Primals (Reverse Harem 1)

I nod. “That’s true.” Though not likely. Something’s off. Something I need to figure out.

“I’m just lucky I didn’t run into some bears.”

My eyebrows go up. “You’re scared of bears?”

“I was just worried they might consider me a threat and I didn’t think I had the strength to defend myself. Even if I did, I wouldn’t want to have to hurt them. I’m the one who wandered into their territory, after all.”

I choke back a laugh, amused. “Well, congratulations on making it safely,” I say when I have myself under control again.

Clarissa smiles. “Like I said, I’m lucky. Either that or maybe the bears took pity on me and deliberately left me alone.”

I doubt that. No, I know that’s a lie. Because I know for a fact there are no bears out there. Not where she was. Not that I can tell her that.

“Or maybe the bears didn’t consider you a threat,” I say with a shrug, navigating the boat around some rocks that mark the end of the channel.

She shrugs. “Well, they’re right. It’s not like I have superpowers or anything.”

Superpowers?

Just then, a harsh breeze blows, carrying with it a woman’s whispers. Normally, I would answer her. But then normally, I’m alone. Tonight, I’m not.

“Sorry, love. Not tonight.” I speak in the barest of whispers.

“Are you talking to someone?” Clarissa asks, smoky eyes narrowing on me in a way that doesn’t bode well.

She heard me?

“What? No.” I shake my head, hands on the helm. “I talk to myself sometimes. I’m not used to having company. It’s a bad habit I’ve gotten myself into go. But talking to you is good! I should do that more. Talk to you, I mean. Not myself!”

“Yeah.” She chuckles and throws her head back, looking up at the stars through the window next to her. She’s curled up on the bench behind me. I find myself wishing the heater worked better. It’s never been a huge priority, and now for the first time I feel just how chilly it is in the pilot house. I should send her below to my cabin where it’s warmer, but I hate to give up her company just yet.

“It’s good to talk to someone who can’t read your mind for a change,” she says after a minute.

I frown. “What do you mean?”

“Nothing.” She yawns.

I walk over to her. “You must be tired. You should rest.” I pull a blanket out of a locker and spread it over her legs. “There’s a cabin down below with an actual bunk if you’d prefer.”

She shudders a little. “I don’t like closed spaces much. This is fine.” She tilts her head back to look again at the stars. “At least, I get a great view.”

I follow her gaze. She’s right. Now that the storm is gone, the sky is clear and countless stars are peeking out from the holes of the night tapestry. If only she had come sooner, she would have been able to see the sky as a palette with swirls of red, green and blue. Still, the sky looks dazzling enough. I, for one, never tire of staring at it.

“Ah-choo!”

I turn my head towards Clarissa, frowning when I see her curled up with her arms wrapped tightly around her torso, her shoulders shaking.

It’s a wonder she survived the cold during her trip here, even with the storm and all, but it’s always been colder out here at sea with nothing to shield you from the freezing air.

“You’re cold.”

“I’m fine,” she says through chattering teeth, pulling the hood of her jacket over her head. “Tell me a story. Something about yourself. Anything.”

I realize she’s trying to distract herself from the cold. I shake my head and go down below, returning with the heavier blanket from my own bunk. I add this to the other, cursing the damned heater and vowing to actually get it fixed the next time I’m docked.

I go back to the helm when she’s settled, checking that we haven’t drifted too far off course. “There’s nothing to tell.”

“Where’s your family?” she asks.