Chapter 18

Maeve

I've been pacing for at least an hour.

"Oh my god, you're giving me whiplash. Please sit down for five minutes." Zara begs. "Just five minutes."

With a huff, I plop down on my pallet and wrap my luani fur tightly around me to breathe in the wood and cocoa scent that reminds me of Benham. Which only ramps up my anxiety, because what if this luani is the one that gets him? Those things are humungous and dangerous. What if he gets hurt?

"Benham's going to be fine."

I glance at Zara. "You don't know that. The animal they're hunting is vicious. And they've been gone forever."

She cocks her head and purses her lips. "They haven't been gone any longer than normal hunts. Besides, you need to trust your husband and his ability to take care of himself. Benham's a bad ass fighter. It doesn't matter how vicious their prey is, your man could bring it down with only one of his grouchy glares. The luani is the one that should be terrified."

I snort. "I know, you're right. I've just never had someone to worry about like I do with Benham and it's kind of freaking me out. I mean, what if he dies before I tell him I want to be his mate?"

"He's not going to die," Zara says firmly. "Sheesh."

Cries from outside bring my head up. I jump to my feet, nearly losing the hold I have on the fur, and burst out of the tent. Zara is right behind me. I suck in a sharp breath when I finally lay eyes on Benham several tents away in front of the healer's. He's covered in dirt and the hair that usually hangs long and silky down his back is a ratty mess with leaves stuck in it. My gaze drops to the makeshift stretcher he pulls behind him, and the pale body that lies on it.

Zara and I rush toward them as Kyler steps out. We come to an abrupt halt a short distance away. The healer gestures at one of the tribesmen and between the three of them, they manage to lift the injured warrior and carry him inside. I hope he's okay. I've never seen a Tavikhi lose that much color. He's almost not even purple anymore.

For far too long a stretch of time, we stand there waiting for Benham to come out.

"What's going on?" London stops next to us. "I heard one of the warriors is wounded, but no one told me who."

"It was hard to tell," Zara says.

"I'm pretty sure it was Jodah," I add. "Benham told me last night he was going with him and Evren to hunt a luani they'd found signs of."

All I can picture is the scar on my mate's face, given to him by the same animal. Poor Jodah. But then I remember what Benham said about bearing his scars proudly. If the warrior makes it, I hope he feels the same way about them. That they demonstrate his strength in surviving.

Footsteps approach and I glance behind us. Zander's tail brushes London's waist for a brief second before he strides past us and enters the healer's tent. I'm not surprised he's here. Minutes after he goes inside, Benham steps out. His eyes land on me and there's a spark in them. I rush over and lay my hands on his chest.

"Are you okay?"

He gently cradles the side of my face and his tail wraps loosely around my waist. "I am well, keeshla."

I blink. This might be the first time he's called me that. The endearment settles over me like a warm blanket. I reach for his hand. "We should get you cleaned up."

He glances over his shoulder like he's not sure he should leave his friend.

"I'll check on him and let you know if anything changes," Zara offers.

I send her a grateful smile and finally Benham nods. "My thanks."

He lets me lead him to his tent. I grab the torch from outside and bring it inside with us where the fire burns low. My hold loosens on Benham's hand, and I plant the torch in the ground and add another piece of wood to the fire.

"Sit." I point at the chair next to the fire pit.

He takes a seat and I can feel his eyes on me as I grab the cloth from the table and drop it into the basin of water. Careful not to drop it, I bring it over to where he sits and set it on the ground next to him. Thankful that he's at my level, I pluck the dried leaves out of his hair.

"I assume you found the luani?" Or maybe it found them. Only a giant alien lion could cause that much damage.

"We did." Benham's voice is low.

I toss each leaf into the fire and the sweet pungent scent grows stronger making the urge to sneeze great. I sniff a few times to hold it back. Once I've inspected his hair and confirmed there's nothing left, I try to finger comb through the knots.

"There is a hair implement in the chest."

I meet his gaze and he gestures to the other side of the tent. Glad for that at least, I open the lid and have to rifle through a few pairs of pants, but I find it. Careful not to tug too hard, I slowly draw the comb through the length of Benham's hair. He's going to have to wash it in the river to get it fully clean, but at least it's something. Once I'm finished, I set the comb on the table and wring out the water in the cloth before washing away the dirt that clings to his skin.

"Did you kill it?" I run the cloth across his shoulder and down his arm.

"We did," he repeats.

I shouldn't be glad the animal is dead, but I know that its meat means the tribespeople will have more food to survive the cold season. Plus, the fur will provide someone some much needed warmth.

I rinse out the cloth and make my way to Benham's other side. My gaze follows the path my hand takes over the dips and swells of his muscles. A flicker of heat, low in my belly spreads out from my center to the rest of my body and grows in its intensity.

Again I rinse out the dirty cloth and with a deep breath, I nudge his legs apart and step into the vee of them. Benham jerks his head up, but I keep my eyes on his chest where I wash next. His ginormous, but gentle, hand lightly covers mine. Water trails down his stomach and soaks into the waistband of his leather pants.

"Maeve?"

I blink and finally meet his gaze. My cheeks are warm, but my body is warmer. Not from the fire burning near us either. It's him. My husband—my mate.

"Let me. Please."

Benham's eyes burn into mine, until he slowly lowers his hand to his knee. I move in closer and swipe the cloth over his chest and down his ribbed abs. All without taking my eyes off his. I've given up all pretense that I'm actually cleaning him anymore when I drop to cloth to the ground where it may or may not land in the basin.

I thread my fingers through his hair and lean in to press my lips to Benham's. He parts them, and my tongue swoops in to glide across his. My fur slides off my shoulders to hit the ground as well, but I'm so hot right now I don't even need it. It's as though my blood is on fire heating me from the inside. The kiss deepens and I move close enough that my breasts press against him. It barely eases the ache in them. Only Benham's touch will take it away completely.

A heavy weight wraps around my waist and grips my hips. I wait for the trapped sensation to swarm over me, but it doesn't. Only more heat and a throbbing right where I need him the most. My clit pulses as blood flows to it. It matches the thumping beat of my heart.

I pull my head back, only enough to murmur against Benham's lips. "Touch me."

"Is this truly what you want?"

I nip Benham's bottom lip in response and rub my needy breasts against him. It's like I've lit a fuse on a stick of dynamite. Now I just wait for the explosion. I already know it's going to be an epic one. His hand leaves my hip and spears through my hair. He clasps the back of my head and tilts it the way he wants to deepen this kiss. It's like he wants to consume me. I'm ready to let him.

When a warm hand brushes across my bare belly, I jump. Not from fear. Benham tries to take it away, and I grab him to hold him in place.

"Touch me," I repeat in a stronger, more confident tone.

Thank Deeka, or whoever else might be up there, because he does. He slides his hand under my shirt and engulfs my breast in his hand kneading it gently. Molding it. My nipple hardens, and he plucks the sensitive tip. A shudder runs through me, and I press myself further into his touch.

As though Benham's done this a thousand times, his mouth leaves mine and runs along my jaw and my neck where he laves his tongue in the crease where it meets my shoulder. He breathes in deeply, and his rough growl vibrates through my entire body. I'm bombarded with sensations I've never experienced before. So much pleasure I didn't know existed. Is it always like this? If so, I don't ever want it to end.

"May I taste you, Maeve?" Benham rumbles into my ear.

That could mean so many things, and I'm pretty sure he's not talking about my lips. I take a small step back, enough that I'm still close enough to touch him. My fingers dance along the crest of his shoulders. If he can face down the same beast who scarred him so long ago and come out victorious, then I can show the same courage. I reach for the hem of my shirt and pull it up and over my head, tossing it off to the side somewhere.

Benham's gaze lands on my chest and his vertical, cat-like pupils dilate. Despite the warmth inside the tent and flowing through me, my nipples peak under the intensity of his stare. He palms both breasts again, his hand so large he covers them entirely. I lean into his touch. Based on his apparent fascination with them, I'm going to take my husband as a tit man. He hasn't paid nearly enough attention to my butt for me to think he's an ass man. I giggle at that.

"What does my mate find so humorous?"

I lift my gaze to his and his lips are tilted up in amusement. My cheeks grow hot. If I can trust Benham with my body, I can trust him with my words. "Back on Earth, there's this long-time…joke, I guess you could say, that a guy is either a tit man or an ass man. Meaning they either love a woman's breasts the most or her butt—ass—the most. I was just thinking that you're probably a tit man considering how much you like to touch mine."

Benham is silent for a beat and then he laughs. Oh my god, it totally transforms his face. If I thought he was gorgeous before, it's nothing compared to this. He's absolutely stunning. This is the first time I've ever seen him laugh. I want to do whatever I can to see it happen again.

His laughter slows to a chuckle. "I do believe I might be a what you call tit male. Although I will admit I have not given enough attention to your ass to know if I love it less."

Even though I can tell he's trying to be funny, the thought of Benham staring at my ass sends a ping through me and makes me want to find out. "Maybe we should perform an experiment."

I slowly turn and take a step forward. Despite the heat burning my cheeks, I glance over my shoulder. Sure enough, his gaze is focused on my butt. I've always secretly thought I had a great ass. He reaches out and grips my hips. His hands are so large, he easily spans them. When he rubs his thumbs up and down my butt cheeks, I squirm with need. It doesn't matter that I'm still wearing pants. It's like Benham's touch sears away any barrier between us.

He lifts his head and one side of his mouth kicks up. "It is a very fine ass, but I still think these are my favorite. I am most definitely a tit male."

Making his point, he slides his hands up my sides and cups both breasts from behind. My laugh is cut off midway and I stumble back against his chest. While holding firmly onto me, he kisses his way up my shoulder and once again in the crook of my neck. I tilt my head to give him better access and lay my hands over his urging him to squeeze me a bit harder.

Arousal spikes through me.

As much as I want to continue feeling his hands on me, I want to give him something since he's given so much to me. I slowly turn back around to face him and palm his cheeks.

"I want you to taste me, now. Please."

His pupils dilate again and his gaze drops to my chest. Far too slowly, Benham lowers his head and his thick tongue darts out to lap at my nipple. With that single caress, I'm completely done for.