by Ruby Dixon
I squeeze against him tighter, holding him closer. “I love you. I love you so much.”
“Thank you, my mate.”
It’s not the answer I expect from a declaration of love, and I look up at him in surprise. “Er, thank you?”
“For giving my tribe new life. Here on this shore, and”—he touches my belly—“here, L’ren.”
Okay, now I’m going to cry again. Damn pregnancy hormones. I grab him and pull his mouth to mine, kissing him with as much intensity as I possibly can. He responds hungrily, his tail wrapping around my thigh and pulling my knees apart until I’m straddling his leg, our bodies entwined, our mouths together, tongues tangled. I caress that faint shadow on his jaw, the one that darkens his skin but won’t ever turn into a beard, not like those of O’jek’s clan. A recessive trait, just like the fangs and the big horns.
That’s all right, though. I wouldn’t change a thing about my K’thar.
He tears at the leathers covering my body, and I know he wants my bare skin against his. Our leather clothing is crude and hastily made, and I’m not even sorry when he tears the seams apart and rips the leather dress off of my body. A moment later, his hand moves to caress my pussy. “Is your cunt wet for me, my mate?”
“Very,” I breathe, shocked and more than a little titillated at his crude words. My mate just dirty talked to me. God, that’s fantastic. I press against his hand to show him just how wet I am.
He growls low with pleasure at that realization and two of his hands move to my hips. K’thar hauls me against his chest, and I know what will happen next—there’s too much urgency between us for long, drawn-out sex. No foreplay this time, just a joining of bodies. I reach between us to help guide him into me, and a second later, he’s pushing into me.
I gasp, my nails digging into his skin as he slides deep, and then he’s seated to the hilt inside me, the nub above his cock slicking through my wet folds to land in place next to my clit.
And it’s perfect. He holds me close and thrusts into me, and we move as one, our eyes locked. “My mate,” he murmurs as he possesses me. “My Llo.”
“Yours,” I tell him in a soft voice, full of love and lust and pure joy as we slowly come to a climax together. I’ve crossed galaxies while I slept, crossed an ocean and back again, but none of that matters. I know where my home is—right here in his arms.
It’s where I’ll always want to be.
Author’s Note
Hello everyone!
I feel a bit like Oprah as I close this book. I’m sad to finish Lo and K’thar’s story, but I’m so excited to get to the others. You may have noticed there’s a lot going on for our tribe. There’s a lot of storylines going on concurrently, and if you know me and my writing, you know I intend on getting to all of them. Hence the Oprah moment: YOU GET A BOOK! YOU GET A BOOK! AND YOU GET A BOOK!
So if I didn’t answer a question or highlight a particular pairing, it’s coming! Next in Icehome, we’ll circle back to a bit of what happened on the beach while Lo and Mari were having island troubles. We’ll visit Veronica and her big golden Ashtar and see how things happened there. I’ve got other couples I’m setting up (muahaha) and of course, there will be a story about Z’hren meeting his new mommy…
But I hope this answers a few questions. If you’ve been reading IPB since the beginning, you’ll notice that Josie saw a hint of the island way back in book 6. The island volcano erupted (destroying K’thar’s, R’jaal’s, and everyone else’s tribes) with the great earthshake in book 9 that left everyone homeless and covered in ash. So, yes! There is ALWAYS a plan. I just couldn’t get to it right away because so much was happening with the tribe then (much like now) and it took a few stories to get to my four-armed island people. They’re descendants of the original village builders that left the murals. See! I have a plan!!!!
I drew my inspiration for the volcano itself from the historic eruptions of both Krakatoa and the one in Santorini (look them up on Wikipedia—fascinating stuff). When those volcanoes erupted, they destroyed islands and were so big that they could be heard from thousands of miles away. Yikes! At any rate, I thought it might be a fun thing for a character to live through…or at least fun to write.
I’m really enjoying the new direction of the series and I hope you are, too! Let me know what you think. I’m always curious and your feedback is important to me. I cannot stress enough how much fun I have with these books, and I hope you have just as much fun reading them. <3
All Best,
Ruby
PS - We’re not done with the other tribe! I think Ariana’s story will be next.
Cast of Characters
The Island Clans
Clan of the Strong Arm
K’thar – Hunter, de-facto leader of Strong Arm, resonates to Lauren/Lo
J’shel – Hunter of Strong Arm, resonates to Hannah
N’dek – Hunter of Strong Arm, recently lost a leg in a kaari attack
I’chai – deceased female, mother of Z’hren
Z’hren – Orphaned child of Strong Arm
Fat One/Kki – nightflyer pet of the clan
Clan of the Tall Horn
R’jaal – Clan leader of Tall Horn
T’chai – Hunter of Tall Horn, resonates to Marisol
M’tok – Hunter of Tall Horn, resonates at end of book
S’bren – Hunter, brother to M’tok
Clan of the Shadowed Cat
I’rec – Clan leader
O’jek – Hunter
A’tam – Hunter, said to be the handsomest on the island
U’dron – Hunter
The New Arrivals (Icehome Tribe)
Lauren/Lo – Adult female at the beach camp. Once had glasses. Likes to be a problem solver. Resonates to K’thar.
Marisol – Terrified adult female at beach camp who is fond of hiding. Gets stranded with Lo on the island. Resonates to T’chai.
Hannah – Vektal’s self-proclaimed assistant. One of the females at the beach camp. Resonates when the island tribes arrive.
Angie – Adult female at the beach camp. Pregnant with mystery baby. Focus of twin fascination.
Willa – Adult female with a southern twang. Lo’s friend. Stolen by Gren.
Gren – Beastly, feral ex-gladiator male. Attacks on sight. Steals Willa away from camp.
Veronica – Newest healer on the planet. Resonated to Ashtar upon arrival. Bit of a klutz, otherwise bland.
Ashtar – Flirty golden ex-gladiator and former slave. Resonates immediately to Veronica.
Vordis – One of the red twins, ex-gladiators.
Thrand - One of the red twins, ex-gladiators.
Tia – Teenager at the beach camp.
Nadine – One of the adult females at the beach camp.
Callie – One of the adult females at the beach camp.
Bridget – One of the adult females at the beach camp.
Steph – One of the adult females at the beach camp.
Raven – One of the adult females at the beach camp.
Penny – One of the adult females at the beach camp.
Devi – Chatty adult female at beach camp. Ex-scientist.
Flordeliza – Adult female at beach camp.
Samantha – One of the adult females at the beach camp.
From the Old Tribe (Croatoan)
Vektal – Chief of the Croatoan tribe. Mated to Georgie (human) and father of two daughters.
Rokan – Hunter of the Croatoan tribe. His mate is Lila.
Bek – Hunter of the Croatoan tribe. His mate is Elly.
Raahosh – Hunter of the Croatoan tribe. Messed up horns. Mated to Liz and has daughters back in the village. Generally unpleasant to be around (except to his mate).
Liz – Snarky human mate to Raahosh. Her children are back at Croatoan.
Salukh – Hunter of the Croatoan tribe. His mate is Tiffany (back at the village).
Ereven – Hunter of the Croatoan tribe. His mate is Claire (back at the village).
Hassen – Hunter of the Croatoan tribe. His mate is Maddie (back at the village).
Zolaya – Hunter of the Croatoan tribe. His mate is Ariana (back at the village).
Pashov – One-horned hunter of the Croatoan tribe. His mate is Stacy (back at the village).
Cashol – Hunter of the Croatoan tribe. His mate is Megan (back at the village).
Rukh – Hunter of the Croatoan tribe and ex-outcast. His mate is Harlow and his son Rukhar is back in Croatoan village.
Harlow – Mate to Rukh, mother to Rukhar. She assists Mardok with technology stolen/looted from the broken ships. Very pregnant.
Farli – One of the few sa-khui females. Mated to Mardok, and has a pet dvisti named Chompy.
Mardok – Ex-soldier who has chosen to remain on the ice planet. Technology guru. Mated to Farli.
Ice Planet Barbarians
Want to know how it all started? Need to read Vektal’s story? Addicted to big blue aliens? You need to try my other books, my friend! As always, my stories are free to read in KU!
Click here to borrow or buy!
Book 1 of Ice Planet Barbarians
You'd think being abducted by aliens would be the worst thing that could happen to me. And you'd be wrong. Because now, the aliens are having ship trouble, and they've left their cargo of human women - including me - on an ice planet.
And the only native inhabitant I've met? He's big, horned, blue, and really, really has a thing for me...
Other Books by Ruby Dixon
ICE PLANET BARBARIANS
Ice Planet Barbarians
Barbarian Alien
Barbarian Lover
Barbarian Mine
Ice Planet Holiday (novella)
Barbarian’s Prize
Barbarian’s Mate
Having the Barbarian’s Baby (short story)
Ice Ice Babies (short story)
Barbarian’s Touch
Calm(short story)
Barbarian’s Taming
Aftershocks (short story)
Barbarian’s Heart
Barbarian’s Hope
Barbarian’s Choice
Barbarian’s Redemption
Barbarian’s Lady
Barbarian’s Rescue
Barbarian’s Tease
PRISON PLANET BARBARIAN (stand alone)
THE CORSAIR’S CAPTIVE (also stand alone)
FIREBLOOD DRAGONS
Fire in his Blood
Fire in his Kiss
Fire in his Embrace
BEDLAM BUTCHERS
Bedlam Butchers, Volumes 1-3: Off Limits, Packing Double, Double Trouble
Bedlam Butchers, Volumes 4-6: Double Down, Double or Nothing, Slow Ride
Double Dare You
BEAR BITES
Shift Out of Luck
Get Your Shift Together
Shift Just Got Real
Does A Bear Shift in the Woods
SHIFT: Five Complete Novellas
Want More?
For more information about upcoming books in the Ice Planet Barbarians, Fireblood Dragons, or any other books by Ruby Dixon, ‘like’ me on Facebook or subscribe to my new release newsletter.
Thanks for reading!
<3 Ruby