Page 97 of Sohut's Protection

She’d been on her own for so long… There were times she’d wished she had company, but she wasn’t even sure she’d be able to integrate into alien society.

Her eyes found Sohut through the din and he was still looking at her.

He had a life outside of this jungle.

For some reason, she’d forgotten that.

As the aliens continued to party around them, she realized Sohut’s gaze didn’t leave hers.

He was speaking to the aliens who spoke to him, but his eyes never moved.

His gaze was intense and it made her feel as if he was imagining just what they’d done in the trees when the nights came in.

That thought made her forget her ruminations.

“—with Clee-yo.” Her name made her blink several times. Sohut was saying something about her. “She’s had it hard the last few days, trekking through Koznia.”

One of the aliens, she assumed it was Senrit, stood on wobbly legs. Maybe he had sniffed too much of that smoke.

“I’ll take you to your quarters,” he said.

Following Sohut’s lead, she stood and met him at the edge of the circle before they both walked behind a staggering Senrit.

Before long, they stopped in front of one of the huts.

“This is yours for as long as you like,” Senrit said, his four eyes meeting hers. “We have no feminine products here, I’m afraid.”

“Oh,” Cleo smiled. “I’m—I’ll be okay.”

She’d lived in the jungle for a whole year. She doubted going a few more nights without shampoo was going to kill her.

As Sohut opened the door and led them in, Cleo’s eyes widened.

Inside the hut, there was a huge cushion on the floor and she assumed it was the bed. Off to the side, there was another room.

Sohut gazed down at her. “After you.”

Cleo stepped in and Wawa immediately hopped off her shoulder to settle in the middle of the bed.

“Hey!” Sohut frowned at him. “That’s for all of us.”

Wawa blinked at him before, surprisingly, he moved to settle on the side of the bed.

Cleo’s eyebrows shot up. “Well, that’s a first. He listened to you.”

Sohut smiled, a devilish glint in his eyes as pulled her into him.

“A wash before we sleep? I know you’re tired,” he said.

“A bath?” What she would do for one right at that moment.

Sohut nodded before taking her hand in his and leading her to the second room in the hut.

As soon as they stepped in, he pressed her into the wall, his body holding her hostage.

“Clee-yo,” he groaned, as he dipped his head to her neck. “I’ve missed you.”

A chuckle developed within her. “What? I’ve been with you this whole time.”

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