“I...I don’t know. I’ve never experienced this before. Does it hurt?”
Taylor patted me reassuringly. “No, it feels nice.”
Her gaze turned pensive. “I think you’re knotted inside me.”
“Knotted?” I was unfamiliar with that term.
“Yeah, some animals on my planet have a knot. It’s where the base of your cock swells to lock you inside your mate to keep your seed from spilling out.”
“We are locked together until the swelling goes down for reproductive purposes?” This was welcome news. I enjoyed nothing more than to be as close to Taylor as possible, and the fact that it was keeping my seed inside her was an added bonus. Our child would be the most loved in all of our dekes. I’d make sure of that.
Eventually the swelling did go down, and with a sad sigh I removed myself from my mate and shifted back to my sirret form. We laid there feeling boneless for quite some time before we found the strength to get up again.
Chapter 33
Taylor
I laid in bed the next morning feeling worn out in all the best ways possible. Brexl made love to me over and over again as if he were making up for lost time, and I had no complaints.
My mate was off getting breakfast for us while I cuddled under the furs.
When he returned, he wore a grim expression on his face that made me sit up.
“What’s wrong?” I asked as he handed me a meat filled pastry.
He sat down next to me and patted my leg. “Sozu scouted a solete nest, and he said they are sleeping. They’re nocturnal birds, so they shouldn’t wake again until tonight.”
“Oh, I guess that means you’ll be going on your hunt soon, right?”
“It’s been decided that we’ll head out after breakfast,” he replied as he got up and grabbed his pack from the shelf.
I watched with a heavy heart as he filled his satchel with his hunting supplies.
I did not ask Brexl if he was sure he needed to do this. I’d already asked him that last night and his answer had remained the same.
But I could ask him to be careful. If anything, it would remind him that his life was valuable and not to be easily discarded.
“You will get out of there if things get too dangerous, right?” I bit my lower lip.
Brexl looked up and warmed my soul with a smile. “I will not risk my life to kill the birds, I promise.”
He cupped my belly with his hand, and I knew what he was thinking. That our child might already be growing inside me. That was the whole purpose of knotting, was it not? To aid in reproduction.
“You’re sure you want to carry my child?” My mate looked up at me with worry on his face. We talked about this last night. How our activities could lead to a baby.
I put my hand over his. “Yes, I’m sure. I want to start a family with you.”
“You alone are reason enough for me to want to make a safe return, but the thought of you carrying my child makes me want to return even more. You do not need to worry about me. I will not risk myself more than I need to.”
“Okay,” I sighed, feeling slightly satisfied with his answer.
“Brexl,” I said his name as he continued to fill his pack.
“You are not a monster.”
He stopped what he was doing and turned his full attention to me.
“I am not a monster.” His voice was low and barely audible, but I heard it. I heard all of it. Every hard-fought victorious word.
