by Rena Marks
“Why pay for toothpaste that has baking soda added to it when I can just use baking soda?” She grinned easily.
“I’m not sure we’re learning anything. Even though we understand the words, we lose the meaning,” Dronan whispered.
“We’ll just have to try harder,” Tristan whispered. The fool was blocking his hearing.
“Are they whispering again?” One of the women asked.
“They’re up to something,” one of the females said.
“Someone talk,” Bajoc hissed at the rest of the men.
Aello began to babble. “What shall we talk about?”
“Doesn’t matter. They can’t understand us.”
“Which one of you has that one? With the baking whatever that needs replicated?” Bajoc said.
“She’s mine,” Chastien said.
“Make sure she gets it. Lock a small sample in stasis so we always have it. Call it baking croda.”
“Done.”
“They’re back to talking amongst themselves.” The female who tied her hair back on her head said. She was an odd one, knotting the ponytail until it made a shape like a rock smack on top of her head.
“I think the milk is creamy enough to make butter,” one of the girls said. “I mean, it looks full fat. We just put it into a cold container and shake it up to see.”
“How long will it take?” another asked.
“Good grief. I don’t know, who makes butter by hand? Probably twenty minutes to a half hour?” There were several groans.
“I think we can make a game of it with the older children.”
“Yeah, but some of us have toddlers,” Lara said.
“You have the toddler. The next range of age is probably four or five.”
“That means no help from mine,” Lara said, and sounded dejected.
“Maybe the big black horned guy can help. You can watch his abs as he churns.” Dronan’s woman would be the most helpful to his mate, Tristan decided.
“At least we’ll have buttermilk for the bread after making butter,” someone else said.
“That’s a good point.”
“We need to get paper and pencils and write down all of the recipes we can remember,” someone said. “Keep them shared amongst ourselves. Lara, most of us need your bread recipe. We can make our own adaptations from there.”
“Will do,” Lara said. “I’ll write it down and pass it to the next house. You write a copy from that, and pass the original down to the next one. By the time it gets back to me, I’ll know everyone has had it.”
“Some things we’ll have to substitute. Like my lasagna recipe. We won’t have any noodles. Maybe a sliced vegetable that doesn’t have much taste?”
“Those yellow, round things are a bit blah. They’re not very juicy either, so if we make a tomato sauce, it should work.”
“What about cheese?” someone said.
“Hey, I’ve made mozzarella before. The whey can be used to make bread. But,” her face looked crestfallen. “We have no citric acid. Or rennet.”
“We’re teachers. We’ll figure this out somehow.”
“Stop staring,” Tristan whispered to the men and they quickly averted their faces.
“What are those kids doing?” One of the women asked.
The men all turned their heads to see the offspring. They were all standing, watching the interaction of the adults.
“Let’s break it up for a minute,” Tristan said. “Get the kids to training so the females can see how we do it.”
“Formation,” Bajoc yelled at the kids, who scrambled to stand in the lines they’d been taught. “We’re going to show off for the females, so pay attention. Titi, that means you.”
“Are they standing at attention?” Anita asked. Her tone held a bit of horror. She was a strange one.
“Forward march!”
Most of the lines did well, though in that instance, Tristan wished they would have put the larger kids in the front lines instead of the smaller. As usual, Titi began to get bored and decided to do her dance wiggle instead of her march. As usual, everyone tried to pretend her lack of structure didn’t exist.
“Ohmigod, they even have your toddler training as a soldier. And look at those men. They look proud of themselves!”
Well, why shouldn’t they be proud? Sure, the offspring weren’t quite that good yet, but if the females had seen how horrible they were in the beginning, they would understand the long strides they made.
“I’m not sure they’re impressed,” Chastien said.
“Stand straighter,” Tristan yelled at the offspring. All complied…except for one.
“Potty,” his yelled back.
He groaned. Not again. Always at the most inopportune times.
“I know that word. I’ll get her,” Lara said, going to the line and hauling Titi up to her hip. She went back to their house.
Well, how was he supposed to impress his female when she wasn’t present to watch?
Tristan cursed.
“Hers is kinda rude,” one of the females whispered, her eyes large behind her spectacles.
“Poor thing. I’m glad she got stuck with him.”
Stuck with? They felt pity for his mate?
“This is not working,” Tristan growled.
“Nonsense,” Dronan said. “You are just a bit grumpy because your mate fell asleep last night. Mine did not. See how much better the world looks through my eyes?”
“Yours mated with you? How did you manage that?” Kamau should be ashamed of the whiny longing that sounded in his voice.
But as Lara approached again, Titi walking slowly with her. Rejuvenated, Titi went back to her position in the formation. And again, the group looked worse for wear with her participation. But his offspring made up for it with her huge, toothless grin. Try as they might, they couldn’t get her to understand that soldiers were expressionless. However, her smiles caused the females to soften and coo.
“She’s just adorable. I love what you’ve done with her hair.” One female said. Then she continued, “Trince, stand straighter, son. That’s it. Good job.”
The young male in question looked proudly at the females. Even the tiny offspring were enamored of the new teachers. Perhaps this wouldn’t be so bad after all.
Lara bent over, and Tristan eyed the curves of her sweet rear.
Not bad indeed.
“I have an idea,” Chastien said. “Let’s show the women the village we created for the offspring. So they know we were caring of the small purple creatures, even before they were our kids.”
“Yes,” Aello said. “We created that village without help from headquarters.”
No one was going to admit that village was deemed a failure when they realized the young were going to grow much bigger.
“Forward, march!” he yelled to the children. “Troops, we’re taking a trip. Show the women what you’re capable of!”
Off the children marched, in a straight line. Well, except for Titi. He’d fix that problem.
Casually, he leaned over and picked her up, settling her on his shoulders. She alternated between pulling his horns and pulling his hair.
“Gentle, my child,” he muttered, and her pudgy hand patted his head soothingly.
“Da!” she screeched, and then plopped a wet kiss smack dab on top of his skull.
“Thank you,” he hissed, his black skin heating at the cheeks. “Remember you’re a soldier still.” She gave him a name. It wasn’t quite the word father like Tomlak managed, but it was a start.
Anita whispered to Lara. “She just saluted him.”
“Umhmm,” Lara said, one eye on Titi. “She’s awfully high up. It makes me nervous. Still, she looks like she rides up there regularly.”
Then women fell in line and one by one, they marched over to the next bend. The offspring began to get excited when they got closer to the old village. They seemed to think it was a “fun” place to hang out. Go figure.
The line of marchin
g troops grew a bit more lax as the village came into sight. Suddenly, without notice, the offspring fell out of line and whooped and hollered as they descended the small village.
“What is that?” one of the females asked. “A tiny town? Playhouses?”
“Ohmigawd, no, this is real running water,” one of them called out from a spigot in the yard.
“This is a real town.” The voice of one was stunned.
The children began to bang things in the buildings inside. After a bit of squirming, Titi tried climbing off his neck.
“Disperse,” he called out, ignoring the fact that the children were not standing at attention as they should. Then he lowered his own offspring. She took off after the rest of the kids with a running start.
“They are incredibly caring,” Anita said, stunned. “They built an entire, lifelike…play area for the children.”
Play area?
The females were entering the cramped quarters. They were smaller than the males, none of his men would enter. Not after building the ceilings to the cramped huts.
“It’s adorable. A replica of their own village, but in miniature.” Lara said. “Oh my God, the houses are exactly the same.” His female was impressed? He approached her slowly, holding out his arm for her to take. She slipped her soft fingers around his forearm, and he took her to the window of the small store, where right now a kid was playing with the register at the counter.
“Everything is so…authentic,” she murmured. “Such an eye for detail.”
His female was impressed. He took a deep breath, feeling his chest expand.
“The buildings are too real,” she said. “Is this a playground?”
“Lara! Did you see the church? And the library? It’s incredible, the detail they put into a playground for the kids.”
The one named Anita came up to them. “I just figured out a cool way to teach,” she said. If the kids can pay attention, this little playground will be the reward.”
“Good thinking,” Lara said.
Chapter Seven
She wasn’t getting away with falling asleep tonight. No, he would be the one to put Titi to bed. Gently, he rubbed the little one’s back, and sang softly under his breath. He watched as her eyelids fluttered and soon soft breathing filled the room. He rose slowly from the bed and was surprised to see Lara standing in the doorway. She’d waited on him.
“That’s a beautiful lullaby,” she whispered.
He stepped up close to his mate, closer than he’d ever been before. He watched her eyes grow wide before he bent his head and sealed her lips with his.
Her arms came up and curled around his neck, and then he bent further to scoop her up in his arms. She clung even tighter around his neck, and her soft lips were sliding over his, her tongue swirling over his. Lust shot straight to his cock, hardening it painfully. His balls tightened and he gripped her small ass in the palm of his hand. He made his way through the small hut, carrying her to his bedroom and depositing her onto the bed. He pulled both legs across his waist, sitting on the bed with her.
“Ah, stellina, I have wanted this for so long,” he murmured. “I will love you like no other.”
“I don’t know what you’re saying, but it sounds beautiful with that accent. So romantic.” She sighed, and he cupped the back of her head, bringing her lips to his for another taste.
“I don’t think you know what you do to me,” he said. She tasted of sweetness, like she’d sucked the nectar from a blossom. His cock was hard as a rock and he smothered a groan when she rubbed the core of her heat on top of his bulge.
“Oh, boy,” she said.
Did that mean she was impressed? Or did his size frighten her? “I’ll be gentle,” he promised. And he meant it. He’d worship her like the goddess she was.
“I can’t seem to help myself,” she whispered, still grinding her center on him. “I feel like I’m taking advantage of you. But I promise, I’ll go slower next time.”
Woohoo. All his lust crazed brain could think was: there would be a next time. She wanted him. His female wanted him.
Then she lifted the top she wore, baring her breasts for him. They were round and full, tipped with pink, hardened nipples.
“Is that for me?” he growled.
“I hope you’re a boob man,” she said. “If so, lose yourself in lust. I’m too far gone to think of anything but seducing you.”
Fine with him. He latched onto one of the delectable berries, sucking it into the warmth of his mouth.
“Ooh, that’s good,” his lusty mate moaned.
His fingers fumbled, tugging her skirt over her hips, taking a small wisp of fabric with it to bare her pussy to his view.
There were no words. While they were new to the pleasures of the flesh, there was no way to describe the tender, pink orchid she hid between the folds of pale flesh.
“I must taste it,” he said, and didn’t even care that his voice broke.
“I wish I understood you,” she said. “I’d tell you to run your tongue up and down my lips, and suck my clit.”
Clit? At his look of confusion, she continued on.
“The tiny pearl of flesh at the top. It’s a bundle of nerves, and it will make me explode in ecstasy. But that’s not all I like. I like a tongue deep inside me. I like a series of licks and sucks. I like a finger curled up in me.”
He’d give her all that and more. That female species so long ago had taught them well.
He felt her small hands grip his horns when he sunk down to his belly to feast on her.
“That’s sexy,” she muttered. “Almost like I can steer you to what I want.”
His tongue darted out and tasted her sweet flesh. Her taste exploded on his tongue, whipping desire throughout his body. It was beyond lust, it was a sense of satisfaction, of sharing. She was his and he wanted to please her.
Her hands squeezed his horns, pulling his face to her until her scent, her taste, her glorious pink skin infused his senses. He used every technique he was taught, and watched her seize and clench. She lifted one hand from his horn to muffle her mouth at the peak of her orgasm.
But he wasn’t done yet. He let her body calm, aware of her sensitivity. He moved up to her breasts, beginning a slow buildup again. Her body fired up immediately, and when she reached down to handle his rigid monster of a cock, he thought he’d pass out.
“Stellina, that’s it,” he said. Her fingers swiped over the tip of his erection, catching the liquid and bringing it to taste.
“You’re delicious,” she said. “But I really want this inside me. Tomorrow, however. Tomorrow I’ll lick and suck this until you’re a quivering mess, just like you did me.”
Her words alone almost made him come.
But he let her lead his erection to her body, placing his heated tip right against her pink blossom. Sweet, slick liquid coated her soft skin and he pushed inside the barest inch.
Sweet bliss! She was so tight inside, and hot as an oven. Beads of sweat dotted his brow as the pressure to plow into her sweet cavity beckoned.
“Come on, baby,” she whispered, her voice husky. “All the way. I’m so ready to feel you deep inside me. To be connected.”
He groaned, and buried himself to the hilt. Deep inside the recesses of her body, he quivered, burying his face in her neck as he caught his breath.
“No rest for the wicked,” she teased. “Move, big guy.” She rotated her hips, squeezing her exquisite channel over the bulk of his organ. Sweat broke out over his spine as he fought to control himself. But the wicked female didn’t care. She pleasured herself on his cock, gripping and releasing it with her hot channel.
He’d show her. He increased the blood flow to his cock, which resulted in a temperature increase.
“Sweet God almighty,” she gritted, her eyes popping wide. “Did you do that?”
He smiled, and began slowly plunging in and out, in and out, a carefully tempered rhythm.
“Oh, God, Tristan, that feels amazing
,” she gasped. “You’re amazing. I want you so much. Tomorrow night again. Promise me,” she demanded.
“I promise, stellina. Anything you wish, from now until the end of time.”
All around him, she exploded, sweet liquid pouring from her channel to cover his cock. With a rumbled roar, he allowed his own orgasm to overtake him, flooding her passage with his essence.
He took a few minutes to catch his breath, loving the way her chest felt as it beat against his. He flipped them over, bringing the blanket up with one arm to cover them. Together their hearts continued to pound, and her fingers curled into his.
“Amazing, Tristan. I could get used to this,” she mumbled.
“Me, too, mate,” he said, rubbing her back with his large palm.
Her breathing calmed and slowed, right before she fell asleep. Not him. He stayed awake, astounded at this woman who completed his life.
* * * * *
He felt like whistling in the shower, where he’d just slipped from Lara’s warm embrace. His mate wanted him. Tonight. She’d said so. Last night was the best sex he’d ever had, and she wanted it again. Life was good.
“Da,” Titi yelled, after pushing open the door.
“Hush, little one. We want Lara to sleep. Come here.” She waddled over to his shower, where he quickly reached down and stripped her, then lifted her up in his strong arms. The spray made her blink quickly, then giggle at the rivulets running down them both. “What are you doing up so early?” he asked.
She babbled nonsensically.
“Remember I told you we have to use gentle, soothing tones around Lara?” He winced as Titi yelled in his ear. “Shh,” he said. “Softly.”
She yelled again, but this time cupped his ear so as not to wake Lara. He sighed. “I imagine it is my own fault. The other warriors and I did not realize how loudly we spoke. I hope the females can teach you some manners.”
He soaped her a bit, and rinsed her off. She clapped her hands together, trying to catch the shower spray.
Suddenly, Titi wriggled her arms, excited as she looked toward the door. He followed her gaze. Lara stood in the doorway, dressed in a thin material that wrapped at the midsection. He stared at his mate, feeling closer to her than ever before. She met his gaze, taking his nakedness in stride.