tree and he had to reach for her to steady her.

A deep warmth spread over her cheeks.

“Well,” she said when she found her voice. “Snakes aren’t creatures to play around with.”

“And you want to play around with me?” There was a heat in his gaze that made her choke on air.

No, she wanted to answer. I don’t want to play. I want you for more than that.

That answer stunned her and they fell into silence as he searched for something in his satchel.

“How will we sleep?” She broke the silence. Glancing around, still trying not to look down, she tried to predict what he was thinking of doing. “I’m scared to close my eyes so high up and fall to my death.”

Sohut chuckled again. “I wouldn’t allow that to happen.”

---