But she stops me with a little pat on my chest and a smack of her lips. “It’s okay, baby. I wasn’t doing this because I wanted you to lick me.” Her hand smooths down my chest. “I just wanted to make you feel good. For you to know I’m with you.” A little giggle escapes her throat, the sound sweet and musical. “And for them to know I’m with you, too.”
Clever Liz. She pleasures me with her mouth so the others can know she’s with me willingly? My mate is devious…and wonderful. I pull her against me, feeling my khui resonate in time with hers.
“You are everything to me, Liz,” I say softly. “My world. My heart.”
“Is that a declaration of love?” she asks sleepily, her voice muffled by my chest.
I nod. My people normally do not declare love boldly, but I love Liz. She is mine and I am hers. “I love you, Liz.”
Her soft sound of appreciation is all I get in response. I wonder – does she love me? Does it matter as long as she is my mate? For some reason…it does. Perhaps I’m not doing enough to please her.
My hand goes to the waist of her leggings and I push my fingers inside, seeking her cunt. She makes a sleepy sound of protest, and then her arms go around my neck and tighten as I find her third nipple – her clit, she calls it. Then, the breath hisses out of her throat.
“I guess I’m in the mood for some reciprocation after all,” she says, and then gently bites at the base of my throat.
Her cunt is soaked with honey, and I drag my fingers through her juicy folds even as I knot my other hand in her hair and angle her mouth so I can kiss her and mate her tongue with mine. She whimpers again, the sound louder, and I muffle it with my lips. Surely the others can guess what we are doing, but Liz’s cries of pleasure are mine alone.
I slide a finger deep inside her and begin to thrust, mimicking my cock. Her hips raise, and she murmurs against my throat. “My clit,” she says over and over again, and I realize she wants me to touch it even as I pump into her with my hand. I angle my thumb over it and brush the nub of it while thrusting my finger into her, and she cries out loudly. This time, there is no muffling that. I hear a low comment by the fire, and then the sound of someone walking away – further from the camp.
Good, I think savagely as I pleasure my mate. When she comes, she does it with little shivers and soft cries, her body tensing against mine, and a flood of honey between her legs. I dip my fingers into all that sweetness before I pull them from her leggings and then lick my hand clean of her taste.
“Filthy barbarian,” she murmurs with a chuckle, and then sighs, contented. Within moments, she’s asleep against me. Trusting. Happy.
I hold her close, savoring these moments in case they don’t last.
LIZ
The tribal ‘home’ cave doesn’t look too impressive from the outside. In fact, the only way I know it’s different from every other cliff we’ve passed is that Georgie flings herself out from the cave mouth, arms outstretched and squealing happily at the sight of me.
I’m surprised to see such an effusive greeting from her, but I extend my arms and allow her to jump all over me in a boisterous welcome. A moment later, Josie’s right there, flinging her arms around me next, until I’m being swarmed by my fellow captives. It’s strange to see everyone with the glowing blue eyes, though I know I must have them, too. The glow in our eyes says we have a cootie, and everyone’s healthy and happy-looking. Weirdly enough, I feel tears pricking. It’s like I’m coming home, especially when Kira comes in and embraces me in a long, silent hug. She and I have known each other the longest, and seeing her is like seeing a sister. I burst into tears at that and blubber for a moment, sniffling and happy to see all of them. I touch Kira’s ear, where the shell-like translator is still attached. “Hanging on to your accessories,” I tease, happy.
“It’s not so easy to remove,” she says with a soft smile on her solemn face, and then steps away to allow Tiffany in to hug me.
As Kira steps away, I see Aehako move toward her, opening his arms for a hug. “No greeting for me, sad eyes?”
Kira blushes and waves him off.
“How are you?” Georgie asks, pulling me by my arm and tugging me into the cave. “Are you all right? Have you guys been okay? Did Raahosh hurt you?”
I look back at Raahosh as I’m being carried away on a tide of happy human women. He’s standing back with Aehako and Haeden, and the narrow-eyed look has returned to his face, but for a moment, I think he looks…lost. Miserable.
“Raahosh has been wonderful to me,” I say loudly. I blow him a kiss from afar, and then let Georgie and Tiffany drag me inside the caves.