Durrit, his animalistic noises pitched slightly higher than Searnon, attempted an incomprehensible answer.
Instead of a sheep's bladder, a red cup made of glassy material held the water for her to drink. Another product of the steel cities, like the trunks along the wall. Corrin mused at the glass, the space, the beasts warming the nest. So different from the 'humble life' she had planned for herself. Mysterious.
New.
She stood up, ready to stop sleeping and to start seeing. Where had Urku-ri gone? She felt him still inside her, leaking out of her, still on her, the marks he'd left behind stinging her skin. She covered her breast with a hand, her nipples raw and swollen from his focus. The tenderness of her body caused a pleasant warmth to bloom in her chest.
She had enjoyed every moment of it.
At that moment the devil appeared, tall and impossible, looking at her with her hand on her breast. "Corrin has needs? Urku-ri see to Corrin's needs."
She covered herself, laughing at him. "I need a bath and clothing. You promised clothing." Pointed at him in accusation.
"And I want to know where we are, what you are going to do next. Will I ever get to talk to anyone else? Is it just you and me, and these war beasts forever?"
"Yes. Urku-ri and Corrin and nest mates, forever," he said, his lips spreading and eyes twinkling with an almost grin. That sexy tongue of his appeared, just the tip swiping over his bottom lip, and her belly dropped as her womb clenched.
The gleam in his eyes indicated he knew his effect on her. His lips tilted in his version of a smile. She realized that his smiles were strange because of the effort not to show any of his teeth. Sharper than an animal, he must have learned how shocking a mouth stuffed with teeth made for ripping and tearing would be to a woman. With all the gruesomeness of his intimidating form and face, Corrin thought he sounded amused most of the time. From the beginning, in his way, his personality exuded humor, making attempts to tease her, not frighten her. The baths and spankings had been frightening because they were not her way, but not once had he threatened real harm, unless one counted taking her from Peace River Valley against her will.
Standing up, she climbed over Searnon to get out of the pit. Urku-ri pulled her out with one hand, put her on her feet, wrapping his hands around her waist. From the pit, both Searnon and Durrit were making noise.
"Searnon say Corrin ready. Urku-ri ask is Corrin ready for all?" He lifted her off the ground. Corrin half-laughed, half yelled in protest as her feet left the earth and he brought her eye level for a quick kiss, before lifting her higher, to nuzzle her breasts and then her belly. It was frightening. His hold, firm and steady, but the height dizzied her. She clutched at him, attempted wrapping her legs around him, but his bulk was too big, great oafish head in the way, kissing at her belly, stirring up the flutters there. Again.
"Corrin no child yet. Soon. Next time. Next time Searnon say. Drink theSeranon-tor'ur, Corrin ripen again soon. But bond is good. Yes, Corrin? See Urku-ri? See Urku-ri, here?" He moved her down, putting her where he wanted her, face nuzzling her heart, reverently kissing and breathing in her skin.
Her heart thudded in answer. Did she see him with her heart? Yes, she thought she might.
"What isSeranon-tor'ur?"
Searnon growled, low. It sounded like a warning, but Urkuri laughed at her in a bark-like sound. "Searnon say Corrin ready some answers, not all answers, and not tell Corrin. Corrin angry.Huumonalways angry. Corrin want Urku-ri?"
He set her down, tipped her chin, met her eyes and waited.
Wasn't it obvious she wanted him? It was leaking out of her, constantly, all over her legs and pulsing in her clitoris, and fluttering at the base of her spine. He was strong, capable, handsome in his way, even tempered unless riled, made sure her needs were met, and valued her. Oh, how he seemed to value her. That was the biggest seduction of all, the sound of his voice when he called her redress, the way his hands, hands that killed with ease, moved over her body in awe and fascination, singling her out from all others. How could she not want that?
But she didn't want to say it out loud.
He brushed his finger over her lips. Gaze devouring her. Corrin's undoing was the pointed tip of his black tongue, licking his bottom lip. "Yes. Yes, Corrin want Urku-ri. I want you. I want you."
"Corrin want Urku-ri kits?"
"Kits? Children?" she said the words, voice high. It was a natural outcome of what they'd been doing. A man's seed went in at the right time of a woman's cycle, and a baby came out thirty-seven weeks later. Corrin had known it was the right time, if early. She hadn't thought about whether she wanted a family with him or not, it just seemed like it was a part of everything, the choice made when she spread her legs and welcomed him. "Yes. I guess children. I want Urku-ri's children."
"Urku-ri only?"
"What is with all the confessions and questions? Of course, Urku-ri only. Corrin is redress, remember? You said, 'not succor'. Only Urku-ri. And I am the only one you are laying with, that you will make babies with. Right?"
His hand slipped down to her neck, possessive. "Yes. Corrin right. Corrin mine. Forever Corrin say. Only. Urku-rini-orkiror-ess. Corrin Urku-riso-humonn-ror'si-ess. Husband. Wife."
They'd had their barbarian wedding ceremony. She'd put her mark on him and he had mounted her and filled her up with his Orki cock in front of everyone. "Husband." She put her hand on the rippled muscles of his belly. Because she could. Because he was hers.
He grunted with agreement. Satisfaction. "Corrin forever. Remember. Truth Corrin not like. Remember forever."
With that ominous statement, they did nothing but gather clothes and cloths and he took her to a place to bathe. One of the hallways into the nest room branched out into others in interesting directions. Sounds of other Orki echoed from an unseen place. Wherever they were, it was big, strange, cavelike, but not natural.
The bathing chamber was lit with Orki torches, had benches, bowls of soap, and cloths, and a pool of gently swirling water in a big carved-out space in the floor. Like the nest, but bigger. They didn't linger. Urku-ri washed himself and she washed herself. Stopping to help him get a spot on his back, while her hand squeezed the round, carved shape of his butt. Touching him, smelling him, made Corrin amorous, and she was more than ready to do something about it. Urku-ri stopped her with a reminder. "Corrin has questions. Corrin has other needs. Must settle all."
It was enough to redirect her.
