Page 23 of Cosmic Crush

“Unhand the pretty lady!”

I squealed as three arms suddenly scooped me up.

Gunshots soared through the air. The creature screeched as Raider shot his gun, hitting the tentacle around my ankle. A snarl shook the ground as I was freed.

I held onto him for dear life as he took off running, burying my face against his chest. He growled, shooting blindly behind him at the monster.

Suddenly, we were falling.

I screamed as I hit the ground, rolling over. Raider cursed, shooting at the tentacle that had wrapped around his boot.

“Go!” he yelled at me.

“Not without you,” I cried.

“Get inside the cave!”

I reached for him, pulling on him as he shot the tentacle again. He scooped me up a second time, tumbling through the cave opening.

The two of us rolled hard over the ground.

I landed on top of him, my legs straddling his hips. We were breathing hard, covered in dirt. I wiped my face and coughed, leaning to the side to spit.

I coughed more until I could finally breathe.

“Fuck,” I rasped, my voice hoarse.

I’d never been so scared in my entire life.

“You alright, sugar? It won’t get us in here.”

“No,” I whimpered, tears filling my eyes. “I’m sorry. I thought someone was out there and they needed help.”

“You heard crying?”

“Yes. What was that thing?”

“That was one of the canyon crawlers. A monster that eats people. It lures us in with crying sounds, which is what you heard. I’m sorry I didn’t think to warn you. They won’t get us in here though. They come out in storms like this.” His hands held onto my hips, his gaze searching mine.

I sniffled. “Why aren’t you mad at me? I ran away.”

“Because you could have died and I think that’s enough. Don’t you?” He wiped away one of my tears, making a soothing noise. “It’s alright. You’re safe, sugar. I felt you. It’s a good thing we are mates.”

“How-how did you feel me?”

“It’s part of our mated bond. It means we can feel each other’s distress sometimes. Even pleasure too…It’s a deep connection.”

One that I was grateful for at the moment.

I nodded, wiping away another tear. I felt shaky and foolish. “I…I tried to use your radio. To tell my friend I’m okay. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay, Mari. I got you,” he whispered. “I can understand why you’d feel the need to tell her you’re okay. Let’s go get this sand off.”

In one swift motion, he picked me up and rolled to his feet. I didn’t have the strength to fight him, nor did I want to. I was still shaking from what had happened. The fact that I believed I could walk out into a dust storm and survive was already stupid enough. I had known the dangers, but I truly believed someone needed my help. I did not know what monsters might wait outside the cave.

I’d been lucky.

“I was going to run away,” I said as he carried me through the dark. “And I was going to talk them out of trying to charge you for taking me.”

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