by R. E. Butler
“I’m happy to see you, too.”
“I’m sure you have a lot of questions.”
“Dero didn’t tell me anything about others living here. He only talked about his family.”
Sloan used the pitcher of fresh water from Warrick and a gray powder from a ceramic pot to make a paste. She directed Tarihn to soak strips of white fabric in the paste and then give them to her, which she used to wrap his ankle. While they worked, she told Tarihn about Warrick kidnapping her and taking her to a wooing chamber.
“Warrick’s plan was to woo me in the ways of our forefathers. When Villi and the others showed up to ‘set me free,’ they didn’t know that Warrick had chosen me from his heart and not from the machine. They brought us here to their city and asked us to join them, along with our families.”
Sloan finished putting the last strip of wet fabric around Dero’s ankle. The paste was drying quickly; already the cast had a firm feel to it. She stood and lifted the bowl that contained the remainder of the paste, gesturing for Tarihn to follow her outside. Sloan knelt next to a tub of water and rinsed her hands, then cleaned the bowl. Tarihn followed suit and cleaned the paste from her skin.
When they returned to the tent she saw that Dero was still asleep; his chest was rising and falling rhythmically with each breath. She was glad he was resting after he’d stayed up all night to keep watch over her.
Sloan gave her a wooden cup of hot tea from a steaming kettle and joined her on a hide couch.
“Dero said that the government named them Ligaru,” Tarihn said.
“We believe they were trying to dissuade others from going over the mountains and starting a new way of life, too. I certainly never knew they were real.”
“They’re really Norlanians like us?”
“Yes. I can’t really explain it myself except to say it’s part of the evolution of their kind. Living on this side of the mountains is harsh, and they adapted to it. But yes, they’re just like us.”
“If they hadn’t thought they were rescuing you…,” Tarihn started.
“We would have lived in Kyvern City forever.” She put her hand on Tarihn’s shoulder and smiled sadly. “I wish I could have brought you with us, but we had to be careful who knew about our plans. If there were a mass exodus of females from Kyvern City, it could have made the government suspicious.”
“I understand. I wish I’d been able to come with you, too, but it’s all right. I had a good life before. I have a better life now, with Dero, but I have to believe that the timing was right for us.”
“I’m certain it was. There are other things you need to know, but I’ll leave that for Dero. I’m happy to answer any questions you have, and maybe when you’re settled you can consider helping me out with medical care. I’d be happy to teach you.”
“Thanks. Dero and I haven’t really talked about what my life will be like here.”
“I suspect he was more concerned with getting you here first.”
She and Sloan talked until Dero woke, his first word a panicked “Tarihn!”
Hurrying to his side, she leaned over and said, “I’m right here.”
He let out a sigh of relief and pulled her on top of him, drawing a squeak of surprise from her throat. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”
“Actually, you passed out from pain and then drifted into sleep,” Sloan said from the end of the pallet. “You’re wearing a cast. I gave you an injection that will speed up your body’s natural healing ability. You should be able to have the cast off in a few days without any lingering effects. Although, your father cautioned me that he once broke his arm and now whenever the weather gets cold it aches.”
Dero ran his thumb over Tarihn’s cheek. “Can I walk on it?”
“Villi is making you a crutch so you’ll be able to get around, but try not to put any weight on it.”
Tarihn smiled down at him. “I can think of ways to keep you off it.”
“My sweet ilora,” he murmured, “I can, too.”
Chapter 6
The flap to the tent opening lifted and Dero’s mama ducked inside, followed by his papa. His mama bent over and hugged him. “I was so worried when you didn’t come home after the bombings.”
He patted her back with a smile. “I thought you might come looking for me.”
She straightened and gave him a wry smile. “I considered it, but your brother assured me that you would be safe, and I couldn’t exactly interfere with your wooing.”
“Mother, this is my soul mate, Tarihn. Ilora, this is my mother, Yelda.”
The females looked at each other for a brief moment and then hugged tightly. His mama sniffled and Tarihn squeezed her eyes shut tightly. “I’m so thankful for you.”
“I never expected to find a male who would care for me.”
Yelda leaned away, her hands resting on Tarihn’s shoulders. “Because you’re sterile?”
Tarihn nodded. “Dero said he didn’t care. I’ve never known a male who willingly chose a sterile female, except for Warrick. He was an anomaly.”
“You thought he was,” Dero reminded her.
She smiled. “I told Dero I wasn’t right for him, but he wouldn’t listen.”
“All the males in our family are quite hardheaded,” Yelda said. “Evening meal is in our home tonight, and I trust you’ll both join us.”
Dero wanted to tell his mama that, in fact, he hadn’t planned to leave the tent with Tarihn at all, but he suspected if they didn’t come to dinner, his mama would bring dinner to them. “Of course,” he said.
Nelari said, “Paoli and Kate would like to visit in the morning to bring clothes for you. Since my son took you from your place of work, we’re assuming you have only what you’re wearing.”
She looked down at her outfit and nodded. “I had brought a tunic from the wooing chamber that fit me, but I used it to secure the branches for the splint.”
“Paoli makes wonderful clothing. His mate is from the Earth planet. She helps him and also makes storybooks for the children.”
Tarihn frowned. “Children?”
Yelda nodded. “Our females aren’t sterile, and our males aren’t born with blue hair.”
“I don’t understand. I thought our people were basically the same?”
Nelari cleared his throat. “Yes and no. Sloan can explain things to you more thoroughly than I can, but she discovered that the serum given during pregnancy eventually caused the sterility in females, as well as the males to be born with blue hair. The serum the males take during the soul-walk changes their hair back to the natural brown color once they’ve mated with their soul mates.”
Sloan added, “We did find that even without taking the serum, some males’ hair turned brown on its own after they mated with their true soul mate. Warrick’s did, and so did Dex’s.”
“Dex is here?” she asked.
“He rescued an Earth female who had been taken to the brothel,” Sloan said. “When they mated, his hair turned brown.”
“So the government caused the sterility and the blue hair? Why?”
Sloan shrugged. “I don’t know that they knew the serums caused sterility in the female offspring, but I do believe that they purposely made the males’ hair blue to encourage the idea that only the government could find the appropriate soul mate. For money, perhaps, or power – their reasoning doesn’t matter as much as the fact that they caused so much grief and heartache for the females.”
“Now we’re left behind,” Tarihn said. “Cast aside and not good enough to mate.”
Dero snarled angrily. “It’s their loss. You shouldn’t have been blamed for something you couldn’t control.”
Tarihn sat down on the pallet and took his hand. “If I hadn’t been cast aside, I wouldn’t have been available for you to abduct. I’m not too mad about the outcome.”
Yelda laughed. “You’re a wonderful addition to our family, Tarihn. I look forward to getting to know you.”
As Dero’s parents left, Vil
li came in with a crutch, followed by Pilar. Tarihn leaped up from the pallet and embraced Pilar. “I’m so glad to see you!”
Pilar smiled as she hugged Tarihn back. “How odd that we both mated brothers from the other side of the mountains! If I’d known you were coming here, I would’ve brought clothing for you, but Villi didn’t tell me until we’d already left my home.”
Dero said, “Paoli is going to provide her with clothes. I’ll be going hunting for special skins, too.”
Tarihn looked back at him, her brows high. “Hunting?”
He nodded. “Eas is great at finding reash.”
“What’s a reash?” she asked.
“They’re the size of a hupi, with soft pale fur,” he answered. “Their skins are used for clothing, and their meat is delicious roasted.”
“Oh stars. I’ve never roasted anything before.”
“I’ll help,” Pilar said. She’d cooked for many people on the other side of the mountains, and she was a teacher as well. “The city has a meal together once each week, and we often eat the evening meals together with our families. I’m learning how to cook over an open fire myself.”
“I can’t believe how different things are here, but good, too,” Tarihn said.
“Try the crutch,” Villi suggested stepping around Pilar and Tarihn. Dero eyed the crutch. It was hewn from a thick branch, and fabric strips had been wound around the armrest to add padding. “See if it’s the right size. I can pare it down at the bottom if it’s too tall.”
Dero took it, feeling the cool, smooth bark against his palm then braced it on the ground and stood. He hobbled on his good foot for a moment as he fit the crutch under his armpit and tested it by leaning on it. He was able to put his weight on it and move slowly away from the pallet.
“How do I look?” he asked Tarihn.
“Just perfect.”
Villi rolled his eyes and made a gagging sound, which made Pilar, Tarihn, and Sloan laugh.
“Thanks, Villi. I owe you one,” Dero said.
“That’s what brothers are for,” Villi said before smiling at Tarihn. “We’ll see you at evening meal.” Pilar kissed Tarihn on the cheek and the couple ducked out of the tent.
“How is your pain level?” Sloan asked after she inspected the cast a final time.
It felt like an odd weight on his foot, which made his whole leg ache, but the sharp pain from earlier was gone. “Better.”
She handed Tarihn a small paper envelope. “Sprinkle some of this powder in water for him to drink before bed for the next two nights. It will help him rest.”
“I don’t plan to rest,” he said, winking at his soul mate. Her cheeks turned scarlet and Sloan laughed.
“Okay, I remember being newly mated. But when you are ready to rest, the powder will help you to sleep deeply so your body can heal. Plus, you won’t run the risk of moving too much and making the pain suddenly worse.”
“Thank you for everything,” Tarihn said.
She stepped from the tent first and held the covering flap up, and Dero followed. “Where’s our tent?” she asked as she lowered the flap.
“Follow me, ilora,” he said. He began to walk with the crutch, finally finding a good rhythm of taking a step with his good foot and then swinging the crutch out. He gestured to the tents as he said, “I’ll give you the real tour after my foot is healed, but for now, my parents’ tent is there, then Carus’s tent, then Villi and Pilar’s, and then ours.”
She said nothing as they drew near to the tent. He had never spent much time decorating the exterior. It was just him, after all; he cared only about the comfort of the bed inside, not how pretty it was on the outside. Now, however, he wished he’d done more to make it pleasing to the eye.
He reached for the door flap and held it up, allowing her to step inside. He followed, closing the flap and tucking a loop over a hook to keep it closed securely. That would ensure they weren’t disturbed.
“When I left my parents’ tent to live on my own, I only made a simple one. Some of the bigger tents have a separate room for the bed, but I never cared.” He moved to her, the crutch creaking a little as he hurried. “I’m sorry that it’s not special. I’m sure your home on the other side was nicer.”
She was staring at the bed, which was a thick pad stuffed with feathers and fur on a pallet that lifted it off the floor. Turning to face him, she said, “I do think the tent is nice, and I’m happy that it’s not nicer.”
He frowned. “I don’t understand.”
“It means you didn’t have a lot of female input on how to decorate.”
“That’s very true. You can change or add anything you like. It’s not just my tent any longer, but ours.”
“I want to try out the bed,” she said, licking her lips. Her eyes darkened and the subtle scent of her arousal filled the air. She smelled sweet when she was turned on, and having spent many times with his face buried between her thighs, he could attest to how sweet she actually tasted. “But your ankle,” she said, frowning as she looked down at his cast.
“I’ve got an idea, if you’re willing to try,” he said, hobbling to the bed and sitting down. He set the crutch on the floor and pulled his tunic over his head.
She chewed on her bottom lip and looked at the closed flap over the door. “People will hear us.”
“It’s part of life in the city, ilora. We will hear others, and they’ll hear us. After a while, it fades into the background.”
“You’re not going to encourage me to be quiet?” she asked as she joined him, standing between his parted thighs.
He placed his hands on her hips, pushing her tunic up until he bared her stomach. Leaning forward, he kissed her soft belly, smiling as her skin twitched under his lips. “I would never do that. I love to hear you fall apart. To know that it’s my fingers and tongue and cock that make you scream so beautifully.”
She lifted the tunic over her head and smiled down at him, running her fingers through his hair and tugging lightly, bending over to kiss him. Their lips met and parted, their tongues sliding together. He loved the soft sounds she made when they kissed, little moans and gasps. He nibbled on her bottom lip lightly and then kissed her jaw and throat, tilting her head to give him better access. Then he pulled her closer and kissed her breasts, licking and sucking her nipples. The buds grew firm as he played with them, until she was panting for breath and twisting his hair in her fingers.
Releasing his tight hold on her, he leaned back and lifted his hips, pushing his trousers down his legs. Before the cast was put on, Sloan had cut the fabric so he could remove them. Tarihn helped him take the trousers off completely, dropping them to the floor and running her fingertips lightly over his legs. Her touch set off little shocks throughout his body. He wanted to let her explore him as much as she wanted, but first, he wanted to make love to her.
She brought his fingers to her lips and kissed the tips, then smiled playfully at him and pushed her trousers down her legs. She straightened, letting him drink in the sight of her naked body. She was so lovely, with creamy, soft skin, large breasts, and curves that made his mouth water. Her sex was bare, and he could see the evidence of her arousal.
“You’re so beautiful,” he murmured. “And mine.”
“You’re mine, too.”
He drew her close, pressing his lips to her stomach and slipping one hand between her legs, brushing his fingertips lightly over her pussy lips. He stared at the wetness on his fingers as he drew them out. “Look how wet you are,” he murmured, sucking them into his mouth.
“I’m always turned on around you,” she answered, her voice a rough whisper.
He looked up until their eyes met as he returned his fingers between her legs, running them along the seam of her sex. With each pass over her pussy, he pressed his fingers a little deeper, tracing a light circle over her clit with each stroke. Circling the entrance to her pussy, he coated his fingers, running them up to her clit and strumming the nub a few times. Her hands twisted i
n his hair again, and he smiled as he left her clit and pressed a finger inside her. She was hot and wet, the scent of her was enough to drive him insane. She tilted her hips to take him deeper and he added a second finger, pumping the digits into her pussy. She groaned when he pulled them from her depths, but he rewarded her by passing them over her clit, rubbing the nub just the way she liked. Her breathing became shallow, and he wrapped his other arm around her back to keep her in place as he played with her clit.
She moaned loudly as she came, chanting his name, and he fingered her pussy, drawing out her pleasure until she sagged against him. He sucked her sweet honey into his mouth and watched her bite her lower lip as she shivered. Then he slowly turned her around until she faced away from him. She caught her long hair over one shoulder and looked back at him. There was nothing but trust in her eyes, and he was humbled to the core to know she trusted him with her pleasure.
He reached for a pillow and tucked it behind his head, lying back but keeping his feet on the floor. He wrapped one hand around his cock and said, “Settle on me, ilora.”
With some help from him, she settled over his cock and slowly lowered herself onto him. She felt exquisite – so tight, so hot, and all his. When he was inside her completely, he pulled gently on her shoulder and she laid back on his chest, spreading her legs on either side of his.
He thrust up, burying himself deeper inside her and she groaned loudly. As he moved, thrusting into her as much as the position allowed, he wrapped both arms around her. He kissed her bared throat as he plucked at her nipples with one hand, then pressed his other hand slowly down her belly. She grasped the bedding under them, spreading her legs further, which tightened her pussy and made him growl.
Her clit was wet and swollen, and he knew she was sensitive. Using a light touch, he rubbed it and sucked on her throat, kissing and playing with her in every way he could.