28. Nevarn

Chapter 28

Nevarn

I held my mate after we'd finished, my cock still twitching deep inside her. She was right. Size was a matter of perspective. To her, I was huge. I couldn't quite believe I was finally enough for someone.

I decided right then and there to let my past feelings of inadequacy go. I was falling in love with Kerry, and she felt the same. How could I let myself ruin something so beautiful by dragging my sadness from the past into my future?

It felt good to let it go.

We finally parted, and I helped her out of the tub, gently drying her body with the big cloth provided by the stone gods. The water that had sloshed over the sides of the tub had already been absorbed.

After helping her into a light dress she would wear to bed, I wrapped a thin loincloth around my waist, knotting it at my hip.

We left the bathing area, and she sat on the edge of the bed, looking around.

"Hungry?" I asked.

Her smile rose. "Famished."

"I'll ask the stone gods to prepare us food, then."

"Please, no concrete soup." Humor bubbled in her voice.

"While some common Dastalon Clan dishes do feature ground stone, they're usually enjoyed during festivals or at special times of the year. The rest of the time, the villagers eat meat, vegetables, fruit. Lots of seafood, naturally."

"There doesn't seem to be a kitchen here."

"The gods will provide." I looked forward to showing her all the wonders of Zuldrux, not only here, but at my Celedar Clan home. I strode over to the flat stone surface mounted along one wall at waist level and laid my palm on it, humming to show the stone gods my need. Plates of food oozed up from the surface, and the heady scent of warm vegetables and grain filled the room.

"That's . . ." Kerry slid off the bed and cautiously approached the stone slab. "It's wild that food pops up like that."

"I asked, and the stone gods provided. They don't give us meat of any kind, however. For that, we need to hunt and fish. But we'll be well satisfied with this for tonight." I nudged my head to the double windows mounted on the outer wall beside the bed and the steps leading to them. "If you'll open one of the windows, I'll carry our plates, and we can eat outside."

She grinned. "This is amazing. I . . . love it here already."

My grin stretched my face to the point it ached, and I followed her outside onto the small deck with a low table and two Zuldruxian-sized chairs. After placing our meals on the table, I returned to the slab and requested a beverage and utensils, taking them outside.

Kerry stood leaning against the rail, the breeze rustling her long hair and her face tipped up to soak in the late-day sunshine.

After placing our drinks with our meals, I joined her, standing behind her to wrap my arms around her. When she was near, I couldn't resist touching her, stroking her soft hair and leaning forward to kiss her pretty cheek.

"It's so beautiful," she whispered. Tipping her head back, she smiled up at me. "I know I can speak in a normal tone, but I feel like a loud voice will break this gorgeous moment."

"I'm glad you're happy here."

"I'm happy because you're here with me."

I stroked her hair to the side and feathered kisses across her nape, savoring the shiver of need she released.

The sea stretched before us, an endless expanse of purple hues that shifted beneath the setting sun. The sky was ablaze with oranges and pinks, casting a warm glow across the waves.

"I still don't understand how the island remains in the air, but I'm going to accept it," she said. "I don't know how airplanes stay in the air on Earth, and I'm happy enough to ride inside them."

"Sometimes, it's easier to just accept than struggle to find explanations."

"You're talking about your gods in this, I bet."

"Yes. I spent too much time when I was young questioning everything, asking my fellow villagers why the gods behaved as they did. They'd snarl and tell me to find something else to do. I was an inquisitive youngling."

"Curiosity is a wonderful thing. We should explore our world."

"Unless it irritates your fellow villagers," I said with a low laugh.

She leaned into my embrace. "I can hear the water even from up here, splashing far below."

"My parents had a home on the edge of the village much like this one, only larger. No deck like this, though. I'd open my window at night and close my eyes, soaking in the sound of the sea. It felt like it sloshed in sync with the beat of my heart."

"It must've been hard to leave here to live in the forest."

"At first. I longed for the salty tang mingling with the smell of the flowering trees that grew near our home."

"Look." She pointed to where a sea creature had surfaced some distance away, its violet scales shimmering in the sunset like jewels. "It's huge if we can see it from here."

"There are many beasts living in the water around us. A lot of them are friendly."

"And some are not, much like the sea creatures living in the oceans back on Earth."

"We are the same, yet we are not."

"In our hearts, we are, and to me, that's all that matters."

She turned in my embrace, and I kissed her. Who needed food when I had Kerry in my arms?

Her belly rumbled, though, and I lifted my head, smiling because I couldn't think of a more perfect evening or a more perfect person to spend this time with. I felt secure in my body for the first time in my life and warmed by the affection in her eyes. Things had changed between us, and it was only going to get better.

"Let's eat before our food gets cold," I said, taking her hand and leading her to one of the chairs where she sat.

Joining her, I nudged my head to her meal. "I asked the gods for a variety of food, and they delivered. This way, if you don't like something, there's still plenty of other things to try and savor."

She scooped up a bit of mixed grains and tentatively placed them in her mouth. Her eyes closed, and she moaned, wiggling on her chair that was much too large for her tiny frame since her bare feet didn't reach the stone flooring. "Amazing. There's a light sauce that's both sweet and tangy, plus a subtle bite that hits the back of my throat. This reminds me of Thai food back home."

"Try this one." I lifted a chunk of sea plant and fed it to her, watching as she chewed, and her eyes glowed in the setting sunlight.

"Slightly salty but in a good way. This reminds me of seaweed back home. There, it's mostly dark green and thin, almost chewy. It's often dried and used to make sushi, which is a dish made with bits of raw seafood, vegetables, and rice, a grain similar to some of the ones on my plate."

"We eat raw seafood on occasion as well, catching it and consuming it almost immediately. If it sits for long in the heat, it spoils."

"Do you have refrigeration here?" She explained what she meant.

"Not here, but we have cold boxes inside our forest homes. Our wood god provides them."

"I imagine if you needed them here, your stone gods would make sure you had them."

"I think you're right."

We ate almost everything on our plates, then she left her chair and climbed into my lap, leaning back against my chest. We savored the view of the moons rising and the stars twinkling overhead while sipping the beverage provided by the stone gods. I couldn't imagine a better night than this.

"This tastes like wine," she said, holding up her glass. The deep purple liquid glowed in the moonlight. "Wine on Earth has alcohol, something created by the fermentation of the fruit the wine's made of. The alcohol can make you feel silly. Does this beverage do the same thing?"

"Not as far as I know, though we do have beverages like your wine made from fermented fruit. Most are only savored during festivals."

"Along with food created from stone." Her face scrunched.

"If we're ever here for a festival, I promise you won't need to try them if you don't want to."

"Oh, I will. I have my own share of curiosity, and I won't be able to resist." She lowered her empty glass onto the table. The plates had already been absorbed by the stone gods and they removed her drink glass as well. After sliding off my lap, she climbed back onto it, facing me. She rose onto her knees and cupped my cheeks. "You're gorgeous. Did you know that?"

"I look like every other Zuldruxian. I don't have beautiful golden hair like yours." I fingered the soft strands. "Or eyes of your lovely color. Your pale skin color keeps drawing my eye."

"You're Nevarn, and there's no one else like him in this world or mine. He's perfect just the way he is."

"Mate," I breathed, nearly overwhelmed by how she was speaking to me.

"I think I'm falling in love with you, Nevarn. Is that going to be okay?"

I jerked out a nod, barely able to speak past the croak of emotion lodged in my throat. "I'm already in love with you. Is that going to be oh-kay?"

"More than okay." Her head tilted and she smiled up at me. "Why don't you take me to bed, mate?"

I didn't need any more encouragement than that.

Standing with her in my arms, I carried her into the room and gently laid her on our bed, following her down.