“A tampon,” Nyree snapped, refusing to allow embarrassment to take control.“For the time of the month when I bleed.”
He frowned and glanced from her to the tampon.“How does it work?Aroha used a special moss.Does this contain something for the pain?”He inspected it from all angles.
His matter-of-fact acceptance eased some of her angst.“The tampon comprises special material.It goes inside me and swells.I change it as necessary.If I get cramps, I’ll take a painkiller.”
“Do you go to a special place with the other women?”
Her lip curled.“A place of banishment?”Her words carried a distinct bite.
“No!”He sounded shocked.“We never banished our women.They went to rest and do as much or little as they wanted.It was their time of celebration, and if they bled for the first time, it was extra joyful with gifts andwaiata.”
“They sang songs because they’d started their period?”
“Yes.This was a time of acknowledging the connection between the people and the land, the common ground with our ancestors.”
“Huh,”Nyree said.“That sounds much nicer than what happens now.We seldom discuss a woman’s time of the month.”
“What is that?It looks like a weirdure.”At her frown, he gestured at his cock.
“Yes, that is exactly what it is.It is a fake cock that a woman can use to pleasure herself if she does not have a man.”
When he continued to look puzzled, Nyree handed over the vibrator.It looked small in his big hands.“You place this inside you?”
“Yes.”Now she sounded defensive.“I can’t get pregnant with a vibrator.”
“You don’t want children?”His gaze was intent as he asked this.
“Yes, I’d like to have babies, but not right now.”
“You cannot choose when to havetamariki,” he said.
“These days, you can.I take a pill each day to stop a child from forming.And we’re finished with this discussion.”She grabbed the vibrator from Tawera and somehow hit the start button before she had control of it.It sprang to life with a loud buzz.
“Gosh-golly!” Tawera let out a manly shout and released the vibrator.“It moved,” he said in horror, his eyes big rounds in his pale face.
“It does that.Out.Time’s a-wastin’.I need to be back at the store in time for the next cruise ship.”
When Tawera didn’t move, Nyree shrugged.She could do this with him in the room.If she shocked him enough, he’d leave anyway.A shudder went through her, arousal a riptide that left not one inch of her skin untouched.She dropped to the bed and splayed her legs, uncaring of what Tawera might think.She closed her eyes, desperate for release.
Nyree slipped the vibrator inside her, turning up the power and manipulating the fake penis to hit her G-spot.She dragged it out, her pace slow and steady, a groan working free as she massaged her clit at the same time.
A soft touch at her breast had her eyes flying open.
“Let me,” Tawera said, his eyes darker than usual.
Nyree’s breath caught.His irises were almost black, and she got the sense she was staring straight into the heart of his taniwha.Without breaking their visual connection, he stroked the side of her breast.A shiver ran through her, down her torso, and straight to her sex.A jab of pleasure resounded back, and her eyes drifted closed.
Tawera settled on the bed beside her, his big, callused hands caressing and stroking her breasts, her nipples.He seemed to understand what she wanted instinctively.He grounded her with his firm touch.His pinches.The way he rolled her nipple between finger and thumb.His hand lifted, and she moaned in protest at the loss of contact.
Now that Tawera had touched her, she craved more.Much more, and she was aware of the ticking clock.He settled beside her, a muscular, warm and naked body.
“Let me love you,” he whispered against her ear.
“But we’re friends.Your camaraderie is important to me.”That was the truth, but she experienced an extra something that wasn’t solely friendship.This growing emotion was going to cause trouble for her.She knew this, but at this moment, she didn’t care.
“I will always be your loyal friend,” he said.“Always.”
She slid the vibrator from her needy body, turned it off, and set it aside.Her flesh pulsed, and she stirred restlessly, urgency thrumming through her body.
