Ice Planet Barbarians (Ice Planet Barbarians, #1)(57)

“Wow, okay.” I glance through the camp, and the men are helping the women to their feet. “Did they all take it? The khui?”

“Everyone,” he says, a proud note in his voice. He helps me stand, though I don’t suppose I need the help anymore. I’m just fine, oddly enough. I feel . . . good. “You were brave and led the way.”

“I have a lot to live for.” The sound of the thunder increases, and as his hand touches mine, I feel . . . strange. Aroused. It’s weird because all he’s doing is touching my arm. I look at Vektal in surprise. I fight the urge to kiss his hard mouth, to climb him like a freaking tree, and to drag him into the snow and make sweet, sweet love to him.

Good lord, what is going on with me?

The thunder rumbles louder, and I look behind me.

Vektal chuckles and presses a hand between my breasts. “You hear it?”

“What is that noise?”

“It is you,” he says. “Your khui sings for me.”

I press a hand to my chest. Sure enough, the rumble’s coming from me. I’m purring. “Oh.” Heat pools between my legs, and my pulse starts to thrum as if he’s touched me in naughty ways, just from his fingertips on my chest. “Oh man, I feel . . .”

“I know,” he says, and his eyes glow with a mixture of need and amusement. “I can smell your need, mate.”

“Oh boy,” I say faintly. “Can . . . can anyone else?” If they can, I might die of embarrassment.

“My senses are attuned to you. The others are too busy helping the humans. Look around you,” he says, pulling me against him.

God, he’s warm and big and delicious, and I want to shove my hands in his pants and take his cock in my grip. It takes me a moment to focus, and I cling to his vest as I try to get a grip on myself. Is this what resonating feels like? I mean . . . wow. But good lord. I don’t know if I can stand being this sensitized around Vektal constantly.

Then again . . . the orgasms are going to be mind-blowing.

My gaze focuses on the women in the distance. Tiffany’s on her feet, which is wonderful, and a sa-khui male dotes on her. Almost every woman seems to be escorted by a man of Vektal’s tribe, and the sound of faint purring fills the air.

“Are they all—”

“Not all,” Vektal says. “But some.” At my worried look, he adds, “They will approach things slowly. This I promise.” Then he grimaces. “Except for one.”

“One?” I look around at the sea of faces and notice that one familiar, lippy one is missing. “Where is Liz?”

“Raahosh has slunk off with her like a metlak with a kill.” Irritation clouds his features. “He will answer to the tribe when he returns.”

My entire body tenses. “Is he going to hurt her?”

“Hurt her?” The look Vektal gives me is incredulous. “He takes her to mate her. Harming her is the last thing on his mind.”

Boy, I almost feel sorry for Raahosh. He doesn’t know what he’s gotten himself into by taking Liz. She’s not about to let an alien run roughshod over her. “I’m sure Liz will have a few things to say about that.”

He gives a wry smile. “I am sure she will, too.”

I wouldn’t be surprised if Raahosh brought Liz back, I think to myself. She’s a handful. “Can we go after them?”

“Raahosh is the best of my hunters. If he does not wish to be found, he will not be found. We can simply wait for them to return.”

“Let me guess,” I say drily. “Barefoot and pregnant?”

He looks puzzled at my words. “Why would her feet be bare?”

“Never mind.” I pat his chest and then find myself utterly fascinated with the play of his muscles. “Oh, wow. Vektal, I feel very . . .”

“In tune with your resonance?” he asks. Under my hand, he begins to thrum louder, and that makes my nipples prick as my own khui responds.

I nod.

He clasps me against him, and I gasp because it feels . . . amazing. “Shall we go somewhere private then, my mate?”

“But . . . the others . . .”

“The men will take care of them for the night,” he says and traces a finger down my cheek that leaves me shuddering with need. “They will keep them warm and fed while they adjust to their khui. And in the morning, we shall all start the journey home.”

Home. After weeks of being captive, it feels so nice to think of a place as home. “Where can we go?” I ask him, lacing my fingers in his. “Lead on.”

But he hesitates. “Do you feel well, my resonance? Do you want to rest? To sleep?”

“Right now, I want to tear your clothing off and put my mouth all over you,” I tell him, and the purring in my chest increases. So does the wetness between my legs. If I had panties, they’d be soaked.

Vektal’s nostrils flare, and he stifles a groan in his throat. Before I can react, he throws me over his shoulder and begins to storm off into the darkness. “We will return at daybreak,” he calls to one of his men.

“Enjoy the resonance,” the man calls back, and there is envy in his voice.

I wiggle with excitement on Vektal’s shoulder. God, I should not be so aroused, but I am. The khui humming through my system is making me feel warm and good, and the intense arousal feels like a bonus. Why was I so against the thing? I touch my breastbone and feel it humming happily underneath. If this is all it takes to live at Vektal’s side for the rest of my life, I’ll take it.