Barbarian's Touch: A SciFi Alien Romance (Ice Planet Barbarians Book 8) Read Online Free PDF Page A

stupid. I know that the happier they are with me, the easier things will be. So right now? I’m going to be easygoing as heck and keep an eye on everything. I haven’t told Maddie my plan - mostly because the words ‘Maddie’ and ‘easygoing’ do not belong in the same sentence. But if she thinks I’m safe and protected with these strangers, she’ll come around.
    Kira holds a boot out to me. “Shoe? Do you want this shoe?” She taps it. “We can adjust it to fit your foot.”
    I nod at her, Yes Plan in effect.

    * * *
    H ours later , I’m dressed in warm cast-offs from one of the supply packs. Since the other human women knew Maddie and I were here in the pods, clothing was sent along for us and now Maddie and I are fitted into leather tunics, leather leggings, and warm, fleece-lined boots. I have big furry mittens that I wear even inside the cave, and I’ve had my fill of spicy stew. My nose is stuffed up and I suspect I’m coming down with a cold, but I manage to nap for most of the day. For some reason, most of the big blue dudes left the cave, leaving just Kira, her mate, and one of the others that remained guarding the entrance. It’s relaxing. I’m still anxious and my stomach is in knots, but without the hot, glowing eyes of the others, some of the tension eases.
    I wake up when a hand touches my arm and shakes me awake. I sit up in the furs, rubbing my eyes. There, by the fire, the big blue guys have returned and are gesturing excitedly about something to the one that’s the leader. They point at us and pick up their packs, but the leader shakes his head and says something that makes one of the hot-eyed ones fling his bag down and go storming off. The others settle in but they don’t look pleased.
    Maddie takes it all in and then comes and sits next to me in the furs. She pulls her knees up and leans closer to me, her hands moving in small motions. It’s almost like we’re whispering, not that it matters. They don’t understand sign language. But maybe Maddie doesn’t want them to know we’re talking.
    The angry one is Hassen , she tells me. We need to keep an eye on him. He watches you a lot.
    I know, I sign back. It worries me. What happened to make him angry?
    They are looking for something. A sock? It sounds like sock, though I know that is not the right word. They want it for us. I think it carries the parasites. Hassen is angry that Haeden - that is the leader - won’t let them hunt tonight. Haeden says to wait for dawn, because we are too vulnerable. So Hassen is throwing a pissy-fit.
    Hassen and Haeden? Gosh, their names sound the same. I don’t know how I’m going to keep it all straight in my head. So they want to go hunt the sock? I peek out to the front of the crashed ship, where the sky and the snow can be seen - it’s dark and the snow is falling heavily. My breath is fogging even in the warmth of the ship’s hold. If I leave the fire, it frosts. I don’t want to go out, I tell Maddie. I agree with Haeden.
    Me too. My ass is frozen.
    I smother a laugh behind my hand and look over at the fire. The one with the nice eyes - the friendly one - is watching me. His mouth curls a bit. Did he hear my laughter? I feel a blush scorching my cheeks and shrink down next to Maddie. Do you know the names of the others ? I sign back.
    I’m trying to memorize them all, Maddie signs to me. I think Kira’s husband is named Yayhago, though I might have that wrong. There is one called Raw-hosh but he doesn’t seem nice. The one standing by the fire is Beck. That one is Toshen. I think that one is Rowdan but he doesn’t say much, even to the others.
    My mind whirls, trying to absorb all these names. They’re not easy ones to remember, except maybe Beck, but I don’t want to get to know him better. He’s one of the ones with the possessive eyes. I look over at the one that interests me. Rowdan.
    His name, I will try to remember.
    As if he can sense my stare, he looks over and tips his chin at