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good cover for this night.”
    “Okay,” she murmured, her gaze stuck on the tiny droplet of water that beaded off his full lower lip.
    When Neichon and Valeron stood, she shook off her lusty haze and rose, following them away from the pond. Neichon led them to a small clearing that looked quite similar to the spot where they’d slept the night before. It was smaller, though, and surrounded by more trees, which made for a thicker canopy overhead.
    “Can we even start a fire here?” she asked.
    Valeron shook his head. “Not likely. We would risk setting the trees aflame.”
    Ah, so that meant they’d have to snuggle in tighter. She couldn’t complain about that.
    “The leaves themselves will provide some level of protection from the chill,” Neichon pointed out.
    Stifling a smile at the thought of just how close they’d all be tonight, Inara said, “If you’ll excuse me, gentlemen. I’m going to see if I can spot the Malucon shuttle, and then I believe I’m going to have a dip in the pond.”
    She had the satisfaction of seeing their eyes smolder with lust right before she turned and strode out of the clearing. Grinning, she headed back to the pond. Who knew? If she was lucky, perhaps one or both of them would join her.

Chapter Five
     
    Neichon strode back and forth just outside the clearing they’d chosen for this evening’s rest, waiting for Inara to finish her bath. “We should get closer. In case danger presents itself.”
    Valeron nodded, unable to mask the eager expression that lit his face.
    Control yourself. Control your pod mate. But Neichon had no clue how he’d be able to manage that. Something about Inara drove him crazy. Not just the way she looked, though he had to admit her lush curves were more than he could have asked for. But also her personality. He loved their mate’s brazenness.
    They stopped in the forest just outside the pond, far enough away that Inara still had privacy, but close enough for them to hear the sound of splashing water. Valeron inhaled sharply beside him, and Neichon imagined they were both thinking the same thing. She was just a few hundred feet away, naked and wet, her hands on her body as she washed the dust away. It was unbearable agony to think on it.
    “By severn, I cannot bear it,” Valeron whispered. “I must see her.”
    “We cannot,” Neichon answered with a tortured groan. It was not right to spy on her. But he wanted to do so, desperately.
    “Come,” Valeron insisted, creeping forward. “We can observe unnoticed from the trees. It is the least she owes us, after teasing us unbearably these past few days.”
    Lords help him, he found it impossible to refute Valeron’s argument.
    He and Valeron stalked through the trees, stepping carefully to avoid noisily cracking any twigs. They came to a stop and Neichon couldn’t help but suck in a breath as he took in the sight of the pond, illuminated by the pale moonlight. Their female kneeled a few feet inside the pond with her back to them, naked as she poured water over her body. The water reached only to her hips in her kneeling position.
    Almost as if on cue, she turned her body so that her front faced them. “Lords above,” Valeron whispered on a choked sound as the round, firm globes of her breasts bounced with her movement.
    Inara leisurely scrubbed her breasts, then lifted each arm to rub a hand along her body. Droplets of water beaded down her tawny skin, glimmering like molten gold in the moonlight.
    She was exquisite.
    Inara stood and ran her fingers through her wet hair, her front fully bared to their eager gazes. Suddenly Neichon remembered something his uncle had once told him. Chivean women did not have hair on any part of their body, other than their heads.
    The view of her naked flesh was so unbearably arousing he had to bite back a loud groan.
    Turning once more to face the water, she rubbed her hands along the luscious curves of her backside. Beside him, Valeron’s breath came out in