He picked me up and I wrapped my legs around his waist, cuddling myself against him, burrowing into his warmth as I breathed in his scent.
"Meanie wear Veck’s ring and stay forever like Meanie says people do?"
"Yes." I grinned as I cupped his face and pressed my lips to his. "Yes."
He gripped my rump in one hand and ran the other hand over his lips, surprised.
"What's this?" he asked as he smiled against his fingertips.
"It's a kiss. Haven't you ever kissed anyone before?"
He looked truly shocked, but elated, so I'd say that answers that question.
I guess we've never kissed on the lips before...
I found that hard to believe, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized I couldn't recall a time when we had.
"Only Meanie for Veck."
His brow wrinkled and he blinked at me.
"You mean you've only kissed me?" I asked a little confused.
"No." He shook his head. "Lo denaii only one mate. Meanie Veck's," he said succinctly.
"You mean... you've never been with anyone else? ...ever?" I asked incredulously, my eyes bugging out at the idea.
"Only Meanie," he said solemnly, nodding his head emphatically.
"You... you were... you were a virgin?" I blurted, my voice squeaking at the end.
If it could, my jaw would probably be hanging off its hinges, hanging by my knees by now.
"Veck not vir… gin...Veck Lo denaii..." He frowned down at me.
I giggled at his misinterpretation and hugged him, breaking out into a fit of giggles when he scowled at me.
"What makes Meanie laugh? Veck not funny."
I grinned and kissed him again, giggling against his mouth when he purred and clutched me tighter to him.
"Meanie make Veck happy," he murmured against my lips, swooping in to capture my lips with his own. "Very happy."
I grinned, smiling against his mouth.
"Veck likes kissing his Meanie." He purred and I sucked on his lower lip, nipping at it playfully as he moaned and gripped me tighter, his large hands pawing at my pants, sliding my legs from around his waist so he could pull my pants off.
"I don't think that's going to work," I giggled as I licked the seam of his mouth.
He growled in frustration, then growled again when he realized he'd forgotten about my boots.
I motioned for him to set me down and turned around, placing my hands on the tree stump, arching my backside into the air as I bent over it.
"Well," I wiggled my bum at him, "what are you waiting for? I'm getting cold over here, husband."
Veck leaned over me, hands gripping my hips as his erection slid between my thighs.
I marveled at the thickness, taking him in hand, pushing the fur covered foreskin back to reveal his thick, very human like shaft.
He moaned as I stroked him, my hand running over the head teasingly.
"Meanie," he said on a breath, thrusting into my hand impatiently.
"Yes, I am," I giggled, then laughed when he growled at me in exasperation.
"But I can be nice," I said looking over my shoulder to wink at him.
I placed him at my sex and impaled myself on him, the cold winter air nipping at my exposed thighs as I worked myself onto his rock hard erection.
I moaned when I'd taken him all the way, gripping the tree stump as he pulled out a little and pushed back in, my inner walls gripping him tightly as he pumped in and out of my sheath.
He grew frantic, his pace becoming erratic, growling harshly as I clenched my inner muscles around him, clamping down on him tightly as he mumbled to me in his own language, his breathing coming harsher as he grew mindless with need.
I ground myself back against him.
"Harder, Veck," I whimpered, moaning happily when he slammed into me, Veck growling out his excitement as my body responded with a fresh wave of wetness.
"Hold me tighter," I instructed as I removed one of my hands from the stump and rubbed it against my clit, grinding myself back against him as I manipulated myself with the palm of my hand.
He gripped my hips hard and snarled, slamming back into me.
Stars shot forth, dancing across my vision as he rammed my sweet spot. His harsh, persistent thrusts had me crying out, heading towards that precipice, ready to crash right over.
"Veck!!"
I came screaming, calling out his name as my body greedily pulled at his shaft, milking him dry as he bellowed my name out in return, his own climax overtaking him as he filled me full of his seed, panting my name like a prayer as my body attempted to drain him of every last drop.
I leaned back against him when he pulled me up and held my back to his chest, placing small nips and licks against my neck as he grasped my hand, pulled it up to his lips, kissed the tips and placed his ring on my finger.
"My Meanie," he murmured huskily as he held me close.
"Yours," I affirmed, clasping my hands over his, the stone in the ring winking at me in the moonlight from the frosty clearing.
"Forever," he promised as he turned my head to the side and kissed me tenderly, sweetly, carefully.
Very carefully.
He does have sharp teeth after all.
"Forever," I promised as I kissed him back.
Chapter 10
"Where were you last night?" Bia asked quizzically as we walked to the river, my one water jug looking sadly pathetic compared to the six he could easily carry himself. "I thought you said you were going to be there?"
"Getting married," I sighed and blushed a little when a giggle escaped.
"What's that?" he asked as he looked at me curiously. “It sounds familiar… maybe Mama’s said something about it before…”
"It's like mating for my people."
A small smile played at my lips.
I grew excited just thinking about the night we'd spent in each other’s arms, after we'd eventually made it back to the cottage.
Out of all the snow beasties I could have ended up saddled with, I'm glad I got him. He makes me happy.
A smile crept up the corners of my lips.
Really happy.
It's kind of sad that when I'd reflected back on my old life, I knew it was miserable, I was miserable. Coming here, odd as it has been, has turned out to be a good thing. ...my life here is much more... everything.
Everyone here is a community, they work together, everyone has something to do... they help each other out... genuinely care...
Granted, I'm not sure I'll ever get over how I got here... but I wouldn't want to go back. Not anymore.
I recalled the happiness in Veck's face this morning when he woke me up with a kiss and called me his wife.
It was very sweet.
Of course he'd butchered the word wife at first, making it a little hard to understand what he'd meant... coming out more like wiff, but he got the hang of it quickly and I thanked him properly by riding him cowgirl style, sending his ass to snow beast heaven...
I wonder if he's still wearing that adorable little boy grin he had on when he'd left this morning.
Yee haw, Mina! I thought and broke out into a fit of giggles, chortling.
"You're acting strange," Bia observed, quirking a brow at me as I tried to stifle my fit of the sillies.
"I'm sorry," I said clearing my throat, trying to sober up my expression. "This better?" I asked with a straight face.
"You're very... different, Mina..." Bia said slowly, studying me intently.
"Hey!" I huffed.
Ugh! What is that supposed to mean?
I voiced my thoughts out loud, very loudly.
He didn't respond.
I huffed at him again and grew silent as we made it to the river and unloaded the large empty jugs to walk them to the stream and fill them back up.
"Well, excuse me!" I said haughtily, a little hurt by his admission, hurrying past him so he wouldn't see the wounded look on my face.
"Mina?" Bia asked as he made
his way to the river, standing just behind me as I studiously ignored him in favor of filling up my jug.
The sun was out today and I was grateful for its warmth, soaking it up as it bathed my face with its heat.
I closed my eyes and acted like I hadn't heard him, popping up when my jug was filled, so I could grab another one and get this whole trip over and done with.
If he's gonna be like that...
"Mina..." Bia tried again as I gave him a dirty look and walked right past him, water jug clutched to my chest as I made my way towards the other empty ones.
"You’re taking it all wrong," Bia clipped, frustrated, walking up behind me to try and take my full jug of water from me. "Mina!"
"No," I pulled away before he could take it from me, "I don't need your help. I'm different, remember?" I said sarcastically.
Today was supposed to be a good day, I grumbled inwardly. What a prick he is for ruining my good mood!
"You're a prick," I muttered at him under my breath.
"Mina! Take it back!" he growled belligerently, completely offended, putting himself in front of me to block my path, hands on his hips in irritation.
Oops! Did I say that too loud? Heh. Heh.
"No." I side stepped around him. "You take it back."
"I didn't mean it like that, you’re being silly, Mina," he grumbled.
"Silly! Oh, now I'm silly? I'm acting different? How about you, huh? You're the one who's been acting different for the past three weeks! What gives?!!"
"No, I didn't say you're acting different. I said you are different."
"How the heck is that any better?" I stamped my foot. "You are the one acting different lately, mister! You've been alternating between 'my Bia', the one I'm best friends with and then 'mean Bia', the grump who acts like Kirch's little brother."
"Cousin," he grumbled quietly and I almost didn't hear him.
"Beg pardon?" I asked, my eyes growing wide.
Bia cleared his throat and looked at me funny, "He's actually my cousin."
"Oh, well, hells bells! That just about explains everything, doesn't it?!" I exclaimed with fake enthusiasm.
Bia glared at me and I glared right back.
"What's the matter, Bia? Did I hurt your feelings?" I snickered, setting my jug down to reach for another.
I'd had a feeling for a little while now that something like this would happen. That we would come to a head.
I just didn't think that it would be today.
We need to do this, though. Hash it out, get past whatever is going on with him, whatever he's not saying and get things back to normal.
"You make me crazy! You know that!" he growled as he pulled me around to face him.
I growled back at him when he growled again, going toe to toe with him.
"You're torturing me, Mina... and you don't even realize it, do you?" His voice suddenly went soft, a little hoarse as he ran his hand down my face gently and cupped the back of my neck.
He leaned in and I gasped as his breath puffed out warmly against my lips.
"Bia, what are you doing?" I whispered as his eyes bored into mine, the clear blue of his eyes startlingly beautiful so close up.
"What I've been wanting to do since the first time I saw you." He leaned down and pressed his lips to mine, kissing me hungrily, his lips enveloping mine, his tongue snaking out to swipe across the moist cavern of my mouth as my breath caught on a gasp.
"Veck..." I protested, but he muffled it when his tongue slipped inside my mouth and ran over mine tentatively, experimentally.
He moaned and pulled me closer, his hands greedily exploring all of the dips and curves of my body as my heart pounded like a jack hammer through my chest, my pulse throbbing in my ears, body sparking to life.
"Wait!" I cried out, stumbling away from him before anything went any further, "I'm with Veck," I said desperately, trying to shuck the feelings he was evoking in me.
I shouldn't feel this way... shouldn't be doing this...
Oh, god! I let him kiss me... and I liked it!
I'm mated and married, damn it! And I am not a whore!
I touched my lips, now swollen from his kisses and hiccupped a little, disconcerted and confused as my body continued to throb from his attentions.
"What are you doing, Bia? What the hell’s gotten into you?!" I shouted, wrapping my arms around myself as I hugged my ribs tightly.
"I... I... Mina... I want you... I... Mina I..." he said haltingly, his eyes looking at me imploringly as he held out his hand and reached for me.
"No," I shook my head, pulling out of his reach, trying to ignore the hurt I saw flashing in his eyes.
"Mina, please. I lo..."
"NO!" I choked out, shaking my head at him. "No. Don't. I promised Veck."
Turning around quickly, I ran from him, tears streaming down my face as I took off, headlong into the woods, avoiding the main part of the village, so I didn't have to explain anything to anyone.
I was heading straight for the cottage I shared with Veck.
Veck... I thought as my steps started to falter. What am I going to tell Veck?
I hiccupped again.
I won't lie to him, I asserted... but the idea of wiping the look of utter contentment from his face... the idea of never again being witness to that silly little self-satisfied grin he's been carting around lately... never being the reason he wears it...
I can’t do it just yet… not yet…
I made a quick decision and headed deeper into the woods, heading to a spot Veck had shown me a time or to.
His special place.
Our special place.
I walked up to the familiar small pond with strange little fish in it, thriving happily in the warmer temperatures of the hot springs fed pool of water.
I saw the mist rising up in the frosty mid-morning air and knew I was going in the right direction.
I sank down on the mossy frost covered bank and put my head on my knees, bawling my eyes out as I hiccupped and sniffled uncontrollably.
I don't know how long I sat there, but I jumped and screamed when I realized a hand had been rubbing my back awkwardly.
Probably for quite some time.
I squealed like a ninny and flopped head over hind quarters into the pond, splashing around indignantly as I tried to push my hair out of my eyes.
I coughed up a lung and spit out a little more pond water, kicking my legs to keep me afloat.
How deep is this damned thing anyways?
Silly me, ha ha, I thought all ponds had shallow water...
"Meanie?" a gruff voice asked from the bank, awe in his voice as I looked up and saw Kirch crouched by the edge, his eyes wide with fear and disbelief as he gawked at me openly, his hand reaching out towards me to get me back on the bank.
I was too far away though, so he kept teetering on the edge helplessly as he repeatedly tried to reach out for me.
"What were you thinking?! Sneaking up on me like that! I didn't even hear you coming!" I shrieked at him, waving my arms around at him indignantly as I ranted at him from the warmth of the pond.
"Meanie walks in water?" he asked puzzled, tilting his head to the side as he studied me bobbing like a cork.
"I'm swimming," I told him, swimming around a little to demonstrate, "See?"
"Meanie teach Kirch? Kirch swim too?" he asked hopefully.
"Why should I help you?" I snorted, giving him a stern glare. "You brought me into this mess in the first place! You kidnapped me, threatened to eat me! And told Veck you had a claim on me! Which you most certainly do not! Oh! And where the hell is Candy? If you've hurt her in any way… I'll cut your nuts off and feed them to the fishes!"
His eyes widened and his hands slowly slid down his torso to cup his testicles, mouth opening slightly as he gaped at me.
"Kirch not hurt Candy! Kirch took Candy back!"
"What do you mean, you took her back?"
My eyes narrowed to slits as I stared him down.
> "Kirch took Candy back. Kirch took Candy back to cabin. Candy's mate George.” Cautiously, he sat down on the bank and eased his feet into the water.
"Meanie teach Kirch to swim now?" he asked as he leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees as he watched me floating in the water.
"How did she get home, Kirch? I thought the portal was closed?"
"Portal opened again," he smiled at me, "Candy cry for mate. Cry a lot. Kirch make Candy happy. Candy find George now, go home. Meanie happy now? No more crying?"
"The portal's open now?" I grilled him, swimming a little closer, searching his face, looking for any sign that he was lying to me.
He growled in frustration and splashed water at my face.
"Meanie teach Kirch now?"
"NO! You big white baboon! I'm not done getting answers from you and so help me god, until I do, no swimming lessons for you!" I shouted, wiping the water he'd splashed at me from my face.
Kirch's face flushed pink and I could see him grinding his teeth together in frustration as he got up and moved restlessly along the edge of the pond, mumbling and muttering under his breath as he glared at me.
Good! Let him get mad! The jackass deserves a little comeuppance! I thought, feeling justified in this situation.
"Is the portal open now, Kirch?" I asked, cutting to the chase.
He studied my face and shrugged, clearing his throat.
"No."
"Oh." I deflated a little, sinking a little bit more into the water, letting it go up to my chin as I had myself a little pout.
"Don't sink, Meanie!" Kirch yelled frantically, his eyes going wild as he gripped his hair in his hands and freaked out on me.
Hmmm... Interesting...
"I won't drown," I told him, smiling a little as he fidgeted and paced, enjoying his distress as he yelled at me like a mother hen.
"Wanna see something cool?" I grinned at him mischievously, waiting for his reaction.
He let go of his hair and gave me a pleading look.
"Meanie get out of water? No more swim. Kirch no swim, yes?" he begged, swallowing hard.
"Sure," I said agreeably, "as soon as I do this."
I smiled and waved, taking a deep breath before ducking down under the water, sinking down, touching the bottom and coming back up.
A few seconds later I broke the surface and started swimming for shore, ready to hightail it home to dry off.
The Bridal Hunt Page 9