Barbarian Lover (Ice Planet Barbarians #3)(20)

She bites her lip and looks at her mate, the chief. Then, Georgie looks back to me. “I don’t want to tell the others if we don’t have to. I don’t want to worry them over nothing. Ariana’s no longer crying at the drop of a hat and Claire isn’t cringing when I talk to her. And Megan…”

I nod. Megan just mated with Cashol. She’s radiating happiness. I can’t take that from her. “I’ll tell the others that plans have changed and we no longer need them to go.”

“I’m still going,” Aehako says, stubborn. “I will not let Kira leave my side. I shall keep her safe.” He looks down at me, and I have to fight hard to keep the blush off my face, remembering what happened last night. “I suspect Haeden will accompany me, if I ask. He has no family to endanger.”

“I can go by myself,” I protest. I don’t like the thought of putting others in jeopardy. “Just point me at the ship—“

Aehako frowns fiercely at me, stunning me into silence. “I will not allow it,” he says. “I will keep you safe.”

“So protective,” Vektal comments. “Are you sure there is no resonance between the two of you?”

“If hope was enough to waken my khui, my chest would be thundering, my friend,” Aehako says easily.

I say nothing. I just sit there and blush. “I’ll, um, let Claire and Harlow know that plans have changed.” At Georgie’s worried look, I amend, “Don’t worry. I won’t say the truth. I’ll sugar-coat it.”

I wouldn’t wish the knot of fear in my stomach on anyone else.

We separate a few minutes later and I head off to the human ‘bachelorette’ cave to talk with Claire and Harlow. Claire is fine with not going, especially once I tell her Bek’s no longer heading off with us.

Harlow, however, is stubborn. She shakes her head and shoulders her bag, her manner unchanged. “I’m going with you.”

I take her by the elbow and steer her to a corner of the room, where I’m sure Claire won’t overhear us. “Harlow, it’s not that I don’t want you to come along, it’s that…things might be a bit more dangerous than we originally anticipated. It’s best to keep the party small.”

She stares at me with her bright-blue glowing gaze, evidence of the khui strong inside her. It looks odd against her red hair and pale, freckled skin. “The elders’ cave. You said it’s a space ship, right?”

“Well, y-yes, but it’s several hundred years old and it doesn’t fly anymore,” I stammer. “The computer inside it is still working but I don’t know that much else is—“

“Then I’m going,” Harlow says. “You can’t really stop me.”

I frown at her, frustrated by her pig-headedness. “It might not be safe,” I stress again.

“Because of the weather?”

“Because of other things,” I hedge.

She considers for a moment and then shakes her head. “I’m still going. I’ll take my chances. I need to see that ship.”

For a moment, I stare blankly at Harlow. Does she have a listening device somewhere too? Or is something else going on? “Anything you want to talk about?”

“Nope.” She hoists her pack and adjusts the strap against her shoulder. “When do we leave?”

I sigh, defeated. “Very soon. Come on.”

I get my pack and Harlow and I meet Aehako and Haeden at the front of the cave.

Aehako immediately takes a bedroll from my pack and ties it to his. “You are carrying too much. Let me help.”

“I’m fine,” I say, feeling a little embarrassed. Haeden’s not hovering over Harlow like Aehako is with me. Then again, Harlow and Haeden probably didn’t do what Aehako and I did last night. I blush hard just thinking about it.

I know twenty-two is old to be a virgin, but I’ve never given it much thought until now. There’s just never been much opportunity to have sex with someone. Now, it seems like opportunity is knocking with a sexy alien…and the timing couldn’t be worse. How can I even think about getting involved with someone?

Of course, to him it might just be playful, fun sex. Meaningless except for a night between the covers. But that’s not how I’m built. I can’t just tumble into bed with a guy for fun and not think about it again. I need to make Aehako aware of this. Oh no. A terrible thought occurs to me. What if he’s focusing so much attention on me simply because I’m available for ‘fun’? Maybe it’s a cultural thing and women that aren’t tied down by a resonance-mating should be wild and free with their bodies? There’s nothing wrong with that…but that’s not who I am.

I feel guilty that I’ve led him on for this long. I need to talk to him. I touch his arm. “Can we talk?”

“We should hurry. We need to make good time before the weather gets worse. It’s going to slow us as it is.”

I look at the others, waiting on me, and tap on Aehako’s big shoulder. When he arches an eyebrow at me, I sigh in frustration and indicate he should bend down so I can whisper in his ear. It’s not an easy task considering he’s seven feet tall. When he finally does bend down, I lick my lips, suddenly nervous. “I think I should go alone.”

“Why? I thought we settled this—“