Chapter 28: Chapter 28

Raven

The feeling around her ankle was like a squid’s tentacle. But before she could shake it off, sharp spikes dug into her skin. Her scream was swallowed by the water, and her vision was clouded by the murky depths.

More of the slimy appendages wrapped around her, digging into her flesh. She clawed and tugged at them, but they wouldn’t budge. Raven had made a rookie mistake: she’d left her weapons on the shore.

Her lungs screamed for air, and her vision started to fade as the creature dragged her deeper.

Suddenly, a hot grip seized her hand and yanked her back to the surface. She found herself staring into fiery amber eyes. Raven’s body went numb as Dhol raced back to shore.

Once they reached the grassy bank, she realized she couldn’t feel anything. She couldn’t move anything except her eyes.

“You’re going to be okay,” Dhol assured her, picking up a knife. “I’m going to cut off the dakis and treat the venom.”

His words didn’t comfort her, especially when he tossed the strange, spiky serpents with bulging eyes onto the ground.

“That’s all of them.” He lifted her arm for her to see.

Her arm was covered in puncture wounds. Each one had hit a vein, turning it black.

“I need to suck out the venom. We’re too far from the house for an antidote.”

He pressed his mouth to her arm, sucking and spitting out the black substance. His lips were stained with it. Before moving to her other arm, he checked her eyes. “Did you feel that?” he asked.

She didn’t know what he was talking about. Raven couldn’t speak, but he nodded as if he understood. After treating her other arm, Dhol set it down, and she felt a small prick.

He smiled. “Good. You flinched and frowned. What about this?” He pricked her other arm.

She was going to get him back for this.

“Plan your revenge when you’re better. This is necessary to make sure your nervous system isn’t damaged.”

She could only manage a raspberry in response, but she was sure he got the message. The sun was beginning to set behind the trees.

“Forgive me.”

Before she could figure out what he meant, Dhol leaned into her neck. She could only guess that he was treating her neck with the same care he’d shown her arms. Heat flooded her face.

It got worse when she started to feel his soft, wet lips on her neck. Her breath hitched in her throat.

“Seems like your voice is back.” He grinned.

“Would’ve been nice to know about the poisonous snakes before I jumped in,” she rasped.

“Dakis. They usually hibernate this time of year.”

For the first time, she felt him stroking her hair. With some effort, she managed to prop herself up on her elbows. Her legs, however, felt like dead weight.

“We’re almost done,” he assured her.

He finished with her legs, but she still couldn’t feel them. His expression told her this wasn’t good. Raven tapped her leg up to her stomach, where she could feel sensation.

She started to grind her teeth; she couldn’t be paralyzed on an alien planet.

“You must have been bitten somewhere else,” he said, lifting her shirt to check her back.

Dhol let out a string of curses.

“Dhol?”

He looked at her with sad eyes, his hand resting on her head. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, his gaze dropped to her shorts. Dhol looked back up at her, and Raven’s eyes widened.

She peeked into her shorts and sure enough, there were puncture marks. The damn snakes had bitten her pussy. At least buy a girl a drink first.

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” she muttered.

“Watch your language, Flower. It could be a lot worse.” He looked relieved, but she wasn’t sure how she felt.

“This is a medical emergency. I’ll only do what’s necessary to remove the venom. You have my word as a protector of Tarea,” he promised, placing his fist on his chest.

Raven believed him. Dhol respected her space and took his job seriously. He hadn’t given her a reason not to trust him.

“I trust you.”

Without wasting another second, he removed her shorts. The urge to close her legs and hide herself was overwhelming. Heat spread over her body as he inspected the area, then got to work.

Raven tried to focus on the beautiful, deadly water, trying to keep her thoughts pure. A tickle between her thighs brought her attention back to him. Then, it turned into a flutter in her lower belly.

Raven watched as his fingers gripped her legs and spread them wider. A warm pressure started to build in her stomach, and her legs twitched. She was so close.

Just as she was about to climax, he stopped.

He looked up at her. “Taking advantage of me, I see.”

“I wasn’t,” she protested, using her discarded shorts to cover herself.

“I’m starting to think you got bit there on purpose. You don’t have to trick me; I’ll do it gladly. Just ask,” he teased, sitting up and wiping his face.

“In your wildest dreams.”

“By the time we get back to the house, your legs should be back to normal,” he said, scooping her up in his arms. “I’ll still give you a dose of the antidote and call the doctor to be sure.”

“Thank you,” she mumbled, avoiding his gaze.

This was the second time he’d had his face between her legs, and each time, she’d gotten a taste of his skill.

“You never have to thank me, Flower. Or be embarrassed.”

His amusement was clear as they made their way through the dark.

“I’m not.”

“Hm. Try saying that while looking at me then.”

She looked up at him. “I’m not embarrassed.”

Raven said the words, but her body heat spiked, and her throat went dry.

“I believe you.”

She felt like she was on fire under his gaze.