Page 57 of Game on Askole

KeeKee’s giggles filled my mind.“Faster. Go faster!”

My stomach roiled.“Stop!”

Tihar shot into a room and halted abruptly.

KeeKee hopped up and down.“Do again. Do again. Me like.”

“Later, youngling.”

“Promise?”

“Yes.”

My head stopped spinning, and I noticed a menagerie of horrifying fanged creatures cluttering the room. Every one of them was frozen in midattack.“What are those?”

“My trophies. Every Askole warrior displays his kills.”

I put KeeKee on my shoulder.

She let out a squeak and skittered back to my head.“Monsters. Monsters.”

They certainly were. My gaze fell on an enormous bed covered with thick black fur. Good God, this was his bedroom.“Why display them here?”

“As proof of my sexual prowess.”

Huh? I would think being hung like a bull elephant would do it. Maybe Askole women got off on dead monsters. I eyed a critter that looked like a cross between a shark and an armadillo. Did I want to be making love with that thing watching me? Hell no.“I know you’re really good at hunting things, but those have to go.”

Tihar’s tentacles drooped.

“Only in the bedroom,”I hastily added.“I mean, I don’t have a problem with a trophy room.”His tentacles perked up.“Every woman dreams of having a fierce warrior to protect her.”

“But not you.”Tihar’s tentacles caressed my face.“You are as much of a predator as I am.”

Damn. He was good. Few saw the murderous rage that lurked inside me. The Tai-Kok and Rodan had turned me into a stone-cold killer. I pointed to a huge prehistoric werewolf.“What the hell is that?”

Tihar gave a toothy smile.“A Gourman. I killed it using only my sword.”

That seemed a bit suicidal. Me? I would have gone with a laser cannon at a thousand yards. The Gourman was enormous. One look at Tihar’s expectant gaze and I said,“Wow. You are an accomplished hunter. The only things I’ve bagged are the Tai-Kok, Rodan, and one lousy deer.”

“Deer?”

I flashed Tihar a picture of the four-point buck I had shot.“I got to put my tracking skills to good use, and after we butchered it, my squadron had enough meat for a week.”

“Why were you hunting for food?”

“The Tai-Kok bombings took out our food warehouses. We either hunted or went hungry.”

“You will never be hungry again.”

I ran my thumb over a tentacle wrapped around my right hand.“Life doesn’t come with guarantees, babe. The only promise I want from you is you won’t let the Tai-Kok or Rodan take me alive. Deal?”

“Deal.”Tihar’s lips covered mine, and our tongues tangled in a slow, sensual dance. My alien was a damn fine kisser.

Silky little legs dug frantically at our locked mouths.“No eat Momma Sarah. No eat.”

Tihar raised his head, struggling not to laugh.“I am not eating Momma Sarah. We were kissing.”

“What kissing?”

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