RUMAL WOKE HER IN THE morning and Kassie groaned when she sat up.

'Those bedrolls really aren't thick enough,' she grumbled.

'There isn't thick enough when you sleep on rocks,' Rumal said, already dressed. He offered a mug of nellor and even better, a kiss. Kassie ignored the nellor, leaving Rumal to hold it while she ran her hands over the rough stubble on his jaw and savoured his lips. 'Mmmmmm.'

He smiled and offered her the mug again when they separated. ...