Page 49 of The Weaver

He was right, and she knew it. Keeping this soaked silk on would only ensure she remained cold and miserable.

But she’d never been fully naked in front of him before. She’d always had a blanket or some sort of covering to shield herself. Even after all these months, Ahmya hadn’t cast aside her modesty—though at this point, she figured it was really just self-consciousness. Modesty wasn’t really a thing in this new world. The vrix had never even heard of such a concept before the humans explained it to them.

She clutched at the silk. “We could build a fire?”

With another low, unhappy hum, he turned his head to glance out of their shelter, where that light rain continued. “Nothing dry to burn, Ahmya.”

“Of course. You’re right.” Ahmya looked down. Though thefloor of their little shelter was mostly dry, it was comprised only of dirt, rocks, and thick, green vegetation. “If there was, we…we would have had a fire already.”

He covered her hands with his lower pair. They were warm and gentle as he loosened her grip on the silk. “I will be your fire, Ahmya.”

CHAPTER 11

A different sortof warmth bloomed within Ahmya, deep in her core.

He…he couldn’t have known the effect those words would have on her. Couldn’t have known the deeper meaning they implied, couldn’t have known how much she wanted them to come true.

As he guided her hands aside and pulled the silk away from her chest, baring her breasts, that warmth spread outward. Her wet skin prickled in the open air, and her nipples, already hard from the cold, tightened further into aching buds.

Rekosh had grown very still. She could feel him staring at her, could feel his eyes like a branding iron upon her skin. A shiver stole through Ahmya as his fingers flexed around hers. With a shuddering inhalation, she slowly tipped her head back and looked at him.

Hewasstaring—at her breasts. His head was tilted to the side, and curiosity shone in those crimson eyes. But there was something more in them. Something wickedly dark and primal.

Hunger.

Arousal curled low in her belly. Though her skin warmed inembarrassment, Ahmya didn’t look away from him or attempt to shield herself as he draped her silk top over a nearby rock. He raised that hand back toward her.

Her heart quickened. She understood what he was doing as his hand inched nearer, and still, she made no attempt to stop him. Some part of her yearned for it—for his touch, for him—and maybe she’d silenced that part of herself for too long. Maybe she’d left it unfed for too long.

His fingers brushed along the side of her breast. Those whispers of callused heat were followed by the gentle stroke of his thumb across her nipple.

A startling, powerful jolt of pleasure swept through her. Ahmya flinched back with a gasp.

Heat unlike anything she’d ever felt pooled between her thighs, making her pussy pulse. What she felt was pure, unadulterated desire. Though Rekosh’s touch had been light, her nipple throbbed.

Rekosh snatched his hands back with an uncertain trill, eyes going wide. “I hurt you?”

Ahmya crossed her arms over her chest, pressing firmly to alleviate the aching in her breasts, and shook her head. “N-no. You didn’t hurt me. I’m okay.”

“Okay,” he echoed, mandibles twitching as he regarded her. “But you moved like I hurt you.”

God, he was hurting her, but not in the way he thought.

“I…was just surprised.” She squeezed her thighs together, wishing the sensation would go away and free her of this torment. How could something as simple as a thumb brushing her nipple instill her with such lust?

Because it washim.

Even when she touched herself, she never felt anything nearly as potent as that one little caress.

“You didn’t hurt me,” Ahmya said. “I promise. I’m just…just cold.”

A low hum rumbled from him. He skimmed his knuckles over her cheek. “But your skin is red and warm.”

A nervous laugh bubbled from her. “Humans don’t usually feel comfortable being naked around others, remember?”

“Ah.” He dipped his chin in a shallow nod. His lower hands settled on her hips, one catching the knot of her skirt and pulling it loose. “But you will feel better without wet silk, and I am not others. I am Rekosh.”

Her heart thundered as he unwrapped the silk skirt from around her waist. He drew it away, and cold air blasted her fully naked body. She curled her fingers into her shoulders. Besides Ivy, Callie, Lacey, and Ahnset, she’d never stood naked before anyone who wasn’t a medical professional.

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