The liquid washed over her tongue as she took a healthy swallow and immediately her throat began to burn, the brew burning a path of fire to her belly.
She held back her cough with everything in her, though her eyes watered and her voice sounded scratchy as she rasped, “That’sstrong.”
Kirov laughed. “Tev, the way we like it.”
Almost immediately, her head went fuzzy, her muscles loosening as the alcohol hit her.
Note-to-self, one sip of this stuff equals, like, four tequila shots, she thought.
“I think I’m getting a little tipsy.”
Kirov’s lips quirked. “Tev, female?”
“Yes,” she whispered, smiling. “You could totally take advantage of me and I would really,reallylike that.”
Kirov growled, but watched as she snuck another little sip from her goblet, the bitter taste much more pleasant the second time around.
Suddenly, the music began to change, the drum becoming more prominent, drowning out the flute/violin noise. Luxirians stood from their chairs, grinning, flushed from the alcohol and their full bellies, and made room for a dancing area. Young females were snagged around the waists by young males and led to the dance floor, where they were joined by other couples.
Lainey watched in fascination as they began to dance, though it was unlike any dancing she’d ever seen. It was…primal, aggressive, sensual. Soon, the dancing area was packed with couples, full of gyrating bodies and swaying hips.
The drum grew louder, the beat more intense. Lainey’s breath hitched, feeling the pull of the music, feeling it throb inside her, wrapping around her core, heating it. Her nipples tightened as her breath grew more and more shallow.
She could see how these celebrations turned carnal, as Kirov said. Watching the dancing, Lainey felt like a voyeur, though other Luxirians didn’t seem to be as affected by it. Older Luxirians, elders even, sat at the tables, happy and content to socialize. The younger Luxirians, however, watched. Most of the younger females were snatched up as the dancing continued, more and more couples joining.
And every now and then, Lainey would catch an unclaimed female looking at Kirov and it made her stiffen.
When she turned to look at him, his eyes were only on her and she couldn’t help but ask, “Have you danced at these celebrations before?”
He blinked. “Tev.”
Lainey returned her gaze to the dancing area, watched as a young male snuck his hand beneath a female’s dress, watched as her head tilted back, her lips parted in a silent moan. A moment later, the male led her off the dancing floor, into the forest of thick trees surrounding the lake.
“Did you…” Lainey trailed off, jealousy piercing her. “Did you…”
Kirov followed her gaze to the forest line. He understood her question and when he hesitated, Lainey inhaled a sharp breath, though she knew she had no right to be jealous.
“Tev,” he murmured, bringing his hand to the back of her neck, tilting her face to look at him, only him.
Lainey looked at Kirov, her blood throbbing in her veins, fierce jealousy surprising her with its intensity. He washers. Yet, how many females in attendance had known him in a way she didn’t yet? He wouldn’t have sex with her, not until she committed to him. But it wouldn’t have stopped him from having sex with others that came before her.
Looking at him, Lainey knew he would have had his pick of any of the unmated females in attendance. He’d probably never gone home alone after these celebrations. He’d probably had females approaching him before the celebration even began.
Kirov rasped, “Does this anger you?”
“Yes,” she said, reaching forward to take another sip of the brew. It fogged her head just a little bit more.
“Does it make you jealous?”
“Of course,” she hissed, feeling the brew burn down her throat.
Kirov’s grin was dark and her eyes narrowed on him. Then he tugged her forward and she couldn’t help but gasp when he kissed her, dragging her onto his lap, for all to see. Lainey’s eyes fluttered closed, her hands immediately sinking into his hair, as his tongue stroked over hers. He tasted of the brew that made her mind fuzzy, that made her inhibitions loose, and her jealousy potent.
When Kirov pulled back, he rasped, “I do not remember a female before you,luxiva. I cannot recall them. I am yours and you are mine.”
Lainey’s fingers sunk into his hair deeper, liking his words entirely too much, dragging him back to her lips.
Through their kiss, he continued with, “You willnevertouch another male butmeand I willnevertouch another female butyou. For the rest of our lives. You have nothing to be jealous of.”
