The First She ✓

TWENTY NINE

"What is it?" Vrox asked innocently. "Did I mispronounce the word? I apologize."

"I'll uh; I'll tell you what it means later."

"Very well," he conceded.

She gave the camp a final sweep. There wasn't much to it. There were weapons neatly piled beside a tree, a pile of logs, the tree stump in the middle of the camp, and three large tin buckets. The place was too bare to be their permanent residence.

"Is this a camp?"

"Yes. We have been here for twenty suns to hunt. Our home is much more sparse than this. It's not too far away."

Vrox looked at the camp worriedly. He had an insecurity that Kira would assume he couldn't provide for her. He had never felt such a strong demand to prove himself.

"My home has a tall ceiling, bedding made of the softest coats, an indoor fireplace, and..."

Her chuckle shushed his rant, the sound being so unique that his ears perked with confusion. It had been fifteen snowfalls since he heard the chime of a female's joy.

"I don't care if you live in a ditch. I'll go anywhere with you."

Her lush lips stretched to uncurtain happiness.

Thump.

Vrox threw a palm to his chest.

"What is it?" Kira asked, her smile dissolving.

Her tiny hands cupped his own.

Thump.

Was he sick? What was ailing his heartbeat?

"Vrox!" Kira demanded.

"It's nothing," he blurted, needing her to calm down before her eyes began to rain. He'd rather walk through one of the monstrous storms of Drukai than see a droplet of sadness on her.

"Are you sure? Do you want me to make the paste? I know how to do it. I saw you enough times to–"

He swept his hands up her waist and grabbed her under her armpits. He raised her two whole feet, leveling her head with his but keeping her at arm's length.

"See? I am perfectly healthy."

She looked down. His hands were so big that his palms cushioned the sides of her breasts.

"Um..." she drew out.

Recognizing his mistake, Vrox pursed his lips.

It looks like sexual tension is another one of the forces that can be found in all universes.

"I will go get you food," he rushed, walking to the stump and placing her beside it. "I will be back. Call my brothers if you need anything."

He rushed off. If the seven-foot alien had a tail, she was sure that it would have tucked itself between his firm buttcheeks.

Vrox disappeared into mother nature's embrace. Once upon of time, he had been sure that he couldn't live without the arms of his second mother. Now, he wasn't so sure. The serene sounds of water rushing and birds melodizing were nothing compared to the sunshine that Kira's lips breathed.

His heart leaped again.

Is death beating its drums? Is it calling for me?

He couldn't die. He hadn't gotten enough of Kira, hadn't explored her like he had explored mother nature.

He dared to imagine his nose scaling up her delicate throat, climbing her like the mountains of Rhy. Then, he'd knead the softness of her round bottom and mysterious chest– caressing as if they were Ezron's last flowers.