"Har-loh," he murmurs. His hair, loose and wild, tickles at my skin as it falls over me.
"I'm yours," I tell him. "Har-loh's all yours."
He sinks deep in one swift stroke and I suck in a breath. Oh god, I love the feel of my body stretching around him, adjusting to his length. That first press is the best, and when he shifts his weight, his spur rubs against my over-sensitive clit. I moan, wrapping my arms around him as he begins to work his hips. Rukh's still new to sex and his stamina is not what it could be, but I don't mind. He always makes me come at least once before he finishes, and that's good enough for me. I love the touching and being wrapped around each other. I love the connection.
I love being owned by him.
8
RUKH
I come far too quickly. I always want to last longer, to make every moment seated deep inside Har-loh's body last forever, but it never does. Hot pleasure rushes through me as I fill her with my seed, and she holds me close as I collapse atop her. My mate strokes my mane and murmurs sounds at me, her voice sweet and gentle.
"Rukh," she says, and taps my chest. Then she taps hers. "Har-loh." She gestures at the two of us. "Together."
Her meaning is clear. We are a pair, meant to be one. "To-geddur," I agree, and am rewarded with a happy smile. Har-loh is mine, and I am Har-loh's. We are togeddur. In this moment, and in everything.
I wake up with my mate's warm body wrapped around me. Har-loh clings to me in her sleep, and it makes me happy. It is as if she misses me, even when her eyes are closed. I like that. I hold her tight, stroking her soft skin as she dozes, content to watch her. I could lie here in the furs with her all day long, breathing in her sweet scent and pushing my cock into her wet cunt. It would be a good day.
But it does not feed my mate, and there is much to be done. We must have food, and we must be ready for our kit when it comes. I touch her belly, careful not to wake her. She is still flat here, but if it is like the animals in nature, she will swell up when our kit is coming. I cannot wait to see that.
For the first time in my life, I look forward to more than just the next meal, the next sleep. I look forward to a life with Har-loh, warm and snug in our cave, our kit bundled into the furs with us.
I ease out of our nest, making sure that Har-loh is covered with the thick furs, and head outside. The beach is quiet, the only sound the constant roll of the tide and the occasional screech of a distant bird. The skies are gray, but it does not look like snow. It is a good day to go hunting, and we still need more things. We need more meat, more furs. We need fuel for the fire—I noticed we were out. There are plants to gather and berries to find. There are—
"Rukh?"
I turn and look at my mate. She stands in the entrance to the cave, furs clutched to her bare skin. There is a sad look on her speckled face.
"Yewgoin huntin?" she asks. "Hunt?"
I know the word “hunt.” I know what she asks…and I hate to see the disappointment on her face. I will be gone all day again and she will have to do all the hard work on her own. It is not easy for her when I bring the meat back to the beach. I realize that now. It creates more work for her and to do it alone is…a lot.
And suddenly, I do not want to leave my mate behind. Har-loh is smart. If she cannot hunt, she can stay back at a distance and help me carry things. She can gather plants and fuel for the fire. When we return, we can work on the meat and the hides together. All of it can be done by one, but it goes faster with help. I am still thinking like I am alone, and I should not be. Har-loh wants to be at my side, and I want to be at hers.
So I nod. "Rukh hunt." I hold my hand out to her. "Har-loh hunt? Togeddur?"
A brilliant smile blooms across her face, and it is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.
"Togeddur," she agrees.
I am pleased. Everything is better together.
Afterword
Hello there!
I hope you enjoyed this little flashback of one of my favorite couples. This happens right after Rukh decides that he and Harlow need to go to the beach (a few days after they resonate) to get away from the others. If you’re re-reading BARBARIAN’S MATE, this starts right before the one-year jump. Things are still new for our pair, and they’re still facing language barriers…among other things. I thought it might be fun to see how they would build their life together and what kinds of miscommunications they’d encounter. I suppose this is my ice planet equivalent of newlyweds getting married and the man having no clue of everything his wife does to make the house a home…times a hundred. After all, Harlow has nothing on the beach. No furs, no tools, no baskets, and no one to walk her through how to create such things. She has to use her small store of knowledge and hope for the best. Meanwhile Rukh is just wondering why she’s not overwhelmed with happiness. ;)
It was a lot of fun to revisit these two, and I hope you enjoyed it. :)
Ruby
Want more to read?
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All of the Risdaverse books stand alone! Try ‘em all!
When She’s Ready
When She’s Married
When She Purrs
When She Belongs
When She Dances
Or maybe you’re in the mood for…dragons?
Fire In His Blood
Or maybe you want some Corsair action?
Corsairs: Adiron
Or
The Corsair’s Captive