He nodded. “Yes, I’ll take you there.” He took a quick look at the sky. “We have time to travel further before the sun sets and I will be happier if we are a long way from here. Shall we go?”
He held out his hand to her. Once again, she hesitated, but then she placed those small soft fingers back in his and satisfaction roared through him. She would accept his protection.
Chapter Five
Jane kept glancing surreptitiously at her companion as they walked. So this was a native of the planet—and he was not at all what she had expected. She didn’t want to look a gift horse in the mouth, but she couldn’t help wondering why he had shown up to rescue her. And why was he willing to take her to the location on the map? Didn’t he have any friends or family?
She looked up again only to find him studying her in return with those odd golden eyes. When she blushed, he grinned at her and despite the white flash of things, it was a remarkably attractive grin. In fact, despite his differences, he was a remarkably attractive male. She had never been particularly attracted to athletic men, but here in the jungle those rippling muscles and his air of easy competence were very enticing.
She was so busy looking at him that she tripped over a half-hidden branch and stumbled to a stop. Tarax stopped as well, studying her thoughtfully before spreading out his arms as if to say take a good look. She found herself focusing on his chest where the ridges of muscle seemed to delineate the varying shades of his skin.
Curious, she started to stretch out her hand, but didn’t quite have the courage to touch him. With an impatient sound he grabbed her hand and brought it firmly against his chest. His very hard chest. The ridges of muscle felt more like armor than skin, she realized as she explored his massive pectorals.
Could he actually be wearing some type of body suit, she wondered, but then her curious fingers reached his abdomen. Still impressively muscled, but with the warm firmness of skin rather than armor. Her fingers skated down the ladder of muscle, one, two, three… Good lord, he had at least an eight pack.
But then he made a muffled noise. Startled, she looked up to see that his face was rigid, his eyes closed. She couldn’t possibly be hurting him, could she? She looked down again and… oh my.
The effect of her exploration was all too clear. He wasn’t fully erect but his already impressive cock was definitely thicker, stirring even more beneath her gaze. But it wasn’t just the size that had her staring. More ridges covered the surface, expanding as she watched.
She started to reach out a curious hand, then came to her senses and jumped back. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to get you, um, excited. I was just curious. Thank you for letting me touch you, but maybe we should just get moving now…”
Her words died down in a flurry of embarrassment. He didn’t respond, but when she dared to sneak a look at his face, he looked almost amused. Hmph. Not entirely sure she appreciated that reaction, she cast one more quick glance at that much too intriguing cock, lifted her chin, and turned to continue the journey. And promptly tripped over a vine.
Tarax caught her, of course, and for just a second his hands seemed to linger against her waist before he set her firmly on her feet. He took her hand and they started walking again.
She quickly realized how much easier traveling was with him along. He created a path through the undergrowth, held vines out of her way, and steadied her when she inevitably tripped over a hidden obstacle. She still thought it was odd that he wanted to hold her hand, but there was no denying that the strength of his grip gave her added confidence.
As the last rays of the sun began to slant through the trees, she started to wonder when, or even if, he was going to stop for the night. Even with his assistance, she was tired. Her legs ached and her feet hurt and she just wanted to sit down.
“Shouldn’t we find somewhere to stop?” she asked. “I’m ready to take a break.”
He looked down at her, but he didn’t respond and he didn’t slow his pace.
She tried again. “Look, I realize you must be at home here, but I’m not, and I’m not used to all this exercise. I’m very grateful that you agreed to take me to the place on the map, but I really think we should stop for the night.”
When he still didn’t come to a halt, she tried to disentangle her hand from his. That made him stop, although he didn’t let go of her, and she realized there was no way she could escape his grip unless he chose to let her go.
“Can we stop?” She pointed at the ground. “For the night?” This time she pointed at the setting sun.
He tilted his head and studied her, so she tried some more sign language. Putting her hands together, one still cradled in his, she lifted them to her cheek and placed her head on them. Was that the universal sign for sleep?
He nodded, and she sighed with relief, but then he started walking again.
“No. I don’t want to walk any further.”
He came to a halt again and said something in his growled language.
“I have no idea what you’re saying, but I’m tired and I want to stop for the night.” Her voice broke on the last words as exhaustion and the events of the day caught up with her.
His face softened, then before she could react, he lifted her easily into his arms, cradling her like
