by Ruby Dixon
She stands still, trembling with anticipation, and her eyes are huge as she gazes up at me. There’s no fear or wariness in her face, just longing. She’s so beautiful that it makes me ache to look at her. I am truly the luckiest male ever. I press my mouth to her strange, smooth forehead, and kiss her tiny, too-flat nose. She is perfect to me.
I bend down and touch her chin. I tilt her head back so I can kiss her mouth, mate our tongues in the slick, decadent way that the humans are so fond of. She leans into my kiss, her hands sliding to my sides and then resting on my hips, gripping me against her. My cock presses against her belly, hard and insistent. It wants attention, too. Soon, I remind myself. This is but the second time we will mate, and I must still be careful with her to make sure she is ready.
So I continue my slow removal of her clothing. I take the cloak from her shoulders and lay it on the ground, spread like a blanket. Her dress is made of the softest leather Kashrem creates, but the sleeve is torn and the garment is ragged and still has soot stains on the skirt from her capture. I frown at the sight of it, not only because the memory of her near-loss makes my heart seize in my chest, but she needs warm, clean clothing. “You need a new dress.”
“I forgot to ask for one.” She shrugs. “It’s not important.”
“It is important to me. You are my mate. I want you clothed warmly.”
“I’d like to make my own clothing,” Kira says in a shy voice. “I want to learn. I want to be capable.”
“I can show you how to make leather, but not nearly as fine as what Kashrem makes.” I tug her dress over her head, and the moment I do, she grips my cock in her small hands, making the breath hiss from my lungs.
“Let’s not talk about clothing right now?”
I chuckle. “So eager?”
The shy duck of her head tells me everything.
I sink to the ground on the furs and tug her down against me, pulling her into my lap. She settles on one of my thighs, her small, tailless bottom wiggling as she adjusts herself. I cup one of her breasts in my hand, admiring the softness of her skin and her gasp of response. “You are so soft all over, my Kira,” I murmur, and lean down to take a taut nipple into my mouth.
She moans and her hips buck, and her arms go around my neck, clinging to me.
I lick and suck at her nipple, teasing it with the ridged tip of my tongue. Her soft cries tell me that she likes this, very much, and I can feel the wetness from between her legs seep onto my thigh. My other hand moves there to her cunt, to dip into her sweet honey. She’s hot and soaked under the dark curls between her legs, her folds juicy and waiting for my tongue. My mouth waters at the thought.
And then I remember that she brought the courting present I made for her. Does she want to try it? I’ve not heard of such a thing, but humans are adventurous and I’m eager to participate. I did make it as big as my cock, and even though I want nothing more than to bury myself between her legs, I’m intrigued by how she’d react if I use the courting gift on her.
My fingers glide between her slippery folds. She’s hot and wet, and her hips move as I stroke her, encouraging me to push into her. A little moan escapes her as I lick her nipple, and that decides me. I want more of her moans, her cries, her wails of my name. I want to drive her wild.
I reach back to the shelf and pick up the courting gift, and hold it in front of her.
Kira inhales sharply, and her gaze flicks to my face.
“It’s a good replica, is it not?” I admire my carving, right down to the veins tracing along the shaft. “You have no idea how many hours I spent staring at my own cock to get this right.”
She giggles softly. “And you did that just for me?”
“Of course. You are my woman and I wished to please you.”
She leans forward and her arms tighten around my neck, and she kisses me softly on the mouth. “You always please me, Aehako.”
I drag it over her belly. “And now I want to please you with this,” I tell her between kisses. I feel her stiffen, and her breath quickens, but she doesn’t tell me no. Encouraged, I slide it lower, moving the head of it to her mound. “I think, like my cock, I will need to make sure it is wet with your juices before I slide it into you.”
A whimper escapes her throat and her arms tighten around my neck.
“Spread your legs for me, my mate,” I tell her.
She bites her lip again, but her legs ease open. I can see the gleam of wetness on her upper thighs, and I can smell the hot scent of her. It drives me insane with need. A growl forms low in my throat. The need to claim her is strong, but my curiosity and the titillation of the toy – as well as the thought of pleasing her – drives me. I push the thick head of the toy between her folds and it presses against her third nipple.
Kira cries out and her hips lift, her arms tightening around my neck. “Oh God!” The scent of her musk perfumes the air even thicker than before. Her body quivers.
I drag the head of the false cock through her wet folds, getting it slick. Every movement of it makes Kira react – she is climbing off my lap with her need, her fingernails digging into my shoulders. I push the head of the false-cock into her, and she whimpers. I move no further, because to do more, she will have to change positions, and I want her to ask for it. I want to know she’s enjoying herself as much as I am. My own cock throbs with neglect, but for now, it is all about Kira and her need.
When I push no deeper, her whimpers increase, and her hips rise up, encouraging me. “Aehako,” she pants, and her nails dig into my skin. “Please.”
“Do you wish more, my mate?” I lean in and kiss her, and give the fake-cock a little push to remind her of its presence.
She makes a soft, wordless sound, and then nods.
“Do you trust me?”
Again, she nods. Her eyes are huge in her face, her pupils dilated with need.
“Then lie flat for me.” I pull the fake-cock out, and when she simply stares at me, I lick the head clean of her juices. A low growl escapes my throat. She’s delicious, and I want my tongue on her.
Kira shivers, and then nods. To my surprise, she flips over onto her belly and pushes her bottom up in the air, her legs slightly spread. Her stomach presses against my thigh, and I want to correct her…but stop.
Her bottom is smooth, no hint of a tail to interrupt the sweet curve. I realize that if I press the false cock into her, there is nothing to stop me from sinking it all the way inside her. Entranced by the thought, I push my fingers between her thighs to stroke her cunt, and she moans hard, pressing her face into the furs.
She’s wet and slick and ready, and I remove my hand and push the head of the false cock at the entrance of her cunt. Her wriggle of encouragement is beautiful to see, and I press it deeper, inch by inch, until it’s halfway into her. She moans as I begin to work it slowly, pushing deeper into her with each stroke. I’m fascinated by the sight of the cock – my cock – pushing into her and my own cock jerks in response.
“Aehako,” she moans, and her hips wiggle as I push it deeper into her. As I do, the spur presses up against her backside, and she lets out a squeal. “What was that?”
“That was the spur.”
“Oh,” she breathes, and relaxes again. “Oh, God, I don’t know how I feel about that.”
“Is it bad?”
“No, and that’s the problem.” She moans and pushes her hips higher again, encouraging me to give her more. I thrust it into her again, deeper, nudging at her bottom with the spur with every stroke of the cock.
And as she cries out, a stab of jealousy shoots through me. Stupid to be jealous of a carving, but I want her moans and cries for my cock. I want her cunt squeezing tight around me, her juices soaking my cock, not a bone carving.
I pull it out of her and toss it aside, ignoring her cries. But when I get up and adjust her hips, raising them into the air, her protests change to needy sounds, and she encourages me with her body. I run my hand over her smooth ass, my tail flicking. I never
realized that a lack of a tail could be so…utterly erotic. I spread her thighs for me and sink into her in one fluid motion, watching as my spur penetrates her bottom.
Kira’s cry of pleasure reverberates in the cave. “Yes!”
The growl escapes my throat and I grip her hips. It’s been too long since I touched my mate and claimed her for my own. I can’t hold back. I thrust into her again, rearing back and sliding deep into her once more, and Kira cries out her excitement. She can’t contain herself. The more I stroke into her, the louder she gets, and the closer together her wails become until she’s making one long keening noise as she comes. Her cunt clenches around me like a mouth, and then it becomes even more difficult to retain my control. I thrust three more times before I spill inside her, my entire body feeling as if it’s emptying between her thighs. I don’t stop pumping into her until I’m completely spent, and when I pull my cock from her body, I feel a slight sense of loss. Already I want to return.
But she sighs happily and collapses on the furs. “Oh, Aehako.”
“Mmm,” I say and lie down next to her, tucking her smaller body against mine.
“It should be criminal to be as happy as I am.”
I chuckle. “Do we not deserve a bit of happiness?”
She’s thoughtful as I pull the scattered clothing over her naked body to act as a blanket. I don’t want her to get cold. “I don’t know,” Kira says after a moment. “I just worry that the other shoe is going to drop.”
“You are not wearing shoes.”
She laughs. “It’s an expression. It means things are going so well that they are going to herald something bad.”
I kiss her smooth shoulder. “You worry too much.”
Her smile is soft as she looks back at me. “Maybe I do.”
KIRA
The move to the new cave is not what I expect, I suppose. In my limited experience between dorms and my own apartment, packing to move involves boxing up everything at a furious rate, and days of unpacking and placing items in their new homes. But the sa-khui people don’t have as much junk as your average American girl does, and once it’s decided who is moving to the new caves, everyone’s packed and ready to go that afternoon.
It’s a little shocking, but also exciting.
Aehako and I are taking the painted cave. I have to admit I’m excited to have my own cave, especially one that’s already decorated and comes with a makeshift tub. Aehako loads his furs, his hunting tools, and his carving utensils, and he’s ready to go. Me, I have even less than that. My worn leather dress, a pair of snowshoes, and my blankets. I think Aehako’s mother Sevvah takes pity on me, because she fills his arms with a few baskets and utensils from her own cave, clucking over her baby bird finally leaving the nest.
Coming with us to the new cave is a mixture of old and new. Maylak and her family will be staying in the primary cave, since she is the healer. Vektal and Georgie, and all of the newly-mated couples will also be staying with them, since no one knows exactly how a sa-khui/human pregnancy is going to go. Elder Kemli and her mate Borran and their young daughter Farli will be coming with us to the new caves. The elders – all men – will be coming and split into two of the caves. Tiffany, Josie, and Claire will be joining us, along with several of the bachelor hunters who now get to split the big, roomy caves at the front of the South Cave system. There’s a bit of grumbling because the South Caves are full of the single and the elderly, but Vektal wants the elders to teach the humans the way of life here, and who better to do that than someone who’s already lived a hundred turns of the season and is still going strong?
The only couple coming with us that Aehako’s unhappy about is Asha and her mate Hemalo. While they’re a mated couple, they also don’t have a small child, which means they’re a natural pick to come to our cave, and all of the other caves back at the tribal complex are now back to their original uses. One of the hunter caves is now meat storage once more, and there’s an empty cave that Vektal wants set aside in case Liz’s pregnancy progresses faster than expected.
It’s a good group heading to the South Cave, despite Asha’s annoying presence. We hug all around – even though we’re only a few hours walk – and then set out. Claire’s happy as could be, now that she knows Bek is also heading to the South Cave, and Tiffany’s eager to learn more crafts from the elders. Josie’s chattering happily to Kemli and Farli, even though neither can understand her. Haeden’s coming to the new cave as well, and he looks rather irritated at Josie’s talking. Part of me thinks that Josie’s blabbering is good for Haeden, who’s entirely too self-contained and lost in his own thoughts most of the time.
When we make it to the South Caves, people exclaim with happiness and for the next few hours, there’s a lot of eager running around and exploring, checking out each other’s caves, and setting up. A large fire is built in the central area, for lighting as well as to give the area a homey effect. It’s nice and toasty warm for us humans, though I do notice that several of the hunters strip down due to the heat.
“Can’t say that’s a terrible side effect of things,” Tiffany murmurs at me as I gawk at Aehako’s brawny, sweaty chest as he sweeps a branch over the floor, ridding it of debris.
“No,” I say, distracted as another near-naked hunter strolls past. “I can’t say it is.”
At that moment, Asha stomps forward and puts her hand on my mate. “I want to talk to you, Aehako. I don’t like my new cave! It’s too small.”
Tiffany rolls her eyes. “Here we go. Princess is going to lobby for your cave, just you watch.” She saunters away. And she’s probably not wrong. It’s clear that a long, long time as one of the few single women in the sa-khui tribe has made Asha rather spoiled and demanding. Of course, she’s mated now.
Of course, I am, too. And she’s touching my mate’s arm and pretending to cry, and the sight of it irritates me. I watch as Aehako reaches out and pats her shoulder, trying to comfort her. “Your cave is one of the nicest. I promise.”
“It’s small,” Asha pouts.
Oh, for Pete’s sake. She doesn’t have to share with anyone except her mate, which makes it twice the size it would have been if she’d had another mated couple squeezed on top of her. I sigh with irritation as she takes Aehako’s hand and tries to pull him toward her new cave, as if to give him a personal tour.
Enough of that.
I step forward, approaching Aehako’s back. As I do, I notice his expression changes to one of horror as he stares down at Asha. Worried, I quicken my steps—
And hear the unthinkable.
Aehako’s resonating and Asha’s got her hand in his.
Shoe? Dropped.
PART SIX
KIRA
I can’t breathe. My heart’s pounding in my chest so hard that my blood is thumping in my ears.
Aehako just resonated for another woman. I’ve lost him.
The shock and grief is overwhelming. I stare at their joined hands, and look at my mate. He puts a hand on his chest, and I can hear it thrumming from over here.
He’s resonating – his khui is reacting to the presence of his perfect mate.
And I’m not it. Asha is.
“I don’t understand,” I say. I can barely hear my own voice over the roar of blood in my ears. “Asha has a mate. You can’t resonate to her.”
You’re mine, not hers.
It’s too unfair. Aehako is the best thing that has ever happened to me and I’m going to lose him so quickly? A sob chokes my throat. My heart thumps a wild beat.
My handsome mate stares down at his chest, and then releases Asha’s hand. “I’m not resonating for her.” He turns to me, and his eyes seem unnaturally blue and bright.
The heartbeat in my ears pounds louder, faster. It keeps speeding up—
And then I realize what it is.
And I collapse with joy.
A moment later, Aehako’s big arms go around me and he cradles me to his chest. “Kira,” he murmurs, and holds my head tucke
d under his chin. “My Kira.”
My own chest reverberates and thrums with resonance. That pounding that I was hearing? It wasn’t my pulse. It was my khui, responding to his.
How is this possible?
Even as I wonder, my body changes. Intense feeling and need sweeps over me, like a full-body flush. A sexual flush. I feel my thighs press together, and the ache to be filled settles deep inside me. My nipples feel oversensitive, and my skin aches even as my khui sings a humming beat along with Aehako’s.
I cling to him, torn between hope and despair. “I…don’t understand.”
He laughs, and the sound is full of joy and wonder all at once. His mouth presses on my forehead, and he kisses me as we sit in the midst of the cave, collapsed around each other. “What is there to understand, my mate? Your khui simply needed more convincing.”
I laugh, and my laughter turns to tears. “But…I can’t—“
“Perhaps you can.” He strokes my hair back from my face. “The khui adapts you to live here. Perhaps it changed more in your body?”
I stare at him in wonder. Maybe it did. Maybe the khui finds the broken parts in a body and mends them. All I know is that I’ve always been told I could never have children. And yet here I am, resonating to the man I love.
“You are quiet,” he murmurs, and his arms tighten around me. “Are you not pleased?”
I press my head to his chest, listening to the sound of his khui singing to mine. It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard. “I am beyond joy. I can’t even…” Hot tears well up. “I never imagined…”
More than the child, more than anything…Aehako is mine forever.
He growls low in his throat, and I feel the press of his cock against my hip. “Shall we go to our cave and please our khuis?”
I choke out a laugh, clinging to him. “Yes, please! Please!”
Aehako gets to his feet, and I immediately feel bereft – and needy – the moment I’m no longer pressing my skin to his. But then he scoops me up into his arms, and I’m filled with such utter joy once more that nothing could break my happiness.