Page 95 of Planet Zero
The For didn’t sweat, and the ones she had seen produce perspiration were near the death’s door from injury.
“Zoark…”
“Come closer.”
“You’re sick.”
“I’m not sick.”
She stretched next to him and snuggled close. He smelled strong and strange. That musk-and-spice combination was nothing like Addie had smelled before. The odor was cloying, sharp, disturbing, and she couldn't get enough of it.
She pressed her nose to the side of his neck. “I need to run outside, fetch some of my herbs. I have the ones that help bring the fever down.” She gently moved the hair away from his face.
“Is it really you?”
Addie lifted her head. “What?”
“Are you really here?”
“Yes, yes. Feel my hand.” She placed her palm across his forehead.
His head made one of its boneless turns. “People come to me. People who shouldn't be here. Some should be dead. Do they really come? Are they truly dead?” He blinked, delirious and disoriented. “Everything is spinning. I can’t get up.”
“Don’t. I’m here. And I’m certainly not dead. When was the last time you ate?”
“I don’t know. I’m not hungry.”
She made a move to rise, but his arm shot out to pin her across the waist.
“Don’t go.”
Her concern was rapidly turning into fear. “The herbs…”
“No herbs. It’s mating fever. It’s like the first time… I need to mate.”
Addie’s mouth closed with a snap.
“Now?”
“Yes.” He was serious.
The condition he was in was hardly conducive to bedsport. She surveyed his supine position, wondering wildly howheexpected to perform, and howshewas supposed to get in the mood.
“Can you even… rise to the occasion?”
“I’m ready.”
“Okaaay. Are you sure? You aren’t looking well… ”
“It will pass if you mate me.”
Addie blinked. “Alright. Can I at least… kiss you?”
Instead of answering her, he simply rotated his head in that inhuman way of his and stared at her out of red eyes a mere inch away from hers. His spicy-musky smell hit her nostrils anew.
“Zoark,” she whispered, helplessly fascinated and not a little flustered.
Closing her eyes, she stiffly reached across the short distance and touched his lips with hers. Her first kiss on this planet. Her first kiss that cameaftershe’d had sex. Everything was backwards.
