Talen

“Getting all dominant on me?” I pause, gasping for breath as I slowly pull out of her and roll to my side.

“Maybe.”

I lie back onto my jacket, and Aerin smiles slyly as she runs her hands up my thighs and then crawls on top of me, straddling my hips. She stares down at me as she sits up straight and slowly lowers herself over me.

“Oh, yes! This is so much better than that rock in my back.” Aerin grins down at me as she bursts out a laugh.

I want to laugh with her, but as her body shakes with her giggling, it sends fantastic vibrations through my cock. I squeeze my eyes shut and moan, pushing up against her and completely oblivious to the uncomfortable ground beneath me.

Aerin leans forward, placing her hands on my chest as she moves up and down. I slide my hands over her sides and then up to cup her breasts, and she closes her eyes for a moment, then leans over to press her mouth to mine.

She breaks the kiss, leaning back again as I reach down to hold onto her hips, letting her set whatever rhythm she wants.

“You feel so good in me.” Aerin stares down at me with smoldering eyes. She grinds down against my pelvic bone, moving faster and moaning as I feel her clenching all around me. I tighten my grip on her hips and push up, thrusting deep inside of her until my body shakes and I let go with a loud grunt.

Aerin rolls off of me onto her back, and I prop myself up on one elbow and look down at her. I can’t help but smile when I run a finger over her bare shoulder and watch the goosebumps form on her arm.

“Are you cold?” I ask.

“Not really.” Aerin grins. “You’re keeping me pretty warm.”

“Well, it’s going to get cold eventually.” I grab our clothes and we quickly redress before lying back down. I pull the blanket up and tighten it around us, cradling her in my arms as I press her body close to mine to help retain our body heat.

“I think I know what’s different with you,” I say quietly.

“What’s that?”

“I can talk to you.”

“You can talk to anyone you come across.”

“That’s not what I mean.” I purse my lips as she raises an eyebrow expectantly. “Since I left the capital city, I’ve had to be very careful about what I say and how I say it. Naughts might rant about their lot in life, but they don’t go on about politics here, not this far away from the capital city. When I speak with them, I have to make sure I don’t say anything out of place. I can’t chance anyone discovering where I’m from or who my father is. With you, I don’t have to hold back or hide who I am. You understand what’s happening between the Thaves and Naughts, and even though you grew up in the capital, you still understand that the Naughts are important, too. I can talk to you in a way I can’t with the people I’ve lived with all these years. You’re smart, and you know how to take care of yourself. You don’t need my help, but that just makes me want to help you more.”

“We have a common upbringing,” Aerin says. “It only makes sense that you feel more comfortable around someone who can relate to you.”

“There’s more to it than that. I know I’m not expressing myself well, but I’m not sure how else to put it. I can relax around you in a way I haven’t been able to do before. It’s nice. It’s comfortable.”

“I think I understand.”

“You’re also beautiful.”

Aerin laughs and blushes. She starts to turn her face away from me, but I take her chin in my fingers and kiss her.

“Incredibly beautiful.”

Aerin’s blush darkens as she sucks in her lower lip and stares up at me.

“If you keep that up,” she says, “we’re never going to get any sleep.”

“Good point.” I lean over and kiss her quickly. “It’s going to take awhile to get used to sleeping on the ground again.”

Despite the discomfort, I quickly fall into a deep, dreamless sleep with Aerin curled up against my chest.

I wake abruptly.

The sky is lighter, but the color is off. A distinct, orange tint stains the clouds to the southeast, and in my muddled, barely-awake state, I can’t understand why. I push myself up on my elbows, rub my eyes, and clear my throat.

Aerin stirs beside me, and I smile down at her as I sit up and stretch. As I take a long breath, I smell smoke and hope that means it will be easy to start a fire to warm up. I wonder what we managed to haul away from the complex that will make a good, hot breakfast.