“They died of an illness we call the stiffness.” I did not elaborate further. I did not want to think about my mother and sister laying on their furs unable to move with their muscles locked in place like the fallen logs found in the forest. I was not ready to share with Gab-bae the shame of my dekes, how we were cast out because the night many of us shifted for the first time was the same night the first female fell ill. Many more females came down with the stiffness as the lunar cycle progressed, and most died. The Savrix said we were to blame. We were cast out, many of us only thirteen seasons old and newly orphaned.
“I’m sorry to hear that.” Gab-bae walked around to my front. “That must have been hard.”
I only grunted in response. To my great disappointment Gab-bae did not touch the base of my tail again. Instead she handed me the soap and said, “All clean and hopefully scentless.” A warm smile adorned her face.
I shook my head, “It is not enough to be scentless, we must also mask our scent.”
“Mask our scent?” Gab-bae asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.
I waded through the water to the nearest tree and pulled off a piece of bark, a shiny oil dripped down the trunk where the bark had been removed. I coated my fingers in the oil and walked back over to Gab-bae, who was staring at my cock. Did she find it pleasing? I’d never given much thought to how my penis looked before.
“We mask our scent with the tree oil.” I approached Gab-bae and placed my oiled fingers on her neck. I slid my hand down her collarbone to her chest and over one of her breasts that I’d been so fascinated with. She sucked in a breath as I coated the dark tip.
She gave me a shy smile and said, “Sensitive.”
Right, I had forgotten about that. I would hold onto that information for later.
The thought of my hand bringing her pleasure made my mouth run dry. I wanted to continue touching her. I wanted to tease her nipples until she moaned my name.
Belatedly I realized my hand was still resting on her breast. She looked down and asked, “Have you ever touched a female before?”
I shook my head no. “Not allowed.”
“Not allowed?” Her face scrunched up in confusion. “What kind of dekes is this?”
I shook my head again. “The main dekes banned us from ever touching a fertile female. They do not want anyone to be cursed like us.” The shame of my confession weighed heavy on my shoulders and I wondered if Gab-bae would still look at me with joy in her eyes.
“Cursed?” She looked surprisingly indignant. I wanted to bring a smile to her face once more. I ran my thumb across her nipple again and she gasped.
“We can talk about that later.”
She took my empty hand and placed it on her other breast. “I’m not part of the other dekes,” she breathed. “You can touch me.”
For a moment I was frozen with indecision. I did not wish to curse Gab-bae with my touch. Iwantedto touch her more than I’d ever wanted anything in my entire existence, but I did not want to bring the stiffness upon her.
“It’s ok, Tarak,” she encouraged, and as if she read my mind she said, “you won’t curse me.”
I chose to believe Gab-bae and ran both thumbs over her sensitive nipples again and again until the lagoon was filled with her soft moans. I massaged the soft tips between my fingers and Gab-bae’s arousal perfumed the air.
She grabbed onto my shoulders to balance herself and her touch felt like embers on my skin, permanently marking me as hers. I wanted more of her touch. I wanted her hands all over my body, engulfing me in her warm presence, her joyful spirit, her radiant smile.
“Where else are you sensitive my Gab-bae? I wish to bring you more pleasure.” My voice came out gruff and demanding.
Gab-bae was about to respond when I heard a branch crack underfoot nearby. With great effort I pulled away from Gab-bae. “I hear animals approaching,” I informed her.
I retrieved her coverings from the grass and handed them to her as I donned my ramirei skin covering and winced as I shoved my hard shaft inside.
I shifted into my animal form and informed her that we must go. Then I got down on one knee and motioned for Gab-bae to climb onto my back. “I will get you to the safety of the den.” I promised.
Once she was secure, I walked at a brisk pace down the trail to Orsu’s den.
Chapter 11
Gabby
I was still feeling hot and bothered when Tarak heard a noise in the forest and hastily put his pants back on. I dressed as well and soon we were back on the trail. I much preferred riding on Tarak’s back to being flung over his shoulder. I watched as his muscles flexed and tensed as he moved and marveled at his general sexiness. I could hardly believe this sweet-hearted male had never been touched by a woman before.
He said he was cursed and I wondered what he meant by that. I mulled it over as we passed teal topped trees and green vines. The main dekes didn’t have any shifters while Tarak’s dekes was made almost entirely of shifters. He was also very hesitant to show me his shifter form today. Were Tarak and his hunters ousted because they’re abilities?
