The Vargys colony on Balanger was beautiful, filled with green plant-life and water everywhere. For one thing, Vi had never seen Molly so happy or content.

It was certainly nice to have land beneath her feet again, especially since it was not the repulsive, Latoran kind.

They spent one day on an R&R of sorts: Oz and Molly splashing in the water; Vi dipping her toes in the water, basking in the sun; and last, but certainly not least, Haze sitting behind Vi, so she could lean back against his muscled chest, his arms wrapped around her. She tipped her head back, and he obliged her quickly with a soft kiss.

The hellhounds - or whatever they called the ship's beasts - were also there. Vi handled it by not looking at them. Seriously. Nothing should have that many scales or claws.

The previous afternoon they'd seen Saetyria off to her new home. It turned out she had a distant cousin she'd never met here. There was talk that she might be able to join a … something or other… verlok…? A verlok was some kind of Vargys harem with multiple guys and gals linked up as one family unit. She supposed it was a bit like the lions back on Earth. Several lionesses and lions in a pack.

She settled against Haze again, sighing deeply. What was the saying? Not her monkeys.

Then she felt Haze harden against her, and he grunted softly. He squeezed her arms slightly. "You want a little time out of the sun? Don't want you to melt or anything…"

Vi felt the same zip of lightning run through her as she nodded.

He came up, graceful as a cat, and reached down to help her up. He led her a short distance away to some shade and privacy, a blanket already spread out for them.

"I thought maybe…" He glanced over at her. "The sun gets so hot…"

She leaned into him, enjoying his kiss on her lips. "Yes, the sun… it's so hot."

She reached down, running her hand down the hard length of him.

Haze scooped her up and laid her gently on the blanket. He lay down beside her, his head on one hand, his other hand making mad circles over her skin.

"Are you happy?" he asked.

For a moment, she could only gaze at him. She nodded. "Yes, I'm really happy," she smiled.

He gave her an answering grin. "Good," he said.

As his hands stroked along her side, her breath came faster. She felt like the world was fading away again, to that distant place where nothing mattered but the two of them.

"Kiss me?" she managed.

He leaned in, a half-smile still on his face.

His lips were soft at first, then everything was moving so fast, his hands running through her hair, his mouth hard and dancing against hers.

He pulled off her bathing suit. At first, he left her naked and exposed, then he bent down to pull first one nipple, then the next, into his mouth. As he pulled hard on her, she called out. In response, he increased his pace, leaving her panting and needy.

Soon, she had to bite her lips to keep from crying out as his skilled fingers and mouth worked magic all over her warmed, naked skin. As his hand slid between her thighs, Vi arched her back as hot anticipation shot through her. Her knees parted.

He flicked a finger against her clit. She jerked.

Then he was moving fast against her mound. She moaned. His mouth moved between her legs and his tongue made a wicked dance against her mound. He zeroed in and toyed with her until she was quivering and shaking.

She pulled his hand down, spreading her legs for him, urging him inside. He slid a finger in and began to rub at her while his tongue worked on her mound.

She held his hand there, encouraging him on, feeling the waves build inside.

She felt the tension building until she could hold on no longer. Her body seemed to fly apart. She cried out over and over, the waves taking over, her body breaking as she crashed and floated away.

She came back, feeling like her body was floating. He kept lapping at her.

"Oh," she moaned. "I can't." She tried to push his head away.

He chuckled against her mound, clamped his arm around her waist, and held her to him. He made determined laps at her.

She built up quicker than before.

She was calling out before she knew what was happening.

He slid inside her, rough and fast. She called out in almost pain.

He settled inside her, moving his hips in a quick motion. He closed his eyes, stroking fast, getting his rhythm. His finger reached down to rub at her clit.

She jerked hard and broke apart again, moaning, vaguely hearing his moans join hers.

As she came back to herself, she snuggled into his strong arms, resting her head against his muscled chest. Somehow, she’d found her own lion and she was liking it. A lot.

They slept there together, for a few hours, nestled within each others’ arms.