Page 19 of Thon

He hasn’t—not in a significant way. There is no real tearing, just a throbbing ache like—well, like she put something in her body that only fit there on a technicality. She wiggles her hips experimentally, feeling the slow ebb of a well-fucked pussy. Thon follows the movement like a starving male, his eyes lighting with interest even though he just had what appeared to be an extremely powerful orgasm.

“Would you like to come check?”

“Krista,” Thon says sternly. “That would break the rules.”

Oh Gods. Krista’s freezes, her lips parting in surprise. She has been thinking about the rules in almost every conscious moment since last night and now she’s gone and forgotten them entirely. Gods, she is exceptionally awful at this bargaining business. Those rules are meant to keep her safe.Thonshouldn’t be the one having to enforce them. “No, you’re right. Thank you.” She flicks the pelt over her lap, covering herself without looking up at him. “I guess I got caught up in the moment.”

Thon’s slow nodshouldbe a relief. Instead, it makes Krista want to scream. Maybe she was hoping he would argue with her or try to change her mind, because she’s certainly desperate for a reason to. It isn’t the way Thon works, though. He doesn’t do that. He doesn’t push. He just accepts anything that Krista is willing to give him andremindsher about it when she nearly slips up herself. And as much as she wants him to argue, she also wouldn’t trust him if he did.

Clearly, he has better control of his desires than Krista has over hers. Is she even cut out for this? Are either of them? They’ve barely started and Krista already feels the first stirrings of a dangerous attachment. If they get carried away, if they forget what this is, if they start to imagine that they’re doing something else like dating or feelings, it could trap her here on this planet. She wants to go to space. She wants to see things. Sheneedsto. This arrangement will open up a whole galaxy to Krista, but only if she keeps things strictly business and shegoeswhen she’s supposed to go. If she wants this freedom, she will have to firm her resolve. No more mooning over Thon.

Krista already hates the prospect.

“You are conflicted,” the Harkurian observes, and Krista realizes that she has been chewing on her lip. “Why?”

“I don’t think I’m very good at hammering out bargains,” Krista says, laughing a little. “Or keeping things professional.”

Thon’s mouth quirks, which softens the hard line it had become. “You aren’t,” he agrees. “But this bargain isn’t old. We’re still learning.” He stands to step back into his pants, tucking himself away still fully hard like he didn’t just jerk himself off in front of a perfect stranger.

Krista has no idea what to say. She burns with embarrassment because she must seem ridiculous and wishy-washy to Thon. “I’m sorry,” she says compulsively. “I don’t think I know how to …” Krista rakes a hand through her tangled hair, tugging when she finds a knot. “Look, I’m not trying to be a tease. There are just. Things. I was taught things that don’t add up anymore. There are ex-religion things. Blacksmith things. Bargain things. Sometimes I don’t know what I want or what I believe. I just know that getting off of this planet was the first real thing I ever got to decide for myself.”

Thon considers her for a moment, an odd, silent understanding in his regard. Then he nods. “You are changing. In transition. I am not, so I will be still while you move.”

Krista stares at him, flabbergasted. It’s as though everything he says is tailor-made to blow apart her expectations.

“I would like to kiss you,” the Harkurian announces without preamble. “Is this allowed?”

Stunned, Krista can only nod. She watches him, wide-eyed, as he folds his bulk into a graceful crouch, tipping her chin with a light brush of his hand. His mouth is hot and hard, but he kisses her carefully, mindful of his inhuman strength.

“This is correct?”

Krista nods. He nods back, satisfied, and moves to go, taking the water pot with him.

“Um,” Krista blurts, stopping him at the tent flap. “You’re going to wash that out with soap before you use it again, right?”

11

Thon

Thonsucksonhistongue as he and his brothers work, wondering what the rest of Krista might have tasted like. He almost regrets that he is such a stickler for rules, but they exist for a reason. He will not break Krista’s rules until she decides that they no longer suit her.Ifshe decides that. Thon keeps finding her eyes on him, watching thoughtfully as she works something out in her head.

Humans are such complicated creatures.

Thon stops Krista as she heaves one of their rolled-up tents into the back of the cart, so much stronger than she looks. “You will need to ride here as well.”

“I have legs,” she protests.

“Short legs,” Pel calls cheerfully from the horses’ heads. “Slow legs.”

This is true. The Harkurians breed their stallions tall and sturdy. They are more than capable of pulling the weight of all the gearandthe kills. Adding Krista to the mix will be no hardship for them.

Krista darts an unhappy look towards the cart, but she nods, evidently unwilling to slow them down. Thon wonders if their reasoning changed her mind or if she is still sore from their first joining. He had lost control at the end, fucking her like a monster stripped of all reason. He had nearly locked into her, nearly hurt her badly. Krista has not voiced any complaints over the rough handling, but itcannothappen again. This is no way to treat a mate.

Thon’s thoughts lurch abruptly to a stop.

He freezes with a hand on one of the horses’ necks, looking over its back without seeing the trees his eyes are pointed at. Amate?He shakes his head because no, Krista is not his. He cannot think this way, even in the safety of his mind.

“Thon?”

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