CHAPTER SIXTEEN Buroudei
“She is very fragile. Very fragile.”
Rika’s voice was stern. We were standing outside of my tent. Zeezee was inside, and all I wanted to do was see her after not being near her for the entire day. Being apart from her was causing me physical pain.
“I know, Rika,” I said impatiently. “But I will protect her.”
Rika frowned, her tail thrashing.
“No, Gahn, you do not understand. She was not created for a place like this. Did you know even the sun hurts her skin? It burns her like fire. That is why she must wear her strange clothing.”
My heart sank. This was worse than I had thought. I had hoped that, after being healed by Rika, Zeezee would somehow permanently be alright. But that was clearly not the case. How was it possible that even the sun was harmful to her? A terrible helplessness clawed at me.
“I will not pretend to be wiser than you, Rika. Tell me what to do.”
I did not like the desperation in my voice. It made me feel weak. Zeezee was a vulnerability like no other. But I meant what I’d said. Whatever needed to be done, I would do it. I could not accept that my mate was not meant for my world. She would be strong. She would survive. I would make it so. Whether through blood or sweat or sheer force of will, I would make it so.
“I wish I knew what to tell you, my Gahn.” There was a pained sincerity to Rika’s voice. “Without being able to speak to her, it is hard to know what she needs.” She paused then, her eyes losing focus, staring out over the sands beyond the boulders. “I did notice that many times throughout the day she looked out across the sand. Towards the place you found her. Maybe she left something behind. Something she needs.”
I clenched my jaw. I had no interest in bringing Zeezee back over the open sands to the scene of the zeelk slaughter.
“It is too dangerous for her. You know that.”
Rika levelled her gaze at me.
“You may not have another choice.”
She said no more, leaving me to brood over her words under the star-pricked sky. I mulled over my options. I could go without her and scope out the site on my own. But then again, I wouldn’t even know what I was looking for there. Zeezee was the only one who knew what she needed. And she could not tell me. I sighed roughly, staring up at the sky. The zeelk were likely lured by the sound of the big flying creature landing. It would have sent vibrations down into the sand, calling them up. If we went quietly, just the two of us, it may not be too dangerous. And like Rika said, I may not have another choice. I did not like this. Not having choices. Not knowing which path to take. Grimly, I entered the tent.
Much of the tension I felt evaporated when I saw my mate’s small, lovely face. She had been seated on my hides, and she scrambled to her feet, speaking animatedly. Then, almost shyly, slowly, as if trying to get it just right, she said our word for “hello.”
My tail thumped the sand, warmth filling my chest. She must have learned that today with Rika. What a glorious thing, to have your mate waiting for you at your tent, ready to greet you like that. Such happiness was almost beyond comprehension. I went to her at once, cupping her jaw in my hands, before lowering my mouth to hers. Her lips parted quickly, welcoming me. But it didn’t last long. She pulled back quickly, saying something rapid in her language before switching to the tongue of the Sea Sands.
“Buroudei to eat meat.”
Her brow crumpled inward, as if she knew that wasn’t quite right (it wasn’t) but I was honoured by her effort all the same. She shook her head quickly, then grabbed a bone plate from the nearby shelf.
On the plate was a choice selection of dakrival meat from tonight’s feast. I hadn’t joined the tribe for the meal – I had been too busy with Galok, planning our raid on Gahn Fallo. I took the plate from her small hand, sitting down, curling my tail around myself, patting the dakrival hide next to me. Her cheeks red, she sat, smoothing the tunic over her knees as she drew them up to her chest. Seeing her in the clothing of our people, with her hair braided like ours, was going right to my groin. I grunted, turning my attention to my meal, eating quickly. Soon, I would have a much sweeter taste upon my tongues.
I finished the food, tossing the plate aside, then leaned over. Zeezee’s eyes got wide as I settled one hand behind her back on the sand, the other hitching at the hem of her tunic, yanking it up over her hips, revealing her soft thighs and that dark patch of hair that was so very odd and so very enticing. Need was coursing through me, hot and hard. I had been away from her too long today. Tonight I will mate her.
But, as I should have come to expect by now, my lovely little mate had other plans. Just as I was lowering my head to lap at the goodness between her legs, I felt something small but strong close around one of my ears, halting my head’s descent. I stopped, letting my eyes roll upward to look at Zeezee’s face. One of her hands was clenched around one of my ears, her other hand was wagging her finger in my face in a gesture I did not recognize. I bit back a growl of irritation. Though I did not recognize the gesture, I could understand the meaning. Stop what you are doing this instant.
This woman, my mate, the strange and perfect creature who had brought such renewed meaning to my life, would most certainly be the death of me.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN Cece
It was getting easier and easier to be swept up in Buroudei’s alien seduction techniques. Not that he exactly had seduction techniques beyond you’re here, I’m here, let’s do stuff. But more and more, I wasn’t questioning whatever it was that was between us. After spending the day with Rika, I had been looking forward to seeing him, and when he’d walked into the tent I couldn’t deny that my body had responded immediately – my heart rate increasing, my blood rushing hot, pulsing between my legs. The way he’d kissed me, so immediately, so naturally, had made me just a little too happy. It felt like I was meant to be here, like I belonged, like I had someone. And after losing Grammy and having no one, that was the most seductive thing of all.
So I really had to fight the urge to let my legs fall open under Buroudei’s mouth. But I did so, the quickest way I could see: by grabbing one of his ears.
That did the trick. The look he gave me was a combination of are you serious and I should have known, but I hardened myself, wagging my finger, scooting my bottom back and away from him. We had to discuss serious things. I released Buroudei’s ear, keeping a close eye on him, but he seemed to sense what I wanted, as unhappy as it appeared to make him. He raised his head back up, but did not adjust his position. He loomed over me, his hands on the sand on either side of my hips. His dark eyes swirled with copper stars, just inches from my own. I blinked, shifting my gaze to keep myself from falling headfirst into them. But then my gaze ended up on his mouth, and that was just as distracting. I settled firmly on his chin, face on fire, casting my mind back to the various words I had learned to try to craft my request.