Free Forsaken Realms (Bounty Hunters United Book 1) by Katalina Leon Page A

pleasant blend of tart and sweet. “I think this is fruit punch.”
    Syan looked interested and his stomach growled. “What is fruit punch? On Earth, do you fight with fruit?”
    She squeezed a generous amount of cheerful looking paste onto her fingertip. “Try it. If you like the flavor this tube will be yours.”
    Graciously he took hold of her hand and drew her fingertip past his lips and licked the paste slowly from her finger. His lashes dipped, and a dreamy expression crossed his face. “I like it. Would you give me more?”
    Her breath caught. The delicate touch of his tongue sent a fiery spark straight to her core. She handed the tube over immediately. “Take it. It’s yours. After all you’ve done today, you must be starving.”
    Concern creased his brow. “What about you? I don’t want to take your share.”
    “You’re not. Don’t worry. See here’s another tube?” She read the label. “This one is ‘mocha.’ My favorite.”
    “What is mocha?”
    “Coffee with chocolate.”
    “What is chocolate? What is coffee?”
    “I knew you were going to say that.”
    “That’s because we are linked.”
    “No, it’s more than that. I think I’m starting to ‘get’ you.”
    Syan stared longingly at the tube in her hand.
    “You want a taste don’t you? I’ll share. All you have to do is ask.” She snapped off the cap, squeezed a little onto her fingertip, and offered it.
    This time, when he took her hand, his thumb gently stroked her palm, and he drew her finger deep onto his mouth and sucked.
    A shudder of intense pleasure raced through her. “Don’t do that.”
    Excitement lit his gaze as he finished licking the tip of her finger before releasing her hand. “I like mocha.”
    Gemmina was left trembling and wanted him to touch her again. She handed him the tube instead. “Keep it. It’s yours.”
    He stared at her. “You are very beautiful. I like the color of your skin. You are mocha.”
    She gulped. “Thank you.”
    “I am searching your thoughts and trying to figure out the meaning of your name. Gemmina is a precious stone?”
    “Sort of. Gemmina is a made up name. A gem is a stone of value. I once saw a ruby in a storefront in New Mumbai and thought it was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.”
    A moment of confusion shone on his creased brow. “What is a ruby? Did I miss something?”
    “A ruby is a deep red gem.”
    “Yes, I see that now. It suits you. A gem is something beautiful and nearly indestructible?”
    “I’ve not thought of it that way, but, yes, that’s what it means.”
    Syan appeared puzzled. “And the surname ‘Nayar’, what does that mean? I am getting a mental image of a soldier.”
    It felt odd to be talking about herself. No one ever asked her these questions. “Nayar means a strong leader, like a general.”
     “Oh. Again it suits you.”
    “I gave myself that name.”
    “Why? Did you not have a name?”
    She released a tense breath. “I’m an orphan, and I was called a lot of names, none of which I wanted to keep. As soon as I was old enough to think for myself, I gave myself a strong name and led myself into a different life.”
    The jungle foliage took a beating from the machete. “What sort of life did you have?”
    “I don’t want to talk about it.”
    Syan turned toward her. “Because it makes you sad?”
    “No, because it makes me angry.”
    “I am sorry to hear this. I would be angry, too. We have no orphans on Kiron. There is a place for everyone.”
    “How nice for the Kironians.”
    The machete stopped mid-swing. “You are being sarcastic?”
    “What do you think?”
    “You do not have to be.”
    Part of her wished she could be softer and at least polite to this incredible man, but it wasn’t in her. “I’ve been meaning to ask this. I’ve let you lead us into the jungle, but do you even know where you’re going? This planetoid is large enough to wander for a very long time, far longer than our supplies will last.