I glanced back to see him. "What about snow?"
He chuckled. "It doesn't snow every year, and sometimes it's only a little. Other times it's a lot and lasts for about a week. Usually, that's right around the winter holidays."
"The Moles probably won't hunt then," I realized.
"We can hope," he said, pausing to let out a sharp but short whistle. "Girls?"
Under the blanket, I pointed in the direction of my dogs, making the fabric poke out on that side. "They're sniffing over there, probably chasing the scent of a squirrel or rabbit that was out earlier."
"I can just never see Holly at night," he admitted. "Pepper's a shadow, and hard to find, but I can do it. Holly? She might as well be invisible."
Which made me giggle. "I can see her."
"Good." Then he pulled me closer. "But I have a question, and I want an honest answer, okay? Not an answer to make me happy, or the one you think is right, but the kind you'd give a friend you can trust."
"I do trust you," I assured him.
He leaned forward, putting his mouth next to my ear. "When do I get to hear your opinion about sex?"
I tensed. "Um..."
"Saying, 'I don't know' is an answer," he assured me.
"I..." I had to twist a bit to see him easier. "Is it wrong?"
"Nope," he said. "I'm not completely sure which 'it' you're talking about this time, but the answer is the same. You have three partners. Those three partners aren't idiots. We're also friends, and we do talk. That means I know about you hunting with Zasen - in the most vague terms. I also know about you and Kanik. Also vague. I think he said something like, 'She made the decision and is no longer a virgin.' But that's about it."
"And it's okay to talk about," I said, mostly reminding myself. "In the compound, such things were never discussed. At most, a woman would mention the chance of pregnancy. Copulation, fornication, and marital duties were just not discussed!"
He chuckled. "Well, I'm still not a Mole. I'll also talk to you about anything you want to hear. You just have to ask."
"Okay," I said, deciding to see how true that was. "Did you have sex with the red man who was an asshole at your bar?"
"Qavan?" He shrugged. "Yes. Oral and anal. Oral is like what Zasen did. Anal is in the butt."
"I had sex with Kanik the normal way," I said, turning back toward the trees.
It was easier. If I didn't see him, my face didn't get as hot. I also didn't mind telling him. No, that was a lie. Iwantedto, but I had no clue if it would be wrong, and I didn't want to mess up things with Kanik.
"I bet Kanik's a good lover," he said. "I mean, the man's sexy."
"He really is!" I gasped, looking back - and giving up on my attempt to not blush. "And he's so nice to me. Gentle? I'm not sure, but he never makes me feel like I'm stupid."
"Because you're not," Rymar said. "But was it okay? Did it hurt as much as you thought it would?"
"No..." I found myself smiling and unable to stop. "It feels good."
"Yeah." He reached up to tuck a loose hair behind my ear. "That's why women seek it out. See, Dragons know something Moles don't. If we share the pleasure, then it's even better. There's something amazing about making the person you're with feel like that."
"So..." My face was much too warm. "If I want to do it again, I can ask?"
He lifted a brow. "Him?"
"Well, yeah."
"Shit, Kanik will gladly agree," he assured me. "Zasen too."
But I noticed he'd left something out. Sheepishly, I asked, "You?"
