Page 62 of Theirs to Crave

“It’s good enough. Maybe you just suck at readingbody language.” Mariano shimmied his shoulders, his laughter turning to snorts when I rolled my eyes.

I reached for something to nibble on, hesitating over the Guinea Pig—which was calledkhot, but would probably alwaysbe Guinea Pig to me—and plucking a bunch ofsusuelaberries instead. Speaking of body language...

I leaned forward, catching Revik’s eye, and offered the tart berries to him. I’d noticed he liked them, and food was about as universal a love language as I could think of.

He tilted his head, one ear flicking, and trailed his gaze from mine down to my hand. Rather than taking some or all of what I offered with his hand, as I expected, he leaned slowly forward, eyes locked on me, and unfurled a long, black tongue.

With toe-curling precision, he plucked four berries from the bunch without lifting a finger. Revik chewed, swallowed, andgrinnedat me. I almost swallowed my own tongue. The black tip flicked out, almost too fast to see, and he licked the pad of my thumb.

“Mmm, ray. Relyat.”

I pulled my hand back, cradling it against my chest over the pounding of my heart. My mouth was too dry to speak, so I just nodded, jerkily.

Body language, in-fucking-deed. Rated E for Explicit.

Chapter 18

Revik

Iinhaled, tasting the scent of Estrayuh’s desire on my tongue. I didn’t know what made the little Hyunan decide to be so bold, but rek, I liked it. I liked the way she looked at me now, too, all quivery and wide eyed. My eyes slitted as a low rumble started in my chest.

Kurz’s tail whacked me on the nose. I sneezed. Snarling, I bared my teeth at him.

He tilted his head, and I followed his gaze to find Estrayuh’s brother halfway to his feet and glaring at me.

My respect for him grew as he held my stare, only backing down when Estrayuh tugged at his cloth and hissed something in the liquid language the two of them shared.

They argued, but Estrayuh must have won because she turned back to me, apologizing, as her brother crossed his arms over his chest and glowered.

I looked between them, trying to understand the conflict. According to Kurz, Naryanuh wasn’t opposed to physical intimacy, so why this reaction to his sister exploring the same?

Estrayuh pushed the fringe of her head fur from her eyes and frowned.

My chest tightened. I’d hoped her people’s traditions were different from ours. But if she’d lost her mate as recently as told by those short strands, then I had an answer to her brother’s protectiveness. If someone tried to take advantage of my sibling’s heart-hurt, I would tear their throat out.

A glance at my stricken mates confirmed that they’d had the same thought.

There was no more flirtation as we cleaned up from the meal and split the day’s collection. When that was done, Estrayuh went to give water at the stream, and I faced Naryanuh.

“I understand,” I said. I let my eyes speak of my respect and my unwillingness to harm his sister.

After a long moment, he nodded, and the pressing cloud of his disapproval lifted.

Estrayuh looked between us suspiciously when she returned, but I kept my eyes on the basket straps I’d already tightened, and she gradually relaxed. She was laughing and teasing her brother as we prepared to leave.

His voice was light as he embraced her, but over her head his eyes bore into me, the warning clear.

I held his stare until I turned away, only letting the smile spread over my face when I was fully out of sight. As I ranged through the branches, making sure no danger awaited, my amusement faded. His clawless ferocity was admirable.

Being the reason he bared his teeth was less so.

???

The first drops of rain splattered onto my fur, and I tensed, my tail lashing as I watched the slow progress of the people below me.

We needed to get to the den. I didn’t trust the way the air felt. I leapt higher, crouching in the lee of the canopy as I scanned the sky. Nothing. But the clouds, low and heavy with the storm, could hide much.

I bounded down the tree, moving fast. My instincts were screaming. Death rode the air today. I wouldn’t allow it to be any of ours.