Saving Verakko: The Clecanian Series Book 3 by Victoria Aveline (books to read for teens TXT) 📕

Only the ones you’ve already seen. But if I needed to blend into a darker background on a bright night or during the day, I could make my skin change. Otherwise, it happens naturally throughout the course of the day.”

Lily attempted to tilt her head back into the water without lifting her chest too close to the surface. Her awkward attempt made Verakko chuckle again.

“I can help you if you’d like.”

Scrunching her mouth to the side, she shot him a look that said “Not a chance.”

He shrugged and began rubbing his skin. The muscles of his torso jumped as he ran his hands over them. To combat her sudden and unwelcome desire to offer to wash his back, Lily ducked her whole body under the water and shook out her hair. After a moment’s hesitation, she opened her eyes and attempted to sneak a peek. Fair’s fair.

To her disappointment, the water was too dark to make out much of anything. When she resurfaced, she met Verakko’s eyes, only inches from her own. He was bent at the hip, rubbing clean his lower half.

Her breath stuttered as she stared into their glowing green depths.

“Did you get a good look?” he asked.

***

This female was going to drive him mad. After she’d run away from him, he’d been frantic, trying to recall her instructions and build a fire so he could go after her and make sure she was alright. It’d been obvious she didn’t think he’d be able to build a fire quickly. A fair assumption. The bow drill was difficult to operate, and he’d had a renewed sense of appreciation for the ease with which she handled it.

When he’d finally succeeded in using the strange but effective tool, he’d sprinted to the river to boast untruthfully about how simple the task had been and force that pretty pink flush to spread over her cheeks, only to find a vision bathing in the river.

He’d nearly tripped over his own feet at the sight of her naked, glistening back and dripping wet hair. She’d left her clothes lying so far away, as if taunting him. For the first time in a very long time, he’d felt giddy, playful even. He couldn’t remember ever feeling like that with a female.

But now, the heated looks she was giving him were enough to crumble any resolve he had. He’d refrained from looking at her naked form under the water, although his second lid would’ve made it easy. The way she blushed at his accusation told him she hadn’t been as courteous.

“I didn’t look!” she argued, sweeping the dark mass of hair over her shoulder and baring her neck.

His fangs gave a throb in time with his cock. He’d never felt the urge to mark so profoundly before. To bite a female was as intimate an act as any and was traditionally reserved for mates—and now for wives.

“Let me see your wound,” she said, nodding toward his side.

He grinned and unfastened the tight knot on his hip.

When his side was revealed, she gasped and rushed forward. Her hand reached for him, and he readied himself, a cascade of anticipation stealing his breath. Don’t grab her if she touches you. You’re set to be wed.

Her fingers stopped an inch away from his smooth, unmarred side, and he hissed out a low curse.

“Sorry.” She backed away, mistaking his disappointment for anger. “How is that possible? Whatever got you tore a hole in your side. It went through and through and looked pretty clean, but it can’t possibly be healed already.”

“My people heal quickly.”

“What do you mean by ‘your people’? Is it one of those genetically engineered traits you told me about?” she asked with of a tilt of her head. The act elongated the bare side of her neck even more. He stifled a groan.

“I’ll tell you on our way back to camp.”

“Our?” she questioned. “You go first, and I’ll follow you later.”

He let out a growl and, without meaning to, infused his words with sway. “I won’t look, Lily. You can trust me.”

Immediately, she clapped her hands over her ears. The action made the swell of her breasts, peeking out of the water, jiggle. Verakko ground his jaw and turned to retreat.

“Stop doing that!” she called from behind him.

“I can’t always help it!” he barked. When he reached his clothes, he dragged his pants on. The damp, cool fabric chafed against his shaft, but it helped to cool his lust. He turned and frowned. Lily’s back was to him. “I’m clothed,” he called.

“Go on. I’ll follow after you’re gone.”

Verakko threw his hands up. “Do you really think I couldn’t hide in the trees and watch if I wanted to? I’ll stand here with my back turned.”

“If you turn around, I swear you’ll regret it.”

Verakko showed her his back and muttered, “I’ll regret it either way, mivassi.”

Muscles shooting tight in an instant, he froze. Mivassi? Where in this world or the last had that come from? He’d never even thought to use the endearment before. With anyone.

“Let’s go.” Her soft voice invaded his senses. How long had he been rooted in place?

With the slowly dying torch in hand, she headed off toward their camp. Her clothing was still as damp as his, and he thanked the Goddess he hadn’t seen her from the front. The white material of her shirt was almost transparent. After shoving his boots back on, he trudged after her.

When they arrived back at camp, Lily gazed at the small fire he’d built. “Good job. Really, I’m impressed. It took me days to make a fire with a bow drill the first time I tried.”

The compliment was meager, but he flushed with pride all the same. “You made it seem like it was going to be so…”

She turned