Chapter 11

Jodah

The only ones who have shown a real interest in my images are my nene and baba. Some of the other hunters have observed me making them when it was too hot to sit within my tent. But none have asked for a closer look or wondered what I was crafting next.

Showing them to Sage has made me far more nervous than I expected. Her words soothe me, though, and I bring out one of the larger stones that is my personal favorite. I set it on the fur in the narrow space between us. My focus shifts to her face and her expression. I brace myself for her thoughts.

Sage's eyes widen and she makes a soft sound. She raises her head to meet my gaze before returning it to the stone. "Jodah, this is incredible."

Carefully, as though it is an important treasure, she picks it up and examines it more closely. She tilts it toward the fire so more light shines on it. Her fingers trace along the lines I have crafted.

"Is this your baba?"

"I did that one a few seasons after he had been injured." It was one of the rare times where he had been lucid and almost like his old self.

"It's so life-like. Every detail is perfect. I could probably pick him out of several warriors just by comparing them to this image. He must be very proud of you."

For so long I worried he would think my crafting was for kits. I am a decent hunter and warrior, because I was taught by him, but my passion lies elsewhere. To my surprise, Baba encouraged my work. "I like to believe so."

After another moment, Sage sets it back down between us. "Do you have more?"

"Of course." I bring out several additional stones and pass one to her.

She laughs and her whole face lights up. "It's a ketri."

"He left the forest one day for a drink while I was sitting near the river. As he stood at the water's edge, I crafted his image."

"It's wonderful and looks exactly like one." She studies it a bit longer with a smile. "We had an animal similar to this back on Earth. Ours were called chipmunks. They differed slightly in appearance, but they're still very similar."

One by one, I hand Sage the few stones I had brought out and she compliments each of them with a sincerity I feel deep within me. Once she has finished looking at them all, she hands them back and I return each of them to the chest.

"I would like to craft—draw, I believe is what you called it—your image one of these days, if you do not mind."

"Me?"

"Yes, you." I smile at her confusion and brush my thumb over her cheek. Her skin is smooth and soft like the petals of the nenuphar bloom. "I would love to have a likeness of my mate to keep. Maybe…to one day give to any kit we might have."

This is another thing I have given much thought to over these last many turns. Sage's and my mating as well as kits. They have not been anything I had hoped for since the chances of me ever having a mate had continued to decrease.

"Do you want children, then?"

I am unsure how to read her tone. "Are they not something you want?"

She does not speak for several beats. "I haven't given it a lot of thought before now, if I'm being honest. Mostly because there weren't any men back on Earth I had more than a passing interest in. We don't have fated mates like Tavikhi do, so we have to find a partner we can fall in love with. I'm thirty, which is when a lot of people have already found theirs."

"And you never found such a mate?" I find I do not like hearing of Sage with another male.

"No." She lifts and lowers both shoulders as I have seen several of the humans do. "I mean, I dated a few guys here and there, but none of them ever felt like the right one. And I didn't want to have a kid just to have a kid."

I cock my head. "That is possible on Earth? Having kits without a mate?"

Sage nods. "Oh yeah. It's an extremely expensive medical procedure, but women have done it."

Yet another vast difference between Tavikh and her planet. I much prefer mine. Still, I do not know if kits is something she wants.

"What about now? Could I be a mate you would want to have kits with?" It is a bold question to ask, but I find myself eager for her answer.

No matter the dim firelight, it is obvious that Sage's face changes to the same color it had when she spoke of attraction. It gives me hope.

"There's a good chance," she finally admits. "I'm not saying this very instant. We still don't know each other, and there are so many uncertainties. But there is definitely a possibility."

I will take possibility. With far more confidence than I would normally display, I lean forward and brush my lips across hers. Once. Twice. There is a light flicker of a wet touch against my mouth, and I draw back. "What is that?"

Sage glances away and ducks her head slightly. "Did you hate it?"

I graze the side of her head and gently turn it so I can see her face. "I do not know what itis. Tavikhi do not mouth touch, so you will need to guide me. It was not hated, but if there is more to our mouth touching than just bringing our lips together, then I would like to know so I can please you."

She swallows. "Usually kissing, at least with your mate, involves tongues."

Tongues? "Will you show me?"

Far too slowly Sage closes the distance between us again. She moves to her knees, so we are more equal in height, and lays her hands on my shoulders. Heat sears through me and my mating marks tingle with awareness. From just that simple touch, my cock grows hard. Uncomfortably so, but I do not dare shift. I do not want my mate to think I do not want this new mouth touching we are going to do.

Sage leans forward and caresses my lips with hers. Lightly at first and with more pressure. That wet, fleeting sensation happens again, only it becomes more insistent.

"You're supposed to open your mouth. Just a little," she instructs quietly against my lips.

When our mouths touch again, I do as she says and part them. Her tongue slips in and glides alongside mine. Her taste is like the sweetest shurup nectar. I slick my own against hers and she presses closer, opening a bit more and deepening the connection between us.

I grip her hips, wanting to feel more of her body. Her large chest mounds rub against me and I finally have my answer of how they feel. They are soft and pliable. My fingers itch to discover more about them. Are they sensitive? Will touching them cause my mate more pleasure? Calling on all the patience I have, I continue to let Sage guide us to wherever this desire leads.

As though reading my thoughts, she pulls back. "You can touch me."

"Where?" I try to contain my eagerness.

Sage reaches for one of my hands and raises it to her chest mound. "Here. Gently, though."

I will treat her with more gentleness than I have ever shown before. With great care, I mold the flesh beneath my palm and take her lips with mine again, only this time, I sweep my tongue into her mouth. A pebble forms in the center of her mound, and through her chest covering, I roll it between my fingertips. Sage arches her back and moans. I breathe in the sound.

My cock is as rigid as one of my sparring staffs. It strains against my leg coverings and leaks the mating fluid that is said to enhance our mate's pleasure. I rock my hips trying to soothe the ache and brush against her. It is me who groans with desire this time.

I want to lie with Sage in my furs and remove her chest covering so I can explore more, but I must remain patient and let her lead. It takes me a moment to realize that my skin burns and tingles in a good way. But only in the places where my mating marks line it. There's a sharp pain along my left hip where the marks are broken and disconnected. It is almost as though they are reminding me of the defect.

Sage pulls away. "Are you okay? I didn't hurt you did I? You flinched."

My grip on her hip tightens slightly. "No. You did not hurt me."

She studies me as though she does not believe my words and sits back on her heels causing me to release her. It would appear as though our mouth touching is over.

"Thank you for showing me your drawings," Sage says. "They really are incredible."

"It is I who thanks you. Perhaps tomorrow we could go down to the river and look for stones. I would like to find the perfect one if you agree to letting me…draw you."

She smiles widely. "That sounds nice."

"If we have time, I could take you to the elders' tents to meet my nene and baba as well."

"All right." Sage's smile dims slightly, but she quickly recovers. "I should probably get going."

Disappointment fills me, but I do not let it show. "Perhaps we can meet for the morning meal? I am going to head to the training arena right after that to do some light sparring."

A flash of concern crosses her face. "Are you sure you should be practicing so soon after your injury? I don't want you to have a setback."

I place my hand on Sage's cheek. "I promise I will take great care and not overexert myself. It is important though for me to keep my skills up for when I can return to hunting."

She lays her hand over mine. "Just be careful. Please."

"You have my word."

"I'll see you then at the morning meal." She gets to her feet and I stand as well.

Together we walk to the entrance of my tent and I push the flap open for her. Sage rises up on her toes with a hand laid lightly on my chest and gently mouth touches with me. "Have a good night."

I nod. "You as well."

She gives a small wave and heads in the direction of the tent she shares with Zara. I remain there until I can no longer see her. Then I return to my pallet, bring out a blank stone and my crafting supplies, and begin my next project. I cannot wait to show it to Sage.