Chapter 17

Jodah

Peace settles between Sage and me as we clean up after the meal. I catch her glancing in what I believe is the direction of my tail and let it swish about to find out. Her gaze follows its movement and she shifts her stance from side to side. My cock hardens at the thought of using my tail—as well as my hands—to touch her in many different places.

What do human females' bodies look like beneath all their coverings? I have already discovered what Sage's chest mounds feel like, but I have a great desire to know their color. Are they the same color as the rest of her? The memory of the hardened tip between my fingers makes my cock twitch. Especially with the sound she made. My mate also has curves that are far different than our females. From our many walks around the healer's tent and the few times I have briefly touched her, I have discovered Sage is soft.

"I would like to craft—draw—you." Sudden inspiration hits.

She turns her gaze to meet mine and her eyes widen. "Do you mean now?"

"Yes."

She glances in the direction of my baba and nene's tent. "Shouldn't we spend more time with your parents? I'd hate to eat and run. It feels rude."

Of course she is right. In my haste to get Sage alone, I did not think of anything else. "After, then?"

She nods and nibbles her bottom lip. I want to take it in between mine. We have not done nearly enough mouth touching to satisfy me. This incredible urge to explore more than just that has been brewing inside me since I gave her the vessel of the root vegetables. While I have imagined my mate within my furs many times, this is different. More. As though if I do not touch her this moment, I will expire. My mating marks have also not stopped tingling since that moment as well. I do not understand what is happening, but I do not question it. Sage is a beautiful female. And my mate. Of course I want to take her to my furs.

We finish cleaning the rest of the vessels, and I take her hand to return to the tent. Nene washes Baba's face with great care. It saddens me to see him like this. To know what a great warrior and hunter he used to be. I do not believe he would want to live like this, although more and more often this is the state in which he does. Both Nene and I suspect it will be soon when they travel to the land of the goddess. They have seen many seasons.

Once again we sit on the fur Nene laid out. My leg brushes against Sage's and the heat of it travels through my blood and settles in my cock. I sit with my hands blocking it. I will it away, but it is of no use.

"I am glad you enjoyed your surprise," Nene tells my mate who smiles brightly.

"It was incredible. Thank you again for doing that for me." Sage turns toward me. "Both of you."

"Tell me more of this place you left," my nene coaxes. "Were you a healer there as well?"

My mate's face loses some of its color and a stricken expression flashes over it. I reach for her hand and she appears to recover after clearing her throat.

"Um, no. I worked at a biotech advancement company. The man who ran the place was my boss."

Nene cocks her head. I too am confused. "What does this biotech mean?"

"Basically, our scientists took living organisms and produced different products. It was often used in medicines, although that is as close to healing as I ever got."

"That sounds like a very important thing to do," Nene says and I agree with her. "If you were helping to create medicines. In some way, you werea healer then."

"Unfortunately not. I didn't work with the scientists in that way. All I did was file papers, make appointments, compare different reports, and make coffee." Sage raises her shoulders.

I reach out for her hand. "Do not diminish your accomplishments. Especially if you worked as hard at those tasks as you do as a healer. I do not doubt what you did was important work."

She squeezes my fingers. "Thank you for saying that. I did do my best."

"What of your nene and baba?" Sage has still never spoken of them. Perhaps they have traveled to the land of her god or goddess and she does not like to speak of it.

"They're not around," she finally says after several beats of silence.

"I am sorry they have gone to be with your ancestors." As I will be sorry when mine do.

She laughs, but it is not the same sound I have heard before. This sound I do not like. It is filled not with joy, but a darker emotion.

"They're not dead. We just don't have any contact with each other. Even before I left Earth."

Nene and I exchange a glance. "I do not understand."

Sage loosens a breath. "My parents were older when they had me. I wasn't something they intended, but rather an accident. They didn't have any interest in children. Not even their own and they made it perfectly obvious. We weren't close. The minute I was able to, I moved out of their home. They were more than happy to see me go."

"Kits are a blessing," Nene tells her. "I am sorry your nene and baba did not think this way."

My mate raises and lowers both shoulders again. "It's been ten years since I've seen them. I'm used to it by now."

I thread my fingers through hers. "I do not believe that is a thing anyone can get used to."

"Gitesh and I are proud to call you daughter and would be more than honored to serve as your nene and baba."

Sage's eyes fill with water but it does not spill out. "You have no idea how much that means to me. Thank you."

The conversation turns to other things until I can sense Nene's fatigue. Baba has long since fallen asleep. I removed his prop earlier and gently laid him back on his furs. His soft and gentle breaths have been a small comfort.

"Thank you again for dinner." Sage embraces Nene who then lays her brow bones against my mate's bare one aside from the furry lines over her eyes.

"You are always welcome in our tent, daughter."

Sage nods and then Nene pulls me down so our brow bones meet. She releases me and I guide my mate out of the tent. The sun is barely visible behind the hilltop and one of our two moons has crept fully over the horizon. The sky has darkened but gives off enough light to make everything within the village still visible. I take Sage's hand and we walk. I have not forgotten about my earlier need.

"Will you still allow me to craft your image, or do you need to return to your tent?" I am not ready to part company with her.

"I would love that, but I should swing by and check on Sorin. Make sure he's doing okay."

Sage will make a good Nene. She has a kind and fiercely loving heart. My mind brings up a picture of what our kits might look like. Will they have her pale skin and fire-colored hair? Or perhaps they will be lacking in a tail, but have my bari-colored hair and my skin color. It will not matter to me, because they will be made up of both of us.

We reach the healer's tent and I swing the door flap back for her. Warmth hits us from the fire burning in the center pit. She steps past me and enters. I am right behind her. Kala sits on a wooden seat next to Sorin's bed and the two of them are deep in conversation. The kit turns in our direction and his mouth slit opens into what I believe is supposed to be a smile.

"Healer Sage," he exclaims with a hint of pleasure.

"Are you feeling okay?" She swiftly moves across the length of the tent and lays her hand on his brow. "You sound much better than you have been."

"Yes, my chest does not pain me like it had been." He releases a small cough, but it does not have the wet sound like it did when he and his baba first arrived.

"Did you eat your evening meal? Take your medicine?"

Sorin nods toward his baba. "Gogo has made sure I ate well and that I drank the healing liquid."

"Good. I'm happy to hear it." Sage adjusts the furs surrounding the kit. "Do you need any water or anything else?"

"Not at this time," Sorin tells her. "Gogo and I were talking about returning to our village soon. He is needed."

Her gaze snaps to the elder Krijese. "Do you really think that's a good idea? Sorin still isn't completely well."

Kala rises. "I will make sure he does not worsen."

I step close to Sage and wrap my tail lightly around her waist, squeezing gently. The Krijese is his baba and would not do anything to put his kit in harm's way. It is best not to question him. She must sense my warning because she backs down. At least as much as my stubborn mate can. "I hope you will reconsider."

The Krijese nods but does not speak.

"Come, Sage. Everything appears well here."

With a longing glance over her shoulder, she lets me lead her out of the tent. The moment we step outside and the door flap hits the hide, she whirls on me.

"He's barely recovered and his father is going to take him back to their village where they don't have enough to eat and can't even keep their children warm."

"I will speak with the shefir about sending some of our food stores with the Krijese when they leave." I'm not sure he will agree to it, since we are in just as much need as the Krijese, but for my mate, I will do this.

Sage grabs my hands. "Do you think Zander will do this?"

"I cannot guarantee it. We also have our own people to feed, but I will ask."

She throws her arms around me and buries her face against my chest. Her warm breath glides across my skin heating it all the way through and causing my mating marks to tingle and burn again. "Thank you, thank you, thank you."

"Do not thank me yet. He may say no."

"I'll talk to London. Between the three of us, I'm sure he'll agree."

I close her within my embrace. Her kind heart may be disappointed, but I will do my best to help in any way I can. We remain holding each other for several more beats until she loosens her grip on me and rises up to press her lips against mine.

"Thank you," she murmurs against them. "Thank you for everything."

My mouth moves over Sage's and I slide my tongue inside like she taught me. Hers tangles with mine and my cock rises. She moves closer and rubs herself against my hardness. The mating fluid stored within the nodes that line the length of it escapes and the warmth of the liquid heats my body. I want to feel the tightness of her cunt around it.

"Will you come back to my tent with me now?" I still want to craft—draw—her, but a more pressing urge is pushing me. If she will let me, I want to explore more than just this mouth touching.

Sage stares up at me with what I would like to believe is desire. "Yes."

That is the answer I had been waiting to hear.