Chapter 20

Rojtar

To have Abby walk so effortlessly into my arms is the most wonderful sensation. The fact I am able to ease her mind makes me the proudest of males. It is the role—the honor—of every Tavikhi male to show their mate how much he cares for her. She must be shown she will always have another person she can count on no matter the circumstance. It is the same for the female and her mate. He can rely on her for all things. They are everything to each other.

If this is all we do together this turn, I will be satisfied. Standing within my keeshla’s home while she allows me to hold her in the first place shows how much she has grown to trust me. It is as I told her. We have the rest of our lives to fulfill the physical bond between us. I am a patient male and my Abby is worth the wait.

A featherlight caress brushes over one of the many scars I acquired during the battle with the Njeri. It only takes a moment for me to realize my mate is…kissing my chest. An image of me doing the same to Abby in the exact place where her lips brush against me flashes within my mind and I groan.

Beneath my leg coverings, my cock hardens. Already it swells with the mating fluid that is released to enhance my mate’s pleasure when I enter her cunt. A shiver runs over my flesh and tension builds within me.

Unable to stop myself, I cradle Abby’s ass within my hands and lift. She squeaks, but wraps her legs around my waist, just above my tail. The pressure against the base of it from where she rests her ankles is so pleasurable it nearly has me releasing my seed.

Our mouths fuse together in a searing kiss. The need that had been tamped down by the arrival of Carter at the river sparks to life like the embers of a dying fire. Abby spears her fingers through my hair and our tongues tangle together, lapping up the other’s flavor.

“Touch me,” my keeshla demands against my lips.

“Where?”

“Here.” She guides one of my hands to her chest mound.

It is soft and moldable with a hard, pebbled center and fits perfectly within my palm. She presses herself more firmly against me and rubs her cunt along my belly. The heat from her core nearly scorches my flesh and a dampness leaks from her leg coverings. Abby’s scent is intoxicating and has me feeling as though I have downed a vessel of the elder’s brew.

My head spins with pleasure and I gently squeeze the stiff tip. She rocks herself harder and deepens the kiss, twisting her tongue with mine. My fingers clench her ass and she moans into my mouth. Breathing in her fragrance and tasting her unique flavor is exhilarating. But not nearly as much as the feel of her within my arms.

Abby loosens the hold she has on me with her legs and slides down my body. She grazes the entire length of my cock and the friction causes more mating fluid to spill from the tip. I grind myself against her, increasing not only the pressure, but the torture of unfilled need. Whatever pain I suffer will be worth it in the end.

A slap on the door flap causes Abby to rip herself away from me and put distance between us while straightening her chest covering. Our breaths are harsh and heavy and the sound echoes around us. I ache for the loss of her and partially turn away from the entrance and try to will my hard cock to soften.

“Sorry to interrupt whatever might be going on in there, but you should know Carter is back and will be here momentarily,” an amused female voice that sounds like Zara speaks through the hide. “Figured no one wanted to be scarred for life in case he happened to walk in on something you wouldn’t want him walking in on.”

“Oh my god, thanks for the warning,” Abby replies back. On her face is a mixture of terror and humor.

“Sure thing.” The female’s chuckles grow quieter until they disappear completely along with her footsteps.

I study my mate, hoping she does not now regret what just occurred. She turns to me again and to my delight closes the distance between us although her cheeks are a brighter color than usual.

“As much as I love what just happened, I don’t think any of us are ready for Carter to see it. Or at least I’m not. I’m not ashamed of what we were doing, but I also think us having privacy is important.” She smiles and relief fills me. “I guess we’re going to have to figure out some kind of visual cue to leave so he knocks before entering. Especially if we’re going to keep meeting in here. Maybe something similar to when the women leave a sock on the nenuphar bush when we’re bathing.”

I cradle her face. “My keeshla is both a beautiful and brilliant female.”

Abby’s cheeks warm beneath my touch. She lays her hands over mine. “Thank you.”

Zara’s timing was perfect because a single beat of my heart later, Carter bursts through the door without pause. Until his gaze lands on us and then he comes to an abrupt halt. This time, Abby does not jerk away from me. Instead, she wraps her arm around my waist and leans into my side. My tail twines around her.

“Oh, sorry.” Carter’s gaze bounces between us and his cheeks change color as well. “I didn’t mean to interrupt. Do you want me to leave you guys alone?”

“No, of course not,” Abby rushes to reassure him. “This is your home just as much as it is mine. Rojtar was merely keeping me company while you were having fun with Talek and Cecily. We were waiting for you before we headed out to the central fire for the evening meal.”

The kit cocks his head like he does not believe her, but does not contradict her words.

“Did you catch any peshku?” It is best to put Carter’s mind on something else.

He turns his gaze to me and his shoulders sags in disappointment. “Nothing. We saw Zedam on our way back and he says the water might still be too cold and to try again when the warm season has been here longer.”

Zedam had been lost to our village for several lunar cycles and suffered from what the humans call ‘amnesia’. While he lived alone many turns from here, he hunted peshku in the river that ran near his tent. If anyone is well versed in the hunting of them, it is him. “I wish you a successful future hunt then.”

“Thanks.”

I glance at Abby. “Would you like to go eat now?”

“That sounds good. I am getting a bit hungry,” she says and faces Carter. “Do you want us to wait while you get cleaned up?”

He shakes his head. “No, you guys go ahead. I’ll meet you there in a minute.”

“We’ll see you at the central fire, then. Don’t be long.”

Carter’s eyes dart upward and slightly back. “Okay, mom.”

Abby flinches against me. Silently, she heads for the door, forcing me to release my hold on her. I follow quickly. When we are out of hearing range of her tent, I gently grasp her hand to slow her pace. “Calm, keeshla .”

“I know, I know. He was only being sarcastic, but it just hit differently this time,” she says. “It’s not like he’s never rolled his eyes and mockingly called me mom before so I don’t know why this once I was so sensitive to it.”

“Perhaps after having shared your story, you are no longer satisfied with being Carter’s sister. Your baba is gone and you are now on Tavikh, not Earth. There is no reason why you have to hide who you are to him.” It is clear the secret has weighed heavily on my Abby.

“No reason besides the fact he might hate me, you mean?”

I bring her to a halt. “Carter may very well be hurt and quite possibly angry, but I do not believe he will hate you. It is obvious how much you love each other, and while he may speak harshly at first, eventually he will understand.”

She nibbles her bottom lip. “Do you really think so?”

“I truly do.” I will say several extra prayers to Deeka for her to watch over Carter and show him how to forgive.

“It may take me a little while to work up the courage to tell him.”

Because I know Abby needs it, I bring her against me and hold her tightly. “If you would like me to be there when you tell him, you only have to ask. I will offer whatever support you need.”

“You really are too good to me, do you know that?” she whispers against my chest.

“I do not think there is any such thing.” How can one be too good?

Abby lifts her head to stare up at me. “There really is and you’re it. So take the compliment with a thank you.” She pokes me in the side and I laugh.

“Then thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“You guys didn’t get very far,” Carter says as he approaches. “Are you going to be hugging and kissing all the time now?”

Within my arms, Abby stiffens and tries to draw away, but I do not let her. We are mates and there is nothing wrong with us showing affection to each other. I am certain he is not annoyed by it despite his question.

“Does it bother you if we do?” she asks quietly and I can sense her wariness.

Carter must be able to as well, because he moves in close until he stops directly in front of us. He meets Abby’s gaze. “You deserve to be happy and have a nice guy who treats you right. Besides, you’re his mate which is basically like his wife. Even I know husbands and wives hug and kiss. I love you and I’m glad you have Rojtar.”

Abby releases me and drags Carter into her arms. She whispers in his ear, but it is too soft for me to hear. Finally, she loosens her hold on him and he sticks his hand out to me. I clasp it within mine and gently match his shaking up and down.

“It’ll be nice having a brother. You better not hurt her though or I’ll make sure you regret it even if you are three times bigger than me,” Carter warns in a severe tone.

“On my honor, I will do nothing that could hurt Abby.” I match his seriousness so he does not think I mock him or his warning.

“I’m glad we’re on the same page. Welcome to the family.” He lets me go and walks toward the central fire without us.

My heart skips a beat. Abby and he are now my family. I have been without one for so long, a warmth and sense of belong fill me. Never would I have imagined becoming a baba already, but I am eager for the task. Of course, Carter may not want me to fill that role, but if he does, I am more than willing.

“He’s been a fan of yours since the first day we met out in the forest,” Abby says. “Took me to task for being mean to you. I suppose I was.”

“I did not mind your prickliness. In fact, I believed you were that way because you’d been harmed in the past. Even then—before I knew what happened to you—I was angry on your behalf. I wanted to soothe you and track down the person who hurt you to make them pay.”

Abby stares intently at me. “Thank you for not listening to me when I told you to leave us alone and that you weren’t wanted.”

“You are welcome.”

I thread my fingers through hers and together we join Carter and the rest of the tribe.