“He hides it well,” Zara says with a grin.
I hide my own, even if she’s right.
“Greetings, females, but most especially my beautifulkeeshla.” Strong arms wrap around my waist and Katem nuzzles my neck.
A shiver runs down my spine and inside my shoes, my toes curl a little. I turn in his embrace and throw my arms around his shoulders.
“Greetings to my handsome husband.” I rise up and kiss him, not caring the other two women witness our affection.
“Okay, you two, get a room,” Zara calls out with an amused tone.
“Maybe we will,” I say back with a saucy hair toss.
Katem growls and leans in close to my ear. “Do not tempt me like that,keeshla.”
I giggle, even as my face gets hot, and then turn to Alesha. “Do you mind if we head out?”
She shakes her head. “Spend time with your mate.”
“Thank you, again. For everything.”
The elder woman fists her chest. I do the same and then take Katem’s hand and lead him away from the forge. We stroll hand in hand through the village. The sun is bright. The sky, clear. While there is a breeze that ruffles my hair, it’s still warm enough.
“I’ve been thinking.” I glance over at my mate. “Do you think we could go ahead and try a swimming lesson before the evening meal?”
“If that is what you wish,” Katem says.
“It is.”
“Then let us swim. We will head down to where the females wash and if no one is there, we will place a foot covering on the bush and no one will disturb us.”
I chuckle. “Maeve told me how someone unintentionally flashed her naked bits to the unmated males once.”
“That was the first time we had ever seen a female’s chest mounds and cunt.”
“Wait.” I lift my head and narrow my gaze. “Were you one of the guys that got an eyeful?”
Katem’s lips quirk like he’s fighting a smile. “Jodah and I did not realize Remi was not wearing any coverings. We only heard a fright-filled scream and raced toward where we thought was danger. We did not expect to come across a naked female.”
“Oh my god. How mortifying. I assume everything was fine?”
He nods. “This was before the few remaining Krijese became our allies. Daveel had been knocked unconscious by Kala who had then observed Remi swimming. She spotted him as well. Her yell is what brought us to the river, but he had already disappeared by the time we arrived.”
“She’s lucky, especially if you all were still enemies at the time.”
“Kala had already grown tired of fighting by that time,” Katem replies. “He had no wish to battle either Jodah or me is what he told us later.”
“That’s good.”
He clasps my hand. “You have nothing to fear, my mate. I will protect your naked form from anyone who might wish to try and see it. Even myself. Unless, of course, you wish to show me.”
“Katem, are you propositioning me?” I ask with fake outrage.
“I do not know the meaning of this word.” He shrugs, a far too human gesture that looks endearing when he does it. “I am merely saying that no one will see you without coverings.”
“Except you.”
“I would be honored to see you without coverings.” His lips twitch and he’s no longer able to hold back his laughter.
