But not half as tasty. I take another long, slow taste of her, letting my tongue glide between her wet folds to gather every bit of moisture.
She moans, still squirming in my grip, and I realize she wants me to go lower. That’s good, because that’s precisely my plan. I lick lower and find her opening as hot and wet as I’ve dreamed it. It’s impossible to stop at this point, because the taste of her is delicious and musky and I’m drugged by the scent and feel of her in my arms. The little cries she’s making are driving me wild, and I’m like a ravenous beast as I lick at her over and over again. I want more, though. More than just a few licks and tastes. So I push my tongue into her and use it like I would my cock, letting the ridges drag against her opening.
Farli’s cries are frantic now, and my own body feels as ifit’s about to lose control. I’m so close to the edge, and judging from the sounds she’s making, she must be, too. I fuck her with my tongue, moving it as fast as I would my cock, plunging it in and out of her sweet heat. Her thighs clench against my shoulders, and she stiffens, a loud gasp escaping her. I work her harder, and I can feel her walls constrict against my tongue, and then she’s coming with a little keening sound, and my tongue is flooded with the taste of her once more.
I don’t stop, though. I keep lapping at her, licking up every drop of juice and wringing every ounce of the orgasm I can from her body. When she’s shuddering and weak against me, I lift my head and set her hips gently back down in the furs. She’s so beautiful sprawled there, damp with sweat and her eyes heavy with need.
She raises a hand to me, beckoning me to get on top of her, to mount her and claim her as my own.
Gods, I want to more than anything. But I can’t do that to her. I can’t make her pregnant and leave. So I take myself in hand and stroke my cock. She watches me in fascination, but when I come a moment later and spill on her belly, that fascination turns to hurt.
And I feel like the biggest keffing asshole ever. I’ve ruined this moment. Failed her. “I’m sorry, Farli.”
Her smile immediately brightens. “It is all right, Mardok. Next time, we will make sure you are inside me before you lose your control.”
She thinks I accidentally spilled too soon? Somehow, that makes me feel worse. I take my discarded undershirt and wipe my spend off her gorgeous, flat belly, and then toss it aside. Her arms are immediately around my neck, and she’s pulling me against her, tail still locked with mine.
I should pull away. Let her sleep in peace. But I love the feel of her flushed skin pressed against my body, and I sinkinto the furs with her, my arms going around her waist.
FARLI
When I wake up in the morning, it is with my khui singing a happy song, my mate in my arms, his cock pressing against my thigh. It is hard even as he sleeps, and I stroke my hand up and down his back, thinking of last night. It was not perfect, but what we had was good. Tonight it will be better, when he comes inside me. We will just have to time our mating better. Resonance makes me itchy all over, but I can ignore it for a bit longer.
As if sensing I am awake, Mardok lifts his head and gives me a sleepy smile. His eyes are still that strange, dull color that makes me sad, especially when I realize that I will never see them lit with vibrant blue.
He does not want a khui. He does not want to stay here with me.
Suddenly, I am no longer in such a good mood. An ache builds behind my breast, even when he kisses me good morning and then gets up, shivering with cold. I watch him as he straightens the metal piece he wears over his nose—his breathing tool, he told me—and pulls on his warm, puffy tunic. I sit up in the furs. “What will you do today?”
“See what the captain has in mind, I suppose. I don’t think he’s ready to leave until he’s sure what the entire tribe wants. If there’s even one person that wants to leave, we’ll take them with us.” He shoves his leg through the clothing and then turns to look at me, pausing. His expression is hungry as he devours me with his eyes. “I know there’s still time, but…I have to ask again. Farli, go with me.”
“And lose my khui?”
“You won’t need it anymore.” He moves back toward the bed, his leathers falling off him. He gets down on his knees and then crawls over me, all graceful, deadly beauty. I put my arms around his neck and hold him close as he presses a kiss to my mouth and his weight rests over my body. I love the feel of him like this. “Just think about it a little more, all right?”
I will think of nothing else. It would mean losing everything I know and everything I have…to go with him. Am I brave enough to do such a thing? But I nod. “I will think on it.”
He grins and nuzzles my nose again. “Maybe after I check in with the captain, we can come back here and play a little more.”
My heart speeds up. “I like that idea. But I should check on Chahm-pee first.”
Mardok kisses me again. “We should both hurry back, then.”
We mate with our mouths for a little longer and then reluctantly dress. He is wearing his thick layers by the time I pull the privacy screen back and leave my house.
The moment I do, I hear a voice call out. “They are awake!”
Oh no. I laugh as I glance over. My three brothers are hurrying toward me, spears in hand. Salukh leads the way, and Zennek has a supply pack over his shoulder. Pashov sees me and grabs me around the shoulders in a mock-choke, tucking me under his arm and ruffling my mane. “What are you three doing here?” I ask. “It’s past time for you to go hunt.”
“We are taking your new mate out on the trails with us,” Salukh says.
“So he can meet the family,” Zennek says with a grin.
“And warn him about you.” Pashov ruffles my hair again.
“Warn him about me?” I laugh. “How is this?”
“We will tell him that if he mates with you, he is stuck with the biggest, smelliest beast on the planet,” Salukh says in a grave voice.
